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Every year, thousands of young Americans graduate from college. And every year, those poor wretched hungover bastards are forced to sit out in some quad in million-degree heat to listen to a mildly famous person yammer on and on for hours about how these kids will change the world and all that bullshit. And do you know why these celebrities think you're gonna do just super out there in the real world? Because THEY did great out in the real world, and they can't wait to spend 40 endless minutes describing to you exactly how they were able to pull it off. That's what a celebrity graduation speech really is. It's some fuckface standing up at a podium and reciting their longform resume to you. It has barely anything to do with you. You aren't going to be famous. You probably aren't going to be rich. You're not going to have anything in common with Oprah, or Joy Behar, or whatever dipshit was flown in for free to don a robe and finger their own asshole on stage for you.
Because nothing is more boring than hearing about someone else's success. I'd rather hear about your kids, or your bad poker hands, or your fantasy team. I'd much rather hear about your fantasy team, especially if your fantasy team sucks, because mine sucks too and that's what life is all about: suffering through one goddamn losing fantasy season after another. Success stories are boring, pointless, enraging, and almost always gloss over the most critical details of a person's success. "After graduating from Harvard, I bummed around for a bit. Then, I managed to get a writing job over at Saturday Night Live…" Wait, what? WHAT THE FUCK?! How the fuck did that just happen? People spend entire lives trying to land that kind of job, and you just got it? I FUCKING HATE YOU NOW. And given that success is often the byproduct of luck — who your parents were, who you happen to know, etc. — nothing about someone else's Horatio Alger story is going to have any application to YOUR life, and how YOU can end up rich and surrounded by smoking-hot Czech hookers on a nightly basis.
Worst of all, grad speakers usually give you one piece of advice that I personally can't stand, and here it is: Carpe Diem. Listen to any grad speech and you'll hear some variation of that. Seize the day. Live every second of life to the fullest. DON'T WASTE TIME.
This is the wrong advice. Wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong. It's so wrong, I want to find any grad speaker who says it and kick them in the dick. But I'm not going to do that, because that would require research and travel and I don't like either of those things.
The fact of the matter is that wasting time is the single most important thing you can do as an American. This entire society, and in fact our entire economy, is built around the concept of dicking around. Doing nothing and being a complete waste of space is absolutely critical to your future happiness. Take it from someone who is too lazy to wash his hands after pissing in the middle of the night. I waste oceans of time, and I'm telling you, IT WORKS. Not only is it a sound philosophy for your existence, but it also will end up saving this country.
Boredom is the crucible of good ideas. Everyone jokes about having their best thoughts while on the shitter, but that's true for a reason. No one expects you to be productive on the shitter. No one is talking to you. You are free to waste time as you see fit. Maybe you read. Maybe you whip out your phone and look at porn. Doesn't matter. What matters is that you have just done something incredibly valuable with your time, even if you don't know it yet. The time you waste is the bonus time you give your mind to consider things it normally wouldn't have time to consider. Every time you take a shit, every time you sit in some fucking dentist's office, every time you put off doing actual work, every time you sit in traffic … every time you do nothing is extra time for your brain to come up with good ideas.
And it's those ideas that make the absolute difference in life. Great products, great movies, great songs, great snacks — all of these things are conceived by people who have TIME to conceive of them, and have wasted enough time in life to absorb enough shit that they can process it and spit it back out in a moment of epiphany as something original, something that can make lots of money. American success isn't based on putting in a good day's work for a good day's pay. That's for idiots. It's about biding your time, and then eventually hitting on that one good idea that does NOT bore you.
Boredom weeds out shitty ideas. Boredom gives you higher standards, far higher standards for yourself than, frankly, you really deserve. Will you think the first job you get out of school is below your abilities, like this jackass did? You probably will, but it's not. You're a college graduate and you know dick. You deserve to spend five years as a paralegal sifting through a bunch of horrible files and shit. But the fact that you're deluded enough to think you deserve more is the very reason you have better odds of success than some dumb shit who accepts his position willingly and does the same kind of work with great pride and care. Boredom is the difference.
And we LOVE to be bored. No one does bored better than Americans do it. How the fuck can you be bored with every possible mass medium available in your pocket? Well, we find a way. Our boredom is inexcusable, bordering on offensive to the less fortunate and to those who would go out and make something of their lives. I'm bored virtually every second of every day. Even right now, as I'm writing this. I'm bored to death. You see this sentence? I went up to the fridge and ate seven slices of ham before AND after writing it. It was Virginia ham, and it was goddamn tasty. And this sentence right here? Yeah, well it shouldn't have taken long to write it, but then I saw a banner ad flash in the browser behind the Word doc showing a girl wearing cutoffs, and so I had to go gratify myself. Everything about this post is a waste of time. It isn't even going to make Gawker money in new unique visitors. And you're wasting time simply by reading it. In fact, many people will leave a comment on this very post saying, "Well, that was a waste of time," which is hilarious because it presupposes that their time was somehow valuable to begin with. It's not.
I get bored even when I should be excited. I can get bored at rock concerts, especially when the band in question decides to test out new material. I can get bored while masturbating. No lie. Sometimes, I'll get up in the morning, go to masturbate, and then just give up if it's taking too long. And I'm not alone. I know plenty of people who are just as easily unamused. This country has a veritable surplus of boredom. We get distracted easily because we always assume there's something BETTER to do, something cooler, something that will feed us ice cream and massage our prostates simultaneously. And that, oddly enough, is a form of ambition. It is, in fact, the very best kind of ambition. Facebook started because someone was bored (and bitter). The Bacon Explosion was created because someone was bored and stoned and probably hungry. Societies that are lacking in boredom and wasted productivity may sound efficient, but they aren't. They inhibit ideas, suppress creativity, and most of all, they SUCK. And they suck hard. Think China will end up overtaking us and enslaving us all and forcing you to work in plastic penis straw factories until the day you die? You're wrong. And sitting on your ass is the reason why. Chinese people are productive, hard-working, and willing to sacrifice. That is not how good ideas come about. Good ideas come from being spoiled, impatient, selfish little assholes. That's us. We've got that. China's not touching that. They may manufacture the iPod, but they sure as shit didn't think of it. SUCK MY BALLS, TIGER MOMMIES.
You may not realize it now, but the time you wasted as a child and the time you waste as an adult do more to prepare you for greatness than pretty much anything else. Eddie Murphy spent his childhood listening to Richard Pryor tapes in his basement. He did it, presumably, because he thought it was fun. But what he was really doing was unwittingly studying to become a great comedian. Every time he played that tape over and over again, he learned something new about how Pryor phrased jokes and how he delivered them. He was, on the surface of things, wasting time listening to those records. But deeper down, he was teaching himself. Same with Quentin Tarantino. He didn't go to film school. He just watched shitloads of movies because he liked watching shitloads of movies. Now both men are filthy rich and can hire all the tranny hookers they please. Both men learned their respective crafts in the best way possible: without realizing they were learning anything.
And that's what you do every time you decide to fuck around. You know those reports that say America loses billions in productivity every year because of March Madness or fantasy football? Those reports are horseshit. What they should really say is that Americans spent a lot of time avoiding tedious, suffocating bullshit to go ahead and satisfy their own interests, and doing that will ALWAYS put you ahead in the long run. Maybe you decided to sneak out and go drinking with a friend. Maybe you decided to read a blog and start a flame war. Maybe you did something that sounds like a waste of time, but is in fact you making new connections with other people or inadvertently stumbling onto a new idea you think could make you money or get you laid. All that supposedly unproductive time? It's the exact opposite. It's just like that one episode of Mad Men, when Don explains that the creatives need to be unproductive until they're productive. It's true. The mind needs to be indulged, and then it can pay you back tenfold.
So if you're graduating from college this month, promise me you'll get out there and be as useless and as wasteful as humanly possible. Don't get a job until you absolutely have to. Get drunk as shit. Play video games. Smoke weed. Watch porn. Ignore your grad speaker while playing a DS. Be a barnacle upon society. Do it now, because as you get older, you will find yourself with much less time to piss away. You'll have a spouse. And kids. And actual responsibilities. And all sorts of horrible forms and shit to fill out. Trust me. I can barely carve out half an hour every day to sit there like a lump of shit, when it's really all I want to do. When you get old, you'll have to do all these things that sound productive but, in fact, keep your mind from wandering off into new and bizarre places and coming back with GOLD. And lots of inappropriate sexual thoughts.
Do not seize the day. Let some other sap grab that day and go running off with it like a naïve little shit. Do not live life to the fullest. That doesn't fucking mean anything. Everyone has a life, and everyone's life is filled with exciting moments and moments of pure anguish. Just let life pass right on by. Anyone who says life is short is lying. It's not. It's endless, especially if you're waiting for your microwave to cook something. You got all the time in the world to do things, so don't do ANYTHING. Because if you spend enough time doing nothing, you're gonna come up with something. You're like a fucking COBRA. You're just laying there for years and years, waiting for your moment and then BOOM! FANGS IN THE NECK, BITCH.
And even if you don't come up with something … even if you waste all the time in the world and never come up with a good idea and never amount to anything … well shit, at least you didn't go working like a goddamn sucker. And at least you tuned out during that one lame-as-shit grad speech.
The Balls Deep Valedictory Archive: 2012 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008
Drew Magary's novel, The Postmortal, is available for pre-order on Amazon.


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Of the nine books and one magazine currently "removed" from Duval County Public Schools, Angels and Even Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins are the only ones you're likely to recognize. Cowgirls, the most recent removal, pulled during the '97-'98 school year, includes lesbian sex acts. Curiously, for the last 16 years, nothing has been found offensive or inappropriate enough to warrant removal.
DCPS's forbidden literary works:
Angels in America by Tony Kushner
Don't Call Me Little Bunny by Gregoire Solotareff: An illustrated book about a rabbit that goes on a crime spree, is jailed, escapes and is protected from consequences by his grandfather.
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins: The comedic tale of a young model with abnormally large thumbs who becomes a hitchhiker and experiences various adventures. It includes drug use and various sex acts, both heterosexual and otherwise.
The Hand Book: All Kinds of Jokes, Tricks and Games to do with Your Hands by Lassor Blumenthal: The title sums it up pretty well.
Jogging: a Love Story by Sandra Hochman: A Manhattan art dealer engages in a series of disappointing romantic relationships. This book includes a number of sex acts.
Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl: This book has parodies of traditional folk tales, some with less-than-moral endings.
Schmucks: A Novel by Seymour Blicker: This book tells the story of a late-night alleyway standoff between two men driving trucks, neither of whom realizes he is a schmuck.
Skindeep by Toeckey Jones: Set in South Africa during apartheid, this book explores discrimination through a teenager who learns a shocking secret about her boyfriend.
There's A Pig in Every Crowd by illustrator Kimble Mead and Steve Henry: No synopsis available.
Thrasher, a skateboarding magazine
Tia Ford, Duval County Public School's supervisor of external communications and media relations, says that anyone who would like to challenge a removal may fill out a form to ask the district to reconsider.

subset: commoncrawl


text: The Caspian Journal of Pediatrics (CJP) is an independent, international English- language Peer- reviewed journal in Pediatrics. CJP is designed for pediatrics a mean for scientific information exchange in Pediatrics societies. CJP, the official international English journal of Non-Communicable Pediatric Diseases Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences in cooperation with the Iranian Society of Pediatrics is published quarterly. CJP publishes a variety of manuscript types including Original Investigations, Review Articles, Clinical letters, Editorials, Letters to the editor, case reports , brief communications, commentaries and other related fields in Pediatrics. To this end, the journal is devoted in promoting excellence in science, improved patient care, research and education in primary care and practice of Pediatrics particularly. CJP encourages submission of previously unpublished original clinical or experimental research articles of special relevance. As CJP continues to grow, the main values of the art and science of medicine will continue to steer policy and practice to enhance health care by fostering professionalism as its mission-vision.


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GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA – Rumors that President-elect Barack Obama will close the Guantanamo Bay prison has left more than just humans concerned.
It is being reported that Obama's advisers are currently drafting a plan to move terrorism suspects to the United States to face criminal trials. As soon as the rumors started circulating, the Chaos Cloud appeared above the Guantanamo Bay prison and has not moved since.
It is widely believed that the Chaos Cloud is nonpartisan. In fact, it seems to have completely non-human motives, but scientists have been unable to discern much beyond its desire to keep chaos under control until its final descent in 2014.
Chaos Cloud specialists have stated that the Cloud is warning disagreeing parties to keep it civil, lest it must come down and make us. Decmocrats and Republicans have agreed to stay calm, as no one wants to see what the Cloud would have in store for us.


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Dodge has taken over Chicago as the new boss but we are not here to shake anyone down. Our mission is to show the fine citizens of this great city our new rides for 2011. If you're not able to make it to the Chicago Auto Show this year, you're forgiven. Like a good buddy, we've got your back on this one. Here you'll find some great photos from the Dodge display of the awesome 2012 Charger SRT8 with its tire shredding 6.4-Liter HEMI® V8 along with the "Green With Envy" Challenger R/T. You'll also see the new Durango which has raised the bar in the SUV market. We also have images of the new Grand Caravan R/T (aka 'Man Van'). If you are fortunate to make it to the show, make sure you swing on over to our display. Here you'll see our spacious and refined interiors first hand and can peek under the hoods to view the latest fuel efficient and powerful engines. Our Dodge squad of experts are on hand to answer any questions…well at least those concerning our vehicles.
Come out if you can – the Chicago auto show is open to the public through February 20th.
Article Courtesy of RedLetterDodge


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Job Details
Medical Lab Technician
Are you an experienced Medical Lab Professional? Are you looking to embark on a new challenge in your career, or start your career in Medical Lab Science? If so, LabCorp wants to speak with you about exciting opportunities to join our team as a Medical Lab Technician in Meridian, ID. In this position you will work in a fast paced, customer focused, and challenging environment, and will be a part of our overall mission at Labcorp: "Improving Health, Improving Lives".
Schedule: Tuesday - Friday 10:00am - 7:00pm; Saturday 8:00am - 2:00pm
Location: 6086 W Emerald St; Meridian, ID
Job Duties/Responsibilities:
- Generalist position in the STAT lab running moderate complexity testing.
- Determine the acceptability of specimens for testing according to established criteria
- Perform routine and complex technical procedures and functions according to departmental Standard Operating Procedures
- Monitor, operate and troubleshoot instrumentation to ensure proper functionality
- Demonstrate the ability to make technical decisions regarding testing and problem solving.
- Prepare, test and evaluate new reagents or controls
- Report accurate and timely test results in order to deliver quality patient care
- Perform and document preventive maintenance and quality control procedures
- Identify and replenish testing bench supplies as necessary
- Assist with processing of specimens when needed
- Maintain a safe work environment and wear appropriate personal protective equipment
- Hospital based Generalist position in fast paced hospital environment. Responsible for automated and manual testing, instrument maintenance. Must recognize, troubleshoot and initiate corrective action for instrument issues. Must be able to work efficiently and accurately in a busy environment and be adaptable to change.
- Associate's degree in a life science or laboratory science/Medical Technology
- Previous experience in a clinical laboratory is preferred
- Must be ASCP certified as a Medical Lab Technician or equivalent or eligible to take exam within 6 months
- Ability to work independently and within a team environment
- Proficient with computers; Familiarity with laboratory information systems are a plus
- High level of attention detail along with strong communication and organizational skills
- Must be able to pass a standardized color vision screen
- Flexibility to work overtime or other shifts depending on business needs
Labcorp is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer:
As an EOE/AA employer, the organization will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's race, age, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or veteran status.
For more information about how we collect and store your personal data, please see our [Register to View] [Register to View] target="_blank">.


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/ bed onwards
About the Apartment - #GSH215
3 BHK Apartment | ApartmentAddress: A/ 1203, Millionaire Heritage, S.V.Road, Opp Andheri Subway, Andheri Station Road, Andheri West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400058
Pleasant 3 BHK, fully furnished Apartment for rent, located in close proximity to Opp Andheri Subway. This convenient destination has everything from hospitals and schools, to shopping malls and offices nearby. read reviews
Package Inclusions
Apartment Amenities
Bed Room
Living Area
- Mattress
- Side Table
- Wardrobe - Double door
- Soft Furnishings
- Double Bed
- Sofa Set
- Center Table
- Shoe Rack
- Dining Table
- Set Top Box
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Gas Stove
- Gas Cylinder
- Dinner / Crockery Set
- Cooking Utensils
- Water Purifier
- Lift
- Security
- 2 Wheeler Parking
- Washing Machine
- Dryer Unit
- Iron
- Iron Board
- Wifi Router
House Rules
- COVID-19 test report required
- Cooking of Non-vegetarian food is permitted.
- Consumption of alcohol is restricted.
- Family overnight visit and stay is not permitted.
- This property is not pet-friendly for cats and dogs.
- Smoking cigarettes or any illegal substance is prohibited.
- Visit or stay for the opposite gender is restricted to avoid inconvenience to co-tenants.
What to expect
This home is managed directly by GetSetHome. GetSetHome is responsible for:
- Showing the property
- Booking confirmation
- Rental Agreement with GetSetHome
- Monthly Rent Collection
- On going maintenance and service requests during your stay
- Paying Utility bills of Wifi, DTH, Gas as per the package Inclusions
- Daily Housekeeping
- Returning the deposit post property exit
All services mentioned above are as per the policy. Click here to read tenancy policy.


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Treat your Snoring & Sleep Apnea
More restful sleep may be in your future
How Silent Nite Slide-Link prevents snoring?
Silent Nite sl is a custom-fabricated dental device that moves the lower jaw into a forward
position, increasing space in the airway tube and reducing air velocity and soft tissue vibration.
Special connectors are attached to transparent flexible upper and lower forms. The forms are custom laminated with heat and pressure to the dentist's model of the mouth.
The fit is excellent and comfortable, permitting small movements of the jaw (TMJ) and allowing uninhibited oral breathing.
The dangers of snoring
More than 80 million North Americans snore. Taking into account the snorer's spouse and children,
as many as 160 million people are negatively affected by snoring. And snoring doesn't merely
interrupt your sleep cycle. The struggle for breath can result in soaring blood pressure,
which can damage the walls of the carotid arteries and increase the risk of stroke.
At certain levels of severity, complete blockage of the airway space by the soft tissues and the tongue can occur. If this period of asphyxiation lasts longer than 10 seconds, it is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a medical condition with serious long-term effects.
Take back the night, with Silent Nite
What causes snoring?
During sleep, muscles and soft tissues in the throat and mouth relax, shrinking the airway. This
increases the velocity of airflow during breathing. As the velocity of required air is increased,
soft tissues like the soft palate and uvula vibrate. The vibrations of these tissues result in
"noisy breathing" or snoring.
Surgical techniques used to remove respiration- impairing structures have shown only moderate success rates (20 to 40 percent). For the majority of snorers, the most affordable, non-invasive, comfortable and effective snoring solution remains a dentist-prescribed, oral snoring preventative device such as Silent Nite.


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If you're a regular follower of our coverage here at Redmond Pie, there's a pretty good chance you're into your jailbreaks. As most of you will probably be aware, progress on an iOS 6 untethered jailbreak has been steady, but trying at times, and although the usual dev suspects have been plugging away, Apple's robust security enhancements have made things just that little bit trickier than ever before. So you can imagine our amazement when a group by the name of "Dream JB" took the scene by storm by not only claiming to have found an iOS 6 untether, but set a date for its release. Unfortunately, like most things that seem too good to be true, it would appear this is nothing more than the elaborate ploy of a hoaxer, with various established and credible modders and developers having already stepped out to refute the very notion of "Dream JB."
Dream JB has announced his intentions to release a video of iOS 6.0.1 running an untethered jailbreak, which he claims will be compatible with all the newer devices such as the iPhone 5.
The renowned faces and names in the jailbreak game have stepped out and spoken up, and while they seem to have conflicting suppositions about the motives of Dream JB, they all seem to be pretty certain it's not the real deal.
iH8sn0w is quoted on Twitter as saying: "Never trust anyone who has never released anything credible in the past." He went further, urging those anxious for a jailbreak to proceed with the utmost caution. "Don't get your hopes up," he continued, "But also don't just download anything.. it seems like a very smart thing to do to distribute a new virus."
If that wasn't enough, renowned dev NitoTV also trumped the claims of the untether for good by saying "so to be clear, at least for me, code napoleonic law in jailbreak community as far as proof is concerned. fraud until proven otherwise."
Members of the iPhone Dev Team, and Chronic Dev Team, or otherwise known as the Jailbreak Dream Team have been working on trying to bring a legitimate jailbreak solution to the latest version of Apple's iOS, and with so many well-respected, knowledgeable folk seemingly stumped, it would seem less than likely Dream JB is anything other than a scam, or cry for attention. Despite Dream JB's claims of a video arriving as soon as tomorrow, it's pretty easy to fake these things, so we'll have to wait and see what comes of it all.
And like always, those of you on Pre-A5 devices such as the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPod touch 4G can still tether-jailbreak using either Redsn0w or Sn0wbreeze. For instructions, you can always follow our detailed jailbreak iOS 6 and jailbreak 6.0.1 guides posted on the site.
You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the web.


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Obama delays Syria vote
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, September 11, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama said in a nationally televised address Tuesday night that recent diplomatic steps offer "the potential to remove the threat of chemical weapons" inside Syria without the use of force, but he also insisted the U.S. military will keep the pressure on President Bashar Assad "and be ready to respond" if other measures fail.
Speaking from the East Room of the White House, Obama said he had asked congressional leaders to postpone a vote on legislation he has been seeking to authorize the use of military force against Syria. Acknowledging the weariness the nation feels after a decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, Obama said, "America is not the world's policeman."
And yet, he added, "When with modest effort and risk we can stop children from being gassed to death and thereby make our own children safer over the long run, I believe we should act. That's what makes America different. That's what makes us exceptional."
"Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security, are at stake in Syria," he declared.
The speech capped a frenzied 10-day stretch of events that began when he unexpectedly announced he was stepping back from a threatened military strike and first asking Congress to pass legislation authorizing the use of force against Assad.
With public opinion polls consistently showing widespread opposition to American military intervention, the White House has struggled mightily to generate support among lawmakers — liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans alike — who have expressed fears of involvement in yet another war in the Middle East and have questioned whether U.S. national security interests were at stake in Syria. Obama had trouble, as well, building international support for a military attack designed to degrade Assad's military.
Suddenly, though, events took another unexpected turn this week. First Russia and then Syria reacted positively to a seemingly off-hand remark from Secretary of State John Kerry indicating that the crisis could be defused if Damascus agreed to put its chemical weapons under international control.
The president said he was sending Secretary of State John Kerry to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday, and he added, "I will continue my own discussion" with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
At the same time, he said the United States and its allies would work with Russia and China to present a resolution to the United Nations Security Council "requiring Assad to give up his chemical weapons and to ultimately destroy them under international control."
In a speech that lasted 16 minutes, Obama recounted the events of the deadly chemical weapons attack on Aug. 21 that the United States blames on Assad.
"When dictators commit atrocities, they depend upon the world to look the other way until these horrifying pictures fade from memory. But these things happened. The facts cannot be denied," he said.
The president said firmly that Assad's alleged attack was "not only a violation of international law, it's also a danger to our security."
If diplomacy now fails and the United States fails to act, he said, "the Assad regime will see no reason to stop using chemical weapons" and "other tyrants will have no reason to think twice about acquiring poison gas and using" it. Over time, he added, U.S. troops could face the threat of chemical warfare, and if fighting escapes Syria's border, "these weapons could threaten allies like Turkey, Jordan and Israel."
The president sought to deal methodically with what he said were questions asked by lawmakers and citizens who took the time to write him with their concerns about U.S. military action.
"I will not put American boots on the ground in Syria," he promised. "I will not pursue an open-ended action like Iraq or Afghanistan. I will not pursue a prolonged air campaign like Libya or Kosovo.
"This would be a targeted strike to achieve a clear objective: deterring the use of chemical weapons and degrading Assad's capabilities."
In the run-up to the president's speech, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel pointedly told a congressional hearing it was not time to let the threat of military retaliation lapse.
"For this diplomatic option to have a chance at succeeding, the threat of a U.S. military action, the credible, real threat of U.S. military action, must continue," he declared.
At the same hearing, Kerry said any diplomacy "cannot be a process of delay. This cannot be a process of avoidance."
He later added that any agreement must include binding consequences if Syria fails to comply, and lawmakers moved to rewrite pending legislation along the same lines.
Obama himself "wasn't overly optimistic about" prospects for a solution at the U.N., said Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois, the second-ranking Democrat, after his party's rank and file met privately for lunch in the Capitol with the president. He quoted Obama as saying that even if a credible plan could be worked out, it could be difficult to push through the U.N. Security Council. And, indeed, Russian President Putin said such a U.N. effort could work only if "the American side and those who support the USA in this sense reject the use of force."
The president readied his speech as a small crowd of anti-war protesters, some waving signs, gathered outside the gates of the White House.
U.S. officials say more than 1,400 died in the Aug. 21 episode, including at least 400 children, and other victims suffered uncontrollable twitching, foaming at the mouth and other symptoms typical of exposure to chemical weapons banned by international treaty. Other casualty estimates are lower, and Assad has said the attack was launched by rebels who have been fighting to drive him from power in a civil war that has so far claimed the lives of more than 100,000 civilians.
Assad's patron, Russia, has blocked U.S. attempts to rally the Security Council behind a military strike. But Monday, after a remark by Kerry, it spoke favorably about requiring Syria to surrender control of its chemical weapons, and the Syrian foreign minister did likewise.
The foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem, said Tuesday that his government was ready to turn over its chemical weapons stockpile in line with Russia's proposal in order "to thwart U.S. aggression." He also said Syria was prepared to sign an international chemical convention it has long rejected — a step it can take on its own at any time without U.S. or U.N. supervision.
Syria has long refused to provide an accounting of the size of its stockpile, rarely referring in public to its existence. According to an unclassified estimate by the French government, it includes more than 1,000 tons of "chemical agents and precursor chemicals," including sulfur mustard, VX and sarin gas.
Obama has said frequently he has the authority as commander in chief to order a military strike against Assad regardless of any vote in Congress.
The response in Congress to support such a strike has been lukewarm at best — as underscored during the day when liberal Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and conservative Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., both announced their opposition.
Markey, who was elected to the seat that Kerry vacated when he joined the Cabinet, said the legislation under consideration was too broad, "the effects of a strike are too unpredictable, and … I believe we must give diplomatic measures that could avoid military action a chance to work."
Said Mulvaney: "While I am concerned about taking no action, it strikes me that international law cannot be upheld via unilateral attack by the United States."
And Rep. James Langevin, a Rhode Island Democrat who sits on committees dealing both with military and intelligence matters, said he feared that "Iran and Russia could cause serious damage" to the United States if they retaliated with a cyberattack.
Yet Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, the second-ranking Democrat in the House, said, "It would be inimical to our country's standing if we do not show a willingness to act in the face of the use of chemical weapons and to act in a limited way to address that use alone."
Hours before Obama's speech from the White House's East Room, Hoyer added, " I don't think there's any doubt that failure to do so would weaken our country, create a more dangerous international environment and to some degree undermine the president of the United States."
Earlier, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell became the first congressional leader to come out against legislation giving the president authority for limited strikes. "There are just too many unanswered questions about our long-term strategy in Syria," he said.
By contrast, Speaker John Boehner of Ohio and Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia, the top two Republicans in the House, have endorsed Obama's request.
Given the uncertainty of diplomatic maneuvering, no vote is expected for several days, if then.
"If something can be done diplomatically, I'm totally satisfied with that. I'm not a blood and thunder guy. I'm not for shock and awe," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in a reference to the massive display of firepower that opened the war in Iraq nearly a decade ago.
Still, there was ample skepticism in Congress about the United Nations as well as Russia's true intentions, as well as Syria's willingness to be bound by international agreements.
"There is an overwhelming view it would be preferable if international law and the family of nations could strip Syria of the chemical weapons," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. "And there's a large view we should let that process play out for a little while."
Said Boehner: "Clearly, diplomacy is always a better outcome than military action. But I will say that I'm somewhat skeptical of those that are involved in the diplomatic discussions today."


text:
Red-crested Cardinal
Maui 2106
Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees
Tropical Pool
One of many beautiful water features along the road to Hana.
Hawaiian Coastline
Asian Mongoose
Introduced to Hawaii to curb rat populations in sugar cane fields, these animals have done extensive damage to native populations of birds.
Banyan Tree
Spinner Dolphins
Sunset over Lanai
Haleakala Observatory
Taken at sunset above and below the clouds.
Night Lights
The city lights of Maui illuminate a blanket of cloud while stars start to appear in the night sky.
Milky Way over Maui
Spinner Family


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Water SA
On-line version ISSN 1816-7950
Print version ISSN 0378-4738
Water SA vol.38 n.2 Pretoria Jan. 2012
An ion-imprinted polymer for the selective extraction of mercury(II) ions in aqueous media
Bareki S BatlokwaI, *; Luke ChimukaII; Zenixole TshentuI; Ewa CukrowskaII; Nelson TortoI
IDepartment of Chemistry, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140 South Africa
IISchool of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, P/Bag 3, WITS 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa
A double-imprinted polymer exhibiting high sensitivity for mercury(II) in aqueous solution is presented. Polymer particles imprinted with mercury(II) were synthesised by copolymerising the functional and cross-linking monomers, N'Â[3Â (Trimethoxysilyl)-propyl]diethylenetriamine (TPET) and tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS). A double-imprinting procedure employing hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), as a second template to improve the efficiency of the polymer, was adopted. The imprinted polymer was characterised by FTIR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the average size determined by screen analysis using standard test sieves. Relative selective coefficients (k') of the imprinted polymer evaluated from selective binding studies between Hg2+ and Cu2+ or Hg2+ and Cd2+ were 10 588 and 3 147, respectively. These values indicated highly-favoured Hg2+ extractions over the 2 competing ions. The results of spiked and real water samples showed high extraction efficiencies of Hg2+ ions, (over 84%) as evaluated from the detected unextracted Hg2+ ions by ICP-OES. The method exhibited a dynamic response concentration range for Hg2+ between 0.01 and 20 μg/mℓ, with a detection limit (LOD, 3o) of 0.000036 μg/mℓ (36 ng/ℓ) that meets the monitoring requirements for the USA EPA of 2 000 ng/ℓ for Hg2+ in drinking water. Generally, the data (n=10) had percentage relative standard deviations (%RSD) of less than 4%. Satisfactory results were also obtained when the prepared sorbent was applied for the pre-concentration of Hg2+ from an aqueous certified reference material. These findings indicate that the double-imprinted polymer has potential to be used as an efficient extraction material for the selective pre-concentration of mercury(II) ions in aqueous environments.
Keywords: Ion-imprinted polymer, selective extraction, mercury(II) ion, pre-concentration
In recent years the release of various harmful heavy metal ions into the environment has attracted great attention worldwide because of their toxicity and widespread use. Mercury(II) is among those which are of great concern (Byüyüktiryaki et al., 2007). It is a widely-distributed environmental pollutant in aqueous environments and its toxicity to humans and animals even at low concentrations is well known. Mercury(II) is included in all lists of priority pollutants as a result, and different regulations and guidelines have been developed for monitoring its levels in water and sediments (Hayes, 1997). Considering the extreme toxicity of mercury, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has mandated an upper limit of 10 nM (2 000 ng/ℓ) for Hg2+ in drinking water (EPA 2001).
The toxicity of mercury depends considerably on its chemical form and, as such, analytical methods that are capable of distinguishing between the various forms of mercury and other competing inorganic ions are of special interest. Although there are currently some sensitive instruments to detect mercury(II), the most widely used methods for analysing these harmful ions employ inductively-coupled plasma optical emission spectros-copy (ICP-OES; Leopold et al., 2009) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS; Detcheva and Grobecker, 2006), but their sensitivity and selectivity are usually insufficient for direct determination of these contaminants at very low concentration levels in complex matrices of environmental samples.
Therefore a sample preparation/pre-concentration step prior to analysis is usually necessary. The step must rely on inexpensive, intelligent and robust functional materials with high sensitivity, selectivity and specificity for the targeted analytes. Solid phase extraction (SPE) has been used for pre-concentration of mercury and other heavy metals due to its flexibility, environmental-friendliness, speed, simplicity, safety and ease of automation (Thurman et al., 1998). The choice of sorbent is a key point in SPE because it can control the analytical parameters such as selectivity, affinity and capacity (Dean, 1998). The main challenge of the available SPE sorbents has always been selectivity of the analyte of interest in the presence of closely-related analogues.
Several solid supports, such as chelating resins (Nastasovic et al., 2004), modified silica (Tzvetkova et al., 2010), modified clay (Guerra et al., 2009), alumina (Duan et al., 2003) and ion exchange resins have also been used for the pre-concentration of mercury or its other forms. For example, Duolite GT-73 resin has been used for the pre-concentration of mercury(II) and gold from hydrochloric acid media in the presence of co-existing metal ions. Due to the high affinity of the resin to the transition metals, the mercury was adsorbed alongside other metals. The competing metals were released by leaching with mineral acids, leaving behind the mercury which was then desorbed by digestion of the resin with peroxide and the acid (Pohl et al., 2005). The extraction selectivity of these materials was found to be inadequate, and as such the development of highly-selective materials for mercury species extraction continues to be of great interest (Wu et al., 2007). More recently, ion-imprinted polymers (IIPs) or molecular-imprinted polymers (MIPs) have been identified as suitable materials and are increasingly used in contaminant or trace analysis, as they are suitable for applications where analyte selectivity is essential.
IIPs are nano-porous polymeric materials, which upon leaching the imprint ion can thereafter selectively rebind the ion in the presence of closely-related ions. Ion-imprinting procedures are similar to those of molecular imprinting, except that metal ions rather than molecules are the ones used for imprinting. Unlike the MIPs, the IIP field is still in its infancy (Rao et al., 2006).The preparation of IIPs involves the complexation of the target ion (known as template or print ion) with the functional monomer (known as the ligand or the substrate) (Suede et al., 1999). This is followed by a polymerisation reaction with an excess cross-linking agent that fixes the preassembled binding groups around the print ion (Vlatakis et al., 1993). Eventually the print ion is leached out with a suitable solvent, leaving behind specific recognition sites with a memory for the original print ion (Sellergren et al., 2001; Bartsch et al., 1998). Consequently, the recognition vacancies left behind, when the print ion is leached out from the formed polymer, will be selective and complementary to it in shape, size and functionality (Rao et al., 2006). Therefore, IIPs show higher selectivities and affinities in rebinding the print ion than its analogues (Ferrer et al., 1999; Masque et al., 2001). A particularly promising application of ion-imprinting polymers is the selective (i) SPE pre-concentration of analytes present in trace amounts (Martin-Esteban et al., 2001; Sellergren, 1999) or (ii) separation from other coexisting species (Tsukaghoshi et al., 2001) or complex matrix, which may lead to selective environmental clean-up of analytes, not achievable by the conventional methods (Li et al., 2007).
In this paper, a mercury(II) IIP that was synthesised and applied to water samples collected in the vicinity of Grahamstown, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, will be discussed. The synthesis procedure employed was the hierarchical double-imprinting approach proposed by Wu et al. (2007). Our group used a monomer with more nitrogen (N) donor atoms (3 in the triamine as opposed to 2 in the diamine which Wu et al. used) to improve coordination during the pre-assembly step in the imprinting process. In order to improve selectivity, a more rigorous method was used to leach out the template ion thus resulting in more available cavities for rebinding. This was carried out to improve on the relative selectivity coefficients (k'), {300 - 500}, that were reported by Wu et al. (Wu et al., 2007). A large k' value means selectivity of the prepared polymer material relative to the competing ions is high.
N'-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)-propyl] diethylenetriamine (TPET) and tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), hexadecyltrimethylammo-nium bromide (CTAB), sodium hydroxide, nitric acid, sodium acetate and acetic acid were supplied by Sigma-Aldrich (Saint Louis, MO, USA), and mercury(II) nitrate monohydrate and Hg(NO3)2.H2O by BDH AnalR (London, England). Reagents used were at least of analytical grade. All water used was obtained from Direct Q 3UV millipore system (Billerica, MA, USA). NIST traceable mercury(II) certified reference material of water, lot number D2-MEB338111MCA was obtained from Inorganic Ventures (Christiansburg, VA, USA).
Instrumentation and apparatus
ICP-OES, ICAP 6000 series, Thermo Electron Corporation, (Waltham, MA, USA) was used to measure the concentration of the unextracted Hg2+ as well as that of Cd2+ and Cu2+ in aqueous media (at 194.4, 214.438, 324.754 nm respectively). To ensure that Hg2+ as the imprint ion was thoroughly washed off the imprinted polymer, an XRF EDX 900 spectrometer, Pan Analytical, Shimadzu, (Kyoto, Japan), was used to detect the concentration of mercury from the washings of the polymer as well as in the dried polymer itself.
For morphology and characterisation, scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs for the imprinted (washed and unwashed) and the non-imprinted polymer powders were obtained at 20 kV on a JSM 840 field emission scanning electron microscope JEOL, (Tokyo, Japan). FTIR spectra (4 000 - 400 cm-1) were recorded by a Bruker Tensor 27 FTIR spectrophotometer (Ettlingen, Germany).
The polymer particles were obtained by centrifuging with MSE Mistral 1000 centrifuge, Sanyo Gallenkamp, (Loughborough, England), at 45 000 r/min for 10 min. A Jenway 3510 pH meter, (Dunmow, England) was used to measure the pH values. Standard Test sieves Retsch GmbH & Co., (Haan, Germany), were used to obtain the average size of the polymer particles by screen analysis.
Preparation of the mercury(II) ion-imprinted polymer and removal of the print species (templates)
The mercury(II) ion-imprinted polymer was prepared by following a literature procedure (Wu et al., 2007) with some modifications. Hg(NO3)2-H2O (print ion), CTAB (surfactant micelle as second print species), TPET (monomer), TEOX (cross linking agent), 1 M NaOH (pH modulator) and ultrapure water (porogen) were mixed according to the following optimal molar ratios; 1:2:2.5:10:4:1500, respectively. The mixture was magnetically stirred at 900 r/min for 4 h. Off-white gels were yielded. The gels were mixed with more water, refluxed at 90°C for 1 h and recovered by centrifugation.
The gels that resulted were washed with 3 M NaOH until the pH of the washings was at 7.5. The gels were further washed several times with water, before drying in the oven at 60°C for about 4 h. The resultant granules were ground and wet-sieved to a homogenous off-white powder to yield the mercury(II) ion-imprinted polymer of 25-30 µm particle size as measured by the standard test sieves. The particles still contained the mercury(II) ions and CTAB templates and were referred to as the unwashed ion-imprinted polymer (IIP) particles.
The mercury(II) ions and CTAB templates were exhaustively removed from the unwashed IIP particles by refluxing with 3 M HNO3 and 99.99% ethanol in the ratio 1:1 v/v, respec-tively, for a total of 7 h of 1 h cycles. At the end of every 1 h cycle the solid IIP particles were recovered by centrifugation. The procedure was repeated 7 times, which resulted in a total of 7 h, for optimal template removal. A fresh solvent of the nitric acid and ethanol was added at the beginning of every hour. The concentration of mercury(II) ions in both the supernatant and the IIP, on the other hand, were determined at the end of every 1 h removal cycle. The concentration of mercury in the supernatant liquids and corresponding IIP particles for each of the 1 h removal cycles were analysed by XRF spectrophotometer.
Optimal template removal at the 7th cycle was marked by no further change in the quantity of mercury(II) ions detected in the supernatant liquid. The IIP particles that resulted after the template removal provided the washed IIP particles. A non-imprinted polymer (NIP), referred to as the control polymer, was prepared in the same manner as the mercury(II) IIP, with the exception that the mercury(II) was not included in the synthetic procedure for the control polymer and hence was not templated.
Binding studies
Optimisation of IIP quantity needed for maximum extraction of Hg2+
20 mℓ aliquots of 1 µg/mℓ Hg2+ spiked water, each containing increasing concentrations of the Hg2+ imprinted polymer (5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 35, 25 and 40 mg) as well as the sodium acetate/acetic acid buffer, were mechanically shaken and kept for 24 h. The mixture was then filtered and the concentration of the unextracted Hg2+ measured by ICP-OES. The experiment was performed in triplicate. Mean values and standard deviations were determined. From the values, the extraction efficiencies (EEs) were evaluated using Eq. (1):
Optimisation of time needed for maximum extraction of Hg2+
Following the procedure for optimisation of quantity, unextracted Hg2+ ions (at 5 min intervals) were determined until a constant value was reached. This marked the optimum time needed for the polymer to bind.
Effect of pH on extraction of Hg2+
The optimal time and quantity of the IIP were used in the evaluation of the effect of pH by performing binding experiments at different pH. The pH of the solutions was adjusted using sodium acetate/nitric acid for pH 1-3, sodium acetate/ acetic acid for pH 4-7.5, ammonium hydroxide/ammonia for pH 8-10 and ammonium hydroxide/sodium hydroxide for pH 10-12.
Selectivity experiments
Using the optimised conditions, competitive and selectivity experiments were performed. Both the imprinted and non-imprinted polymers were used to obtain 2 sets of experimental data. Polymer material (25 mg) was added to 20 mℓ aqueous solutions containing 1 μg/mℓ Hg2+/Cd2+ and 1 μg/mℓ Hg2+/Cu 2+. The pH was then adjusted accordingly to pH 7.2. These were placed in sealed containers and stirred magnetically at 900 r/min for 15 min. After the adsorption-equilibrium, the mixtures were filtered and the concentration of each ion in the remaining solution was measured by ICP-OES. The measured values gave the concentrations of the unextracted ions, from which EEs were evaluated. The experiments were performed in triplicate and the results subjected to statistical analysis at the 95% confidence limit.
The effect of imprinting on selectivity was defined by:
Kd is the distribution coefficient
Ci and Cf the initial and final concentrations, respectively
V the volume of the solution used for the extraction
m the mass of the polymer used for extraction.
The selectivity coefficient (k), for the binding of a particular metal ion in the presence of a competing ion can be obtained by:
The relative selectivity coefficient k':
The results allow an estimation of the effect of imprinting on selectivity.
Sample preparation and analysis
Real water samples (tap, sea, river, pulverised coal solution, treated and untreated sewage, from the vicinity of Grahamstown, South Africa) were filtered through the Millipore Millex-HV hydrophilic PVDF 0.45 μm filter and refluxed for 1 h with 1% H2O2 to oxidise the organic matter. The pH of the resulting water samples was adjusted accordingly to pH 7.2. For each of the samples the concentration of Hg2+ was determined by ICP-OES in 100 mℓ aliquots, for back-ground, spiked (1μg/mℓ) and spiked with IIP (1μg/mℓ + 75 mg IIP). The samples with the IIP were continually shaken for 1 h to allow for equilibration after which the unextracted concentration of the ions was determined. EEs were then evaluated. The imprinted powder with rebound Hg2+ was then eluted with millipore water, 3M HNO3, millipore water in sequence, and the desorbed Hg2+ was subsequently determined with ICP-OES. This procedure was followed for the determination of Hg2+ in the certified reference material (CRM).
Results and discussion
Characterisation of the polymers
Spectroscopic and physical characteristics of the polymer material were in agreement with those reported in literature (Wu et al., 2007). The SEM micrograph of the imprinted polymer displayed a regular, spherical morphology with numerous pores on the spherical surface (figure not shown), which is a suitable geometrical and textural property for a potential adsorbent. This indicates that there are many well-defined binding sites on the imprinted polymer. The irregular, amorphous morphology exhibited in the non-imprinted SEM micrographs showed no well-defined binding sites, hence indicating its lack of suitability to act as an adsorbent.
Characterisation of the imprinted (unwashed and washed) and non-imprinted polymers by FTIR showed similar locations and appearances of major bands. Of particular interest was the peak at 1 472 cm-1 due to the existence of the N-Hg-N stretching vibrations. It was strong in the unwashed polymer, relatively weak in the washed polymer and absent in the non-imprinted polymer. The strong peak in the unwashed polymer spectrum indicated the abundant existence of a coordination complex, [Hg(TPET)]2+ in its polymer structure. The relatively weak peak in the washed polymer was due to the removal of most of the Hg2+ ions from the polymer, thus resulting in very little coordination remaining between Hg2+ and TPET after washing. The Hg2+ ions were not included during the synthesis of NIP, hence the expected absence of the characteristic peak in its spectrum.
Washing off the mercury(II) ions and CTAB
The very weak N-Hg-N stretch at 1 472cm-1 in the FTIR spectrum of the washed polymer, as well as the low concentration of mercury (0.111%) determined by XRF in the final washing of the IIP, suggested that Hg2+ ions were thoroughly washed out. By contrast, the direct determination of mercury concentration of the washed IIP by XRF was 13.158% (see Table 1). This was noted to be very high for a polymer which was thoroughly washed, and for a material to be used in trace analysis. A logical explanation to these discrepancies is that some of the mercury may have gotten bound to the structure of the polymer during synthesis, to the extent that it could not be removed by the methods that were used for washing in this study. Another assumption is that, since XRF is a very sensitive technique and measures total mercury, it could be that the mercury that was detected in the washed IIP, even after thorough washing, was not the one involved in the selective nano-pore formation of the IIP, and is therefore of little concern to our study as it would not affect the performance of the polymer if it was not involved in the initial binding of the template.
Extraction behaviours of the polymer
The percentage of Hg2+ extracted increased with the quantity of polymer from 5 mg up to 25 mg, after which further increase in the quantity of the polymer did not yield any increase, as shown in Fig. 1. This marked the optimum quantity of the polymer powder (25 mg) needed to bind maximally. The highest extraction efficiency (EE) of Hg2+ achieved was calculated as 88.8 ± 0.1%.
Figure 2 shows the time dependence of the adsorption capacities of Hg2+ ions on the polymer powder (25 mg) as a function of time. Hg2+ ion adsorption increases with time during the first 15 min, after which it levels off (Fig. 2), exhibiting fast kinetics for binding the Hg2+ ions. A good EE (%) of the bound ions was recorded (89.9 ± 0.1%), even at these short equilibration-adsorption times.
The effect of pH on Hg2+ ion adsorption by the polymer powder (25 mg) is shown in Fig. 3. The polymer exhibited low affinities for Hg2+ ion extraction in very acidic and alkaline conditions, as indicated by the low EEs, with the highest calculated being 87.5 ± 0.1% at pH 7.2 ± 0.2. Low pH (acidic) solutions have a greater affinity for metal ions such as the Hg2+ ion; hence the ion was distributed more in the acidic solution than on the IIP particles. Thus the low EEs were recorded at low pH. Under alkaline conditions (high pH), it is likely that the Hg2+ ion complexed with the hydroxide ions forming soluble amphoteric hydroxides instead of being adsorbed on the IIP particles. As a result, low EEs were recorded.
Selectivity studies of the imprinted polymer powder (25 mg) for Hg2+ versus closely related ions, Cd2+ and Cu2+
Competitive adsorption of Hg2+/Cd2+ and Hg2+/Cu2+ couples were investigated in an equilibration-adsorption batch system (see Table 2).
Cd2+ ion was chosen as a competing ion because, like Hg2+, it binds well with amine ligands, while Cu2+ has a higher affinity for the same type of ligand (Wu et al., 2007). Additionally, both of the competing ions have the same charge, have comparative ionic radii, and often coexist with Hg2+ ions, exhibiting certain interference properties in aqueous environments. Table 3 summarises the distribution coefficient (Kd), the selectivity coefficient (k) and the relative selectivity coefficient (k') values of the competing ions with respect to the target ions, i.e. Hg2+ ions.
As indicated in Eq. (1) the Kd values are the ratios of the concentration of a particular ion between the imprinted polymer and the aqueous environment. It signifies the extraction ability of a unit quantity of the polymer for a particular ion in a unit volume of solution. Kd values for the imprinted polymer for all ions were higher than those for the non-imprinted polymer, indicating that even the non-imprinted polymer has non-selective sites which any ion may be bound to. The Kd value for the imprinted polymer used to extract Hg2+ ions in the spiked samples was significantly higher (908.0909 x 103 mℓ/g), more than threefold, than that of Cd2+ and Cu2+ (152 and 120 ml/g respectively). This demonstrated the ability of the imprinted polymer to bind Hg2+ ions as they perfectly fitted the fabricated recognition sites, and to a far greater extent than the competing ions. The selectivity coefficient (k) for Hg2+ binding in the presence of Cd+2 ions was found to be 3 965; that is, the polymer will extract Hg2+ 3 965 times more than it can extract Cd2+ ions. For Cu2+ this is 14 189 times more, making Cu2+ the less interfering ion, as the Hg2+ ion out-competes it by a large k value. The k values for the non-imprinted polymer were of the same order of magnitude: 1.26 for the Hg2+/Cd2+ and 1.34 for the Hg2+/Cu2+ competition systems. The closeness of these values shows that the non-imprinted polymer had similar if not the same affinity for all of the ions, as there were no recognition sites that were originally created for any particular ion in its structure. From the values the effect of imprinting on selectivity can be estimated. The high values of k' exhibited by the prepared imprinted polymer powder between Hg2+/Cd2+ (3 147) and Hg2+/Cu2+ (10 588) indicate that the prepared polymer is highly selective to Hg2+ even in the presence of its closely-related analogues.
Validation and application to water samples
Calibration was performed using Hg2+ standards at different concentrations in the range of 0-20 μg/mℓ .The obtained linear range regression equation and correlation coefficient (r) for Hg2+ were Cins = 0.995 C cal + 0.004 and 0.9997, respectively, where Cms and Ccalwere instrumental (ICP-OES) signal and calculated (prepared) concentrations of Hg2+ for each standard, respectively. Results showed that the linear range was several orders of magnitude for the determination of Hg2+ in aqueous environments. The limit of detection (LOD, 3σ) was calculated as 0.036 ng/mℓ (36 ng/ℓ) and meets the monitoring requirements for the USA EPA of 2 000 ng/ℓ for Hg2+ in drinking water.
The accuracy of the method was validated by determining the Hg2+ concentration of an aqueous NIST traceable CRM, with certified Hg2+ concentration of 9.99 ± 0.03 μg/mℓ. After concentrating the CRM with the imprinted sorbent, mean Hg2+ concentrations, of 10.01 ± 0.01 μg/mℓ for the 9.99 μg/mℓ CRM and 0.0997 ± 0.04 μg/mℓ for a hundred-times diluted original CRM, were determined with ICP-OES for n = 10. The accuracy and precision of the method were found to be acceptable at 95% confidence limit for the concentration and analysis of Hg2+ in aqueous solutions.
When the method was applied to real water samples, high extraction efficiencies, over 84% in all cases (see Table 4), were obtained. This demonstrated the suitability of the sorbent to selectively extract mercury(II) ions from complex aqueous matrices.
In this study, a mercury(II) ion-imprinted functionalised polymer with exceedingly high performance, as marked by the fast equilibration-adsorption kinetics, the very large relative selectivity coefficients, high extraction efficiency percentages of the targeted ion (Hg+2), even in the presence of other closely-related ions, was successfully prepared. The polymer was simple and relatively easy to prepare. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time such relative coefficients (k'), in the ranges of several thousands, have been reported. Experimental results obtained show that the polymer has high analytical potential for selective extraction and pre-concentration of mercury(II) ions in the presence of closely-related ions. Its use as a solid-phase extraction sorbent can be further evaluated in future.
This work was supported by funding from the National Research Foundation (Republic of South Africa).
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Received 16 February 2011;
Accepted in revised form 2 April 2012.
* To whom all correspondence should be addressed. +27 82 349-7832; fax: +27 46 622-5109; e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Radioactive Isotopes - the "Clocks in Rocks"
Page 1 of 17
Numerical and Relative Ages for Rocks
A numerical (or "absolute") age is a specific number of years, like 150 million years ago. A relative age simply states whether one rock formation is older or younger than another formation. The Geologic Time Scale was originally laid out using relative dating principles.
Numerical dating, the focus of this exercise, takes advantage of the "clocks in rocks" - radioactive isotopes ("parents") that spontaneously decay to form new isotopes ("daughters") while releasing energy. For example, decay of the parent isotope Rb-87 (Rubidium) produces a stable daughter isotope, Sr-87 (Strontium), while releasing a beta particle (an electron from the nucleus). ("87" is the atomic mass number = protons + neutrons.)
|Many minerals contain radioactive isotopes. In theory, the age of any of these minerals can be determined by
|counting the number of daughter isotopes in the mineral, and
|using the known decay rate to calculate the length of time required to produce that number of daughters.
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text:
Thursday, April 5, 2012
To My Son
3 comments:
- Maya Kuzman said...
this is so beautiful and touching! One day they are holding onto you with wobbly legs and then next you know they are grown up! I remind myself to treasure each minute with them even put up with tantrums and whims because I know time is precious!
Thank you for sharing this lovely poem!
P.S I also wanted to thank you so much for the sweet words! Your comment brightened my day!
- April 5, 2012 at 6:59 AM
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- April 5, 2012 at 4:45 PM
- Judy's Online Journal said...
You posted the words that are in my heart. My youngest is 5'8" and still will hold my hand at almost 14. My middle boy is 5'9" and still gives me a kiss goodbye in the morning on his way to school at almost 16. How I remember them so small I could carry them both at the same time and now....now they are soooo big and growing up so much. Thanks for reminding me of how I love them. Happy Easter Ann.
- April 5, 2012 at 5:04 PM


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HarshIti , Pls Spread Smile & Joy Everywhere by Coming Back at least Once
Dear Harshad Chopda and Additi Gupta.. We, your 'fans' have a small request to both you. Well may be you both are tired hearing it. And may be feeling humiliated also but this is the way of showing and showering our love on you guys.. We do not control this nor can we compare. We cant find the words to express how much we love you. For us love means you both. After the incident on '11th oct' we have been doing everything just to get u guys.. As days passed by we went crazy with it coz no one was ready to understand our feeling. Spent sleepless nights requesting for your come back. We know you never told us but some feeling are such that you can never control them.. You can take all the tears we have shed so that u know it was shed for you.. !! Well its been almost one and half year we like crazy people are still requesting. Well we never wanted a forceful interview. Our only motive behind the interview was to make u guys speak and mend things between u both.. That was our only aim. We cant see u guys like this. We all love you a lot.. You both know what we want. We dont know why we like HARSHITI more then others why we love HARSHITI without reason why we feel happy seeing u both together. Some relations have no explaination and one among them is this. ♥ ♥ !! We know SBS have been trying always. We are really thankful to them for having always tried. They are our only hope.. We dont care what people think abt us. All that we care is that you both love HARSHITI fans. We respect your decisions. But you both were best of friends once. Sometimes we maintain silence to protect beautiful relation. But in this case its not happening. Your silence is literally killing us. Can you plz meet atleast for the sake of the friendship you both shared. For your fans who love you without any expectation.. Aren't we a bit lucky to get to see the only people we loved ?? Its said "someday somehow whatever we pray for will come true. It may not be in the exact time we want but it will be the best time for you " do you think our prayers will be answered someday. It all depends on you both. If you want everything can happen.. Is loving someone so bad ?? We have never had any regret nor we will have. Only one problem will be there that may be our love was not so strong to get u both together. Hope with this coming year we get the wish we have been trying. Or may be if we are really lucky we might just get if at all santa has heard our request. Tired of hoping now but still cant stop hoping. Coz its hope which has kept us going. Everyday just brings up some new hope that may be someday we get to see u both together. May be someday our prayers are answered.


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This set of universal hockey skate guards from Tempish are made from a durable plastic that will keep your skates protected during transport. The adjuster on the rear can be moved for a secure fit with your specific size of skates.
This pair of protectors fits sizes EU 27 - 48.
Notice: These skate guards are not made for walking on.


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[tps_header]When will you give the first kids cell phone to your children? It's a question that modern parents need to ask themselves earlier and earlier in their kid's lives. We aren't talking about play kids cell phone toys. This is all about the real deal that offers them access to communication and social media in one simple device.
Table of contents
When To Give The First Kids Cell Phone
When should a kid get their first cell phone?
My daughters are still very young – 1 and 3 years old. But my 3-year-old knows how to use my iPhone almost as well as I do. It really makes me wonder when she will be ready for her own cell phone. Kids cell phone usage is off the charts already, so being prepared for my children wanting one for themselves is a must.
Something really interesting is that we use Skype and Google Hangouts so often with our extended family, that a regular voice only phone call just doesn't cut it for my toddler. She constantly wants to see who we are talking to.
Here is what other moms have to say about when to potentially introduce your children to a safe kids cell phone for regular use.
Advice and Stories from Real Moms
In Middle School
I got my twin tweens their own cell phones when they entered middle school, since they would sometimes be staying after school and would need to call for rides, etc. – Lauren from Mom Home Guide
Based on their maturity
I don't think there's a set age. I think maturity and responsibility should be the determining factors. – Donella from Wife.Mom.Geek.
Between 10 and 13
Between 10 and 13 but really depends on the situation. – Kristi from The Classy Chapter
When they can pay for it
Never. I survived without one into adulthood, so can they! Actually, I'll probably give them one when they are responsible enough to keep track of it, use it appropriately, and pay for it themselves. – Valerie from Occasionally Crafty
It's a safety issue
My 7, 6, and 4 year olds think they're ready for their own phones. Ha! I will consider a basic phone when they hit middle school, which is much further away. At that age, though, I think of it as a safety issue and not for playing games. – Albion from AlbionGould.com
Technology Agreement
All of our children receive their first phone when they enter middle school, because that's when they start walking a longer distance and attending after school activities where they sometimes stay longer and need to get ahold of us. They pay for part of the phone fees with their allowance. Each child, along with us, signs a technology agreement. – Sara from SaraBorgstede.com
Thank you Moms!
This is just another example of choosing what is best for you and your family. With all the quick changes in technology and society, I think this is a question that will be changing rapidly. Choosing a kids cell phone is never going to be an easy topic or subject regardless of your children and their ages. It's one more way to let them grow up, and for moms that can be tough. These tips and thoughts can make it easier!
Welcome to the Parenting Lounge!
You can also download the free ebook "Inside The Parenting Lounge" where I collected the top ten parenting lounge posts and packaged them in a PDF ebook.


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What to Expect – Sleep
Getting help for sleep problems can make your life better on a lasting basis. Our sleep specialists will get you ready for sleep studies, help you understand results and walk you through proven steps to a good night's rest.
Getting help for sleep problems can make your life better on a lasting basis. Our sleep specialists will get you ready for sleep studies, help you understand results and walk you through proven steps to a good night's rest.
Because everyone's situation is different, we'll create an individualized plan for your sleep study, based on your sleeping patterns and schedule. To help you stay as close to your routine as possible, we conduct day and night sleep studies, and where available, home sleep studies.
You will have your own space at one of our sleep labs, where we'll help you settle in comfortably. Your doctor will provide specific instructions prior to your study, which may include changes to your sleep habits, caffeine intake or medication, based on your condition.
Sleep studies require a doctor's referral. Find a Doctor near you to get started.
Most sleep studies require at least six hours of observation and recording to arrive at a proper diagnosis. After your study, you can expect to have results in about one to two weeks. Some studies can be interpreted and ready sooner if there is an urgent need.
As soon as we have results from your sleep study, we'll review them with you and discuss your treatment options. As treatment progresses, we'll work together to make sure it's improving your sleep and the way you feel.
If treatment includes CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), we'll follow up to make any adjustments needed for a proper fit and show you how to clean and maintain the system.
Once you've adjusted to your treatment, we're available to answer any questions and help you learn about and maintain healthy sleep habits.
Most insurance companies cover sleep studies. However, your insurance company may ask you to have a home sleep study rather than a sleep study in one of our sleep labs unless it is medically necessary. We will work with you to provide clarification on payment for sleep studies. Check with your insurance provider to find out what kind of sleep studies they cover.


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Yes folks, it's that time of year again - at least for those of us who live in northern climes.
With Christmas and New Year celebrations a fading memory, the sudden realisation that yes, it's still dark and cold outside and yes, there are still at least 3 months left until we can expect to see anything of an improvement, hits hard in January.
So it comes as little surprise that the term 'hygge' is currently one of the top searched for words on Forvo. It's a Danish term defined as "a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being." So although the word is said to have no direct translation in English, "cosy" or "cosiness" perhaps come closest.
Hygge also featured highly on Forvo's list of most searched for pronunciations of 2016. With so much global turmoil in 2016, the idea of holing up in a cosy house in your slippers with a warm drink no doubt seemed like an appealing one to our users.
And while we slowly slip in to 2017, it's maybe comforting to know that it's comfort, not political turmoil or terrorism that occupies our minds.
Much has been written about hygge in the past 12 months, but it's definitely worth checking out these two articles from The New Yorker and The Guardian for more information.
And for the pronunciation of hygge from real native Danish speakers? You can listen to it on Forvo here
Photo: daveynin Cozy place in the cabin via photopin (license)


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Rialto Beach to Chilean Memorial, Photo Gallery, Olympic National Park, Washington
Rialto Beach to Chilean Memorial
Olympic National Park
The Chilean Memorial is located 3.7 miles north of the Rialto Beach entry point in Olympic National Park. While the destination is marked by a simple plaque, the journey to it is spectacular - a rugged coastal trek highlighted by innumerable sea stacks, tidal flats and rich wildlife.
|Related Trails:
|Chilean Memorial
The receding tide reveals a honeycomb of tide pools north of Rialto Beach
The Chilean Memorial commemorates the W.J. Pirrie, a Chilean ship that wrecked in 1920
Sea stacks are often the heavily eroded remains of where the mainland once extended
Brown pelicans dive for smelt off of Rialto Beach
While seals seldom haul out on Rialto, they're common in the stacks and flats just north
Low tide opens a large network of tide pools at Hole in the Wall
Rialto Beach is exposed to heavy surf, while rugged coves just north are quite placid
A small island becomes accessible at low tide in the Chilean Memorial cove
Late afternoon and low tide in the placid Chilean Memorial cove
Intervals of rugged coast are broken by calm bays leading to the Chilean Monument
Rialto Beach is an ideal place for birding, particularly bald eagles, gulls, and pelicans
Breeding cormorants have been documented from Alaska and Newfoundland south to Mexico
Low tide can present new challenges; in this case, a long field of slippery rocks
This open expanse at low tide requires a steep headland trail over Hole in the Wall at high tide
Rialto Beach is located 12.5 miles west of Forks, WA
Offshore islands served as hunting and warring outposts for native tribes
Bald eagles are a common sight in the Sitka - hemlock forest lining Rialto Beach
The intertidal zone is a coastal area exposed to air at low tide, and submerged at high tide
Surf logs on the high tide line of Rialto Beach create a barrier between it and the forest
While harbor seals are more common, stellar seals are known to haul out north of Cape Johnson


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Tess of the d'Urbervilles Notes & Analysis
The free Tess of the d'Urbervilles notes include comprehensive information and analysis to help you understand the book. These free notes consist of about 56 pages (16,783 words) and contain the following sections:
These free notes also contain Quotes and Themes & Topics on Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy.
Tess of the d'Urbervilles Plot Summary
Tess is a girl of the working class with a family that hates to work, so when they learn that her father is the descendant of the noble family, the d'Urbervilles, they send Tess to a rich "relative" in nearby Tantridge to get money or marry well so that her parents will be taken care of. Tess goes because her parents make her feel she must although she thinks it's wrong of them to ask for money. This meeting with Alec d'Urberville, one of the "relatives" seals her dreadful fate. He is attracted to Tess and takes advantage of her when she comes to Tantridge to work at d'Urberville manor and she returns home ruined. Alec promises to take care of her if she ever needs anything, but she dislikes him so much that she'd rather suffer than have any contact with him.
Soon Tess bears a child she names, Sorrow, and the child dies only days after it is born. Tess, without the support of her shiftless family, leaves home to try at independence again knowing now to be wary of men. She goes to Talbothay's dairy and falls in love with Angel Clare, the son of a pastor who is learning about farming at the dairy. Although she thinks herself unworthy of such a sweet man because of what happened to her, Tess and Angel fall in love and decide to get married. She refused his proposals for quite a while trying to find a way to tell him about her past with Alec d'Urberville, but she couldn't do it. It is important to her that he knows everything about her so that she knows he loves her for herself and not for who he thinks she is, so shortly before they are supposed to be married, she writes him a letter and slips it under the door of his room. He never gets the letter because it is stuck under the edge of the carpet. Tess realizes this mistake on the morning of their marriage, and she is not given an opportunity to tell him before they are married.
That night he confesses that he's had one sexual encounter that he couldn't bring himself to tell her about and she forgives him, knowing that he'll forgive her what happened with Alec. But when she tells Angel about it, the way he feels about her changes completely. He feels betrayed and tricked, so they agree to separate, although Tess loves him greatly.
He goes to Brazil to try his hand at farming there, and Tess works at hard job after hard job rather than asking his family for money as he'd instructed her when he left. While she's working herself to the bone, she encounters Alec d'Urberville again and he begins visiting her, relentlessly trying to convince her to marry him. She finally gives in when her family is evicted from their home after her father's death and they have nowhere to go. Alec provides them a home, and Tess agrees to be his wife.
Angel then returns from Brazil and comes to find her, knowing that he has treated her unfairly. When he finds her, she is distraught that the only man she ever loved has come back, and once again, Alec d'Urberville is standing in her way. She stabs Alec with a carving knife, and she and Angel spend a week together hiding out and being as they were before they were married. Then Tess is captured and executed, and Angel marries her younger sister, Liza Lu. After she met Alec d'Urberville, there was nothing Tess could do to change fate. All that happened to her was meant to be.


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by Mike - We all can't go to all the great events around the world. Here are some photos from an event you may have missed last year. My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sending these photos from the The 2013 The Quail, A Motor Sport … [Read more...]
Photos From The 2013 The Quail, A Motor Sport Gathering
February 3, 2014 By Leave a Comment


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The Advance Scouts May have Won the World Series for Boston
Being a life long New York Yankee fan it was difficult to watch the Red Sox celebrate winning the 2013 World Series. You must give them credit in that they went from last place last year to winning it all this year. When you get right down to it, they outplayed the Cardinals and deserved to win it.


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NYU and Polytechnic Institute of NYU (NYU-Poly) announced that National Instruments is joining them as the founding industrial sponsor in launching the world's first academic research center combining the exploration of advanced wireless technologies, computing and medical applications.
25 Faculty and 100 Student Researchers Work with National Instruments and Other Industry, Federal Partners to Advance Wireless Technologies and Applications
New York University and Polytechnic Institute of NYU (NYU-Poly) announced that National Instruments (NI) is joining them as the founding industrial sponsor in launching the world's first academic research center combining the exploration of advanced wireless technologies, computing and medical applications.
Called NYU WIRELESS, the center researches advanced communications and antenna technologies, compressed sensing for spectrum efficiency in massively broadband wireless communications and medical imaging, the creation of smaller and smarter cellular networks and wireless devices that cooperate rather than compete for spectrum. The center also focuses on creating fundamental knowledge of wireless methods and new circuits and systems for a promising new frontier in the wireless spectrum: millimeter-wave and sub-terahertz communications.
NYU WIRELESS has enlisted 25 engineering, computer science and medical professors and more than 100 graduate students and post-doctoral researchers. They will work with researchers from NI, major federal funding sources such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and subsequent industry partners. Hardware and software from NI will serve as a test bed solution for some of the new research initiatives.
New research space totaling 23,000 square feet is scheduled to open on the downtown Brooklyn campus of NYU-Poly this winter. The new center brings together faculty who have current research projects that total approximately $10 million annually.
"National Instruments is excited to be part of this important research initiative," said Director of National Instruments Software Defined Radio James Kimery. "The graphical system design approach enabled by LabVIEW software provides heterogeneous processing capabilities in a unified, integrated design flow that will enable NYU WIRELESS research to iterate faster and prove out the ideas in a shorter time. NI's software-defined radio platforms will serve as the hardware prototyping test bed encompassing real-time operating systems, multi-core processors, FPGAs and flexible RF frontends."
NYU WIRELESS is founded and directed by Professor Theodore (Ted) Rappaport, who recently joined the faculty of NYU-Poly's Computer and Electrical Engineering Department, NYU's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences and the Department of Radiology at NYU Langone Medical Center. Faculty and students from all three schools comprise NYU WIRELESS. Rappaport previously founded major academic wireless centers, at Virginia Tech and The University of Texas, as well as two companies instrumental in building today's cellular industry.
"By working with some of the world's best doctors and surgeons, we can solve real problems in the medical field while bringing our industry sponsors in direct contact with engineering problems and market opportunities in health care," said Rappaport. "And by moving up the spectrum, a new frontier opens to wireless innovation. The millimeter-wave spectrum is uncrowded – with enough capacity to accommodate breakthroughs in cellular and personal wireless communication networks. All our researchers eagerly embrace this unprecedented interdisciplinary collaboration as an opportunity to shape the future of wireless communications and make meaningful contributions to lives and health in our world."
"No other wireless research center in the country can claim this level of interdisciplinary cooperation, with the ability to validate research on actual patients, said Professor Daniel K. Sodickson, M.D., Ph.D., vice-chair for research, Department of Radiology and director of the Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging at NYU Langone Medical Center. "NYU WIRELESS will conduct cutting-edge medical research in radiology, and it is also poised to make fundamental contributions in areas such as neuroengineering, cardiovascular engineering and electrophysiology."
NYU WIRELESS researchers have also started to measure the reaction of millimeter-length radio waves as they bounce against and travel through buildings in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Operating at radio frequencies of 20 to 60 GHz – ten times higher than today's cell phones and Wi-Fi networks – they offer higher data rates at lower cost, but the propagation of the signals in urban environments poses difficult technological challenges.
About Polytechnic Institute of New York University
Polytechnic Institute of New York University (formerly Polytechnic University and also known as Brooklyn Polytechnic), an affiliated institute of New York University, is a comprehensive school of engineering, applied sciences, technology and research, and is rooted in a 158-year tradition of invention, innovation and entrepreneurship: i2e. The institution, founded in 1854, is the nation's second-oldest private engineering school. In addition to its main campus in New York City at MetroTech Center in downtown Brooklyn, it also offers programs at sites throughout the region, around the globe and remotely through NYUe-Poly. NYU-Poly is an integral part of NYU Abu Dhabi, NYU Shanghai and the NYU Center for Urban Science and Progress (CUSP) in downtown Brooklyn. For more information, visit www.poly.edu.
About NYU School of Medicine
NYU School of Medicine is one of the nation's preeminent academic institutions dedicated to achieving world class medical educational excellence. For 170 years, NYU School of Medicine has trained thousands of physicians and scientists who have helped to shape the course of medical history and enrich the lives of countless people. An integral part of NYU Langone Medical Center, the School of Medicine at its core is committed to improving the human condition through medical education, scientific research and direct patient care. The School also maintains academic affiliations with area hospitals, including Bellevue Hospital, one of the nation's finest municipal hospitals where its students, residents and faculty provide the clinical and emergency care to New York City's diverse population, which enhances the scope and quality of their medical education and training. Additional information about the NYU School of Medicine is available at http://school.med.nyu.edu/.
About the NYU Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences
New York University's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences is a leading center for research and education in mathematics and computer science. For more than 75 years, the Institute has contributed to domestic and international science and engineering by promoting an integrated view of mathematics and computation. Faculty and students are engaged in a broad range of research activities, which include many areas of mathematics and computer science as well as the application of these disciplines to problems in the biological, physical, and economic sciences. The Courant Institute has played a central role in the development of applied mathematics, analysis, and computer science, and its faculty has received numerous national and international awards in recognition of their extraordinary research accomplishments. For more information, visit http://www.cims.nyu.edu/.
About NYU WIRELESS
NYU WIRELESS is the world's first academic research center combining wireless, computing and medical applications. NYU and NYU-Poly created new faculty positions, invested $3.5 million in funding and an additional $4 million in world-class research space upgrades to form an interdisciplinary research center to develop revolutionary circuits and systems for business sectors including the wireless industry, the distributed computing and data center industry and the medical profession. NYU WIRELESS brings together faculty and students with expertise in millimeter wave wireless communications and circuits, distributed networking and computing and medicine. NYU WIRELESS conducts about $10 million per year in funded research annually and allows its industrial affiliates to maximize the value of their investment by leveraging industrial affiliates funds with large NSF, NIH and other competitive research programs. NYU WIRELESS affiliates enjoy close and frequent interaction with the center's faculty and students from NYU-Poly's Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, NYU Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences' Computer Science Department and many branches of the NYU School of Medicine. For more information, visit http://www.nyuwireless.org.
Note to Editors:
To download photos, click here.
Additional contact:
Kathleen Hamilton


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Vagabonding across the 39th Parallel is an informal exploration of the geology of an interesting slice of the American West that I followed in July. One of our rules on the trip was to seek out new routes we hadn't seen before. When leaving our home base in the Central Valley, that's not so easy to do. There are only a few paved crossings of the Sierra Nevada, and we've followed most all of them. So we found ourselves on the shortest route, through Yosemite National Park.
A trip to Yosemite National Park to many people means a visit to Yosemite Valley, the most heavily populated seven square miles in a park that covers more than a thousand. If one is on a tour, or has limited time, they will obviously want to see the main attraction, but there is much more to the park. There are the paved highways to Wawona, Glacier Point, Hetch Hetchy, and Tuolumne Meadows, and there are the hiking routes along the John Muir Trail to the east and south, and the vast untrammeled wilderness of north Yosemite and the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River. We were crossing the Sierra Nevada, so we were following Highway 120 over Tioga Pass.
When the weight of overlying rock is removed by erosion, the underlying granitic rock expands outward, parallel to the surface, and fractures into exfoliation sheets. The process tends to remove corners and edges first, resulting in a dome-like shape. An example can be seen in the picture above.
The road winds through the upper drainage of Yosemite Creek (which ends in Yosemite Valley at Yosemite Falls). The highest peaks, around Mt. Hoffman (see the picture at the top of the page), are close to 11,000 feet high. The view from Hoffman (a moderate hike with a small bit of rock scrambling at the summit) is spectacular. A photojournal of a hike we took there in 2001 can be seen here.
The Tuolumne River basin is much larger, and in fact had the longest glacier system in the Sierra Nevada during the ice ages. The Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne is actually several thousand feet deeper than Yosemite Valley (although it generally lacks the sheer cliffs that make Yosemite so exceptional). The ice was so thick coming out of Tuolumne Meadows that some of the ice spilled over a low divide and flowed down Tenaya Creek towards Yosemite Valley, adding considerably to the carving power of the ice down-canyon. Beautiful Tenaya Lake was also the beneficiary of the extra ice.
The lake is a nice place for discovering glacial polish, striations, grooves, and erratics. It is also a popular picnic spot (this sentence is an understatement; Tenaya is one of the most popular Yosemite destinations outside the valley).
Tioga Pass is a col, a U-shaped pass formed by glacial erosion. Because cols have a flat floor, they are most often utilized as transportation corridors where people need to cross mountain ranges. Tioga has been used this way for many centuries. Crossing the summit of Tioga, the asymmetry of the Sierra Nevada is immediately apparent. The mountains have the overall shape of a tilted block of rock, with a gentle western slope, and steep eastern side. We had been climbing gradually for the last 100 miles or so, but we dropped into the town of Lee Vining in less than 12.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Vagabonding across the 39th Parallel: Crossing the Sierra Nevada
Posted by Garry Hayes at 10:29 PM
Labels: 39th parallel, Lee Vining Creek, Tioga Pass, Tuolumne Meadows, Vagabonding, Yosemite National Park
3 comments:
- Martha Z said...
We tried to go up to Tuolumne to picnic last week. The line at the entrance was backed up to Tioga Lake! I'm glad to see your pictures even if I didn't get any of my own. Maybe next week there will be less traffic.
- August 16, 2011 at 2:07 PM
I know this is a little off the subject bust a must stop is the gas station deli as you come down into the town of Lee Vining.
Doug N
- August 16, 2011 at 11:09 PM
- Garry Hayes said...
Ah, the Whoa Nellie Deli! We had dinner AND breakfast there on our trip (we brought food to cook in camp, but tended towards laziness when there was a good deli near by.
- August 16, 2011 at 11:17 PM
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