////////////////////Early Determinants of Fruit and Vegetable Acceptance
Forestell CA and Mennella JA.Pediatrics. 2007;120:1247-1254.
Summary
The authors note that infant tastes for sweet foods (eg, fruit) tend to be innate, while preferences for other foods (eg, vegetables) are more learned. This study tested whether the method of food introduction to infants would alter acceptance of vegetables, with green beans being the "prototype" tested.
Past studies demonstrated that maternal intake of foods during the prenatal period as well as during nursing can positively influence infant acceptance of those foods. The authors had the following hypotheses: that breastfed infants would be more likely to accept green beans than formula-fed infants; that repeated exposure to green beans would increase acceptance of them; and that pairing green bean exposure with a fruit exposure afterward (peaches in this study) would improve green bean acceptance at subsequent feedings.
///////////////GJRT SCHL BS CNL TRGDY-41 DD-DN CMPR
/////////////////////........Unintentional Strangulation Deaths From the "Choking Game" Among Youths Aged 6-19 Years -- United States, 1995-2007 The "choking game" produces brief euphoria from cerebral hypoxia, but serious neurologic injury or death can result. What is the estimated incidence of deaths among youths based on news media reports?
////////////////..........The authors concluded that approximately half of patients diagnosed with early childhood asthma have remission of the disease by age 12 years.
Viewpoint
A question that comes up frequently in pediatric practice is whether patients admitted for their first asthma episode should be started on controller medications. This study suggests that the answer is yes, given the much higher rate of asthma-related healthcare used by patients diagnosed in hospital, especially in the first year after diagnosis. A second question that comes up is how long to continue controllers once begun. This study demonstrated that the cumulative incidence of hospitalization increased for 3 years after initial diagnosis before reaching a plateau, leading the authors to conclude that it takes up to 3 years for asthma to stabilize in an individual. As a potential answer to the question of "how long," the answer seems to be on the order of 12 months or more before considering discontinuation of controllers. The latest Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma can be viewed or downloaded at the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (please see Related Links). These new guidelines urge providers to include assessment of both impairment (old symptom approach) and risk, and admission to hospital seems to indicate a high-risk patient.
Abstract
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Related Links
External LinksGuidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma (EPR-3)
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Author Information
William T. Basco, Jr., MD, FAAP, Pediatrician, Charleston, South Carolina
Disclosure: William T. Basco, Jr., MD, FAAP, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
Medscape Pediatrics. 2008; ©2008 Medscape
Wednesday, 16 April 2008
Monday, 14 April 2008
2.5 MEN
////////////////////SWEET LAND OF VINDICATION
////////////////////.........REPOINTING=but any bricklayer should be able to do re-pointing.I run a building company (Southampton area - rates will vary round the country) and when subcontracting this work I would expect to pay around £20/m2 for raking out and re-pointing plus tower hire.That's what you could expect to pay a bricklayer direct or up to twice that to a building company (with offices, secretary, etc.)General tradesman rates per day at the moment are:Bricklayer, carpenter, roofer £120 - 150Painter £100-135Good multi-skilled £135-200Plumber, Electrician £150Corgi registered plumber £200-250Some local authorities (Hampshire and Surrey, for sure) have a Buy With Confidence scheme listing reputable tradesmen on their website - look for the Trading Standards part of the site of your local authority.Hope that helps.
////////////////////////.........POINTING DEPTH=
Earlier comment on a brickie raking out to a depth of 6mm. This is insufficient, and will eventually fall out.12mm is recommended, but brickies hate this work, and you will rarely see this done properly. Ask around, you may need someone who really does take pride in their work. Also check on the actual shape of the pointing, especially if you have older bricks.
//////////////////...........BOILER=
Wadham ,COSTS to buy materials boiler £850 + VAT inc jig , flue kit £55 + VAT , plastics = minimal , 15mm copper £1 mt , 22mm copper £2 mt , rad 600x800 single £22.50 + VAT , fittings = minimal , flush £20 + VATPrice quoted seems expensive to me
///////////////////...........new house 3 bed semi has got a Worcester Bosdh 30 Si just fitted.This is 6 rads, 1 towel rail (dual fuel) and a shower that runs off the boiler.Ben
//////////////////................opinion of popular manufacturers of boilers. Good at top. The bottom ones.....will never install.1.Vaillant2.Worcester3.Baxi/Potterton/Myson, Ideal, Glowworm, Keston4.Biasi Ravenheat Saunier Duval Chaffoteaux Ferrolli Vokera
///////////////////.............. Vaillant Ecotec Plus 824 will set you back about £800 including flue and VAT. It is more expensive than the Biasi but a much better investment in my opinion
////////////////////...........actually quite like the Gloworm Hxi, and I heard a rumour from my local Graham's that Vaillant and Gloworm were collaborating between the Ecomax and the Hxi, no idea how true that is. I do like the fact that Gloworm have developed a plume management kit, even though this requires a pipe to be run up the wall, and I also like the S/S heat exchanger, which the Worcester doesn't have.
///////////////////////
////////////////////.........REPOINTING=but any bricklayer should be able to do re-pointing.I run a building company (Southampton area - rates will vary round the country) and when subcontracting this work I would expect to pay around £20/m2 for raking out and re-pointing plus tower hire.That's what you could expect to pay a bricklayer direct or up to twice that to a building company (with offices, secretary, etc.)General tradesman rates per day at the moment are:Bricklayer, carpenter, roofer £120 - 150Painter £100-135Good multi-skilled £135-200Plumber, Electrician £150Corgi registered plumber £200-250Some local authorities (Hampshire and Surrey, for sure) have a Buy With Confidence scheme listing reputable tradesmen on their website - look for the Trading Standards part of the site of your local authority.Hope that helps.
////////////////////////.........POINTING DEPTH=
Earlier comment on a brickie raking out to a depth of 6mm. This is insufficient, and will eventually fall out.12mm is recommended, but brickies hate this work, and you will rarely see this done properly. Ask around, you may need someone who really does take pride in their work. Also check on the actual shape of the pointing, especially if you have older bricks.
//////////////////...........BOILER=
Wadham ,COSTS to buy materials boiler £850 + VAT inc jig , flue kit £55 + VAT , plastics = minimal , 15mm copper £1 mt , 22mm copper £2 mt , rad 600x800 single £22.50 + VAT , fittings = minimal , flush £20 + VATPrice quoted seems expensive to me
///////////////////...........new house 3 bed semi has got a Worcester Bosdh 30 Si just fitted.This is 6 rads, 1 towel rail (dual fuel) and a shower that runs off the boiler.Ben
//////////////////................opinion of popular manufacturers of boilers. Good at top. The bottom ones.....will never install.1.Vaillant2.Worcester3.Baxi/Potterton/Myson, Ideal, Glowworm, Keston4.Biasi Ravenheat Saunier Duval Chaffoteaux Ferrolli Vokera
///////////////////.............. Vaillant Ecotec Plus 824 will set you back about £800 including flue and VAT. It is more expensive than the Biasi but a much better investment in my opinion
////////////////////...........actually quite like the Gloworm Hxi, and I heard a rumour from my local Graham's that Vaillant and Gloworm were collaborating between the Ecomax and the Hxi, no idea how true that is. I do like the fact that Gloworm have developed a plume management kit, even though this requires a pipe to be run up the wall, and I also like the S/S heat exchanger, which the Worcester doesn't have.
///////////////////////
ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS
////////////////////.........Bhagavad Gita Selection Number 297, for Monday, April 14, 2008From Chapter XIV: The Yoga of the Division of the Three Qualities of NatureXIV.3. MAMA YONIRMAHADBRAHMA TASMIN GARBHAM DADHAAMYAHAM; SAMBHAVAH SARVABHOOTAANAAM TATO BHAVATI BHAARATA. (Krishna speaking to Arjuna)My womb is the great Brahma; in that I place the germ; thence, OArjuna, is the birth of all beings! XIV.4. SARVAYONISHU KAUNTEYA MOORTAYAH SAMBHAVANTI YAAH; TAASAAM BRAHMA MAHADYONIR AHAM BEEJAPRADAH PITAA. Whatever forms are produced, O Arjuna, in any womb whatsoever, thegreat Brahma is their womb and I am the seed-giving father.
////////////////////.......Eating Soy Foods In Puberty Protects Against Breast Cancer, Evidence Now SuggestsEvidence is growing from animal and human studies that genistein, a potent chemical found in soy, protects against development of breast cancer - but only if consumed during pubertyhttp://www.curingdeath.com/research/Eating_Soy_Foods_In_Puberty_Protects_Against_Breast_Cancer_Evidence_Now_Suggests.asp
/////////////////////Every man is a fool for at least five minutes every day; wisdom consists in not exceeding the limits." – Elbert Hubbard
////////////////HS JLSY-SHT OFF FRM LF-LIMIT-WB
/////////////////NO REGRETS EXCEPT THE FINAL OUTCOME
//////////////////WOOLWYCH-SOUTH LONDON
//////////////////GANGS DIVIDE IN RACIAL LINES
/////////////////RACIALIZE,TRIBALISE
//////////////////WELLNESS Drink water in the morning to wake upWhen you get up in the morning you are dehydrated from going 6-9 hours without any liquids. Before you leave for work, or before you eat breakfast, drink a full glass of cool (not cold) water. It will hydrate you, wake you up, and even make you a little fuller so you will not feel the need to eat as large a breakfast. Some people even find they no longer need coffee when they drink a glass of water in the morning.
/////////////////........To entertain some people all you have to do is listen.-- Bernard Edinger
////////////////// IN TOUCH WITH ROOTS-IT MAKES GEOGRAPHY IRRELEVANT
//////////////////..........The best make is Vaillant. worcester bosch or potterton are other good makes
/////////////////....EXTRACTOR FAN----vI Had One Fitted In My On-suite Bathroom And It Cost About £150 But Included The Parts And It Took About A Day To Do. I Am South Coast Area. Very Pleased With The Work, Had To Be Done As The Paint Was Peeling Off The Ceiling
//////////////
////////////////////.......Eating Soy Foods In Puberty Protects Against Breast Cancer, Evidence Now SuggestsEvidence is growing from animal and human studies that genistein, a potent chemical found in soy, protects against development of breast cancer - but only if consumed during pubertyhttp://www.curingdeath.com/research/Eating_Soy_Foods_In_Puberty_Protects_Against_Breast_Cancer_Evidence_Now_Suggests.asp
/////////////////////Every man is a fool for at least five minutes every day; wisdom consists in not exceeding the limits." – Elbert Hubbard
////////////////HS JLSY-SHT OFF FRM LF-LIMIT-WB
/////////////////NO REGRETS EXCEPT THE FINAL OUTCOME
//////////////////WOOLWYCH-SOUTH LONDON
//////////////////GANGS DIVIDE IN RACIAL LINES
/////////////////RACIALIZE,TRIBALISE
//////////////////WELLNESS Drink water in the morning to wake upWhen you get up in the morning you are dehydrated from going 6-9 hours without any liquids. Before you leave for work, or before you eat breakfast, drink a full glass of cool (not cold) water. It will hydrate you, wake you up, and even make you a little fuller so you will not feel the need to eat as large a breakfast. Some people even find they no longer need coffee when they drink a glass of water in the morning.
/////////////////........To entertain some people all you have to do is listen.-- Bernard Edinger
////////////////// IN TOUCH WITH ROOTS-IT MAKES GEOGRAPHY IRRELEVANT
//////////////////..........The best make is Vaillant. worcester bosch or potterton are other good makes
/////////////////....EXTRACTOR FAN----vI Had One Fitted In My On-suite Bathroom And It Cost About £150 But Included The Parts And It Took About A Day To Do. I Am South Coast Area. Very Pleased With The Work, Had To Be Done As The Paint Was Peeling Off The Ceiling
//////////////
HAPPINESS
///////////In his (brilliant) book, “Authentic Happiness,” Martin Seligman differentiates jobs vs. careers vs. callings.
A job pays your bills.
A career provides the powerful but fleeting satisfaction of job advancement.
A calling? A calling is what you live when you discover and utilize your greatest strengths in the greatest service to the world.
- Your friend in the pursuit of the happiness that ensues from discovering and giving our gifts to the world.
////////////////.........http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1728755,00.htmlFor their own good, children have to develop the capacity to regulate their own sleep early in life and self-soothe themselves during the night
/////////////////
A job pays your bills.
A career provides the powerful but fleeting satisfaction of job advancement.
A calling? A calling is what you live when you discover and utilize your greatest strengths in the greatest service to the world.
- Your friend in the pursuit of the happiness that ensues from discovering and giving our gifts to the world.
////////////////.........http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1728755,00.htmlFor their own good, children have to develop the capacity to regulate their own sleep early in life and self-soothe themselves during the night
/////////////////
CANT ELIMINATE BUT ONLY MINIMISE RISKS
/////////////////////////...RTRS=Kids with Autism May Have Gene That Causes Muscle Weakness
LibrariesMedical News
KeywordsAUTISM, GENE, GENETIC, MUSCLE, CHILDREN, MITOCHONDRIAL DISEASE, NEUROLOGY, AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY, AAN
Contact InformationAvailable for logged-in reporters only
DescriptionSome kids with autism may have a genetic defect that affects the muscles, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology 60th Anniversary Annual Meeting in Chicago, April 12–19, 2008.
Newswise — Some kids with autism may have a genetic defect that affects the muscles, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology 60th Anniversary Annual Meeting in Chicago, April 12–19, 2008.
The study looked at 37 children with autism spectrum disorders who were evaluated for mitochondrial disease, which causes muscle weakness and prevents a child from being able to participate in physical activities and sports. Mitochondrial disease occurs when genetic mutations affect the mitochondria, or the part of the cell that releases energy.
A total of 24 of the children, or 65 percent, had defects in the process by which cells produce and synthesize energy in the muscles, or oxidative phosphorylation defects in the skeletal muscles.
“Most children with autism spectrum disorders do not have recognizable abnormalities when you look at genetic tests, imaging, and metabolic tests,” said study author John Shoffner, MD, owner of Medical Neurogenetics, LLC in Atlanta, GA, and member of the American Academy of Neurology. “But a subset ofthese children does have significant defects in this area. Identifying this defect is important for understanding how genes that produce autism spectrum disorders impact the function of the mitochondria.”
/////////////////////..........Septic tanks 'home to dengue mosquitoes' Puerto Rican scientists have found the first evidence in Latin America of septic tanks being habitats for dengue-causing mosquitoes.
///////////////////.........Joint Commission Recommends Ways to Prevent Medication Errors in Kids
An alert from the Joint Commission recommends new efforts by hospitals to prevent pediatric medication errors.
Among the recommendations, released online:
All pediatric patients should be weighed in kilograms at admission. Except in emergencies, no high-risk drugs should be administered to patients who have not been weighed.
Use oral syringes to give oral medications to prevent inadvertent intravenous administration.
Clearly differentiate drugs that have been repackaged for children so they won't be confused with adult formulations.
If possible, use commercially available drugs that are formulated for pediatric patients.
The alert cited a recent Pediatrics study, which found a mean rate of 11 adverse drug events per 100 patients in a random chart review at 12 children's hospitals. Nearly one-quarter were considered preventable, and nearly all caused temporary harm, most often pruritis and nausea.
///////////////........First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do. -- Epictetus
/////////////////.....dr weil=Five Fast-Food Suggestions
Even if you are diligent about packing healthful foods when traveling, or finding restaurants with nutritious choices when eating out, there may be times when your healthy dining options are limited. While we suggest you avoid eating fast food entirely, if you must, please keep the following in mind when ordering:
No matter how hungry you are, you are better off ordering a small amount of food and making up for it with healthier foods later. Don't super-size or add on items.
Opt out of cheese and mayonnaise, both of which can add unnecessary calories and fat. Instead, pile on lettuce, tomato and other vegetables, if possible.
Avoid anything deep-fried. From chicken to potatoes to onions, deep-fried foods contain altered fats that are detrimental to the body.
If you order a salad, choose the low-fat dressing, and add sparingly. One serving of full-fat dressing can be equal to the amount of fat in a cheeseburger!
Finally, ask to see a list of the nutritional content of menu items. Some restaurants have them posted - if they don't, ask for them, and ask yourself if you really want to eat there!
/////////////////////
LibrariesMedical News
KeywordsAUTISM, GENE, GENETIC, MUSCLE, CHILDREN, MITOCHONDRIAL DISEASE, NEUROLOGY, AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY, AAN
Contact InformationAvailable for logged-in reporters only
DescriptionSome kids with autism may have a genetic defect that affects the muscles, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology 60th Anniversary Annual Meeting in Chicago, April 12–19, 2008.
Newswise — Some kids with autism may have a genetic defect that affects the muscles, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology 60th Anniversary Annual Meeting in Chicago, April 12–19, 2008.
The study looked at 37 children with autism spectrum disorders who were evaluated for mitochondrial disease, which causes muscle weakness and prevents a child from being able to participate in physical activities and sports. Mitochondrial disease occurs when genetic mutations affect the mitochondria, or the part of the cell that releases energy.
A total of 24 of the children, or 65 percent, had defects in the process by which cells produce and synthesize energy in the muscles, or oxidative phosphorylation defects in the skeletal muscles.
“Most children with autism spectrum disorders do not have recognizable abnormalities when you look at genetic tests, imaging, and metabolic tests,” said study author John Shoffner, MD, owner of Medical Neurogenetics, LLC in Atlanta, GA, and member of the American Academy of Neurology. “But a subset ofthese children does have significant defects in this area. Identifying this defect is important for understanding how genes that produce autism spectrum disorders impact the function of the mitochondria.”
/////////////////////..........Septic tanks 'home to dengue mosquitoes' Puerto Rican scientists have found the first evidence in Latin America of septic tanks being habitats for dengue-causing mosquitoes.
///////////////////.........Joint Commission Recommends Ways to Prevent Medication Errors in Kids
An alert from the Joint Commission recommends new efforts by hospitals to prevent pediatric medication errors.
Among the recommendations, released online:
All pediatric patients should be weighed in kilograms at admission. Except in emergencies, no high-risk drugs should be administered to patients who have not been weighed.
Use oral syringes to give oral medications to prevent inadvertent intravenous administration.
Clearly differentiate drugs that have been repackaged for children so they won't be confused with adult formulations.
If possible, use commercially available drugs that are formulated for pediatric patients.
The alert cited a recent Pediatrics study, which found a mean rate of 11 adverse drug events per 100 patients in a random chart review at 12 children's hospitals. Nearly one-quarter were considered preventable, and nearly all caused temporary harm, most often pruritis and nausea.
///////////////........First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do. -- Epictetus
/////////////////.....dr weil=Five Fast-Food Suggestions
Even if you are diligent about packing healthful foods when traveling, or finding restaurants with nutritious choices when eating out, there may be times when your healthy dining options are limited. While we suggest you avoid eating fast food entirely, if you must, please keep the following in mind when ordering:
No matter how hungry you are, you are better off ordering a small amount of food and making up for it with healthier foods later. Don't super-size or add on items.
Opt out of cheese and mayonnaise, both of which can add unnecessary calories and fat. Instead, pile on lettuce, tomato and other vegetables, if possible.
Avoid anything deep-fried. From chicken to potatoes to onions, deep-fried foods contain altered fats that are detrimental to the body.
If you order a salad, choose the low-fat dressing, and add sparingly. One serving of full-fat dressing can be equal to the amount of fat in a cheeseburger!
Finally, ask to see a list of the nutritional content of menu items. Some restaurants have them posted - if they don't, ask for them, and ask yourself if you really want to eat there!
/////////////////////
Sunday, 13 April 2008
HS ELECY BLR CRSS-CDS 140408-SHUBHO NABABARSHA-1415
///////////////////////ALWRA=AT LST VE R ALV
///////////////////////APRIL-SUNSHINE AND SHOWERS
///////////////////27K REPSSN IN VK LAST YR
///////////////////////////KUCHI-KUCHI
////////////////////////////......bbc=CCTV could be used in exam roomsExam rooms could be fitted with CCTV cameras to prevent cheating and false claims against invigilators.
//////////////////////MADAM OVARY
///////////////////.........N.Lincolnshire and rang a local firm last week for the same thing..Boiler service £50+vatGas fire service £35+vat
//////////////////..........Any servicing should ONLY be done by a CORGI qualified engineer. If a 'normal' plumber does it then it's illegal and probably not done properly.
///////////////////POILA BOISHAK-1415
/////////////////////TRAIN TO DHAKA FRM KOL
////////////////////////...........Where there is a will....
someone has died.
////////////////
///////////////////////APRIL-SUNSHINE AND SHOWERS
///////////////////27K REPSSN IN VK LAST YR
///////////////////////////KUCHI-KUCHI
////////////////////////////......bbc=CCTV could be used in exam roomsExam rooms could be fitted with CCTV cameras to prevent cheating and false claims against invigilators.
//////////////////////MADAM OVARY
///////////////////.........N.Lincolnshire and rang a local firm last week for the same thing..Boiler service £50+vatGas fire service £35+vat
//////////////////..........Any servicing should ONLY be done by a CORGI qualified engineer. If a 'normal' plumber does it then it's illegal and probably not done properly.
///////////////////POILA BOISHAK-1415
/////////////////////TRAIN TO DHAKA FRM KOL
////////////////////////...........Where there is a will....
someone has died.
////////////////
Friday, 11 April 2008
CDS RWN HS CRSS-ELECY/BLR CRSS
/////////////PHILLIPINES RICE CRSS
////////////////////WORLD FOOD PRICE CRSS
///////////////////////i've just had a Periodic Inspection Report for Electrical Installation, basically they test EVERYTHING and took an hour and a half and was very thorough. Cost £80 and was worth every penny. I've always been concerned that i'd have to find a couple of grand for a total rewire which is really what i need but i have today found out that it could be done in stages. My most urgent job being getting the gas and water earthed . I know there are regional variations but roughly how much would i be looking at - around £300? the gas meter and stopcock are all in the kitchen as is the fusebox.thanks
///////////////////.....PRE BB=
Did pre-big bang universe leave its mark on the sky?
10 April 2008
From New Scientist Print Edition. Subscribe and get 4 free issues.
Stephen Battersby
Tools
Related Articles
Universe mostly forgets its past during cosmic rebirth
2 July 2007
A view of the universe before the big bang
24 April 2006
The cosmos - before the big bang
28 April 2007
Search New Scientist
Contact us
Web Links
Alejandro Corichi, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Morelia
Parampreet Singh, Pennsylvania State University
Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
Martin Bojowald, Pennsylvania State University
');
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WHAT happened before our universe began? According to two theoretical physicists, if there was a universe before ours then it should have been remarkably similar to this one, with the same basic ingredients and properties. It may even be possible to see a faint picture of our parent universe imprinted on the sky.
Questions about a time before the big bang were once thought to be meaningless, because according to Einstein's general theory of relativity, the universe began at a singularity - a mathematical point with infinite density at which all calculations break down.
However, physicists now believe that the theory of relativity is limited and the effects of quantum mechanics would have blurred out the singularity just a little, so at a crucial moment the density of matter and radiation was not infinite. If this was the case, it becomes possible to try to work out what led up to that moment.
In cosmological models based on a theory called loop quantum gravity, our universe has a parent. Loop quantum gravity attempts to meld relativity with quantum mechanics by describing space-time as a constantly rearranging fabric of interconnections. On the smallest scales, around 10-35 metres, that fabric is a tangled mess, but on much larger scales the space and time of our universe look smooth.
The theory predicts that when this fabric is scrunched up, it becomes bouncy. So if the universe before ours was contracting, it would have reached a point of maximum density and then bounced out again in our big bang.
So what would this predecessor have been like? To find out, Parampreet Singh of the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, and Alejandro Corichi of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Morelia, applied the equations of loop quantum gravity to a highly simplified model of the universe. They found that the properties of space, such as the quantity of matter and energy it contains, hardly change when the universe goes through the big bounce. "For the simple model considered, the universe is almost exactly the same on other side," says Singh.
It raises the possibility that we could see an imprint of the universe before ours. Singh suggests that the seeds of large-scale structures in our universe, such as superclusters of galaxies, would have been present on the pre-big-bang side. The pattern of those seeds might be preserved in the cosmic microwave background radiation - the relic radiation left behind by the big bang. "If this conclusion holds true, then it is possible that we are going to see signatures of the pre-big-bang universe," says Singh.
“Seeds of structures in our universe, such as superclusters of galaxies, would have been there on the pre-big-bang side”
A pioneer of loop quantum gravity, Carlo Rovelli at the Centre for Theoretical Physics in Marseille, France, likes the work. "It is quite remarkable that we can begin to address these questions and find the first tentative answers," he says.
But the calculation doesn't convince Martin Bojowald, another loop quantum gravity theorist, based at Pennsylvania State University in University Park. He disagrees with their interpretation of the mathematics and also points out that loop models so far are still very simple.
Bojowald thinks that the universe before the big bang could have been a very different place, perhaps without even the familiar smooth, classical space-time of our world.
Corichi and Singh's paper will appear in Physical Review Letters.
Did pre-big bang universe leave its mark on the sky?
10 April 2008
From New Scientist Print Edition. Subscribe and get 4 free issues.
Stephen Battersby
Tools
Related Articles
Universe mostly forgets its past during cosmic rebirth
2 July 2007
A view of the universe before the big bang
24 April 2006
The cosmos - before the big bang
28 April 2007
Search New Scientist
Contact us
Web Links
Alejandro Corichi, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Morelia
Parampreet Singh, Pennsylvania State University
Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
Martin Bojowald, Pennsylvania State University
');
if (navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Mozilla/2.") >= 0 || navigator.userAgent.indexOf("MSIE") >= 0) {
document.write('');
}
document.write('');// -->
on error resume next
Set oFlashPlayer = CreateObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash." & nRequiredVersion)
If IsObject(oFlashPlayer) Then
bIsRightVersion = True
End If
If (Not bIsRightVersion) And (nRequiredVersion
WHAT happened before our universe began? According to two theoretical physicists, if there was a universe before ours then it should have been remarkably similar to this one, with the same basic ingredients and properties. It may even be possible to see a faint picture of our parent universe imprinted on the sky.
Questions about a time before the big bang were once thought to be meaningless, because according to Einstein's general theory of relativity, the universe began at a singularity - a mathematical point with infinite density at which all calculations break down.
However, physicists now believe that the theory of relativity is limited and the effects of quantum mechanics would have blurred out the singularity just a little, so at a crucial moment the density of matter and radiation was not infinite. If this was the case, it becomes possible to try to work out what led up to that moment.
In cosmological models based on a theory called loop quantum gravity, our universe has a parent. Loop quantum gravity attempts to meld relativity with quantum mechanics by describing space-time as a constantly rearranging fabric of interconnections. On the smallest scales, around 10-35 metres, that fabric is a tangled mess, but on much larger scales the space and time of our universe look smooth.
The theory predicts that when this fabric is scrunched up, it becomes bouncy. So if the universe before ours was contracting, it would have reached a point of maximum density and then bounced out again in our big bang.
So what would this predecessor have been like? To find out, Parampreet Singh of the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, and Alejandro Corichi of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Morelia, applied the equations of loop quantum gravity to a highly simplified model of the universe. They found that the properties of space, such as the quantity of matter and energy it contains, hardly change when the universe goes through the big bounce. "For the simple model considered, the universe is almost exactly the same on other side," says Singh.
It raises the possibility that we could see an imprint of the universe before ours. Singh suggests that the seeds of large-scale structures in our universe, such as superclusters of galaxies, would have been present on the pre-big-bang side. The pattern of those seeds might be preserved in the cosmic microwave background radiation - the relic radiation left behind by the big bang. "If this conclusion holds true, then it is possible that we are going to see signatures of the pre-big-bang universe," says Singh.
“Seeds of structures in our universe, such as superclusters of galaxies, would have been there on the pre-big-bang side”
A pioneer of loop quantum gravity, Carlo Rovelli at the Centre for Theoretical Physics in Marseille, France, likes the work. "It is quite remarkable that we can begin to address these questions and find the first tentative answers," he says.
But the calculation doesn't convince Martin Bojowald, another loop quantum gravity theorist, based at Pennsylvania State University in University Park. He disagrees with their interpretation of the mathematics and also points out that loop models so far are still very simple.
Bojowald thinks that the universe before the big bang could have been a very different place, perhaps without even the familiar smooth, classical space-time of our world.
Corichi and Singh's paper will appear in Physical Review Letters.
////////////////.....NS
/////////////////..........i just got my gas & water earthed and it was £180 all in and he also earthed a metal plate lightswitch. all done by a part p niceic electrician in the northwest.he's just in the middle of rewiring all my sockets and plastering them in and that's £650. I've got a few quid spare so he's rewiring the shower for £140 (which is the only thing i thought ouch that's dear) and the floodlight in the garden is only going to be £40 - not sure how he works his pricing out.he's quoted me £150 for a split fuseboard incl installation so after xmas that'll be getting doe too. can't believe my luck i've found a nice sparkyi can't afford to get everything done at once so i'm having it done in piece meal and he's happy to do it that way infact i think he probably makes more that way but i don't care so long as its done.
//////////////////...........NICEIC Certification Services LimitedThis scheme, which is known as the Domestic Installer Scheme, is designed for those who wish to be able to self-certify all types of electrical work in dwellings either as an electrical contractor or as part of an ancillary trade activity. The scheme will begin formal operation on 1 January 2005.For more information on this scheme see www.niceic.org.uk(b) Defined competence schemesThese schemes are designed primarily for those who do electrical installation work as an adjunct to or in connection with their primary work activities - for example, gas installations, plumbing, kitchen or bathroom fitting, heating installation, security systems..CORGI Services LimitedThis scheme is designed initially to allow CORGI registered gas installers to be able to self-certify the electrical installation work they do in relation to the installation of gas appliances but will be open to others in other areas of work activity in the future. The scheme will begin formal operation on 1 January 2005.
/////////////////////.........mse=Following is a list of Part P Schemes all theses can issue certification for electrical works Part P Schemes (Electrical Safety in Dwellings)(a) Full competence schemesBRE Certification LimitedThis scheme, operated with the support of the Electrical Contractors Association and the Institution of Electrical Engineers, is primarily designed for those whose main business is electrical contracting and those who wish to be able to self-certify all types of electrical work in dwellings. The scheme will begin formal operation on 1 January 2005.For more information on this scheme see www.partp.co.ukBritish Standards InstitutionThis scheme, which will be known as the Kitemark Scheme for electrical installation work, is primarily designed for those whose main business is electrical contracting and those who wish to be able to self-certify all types of electrical work in dwellings. The scheme will begin formal operation on 1 January 2005.For more information on this scheme see www.kitemarktoday.comELECSA LimitedThis scheme, operated with the support of the British Board of Agrement, is primarily designed for those whose main business is electrical contracting and those who wish to be able to self-certify all types of electrical work in dwellings. The scheme will begin formal operation on 1 January 2005.For more information on this scheme see www.elecsa.org.ukNAPIT Certification LimitedThis scheme is designed primarily for those whose main business is electrical contracting and will allow its members to self-certify all types of electrical installation work in dwellings. The scheme will begin formal operation on 1 January 2005.For more information on this scheme see www.napit.org.ukNICEIC Certification Services LimitedThis scheme, which is known as the Domestic Installer Scheme, is designed for those who wish to be able to self-certify all types of electrical work in dwellings either as an electrical contractor or as part of an ancillary trade activity. The scheme will begin formal operation on 1 January 2005.For more information on this scheme see www.niceic.org.uk(b) Defined competence schemesThese schemes are designed primarily for those who do electrical installation work as an adjunct to or in connection with their primary work activities - for example, gas installations, plumbing, kitchen or bathroom fitting, heating installation, security systems..CORGI Services LimitedThis scheme is designed initially to allow CORGI registered gas installers to be able to self-certify the electrical installation work they do in relation to the installation of gas appliances but will be open to others in other areas of work activity in the future. The scheme will begin formal operation on 1 January 2005.For more information on this scheme see www.corgi-gas-safety.comELECSA LimitedThis scheme is designed to allow members to self-certify the electrical installation work they carry out only within the context of their primary work activity. There is no restriction as to the type of primary work activity. The scheme will begin formal operation on 1 January 2005.For more information on this scheme see www.elecsa.org.ukNAPIT Certification LimitedThis scheme is designed to allow members to self-certify the electrical installation work they carry out only within the context of their primary work activity. There is no restriction as to the type of primary work activity.The scheme will begin formal operation on 1 January 2005For more information on the scheme see info@napit.org.ukNICEIC Certification Services LimitedThis scheme is designed to allow members to self-certify the electrical installation work they carry out only in connection with their primary work activity. There is no restriction as to the type of primary work activity. The scheme will begin formal operation on 1 January 2005.For more information see www.niceic.org.ukOFTEC (Oil Firing Technical Association for the Petroleum Industry Ltd)This scheme is designed only for members of the OFTEC installation of oil-fired combustion appliance (including the installation of oil storage tanks and pipe) competent person scheme (see above) to be able to self-certify the electrical installation work they do only in this context. The scheme will begin formal operation on 1 January 2005.
//////////////..........I cannot stress how important house wiring is. I have recently had builders in to build an extension. Being an electrician, I opted to provide sockets and lights, but not looking at my house wiring in 12 years, they say a builders house is never finished, I uncovered a rats nest of bad wiring under the floorboards. I have had to gut all the wiring in the house an rewire completely. I was horrified at what I saw and I have been an electrician for 15 years. BAD WIRING CAUSES FIRES - GET IT CHECKED.
/////////////////............If a joiner gets it wrong, your doors/windows don't fit.If a plumber gets itwrong, you get wet.If your wiring is wrong, IT CAN KILL!!As a qualified Electrician dealing with 90% of the issues in this thread on a daily basis, I thought I'd do what I can to assist here.Firstly, I noticed a LOT of misinformation in this post and I will do what I can to correct those points I can remember (5 pages is a lot to read thru)1 - RCD units do not only protect against live-earth shorts. They actually work by detecting an imbalance between live and neutral conductors. 99.9% of the time this is due to current leaking to earth, but activation can be caused by other factors. They DO NOT protect against overcurrent and so do not protect you against a live-neutral short, ONLY current leakage.2 - Part P of the building regulations is a statutory document -compliance is required. BS7671 (formerly known as the Wiring Regulations) is non-statutory but provides the standard required by other statutory documents. ALL electrical work should be completed by a 'competent' person to this standard.3 - BS7671:2004 requires that any socket that can reasonably be expected to supply outdoor equipment be protected by a RCD with a current rating not exceeding 30mA.4 - Existing installations are NOT required to meet the current standard, but compliance is HIGHLY recommended for safety reasons.5 - Installations which incorporate a RCD protecting the socket outlets do not require a second RCD to be fitted to outdoor extension leads.6 - The splitting of lighting, cooker, shower, sockets etc. onto seperate fuses is correct. For example, blowing a fuse on the sockets but the lights still working is the desired effect and not an error. In fact, in the new edition of BS7671, it is a requirement to avoid low light hazards and such.7 - Prices for electrical work vary widely for many reasons, I recommend getting a range of quotations before employing a contractor, butthe cheapest is not necessarily the best, esp. if it is significantly cheaper.8 - Bulb wattage rating on lamp fittings are NOT just about lamp shades - it also takes into account the size of the contacts and cable used within the fitting.9 - Periodic Inspection Reports do not cover cables concealed under floors or within the general fabric of the building. They only cover what is generaly accessible. At additional cost, most electricians should be wiling to do a more thorough inspection if you request it.10 - ALL electrical work requires a certificate of some sort. Almost all require notification to Building Control, but there are a very small number that do not.11 - (My boss wil hate me for this, but..) You do NOT have to use an Electrician registered with one of the competent persons schemes ON THE CONDITION that the electrician in question has satisfied/can satisfy your local council Building Control Dept. that they are 'competent' as defined in law. However, it is normally cheaper to use a spark registered with one of the schemes as there is no additional fee for notification - this is included in their annual membership fees.12 - Any notifiable work (ie. any that requires notification to Building Control) is required to ensure the suitability of the installation after the work is done. This MAY require upgrading the cables for incoming supply, incoming earth connection, gas/water/oil bonding conductors. In the example raised earlier, gas, water and consumer unit (fuse board) in close proximity (within a few metres) should not be an expensive upgrade and I would not expect it to cost more than say £50. However if your consumer unit is at the opposite end of the house from the water stop tap, or your stop tap is in a built-in kitchen cupboard, it can be difficult to achieve and therefore more expensive - as I said earlier, get a couple of quote before you say 'yes'!13 - Electrical upgrades/alterations do not necessarily require a new consumer unit - a favourite money spinner for cowboys - but anyone still using rewirable fuses or cartridge fuses rather than MCB's is recommended to get an upgrade. Prices vary, but £100-£200 should cover it.14 - While we are on the subject of CU changes, trhe 17th Edition of BS7671 requires pretty much ALL domestic wiring to be RCD protected (even lighting) and the new consumer units to accomodate this are pretty expensive at the moment. Here is a money saving tip! Some unscrupulous firms will tell you that they HAVE to fit these new and expensive boards because the new regs are out. They do not become compulsary until June - until then £50 worth of normal split load board is fine!!15 - If you find that after having an RCD fitted to your sockets that it trips a lot, don't blame the RCD or the spark! It could be a faulty appliance - as stated eariler in this thread, they are sensitive and can show up errors/faults that were not apparent before.16 - Bulbs that blow often or consistantly usually points to bad wiring - get it checked!! Do not buy bulbs in bulk packs - even branded ones - as if they are usually from the same production run and one of low tollerance or quality usualy means all in that batch are of the same ilk.17 - (for 'i love it') If you can't find lots of Electricians listed in Yellow Pages, call your Council and ask them for some companies to contact.18 - On the subject of Certificates, they consist of multiple parts, not just a single page. You should get the following...A] The Certificate (the bit with the address(es) and Signatures on)B] A schedule of of items inspected (a breakdown of what was tested)C] A schedule of test results (lots of figures in a table format)D] Notes on the certificate (This can be a seperate page or printed on the back of one of the other parts, it should explain what the certificate is and what it is valid for)19 - Whoever it was that said 'get a periodic inspection done every year' because of vermin ingress is really helping when this is supposed to be a site of money saving tips. A Periodic Inspection should be carried out if your installation is 10 years old or older. Based on the outcome of the inspection and the reasons for the inspection, the electrician doing the work should recommend an interval until the next one is due This can be a matter of weeks but it is likely to be measured in years. Vermin damage to cables is not as common as you'd think and certainly not in urban areas.20 - Your installation (and therefore your responsibility) stops and your supplier terminals. Starting from the meter follow the cables leading to your consumer unit, if you encounter a switch before you reach the consumer unit then your installation starts at the cables beyond that. If you do not encounter anything before reaching the consumer unit then your installation starts at the meter.Your meter and the suppliers fuse before it have seals (or should have) which you may not break and doing so can lead to prosecution - if you do not have a switch between the meter and the consumer unit, contact your supplier and they will usually fit one for free so that seals do not have to be broken to isolate your installation.ok, enough for now - any questions?
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