Today’s Question: Can you shed light on AIDS?

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS or Aids) is a collection of symptoms and infections resulting from the specific damage to the immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

HIV test

Many people are unaware that they are infected with HIV. Less than 1% of the sexually active urban population in Africa has been tested, and this proportion is even lower in rural populations. Furthermore, only 0.5% of pregnant women attending urban health facilities are counseled, tested or receive their test results. Again, this proportion is even lower in rural health facilities. Therefore, donor blood and blood products used in medicine and medical research are screened for HIV. Typical HIV tests, including the HIV enzyme immunoassay and the Western blot assay, detect HIV antibodies in serum, plasma, oral fluid, dried blood spot or urine of patients. However, the window period (the time between initial infection and the development of detectable antibodies against the infection) can vary. This is why it can take 3–6 months to seroconvert and test positive. Commercially available tests to detect other HIV antigens, HIV-RNA, and HIV-DNA in order to detect HIV infection prior to the development of detectable antibodies are available. For the diagnosis of HIV infection these assays are not specifically approved, but are nonetheless routinely used in developed countries.

Transmission and prevention

The three main transmission routes of HIV are sexual contact, exposure to infected body fluids or tissues, and from mother to fetus or child during perinatal period. It is possible to find HIV in the saliva, tears, and urine of infected individuals, but there are no recorded cases of infection by these secretions, and the risk of infection is negligible.

Never use needles or syringes that have been used by others. When receiving medical attention, always insist that unused, disposable equipment or fully sterilized material is used. If you do need an injection, ask to see the syringe unwrapped in front of you, or better still take a needle and syringe pack with you overseas - it is a cheap insurance package against infection with HIV. Never use another person’s razor or toothbrush. Don’t have parts of your body pierced, or allow yourself to be tattooed.

Stigma

AIDS stigma exists around the world in a variety of ways, including ostracism, rejection, discrimination and avoidance of HIV infected people; compulsory HIV testing without prior consent or protection of confidentiality; violence against HIV infected individuals or people who are perceived to be infected with HIV; and the quarantine of HIV infected individuals. Stigma-related violence or the fear of violence prevents many people from seeking HIV testing, returning for their results, or securing treatment, possibly turning what could be a manageable chronic illness into a death sentence and perpetuating the spread of HIV.

Often, AIDS stigma is expressed in conjunction with one or more other stigmas, particularly

those associated with homosexuality, bisexuality, promiscuity, and intravenous drug use.

Those most likely to hold misconceptions about HIV transmission and to harbor HIV/AIDS stigma are less educated people and people with high levels of religiosity or conservative political ideology.

Web 2.0 is a concept that has been highly debated in the last few years by Internet Gurus and nonprofessionals alike. Many of the more learned “Netrepreneurs” always have and always will testify that the term, “Web 2.0” is little more than that, a term. These self-proclaimed Internet Intellectuals boldly proclaim that 2.0 is merely another marketing tactic in an endless series of marketing techniques.

Others who are completely unfamiliar with cyber-terminology go by the assumption that it is an actual program underlying the extensive network of individual programs that make the Internet work in the manner that it does. Ridiculous as this may sound; this guess does hold a bit of metaphorical water.

The truth is, it could be considered neither of these, both of these and so much more. To this day, not one of the great Internet scholars have been able to put into words the true concept behind Web 2.0.

You see, Web 1.0 is sometimes considered an era of beginnings and endings in the online revolution that marked the discovery time of the net explosion. While Web 1.0 is literally the beginning, the true Internet revolution did not truly begin until Web 2.0 came about. Revolution, in its’ literal definition, is defined by change. You simply cannot alter something that does not exist, thus Web 1.0 could not be the true revolution when it came about, as it had never existed in a prior format.

Early on, during the Web 1.0 era, the high-profile e-commerce sites were vastly different from those that exist today. We will take search engines, for example. The Web 1.0 versions were Yahoo and Netscape. The Web 2.0 version that seems to dominate the web today is Google, though statistics show that Yahoo may possibly be making somewhat of a comeback. Is this all there is to it, different programs and web presences? Not entirely, though it is one aspect.

There is a noticeably alternative mindset to the successful Netrepreneur today as there was during the 1.0 era. Tactics for creating a potentially successful marketing strategy are aimed in a completely different direction. For example, with Web 1.0, a very effective and highly sought after marketing technique was mass email networking and advertising. Today, very few e-commerce presences would even bother with it. It is not effective in this modern setting.

Explaining in one sentence the definition of Web 2.0 is virtually impossible. There are too many intangible aspects to put into words, and for many of them, there are no words available. Web 2.0 has been defined as a feeling, an attitude, and a tactical approach.

Let us try to perceive the concept of 1.0 and 2.0 utilizing the aspect of a mythological point of view, namely, the Phoenix. The Phoenix was an ancient mythological bird-like creature of Phoenicia that lived an excessively long life. At the end, as the shadow of death loomed nearby, the creature would build itself a nest, settle in as it were, and burst into flame as it died. From the ashes of the dead creature, it would rise again as small bird, growing, and again, bursting into flame at the end of its’ life. It was destined to live forever, but to rise and fall throughout all time.

Web 1.0 was very similar to the Phoenix in that it was born, matured, became mundane, and then died. Then, from the ashes of 1.0 was born 2.0. This new Web has only recently reached adolescence, with a long and hearty life ahead.

This metaphorical approach leaves us with the same question as the circular life of the Phoenix. Will 2.0 grow old, mundane and pass on, giving birth to 3.0? Most Netrepreneurs say that it will. It is the way of the phoenix, and the way of the Internet. 2.0 is truly an extremely effective concept and presence. Nevertheless, all good things must come to an end, and for every door closed, there is a door opened.

The reason behind the success of the successful Internet businessperson that can grasp this concept is simply the ability to grasp the new wave of concepts and ideas, leaving the old behind. If something does not work the first time a person tried it, nor the second time, then more than likely it will not work the third and forth. Those who cling to the 1.0 method and attitude stating, “I can make it work this time,” are the ones that fall behind the pack, achieving only a scrap of their full potential. Knowing the true concept of Web 2.0 will instantly put you ahead of the overall Internet population.

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Yoga is a widely met practice all over the world and is getting more and more popular as a hobby and as a recreational way of spending time.

The word YOGA has a big variety of meanings but its considered to derive from the Sanskrit ancient word Yog what means to bind, to connect, to join, attach and yoke. Who the first yogi really was is lost in the sands of time, but the roots of Yoga can be traced as long as 5000 years back. The earliest reference to Yoga was found when archaeological excavations were made in the Indus valley - the most powerful and influential civilization in the early antique period. However, according to most scholars, Yoga can’t be recognized as a complete and complex tradition before about 500 before our ere.

Vedic Yoga, also known as Archaic Yoga, revolves around the thought of reuniting the visible material world with the invisible spiritual world by sacrificing certain things. In order to practise these rather long rituals successfully it was necessary to be able to focus the mind to a very high level.

Yoga Types: Bhakti Yoga emphasizes love and devotion; it is a system of Yoga in which love and devotion are given emphasis. Hatha yoga (”the yoga of vitality’) - The Foundation is an easy form of Yoga. Hatha Yoga is said to be the basis of all Yoga systems. Jnana Yoga - The Yoga of Knowledge emphasizes the use of the mind to surpass the mind i.e. to discern the mind. Karma yoga (”the yoga of action”) - the Yoga of Selfless Action. Karma Yoga lays emphasis on selfless action and service. Kundalini with emphasis on the breath in conjunction with physical movement, with the purpose of freeing energy in the lower body and allowing it to move upwards. Mantra yoga means “union by voice or sound”. This form includes the rhythmic repetitions of specific sounds, chants, or mantras. Purna Yoga or integral yoga is said to be an improvisation over the traditional Yoga systems of India. Raja yoga- The Highest form of yoga. An important branch of Yoga, Raja Yoga is a one stop solution for complete and holistic healing. Raja Yoga possesses the positive power of influencing the life of human beings.

Yoga is both an art and a science. As an art, it is as refined and intricate as classical music. As a science, it is as complex and precise as physics. Joy lies in its infinite exploration. Equipped with a greater awareness of what makes a successful yoga studio and teacher, your choices should support you in moving forward into greater joy. Go explore the many joys, and challenges, that come from the profound art and intricate science that is yoga.

We all know that Soccer is a fast-paced game played between two opposing teams in two 45-minute halves. Let us see some basic rules of Soccer. Every team has 11 players and they are arranged in a particular manner: 5 forwards, 3 halfbacks, 2 fullbacks, and 1 goalkeeper. Play is started by a kickoff at the center of the field, and the goal of the game is to keep the ball continually moving across the field. The only person who is allowed to handle the ball during the game is goalkeeper.

The team scores one point when the ball is successfully kicked into the opponents’ goal and the team with the higher points wins the game. Incase of a tie of score at end of time limit, overtime may be enacted. Further if the teams still remain tied after the end of the overtime, shootout (kicking contest) decides the winner of the game. In shootout every team is given 5 chances to hit unobstructed kicks at the opposing goal. The team with higher number of shootouts wins the game.

During the game, the opponent may use the intercept of tackling technique (taking the ball away) to gain the control of the ball. The team is penalized if any of its players other than the goal keeper uses their hand. This penalty gives a free kick to the opponent from the place where the rule was violated. It allows the opponents to kick from a close distance of 12 yards by aiming towards the goal, and only a goalkeeper is allowed to guard the net. Players are penalized by indirect free kicks if they violate rules and purposefully obstruct the player or waste the time. Indirect free kick requires one other player on the kicking team to touch the ball before the goal is made.

Timeouts cannot be called by players or coaches. The referees however, do hold the right to call a brief stop play in the incidence of a serious injury or if the ball crosses goal line or touchlines.

When the ball is unintentionally kicked over the touchlines, the opposing player is supposed to throw it in with hands. If it is driven over the goal line, it is put back in play by kicking it from a corner of the field by the opposing team. Hence it is also called as corner kick. A goal kick is made from the area in front of the goal. Usually a goal keeper makes the goal kick but it can be made by any player in the defending team.

There haven’t been many noticeable changes in the game right since the time they were standardized. However, one major rule that underwent change in last century is the offside rule. This rule can declare a player offside, in an unjust position, near the opponent’s goal line. Another not so major change is the rule revision that allows for two substitute players in international soccer.

Hunting has been an inseparable part of human evolution. For millions of years, man has been hunting animals not only for his food but also for his clothing. There have been several discoveries to prove that man has been hunting for millions of years. A recently discovered fossilized spearhead was found in Asia which is believed to be thousands of years ago. Even two million years ago man has hunted down large animals for food.

The very early hunting was done with the primitive tools like spears, bow and arrows and so on. Man also ran after its prey to catch it just the way we watch the wild cats chase their prey on savannah. Until man invented the long range weapons, he had to go miles chasing its prey until the animal would get weary and finally give up. Without any exaggeration, the prehistoric man would chase the animal in scorching heat for over 10 miles! African hunters would chase a Kudu, which is an early version of the antelope, by startling the animal so it ran away. They would chase the beast at a fast pace but when Kudu would stop to rest in the shade, they would seize the opportunity and catch it. The animal could be killed only by spear after the man would reach the throwing range. It might surprise you but this type of hunting is still practiced in certain parts of Southern Africa.

With the evolution of mankind, hunting also evolved. With time, man settled down at one place, learned the art of cultivation and began to domesticate animals. Now hunting had become a specialized task and not just a traditionally masculine endeavor. Man started acquiring specialized training for hunting. Those belonging to the upper class took up hunting as a sport and recreational activity. It was not until this time that the English word ‘game’ became common.

There were several other effects of hunting on our modern society. Our ancestors used various animals while they would go for hunting, most important being the dog. This is owing to the fact that in the past, man has used wolves to find the prey. Domestication of dog is indeed a great accomplishment that man has achieved over the centuries. Apparently, the word that described hunting in ancient Greek language is derived from the word dog.

Ernest Hemingway was the man who popularized Safari – Today’s most famous form of hunting. The word safari has come from Swahili and means long journey. Safari is very commonly seen in Africa. It involves several weeks of camping in the forests for stalking and hunting down big animals. However, now safari is more commonly referred to the trips through African national parks or to that matter any national park. However, there are now certain legal applications to hunting. Unlike our predecessors, now the hunters have to acquire a special license and hunting of several animals has been banned. We all may not be in the position to go for that ‘real’ safari. But as mentioned earlier, there is also a safari wherein no animal is killed. This modern safari is known as photo-safari or bloodless-hunting.

The popularity of soccer has been steadily rising over the last 3 decades. Throughout America, there are now about 3 million soccer players. This count is only for those who fall in the age group of 5 to 19 years.

England is the birth place of Soccer. Way back in 1800s, it was a game of classes and was played by high society aristocratic English people in their private clubs. However, due to its ease and low cost, it hardly took time to become a common game among the masses. No wonder, today it’s counted amongst the most commonly played game.

The rules of this game were standardized throughout Europe by The London Football Association the London Football Association. This association was founded in 1863. Soon after this, several professional players and team begun to appear on the soccer field.In no time, Soccer was spread in different parts of Europe. Countries like Germany, Spain and France are a just a few to name where the game was taken up in early 20th century. With the growing interest in the sport, the interest in the formal competitions rose too. Soccer was first played in Olympics in 1900 and medals were introduced just eight years after that. For several decades however, the professional players were not allowed in competitions held in the Olympic games.

The Federation International de Football Association was formed in 1904 and the first world cup international competition was held in 1930. Currently there are about 200 teams seeking admittance in World Cup but currently only 24 are permitted to compete.

The United States Soccer Federation (USSF) was formed in 1913 but it took several years for US to enter into international soccer. For a long time, Americans in general preferred watching American Football, which is a little different form of sport. However, things changed when Pele, one of the greatest soccer players from Brazil joined the New York Cosmos team in 1975. He changed the outlook of Americans towards football. This was unfortunately short-lived as Pele retired just a couple of years later, resulting the dissolution of Soccer League due to lack of support from fans.

Further in 1994, Americans interest in the soccer was rejuvenated when the men’s world cup competition was held in United States. The Major League Soccer (MLS) that was founded in 1993 began its first season in 1996. There were 10 teams with 32 games and more than 3 million fans involved in this whole thing. By 1991, the game was formally extended to women to be played on professional level and the Women’s Soccer world cup was introduced.

Today, Americans interest in soccer has become strong and continues to grow. One will find soccer teams and soccer leagues in almost all American communities. Players of all interests and ages are getting down on the soccer field during spring and fall competitions. No wonder, U.S. Youth Soccer has around 3 million official players on its list.

There are literally thousands of sites on the Internet that are selling what you sell or providing the same service that your website offers. So how does one make their website stand out above the rest? Simply put, by utilizing creativity and being able to think outside the box that is the marketing process largely utilized in online networking today.

Yesterday, in the first part of our 5 part series, “Becoming a Netrepreneur,” we discussed the presence of Web 2.0 and how it evolved from the presence of Web 1.0. We also discussed the possibility of the concept of an eventual Web 3.0. It is those who can go beyond today’s marketing techniques that will remain through the crash and resurrection that will mark the birth of 3.0.

We will begin with the marketing technique of linking. You can cross link or back link. Both work equally well. Although both are absolutely necessary, you can still take a step back and look at the prospect of linking from different point of views, outside the normal scope of everyday marketing. What about the concept of pathway linking? Never heard of it? No, because it is not a widely used, or even considered, strategy. Visualize if you will, a deep forest with two big cities and one small city on three sides, each only reachable by the others through the forest. The forest is dense and rugged, rough traveling for one trying to reach the other side. Then, there is you, living in the small city. You want people to come to your city so it will grow. What do you do?

Everyone is going back and forth between the big cities. It is hard to go to all three through the forest, so if they are going to put forth the effort, they would rather just cross between the big cities. Quite simply, you pick the biggest city and make a trail between it and your city. Now it is easier for the citizens of this city to get to yours than the other bigger city. People will follow the trail and your city will grow. It is human nature to follow a trail rather than choose the hard way to go.

With this metaphor in mind, we can deduce that pathway linking utilizes not only the normal direct link path, but also links through a network of sites that ultimately leaves the individual in yours. No, it is not a brand new school of thought, but one that has gone largely untapped. Find a series of sites that cover the same issues as you. Try to trade links with them, but if they will not, then do not give up. Find another site that they are already linked to and attempt to trade with this one. Even if you cannot directly link from theirs, you will become a part of their pathway link. This will still result in a long-term gain in traffic on your behalf.

Another concept, more often used yet still largely untapped, that goes along the same line is that of pathway resource linking. Consider the homebuilder website. This site revolves completely around the creation of a house from top to bottom. It covers carpentry, wiring, plumbing, and virtually every other aspect of being a do-it-yourself builder. Virtually all the links on the site is for other sites that give you information on building a house. Let us say that you are an insurance bureau. Though your business has nothing to do with the actual construction of the home, the homeowner will inevitably need homeowners insurance. There is your link opportunity.

You should absolutely utilize the more popular linking techniques. They are not popular without a reason. They do work. However, if you can tap into the less used or highly creative linking zones, you will begin to see yourself rising up the e-commerce ladder, rung buy rung.