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The focus of China's education is to improve the country's intellectual outlook and bring about competent students in all aspects of China's development. China's future relies on the younger generation to take China into the new century.

The focus of China's education is to improve the country's intellectual outlook and bring about competent students in all aspects of China's development. China's future relies on the younger generation to take China into the new century.

The education system is under reform. The number of paid students increases dramatically in recent years. The trend may continue and the government may eventually adopt a pay system instead. China currently provides free university education. Students do not have to pay tuition fee and are provided with free on-campus dormitories. Grants or subsidies will be given to students whose families have financial difficulties. The dormitory, which forms an important part of university life, is run by the students themselves through the students' union under the China Students' Federation, to which all enrolled students belong. The education system is under reform. The number of paid students increases dramatically in recent years. The trend may continue and the government may eventually adopt a pay system instead.

China currently provides free university education. Students do not have to pay tuition fee and are provided with free on-campus dormitories. Grants or subsidies will be given to students whose families have financial difficulties. The dormitory, which forms an important part of university life, is run by the students themselves through the students' union under the China Students' Federation, to which all enrolled students belong. The education system is under reform. The number of paid students increases dramatically in recent years. The trend may continue and the government may eventually adopt a pay system instead.

The nationwide examinations are held in the first ten days of July. Candidate can take the examination in either one of the two categories, humanities or sciences/engineering. They apply for the institutions and departments they wish to enter in order of preference. Enrolment is determined by the examination results. Brief investigation into their social behavior and moral character is conducted before students are admitted. In some faculties, specific physical requirements must be met. University admission is operated on a centralized enrolment system, in which admissions committees at the provincial level are under the Ministry of Education. Admission is granted on the basis of academic, physical and moral qualifications. Special allowances are made for minority nationality and overseas Chinese candidates

University admission is operated on a centralized enrolment system, in which admissions committees at the provincial level are under the Ministry of Education. Admission is granted on the basis of academic, physical and moral qualifications. Special allowances are made for minority nationality and overseas Chinese candidates The nationwide examinations are held in the first ten days of July. Candidate can take the examination in either one of the two categories, humanities or sciences/engineering. They apply for the institutions and departments they wish to enter in order of preference. Enrolment is determined by the examination results. Brief investigation into their social behavior and moral character is conducted before students are admitted. In some faculties, specific physical requirements must be met.

Higher education in China is to train specialists for all the sectors of the country's development. Universities, colleges and institutes offer four- or five-year undergraduate programs as well as special two-or three-year programs. Students who have completed a first degree may apply to enter graduate schools.

Senior high school education is a continuation of junior high school. Students take up specific subjects in either science or humanity subjects. Many contests are organized annually in all levels to encourage their study. The "Olympic Series" are the most noticeable ones. The purpose is for them in preparation for the national college entrance examination. Examinations are designed separately for science and arts students.

High school education has two parts, 3-year junior high school program and senior high school. From junior high school, students begin to learn a variety of science subjects such as chemistry, physics and biology and other subjects such as history, geography, and foreign languages. Physical education is enthusiastically encouraged.

The primary school education requires six years. Pupils are required to take a variety of subjects such as the Chinese language, fundamental mathematics and moral education. They also take part in sports and extra-curriculum activities. Foreign languages such as English are optional courses in the senior year of the primary education

Children aged from 3 to 6 will attend Cnear their neighborhoods, where they learn the basics of the native language and subjects. They play games, dance, sing and act. Children are taught from the early year the values of Truth, Kindness and Beauty. Chinese take children education very seriously since they know that a person's personality is mould in the early childhood.

China has adopted a nine-year compulsory schooling system, which means all children are required to attend school for at least nine years. Students have to complete both the primary school program and the junior middle-school program. Higher education is only for those students who have passed examinations of all levels. Student must pass the entrance examination for senior middle schools or middle-level technical schools. After two, three or four years, they have to go through national college entrance examination for admission to universities.

Institutions under local control The bulk of the colleges and universities are in this administrative category and are generally multidisciplined universities, teacher training schools, and specialized colleges under the direct jurisdiction of the provinces, autonomous regions and the municipalities.

The designation of ``Key School'' exists for selected schools at every educational level in China: elementary, secondary and higher. In addition, there are various levels of the ``key'' designation itself: There are national key institutions, provincial or municipal key institutions, and county or district key institutions. Key schools all enjoy priority funding as well as the privilege of recruiting the best students. At the elementary and secondary levels, this concept is similar to that of a ``magnet'' or ``college preparatory'' school in the United States. Entry into such schools is based on examination and academic promise and achievement. For such schools, success is usually measured in terms of the percentage of its graduates entering colleges and universities, especially the key colleges and universities. The philosophy has been that giving a limited number of schools, colleges and universities priority in allocating limited resources, then the t

1. Primary Education. Primary education includes pre-school education and elementary education. Pre-school, or kindergarten, can last up to three years, with children entering as early as age three, until age six, when they typically enter elementary school. Elementary school begins with the first grade, and then proceeds through either grades five or six, depending on the system. The academic year is divided into two semesters, each consisting of 19 weeks, with a total of 38 weeks of instruction for the year. In addition there is one week ``in reserve'' (similar to ``snow days,'' in this country) for additional time as needed. The remaining 13 weeks are for vacations and holidays. 2. Secondary Education. Secondary education is divided into regular secondary education and vocational and technical secondary education. Regular secondary education consists of junior middle school and senior middle school. Junior middle school will involve either three or four years of scho

In passing, it should be noted that the most important contributing factor the the drop-out rates at each level is the increasing cost of education in China. The schools are charged a variety of fees by the local authorities, which are then passed along to the students. One trade union study of primary and middle schools in Chongqing, a very large city in the Sichuan Province, revealed that the average cost of miscellaneous fees for primary students in 1994 was 95.9 yuan; for junior and senior secondary students, the average fees totaled 155.5 yuan and 257.3 yuan, respectively.

This law calls for each child to have nine years of formal education. To meet this requirement, a child will attend either five years of elementary education, followed by four years of junior middle school, or six years of elementary education, followed by three years of junior middle school. Today in China, the second system, or ``6-3'' system is the more commonplace. While the Compulsory Education Law calls for each child to have nine years of formal schooling, it is recognized that certain realities prevent this nine year standard to be implemented immediately. Therefore, a provision of the Education Law is that China shall be divided into three categories: cities and economically developed areas, towns and villages with medium development, and economically backward areas. In the first two categories, the nine-year standard has, in most cases, become universal. Estimates are that in areas comprising 91% of the population, primary education has become universal. Indeed, by a

For the purpose of the present publication, it is convenient to divide education in China into four categories: primary education, secondary education, higher education and adult education. In discussing the various categories, especially primary and secondary education, it is important to keep in mind that China has a Compulsory Education Law, which went into effect on July 1, 1986:

The People's Republic of China, sometimes referred to as Mainland China (but in the present publication shall be referred to simply as China ) has a land mass of 3,705,393 square miles and a population approaching 1.2 billion people. As such, China is the most populous country in the world and ranking third in land mass, behind Russia and Canada. Despite having an economy based primarily on agriculture, only 10% of the land is arable.

This document is still in a very rough state. Furthermore, in certain spots my information is either missing, incomplete, or just plain wrong. Often, you'll see a linked comment that when "clicked" will bring up an email box, addressed to me. Please comment as necessary. Furthermore, please understand that the overview is necessarily brief, since more detailed discussions will be provided in the individual sections.

There's no need to wear a bra at night. Most girls and women take them off to sleep. But wearing one at night won't hurt you or change the way your breasts will grow.

Go to an art museum — or look at any magazine cover — and you'll see that breasts are a subject of interest. Breasts feed babies and they give women's bodies that hourglass shape, so it's understandable that people are interested. But it is not polite to stare at someone's breasts — it's rude and it can make girls feel very uncomfortable. If someone stares at yours, you can fold your arms and then look them straight in the eye. That should send the message without you having to say anything. There are other time-tested methods, too, like holding your books in front of your chest. But if someone's staring is making you uncomfortable, be sure to tell a parent or an adult.

At first, using a tampon might seem like a big deal to a girl. But once you get more comfortable with it, you might even forget you have one in.But that can be a problem if you forget for too long. Tampons should be changed every 4-6 hours. If not, bacteria can grow and cause an infection. You also might notice an odor. Leaving a tampon in too long also increases your risk of a serious illness called toxic shock syndrome.If you do forget about your tampon, remove it as soon as possible. One common mistake is to insert a new tampon without removing the old tampon. If that happens, remove both.Toxic shock syndrome is rare, but be sure to tell a parent if you are feeling sick and you recently left a tampon inserted too long.

Lots of stuff can irritate the vaginal area — from bubble baths to tight underwear or a wet bathing suit. If you have itching or other irritation, try to eliminate the reason for it. Don't use perfumed soaps or body washes, and avoid tight-fitting stuff, like underwear and tights. And take off your wet bathing suit when you're done swimming. Sometimes soap is irritating, so it's fine to wash the vaginal area with only warm water. It can be soothing, too, to sit in a bath of warm water. No bubbles, please! Also, be sure to tell your mom about your itchy problem. She might be able to give you some ointment that can eliminate the itch. And if the itchiness won't go away, it's time to visit the doctor.

Lots of girls worry that it will never happen for them, but it almost always does. A girl's first period usually arrives about 2 years after she starts developing breasts. See the doctor if you are 14 and have seen no breast development or other signs of puberty. A girl also should see the doctor if she's 16, has had some body changes, but still hasn't had her first period.

Most of the time, even when a girl's period arrives unexpectedly, it works out fine. Girls are usually able to get what they need, especially because there are tons of other girls around who probably have a spare pad. But what if everything goes wrong for you? Take a breath. Remember that lots of other girls — from your best friend to your great-grandma — have dealt with this situation. If you have no pad, make a temporary one from toilet paper. (One girl told us she used a sock!) If your pants get stained, wrap a jacket or sweatshirt around your waist. If you don't have a jacket, ask your best friend to borrow hers. And if you call home and no one answers, go to the nurse's office. Even if she's not there, she should have some supplies on hand for just such occasions. If the nurse isn't in, go to the office and tell the kindest woman there about your situation. She will help figure out a solution — or at least give you a safe spot to wait until your mom can get the

What if one of my breasts is bigger than the other? When breasts are growing, they change shape and size until they're fully developed. Along the way, one breast may be bigger than the other. Of course, a girl would rather them both be the same size. If this happens to you, stay calm: No. 1: You are probably the only one who has noticed. No. 2: Your breasts are likely to even out as you develop. And No. 3: If you still notice a difference after your breasts have fully developed, you can use a bit of padding in one bra cup to balance things out. Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2010

What's a pantiliner? You've probably seen that there are pads of all shapes and sizes — even some with "wings"! In general, you choose a pad based on how much menstrual flow you're having. Pantiliners are the smallest and thinnest. They would be OK to wear on a day that you had very light flow. Some girls wear pantiliners around the time they expect to get their period so they don't stain their clothing when it comes. Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2010

It's normal for you to want to be liked by boys as you get older, especially if your friends have official boyfriends and you don't. To answer the question, there's no way of knowing for sure that a boy doesn't like you right now. Someone might like you and just be too shy to say anything. Or maybe a boy that you consider a friend likes you, but you never thought of him that way. The middle school years are a funny time for romance. Some kids are thinking a lot about the people they like and other kids aren't too interested yet in having a girlfriend or boyfriend. Some girls or boys start to "go out" with someone and then say to themselves, "Oh, my. This is too weird!" Chances are excellent that a boy will like you someday, and hopefully he will be brave enough to say so. Until then, enjoy your friends who are boys and think about the qualities you like in a boy. Do you like boys who are funny, smart, or athletic? Or maybe all three? Reviewed by:

Unscented is best because the chemicals used in scented products can cause irritation. Also, there's no need to mask the natural odors that occur. In most cases, any odor is mild and not offensive. If you do notice a smell, you might want to talk to your doctor about it. Some odors are signs of infections. Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2010

Go to an art museum — or look at any magazine cover — and you'll see that breasts are a subject of interest. Breasts feed babies and they give women's bodies that hourglass shape, so it's understandable that people are interested. But it is not polite to stare at someone's breasts — it's rude and it can make girls feel very uncomfortable. If someone stares at yours, you can fold your arms and then look them straight in the eye. That should send the message without you having to say anything. There are other time-tested methods, too, like holding your books in front of your chest. But if someone's staring is making you uncomfortable, be sure to tell a parent or an adult. Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2010

There's no need to wear a bra at night. Most girls and women take them off to sleep. But wearing one at night won't hurt you or change the way your breasts will grow. Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2010

Unscented is best because the chemicals used in scented products can cause irritation. Also, there's no need to mask the natural odors that occur. In most cases, any odor is mild and not offensive. If you do notice a smell, you might want to talk to your doctor about it. Some odors are signs of infections. Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2010

I heard that some bras make your breasts stop growing. Is that true? Bras shape and position your breasts, but they don't make them grow or stop growing. When girls begin puberty, their breasts start growing. A bra can help a girl feel more comfortable with these two new body parts. Some girls might prefer a tank that has a shelf bra inside, while others might want a traditional bra. The kind of bra — or the decision to wear no bra at all — won't affect breast size. Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2010

You'll be happy to hear that we have received similar questions from dads who are nervous about talking to their daughters! Chances are your dad knows that you might have questions and concerns about body changes. As for how to start the conversation, the first step is finding a good time. If you have brothers and sisters, you might want to find a few minutes when you can talk to your dad alone. Then it might be as simple as saying, "Dad, I need to buy some supplies at the store because I might get my period soon." You both might be a little embarrassed, but also relieved because you will have raised the topic finally. It should get easier from there. For instance, your supplies will become just regular items on the shopping list. You also might suggest that your dad buy you a book about puberty. You also can find these at the library. Funny as it might sound, dads do know what periods are! But if you have questions you'd rather ask a girl, consider talking to girls o

Unscented is best because the chemicals used in scented products can cause irritation. Also, there's no need to mask the natural odors that occur. In most cases, any odor is mild and not offensive. If you do notice a smell, you might want to talk to your doctor about it. Some odors are signs of infections. Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2010

You'll be happy to hear that we have received similar questions from dads who are nervous about talking to their daughters! Chances are your dad knows that you might have questions and concerns about body changes. As for how to start the conversation, the first step is finding a good time. If you have brothers and sisters, you might want to find a few minutes when you can talk to your dad alone. Then it might be as simple as saying, "Dad, I need to buy some supplies at the store because I might get my period soon." You both might be a little embarrassed, but also relieved because you will have raised the topic finally. It should get easier from there. For instance, your supplies will become just regular items on the shopping list. You also might suggest that your dad buy you a book about puberty. You also can find these at the library. Funny as it might sound, dads do know what periods are! But if you have questions you'd rather ask a girl, consider talking to girls o

I heard that some bras make your breasts stop growing. Is that true? Bras shape and position your breasts, but they don't make them grow or stop growing. When girls begin puberty, their breasts start growing. A bra can help a girl feel more comfortable with these two new body parts. Some girls might prefer a tank that has a shelf bra inside, while others might want a traditional bra. The kind of bra — or the decision to wear no bra at all — won't affect breast size. Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2010

It's possible — and normal — to have hair almost anywhere on the body, so a few hairs on your nipples are nothing to worry about. If you have questions about whether your body hair is normal, you can ask your doctor, too. And be sure to tell your doctor if you sprout dark hair in the middle of your chest or other places, such as your face. Here are two places you won't grow hair — the palms of your hands and soles of your feet! Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2010

Little kids often run around naked and think nothing of it. But as you get older, you get more aware of your body and have an increased need for privacy. So it can feel strange to take off your clothes at the doctor's office. But your doctor does need to examine you to make sure you are healthy. To make you more comfortable, you can ask that your mom come into the exam room with you. Or, if you prefer, you could ask that a female nurse come into the room, so you're not alone with the doctor. You can also ask for a gown — a thin robe that ties. Most doctor offices have these available for patients. Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2010

It's common to feel self-conscious about your period at first, but lots of girls are making those crinkling sounds in the bathroom. When things are new you notice them more but it's unlikely anyone else is listening intently to whatever you're doing on the other side of the bathroom stall. So do what you need to do and get to class. And on the bright side, lots of other sounds going on in the bathroom are more embarrassing than the rustle of your pad wrapper! Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2010

Little kids often run around naked and think nothing of it. But as you get older, you get more aware of your body and have an increased need for privacy. So it can feel strange to take off your clothes at the doctor's office. But your doctor does need to examine you to make sure you are healthy. To make you more comfortable, you can ask that your mom come into the exam room with you. Or, if you prefer, you could ask that a female nurse come into the room, so you're not alone with the doctor. You can also ask for a gown — a thin robe that ties. Most doctor offices have these available for patients. Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2010

Little kids often run around naked and think nothing of it. But as you get older, you get more aware of your body and have an increased need for privacy. So it can feel strange to take off your clothes at the doctor's office. But your doctor does need to examine you to make sure you are healthy. To make you more comfortable, you can ask that your mom come into the exam room with you. Or, if you prefer, you could ask that a female nurse come into the room, so you're not alone with the doctor. You can also ask for a gown — a thin robe that ties. Most doctor offices have these available for patients. Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2010

It's common to feel self-conscious about your period at first, but lots of girls are making those crinkling sounds in the bathroom. When things are new you notice them more but it's unlikely anyone else is listening intently to whatever you're doing on the other side of the bathroom stall. So do what you need to do and get to class. And on the bright side, lots of other sounds going on in the bathroom are more embarrassing than the rustle of your pad wrapper! Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2010

Being prepared is a great idea. Lots of girls worry about what will happen if their period starts at school. Knowing that you have a couple pads stashed in your locker or backpack can help ease your mind. But how do you get what you need? You might just say something like, "Mom, can you help me get some pads to have in case my period starts at school?" Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2010

Many girls have this question. It can be tough to get up the courage to raise the subject, but if you're ready for a bra, be brave and ask. You might say something like, "Mom, I noticed that I'm starting to develop, so I'd like to get a bra." You have lots of choices — from the traditional bra with straps to sports bra and tank designs. Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2010

Many girls have this question. It can be tough to get up the courage to raise the subject, but if you're ready for a bra, be brave and ask. You might say something like, "Mom, I noticed that I'm starting to develop, so I'd like to get a bra." You have lots of choices — from the traditional bra with straps to sports bra and tank designs. Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2010

Many girls have this question. It can be tough to get up the courage to raise the subject, but if you're ready for a bra, be brave and ask. You might say something like, "Mom, I noticed that I'm starting to develop, so I'd like to get a bra." You have lots of choices — from the traditional bra with straps to sports bra and tank designs. Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2010

It's a funny moment when you get your first period. You can feel a bunch of different emotions. Some girls might be thrilled that the longed-for period has finally arrived. Others might be a little weirded out by the experience. And still other girls might take it completely in stride, deal with it, and go on like nothing happened. Whichever girl you are, it's important to tell your mom. It'll be easier to get the supplies you need. Just remember that she was once your age, getting her first period, so she knows this territory well. She also knew the day would come when you would have your first period and might already have supplies on hand. So you can say something like "Mom, I've gotten my period, can you help me with supplies?" Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2010

You might like a certain boy, but he likes someone else. Then there may be a boy who likes you, but you don't like him "in that way." It happens a lot in the middle school years — and beyond. But what do you do, especially if you feel put on the spot to tell a boy whether you like him or not? The first rule is to imagine yourself in his position. It doesn't feel good to learn someone doesn't find you equally fascinating and wonderful. But you can't lie about it either. It's always OK to be honest about how you feel. But ignoring him, telling him to go away, or telling a friend to tell him "No way!" would definitely hurt his feelings. So what do you do? If you're honest, he will probably be disappointed. But if you're honest without being mean, that's much better for you both. Try this approach, which involves giving him a small compliment: "You're a [insert compliment here: smart, funny, nice, etc.] guy, but I like you just a

Lots of girls ask this question because it does seem weird to insert something into your body. The first step is to understand what's going on down there. Menstrual flow comes out of the vagina. The vagina is an opening that continues inside your body like a tunnel. For most girls, inserting a tampon doesn't hurt. (The vagina is also the birth canal, so if it can stretch to fit a whole baby, it can fit a tampon!) But if the tampon does hurt, stop, and do not force it in. In some girls, the hymen (a little piece of tissue across the vagina) prevents easy insertion of the tampon. If you're using tampons for the first time, try a slim-fit one. Your menstrual flow should make it easier to insert because it moistens the vagina and helps the tampon slip into place. Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2010

It all depends on your flow, but if you put on a fresh pad at bedtime, you probably will be OK until morning. For one thing, you're lying down so gravity is on your side! Because it's best to change tampons every few hours, choose pads instead of tampons for overnight wear. Special overnight pads are available, too, if you want something that will be absorbent enough to get you through until the morning. Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2010

Like any part of the body, you can injure your breasts. Breasts, especially ones that are growing, may be sore anyway so getting hit in the breast might really hurt. Ouch! But breast injuries are not too common. Wearing a supportive bra can keep them in place. And if you do get injured or have pain in your breasts, be sure to let a parent know. Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2010

Bras do not cause breast cancer. Breast cancer happens when there's a problem with the way cells grow inside the body — and no one knows exactly why it happens. The chance of getting breast cancer increases as a woman gets older or if other women in the family have had breast cancer. Some things may protect a woman from getting breast cancer, including maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, and breastfeeding her children. Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2010

We understand your curiosity. You want to be prepared when the moment arrives. But it's probably better to wait until your first (or even second) period arrives. Why? Because the menstrual flow moistens the vagina and helps the tampon slip into place. Waiting a bit also is good because it gives you a chance to get an idea of what your flow will be like — heavy, light, or somewhere in between. When you know your flow, you can pick the right tampon for your needs. For first-timers, try a slim fit-sized tampon, then relax and read the instructions. Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2010

We understand your curiosity. You want to be prepared when the moment arrives. But it's probably better to wait until your first (or even second) period arrives. Why? Because the menstrual flow moistens the vagina and helps the tampon slip into place. Waiting a bit also is good because it gives you a chance to get an idea of what your flow will be like — heavy, light, or somewhere in between. When you know your flow, you can pick the right tampon for your needs. For first-timers, try a slim fit-sized tampon, then relax and read the instructions.

It happens a lot — someone likes you, but you don't like the person back, at least not in that way. What's a guy to do? Ignoring her would be rude. Telling her to go away or saying "no way!" would be unkind and hurt her feelings. But not telling the truth about it doesn't work either because then she might think you like her, too. One boy said his dad told him not to hurt the girl's feelings, which made him really confused. How do you not hurt someone's feelings when the answer is "no"? Being honest about how you feel is always a good thing — as long as you say it kindly, without being mean on purpose. It shows the kind of person you are and it's part of being your best self. Don't forget that it's a compliment when someone likes you. Maybe she thinks you're cute, funny, kind, smart, cool — just irresistible in whatever way. It feels good to know that someone likes you. But it doesn't feel so good when you like someone, then f

Yes, but a pad won't work underwater, so you need to wear a tampon. Tampons absorb the menstrual flow from the inside, so being in water won't affect them. If you've never worn a tampon before, you may want to talk with your mom or another woman you trust. Be sure to get the slim-fit type, read the directions first, and leave some extra time to get it properly in place.

Your heart, lungs, and liver are all very important, and luckily you've got ribs to keep them safe. Ribs act like a cage of bones around your chest. It's easy to feel the bottom of this cage by running your fingers along the sides and front of your body, a few inches below your heart . If you breathe in deeply, you can easily feel your ribs right in the front of your body, too. Some thin kids can even see a few of their ribs right through their skin. Your ribs come in pairs, and the left and right sides of each pair are exactly the same. Most people have 12 pairs of ribs, but some people are born with one or more extra ribs, and some people might have one pair less. All 12 pairs of ribs attach in the back to the spine, where they are held in place by the thoracic vertebrae. The first seven pairs of ribs attach in the front to the sternum (say: stur-num), a strong bone in the center of your chest that holds those ribs in place. The remaining sets of ribs don't attach to the

When you were a baby, you had tiny hands, tiny feet, and tiny everything! Slowly, as you grew older, everything became a bit bigger, including your bones. A baby's body has about 300 bones at birth. These eventually fuse (grow together) to form the 206 bones that adults have. Some of a baby's bones are made entirely of a special material called cartilage (say: kar-tel-ij). Other bones in a baby are partly made of cartilage. This cartilage is soft and flexible. During childhood, as you are growing, the cartilage grows and is slowly replaced by bone, with help from calcium. By the time you are about 25, this process will be complete. After this happens, there can be no more growth — the bones are as big as they will ever be. All of these bones make up a skeleton that is both very strong and very light. more...

If you've ever seen a real skeleton or fossil in a museum, you might think that all bones are dead. Although bones in museums are dry, hard, or crumbly, the bones in your body are different. The bones that make up your skeleton are all very much alive, growing and changing all the time like other parts of your body. Almost every bone in your body is made of the same materials: The outer surface of bone is called the periosteum (say: pare-ee-os-tee-um). It's a thin, dense membrane that contains nerves and blood vessels that nourish the bone. The next layer is made up of compact bone. This part is smooth and very hard. It's the part you see when you look at a skeleton. Within the compact bone are many layers of cancellous (say: kan-sell-us) bone, which looks a bit like a sponge. Cancellous bone is not quite as hard as compact bone, but it is still very strong. In many bones, the cancellous bone protects the innermost part of the bone, the bone marrow (say: mair-oh). Bone marr

At birth the human body has about 350 bones, but by the time adulthood rolls around, some of our bones have fused together to give us a total of 206 bones in our body!Here is the breakdown:The adult skeleton consists of 206 bones . . . - 28 skull bones (8 cranial, 14 facial, and 6 ear bones); - the horseshoe-shaped hyoid bone of the neck; - 26 vertebrae (7 cervical or neck, 12 thorax, 5 lumbar or loins, the sacrum which is five fused vertebrae, and the coccyx, our vestigial tail, which is four fused vertebrae);- 24 ribs plus the sternum or breastbone; the shoulder girdle (2 clavicles, the most frequently fractured bone in the body, and 2 scapulae); - the pelvic girdle (2 fused bones); - 30 bones in our arms and legs (a total of 120); - There are also a few partial bones, ranging from 8-18 in number, which are related to joints.Basically, there are 7 vertebrae and the hyoid bone in the neck. Some of the above information was taken from this site, which has an extremely detailed breakdow

This technique relies upon new features on the latest generation of X-ray therapy equipment that allow X-ray sources to be continuously rotated in any direction around a patient during treatment, potentially increasing the number of directions that the beams come from. The study, which was conducted by medical physicists at St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, TN, compared different treatment strategies including IMAT for nine children treated with radiation therapy for brain tumors. It showed that IMAT could irradiate these tumors effectively while overall reducing the exposure to the surrounding tissue.

A study presented at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) shows that children with brain tumors who undergo radiation therapy (the application of X-rays to kill cancerous cells and shrink tumors) may benefit from a technique known as "intensity modulated arc therapy"

In addition to Pollak and Pays, coauthors include Giulio Genovese and David Friedman (co-first authors) and Andrea Bernhardy of BIDMC's Department of Nephrology; Michael Ross and Andrea Uscinski Knob of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston; Laurence Lecordier, Pierrick Uzureau and Benoit Vanhollebeke of Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium; Barry Freedman, Donald Bowden, Carl Langefeld, and Pamela Hicks of Wake Forest Baptist University Medical Center; Taras Oleksyk of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez; George Nelson and Cheryl Winkler of the National Cancer Institute; and Jeffrey Kopp of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

"We were excited that our findings appeared to relate kidney disease in the United States with human evolution and parasite infection in Africa," said Pollak. "While there are many details that remain to be clarified in future studies, we do know that sickle-cell disease is a well-established precedent for this model, in which one copy of the mutation confers protection against a parasitic infection but two copies of the mutation can cause severe disease."

FSGS is a form of injury to the kidney's filtering system, which causes proteins to be lost into the urine and gradually reduces kidney function. ESKD, or end-stage kidney disease, is defined by kidney failure that has progressed to the point that the patient requires dialysis or kidney transplantation. In 2008, it was discovered that genetic variation near the MYH9 gene on chromosome 22 was associated with increased risk of kidney disease in African-Americans. But, because genome analyses had shown a strong signal of natural selection in the region containing both the MYH9 and APOL1 genes, the authors reasoned that the location of the disease-causing genetic variants was in a broader region. They also predicted that the frequency of these variants would be markedly different between European-Americans and Africans.

Now, a scientific team led by investigators at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and the Universite Libre de Bruxelles, has discovered a genetic explanation -- with evolutionary roots -- for the higher incidence of kidney disease among African Americans. As reported in the July 15 online issue of the journal Science, the study found that patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and hypertension-attributed end-stage kidney disease (H-ESKD) harbored variants in the APOL1 gene that changed the APOL1 protein sequence. These variants are commonly found in individuals of recent African ancestry. Furthermore, in a twist of evolutionary medicine, the disease-causing variants may have protected Africans against a lethal parasite, explaining why these genetic variants are so common in the population today.

Kidney disease is a growing public health problem, with approximately half a million individuals in the United States requiring dialysis treatments to replace the function of their failed kidneys. The problem is particularly acute among African Americans, whose rates of kidney disease are four times higher than those of European Americans.

The current use of gallium arsenide was done at the very low temperatures of liquid helium, which would not be practical for broader use. Other materials will need to be identified that can accomplish similar tasks at room temperature, the researchers said. This research was just published in Solid State Electronics, a professional journal. It was supported by the National Science Foundation and the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute.

The first applications of this type of technology, Lee said, would probably be in optical communications of almost any type -- video, audio or others. The ultimate application could be quantum computing, in which computers would be orders of magnitude faster than they are now, working with a different physical and logic basis, not even using conventional transistors. Among other uses, their extraordinary speeds would make them extremely valuable for secure codes and communications.

"Optical communication uses the extraordinary speed of light as the signal, but right now it's still controlled and limited by electrical signaling at the end," said Yun-shik Lee, an associate professor in the OSU Department of Physics. "Electrons and wires are too slow, they're a bottleneck. The future is in optical switching, in which wires are replaced by emitters and detectors that can function at terahertz speeds."

Existing communications and computer architecture are increasingly being limited by the pedestrian speed of electrons moving through wires, and the future of high-speed communication and computing is in optics, experts say. The Holy Grail of results would be "wireless interconnecting," which operates at speeds 100 to 1,000 times faster than current technology. The new discovery, made by researchers at Oregon State University, the University of Iowa and Philipps University in Germany, has identified a way in which nanoscale devices based on gallium arsenide can respond to strong terahertz pulses for an extremely short period, controlling the electrical signal in a semiconductor. The research builds on previous findings for which OSU holds an issued patent.

Physicists in the United States and Germany have discovered a way to use a gallium arsenide nanodevice as a signal processor at "terahertz" speeds -- the first time it's been used for this purpose and an important step forward in the new world of optical communication and computing.

It is always easy to wax lyrical about the merits of a new technological innovation without looking at some of the disadvantages that might accrue as a result of that innovation. When you look at the specific example of the cloud computing, the dangers of a biased view become apparent. For an organization to make an effective decision about whether to implement cloud computing, they will need to have a vast array of information resources that point them towards a balanced view of the technology. If a picture that is too rosy is painted, then it is likely that the organization will not be ready for some of the problems when they arise. This article aims to balance those two sides so that company executives can make an informed decision.

Computing can have a significant impact on the development of international crises. Not a day passes these days without some news about a conflict erupting in any given number of problematic areas in the world. Unfortunately there are times it appears to have a very biased mainstream media that never reports what happens. Biased media only report what they would like us to hear depending on who runs which empire. The irksome tabloid who is literally running the age-old main stream print media is probably a prime example of how people are not receiving actual news but the political prejudices of media magnates. These are serious matters because they can affect the response of the local community to both the conflict and the attempts to diffuse the conflict. Everyone knows about the Middle East conflict. Opinion has been sharply divided and you can be convinced either way depending on which television channel that you watch. Having been fed full of propaganda and lies, it them becomes ou

The primary function of the CRCs is to allow students to perform course-related computer tasks while receiving direct I.T. assistance in an open lab setting. Whether students are enrolled in a computing course or completing regular coursework, CRC personnel offer extensive software and hardware knowledge. In addition, the CRC staff is trained to provide effective telephone assistance and to respond to e-mail inquiries from members of the Pace community unable to visit the facilities

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The infrastructural problems that hinder the development and evolution of computing do not just end at the transportation. They can also be applied to the usage of the computer equipment. Some developing countries do not have the computers that are needed to get the technology to the common man. They also lack the essential facilities such as internet access which can increase the literacy of the people within local communities. I have an example of someone who wanted to do an online course but was frustrated because the bandwidth for their area was just not strong enough to sustain the course software. It might seem rather churlish to be speaking of such things but there still remains an element of ignorance when it comes to computing. This is not willful ignorance but a lack of awareness because no one has made the effort to ensure that people in isolated communities can understand the implications of computing and softwares applications for the modern world that they will have to l

Computing has long been recognized as a means of ensuring that people from developing countries have a pathway to bettering their lives and joining the rest of the international community. Computing has been at the heart of many developmental programs in both the urban centers and rural centers. There have been efforts to increase the uptake of computing studies but the results have been mixed at best. Whereas there is an almost universal recognition of computing as a development tool, there is some reluctance to undertake the activities that will make this dream a reality. One can lay the blame at the feet of government incompetence but there ought to be an element of personal responsibility in all this. The first major issue that affects the level of computing in developing countries is the lack of infrastructure. There is a lack of transportation facilities to ensure that computers can get to the people in the rural areas. I take a recent example of a scheme to transport second han

A much neglected complaint is one about the shame of not knowing something. When we are young we learn new things every day and there is no reason or room to start worrying about whether we are ignorant. The reality is that most young people are ignorant about the life experiences that they will have to deal with when they grow up. For example a primary school child will have no problem in attending a beginner’s computer class whereas a pension might think twice about humiliating themselves in this way. Whereas grown up people have more resources and can pay for computing resources, the reality is that they have many responsibilities that take away any time that they might have earmarked for learning about computing. The prime example is that of a single parent who has plenty of housework to deal with let alone the rigors of pursuing further education. This means that although they may be able to afford the computer course, they will be reluctant to join it because of other pressing co

Computing as a skill is best learn when you are still young and have the capacity to absorb different things quickly. Have you ever wondered at the apparent facility with which young people learn new languages? Have you ever wondered why teenagers can text at speeds that would not shame a competitor in an international context? This all indicative of the kinds of abilities that you have as a young person to acquire skills. It is not just about having innate abilities to do with age. That would be an ageist attitude to take. It is also about responsibilities and the time to do the work that is needed to develop adequate computing skills. Having IT skills from a young age is becoming increasingly integral to the career successes of today’s youth, and allows them to do anything from compose essays with word processors to using their internet skills to gain online degrees and engage in constructive academic pursuits with colleagues across the globe. It goes without saying that reading, wri

Gaining the resource base for computing projectsThe computer facilities can be expensive for a school establishment especially if there are other priorities that continue to take precedence. It requires some level of lateral thinking to be able to overcome this challenge to building a computing knowledge base. Initially you might want to consider cost savings from other parts of the budget so that they can be transferred into improving the uptake of computing as a subject. The investment is worth it if you consider the improved career prospects of the students who will be able to take up computing as a subject. It must also be remembered that the development of computer skills has recently become a serious government priority. This means that if a specific bid is placed before the secretary of state it will be given better consideration. There are even existing government grants that are meant to foster the intellectual development of computing skills within the community. All that is

An option that you cannot afford to neglect Many colleges these days offer computing as one of the premium courses that you could add to course list. However there are some people who neglect it as and option because it might not be as glamorous as some of the science or arts courses. The fact that computing is only beginning to take route in many schools means that it has not yet developed a significant profile that would be able to overcome these prejudices. In this article we will be examining some of the issues that might arise if you chose computing as subject at secondary school or primary school level. We will also be examining the impact of such a decision on the career paths of young students. Computing as a subject falls within the sciences but it might not require the laboratory practical facilities that you would need for a subject such as chemistry. However it has its own requirements such as computer or laptop and internet access. The headmaster of the school will also ne

Ever since Apple launched their video iPod, Video Podcast started to gain popularity. However, believe or not, the most excited group about this new technology is the Pornography industry. According to a porn web site, it's subscriber downloaded over 500,000 movie clips to their video ipod (a special format, possibly mp4) within 24 hours. Studies show two out of every five Internet users log into pornography websites on a regular basis. 3% of the overall Internet bandwidth is taken by pornography contents. The Internet based pornography industry has reached 2.5 billion US dollars in 2004. There is a clear indication that this number will increase because the new video Podcasting technology. In the meanwhile, pornography companies have also launched specially formatted video clips for the popular hand-held game device - PSP. Matter of fact, I wonder how is the huge profit driven industry going to improve the video distribution technologies including media repository, media meta-data

A joint effort between the local television companies and the wireless service providers, Cell Phone based television programs is now spreading out in China. Many Chinese now have an option of subscribe to monthly TV programs which enables them to watch TV programs (mostly news and entertainment programs) from their mobile communication devices (PDA, Phones etc.) any where, any time. Cell Phones like Motorola A780 (like mine) has a built in Real Media player which support streaming and progressive downloading media that belong to the standard Internet formats. Have I ever mentioned about many (over 50% in the major cities) of the public transit systems (Taxis, subway, bus, ferry) have Plasma TVs installed in them and broadcasting TV programs at all times?

China Mobile published their 2005 financial report today. They pocketed 53.55 billion RMB (CAD $7.9 billion) in the year 2005, an 28% increase compare to the previous year. SMS (Short Message Service) alone gained 24.67 billion RMB (CAD $3.63 billion) in the Chinese mobile communication market. Ringing Tone download service and WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) are the other two major profitable services offered by China Mobile. According to my experience, SMS is way more popular in China than here in Canada. Maybe this is due to the "cheaper" telephone rate and "fancy" mobile service plans we have here.

Web based learning has been implemented widely in colleges and universities nowadays, such as UKM , University of Malaya , University Malaysia Sarawak, UNITAR and Multimedia University Malaysia. E-Learning is a learning process that is facilitated and enhanced by using digital tools such as CD-ROMs, video conferencing, websites, e-mail and many more, where the content and instruction is delivered electronically. According to a recent survey by Internetworldstats.com, Malaysia is currently rankedamong the top 20 highest number of Internet users in the World. This shows that ELearningthrough the use of Internet will become increasingly more common in Malaysiain the future. In terms of Malaysia’s E-Readiness in Southeast Asia, Malaysia just fallsbehind Singapore and is currently at the embedding stage where : 1) there a general acceptance of ICT by citizens, business and government2) Incorporation of e-business requirements into policies, legislations and regulations

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