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Submitted by: Sam Scribbler

A few weeks ago a very important Asian antique was purchased at the Sunbury Antiques Market, Kempton Park.

Held on the second and last Tuesday of each month at Kempton Park Racecourse since 1979, Sunbury Antique Market has become one of the UK’s best and most popular antiques venues. Up to seven hundred stallholders may attend on any market day. Two indoor areas beneath the stands hold up to three hundred and fifty tables laden with vintage and antique objects of all kinds. While outside a very large area can hold another three hundred and fifty cars and vans spilling out their wares onto tables and the ground. For one lucky guy a recent trip to Kempton turned out better than winning the lottery.

Amongst the bric-a-brac he found an Asian antique treasure, a Chinese vase of great beauty, rarity and value. The vase, a large example of Chinese Qing period, Beijing enamel work, bearing the sealmark of the Qinglong Emperor (1736 1795) and of the period, is 15inches(38cm) high. The square section baluster body, with metal ring handles, is enameled all over with a floral decoration on a blue ground and four painted panels containing European landscape scenes, including buildings and figures. The vase is in good condition, considering the fragility of the enamel, but there is a small amount of superficial damage, currently being restored by an expert.

Purchased for 25.00 ($35.00) by a well-known Portobello Road oriental antiques dealer, who says he would like to remain anonymous, although almost everyone in London already seems to know his name, the vase was provisionally valued by one of the major salerooms at 40,000 – 60,000. However, a quick scan through recent auction results would suggest at least one more zero could safely be added to that valuation.

The purchaser deserves his good luck; he is a Kempton stalwart who has rarely missed a market, even attending on the morning of his son s birth. When I visited him in Portobello Road an endless stream of dealers made reference to his good luck. Some, jokingly, asked to borrow money while others, those who consider themselves “big dealers”, gave sage advice.

Advice though is unnecessary. The lucky purchaser has rarely sold a good Asian antique in his dealing career, selling only damaged and restored pieces or insignificant objects. He has squirreled away every interesting or important work of art or piece of porcelain he ever bought and he already has his pension assured. This vase is just the icing on the cake for him.

Considering the rocketing prices in the salerooms for rare Chinese antique art, in particular Imperial or “mark and period” pieces, he may want to think about holding on to the vase for a few years, even lending it to a museum, to enhance it’s provenance, before selling it. There have been some startling prices achieved in recent sales, for enameled pieces not nearly so rare as this vase, particularly when it’s size is considered and although it does not bear the gilding that the Chinese seem to like so much, it is a very impressive object and should make top money.

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Submitted by: Sharon Campbell

The environment nowadays is filled with dangerous substances that are harmful for our body. The air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink and lots of things that surround us can contain these toxic substances. In order for our body to be healthy and work properly, toxic substances must be eliminated regularly. Detoxification is important so that our organs can function as best as possible. The organs which benefit from detoxification are the lungs, kidneys, intestines and liver. Blood benefits from this process as well.

The idea of detoxification is cleansing your body and getting rid of the harmful stuff, so you dont want to take in something that promises to detoxify yet is not natural. Our body reacts positively to fresh fruits and vegetables. Instead of artificial detoxifiers, why not go for this one?

Fruits are loaded with health benefits. They contain vitamins which are essential for our body. Not only does it make your body healthy, it makes your skin smooth, supple and glowing too. So you become fit inside and outside. Choose fruits which are rich in vitamin C and can serve as antioxidants such as apples, lemons, grapes, and oranges. Another popular fruit used in detoxification nowadays is acai berry. This fruit hails from Brazil and has been used because of health benefits it offers the body.

Green tea has been popular to those who want to lose or maintain their weight. It also has antioxidant effects which cleanses the body from toxic substances by helping the urinary system flush it out. It also aids in digestion and increases metabolism.

The liver benefits from detoxification too. You can help cleansing your liver by adding garlic to your meal. Garlic has lots of health benefits. Not only is it good for the liver, it helps your heart as well. With garlic in your diet, toxic substances are flushed out by urinary system effectively. If you cannot tolerate the taste of garlic, you can mix it with soup or salads.

Coconut and cranberry juices are very effective in helping the urinary system get rid of harmful substances in the body. It also helps in some disorders of the urinary system such as urinary tract infection. Go fresh and you need not worry about the taste because it is really refreshing.

Cabbage and broccoli are salad staples that can help you with detoxification as well. They help your liver and are effective for losing weight as well. Another plus factor for these veggies is theres ability to prevent certain types of cancer.

There are lots of foods that you can include in your daily meal plans to help you with detoxification. It is important to go fresh and natural so that your body can breathe from toxic and artificial substances that it has been exposed to. And do not forget to drink plenty of water. Drink as much as you want as long as you do not have a medical condition which requires you to limit your intake. Be conscious of the food that you eat. Steer away from processed foods and unhealthy beverages.

About the Author: Sharon Campbell enjoys writing for Uniformhaven.com which sells

cherokee scrubs

and

landau uniform pants

as well as a host of additional products.

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Eyesight tests and screening in young children

by

rachelmyers97The Sonksen logMAR Test

is a visual acuity test/vision screening test for very young children that was developed by a team of experts from the Institute of Child Health, University College London. It is suited to use with very young children, disabled children and adults, and those who do not speak English or are not familiar with the Roman alphabet

This children s eye test is straightforward to administer and can be used by all ophthalmic and healthcare professionals who work with children, including ophthalmologists, orthoptists, optometrists, paediatricians, health visitors and school nurses.

An original feature of the vision test is that it is published with centile charts of acuity which enable the tester to compare the child s results with norms for that age bracket to determine if further action or follow-up is required. These centile charts resemble those used for growth and provide scientifically validated data covering the ages from Two years nine months to seven years nine months – a time period of very rapid alterations in acuity.

Since its release the SLT has been taken up by many organisations in the UK and overseas, in a variety of settings. It is in common use for vision screening in schools and in primary care settings, and also as a diagnostic and monitoring tool in specialist ophthalmic centres such as eye hospitals and eye clinics.

Research has proven that even very young children are able to do the test. Almost 90% of 2.5 to 3 year olds and 96% of 3 to 3.5 year olds are able to do a linear binocular (both eyes) test and, if occlusion is accepted, a similar proportion of the youngest children are able to perform a linear monocular (one eye covered) test. Research has also proved that over 99% of children over 3.5 could complete the whole vision test using the SLT.

The test set contains everything the specialist requires in a handy long lasting and convenient case. It includes a keycard for matching, a training booklet along with a booklet of single letters to discover the level to begin the linear distant test in the youngest age bracket; two booklets with crowded linear displays up to logMAR 0.875 as well as logMAR near charts. A comprehensive manual explains in detail how to administer the test and interpret the findings, and a quick reference sheet contains the centile charts, an easy guide to conversion to Snellen or N equivalents and adjustment for different distances. A pointer and occlusion glasses are also included.

Booklet E (one single and two linear displays of logMAR 0.900 to 1.075) is available separately for use in eye and developmental clinics for children with severe visual impairment.

The Sonksen logMAR Test can be purchased online from

Novomed Ltd

. Or contact info@novomed.net for more information.

Scientific background

The Sonksen logMAR Test (SLT) is designed to calculate distant and near acuity in strict accord with specifications laid down for the logMAR scale. The logMAR scale currently is recognised as the global standard and recommended for the way of measuring visual acuity.

To guarantee consistent crowding of all test optotypes, crowding bars as described in the logMAR standard surround each test display. As a result measures obtained with the SLT are both significant and specifically equivalent with the international scale.

Generally there are rapid alterations in linear optotype acuity between 2 . 5 and 5.5 years with reduced though continuous progress until at least nine years. Age norms are consequently crucial for significant interpretation of measures in this age bracket.

The benefits of the logMAR over the Snellen standard are a regular progression (base 10) of both letter dimensions and spacing from one level to the next along with an identical number of letters at every level; scoring takes into account every letter correctly recognized by the testee, resulting in improved sensitivity and repeatability of measurement. An additional benefit is an increased amount of levels in a given acuity range which in turn allows for the rapid alterations in acuity of the under fives.

http://novomed.net/sonksen/index.php

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