Yamaha Moto-4 Specifications

The Moto-4 is a four-wheel, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) manufactured by Yamaha. The first four-wheel ATV produced by Yamaha, the Moto-4 was introduced to the public in 1985.

Engine

• The 1985 model of Yamaha's Moto-4 is fitted with an engine that offers an 11.9 cubic-inch displacement. The four-stroke engine features one cylinder and a single overhead camshaft. Bore and stroke on the engine is 2.63 by 2.12 inches.

Dimensions

• The distance from this vehicle's rear axle to the middle of its front tire (wheelbase) is 44.3 inches. The ATV offers a 4.7-inch ground clearance. Yamaha's Moto-4 manufactured in 1985 employs 22x8-10 front tires and 22x11-8 rear tires.

Other Features

• A Mikuni carburetor system supplies fuel to the Moto-4 engine, which is married to an automatic transmission offering five forward gears and one reverse. An electric starter puts the engine in motion. The ATV features a snorkel air intake.

Mustang Skid Loader Specifications

• Mustang has been manufacturing Skid Steer Loaders since 1965. They have since produced several lines of Skid Steer Loaders and continue to offer a number of models in 2010. Currently, Mustang assembles models 2012, 2026, 2041, 2044, 2054, 2056, 2066, 2076, 2086, 2700V and 2109 Skid Steer Loaders. There are many similarities and differences between these Mustang Skid Steer Loaders.

Engines

• Most Mustang Skid Steer Loaders are fitted with different models of engines produced by Yanmar. The 2012 model loader has a maximum power output of 24 horsepower at 2,400 rotations per minute, rpm. This engine features an 81.0-cubic inch displacement. Mustang's 2054 model offers 47 horsepower while running at 3,000 rpm. This 47-horsepower engine features a 133.6-cubic inch displacement. The 2086 loader features one of the more powerful engines available in the Mustang Skid Steer Loaders. This engine features a 202.0-cubic inch displacement and offers around 84 horsepower at 2,500 rpm.

Dimensions

• The 2012 model is 75 inches long without bucket, 35.8 inches wide and 74.7 inches tall from the ground to the top of the roll cage. The 2054 model was designed to a length of 97 inches, a width of 60.7 inches and a height of 77.7 inches. 2086 model Mustang Skid Steer Loaders are manufactured to a length of 105.8 inches, a width of 69 inches and a height of 81 inches. The wheelbase on 2012 model is 30.5 inches, 38.5 inches on the 2054 models and 48.4 inches on the 2086 models.

Other Specifications

• Mustang's 2012 Skid Steer Loaders feature a hydraulic system capable of holding 7.15 gallons of hydraulic fluid and a fuel tank that can hold 7.7 gallons of fuel. The 2054 model by Mustang can hold 11.5 gallons of hydraulic fluid and 14.3 gallons of fuel while the 2086 model can hold 16.0 gallons of hydraulic fluid and 24 gallons of fuel. The 2012 is one of Mustang's lighter Skid Steer Loaders with an operating weight of 2,980 lbs. The 2054 model offers an operating weight of 6,080 lbs. The 2086 is one of Mustang's heavier Skid Steer Loaders at 7,900 lbs. The rated operating capacity is 850 lbs. on the 2012, 1,650 lbs. on the 2054 and 2,600 lbs. on the 2086. Maximum travel speed is 5.5 miles per hour, mph, on the 2012 model, 6.8 mph on the 2054 model and 12.3 mph on the 2086 model.

Numerical Methods & Analysis for Engineers

• Engineers use math to model reality. ballyscanlon/Stockbyte/Getty Images

  Engineering, in the most basic sense, is the art of making things. In the years before the Renaissance, engineering mostly referred to making physical objects, buildings and devices, but with the advance of modern science, the discipline has expanded to include the ability to manipulate biological organisms--bio-medical engineering--and manipulate the smallest of molecules--chemical engineering. While the final test of any engineering endeavor is to physically build what you have designed, using a variety of analysis tools can help engineers refine their design before they spend the money to build it.

Stress Testing

• Stress testing involves running a numerical model, constructed from specific data about your proposed project, and subjecting your construct to a variety of equations that abstractly test the durability of your design. These tests are especially important for testing building materials and contraptions people will be physically inside of; examples include planes, trains and cars. Most of these equations are impossibly complex to perform by hand, so engineers utilize computer models and programs specifically designed to run stress testing. These programs can be generalized, or specialize in stress-testing specific components of the object in question.

Computer Aided Design

• Computer Aided Design (CAD) is a computational innovation which allows engineers to take the specifics of their engineering design and construct their project in a virtual environment. This program utilizes sophisticated equations to model real-world conditions, and how the engineer's design would behave if actually constructed. This program can test items such as the effect of forces on their design, how the design would behave in motion tests and give data on the physical properties of the experimental design. This tool is used both by professional engineers in their development stages, and by students to learn the principles of engineering.

Regression Analysis

• Regression analysis is a core tool of engineers and scientists of all stripes to test causality with statistical certainty. Regression analysis is more advanced than a simple correlation analysis, which simply tests for a quantifiable relationship in two sets of data. Correlation analysis only tests for the existence of a relationship, not for how one set of data might have a causal effect on the other set. A regression analysis does just this: tests to see if one set of data has a statistically significant effect on the other set of data. Engineers take the data from experiments they perform on their devices to see if they can statistically prove what they created works.

How Do I Test Listening Skills?

Listening skills have always been in second place after speaking because speaking is more measurable; but for communication to be effective, it requires listening. Understanding the message is essential for appropriate language production.

Intensive

• Intensive listening can be tested through discrimination among smaller components like phonemes, words, discourse markers, among others. Testing intensive listening generally involves a spoken stimulus and the test-taker is required to identify the stimulus from two or more choices.

Responsive

• Responsive listening testing has a question-and-answer format. The test-taker is required to find the appropriate response. The test has a multiple-choice format (with answers that seemingly have similar meanings) or requires a more open-ended framework.

Selective

• Selective listening implies listening to a text with the purpose of scanning for certain details or information. Tests can use the information transfer technique, in which case the test-taker needs to decide which picture in a series matches the text to which they are listening.

Extensive

• Extensive listening involves the comprehension and reproduction in writing of a moderately large spoken passage (dictation), generally of about 50 to 100 words. A variant of this test is answering comprehension questions after listening to the passage several times.

Law Enforcement Training Centers

• Law enforcement officers receive training for the job. Siri Stafford/Lifesize/Getty Images

  Law enforcement training centers serve an important purpose. They allow law enforcement agencies to train recruits or veteran police officers. The centers serve state and local law enforcement professionals. Some also provide training for federal law enforcement officials.

Federal Law Enforcement Training Center

• The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, headquartered in Glynco, Georgia, serves as an interagency training center for more than 80 federal law enforcement agencies. With centers in Artesia, New Mexico; Charleston, South Carolina; Washington and Cheltenham, Maryland, the FLETC also offers training programs for local and state officials as well as tribal and international officers. Its three basic training programs are land management police training, criminal investigator training and uniformed police training. It also offers advanced training in antiterrorism intelligence, cyber terrorism training and critical infrastructure protection as well as 150 agency-specific programs.

National Law Enforcement Training Center

• Located in Kansas City, Missouri, the National Law Enforcement Training Center was founded by former Korean War veteran Jim Lindell who later worked with the Kansas City Police Department Academy, developing various types of training programs. The NLETC's core program is a control and defensive force training program for police officers. The center not only serves police officers but police officer trainers, who can receive certification. Other courses offered by NLETC include knife defense and disarming, ground defense and control tactics, trainer functional fitness development and handgun retention and training.

Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center

• The Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center is a state-sponsored facility. Established by the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, the center offers a 14-week basic training program that combines hands-on training with classroom instruction for new law enforcement officers in the state. The training center also offers cooperative programs with many area colleges that allow students to pursue associate degrees in criminal justice while taking some coursework through the center.

How to Write AP Grants

Each year the AP Fellows Program--an initiative of the non-profit College Board--funds scholarships for its "Summer Institutes," subject-specific workshops that provide professional development opportunities for AP teachers. If you are an AP teacher, the process of applying for a fellowship is a simple and straightforward process.

Completing the Application

• 1

  Determine whether you meet the qualifications. Applicants must be scheduled to teach an AP class in the coming academic year at a school with a student population that is at least 50% minority or at which at least half of the students qualify for meal assistance. In addition, there is a list of approved Summer Institute courses that changes on a yearly basis.

• 2

  Complete the Personal Information part of the application. This includes basic contact information, your educational background, information about your experience teaching AP courses and which courses you plan to teach in the coming academic year. It also asks whether you have been the recipient of a College Board AP Fellows Scholarship in the past two years.

• 3

  Complete the section on School Information. This part of the application asks for an accurate estimate of racial/ethnic composition at your school, both among the student body as a whole and also among AP students. A short statement is also required about your school's AP enrollment policy.

• 4

  Complete the essay portion. The essay is required to be one page addressing your individual work expanding access to AP courses, recruiting students from minority and economically disadvantaged groups, and providing support to students who have been traditionally underrepresented.

• 5

  Obtain a letter of recommendation and have it submitted through the website. A link is provided upon completion of the rest of the application. The letter of recommendation must be completed by your principal, assistant principal, department head or the individual in charge of assigning courses.

If Students Fail the FCAT Can They Go on to the Next Grade?

The Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test, the FCAT, is a standardized test given to all students in Florida public schools. The test is linked to the Florida Sunshine Standards, which teachers use to teach students in the state of Florida. Some grades link passing to success on the FCAT.

FCAT 3rd Grade Requirements

• Study with your child to help him pass the FCAT. Third grade students take the reading and math portions of the FCAT test. Only the reading portion is included in requirements for advancement to the next grade. A student must pass the reading portion of the FCAT with a 2.0 out of a score of 5.0. If they do not pass, they are sometimes allowed to take it again in the summer. This depends on the school district.

FCAT 8th Grade Requirements

• Testing a passing score--which is a level 2 out of 5--on the Math and Reading section of the FCAT was formerly a criteria for eight grade advancement. The FCAT is no longer used for advancement in eight grade. However, the scores are used to decide which classes a student will take in the ninth grade. Recently, the Florida Department of Education added writing and science tests to the yearly FCAT testing procedures. These sub tests are for placement also; they are not used to determine grade advancement.

FCAT 10th Grade Requirements

• Graduating with a standard diploma requires a student to pass the reading and math portions of the FCAT in tenth grade.The FCAT is given at least twice a year, so students who do not pass the test in the tenth grade can take it again. If a student does not pass the FCAT the first time, he will be placed in remedial classes and offered after-school tutoring in the problematic subject area. If the student cannot pass the FCAT, he graduates with a certificate. Students with an Individual Educational Plan can request an FCAT waiver, exempting them from passing the FCAT. However, they must have taken the FCAT at least two times before requesting this waiver.

Tips on Taking the FTCE Exam

• Potential Florida teachers must pass the FCTE exam to be certified. Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images

  If you plan to teach in Florida, you need to pass the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE). It consists of three exams: a professional education test; a general knowledge test; and subject area exams that test knowledge in your chosen subject. The Department of Education's Bureau of Educational Certification determines each individual's certification requirements. Following simple tips can make a difference on FTCE exam day.

Purchase Test Guides

• Test guides are study manuals for the FCTE. They contain descriptions of the exams, skill lists and sample questions. Order and download the guides at the FCTE website. As of 2010, the cost is less than $6 per guide, including tax. Becoming familiar with the test format will increase your confidence.

Take Practice Tests

• Find FCTE practice tests online at websites such as Test Prep Review. Along with practice exams for different subject areas, you will find self-assessment modules on topics such as grammar and mathematics. Some material will be familiar, but some may not. Concentrate on what you consider to be your weaknesses.

Understand Essay Rubric

• Essay writing requires you to organize your thoughts. Familiarize yourself with the scoring rubric that will be used. It is included in the FTCE Test Preparation Guide.

Follow Instructions

• Follow the FCTE guidelines for testing day. You may not take food or drink into the exam area. Personal items such as cell phones, scratch paper and calculators are also off-limits. Infractions invalidate your score and are reported to the Florida Department of Education. You will need your admission ticket and two forms of identification. If the test is in written format, take No. 2 pencils and a ballpoint pen for essays.

Arrive Early

• Begin the exam on an even keel. Visit the testing site beforehand to evaluate driving time. You're required to be at the site 30 minutes before exam time for identification, photographing and general information. Arriving sooner will ensure that you are not stressed. Get a good night's sleep and eat a healthy meal on test day.

Manage Time

• Wear a watch. Remain aware of the time frame. Don't spend too much time on any question. Answer the easier questions to boost your confidence and then go back to the tougher ones. Don't panic if you don't know an answer. Put a light mark by that question and return to it later. Stay focused.

Eliminate Answer Choices

• The majority of the exam is multiple-choice. Before making a decision, read each answer option. Eliminate obvious wrong choices. Some answers will be very similar. Read them carefully, but trust your instincts. In many cases, one of the like answers will be correct.

Double Check

• Use all allotted time. Periodically check your coding, as inadvertently skipping one number can throw off the match of questions and answers. Make sure you have answered every question, even if it's just your best guess. Erase stray marks on written tests. Go back over your answer choices, but don't second-guess yourself.

Specs on a Polaris 250 Trail Boss

Polaris Industries has been manufacturing vehicles since 1954. Polaris' Trail Boss 250 is a four-wheel all-terrain vehicle with a rear-wheel-drive system.

Engine

• The engine in the Polaris 250 Trail Boss all-terrain vehicle has 244 cubic centimeters of displacement. This two-stroke engine is an air-cooled and supplied with fuel through a 30-mm carburetor system.

Dimensions

• This all-terrain vehicle has a 49.75-inch wheelbase, and was constructed to a length of 73.2 inches and a width of 44 inches. The Polaris 250 Trail Boss is 44 inches tall from the ground to its highest point.

Other Specs

• These vehicles were fitted with an automatic-transmission system. The maximum fuel capacity on the Trail Boss was 4 gallons, while maximum oil capacity is 2 quarts. These all-terrain vehicles rolled off assembly lines at 425 lb.

Online Financial Advising Degrees

• Financial advisors help clients with long-term financial goals. Andrew Bret Wallis/Lifesize/Getty Images

  Financial advisors, also known as financial analysts, offer guidance to clients to make smart investment decisions. According to the "Occupational Outlook Handbook," published by the U.S. Department of Labor, financial advisors have different roles. A personal financial advisor helps clients them with taxes, investment strategies and long-term financial goals. A business financial analyst works with banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions aiding them with price analysis, sales and costs. No matter what the area of specialization is, financial advisors require a business-focused academic degree. Many online universities offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in finance to interested individuals.

Kaplan University

• Kaplan University is accredited and recognized for its online and on-campus academic programs. The bachelor's degree in accounting includes a special emphasis on taxes and audits. In addition, the degree focuses on consulting for government, corporations and nonprofit organizations.Those looking for career advancement may opt for Master's in Business Administration and specialize in finance. The master's curriculum focuses on balance sheets, mergers and acquisitions, financial management and strategies. Other business related degree choices include a master's programs in accounting and a MBA with a concentration in international business.

DeVry University

• The Higher Learning Commission accredits DeVry University. Students can choose to specialize in finance and earn a bachelor's degree in business administration, management or technical management. Course offerings include investment fundamentals, money and banking, financial statement analysis and international financial management. Those interested in higher education may choose to earn a Master's in Business Administration from DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of Management.

Strayer University

• Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Strayer University offers online degree choices to prospective students. Finance and business related degrees include the Master's in Business Administration, where students have the opportunity to specialize in finance, international business and international system management. Also, Strayer University grants a Master's of Science in accounting, where students gain an insight in accounting information systems, public accounting and taxation.

River Ecosystems & Animals

A river ecosystem includes such elements as the flowing water; the river bed and shoreline; the air above them; and various forms of life. Animals are important members of an ecosystem. They benefit from it and contribute to its well-being.

Food and Shelter

• A river ecosystem provides a home for such animals as freshwater fish, frogs, salamanders, turtles and even an occasional dolphin. Various insects live in rivers, such as the water strider and the mayfly larva. A healthy river ecosystem has a food chain that provides food for all, with such plankton as diatoms and heliozoans on the bottom and ducks and otters farther up. Such animals as the mink occasionally come to fish, and deer come to drink.

Contribution of Animals

• Animals promote the health of river ecosystems. Beaver dams provide a haven for plants and animals that prefer quiet waters rather than a rushing stream. Manatees sometimes clean up a river that is clogged with aquatic weeds.

Effects of Change

• Changes can upset a river ecosystem. For example, the loss of fish species through extinction will upset the rhythm of the ecosystem, according to the National Academy of Sciences. Pollution is a change especially deleterious to animals. If pollutants such as DDT or mercury enter a river, not only resident animals will be affected, but also all animals that prey on them either directly or indirectly.

How to Make Science Inventions

Science inventions are fun projects. You can create something completely new and that you can use every day. Every single tool you use today was invented by someone else. Yet, there are many more tools waiting to be invented and improve lives everywhere. Never pressure yourself to create the next best-seller or high-tech gadget; a science invention gives you the opportunity to engineer a simple tool that may be the foundation for many more inventions. Be creative, and remember that the most simple ideas are often the most effective.

Brainstorm the Invention

• 1

  Brainstorm about activities that you do every day. Is there any way for you to make any of these jobs easier?

  Examine simple, non-electric machines--such as levers, pulleys, wheels and axels--and think about how these simple machines could be changed to simplify an activity or task.

• 2

  Remember that your invention does not need to be a machine. It can be a new product or object to help your life be better. For example, a 10-year-old girl invented "Wristies," a warm wrist wrap that can be worn underneath a coat and gloves.

• 3

  Once you have decided what you would like to invent and its purpose, organize your thoughts about how you will construct the invention. Write down possible materials, the necessary tools and construction process. These notes will be very useful for teachers and judges.

Construct the Invention

• 1

  Gather the necessary materials and tools for construction. Do not use expensive or rare materials so mistakes are not costly. Construct the invention.

• 2

  Use your invention several times, taking careful notes on its effectiveness, quality and usefulness. Ask a friend to use the invention and give you feedback.

• 3

  Write down your ideas of how to create a better version of this invention. Construct the invention a second time using these ideas. Evaluate this version in the same manner as before, determining if you feel it is necessary to improve the invention further.

• 4

  If necessary, construct a third, improved invention.

• 5

  Write down your reaction to the process of inventing. What would you have done differently? Did you enjoy thinking creatively and inventing? Did you enjoy constructing? What was your favorite aspect of the inventing process?

Tips on Teachers Communicating With Parents Who Don't Speak English

• Show examples of work to parents who don't speak English. SW Productions/Photodisc/Getty Images

  Communication between teachers and parents is important, because it helps to sustain parent-school collaboration and increases each child's learning potential, says Dr. Beth Harry, educator on multicultural issues at the University of Miami. However, cultural differences and language difficulties may hinder teachers' attempts to communicate with parents.

  The most effective solution is to find someone who speaks the language to help teachers translate, says Dr. Suzanne Irujo, contributing writer for "The English Language Learner Outlook." Teachers can also learn just a few words of the parents' home language to show that they recognize it and welcome its use in school. They may also use non-verbal communication methods in their interactions with parents.

Host "Family Nights"

• Kristina Robertson, professional development educator at the Color in Colorado Website, advises teachers to host informal family nights in the classroom, with snacks and fun learning activities for pupils and parents who do not speak English. Teachers can help the pupils to prepare simple, pictorial invitations to their parents to tell them the date and time of the meeting. Family nights help teachers to break initial communication barriers. Teachers gain awareness of pupils' cultures, and parents begin to feel more at ease in the classroom setting. Teachers can encourage parents and children to join in with educational activities, such as math games and alphabet lotto games that will help parents to understand the learning objectives for their children.

Use Visual Aids

• Teachers should use extensive non-verbal communication in their interactions with non-English speaking parents, such as gestures, facial expressions, mime and pictorial clues, says Irujo. Teachers should overcome any embarrassment and imagine that they are playing games such as "Charades" or "Pictionary," which require creative use of visual clues. Robertson agrees that teachers should "show rather than tell" the curriculum to parents who do not speak English. Teachers can show parents examples of previous student work so that parents understand the topics that children will study during the school year. Bright classroom wall displays, with photographs and simple captions will also help teachers to communicate with parents by providing visual examples of their kids' activities at school.

Work With an Interpreter

• Teachers should not ask pupils to interpret for their parents at meetings, says Robertson, because pupils may feel uncomfortable sharing information about themselves. They may not successfully translate the phrases and vocabulary that their teachers use. Teachers should meet with the interpreter prior to the parent-teacher conference to outline the agenda and schedule. They should also ensure that the interpreter translates information without offering any advice or opinions. When enlisting the help of a translator for a parent-teacher conference, teachers should make eye contact with the parents and talk directly with them, rather than with the translator. Teachers should speak at an even pace; they should pause regularly to enable translation of manageable chunks of information.

Firefighter Training Safety

Firefighter safety guidelines are mandated by the federal and local state governments. Whether a firefighter is participating in a training course or emergency scenario, prescribed safety protocols protect the lives of first responders.

Conditioning

• Firefighters must undergo a full physical before beginning the physically demanding training sessions. Although rules vary by state and educational facility, a drug test is also typically required. Firefighters must be able to stand for extended periods of time and pack heavy equipment and gear up multiple flights of stairs during training.

Scenarios

• During training, firefighter candidates participate in drills with pressurized water tanks, portable oxygen tanks and live burns. A live fire scenario can take place on a training center campus or at a vacant building in the community. For the safety of firefighters, emergency medical personnel (EMS) are on hand. An EMS vehicle is sent to all live burns. Although the fire is planned, the same level of caution used during an emergency fire call is employed.

Supervision

• Trainees are shadowed by an experienced firefighter or certified fire instructor. While the firefighter has to work through scenarios using the skills they learned in training, a veteran emergency responder is within arm's reach to aid or redirect a trainee if necessary.

CPM Certification Requirements

• To become a certified purchasing manager, you must meet the necessary requirements. Alistair Berg/Digital Vision/Getty Images

  Becoming a certified purchasing manager (CPM) boosts your career and establishes your commitment and acumen as a management professional. If you have passed the CPM exam by December 2009, you can submit an application. If not, you can pursue certification as a Professional in Supply Management.

CPM Exam

• The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) has phased out the CPM certification, and now offers the Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) program, which comes with its own specific requirements. It must be noted that the CPM exam is not available after December 2009 through the ISM. If you have completed the exam by then, you can apply for certification up until Dec. 21, 2010. CPM certification requires passage of the four modules of the CPM exam. The modules are purchasing process; supply environment; value enhancement strategies; and management. CPM exam fees as of September 2009 include $130 per module for ISM members, and $190 per module for non-members.

Education and Work Experience

• To meet CPM certification requirements, you are required to have at least five years of full-time professional purchasing and supply management experience. You can substitute work experience with a four-year degree from an accredited program and three years of full-time purchasing experience. Documentation of work experience is required in one of the following ways: a letter from your supervisor; a signed job description from the company's human resources department; a letter from a co-worker; a letter from a supplier you worked with; or verification from your most recent employer concerning your past work history.

CPM Application

• For CPM certification, you are required to complete an application that can be obtained through ISM. As of September 2009, application fees are $90 for ISM members and $150 for non-members. Standard application processing time usually is four to six weeks from the date of receipt.

Aternative Sources of Energy

• Renewable energy sources generate electricity without the use of fossil fuels. Lauren Burke/Photodisc/Getty Images

  Renewable energy sources are an eco-friendly way to reduce the need for fossil fuels to produce electricity and heat for indoor spaces, offices and industrial factories. Although the use of renewable energy sources is expected to grow in popularity, they are often expensive and are not always as readily available as fossil fuel sources.

Solar

• Solar power from the sun converts into thermal energy to heat water and indoor spaces. Harnessed by photovoltaic devices, these devices consist of individual cells grouped into panels. Cells range in size from small cells on watch and calculator batteries, to large power plants that cover several acres of land. Solar energy, harnessed by solar power plants that use the thermal energy from the sun to heat fluids, produces steam that powers the generators.

Geothermal

• Geothermal energy is an energy source found in the core of the earth. When magma comes to the crust of the earth, surrounding rocks and water absorb the heat from the magma. Tapping into geothermal energy includes digging deep wells and pumping heated groundwater and steam to the surface, creating heat for homes and electricity generation. Most geothermal energy sources are found near plate boundaries on the crust of the earth, such as the areas bordered by the Pacific Ocean. Geothermal energy can also be generated from electricity generation power plants near the Pacific Ocean and hot water from natural hot springs near the surface.

Hydropower

• Hydropower accounts for 67 percent of electricity generated from renewable sources in 2008, according to the Energy Information Administration. Moving water also provides electricity. The water flows through a pipe where it turns blades in a turbine that spins a generator. The spinning generator produces electricity. Water movement can be found along rivers, or collected in a reservoir where water is released as needed to generate electricity. Although hydropower produces clean energy, dams and reservoirs can obstruct migration of fish and change natural water temperatures, chemistry and silt loads. Such changes can alter the ecology of the water source significantly.

How to Complete a Degree After Years Away

Some 30 percent of college students drop out in the first year, according to the Department of Education's most recent statistics, and an astonishing 50 percent never finish at all. Students begin a college career with the full intention of a timely four-year completion, however, for many, graduation never comes. Fortunately, colleges and universities encourage students to return to college and complete a degree at any time. Many schools offer extensive support to returning students who often find college more manageable the second time around because they are more prepared for the challenges after some time in the real world.

• 1

  Organize previous school records, including a comprehensive list of courses completed and credits earned then contact the college or university for enrollment instructions. If credits were previously earned from a separate institution, contact the institution to have official transcripts sent.

• 2

  Organize a time-management plan. Returning students often have full-time jobs, children and several other responsibilities. Adding course work to an already busy schedule can be overwhelming without proper time management. Consider how much time can honestly be dedicated to school without sacrificing other obligations. Consider the possiblity of taking night classes or online coursework to meet the demands of a busy schedule. Choose course work accordingly.

• 3

  Speak to an advisor at the college or university. An advisor can compare previous coursework to current requirements to determine the number of credits needed to graduate. The advisor can also establish a graduation plan outlining the necessary coursework for each semester.

• 4

  Contact a financial aid advisor to create a tuition payment plan. Ask the advisor for grants and scholarships that are available to returning students.

• 5

  Enroll in and complete all necessary coursework to complete the degree and graduate.

Remote First Aid Training

Most first aid courses are based on the idea that professional medical aid will be available within a short period, and focus on keeping the victim alive until then. However, when the emergency response time is prolonged, care is more complicated and specialized first aid training is recommended.

Contents of Remote First Aid Training

• Remote first aid training covers the same topics as standard first aid courses: airway management, CPR, wound care, shock, fractures and so on. However, there is a greater concentration on continuing casualty care because the first aider will be in charge of the casualty longer. More time is also spent on environmental injuries caused by heat, cold or altitude.

  Some treatments are more extensive, as well. For instance, a fracture that is only supported while waiting for a city ambulance has to be immobilized properly if medical care is several days away. Managing pain and infection also become issues.

Levels of Remote First Aid Training

• Different organizations provide courses of differing lengths and call them different things. However, on average, a standard-level wilderness first aid course is around 20 hours, an advanced-level course is around 40 hours, a wilderness first responder course is around 80 hours and a wilderness EMT course is around 160 hours.

  Some organizations also provide training in wilderness medicine for physicians and nurses.

Organizations Providing Remote First Aid Training

• Various organizations provide remote first aid training in the US. The largest of these is the American Red Cross. Other national organizations include the Wilderness Medical Society, the National Outdoor Leadership Schools---Wilderness Medicine Institute and Wilderness Medical Associates.

  Organizations with a less national level of coverage include the International Wilderness Leadership School.

Tips for Arc Welding

• Arc welding can be a tricky and difficult task. Arc welding refers to welding that uses a live current of electricity to produce welds. The electricity streams in an arc from an electrode down to a workpiece. GMAW welding (gas metal arc welding, or MIG welding) and GTAW welding (gas tungsten arc welding, or TIG welding) are two different types of arc welding. Most methods of welding will use shielding gases to improve weld quality. Aside from using proper shielding gases, there are a number of other steps that welders can take to improve their welding technique.

Shielding Gas

• Employing the proper shielding gas is a critical step in producing high-quality welds. Shielding gases stream down onto a workpiece, surrounding the arc of electricity as it is drawn down to the workpiece. This process greatly increases stability of the arc, making precision welding much easier. Shielding gases allow for the creation of smoother welds and help prevent contaminates from compromising welds.

  Argon gas is the most widely used shielding gas in most methods of welding. A shielding gas consisting of argon and carbon dioxide is ideal for working on thicker-gauged steel. While working on thinner steel, a combination of 75 percent argon, 25 percent carbon dioxide shielding gas is ideal. Argon with helium shielding gases work well while welding on aluminum. An argon, helium and carbon dioxide combination will work well on stainless steel.

Proper Ground

• Having a welding system properly grounded is a critical step in ensuring streams of electricity will be steady and go uninterrupted. An improperly grounded system can make it more difficult to provide a starting voltage to the welding system. While copper is one of the more efficient electric conductors, most modern-day grounding clamps are made out of plated steel. These steel grounding clamps have a small amount of copper at the contact point. Employing an all-copper grounding clamp makes it easier to create a starting voltage.

Other Arc Welding Tips

• Welding with only one hand on the electrode is not recommended. Using both hands while welding results in the creation of more even and accurate welds. Having the contact tip at the end of a welding gun protruding too far out or retracted too far in can negatively affect the quality of a weld. Sticking the contact tip out about 1/4-inch is ideal for welding on most materials. Having the tip out a little more (about 3/4-inch) makes welding on thinner sheet metals a little easier.

How to Calculate Battery Life in mAh

Most battery life spans are rated based on mAh (milliamp hours). Certain brands, such as Sony, use different protocols to rate the predicted life time of their batteries. In some cases, no life span is rated at all. In such cases, mathematical equations can be used to convert between the various electrical components -- such as current, resistance and voltage -- to come up with the actual lifespan of the battery. Most batteries will print some combination of the voltage, amperage, and wattage of the battery.

• 1

  Write down the number of watt hours and volts listed on the battery. It is useful to write "Wh =" then the number of watt hours then "V =" and the number of volts. This will help keep the notes clear.

• 2

  Multiply the number of watt hours by the number of volts. The product will be the number of Amp hours (Ah).

• 3

  Multiply the number of Amp hours by 1000 to get the number of mAh (milliamp hours).