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List of possible causes or contributing factors in the autism epidemic:
Autism in the family history raises the risk. A child with an autistic sibling has an 18% risk of becoming autistic him/herself.
One genetic condition predisposing a child to austism is mitochondrial dysfunction. Julie Gerberding. former head of the CDC, admitted this on nation-wide television and admitted that vaccines, by stressing the immune system of a child with this condition, could trigger autism.
The MTHFR mutation, which inhibits the body's detoxifying process known as methylation, is also implicated in autism. This is connected to other environmental causes, however, as the ability to methylate can be impaired by exposure to heavy metals. About 25% of the North American population have the MTHFR mutation. You can learn more at www.MTHFR.net
and please read this mother's blog post about her experience with MTHFR contributing to her daughter's autism. autismroadtorecovery.blogspot.ca/2012/09/mthfr-mother-fer-gene.html
Others include:
CBS Mutations. These alter the body's process of detoxification. "CBS (cystathionine beta synthase) catalyzes the first step of the transsulfuration pathway, from homocysteine to cystathionine. Dr. Yasko considers addressing CBS mutations as first priority aside from addressing the gut. CBS defects are actually upregulations."
SHMT and/or ACAT mutations. Please see this link to Dr Amy Yasko's website for help addressing these mutations.
PTEN gene, which is associated with autism and some types of cancer and is present in about 10% of ASD kids.
SHANK3 Mutation, which affects neurological development and is associated with autism.
Mutations in neuroligin genes. Little is known about this and whether it is a contributing cause in ASD.
Genetic Conditions that can have ASD symptoms or be misdiagnosed as ASD include:
Noonan Syndrome
Landau-Kleffner Syndrome
IVF with ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection)
Children conceived by IVF with ICSI may have a higher risk of autism. IVF is known to raise the risks of birth defects, rare genetic abnormalities, and childhood cancers. The results for IVF and ICSI in relation to autism risk are inconclusive and even though there is some corelation, it maybe be due to other variables.
Fertility Drugs:
It has been found that children who were conceived with Clomid (Clomiphene citrate) have nearly double the risk of autism and the greater the number of cycles, the higher the risk. The link between the two is not clear, though, as other variables may account for it.
Could it be possible that Clomid and Pergonal (human menopausal gonadotropin) contribute to austism because they suppress cholesterol, which the embryo needs for brain myelination?
Ultrasounds During Pregnancy:
In 2006, a study led by Dr Pasco Rakic at Yale on mice found that prenatal exposure to ultrasound waves changed the way neurons distributed themselves in the brain: a smaller percentage of cells migrated to the upper cortical layers and a larger percentage to the lower layers and white matter. This was interpreted by another neuroscientist, Manuel Casanova, to confirm that ultrasound exposure is the main environmental factor contributing to the exponential rise in autism. This study was only looking at mouse brains and didn't take anything else into account. Personally, I don't believe it is the main cause, because autistic children have been shown to have many medical issues related to the gut and other things, and addressing these underlying problems has been shown to improve symptoms and even lead to recovery to the point that many children lose their labels and become much like neurotypical children. If it were just a difference in brain development, they shouldn't be able to 'recover' with biomedical treatments.and
Maternal Infections/Elevated C-reactive Protein During Pregnancy
It has been known for some time that infections like flu in a pregnant woman raise her child's risk of autism. More recently, it has been discovered that it is not the infection itself, but the mother's immune system's reaction to it, that causes changes in brain development which seem to raise the risk of not only autism but also schizophrenia. Neuroscientist Dr Russell Blaylock has warned for a long time that it is known that stimulating a pregnant woman's immune system raises these risks for her child, and says that vaccines such as flu shots may carry the same risk because they also stimulate the mother's immune system.
A study has now shown C-Reactive Protein to be a biomarker for this process and has demonstrated the link between raised levels of CRP in the mother and increased risk of autism in her offspring.
"Autism risk increased by 80 percent among children of mothers with CRP in the top 10th percentile (higher than 90 percent of those tested).
The findings add to mounting evidence that an overactive immune response can alter brain development during pregnancy. However, Dr. Brown emphasizes that the vast majority of mothers with increased CRP levels will not have children with autism."
This drug, which is used to halt preterm labor is known to cause brain damage and is associated with autism. This article is wrong about there being no corroborating studies linking MMR to autism, but they have a lot of good information on Terbutaline.
Here is a scientific study showing that Terbutaline exposure for more than two days in the third trimester raises the risk of ASD fourfold:
If you think your child has been injured by Terbutaline, here is a lawyer who specializes in lawsuits concerning this matter
Pitocin is an artificial version of the hormone oxytocin and is used to induce or speed up labor. It appears to be that there is a connection between the use of Pitocin and later autism diagnosis. Since all women who receive Pitocin also receive a variety of other drugs and medical interventions during labor, it is not known whether Pitocin itself is a causative agent in autism or is only indirectly related. The following article states that in an informal survey of midwives, it was reported that no babies birthed at home were later diagnosed with ASD. Perhaps medicalized births in general are a causative factor.
Formula Feeding
One study showed that babies fed formula-fed without ARA and DHA were 4 times as likely to be autistic and 13 times more likely to have regressive autism than breastfed babies. Early weaning (under 1 week) was also associated with a higher rate of autism. Although there was a correlation, this does not prove that formula feeding caused the austism. However, because formula feeding is known to undermine the establishment of healthy gut flora, it is possible that there is a direct cause-and-effect relationship, as unbalanced gut flora is known to be part of the autistic condition.
BPA/Bisphenol-A This chemical is found in plastics, including can liners (such as baby formula cans) and baby bottles (although BPA has now been banned from baby bottles in Canada) Exposure to BPA has been found to alter genetics and brain development and to raise the risk of autism.
Most people have by now heard that many believe there is a link between vaccinations and autism. Many parent shave reported that their children regressed abruptly following vaccinations, in particular the MMR shot. However, there are cases of unvaccinated autistic children as well, and most children who receive vaccinations do not become autistic. One of the most famous (and infamous) figures in the vaccine-autism connection debate is Dr Andrew Wakefield who found a link between persistent measles infection in the gut and a condition he named autistic entero-colitis. He was subjected to what basically amounts to a witch hunt for doing this and this had a lot to do with Merck, the makers of MMR-II, threatening to withdraw funding form the Royal Free Hospital in London, where Wakefield had done his study, unless the study authors would recant or be subjected to disciplinary actions. Dr Wakefiled, however, stands by his findings and 28 other studies have also found a link between MMR and autism and you can see links to them here.
While the media continues to push vaccine propaganda and deny a link between immunizations and autism, US and European vaccine courts have admitted the connection by default. This Pace Environmental Law Review article documents 83 cases of American children being awarded damages for 'autism-like symptoms' and you can download it here
Hannah Polling became autistic after receiving 9 immunizations in one day and was awarded $1.5 in damages for vaccine-induced autism. Her case records were the sealed. What are they hiding?
There was a similar case in Italy as well. 'Judges in Rimini, north-east Italy awarded the Bocca family Euros 174,000 (£140,000) after the Italian Health Ministry conceded the MMR vaccine caused autism in their nine-year-old son Valentino. '
Studies have shown that vaccinated, but not unvaccinated dogs develop auto-immune disease.
A recent Polish meta-analysis showed that vaccines can trigger auto-immunity in children and that this is related to autism.
Here is a link to a list of 68 studies that show the connection between vaccines and autism.
Antibiotics and Abnormal Gut Flora:
Many parents and doctors who specialize in autism believe there is a connection between antibiotics use and autism and some parents have witnessed their children regress or deteriorate following treatment with antibiotics. One study examined the possibility of a connection via antibiotics ability to alter genetics.
It is also possible that the connection is due to antibiotics ability to alter gut flora. Gut dysbiosis (abnormal flora) is known to be present in nearly all autistic children. Probiotics tend to improve symptoms and some even claim that a diet that restores the gut can reverse autism.
Gut flora is inherited from the mother. If the mother has been exposed to antibiotics before or during pregnancy or during labor, this can compromise the baby's flora.
It is possibly to test for dysbiosis before vaccinating, to see whether your child may be susceptible to vaccine damage due to pre-existing gut flora problems.
Heavy Metals Toxicity:
"Evidence supports the role of heavy metals in causing autism, PDD and ADHD. These children often have biochemical impairments that put them at greater risk for damage caused by heavy metal accumulation." This is related to imparied glutathione production. From what I have read, many parents have found their autistic children improved with metals chelation and glutathione supplements. Environmental sources of heavy metals in infancy include maternal amalgam fillings, fish consumption, vaccinations, lead in toys or paint, living near industrial sources of mercury such as power plants, and others.
Industrial and other sources of environmental mercury exposure:
Results of studies that assess metals burden in autistic children are mixed:
One famous study by Hornig et al showed that some types of mice developed autism-like symptoms after being exposed to mercury-containing Thimerosal equivalent to what babies receive in their vaccines. ""Profound behavioral and neuropathologic disturbances were observed after postnatal thimerosal in SJL/J mice, but not in strains without autoimmune sensitivity." -Horning's conclusions. You can read more about the resemblance between mercury poisoning and autism symptoms and related studies here
The IOM quickly concluded, however, that this research was inconclusive and that there was no proven connection.
One study showed higher concentrations of lead, mercury, and uranium in the hair of autistic children, compared to controls
Another study showed unremarkable levels of metals in the urine of autistic children on chelation challege:
(This was a small sample and they were looking at general metals levels in autistic children, not comparing risk of autism in children exposed to higher sources of metals.)
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Acetaminophen has been causally related to asthma and may possibly be implicated in autism as well. By depleting glutathione, Acetaminophen inhibits the body's ability to detoxify via sulfation. Dr Shaw believes this leads to overgrowth of clostridia in the gut, which causes alterations in brain neurotransmitters (the gut-brain connection has been well established), which then leads to abnormal behavior. You can read more about this here:
Some parents in the autism community have reported their completely unvaccinated, neurotypical kids becoming autistic after receiving anesthesia. Research shows receiving anesthesia at age 3 or younger can double the risk of developmental disorders.
"A total of 304 children with no history of developmental problems had surgery for a variety of reasons before the age of three, while the remaining 10,146 children did not have surgery.
Findings showed 25 percent of children who had surgery were subsequently diagnosed with developmental and behavioral disorders, compared with just 9 percent of children who did not have surgery.
After taking into account pre-existing illnesses, birth complications and sex, the researchers concluded surgery at an early age doubles the risk of children having developmental disorders. The researchers also concluded that children exposed to anesthetics are more likely to have developmental delays."
Low Cholesterol:
58% of autistic children have low cholesterol, and in 19% it is very low. Low cholesterol can impair brain function and cause autism symptoms.
Cholesterol supplements reverse many autism symptoms in Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS).
Because of these connections, cholesterol supplements are being considered as a possible treatment for autism symptoms.
7-Glyphosate (Roundup), the herbicide used on GMO crops:
This agent inhibits cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, which serves to detoxify xenobiotics (such as pharmaceuticals and pesticides).
"Negative impact on the body is insidious and manifests slowly over time as inflammation damages cellular systems throughout the body. Here, we show how interference with CYP enzymes acts synergistically with disruption of the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids by gut bacteria, as well as impairment in serum sulfate transport."
The authors of this study believe this to be cause of many conditions including autism. Gut dysbiosis, inflammatory conditions and impaired ability to detoxify, are known to be common in autistic children.
As you just read above, there seems to be a link established between Roundup (glyphosate) and inflammatory and neurological conditions, of which autism is one. GMO crops are engineered to withstand Roundup, so they end up being sprayed with and containing large quantities of this pesticide. In addition, some GMO crops such as certain varieties of corn, are engineered to contain a built-in pesticide called Bacillu Thuringiensis (Bt). Once in the digestive tract, this has been shown to alter gut flora. Gut dysbiosis (altered gut flora) is known to be a major contributing factor to autism, as evidenced by its strong prevalence in autistic children and by the fact that restoring the gut flora improves autism symptoms. Read more on GMOs and autism here:
Food Intolerances
Regular allergy tests only check for the kind of frank allergies that result in physically visible symptoms like hives or anaphylactic schock, but many kids on the spectrum have food intolerances that mainly affect brain chemistry. Some of the most reactive foods include wheat/gluten, dairy, soy, and eggs and many kids improve when these are restricted. These food sensitivities are associated with abnormal gut flora and a 'leaky gut' that allows peptides, partial protein molecules, through the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream, where they make their way to the brain and act as opiate-like substances. There is also a condition called non-celiac gluten sensitivity, which has many of the symptoms of celiac disease but does not show up on celiac tests. Please read this woman's story of how she recovered her daughter from behavior that is common to ASD kids, just by removing gluten from her diet (note: I'm not implying that GF is a cure for autism, only that intolerance should be considered as a possible contributing factor to behavioral problems)
No, I'm not talking about a bear. PANDAS stands for Pediatric Auoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Strep. PANS is Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Syndrome. As their names suggest, these are conditions which present with neurological and psychiatric symptoms and are caused by an autoimmune reaction to an infection with strep or another bacteria or virus, including strains of Lyme disease. These conditions can cause symptoms/behaviors of autism and high percentage of kid on the spectrum who also have PANDAS/PANS. There is so much overlap that it is likely that many kids diagnosed as autistic or PDD-NOS actually have underlying PANDAS/PANS/PITANDS. Please see this article on the connection between this condition, brain damage, autism and self-injurious behavior. vaxtruth.org/2012/01/is-pandas-really-vaccine-injury
Classic symptoms of PANDAS/PANS include abrupt onset of tics, OCD, and rages. This often follows an atypical strep infection that does not present with regular strep throat symptoms, but can be detected with a blood test. Some kids' illness follows a saw-tooth pattern where symptoms flare up with infection, then decrease back to baseline, only flare again with the next re-exposure. Over time, the condition between flares (the baseline) deteriorates as well.
Prognosis is variable. Some kids improve with a course of antibiotics. Others require long-term antibiotics. In other cases, IV immune globulin or plasmapharesis is necessary. Some people find their kids respond to herbal treatments or homeopathics. Sadly, this condition is sometimes stubbornly resistant to treatment.
Many doctors are unfortunately not aware of this condition or are skeptical about whether it really exists, even though it is well-known to specialists and is on our government's list of conditions for which treatment with IV immune globulin is approved in Canada.
For more about the connection between PANDAS/PANS and autism, see this article:
As you see, there are many environmental and genetic factors that can contribute to causing autism. In the big picture, what we see is exposure to toxins, impaired detoxification, altered gut flora, auto-immune reactions and altered brain development and activity. Some of these can be remedied and some children improve or even recover with biomedical treatment.


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Deep Democracy is the philosophical basis of the Process Work and Worldwork Paradigm, a psycho-social-political theory and methodology. The term Deep Democracy was developed by Arny Mindell in 1988 and first appeared in Leader as Martial Artist (Mindell, 1992). Mindell, a physicist from MIT and Jungian Analyst, has researched and written extensively about how awareness interlinks with reality and how we perceive it on different levels, creating different frameworks of reality.
An example of this is how we perceive time: the measurable reality of the seconds ticking in a clock, the dreamlike "subjective" perception of time as it passes during an encounter with a lover - or during a conflict with an opponent - and the sentient essence of timelessness at the moment of sunrise that transcends "known" time (if only for a moment) and replaces it with the concept of a hopeful future. Mindell calls his paradigm Processwork. He formulates these principles and demonstrates how they can be used to facilitate individual, relationship, and group transformation in many of his books.
In the late eighties, Mindell started to formulate these principles as a philosophical approach that he called Deep Democracy. It has become best known for some of the following concepts:
Unlike "classical" democracy, which focuses on majority rule, Deep Democracy suggests that all voices, states of awareness, and frameworks of reality are important. Deep Democracy also suggests that all the information carried within these voices, levels of awareness, and frameworks is needed to understand the complete process of a system. Deep Democracy is an attitude that focuses on the awareness of voices that are both central and marginal.
This type of awareness can be focused on groups, organizations, one's own inner experiences, people in conflict, etc. Allowing oneself to take seriously seemingly unimportant events and feelings can often bring unexpected solutions to both group and inner conflicts.
Although the term and the concepts of Deep Democracy are now being used by various groups in different ways, Mindell formulates their common denominator: Deep Democracy is the experience of a process of flow in which all actors on the stage are needed to create the play that is being watched.
Deep Democracy is a natural process that occurs in all community building processes, but often goes unnoticed or un-used. Just as conventional democracy strives to include all individuals involved in the political process, Deep Democracy goes a step further in the effort towards fostering a deeper level of dialogue and inclusiveness that makes space for all people (with the individual right to vote) as well as all various and competing views, tensions, feelings, and styles of communication - in a way that supports awareness of relative rank, power, and privilege, and the potential of these forces to marginalize other views, individuals, and groups.
Deep Democracy and Process Work Paradigm
Process Work integrates concepts from quantum physics, psychology, anthropology, and spirituality into a new paradigm and methodology that has many applications. Mindell defines process as the constant flow of information, manifesting in events that are connected by an underlying organizing principle reflecting many universal laws. Process Work is a widespread approach with applications in collective transformation (change management), individual transformation (psychotherapy), medicine, physics, law, politics, leadership development, and art.
Mindell coined the term Deep Democracy to describe the importance of developing awareness of and appreciation for all levels of experience. Deep Democracy further formulates quantum mechanics in terms of the relationship between the observer, the event, and the method of observation. It is a radical new way to think about reality, and shines a new light on the relative value of scientific and philosophical approaches that try to explain reality by focusing on single-dimensional aspects, but fall short of addressing the phenomena of all dimensions.
Mindell formulates the process of observation on three separate awareness levels: the measurable, objective, and readily expressible aspects of our experience; the non-measurable, subjective, and expressible aspects; and the deepest, inexpressible ones. Deep Democracy recognizes the equal importance of consensus reality issues and concerns (measurable objective descriptions of problems and people), dreamland figures (roles, ghosts, directions), and essence experiences (common ground) that connect everyone. It shows how we can experience the universe more fully by valuing equally all of the various aspects of our awareness.
For example, in the area of collective transformation and organizational change, Deep Democracy includes the idea that awareness of all these levels can bring valuable information to groups and leaders, by helping them to discover "The Process", the multi-dimensional direction that is hidden from the linear everyday state of mind. "The Process" is the principle that organizes the dynamic flow of voices and roles - including our collective experiences of altered states, subtle feelings, and behavioral and somatic tendencies. Awareness of the background process allows us to see the whole picture and brings forward a new understanding of existing conflict and problems, including business issues, and allows new organic and spontaneous solutions to organizational or community problems. Focusing on immediate goals is important, but including information available at the deeper levels of our awareness brings the most stability to the system, and often creates spontaneous and surprising results.
Impact of Deep Democracy
Deep Democracy has had an enormous impact in many areas over the last twenty years. The concept of Deep Democracy is now being used by many scientists, social activists, politicians, transpersonal psychologists, and organizational development communities. Many individuals, groups, and political leaders have studied with us and are applying these concepts within their own fields. Several politicians have also started to use the concept, including the US consumer rights czar Ralph Nader, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Several other groups have intuitively isolated one single-dimension of the broad multi-dimensional theory and application of Deep Democracy, such as the realization that majorities cannot sustainably rule over minorities, but need to build dialogue with them, or that democracy must also include a feeling level to be sustainable. We welcome this development and appreciate the power of the paradigm: even the application of one single aspect of the original theory can assist to discover how process organizes life, and how the flow of process has a self-organizing direction of its own, with its own innate wisdom.
We at the Deep Democracy Institute value the diverse implementations that have taken place, and support groups to further develop those aspects of the original theory that are important to them. We believe that Deep Democracy is such a rich paradigm with so many applications that over time, we will begin to see additional groups teach and further develop Deep Democracy in their own unique ways. We also welcome those groups that isolate partial or single aspects of the work and specialize in them. We invite all of these groups to network with us, and we feel supportive of their work. On the other hand, we ourselves are proud that together with the founders and our colleagues, we are researching and working closely at the cutting edge of development with the original body of theory, and the full application of Deep Democracy in all areas of life.
Evolution of Deep Democracy
"The most fundamental forum is your own heart. Both as a facilitator and as a human being, you must learn to hear yourself there." Arnold Mindell, "Sitting in the Fire", 1995
Deep democracy has many aspects, many of which relate to philosophical concepts derived from quantum physics. Deep Democracy at its deepest manifestation refers often to an openness towards the views of other people and groups. It also embraces emotions and personal experiences that are most often excluded from conflict and rational public discourse (Mindell, 1992).
Deep Democracy has crossed over into many fields and has been picked up by many authors, some using it as defined by Mindell, others using only particular aspects (as it is often the case with crossovers). For more information, please see our Deep Democracy and DDI page.
One of the primary concerns of Deep Democracy is the use, maintenance, and awareness of metaskills, a concept developed by Amy Mindell (attitudes and feeling tones underlying our skills). The concept of openness to diversity and dialogue between various views doesn't mean that the facilitator goes along with what the group wants—that is only one metaskill (although it often reflects a lack of awareness). Facilitators must also practice, embody, and express other metaskills such as toughness, anger, intractability, love, detachment, concern for the well being of the others, and a genuine desire to achieve consensus. Some of the metaskills in the above mentioned list are organic responses. However, when a facilitator uses her internal organic responses to better inform her intervention, she is using a metaskill. This is why the human development (the internal psychological and spiritual growth) of the facilitator is so important.
Deep Democracy involves not only openness to other individuals, groups, and diverse views, but also an openness to experiences including feelings, dreams, body symptoms, altered states of consciousness, and synchronicities as well as an awareness of signals, roles, and the structural dynamics of the interactions between parties involved.


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The spirit of Michael Jackson continues to live on in his music and the "This Is It" documentary – and the King of Pop might also be getting the Cirque du Soleil treatment as well.
According to Showbiz411, the Canadian-based performance group is "heavily courting" the singer's estate to create a Las Vegas-style show which would use Jackson's music.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Michael Jackson's 'This Is It' Premieres Around The World
Cirque is reportedly attempting to convince the late singer's camp that a Jackson-inspired show will have the same success as "Love," the Beatles-themed show, which is currently running the Mirage Hotel & Casino.
The amount of money being negotiated to secure the rights to produce a Cirque Jackson show is reportedly "astronomical."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: In Memoriam: The Stars We Lost During Summer 2009
Cirque Du Soleil is currently working on an Elvis-inspired show, "Viva Elvis," which is scheduled to open next month at the ARIA Hotel in Las Vegas.
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Michael Jackson's Funeral
PLAY IT NOW: Teddy Riley Remembers Working With Michael Jackson
PLAY IT NOW: Kenny Ortega On Finally Premiering 'This Is It:' I Feel 'Satisfied'
MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: Michael Jackson - Las Vegas - The Beatles - Music - This Is It


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PHPFog, the PHP-centric platform as a service has made a new post to this blog about two new "gifts" they're providing to developers:
I want to thank you for your interest in PHP Fog. Thanks to you and tens of thousands of developers like you, we have grown massively in the last year and a half. As a sign of my gratitude, I'd like to give you two free gifts.
Their gifts to the community are a conversion of the 6 month applications over to a free-for-life product and you can now deploy three of these "free forever" applications instead of just the one. You can signup here for the service with offerings of installed software like PyroCMS, Drupal 7, MediaWiki and Slim. For more information, you can attend this webinar.


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"I Run to You" — (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET) (TV-PG, D) (HDTV)
FEELING PRESSURE — Zoe (Rachel Bilson) beings to grow leery of how much time Joel (guest star Josh Cooke) and Wade (Wilson Bethel) hang out, especially when it begins to interfere with Joel's writing. Ready to blame it all on Wade, Zoe does her best to entice Joel back into writing. Lavon (Cress Williams) is using the excuse of coaching his track team to avoid talking to AnnaBeth (Kaitlyn Black). Meanwhile, Lemon (Jaime King) encourages Brick (Tim Matheson) to start dating again. George (Scott Porter) and Lynly (guest star Antoinette Robertson) discuss whether they want to talk to Lavon about their feelings for each other. Brandi Bradburn directed the episode written Sheila Lawrence (#307).


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When he climbed in, however, nothing happened. Damadian was looking at years wasted on a failed invention, but one of his colleagues bravely suggested that he might be too big for the machine. A svelte graduate student volunteered to give it a try, and on July 3, 1977, the first MRI exam was performed on a human being. It took almost five hours to produce one image, and that original machine, named the "Indomitable," is now owned by the Smithsonian Institution.
In just a few decades, the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners has grown tremendously. Doctors may order MRI scans to help diagnose multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, torn ligaments, tendonitis, cancer and strokes, to name just a few. An MRI scan is the best way to see inside the human body without cutting it open.
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That may be little comfort to you when you're getting ready for an MRI exam. You're stripped of your jewelry and credit cards and asked detailed questions about all the metallic instruments you might have inside of you. You're put on a tiny slab and pushed into a hole that hardly seems large enough for a person. You're subjected to loud noises, and you have to lie perfectly still, or they're going to do this to you all over again. And with each minute, you can't help but wonder what's happening to your body while it's in this machine. Could it really be that this ordeal is truly better than another imaging technique, such as an X-ray or a CAT scan? What has Raymond Damadian wrought?
MRI Magnets: the Major Players
MRI scanners vary in size and shape, and some newer models have a greater degree of openness around the sides. Still, the basic design is the same, and the patient is pushed into a tube that's only about 24 inches (60 centimeters) in diameter [source: Hornak]. But what's in there?
The biggest and most important component of an MRI system is the magnet. There is a horizontal tube -- the same one the patient enters -- running through the magnet from front to back. This tube is known as the bore. But this isn't just any magnet -- we're dealing with an incredibly strong system here, one capable of producing a large, stable magnetic field.
The strength of a magnet in an MRI system is rated using a unit of measure known as a tesla. Another unit of measure commonly used with magnets is the gauss (1 tesla = 10,000 gauss). The magnets in use today in MRI systems create a magnetic field of 0.5-tesla to 2.0-tesla, or 5,000 to 20,000 gauss. When you realize that the Earth's magnetic field measures 0.5 gauss, you can see how powerful these magnets are.
Most MRI systems use a superconducting magnet, which consists of many coils or windings of wire through which a current of electricity is passed, creating a magnetic field of up to 2.0 tesla. Maintaining such a large magnetic field requires a good deal of energy, which is accomplished by superconductivity, or reducing the resistance in the wires to almost zero. To do this, the wires are continually bathed in liquid helium at 452.4 degrees below zero Fahrenheit (269.1 below zero degrees Celsius) [source: Coyne]. This cold is insulated by a vacuum. While superconductive magnets are expensive, the strong magnetic field allows for the highest-quality imaging, and superconductivity keeps the system economical to operate.
The Other Parts of an MRI Machine
MRI Developments
MRI machines are evolving so that they're more patient-friendly. For example, many claustrophobic people simply can't stand the cramped confines, and the bore may not accommodate obese people. There are more open scanners, which allow for greater space, but these machines have weaker magnetic fields, meaning it may be easier to miss abnormal tissue. Very small scanners for imaging specific body parts are also being developed.
Other advancements are being made in the field of MRI. Functional MRI (fMRI),
for example, creates brain maps of nerve cell activity second by
second and is helping researchers better understand how the brain
works. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) creates images of
flowing blood, arteries and veins in virtually any part of the body.
Two other magnets are used in MRI systems to a much lesser extent. Resistive magnets are structurally like superconducting magnets, but they lack the liquid helium. This difference means they require a huge amount of electricity, making it prohibitively expensive to operate above a 0.3 tesla level. Permanent magnets have a constant magnetic field, but they're so heavy that it would be difficult to construct one that could sustain a large magnetic field.
There are also three gradient magnets inside the MRI machine. These magnets are much lower strength compared to the main magnetic field; they may range in strength from 180 gauss to 270 gauss. While the main magnet creates an intense, stable magnetic field around the patient, the gradient magnets create a variable field, which allows different parts of the body to be scanned.
Another part of the MRI system is a set of coils that transmit radiofrequency waves into the patient's body. There are different coils for different parts of the body: knees, shoulders, wrists, heads, necks and so on. These coils usually conform to the contour of the body part being imaged, or at least reside very close to it during the exam. Other parts of the machine include a very powerful computer system and a patient table, which slides the patient into the bore. Whether the patient goes in head or feet first is determined by what part of the body needs examining. Once the body part to be scanned is in the exact center, or isocenter, of the magnetic field, the scan can begin.
What goes on during a scan? Find out on the next page.
Hydrogen Atoms and Magnetic Moments
© 2008 HowStuffWorks.com
When patients slide into an MRI machine, they take with them the billions of atoms that make up the human body. For the purposes of an MRI scan, we're only concerned with the hydrogen atom, which is abundant since the body is mostly made up of water and fat. These atoms are randomly spinning, or precessing, on their axis, like a child's top. All of the atoms are going in various directions, but when placed in a magnetic field, the atoms line up in the direction of the field.
These hydrogen atoms have a strong magnetic moment, which means that in a magnetic field, they line up in the direction of the field. Since the magnetic field runs straight down the center of the machine, the hydrogen protons line up so that they're pointing to either the patient's feet or the head. About half go each way, so that the vast majority of the protons cancel each other out -- that is, for each atom lined up toward the feet, one is lined up toward the head. Only a couple of protons out of every million aren't canceled out. This doesn't sound like much, but the sheer number of hydrogen atoms in the body is enough to create extremely detailed images. It's these unmatched atoms that we're concerned with now.
What Else Is Going on in an MRI Scan?
Next, the MRI machine applies a radio frequency (RF) pulse that is specific only to hydrogen. The system directs the pulse toward the area of the body we want to examine. When the pulse is applied, the unmatched protons absorb the energy and spin again in a different direction. This is the "resonance" part of MRI. The RF pulse forces them to spin at a particular frequency, in a particular direction. The specific frequency of resonance is called the Larmour frequency and is calculated based on the particular tissue being imaged and the strength of the main magnetic field.
At approximately the same time, the three gradient magnets jump into the act. They are arranged in such a manner inside the main magnet that when they're turned on and off rapidly in a specific manner, they alter the main magnetic field on a local level. What this means is that we can pick exactly which area we want a picture of; this area is referred to as the "slice." Think of a loaf of bread with slices as thin as a few millimeters -- the slices in MRI are that precise. Slices can be taken of any part of the body in any direction, giving doctors a huge advantage over any other imaging modality. That also means that you don't have to move for the machine to get an image from a different direction -- the machine can manipulate everything with the gradient magnets.
But the machine makes a tremendous amount of noise during a scan, which sounds like a continual rapid hammering. That's due to the rising electrical current in the wires of the gradient magnets being opposed by the main magnetic field. The stronger the main field, the louder the gradient noise. In most MRI centers, you can bring a music player to drown out the racket, and patients are given earplugs.
When the RF pulse is turned off, the hydrogen protons slowly return to their natural alignment within the magnetic field and release the energy absorbed from the RF pulses. When they do this, they give off a signal that the coils pick up and send to the computer system. But how is this signal converted into a picture that means anything?
MRI Images and How They're Made
Ron Levine/The Image Bank/Getty Images
The MRI scanner can pick out a very small point inside the patient's body and ask it, essentially, "What type of tissue are you?" The system goes through the patient's body point by point, building up a map of tissue types. It then integrates all of this information to create 2-D images or 3-D models with a mathematical formula known as the Fourier transform. The computer receives the signal from the spinning protons as mathematical data; the data is converted into a picture. That's the "imaging" part of MRI.
The MRI system uses injectable contrast, or dyes, to alter the local magnetic field in the tissue being examined. Normal and abnormal tissue respond differently to this slight alteration, giving us differing signals. These signals are transferred to the images; an MRI system can display more 250 shades of gray to depict the varying tissue [source: Coyne]. The images allow doctors to visualize different types of tissue abnormalities better than they could without the contrast. We know that when we do "A," normal tissue will look like "B" -- if it doesn't, there might be an abnormality.
An X-ray is very effective for showing doctors a broken bone, but if they want a look at a patient's soft tissue, including organs, ligaments and the circulatory system, then they'll likely want an MRI. And, as we mentioned on the last page, another major advantage of MRI is its ability to image in any plane. Computer tomography (CT), for example, is limited to one plane, the axial plane (in the loaf-of-bread analogy, the axial plane would be how a loaf of bread is normally sliced). An MRI system can create axial images as well as sagitall (slicing the bread side-to-side lengthwise) and coronal (think of the layers in a layer cake) images, or any degree in between, without the patient ever moving.
But for these high-quality images, the patient can't move very much at all. MRI scans require patients to hold still for 20 to 90 minutes or more. Even very slight movement of the part being scanned can cause distorted images that will have to be repeated. And there's a high cost to this kind of quality; MRI systems are very expensive to purchase, and therefore the exams are also very expensive.
But are there any other costs? What about the patient's safety?
MRI Safety Concerns
Plush Studios/Blend Images/Getty Images
Maybe you're concerned about the long-term impact of having all your atoms mixed about, but once you're out of the magnetic field, your body and its chemistry return to normal. There are no known biological hazards to humans from being exposed to magnetic fields of the strength used in medical imaging today. The fact that MRI systems don't use ionizing radiation, as other imaging devices do, is a comfort to many patients, as is the fact that MRI contrast materials have a very low incidence of side effects. Most facilities prefer not to image pregnant women, due to limited research of the biological effects of magnetic fields on a developing fetus. The decision of whether or not to scan a pregnant patient is made on a case-by-case basis with consultation between the MRI radiologist and the patient's obstetrician.
However, the MRI suite can be a very dangerous place if strict precautions are not observed. Credit cards or anything else with magnetic encoding will be erased. Metal objects can become dangerous projectiles if they are taken into the scan room. For example, paperclips, pens, keys, scissors, jewelry, stethoscopes and any other small objects can be pulled out of pockets and off the body without warning, at which point they fly toward the opening of the magnet at very high speeds.
Big objects pose a risk, too -- mop buckets, vacuum cleaners, IV poles, patient stretchers, heart monitors and countless other objects have all been pulled into the magnetic fields of the MRI. In 2001, a young boy undergoing a scan was killed when an oxygen tank was pulled into the magnetic bore [source: McNeil]. Once, a pistol flew out of a policeman's holster, the force causing the gun to fire. No one was injured.
To ensure safety, patients and support staff should be thoroughly screened for metal objects prior to entering the scan room. Often, however, patients have implants inside them that make it very dangerous for them to be in the presence of a strong magnetic field. These include:
- Metallic fragments in the eye, which are very dangerous as moving these fragments could cause eye damage or blindness
- Pacemakers, which may malfunction during a scan or even near the machine
- Aneurysm clips in the brain, which could tear the very artery they were placed on to repair if the magnet moves them
- Dental implants, if magnetic
Most modern surgical implants, including staples, artificial joints and stents are made of non-magnetic materials, and even if they're not, they may be approved for scanning. But let your doctor know, as some orthopedic hardware in the area of a scan can cause distortions in the image.
Related Articles
- Ultimate MRI Quiz
- How fMRI Works
- Which women should get MRIs in addition to mammograms?
- How Brain Mapping Works
- How CAT Scans Work
- How Deep Brain Stimulation Works
- How Ultrasound Works
- How Nuclear Medicine Works
- How X-rays Work
More Great Links
- Berman, Phyllis. "How to Avoid That Buried Alive Feeling." Forbes. Feb. 28, 1994.
- Coyne, Kristen Eliza. "MRI: A Guided Tour." National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. (Aug. 6, 2008)
- Damadian, Raymond V. "The story of MRI." Saturday Evening Post. May/June 1994.
- Hornak, Joseph P. "The Basics of MRI." 1996. (Aug. 6, 2008)
- Kirby, David. "Patients Embrace New Generation of Imaging Machines." New York Times. May 8, 2001. (Aug. 6, 2008)
- McNeil, Donald G. Jr. "M.R.I.'s Strong Magnets Cited in Accidents." New York Times. Aug. 19, 2005. (Aug. 6, 2008)
- Wakefield, Julie. "The 'Indomitable' MRI." Smithsonian. June 2000.
- Woodward, Peggy. "MRI for Technologists." McGraw-Hill Professional. 2000. (Aug. 6, 2008)


text:
all-around all-star
With unerring autofocus, unshakeable stability, and intuitive touchscreen operation crafted to fit in a palm, the α6500 is so ideal everywhere that you never need to miss a moment.
With unerring autofocus, unshakeable stability, and intuitive touchscreen operation crafted to fit in a palm, the α6500 is so ideal everywhere that you never need to miss a moment.
Body Only|Body + 18-135mm Zoom Lens|Body + 16-70mm Zoom Lens|Body + 18-105mm Zoom Lens
Meet the α6500 — the APS-C interchangeable lens compact camera that puts the power to shoot professional-looking stills and movies solidly in your hands. An enhanced buffer for continuous shooting of up to 307 shots, in-camera 5-axis optical image stabilisation, touchscreen control, super-speed AF and High-density Tracking AF Technology extend the range of your shooting capabilities.
The reasons to choose this model
Approx. 36-sec./307-shot continuous shooting capacity
Camera shake compensation effect of five-stops-faster shutter speed
Touch to focus or swipe to shift focus while looking at the viewfinder.
Capture every moment — the world's fastest AF speed and highest number of AF points respond flawlessly to virtually any shooting situation.
Wide phase-detection AF point coverage
With an incredible 425 focal plane phase-detection AF points densely positioned over the entire image area, this comprehensive AF point coverage ensures that no subject escapes its attention.
Fast Hybrid AF for instant focusing
With the world's highest AF speed (0.05 sec.) assisted by the BIONZ X™ image processing engine, you can instantly capture a fast-moving subject with supreme accuracy.
Extra-consistent shooting of fast-moving action
High-density Tracking AF Technology activates AF points densely positioned around the subject for extra-precise, reliable detection and tracking of subjects in action.
With the α6500 extending continuous shooting capacity to 307 shots without any drop in shooting speed (for around 36 sec. with AF/AE tracking), you won't miss a decisive moment.
Shoot moving subjects with optical viewfinder-like immediacy
In live-view continuous shooting at up to 8fps, display lag is kept to an absolute minimum, so you can capture moving subjects as they appear on the EVF or LCD, with optical viewfinder-like immediacy.
Eye AF (available with AF-C) not only shows fast, effective autofocusing performance with eye detection but also keeps steadfast tracking on the eye of a moving subject. Easy maintenance of optimum focus on moving subjects can totally transform your portraiture.
5.0-stops-faster shutter speed effect
A new, very accurate gyro sensor is a key to image stabilisation with the effect of a five-stops-faster shutter speed. This camera shake compensation system is effective for shooting steadier, clearer movies and still images.
5-axis stabilisation works with E-mount and other lenses
Gain unparalleled handheld shooting freedom using many of your favourite lenses. The short flange-back distance in the E-mount α6500 contributes to broad lens compatibility.
Learn about the great selection of lenses you can mount directly on the α6500 at the following:
(1) LA-EA4, LA-EA3, LA-EA2* or LA-EA1* *Images are recorded in APS-C format.
With an A-mount lens adaptor, you have even more lenses to choose from the following:
(2) Thrid-party adaptors
For extra versatility, the camera's image stabilisation system even functions when a lens with another type of mount is attached.
Swipe screen to shift focus point while watching viewfinder
With Touch Pad function, you can swipe the LCD touchscreen to shift focus point intuitively and easily from an area to another, even as you monitor the viewfinder.
Use just your finger to focus as you like within the frame
Touch Focus makes it particularly easy to adjust focus quickly, so you don't miss the chance to capture your chosen subject at the decisive moment.
With new front-end LSI, BIONZ X processes data from the Exmor CMOS image sensor for outstanding texture, clarity, and image sharpness with low noise in stills and movies.
No.1 image sensor manufacturer for digital cameras and video recorders.
This sensor has a thin wiring layer and large photodiode substrate that maximise light collection efficiency and copper wiring ensuring quick read-out. It also extends sensitivity to ISO 51200 with reduced noise.
(A) Conventional structure (B) α6500 structure
(1) Photodiode substrate (2) Light receiving surface (3) Aluminum wiring layer (4) Copper wiring layer
The BIONZ X image processing engine enhances image texture and clarity as it minimises noise, with critical support from new front-end LSI and image processing algorithm optimised for the image sensor.
Shoot and internally record 4K movies generated from 6K equivalent (20MP) data in Super 35mm format. Intuitive Touch Focus and 5-axis image stabilisation extend shooting freedom.
Oversampling (about 2.4 x [6K equivalent] as much image data condensed to 4K) achieves the high quality in 4K movie resolution and realism.
The Fast Hybrid AF system featuring phase-detection AF (superior speed and tracking performance) and contrast-detection AF (high accuracy) satisfies the need for very precise focus even in 4K movie shooting.
Up to 5x Slow Motion and up to 60x Quick Motion can be recorded in camera at up to 50Mbps in Full HD, then played back without post-production processing.
S-Gamut/S-Log enable wide dynamic range (max. 1300%) shooting for more expressive moviemaking in post-production. The α6500 even offers 14-stop latitude at S-Log3 setting.
A magnesium alloy body, a shutter tested to 200,000 release cycles and more highlight the camera's all-around toughness, reliability and operability.
Backup to Sony's secure cloud service and access your photos and videos from any devices.
This application broadens your photographic horizons by letting you add more functions to the camera.
Elevate your photography with Imaging Edge desktop applications. Use "Remote" to remotely control shooting; "Viewer" to quickly preview, rate, and select photos from large image libraries; and "Edit" to develop RAW data into high-quality photos for delivery. Get the best from Sony RAW files, and manage your productions more efficiently.
Capture One Express (for Sony) is a free award-winning editing software that provides RAW development, easy management and powerful editing tools. Capture One Pro (for Sony) can be bought for even more editing tools and tethered shooting capability.
This product is compatible with Final Cut Pro X and iMovie.
What's in the Box
Rechargeable Battery NP-FW50, AC Adaptor: AC-UUD12, Shoulder strap, Body cap, Accessory shoe cap, Eyepiece cup, Micro USB cable
Users Say


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While he's not passing the ball to his favorite wide receiver, NFL great Kurt Warner is passing along life lessons to his seven children.
Arguably one of the best quarterbacks of this generation, Warner led the St. Louis Rams to a victory in Super Bowl XXXIV in 1999 when he was also named Super Bowl Most Valuable Player, and again in 2001. In 2008, he led the Arizona Cardinals to their first ever Super Bowl berth. Warner retired from the NFL in 2009 after a 12-year career. Post-NFL, he appeared on "Dancing with the Stars" in 2010 and this month, Warner will host a new reality TV show, "The Moment" on USA Network, in which he surprises people with the opportunity to pursue their dream job and answer their life long question of "what if."
Warner with is his wife, Brenda, live in Arizona with their seven children Zachary, Jesse Jo, Kade, Jada Jo, Elijah, and twins Sienna and Sierra. I had the opportunity to catch up with him about his new TV show, raising kids and balancing it all.
How do you explain your fame to your kids?
"We explain our circumstances by telling our kids that often times there are burdens that come with blessings. When you have money, there are a lot of people who would love to have some. When you have a high position at work, it unquestionable comes with pressure. When you have fame, it often comes with recognition and the solicitation of your attention. But, all of these situations must be balanced by looking at both sides of the equation. You can't simply separate the burdens and allow it to dampen your outlook in particular situations, you must always keep them in the context of the blessing that goes with them. We let them know often that the position we have and the way we are blessed to live comes from the life God has chosen to give us and we must always remember that the blessings far out weigh the burdens. If we were to look at the singular moments of being interrupted, asked for autograph, approached by media, etc. we could spend a lot of time dealing with frustration. But, I often try and let them see the blessing that comes from these situations, such as the chance to impact another's life, a platform to display character, or the chance to influence the way an article is written about me simply because I offered a little bit of time."
When you were playing football and now with your new reality TV show, how did you/do you balance it all?
"For me balance has taken on a different meaning than it used to. I used to think balance was equal time for all the different things I was doing, but all this did was run me ragged trying. I've realized that no matter how few things you may do in life, there is no way for life to be balanced or equal in regards to time. So I have come to look at balance from the perspective of equal effort, not equal time. There is no way if you work eight hours a day, that you can get eight hours of sleep and eight hours with your family, it's just not going to happen. But there is a way to make sure you give the same attention to each of your priorities for whatever amount of time you may delegate to each. For instance, when I am at work I give it everything I have to be excellent at it. That may be for eight hours. Then I come home and may only have a good solid hour of time to spend with my kids, so I make a conscience effort to make sure that my kids get the same attention that I applied at work. When I am with my kids my focus is on being an excellent father, that means making sure for that hour I truly connect with my kids, I give them good quality time."
What advice do you have for families when one of the parents travels a lot for work?
"Having been and continuing to lead a lifestyle that requires time away from home, this is never an easy thing. I would tell a family that must deal with the travel of one of the parents, is to first sit down and discuss why mom/dad must be away. The importance it plays in that person's career and financial success. I believe just that understanding from the children can go a long way. From there I would tell the family to make a conscious effort to make the kids a priority as often as possible. Go out of your way to be at your son/daughter's game or school activity when possible so they never feel your career not only takes you away from them, but is also more important. No job is worth losing a quality relationship with your family, but we also can't all lead a life where we can work from home. As I spoke about above when it comes to balancing life, it must be weighed in terms of quality over quantity and no where have I realized this is more important than when you must spend a lot of time away from home."
How do you and your wife, Brenda, divide your time among all of your children?
"Having seven children is one of the greatest blessings in my life. But as most can imagine juggling the lives and activities of seven kids with differing hobbies and personalities can be chaotic. One of the things we have done in raising our children is making a rule in the house that they can only be involved in one outside activity (sports, drama, etc.) at a time. By doing this it allows the kids to branch out and develop their skills and passions, but it doesn't eliminate our family time and we don't have to spend the majority of our time together in a car. We make sure that our kids have their own things, but we also feel it is extremely important to have time (daily if we can) together focused on our family unit. I feel it allows us as parents to enjoy our kids and not feel like we are just chauffeurs. It may not be the right approach for every family, but I do believe as our children grow it is important for them to have a healthy dose of both family oriented activities and individual activities."
What have you learned since becoming a father and what have your kids taught you about life?
"The biggest thing I've learned since having children is what 'love' really is. We throw around the word love all the time, but I think often times it is out of context. One of the most amazing characteristics of love is that it transforms us from a self-serving person to a serving person. Before having children and a family I spent most of my time focused on what I wanted and my daily life was centered around how to accomplish that. Now, I would gladly sacrifice my goals for the sake of my children. I would gladly give up a successful career to make sure I get quality time with my kids. They make my world go round and I wake up every day excited about being a father and having the responsibility of showing them what true love looks like. They have taught me, more than anything else, that the most important thing in life is loving one another. They don't care how much money I make, how many records I hold, or how many people recognize me, all they care about is knowing that they have a family that loves them."
Do you encourage your kids to play sports?
"I encourage my kids to do whatever it is that makes them happy. My wife and I definitely encourage being healthy and active. We encourage all activities that will help in this process, but we are more about allowing our kids to find those activities that make them feel alive and encouraging those. Up to this point sports has been those activities for my two youngest boys. But we have had singers, actors, dancers, artists, musicians. We love to watch our kids come into their own when participating in activities with their peers and we know there are many different ways of doing that, so our encouragement is always to push our kids to find their thing. It doesn't have to be what your brother or sister does and it doesn't have to be what your mom or dad want, find what makes you happy and then do it with all your heart."


text:
Jawad Jalali / EPA
Afghan women use the internet after the opening of the first women's internet cafe in Kabul, Afghanistan on Thursday. Afghan Women For Change Group opened a net cafe naming it after Afghan woman Sahargul, who was subject to severe domestic violence by her husband in Baghlan province and made news. According to a UN figure, about one-third of Afghan women are exposed to physical or psychological violence.
Jawad Jalali / EPA
Another view of the cafe's interior.
From a story on the Voice of America, reporting that YoungWomen4Change run the cafe as a safe place to exchange information without unwanted attention from men:
"We are very pleased that we are inaugurating this cafe, which is located in a safe location and safe environment," said Eqlima Muradi. "This paves the way for women to come to our cafe and use our facilities."
The brightly-painted cafe is named after Sahar Gul, a teenaged girl who gained international attention after police found her severely beaten in her husband's house in northern Baghlan province. Gul accused her husband and in-laws of torturing her.


text: It looks like their bringing out the hounds on this one. Still, no court cases have been fought yet, but they wouldn't be doing this if there wasn't a chance would they? It is possible they're just on a search for quick royalties from scared companies though. What's your opinion?


text:
Hi guys,
Here is my sample code,
public class EqualsCheck { public static void main(String[] args) { EqualsCheck eq = new EqualsCheck(); eq.checkBytes(); } public void checkBytes() { Byte myByte = new Byte("111"); if (myByte.toString() == myByte.toString()) { System.out.println("== is True"); } else { System.out.println("== is False"); } if (myByte.toString().equals(myByte.toString())) { System.out.println("equals is True"); } else { System.out.println("equals is False"); } } }
When I run it, I get the following output,
== is False equals is True
I am confused, because myByte.toString() always gives back the String value "111". Then how come == returns false and equals returns true.
I know that == checks the references and equals checks the actual objects, but where are those references that == checks which are not the same.
Can someone please clarify this for me?
Thanks in advance!


text:
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text: So, I know this topic will be controversial, I don't even know if I want it. Basically I think it is probably optimal for two skilled players to get in a good formation and pass until the other makes a mistake and moves forward, at least in some situations. This generally is not a problem because turtley players tend to be less skilled and with the advantage of first strike a good player will win anyway, but if 2 tournament players really want to play to win I think it will happen. This is because there is no reason to attack in Factions. There is no mid-map objective to take to incentivize a player into taking the first move. Really, this has been a good thing so far. It is hard to create such a scenario without granting an advantage to the first player, limiting game length, or having an objective that only matters at the end. Still, I think that in the future stalemates may become common, or at least leaves room for griefers to force a concede. Discuss? I really don't know what, if anything, should be done about this.


text:
Designed for natural movement and lockdown during intense workouts, the Nike Free TR7 AMP Women's Training Shoe features a flexible tri-star sole pattern and supportive Flywire cables.
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Ava Dress
SALE | The Ava Dress in Periwinkle Purple. Inspired by Victorianna styling. Designed with mock buttons on the front bodice made from intricate, glass cut beads adding a subtle sparkle. This statement dress features shimmering sequin artwork influenced by vintage floral lace with beautiful ruffle trims, delicately adorning this dress. Style yours with an on-trend hair ribbon to complete the look.
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- Do not tumble dry
- Cool iron on reverse
- Due to the delicate nature of the embellishment on this garment please handle with care
- Relaxed fitting dress with a multi-layered full skirt
- Length finishes above the knee
- Model is 175cm / 5ft 9in and a UK size 8 / US 4 / EU 36
If you need assistance with this product, please email us at firstname.lastname@example.com .
or call us 0207 043 2363. Our Customer Care team operate between 8.30 and 5.30 in the UK.


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Department of Human Behavior, Ecology and Culture
Deutscher Platz 6
04103 Leipzig
phone: +49 (0)341 3550 - 315
fax: +49 (0)341 3550 - 333
e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Kristin Hagel
Postdoctoral Researcher
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Department of Human Behavior, Ecology and Culture
Deutscher Platz 6
04103 Leipzig
Phone: +49 341 3550 326
E-mail: kristin_hagel@[>>> Please remove the brackets! <<<]eva.mpg.de
Office: level 1, room u1.43
Research interests
My research interests include the question of whether religious belief and ritual behavior have an adaptive significance in a social and ecological context. In order to tackle this question, I am currently examining whether variance in cross-cultural data concerning various aspects of religious belief can be explained by environmental constraints. By considering coordination problems I am additionally exploring ecological models of territoriality, landmark use and conservation practices. As part of my doctoral research I studied underlying theories of cooperation in social dilemmas and conducted economic games with human subjects. I am also interested in conservation and have research experience associated with non-human primates, rainforest ecology and community based forest management.


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Best Luray Commercial Roofing Company
20-Year Warranties Available
FREE Next Day Commercial Roof Inspections!
or Call: (316) 333-6403
More Info
We provide EPDM Rubber roofing services across the state of Kansas. If you have a leaking rubber roof in need of repair or replacement, we can help.
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We offer commercial metal roofing services across the state of Kansas. If you have a leaking metal roof that is in need of replacement, or minor repairs, we can help. We can also help restore your commercial metal roof with sprayed roof coatings.
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We provide TPO repair and replacement services for Kansas building owners & property managers. If you have a leaking TPO flat roof, give us a call today!
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We provide flat roofing repair services across the state of Kansas. If your TPO, or PVC, or rubber roof is leaking, we can help provide cost-effective repair solutions!
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We specialize in flat roof replacement. If your building's TPO or rubber roof is aging or showing signs of wearing down, give us a call to discuss your options for replacing your flat roof.
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We specialize in roof restoration through roof coatings. We can apply a polyurethane spray roof coating on-top of your existing roof to extend your roof's life. Roof coatings can be up to 50% less than the cost of a traditional roof replacement!
Is a full-service Luray commercial roofing company that was established in (year), and our services extend throughout the state. We are fully licensed, bonded and insured. Here at (business name), we provide expert and professional commercial roofing services for commercial, institutional, industrial, and municipality applications. Our team of highly-trained roofing engineers is leak-detection specialists and our business is committed to providing expert commercial roofing installations and repairs throughout the state of Luray.
In addition to our professional Luray commercial roofing services, we offer quality workmanship on all of the commercial roofing products we install, and we're dedicated to providing sustainable and durable installation products, ensuring staying power. We specialize in a variety of commercial roofing applications including:
We offer a wide range of commercial services in the state of Luray, from new construction to historic restoration and roof replacement. We also provide waterproofing and leaks services for commercial building owners as well as modified Bitumen, single ply roofing, metal roofing, built-up roofing, green roofs, and cool roofs. Additionally, we provide preventative maintenance programs, roof assistant management, smoke hatch/skylight installations, day-lighting, snow removal, and emergency response services.
Workplace safety is a top priority for both our workers and clients. We put safety first when it comes to any one of our commercial roofing projects. As a professional company, we adhere to all OSHA guidelines and safety practices, and our team is trained and educated on workplace safety before we even send them to a job site. We're not just a Luray commercial roofing company with a strict safety policy but a safe company with an outstanding track recorded for safety.
Fall Protection: According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) workers must be provided fall protection for heights six feet or higher. All of our workers are provided with a personal fall arrest system (PFAS), which consists of a harness, anchor, and lanyard. When used correctly, this safety device is known to save lives and prevent serious injuries from occurring.
Top Guardrail System: Our experts are highly trained at installing top guardrail systems that meet or exceed OSHA safety standards. In addition to our top guard rail system, we also deploy a warning line system that includes safety nets and line monitors who keep a watchful eye on workers, pedestrians, equipment or for any breaches in the warning line system.
Ladder and Scaffold Safety: Ladders and scaffolding provide our workers with a convenient means to access the roof and ensure workplace safety. All of our employees are trained on proper ladder and scaffolding placements and installations as well as being trained to recognize visible defects in the equipment.
Falling Object Protection: As employers, we are required by law to protect workers and pedestrians from falling objects from platforms and scaffolding. Our workplace safety practices include a barricaded area under the scaffolding as well as installing toeboards on our scaffolding for maximum workplace safety.
Aerial Lift, Forklift, and Crane Operators: We only authorize workers who are trained to operate articulating and extensible boom platforms. Our aerial lift, forklift, and crane operators are certified and highly-trained with respect to articulating and extensible boom platforms. Our operators also inspect the equipment each day before use to ensure the equipment is functioning properly in accordance with OSHA requirements.
The biggest benefit for hiring an expert commercial roofing contractor for any commercial building owner is protecting their investments, which include the building and its contents. A neglected leak can cause significant damage to a building's contents as well as interior construction components and even structural damage. Hiring a professional roofing contractor ensures the materials are installed correctly, which ultimately result in sustainable investments and protection for the building and its contents.
Other benefits include emergency repair services as well as routine maintenance plans that reduce future expenses and increase company revenues. Most commercial roofing projects in Luray can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars or even millions; therefore, hiring a professional Luray commercial roofing contractor is a wise investment.
Luray Commercial Roofing
Luray Commercial Low Slope Roofing
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Luray EPDM Rubber Roofing
Luray TPO Roofing
Luray Commercial Flat Roofing
At Yutzy Roofing Service, we guarantee our customers complete satisfaction.
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~Titus Yutzy
NOTE:Your thorough commercial roof inspection will include: photographs, detailed assessment, storm damage discovery + estimate for insurance claims with an easy-to-understand discussion of cost-effective repair or replacement solutions
Costs Up To 50% Less Than a New Roof
Roof Coatings can save you up to 50% compared to a full commercial roof replacement!
Save on labor costs
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May qualify for federal tax rebates, deductions and tax credits
Restoring your roof can potentially earn you a federal tax credit.
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Roof coatings are highly touted for their ability to hold up to severe weather. The more durable material you have protecting your roof, the less you will need to worry about your roof after each storm, and having to pay for costly repairs.
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How long will it take to replace my commercial roof?
Not all commercial flat roofs have to be completely torn off and replaced. Your roof could be eligible to be restored with roof coatings, which can be up to 50% less in cost than a full replacement. Ask us about this during your free inspection!
How much does a new commercial roof cost?
This answer depends on numerous factors. The size of your roof is one of the largest considerations, as a 100,000 square foot roof will cost more than a 10,000 square foot roof. Other variables include what type of material you are having installed. Completely replacing your roof versus having a polyurethane spray coating applied overtop of your roof will also cost more. Other things that can influence price are the warranty you select, membrane choice and insulation.
How often should I have my roof inspected?
It is advisable to have your roof inspected twice a year to ensure it is in working order. This is especially true after violent hail or wind storms sweep into the area. Kansas is home to extreme weather, including large hail. Storm damage that is not repaired quickly can worsen over time causing roof failure.
How long will it take to repair or replace my roof?
The duration of flat roof repair or replacement depends on variables, such as the size of your roof and the material being applied or installed. Most commercial roofs can be finished in as little as 5-10 days. A roof coating can be completed quicker than an entire replacement.
What types of commercial roofing services do you provide?
We can provide flat roof repair and flat roof replacement. If you have a commercial metal roof, flat roof, or low slope roof, we can help you restore your roof with roof coatings instead of having to replace your entire roof. We can also help with TPO, PVC, rolled roof, and industrial roof repair.
How can roof coatings help pay for our new roof?
Roof coatings are growing in popularity across Kansas and the nation for numerous reasons. The biggest being that it can be 50% cheaper than installing a brand new roof. Since a coating job requires less labor since it takes less time, you are able to save on labor expenses. Cool roofs can also help you qualify for federal tax rebates and credits. With a reflective roof, your roof can help reflect the sun's UV rays from your building, helping to save you money on your utility bill. Collectively, these saving can add up considerably!


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I have been teaching for 20 years. I taught 1st grade for 4 years, a 1/2 combo for 1 year, and 2nd grade for the last 15 years.
I think that a good teacher must maintain a balance. A good teacher provides a lot of daily skill and drill spiral review type activities balanced with real life, hands on, creative activities that challenge students to use their minds. A good teacher must plan great activities and lessons that are tailored to the needs of his/her students. More than anything, a good teacher must see the best in all his/her students and work hard to bring out those qualities!
The awards come daily as the "light" comes on in my students' brains! I love to create my own supplemental curriculum and see how much it helps my students.
I have a bachelor's degree in liberal studies, and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction. I am credentialed by the state of California.
I am married and have three beautiful children who probably wish their mom didn't spend so much time creating new curriculum!
PreK, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, Higher Education, Adult Education, Homeschool
English Language Arts, Balanced Literacy, Creative Writing, Reading, Grammar, Spelling, Vocabulary, Specialty, Math, Basic Operations, Fractions, Graphing, Science, Earth Sciences, Social Studies - History, Government, Physical Education, Health, Other (Specialty), ELA Test Prep, Math Test Prep, Other (Social Studies - History), Other (ELA), Life Skills, Literature, Economics , Word Problems, Study Skills, General Science, Physical Science, Problem Solving, Short Stories, Reading Strategies, Phonics


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Love the performance of the Nike Legacy91 Tech Hat, but don't want to represent the brand? With our Nike Legacy91 Custom Tech Hat, you start off with a completely blank canvas which you can leave clean, or upload your own custom logo to embroider along the front.
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"The King of Swing" was his nickname, and golf was his game. Sam Snead was known as one of the greatest golfers of all time — and his namesake restaurant is equally as good. Sometimes known for the early-bird crowd, Sam Snead's Oak Grill and Tavern should be known for its food, as well.
Although I prefer to sit in the bar area or at the outside tables for a more laid-back and comfortable atmosphere, it's also fun to discover the golf memorabilia around the dining room at Sam Snead's. This neighborhood staple is one of my favorite Sunday night dinner spots for comfort food and good company.
On this particular visit, my dining companion and I started off with the bacon-wrapped sea scallops ($12.95) served with homemade remoulade. The succulent scallops were cooked to perfection, and the homemade sauce made the plate a winner. And, although we normally never have reason to comment on the small detail of bread being brought to the table, I have to make note that Sam Snead's has one of the best loaves of bread — especially when it's straight out of the oven.
For the main course, I ordered the house specialty baby back ribs ($16.95 for a half-rack), which are slathered with a molasses-based barbecue sauce and served with coleslaw and French fries. These ribs are by far my favorite in town! The sauce is the perfect balance of sweet and tangy, and the rib meat is tender enough to be pulled off the bone with a fork. I substituted the basil redskin mashed potatoes for the fries, and the basil component really added to the side dish — comfort food at its best.
My dining companion tried one of the specials, baked black grouper with Italian breadcrumbs and a balsamic reduction ($23.95). Unfortunately, he was disappointed with the dry texture and lack of taste in a dish that sounded so appealing.
For dessert, there was no disappointment. After seeing the usual suspects of chocolate cake and Key lime pie on the menu, my companion and I ordered the most unusual: Xango ($7.95), crispy, fried pastry shells filled with warm cheesecake and rolled in cinnamon sugar. The crunch of the pastry and sweetness of the cinnamon sugar brought me back to the days when churros were the big treat in my school's cafeteria. You always felt special when Mom packed you extra money for those warm treats, and Sam Snead's Xango dessert is definitely a special indulgence. The warm cheesecake center oozed out after every bite of deliciousness, and the cinnamon sugar was the cherry on top.
Sam Snead's Oak Grill and Tavern is the perfect place to unwind, whether with a great meal or one of its recession-friendly happy-hour specials. It's always a great place to bring the family for lunch or dinner or to enjoy watching a game at the bar.
Golf skills not required.
Sam Snead's Oak Grill and Tavern
Address: 1830 S. Osprey Ave., Suite 100
Phone: 906-7771
Web site: www.samsneadssarasota.com
Summer hours: Open 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 4 to 11 p.m. Saturday and 4 to 10 p.m. Sunday.
Manager: Ed Talman
Year opened: 2001
Meals served: Lunch and dinner
Payments: All major credit cards accepted
Good for: Casual dinner
Special features: Golf memorabilia
Vibe/atmosphere: Family gathering and neighborhood spot
Order this: Baby back ribs, $16.95


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Ball State University is dedicated to providing a safe and secure academic research environment for all faculty, staff, and students. In furtherance of this commitment, the Laboratory Safety and Security Committee (LSSC) provides general oversight and guidance to the campus through promotion of a safe and secure work environment in all research and teaching laboratories, associated scientific operations, and facilities. The committee consists of members from a broad range of departments and reflects the diversity of scientific disciplines and regulatory issues involved with laboratory safety, integrity, and security on campus.
The responsibilities of the committee are to:
In addition to providing oversight and guidance, the committee may recommend the modification, suspension, or termination of any laboratory activities that are deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to life, security, or safety. Review the Chemical Hygiene Plan, ChemTracker, and Resources section of the LSSC website to learn more, or contact the Office of Research Integrity for further information regarding the Laboratory Safety and Security Committee.
The Laboratory Safety and Security Committee website will continue to be updated with new content as it becomes available.


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Any organization manufacturing products or supplying services that involve receiving parts from suppliers should have an audit system in place for conducting an efficient and effective supplier management audits.
Select all the resources you're interested in downloading
There are two fundamental elements of the ISO 9001:2000 standard that specifically address the purpose and importance of supplier management audits:
In relation to the supplier management audits, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Guide to Inspections of Medical Device Manufacturers stipulates, in accordance with 21 CFR 820.50 and , that:
Particular attention should be paid to custom components and those components that would require special handling or storage to maintain their integrity. Be wary of situations where a manufacturer has relaxed specifications because the supplier could not meet the original specifications which can be identified by conducting supplier management audits.
Although CPG 7151.02 prohibits FDA access to a company's reports pertaining to supplier management audits, the documentation and procedures that indicate conformance with 21 CFR 820.50, Purchasing Controls, and 21 CFR 820.20(3)(c), Management Reviews, are subject to FDA inspection. For all the reasons mentioned above, an effective solution for conducting these audits is highly recommended.
The MasterControl software system for conducting a supplier management audit (MasterControl Supplier) facilitates compliance with a wide range of standards pertaining to a supplier audit such as:
Regulatory standards like these recommend that organizations document all results of a supplier audit, in addition to customer-related activities that could lead to nonconformances are built in the supplier management audit software.
The MasterControl Supplier solution is designed to facilitate compliance by offering an easily maintainable approved vendor list (AVL).
MasterControl's Supplier solution tracks and stores information derived from the supplier management audits automatically, just as it does other supplier-related activities such as non-conformance reports, CAPAs, and supplier deviations. MasterControl Supplier™ maintains information about the supplier audit on the audit report which is stored in a centralized repository.
The MasterControl Supplier solution allows users to supervise suppliers on the AVL on an ongoing basis. It also supports the successful fulfillment of a number of qualifications for a supplier, such as the supplier survey, supplier audit, and process validation.
MasterControl securely stores and maintains all of a suppliers vital information such as:
The information pertaining to the supplier data, which includes the supplier audit, is maintained in a single, centrally located repository. MasterControl's supplier management audits offer users a variety of functionality options including:
The MasterControl supplier management audits system can track and trend the results of an audit report or a supplier audit, as well as CAPAs and deviations.
To learn more about the supplier management audits software from MasterControl, please feel free to contact a MasterControl representative.