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This morning I had an automobile breakdown in my "beater" weekend truck. We have all been there-- filled with the inconvenience and anxiety of dealing with a problem that came up unexpectedly. I was appreciative to find a place that could get me home that day. I googled around until I found a reasonable looking repair shop close to the breakdown. They worked me in to their schedule so I could get the old truck back on the road. It was pleasing to have the problem fixed, at least for that day, but I measured this against how I have experienced service at the shop that takes care of my daily driver car.
There were many things about the breakdown with my old pickup truck that reminded me of a dental emergency. I found someone that I could trust and they had the best intentions to provide a fix. It was a shop that I didn't have a relationship with. They were kind and helpful, but there were so many things missing that would have been unlikely to happen if I treated my old truck like I do the car that I have been so much more diligent in taking care of. The shop focused on the problem that was presented to them, not looking beyond a simple fix to get me back on the road. While I was appreciative, it is very unlikely that the next problem (or even the cause of this one) was looked for. I did not leave with any feeling that I would not be in a similar situation as soon as the next problem arose.
I reflect to the years I have spent with the auto shop that takes care of my car. I have a valued relationship with them. They know me and know that I appreciate them taking the best care of the investment I have in the vehicle I drive everyday. When I take my car to an appointment, they look over everything and tell me when to expect maintenance and repairs in the near future and through the life of the vehicle. I trust them and know that they have have the best interest for me and in return I am very appreciative, expressing gratitude when I write them a check for their services. I have never "broken down" in the cars they take care of for me.
Coincidently, many days, I use the analogy of cars to taking care of teeth with my patients. We wear away the surfaces of our teeth similarly to how tires age. We pay for maintenance and parts with an equal financial obligation. When we have to start over and restore our vehicle (or get a new one), sometimes it costs the same as major treatment we could have done for our teeth. Sometimes the auto investment is inconvenient and causes urgency. Often, if we chose, it is predictable and pleases us. We find ways to pay for it. Individuals always seem to find ways to pay for the things they value. We chose our own experiences. I invite my patient family to consider experiencing dental care in my practice similar to the good experience I have had with reliable and well maintained cars.
The business card for my practice has three tag words on it: Restorative, Comprehensive, and Esthetic. I have been told that these are three descriptors that have a very obscure meaning for new patients to understand. Why not be like the dentist down the street and just say "Cosmetic" or "Family Dentistry"? I believe every opportunity I have to explain each of these focused goals for our patient care enriches the dentistry I am able to provide patients. So many in our patient family have learned through these experiences exactly what these words mean.
Comprehensive: Simply that we look at the patient as a whole. We observe and diagnose globally and intend to partner with our patients in a thorough individualized manner. The best dentistry does not happen when we just look at a tooth with a problem, in fact it isn't much better when a dentist has a look at your "teeth". Comprehensive Dentistry considers the whole system and the individual. How are the muscles and joints that affect and are effected by the teeth and their use considered? How are the structures that support the teeth? What are the factors unique to a patient's habits, routines, and systemic health that relate to ideal dental health? What are a patient's individual goals, desires, and expectations? Will the dentist take everything they can gather about the causes of problems and consider them in the solutions? The list goes on. This is a highly intentional paradigm of patient care .
Restorative: The focus on restorative dentistry is just as it sounds. In our practice, we want to restore patients to an ideal state of health and function. Tremendous effort toward continual education, technology, and our approach to care beyond the average dental setting has been placed to achieve this ability.
Esthetic: Esthetic Dentistry speaks to taking great care in the art and science of making dentistry beautiful. Yes, it is a nose thumbing at the overused term "Cosmetic Dentistry". We believe that all good dental restoration is more beautiful if provided in the context of health and function. At the end of a good day, we want to create smiles that our patients can be proud of because they are beautiful, healthy, and durable.
We all have things that we value enough to invest in. We all make choices that take effort because we want the result, just like my car that I enjoy and that is reliable. I invite you to consider that experience with your teeth through the comprehensive approach.
I see lots of teeth. One at a time in a normal month, I'd say I individually peer over 100,000 to maybe 120,000 of them. Occasionally, definitely not everyday, I see what I might consider a perfect compliment of them. Yes, that perfect smile of healthy teeth and gums. It's a rare thing to behold (even in a dental practice), absolutely far more rare in the general population. So when I see those perfect pearly whites, I am not hesitant to offer a compliment. I've even been know to photograph them for reference. A thought crossed my mind a bit back that I should start looking for a pattern. Why are these people so blessed? I was not surprised that the thing all of these folks had in common was a simple set of habits. These habits and attitudes are rather intuitive-- but living with them seems rare, shared by owners of teeth that prove these pearly whites are loved. Part of me wanted to post this list on a sign, maybe a cross-stitched pillow or something in my reception area, but better judgement gets the best of me every time-- so here is this blog.
The top 9 ways I've observed to maintain perfect teeth and oral health.
Yes, this seems picky and even daunting! No wonder finding a smile full of perfect teeth is rare, perhaps less than 1% of the population! Blessed are those that don't have "sins of their youth" (cavities, etc. from childhood) or previous dentistry to maintain (which takes even more effort)-- but I see plenty of folks who pick up these habits and attitudes that have not had them their whole life and they are (with a little help from a good dentist), indeed perfect. The practice of dentistry is a paradox. We dentists might be seen as folks that make our living "fixing" all the problems that arise, but at the same time we are highly motivated to encourage prevention and play defense against disease. Why? Because health is beautiful and exciting. Also, in a perfect dental practice, we would be working in a healthy m
outh solving the riddle of restoring back the factors that people can not control. We find when these owners of a perfect healthy mouth rarely need our care, it is met with their welcome and our achieving great outcomes together is easy.
I want to share a story about learning.
Eleven years ago, immediately after graduating from dental school I did what every dentist does-- because they have to-- and joined up in the local dental society. I went to the North Carolina dental meeting and sat through the continuing education lectures. After each slideshow, each lecture I found myself walking away with a "pearl" or two of useful information. It was nice to learn about a new material (the lectures in these venues are usually sponsored by manufactures) or perhaps a glimmer about something bigger that your average Dr. Joe could do more of in the dental practice, but I knew more was out there!
A bit disenchanted, I began to look to accomplished mentors and dentists that I admired to help define how the care and services in my practice could be improved. What I learned was that there was a whole world out there of very talented dentists that where dedicated to a lifetime of continued learning. Then in that first year of dental practice, a blessing crossed my path. Our local periodontist, Dr. Ron Nason, invited me to come with him and several other young dentists to the L.D. Pankey Institute in Key Biscayne, Florida. Little did I know that on that trip I would foster some of my greatest friendships and collegial relationships and begin a journey in dentistry that defines my attitude toward delivering dental care. After a week of intensive study in Florida, my eyes were opened. The elements of a completely different paradigm of dentistry (and life) were laid out before me.
In the years that followed, and now still, I find myself spending many days a year learning (and now teaching) comprehensive dentistry. While the state dental board requires 16 hours of continuing education a year, it is not uncommon for me and my dental team to amass well over 150 hours. As I worked my way through the continuum at Pankey, I developed a relationship with my mentor, Dr. Todd Davis, who practices in Atlanta. Since 2005, I have returned twice a year to a study club held in Todd's Buckhead restorative practice facilitated byTodd's mentor and renowned master dentist, Dr. Richard Green. As the years past, Todd started traveling up to Gastonia a couple of times a year-- on each of these trips he keeps me and my team on our toes and accountable for the learning goals I set with he and Dr. Green in our bi-annual weekend meetings.
In addition to learning at Pankey I have invested time learning restorative dentistry through Spear Education in Scottsdale, Arizona. Dr. Frank Spear is considered, perhaps on a the world leaders in dentistry. At home with several close colleagues, I facilitate and participate in a monthly local study club that reviews advanced restorative cases packaged by Spear. I have found that the technical excellence taught by Spear's team, the comprehensive-behavioral philosophy of the Pankey Institute, and my experience in the Atlanta Study Club ground the basis for my practice philosophy.
In addition to my journey with these more comprehensive focused programs, I still participate in technical and procedure based learning. Our practice has provided CEREC ceramic restorations since 2005. By combining the ethics and comprehensive approach of Spear and Pankey to learning this technology, we have become leaders in providing excellent same day, office manufactured restorations. With Dr. Nason, I have also spend three years of extensive study in the Biomet 3i Synergy Implant learning program. From this, my practice has teamed with Dr. Nason to provide our community world class services in predictable dental implant procedures.
I am still involved in the local and state dental societies, I find that they are the backbone that makes dentistry in our community such a pleasant environment to practice in. I now take the learning from my wider journey toward mastering our art and view all the events that present learning in dentistry as opportunities to learn and teach others.
I can say that if a dentist ever finds themselves stagnant, our profession always has a world out there to learn from and master.
And so I say thank you to those that teach, inspire and mentor me . . .
Dr. Bill Kelly, a father who always is patient and full of wisdom; Dr. Richard Green, a mentor and teacher that continues to inspire generations in our profession; Dr. Todd Davis, the mentor that pushes me in a vulnerable learning environment; Sheri Kay, RDH, who gives me energy and inspiration; Dr. Ron Nason, who has a vision for better dentistry in our community; Dr. Will Current, my learning and accountability partner; to all of my colleagues and friends in the Pankey, Spear, and ACT Dental community nationwide that provide support and inspiration; and importantly to my loving family that kindly yields their time with me for my pursuit of learning.
Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, the condition of a tooth sometimes deems it necessary to remove it. In the past, the choices for replacing a single tooth were: not replacing the tooth, fabricating some type of removable appliance (like a partial denture), or making a fixed bridge (a crown on either side with a false one in the space). Today it is rare for a patient to desire going without or a removable denture, so we are left with two choices: a fixed bridge or placing a dental implant with a crown over it. Both options are very desirable and have great outcomes when indicated. Both options are typically a major investment that patients must be willing to make to restore health, beauty, and function. They are usually both treatments that patients with dental plans can receive some assistance with, but typically require some personal investment beyond insurance (of course, we think it is worth it to support health and happiness through the patient's life time.) Not replacing teeth with stable restorations can result in teeth shifting causing negative effects on other teeth, not to mention the benefits to chewing efficiency and appearance.
Replaces missing teeth attractively.
Usually allows gums around restored teeth to look natural.
Cost is usually around 75% of the cost of a single implant.
Could be beneficial if neighboring teeth need crowns anyway.
Over treatment of neighboring teeth if not needed on them.
Long term prognosis 20+ years lower than implants, lower if the supporting teeth have already had very extensive dentistry.
Teeth are connected, therefore if one has a problem in future they all do.
Must floss under bridge rather than through tooth contacts.
Single tooth implants have been around for decades, since the turn of the 21st century they are very common and becoming considered the standard of care in most situations where a single tooth is lost. An implant is placed precisely by a surgeon after an evaluation and consultation. In some instances it can be immediately restored, in most cases the implant that is integrating into the jaw bone must heal for 3-6 months before it can be restored. When the implant is ready for restoration, Dr. Kelly designs an abutment (a part that attaches to the top of the implant just under the gum line) and a ceramic crown to go over it. Single tooth implants, when well planned, are very predictable and have an excellent long term prognosis. The process, despite being perceived as a painful surgery, is a relatively comfortable procedure.
Implants are the closest restoration to natural teeth, replacing the lost root with a titanium post.
Implants have an excellent prognosis, likely higher than bridges long term.
Implants do not affect neighboring teeth.
Can be flossed individually.
Can be used in more extensive implant restorations in future if other nearby teeth have problems (see link below).
Require significant financial investment, costing around 25% more than bridges. This investment typically pays for itself however when amortized through life (they are far less likely to fail and need re-treatment.)
Take multiple appointments over several months.
Require adequate bone to support the implant fixture, sometimes the supporting bone can be improved through procedures, other times implants can not be placed if the bone doesn't offer a favorable prognosis (we do not chance it if we believe there is a questionable chance of success!)
In some cases, bridges offer a more esthetic option at the gum line if significant bone loss has occurred. We always evaluate this consideration in critical cosmetic areas.
Bridges are not limited to single tooth implants, however the longer the span and number of teeth involved, often the lower the prognosis becomes and the liability of multiple tooth failure increases.
The single tooth implant is the simplest use for dental implants. They are a workhorse that can be used for a variety of other applications. These include: bridges than span across multiple implants (not putting an implant under every tooth when a row of teeth are missing), providing a firm snap for dentures and partials to give retention and support, implants can support under-girding bars for very stable and attractive removable dentures that keep bone from being lost, and large fixed prostheses called hybrid fixed dentures that can be made with a variety of materials including acrylic and porcelain. For more information (and some real-life examples of our cases and our lab's work) on these exquisite options for missing teeth visit another of my blog posts: Modern Denture Alternatives.
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|Friends' School alumni, all current
honorees at Boulder High School
....back in the day
Increasingly we are becoming a more data driven society. With an abundance of information at our fingertips, we want to see proof, results, statistics - immediately.
I remember walking down to the public library to look at Consumer Reports (they wouldn't let me check it out of the building) before making a major purchase – for a car or a camera for example. Now, I can pull up dozens of review sites in a matter of seconds and get infinitely more information and reviews. And not just on cars and electronics –but on restaurants, bike repair shops, even independent schools.
Increasingly, parents don't just want to know that their kids are learning and happy in school. They want proven results. In the educational world in recent years, that has meant a major focus on test scores. At independent schools like Friends', who value academics but also value many other characteristics, results are not always a straightforward thing to prove.
In my Among Friends' essay last week, I wrote that "we are charged with preparing students for their futures, supporting them to build skills they will need to lead successful lives." I wrote about characteristics such as: curiosity, passion, commitment, focus, strategic thinking, collaboration, creativity, and emotional intelligence.
How do schools measure such things? There are more and more tools that are being developed to measure these "intangibles". At Friends' in our upper grades, we use ERB standardized tests which give us one set of data about academics. Each year our students do very well and outperform their public school peers. But that is not the whole story.
We are focused on the people whom are students and graduates become. We stay in touch with our alumni and help them to stay in touch with each other. We hear their stories and celebrate with them their successes. Our admissions brochures and our AlumniAssociation Facebook page are filled with amazing success stories of adventurous, innovative young people making a massive difference in the world. They are using their innate wisdom and creativity and passion to change the world for the better. They are inventors and athletes, they are raising funds to change lives, they are writing music and books, and studying to become world-class medics or business owners.
|Boulder High students who attended Friends' and were honored
at the Academic Letter Program last week
Just this week, Friends' graduate Michael Hansen was featured on the front page of the Sunday New York Times Business Section for his work on developing the anti-procrastination app Finish. (You can read more about Michael in a former Among Friends' column here.)
Last week, Boulder High School had its annual Academic Letter Program. Friends' School graduates were featured prominently. Students at Boulder High earn an Academic Letter if they earn a 4.0 GPA or above in a semester or a 3.5 GPA or above in two consecutive semesters. Sixteen former Friends' School students were honored on Thursday night, in all four classes. Almost every child in Friends' graduating class of 2010 who are now freshmen at Boulder, earned an academic letter.
We are proud of our grads, of their academic success. However we are also proud of their leadership and the differences they are making in their school and wider community. We know they will all go on to bigger and better things than the academic awards at high school.
But it's nice to know they're on the right track. Congratulations to all!

subset: commoncrawl


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I saw Spamalot finally today. It was at Simi Valley, which was a little less than an hour drive from my place, but with the afternoon free and the ticket at half price to $11, why not?
I have always loved Monty Python and this was a perfect thing for me. I had known about this musical since it first came out but I never saw it. I never had the opportunity. But today's show was so fun.
Much like the movie itself, it had all the classic scenes (black knight, rabbit, etc.) and it really was so funny. The songs were great and every actor had a great voice. The characters were so unique and funny, it was truly a fun show. I am glad I saw it.
Can't really give a review. I don't know how to do one really. But I think if you enjoy Monty Python, this is a perfect musical to see.


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"Tribal Council"
Principal Chief: Gregory Strother
Greg is the "jack of all trades" and he is truly master of all. He loves his tribe and works hard to preserve the culture. He defends the rights and privileges of the community. Greg will not tolerate irresponsible behavior, he maintains an air of organization for his people. His multi-faceted career takes him to many places and he always serves as a proud ambassador for his tribe. He donates much of his time and expertise to the people. Day or night he is always available should the need arise. The tribe appreciates Greg's perseverance.
Vice Chief: Louise Willis
Louise is a very talented person with our ancient crafts, traditions, and services. She is always busy with tribal work. Louise works with children's groups teaching and encouraging the youth to continue on in tradition. She is always ready for the job whatever it may be. Whether it is teaching how to make corn husk dolls, dream catchers, or pine straw baskets. She is steadfast in her convictions, and very loyal to her tribe.
Secretary: Rickey Richard
Tribal Council--Rickey Richard,--Rickey is one of the most congenial individuals a Tribal council could hope to have. He is always eager and ready to see the job get done and Rickey is a Gourd Dancer at Pow-Wows. He works as general maintenance as well as all other areas. Rickey does legal research for the tribe. He always keeps an eye open for new fundraising ventures. Rickey travels many miles each day in his work and he is always on the lookout for new opportunities for the tribe. Rickey is a vigilant warrior for the council, he protects his people.
Glen Dyer
Glen Dyer is Council Member for Beauregard Parish and Tribal Marshall. He is a retired Government Employee. He devotes his spare time to the tribe and a great contributor of financial support to his tribe. He is a great sportsman in all hunting seasons.
Marvin Gill
Marvin Gill is a Council Member.More info coming soon.
Nancy Hicks
Nancy Hicks is aCouncil Member. More info coming soon.
Loretta Willis Melder
Loretta Willis Melder for Rapides Parish and At Large. Alternate.
Barbara Shirley
Barbara Shirley is Alternate for Beauregard Parish.
Rose Perkins
Rose Perkins is Alternate for Allen Parish.
Tribal Photographer: David Tauzin


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Brussels, 21 Nov 2003
The University of the Transmanche, the first UK-French university, is currently putting the finishing touches to its list of courses, ready for the first intake of students in September 2004.
The cross-channel university brings together three Lille universities and the University of the Littoral in France with the UK's University of Kent. The institution will offer Masters degrees in health and medical sciences and ethics, as well as European law and international commerce.
'The Transmanche University is the first of its kind on both sides of the Channel,' said David Melville, Vice Chancellor of the University of Kent. 'We are creating a real transfrontier higher education institution.'
The university will be jointly funded by education departments in both countries as part of a two million euro education agreement signed between UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and French President Jacques Chirac earlier this year.
In addition to postgraduate courses, the university will eventually offer undergraduate programmes, as well as lifelong learning initiatives and professional development programmes.


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About Oolong Tea
Fermentation: Semi-fermented
Growing Regions: Fujian, Guangdong, Taiwan
Best Seasons To Purchase: Spring and Autumn
Pharmacological Elements: caffeine, flavonol, tea polyphenol, vitamin C and E, catechins, carotene and minerals such as zinc, selenium and florin
Most Popular Varieties:
In the family tree of Chinese teas, Oolong Tea which is semi-fermented, lies between un-fermented Green Tea and fermented Black Tea (called Black Tea in the West but actually known as Red Tea in China). The range of fermentation varies from 8% to 70%. Oolong is sometimes written as Wulong but the meaning is the same: Oo (Wu) means Black and Long means Dragon. Oolong Tea is also known in China as "Qing Cha".
According to the growing and processing region, there are four major categories of Oolong Tea :
Oolong Tea has 7 processing steps:
Picked leaves are spread out (inside and/or outside in the sun) to soften the cell walls of leaves. This draws the moisture to the surface for evaporation, softens the leaves, begins natural enzymatic fermentation and sets up the next stage of processing. This also reduces the grassy taste of tea leaves.
Tossing/Bruising (Turning Over)
Known as "Shaking" in Chinese, because in the old days, the leaves were simply shaken in a wicker basket. Today, this step is done with the aid of machines to further break down the leaves by mechanical means (as opposed to chemical means as in "Withering"). This improves oxidation and mixes chemical elements from the stems with the leaves, removing bitterness and balancing the flavour of the tea.
Oxidization (Partial and Full)
This step used in Oolongs and Black Teas continues the natural process of fermentation by allowing the leaves to rest after the Withering or Tossing/Bruising (Turning Over) steps. The time allowed determines the amount of fermentation for the tea being made. At this point, the leaves turn to a darker green or even a red colour, due to the breaking down of the cell structure of the leaves. It is at this stage where the tea begins to develop its grassy, flowery or fruity taste characteristics.
"Kill-Green" (also known as Fixing")
Stops the natural fermentation and growing processes within the leaves without damaging them. Steaming the leaves, hand pressing in a hot pan and baking techniques are used. This also sets up the next step for Rolling/Forming the leaves.
Leaves are passed through hot and/or cold rollers to slightly break down the leaves, which establishes the shape of the leaves and intensifies the tea flavour.
Establishes the final moisture content of the leaves, stops fermentation, prevents mold growth, removes any grassy leaf taste and develops the tea's aroma. Sun drying, pan heating and hot air methods are used.
(Oolongs) Various methods of roasting in a pan or a basket with charcoal or electric heat are used to give a smoky flavour or a fruity characteristic.
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Oolong Tea as we know it today is the result of a long evolution, originating during the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) in the Beiyun region of Phoenix Mountain (Fenghuanshang) in Fujian Province. It was first known as Beiyun Tea and because of its fine quality and unique flavour, it was the first tea to be made a tribute tea, in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). In the tribute custom, tea regions were selected by the Emperor to produce tea to be offered as a gift to the royal court, which was a great honour and good for business.
In time, government officials, monks and scholars began visiting and emigrating to the Fujian area and were surprised with the strong "earth-stone" taste of the teas from the Wuyi Mountain region, so different from the un-fermented Green Tea which was the only tea that existed in China to that point. These teas came to be known as Wuyi or Cliff Tea. Hearing of this wonderful new tea, the Emperor sent a sample of an un-fermented compressed Green Tea cake to Wuyi and asked for tribute tea. What he received was Dragon Phoenix Compressed Tea which was made from a mold which imprinted the tea cake with the design of a dragon and a phoenix. This tea became very famous as a result.
The fame of Wuyi teas spread far and wide and continued to be designated as a tribute tea throughout the Ming (1368 - 1644) and Qing Dynasties (1644 - 1911).
In 1725, tea producers in the Anxi region of Fujian adapted the methods of making traditional Wuyi Tea and improved the technology to develop a new tea - Oolong. In 1796, Oolong Tea was introduced to the Northern Fujian region and to Taiwan, where today, each region is well known for their distinctive Oolong Teas.
To learn about the flavours of Oolong Tea , see flavour guide
Because Oolong Tea is exposed to a small to medium amount of processing, the leaves are subject to natural enzymatic breakdown by oxidation just like any other organic material. Oolong Tea is best kept in a cool, dry place in an airtight container or even in a refrigerator. We recommend refrigeration which actually improves the taste of the tea, as well as making it last much longer. However, if refrigerated storage is used, the tea should be kept refrigerated at all times as successive warming and cooling will degrade the tea.
There are many health benefits attributed to drinking Chinese tea, ranging from feelings of well-being to near magical cures. For the average Westerner, much of this interest is focused on ancient claims related to weight loss and more modern claims of cancer-prevention due to tea's anti-oxidant properties. Each person must make their own assessment of the facts. While there are centuries of tradition and empirical evidence from Traditional Chinese Medicine, there is little modern scientific consensus that supports the health benefits of tea. Even the effect of anti-oxidants to prevent anything has recently been drawn sharply into focus.
We believe that any food product can have positive and/or negative health effects and in varying degrees for different individuals. We do not recommend teas on the basis of health benefits and at this point, do not think it is prudent to recommend tea-drinking for anything other than to enjoy the wonderful flavour and the experience of enjoying tea alone or with friends.
For reference purposes only, we list the benefits of Oolong Tea as commonly recognized in Traditional Chinese Medicine:
It is common to hear people say "Tea has much more caffeine than coffee". It is just as common to hear the opposite point of view. In fact with all the varieties of teas and coffees available, the different methods of manufacturing and preparing them for consumption and the different amounts consumed, both statements are in need of significant qualification.
So how much caffeine does tea and coffee have? Scientific studies and consumer group reports can both be less than detailed about what teas were used in their research. We will refer to a well detailed study published by the British Government in 2004 (http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/fsis5304.pdf) for a quick comparison:
It has been generally believed that Chinese Green Tea has less caffeine than Black Tea. There is much study and discussion on this subject which suggests that his may not be the case. In fact Green Tea may have more caffeine than Black Tea. The confusion has been the result of more broad and unqualified statements that compare apples to oranges and not apples to apples, so to speak.
Most Black Tea exported to the West is from India and the Camellia assamica plant from which Indian tea is made produces higher levels of caffeine than from the Camellia sinensis variety that is used for Chinese teas. Furthermore, the oxidization process used in making Chinese Black Teas appears to reduce caffeine content rather than increase it as previously thought. So when you compare Chinese Green Tea to Chinese Black Tea, caffeine content in Chinese Green Teas seems to be higher than in Chinese Black Teas. Both are less than Indian Black Teas and all teas are significantly less than coffee.
With Oolong Teas being semi-fermented, caffeine levels in general can be assumed to be somewhere between un-fermented Green Tea and the most lightly fermented Chinese Black Tea.
(Note: We use the term "Chinese Black Tea" as it is commonly used in the West to describe what are actually known in China as Red Teas. The true Chinese Black Teas as they are known in China are the post-fermented, aged teas such as Pu-Erh Tea).
But there is a way to reduce the caffeine level of any tea if you are sensitive to it. Any tea is best made using the traditional Chinese method of tea-making known as Gong Fu Cha (Tea With Great Skill). This highly controlled method of tea-making is characterized by using small teapots and multiple brews with very short steeping times of just a few seconds. This intensifies the flavour of any tea and reduces the caffeine consumed compared to Western methods of tea-making. In Gong Fu Cha, the first brew is for washing the leaves and is poured away, so it is not consumed. This also has the effect of washing away much of the caffeine which is highly soluble in water.
To learn about tea-making using the traditional Chinese Gong Fu Cha (Tea With Great Skill) technique, read our guide Gong Fu Cha - The Complete Guide To Making Chinese Tea by Daniel Lui.
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Enabling robots to rethink
Imagine an industrial setting. A team of robots has been given the task of transporting boxes from one place to another, but (!) a truck has mistakenly put a huge delivery in front of them. An error of this kind would cause the system to halt, require human intervention and restarting. But this could soon be about to change.
In modern industry, the use of multiple robots is very common. Robots are often programmed with coordinators that are based on offline, centralized plans leaving no or little
room for real-time, decentralized actions. This means that sudden changes in environment and tasks would cause the system to stop and need assistance.
But in the new EU project Co4Robots , researchers hope to develop methods that will allow robots to evaluate and make decisions according to the current situation instead of just pre-programmed data.
"The project deals with collaborative planning and control of multiple heterogeneous agents", says Dimos Dimarogonas, professor in Automatic control and project coordinator for Co4Rbots. "Heterogeneity is related to the fact that we consider both robotic platforms and humans. The robots may or may not be equipped with manipulators to grasp and transport objects and they might also have different mobility capabilities".
He continues, "Tasks are given to the system in the form of user friendly formal verification languages and we use tools from hybrid control systems theory to orchestrate the coordinated planning and control design to fulfil this task in real-time and in a distributed manner. Applications include service robotics in office environments where robots perform logistics tasks in interaction with human users as well as real-time collaborative object transportation in industrial premises.
The project aims to build a systematic methodology to accomplish complex specifications given to a team of robots, perceptual capabilities that enable robots to localize themselves and estimate the state of the dynamic environment, control schemes appropriate for the mobility and manipulation capabilities of the considered robots, and their systematic integration approach. Project partners Bosch and PAL Robotics sees great usage for the technology within industry.
"The service robotics and manufacturing applications we are developing will be of benefit for the industry. Our vision is that the developed framework will lead to an improved use of resources and a faster accomplishment of tasks inside public facilities and workspaces with high social activity and contribute towards the vision of more flexible multi-robot applications in both professional and domestic environments. It fits well in the view of the "Industry 4.0" vision", says Dimarogonas.
Co4Robots is done in collaboration between KTH, Bosch, NTUA, PAL, FORTH and UGOT. It will go on until the end of 2019.