| How to Study for College Posted: 18 Oct 2016 05:00 PM PDT Do you have exams coming up soon? Are you worried about how to study for them? Maybe you could roll through high school half asleep with your hands tied behind your back, but unfortunately college is a slightly different level. Once you know how to tackle studying at the college level, you'll be better equipped to ace your exams. EditBefore a Study Session - Make a schedule for all of your exams. Arrange them by date so that the one you are having first comes at the top, then your next exam, then the next etc. Read the syllabus that comes with your classes.
- By the time finals roll around, your time is precious -- every minute counts. Which is why scheduling is essential during the weeks (er, days) prior to exams. So as not to go totally bonkers during this stressful time, make a realistic study schedule for yourself, too. Leave yourself time for breaks -- you'll be taking them anyway -- and be sure to prioritize according to which class you'll need to study for the most. [1]
- The syllabus is one of the most important papers your professor will give you. Hold onto it! Use it when you're studying for your finals as a sort of outline.[2] It may also make it clear what topics your instructor finds interesting and important -- certain topics may pop up more than others and those are definitely the ones to crack down on.
- Start highlighting and creating. Do you have to study just words? If yes, type them out in a word processor and print them. The words you already know should not be on the list. Make absolutely sure that you know them before you take them off the list! Repeat every word 10 times and you will remember.
- Go through your notes and highlight major vocabulary words and concepts (in different colors!). Manipulate the material to your liking. Create charts and index cards to help yourself study.[3] Make cards in different categories -- some for terms and/or concepts, some for formulas, and some for specific quotes from reading assignments.
- Coax a friend to come with you. And if they're in your class, all the better (for them and you). However, make sure it's someone who's serious about studying -- goofing off together won't be very productive. A friend is beneficial if you can stay focused.
- Take turns explaining terms and concepts to each other. Odds are if you can explain it to someone else (and they can follow), you have a good grasp on the material and that'll show up on the exam.
- Scope out a nice area to study. Study in a quiet place that has a nice chair you won't hesitate to spend large chunks of time in. If you find the perfect chair in a not-so-perfect area, move it. It's not glued to the floor for a reason.
- Or, rather, scope out nice areas (yep, that's plural) to study. Believe it or not, several (again with the plural) studies have found that if you switch up your environment while learning, retention is increased. Somehow, magically, keeping your brain surrounded by new stimuli makes the information more interesting and therefore easier to remember.[4] So if you get antsy, listen to your gut and find a new armchair to sink into.
- Gather all your materials (and some goodies, too). When you leave your dorm room or home, make sure you have everything you need and then some. Grab all your papers, folders, writing utensils and books you need, but make sure to not forget the almost more important stuff: a water bottle, some money (just in case), your headphones, and snacks to munch on.
- Magically, chocolate is starting to be deemed the new "super fruit." It's high in antioxidants and healthy plant compounds, even more so than most fruit juices.[5][6] So don't feel guilty about grabbing your dark chocolate bar when you hit the study room. You may actually be doing yourself a favor.
EditDuring a Study Session - Start writing. Whatever you think will work for you, do it. There are dozens of studying tactics out there -- experiment with as many as possible and see what seems to be sticking.
- Write summaries. If you have to learn for science or history, you need another system of learning. Make a summary for each chapter and learn it.
- Use mnemonic devices. Why did the US enter WWI? Duh, everyone knows that's because of SPRENCZ.[7] What's SPRENCZ? Uhh, Submarines, Propaganda, the Russians, Economic ties to Europe, violations of Neutrality, Cultural ties with Britain, and the Zimmerman note, obviously. With the device, it'll jog your memory and you can easily expand in essay form.
- If you make study cards, recite them out loud. It'll help you remember. Reading the cards silently is too passive.[7] Carry them around with you and go over them when you find yourself with a bit of free time.
- Take frequent breaks. It won't help if you'll study continuously for 5 hours. Your body (and even your brain) needs a break. Eat something and drink a glass of milk or water. Study for 20-30 minutes, have a 5 minute break and then study again for 20-30 minutes. You will learn much more.
- According to the Dartmouth Academic Skills Center, you should study in 20-50 minute increments and give yourself a 5 to 10 minute break between each session. For best results, study throughout one full week.[1]
- Listen to music. Most people have heard of the Mozart effect. That's where you listen to Mozart and miraculously you get smarter. Not surprisingly, most of it's crap. But there is a thread of something tangible there, and it's in all music.
- That original Mozart study was done on young adults, not babies (so you're in luck!). And while the music by no means made the participants smarter, it did increase the brain's alertness for about 15 minutes afterward. When the study was extended, it showed that any music (so long as the participant enjoys it) can stimulate the brain, not just Mozart. And, in fact, getting up and running around or doing jumping jacks can do the same thing. So whatever it is, find a way to get your brain jogging.
- Mix it up. Not only will your attention span appreciate it, but your brain will more easily take it in as well. Instead of sticking to vocabulary, cover it and then switch to concepts and reading passages.
- You know how musicians practice with a mix of scales intertwined with actual pieces and rhythm practice? And how athletes never do the same drills two times in a row? They're doing what you should: using a panoply of skills in one session. Your brain will be more impressed.[4]
- Study in a group. Study groups can motivate you to get started when it's hard to motivate yourself -- plus, explaining difficult concepts out loud will help you figure out what you understand and what you still need to go over, and getting a group together will allow you to divide and conquer definition of terms and explanations of concepts. And if you can get each member to bring a snack, that's incentive to actually meet![1]
- Have each student prepare for the practice session by bringing in a couple of practice questions or prompts (maybe what they find the most confusing). Together, the group will work through the answers, solving each person's most burning questions. However, don't take a group mentality and get off track though! And make sure everyone shares accurate information; otherwise, the whole group will get lead unintentionally astray.
EditRight Before a Test - Get some sleep. Pulling an all-nighter is risky business. While most college students think that studying all night will help them learn more for an exam, all-nighters can actually damage grades. Exhausted students can't concentrate on exams, and cramming for a final can actually reduce the amount of information you remember. Well-rested students, on the other hand, are much more relaxed and alert when it comes time to take exams. Make time to sleep -- you'll thank yourself later.
- Cramming isn't worth it. This is known as a "freshman trick," meaning that good, veteran students learn very quickly that it is futile. What you may gain from extra study time won't compensate for the loss of alertness and ability to concentrate due to lack of sleep.[3]
- Eat breakfast. Not only is this good for your body[8], it's good for your mind, too. It'll be more difficult to concentrate if you're hungry. Don't eat anything that may upset your stomach, though.
- Avoid the temptation to hype yourself up on caffeine. It may just make your more anxious. Stick to your normal breakfast -- your routine will be comforting.
- Be confident. It may sound like a load of baloney, but being confident and thinking you'll do well can help calm you down and, ultimately, make you do well. And let's be honest, you've done what you could. So whatever makes you think you've got it, do it. It'll pay off when you're not breaking out in a sweat, fingers twitching in nerves
- When we intend to remember without having confidence that we can remember, the intention is weakened into mere hoping. The memory strengthens as you lay burdens upon it and becomes trustworthy as you trust it. Try to form the habit early on of relying on your memory before referring to your written reminders.[7]
- It is necessary to have regular 5 minutes breaks! Don't feel guilty -- they'll help you learn.
- Do not try to study for a whole day. Divide each day into 4 or 5 sections with regular breaks. This will help you to learn MUCH more. Your brain cannot soak in everything.
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| How to Calculate the Value of Junk Silver Posted: 18 Oct 2016 09:00 AM PDT The vast majority of U.S. silver coins struck before 1965 were 90% silver and 10% copper. Junk silver refers to common coins sold at or very near the price of their actual value in silver. To determine the value of these, all you will need to do is calculate the weight of these coins in silver and then multiply that figure by the current price of silver. However, you should also be careful to confirm that you don't have any valuable rare coins in your collection.[1] EditCalculating How Much Silver You Have - Confirm that your junk silver coins have no numismatic value. The majority of junk silver is valued almost exclusively by its silver content. However, rare coins accumulate additional value. Search online for the value of your coin by referencing the date and image on the coin.
- In general, coins that pre-date the 1940s have some collectors' value.
- Other coins garner a collector's value because they are a rare mint. The mint refers to where the coin was produced and is denoted by a small letter stamped on the coin.[2] A coin may have been produced in mass quantities at one mint, but in much smaller quantities at another mint; if your coin came from the latter, it will be worth more.[3]
- You must also pay attention to coin grading, which how you determine the quality of a coin's condition.[4] Grading takes into account how well the coin was struck at the original mint, how well it is preserved, and how much wear and damage the coin has suffered.[5]
- Examples of rare coins include the Kennedy Silver Half Dollars and the Morgan or Peace Dollars. However, newer coins, like the Kennedy Silver Dollar, need to be in excellent physical condition to retain collectors' value.[6]
- Calculate the sum of your coins' face values. The silver content of most 1965 U.S. specie is proportional to its denomination. For example, a half-dollar has precisely double the silver content of a quarter. Therefore, the first step in determining the total silver content is to add up the face value of every coin in your collection.
- Do not include nickels or pennies, which were not made from silver, with rare exceptions like 1942-1945 war nickels. Pricing these, however, can be complicated and so they should also be excluded from your calculation.[7]
- Multiply the total face value of your collection by 0.715 to calculate the quantity of silver. A dollar's worth of 90-percent-silver coins would originally have contained 0.723 troy ounces of silver. However, because old coins are worn, silver dealers generally calculate on an average weight of 0.715 troy ounces per dollar.
- A troy ounce is a unit of measurement that is common when weighing precious metals. One troy ounce is equal to 31.103 grams or 1.097 ounces.
- Because half-dollars circulated less they will generally be a bit less worn. You might be able to expect a slightly higher ratio of dollar value to silver content like 71.8-72.0%. Newer coins might also have a slightly higher silver content.[8]
EditCalculating How Much Your Silver is Worth - Research the current spot price for silver. The current market value of silver (often called the "spot value") can be found online. Silver prices are nearly always expressed in dollars per troy ounce, which we can ascertained by multiplying the value of our currency by .715.
- Nasdaq is a reputable source for current silver prices. It also will show how the price of silver has changed over time, giving you some sense as to whether you should sell now, or wait until later for a higher price.[9]
- Multiply your collection's silver weight by the current spot price. Multiplying your collection's weight by the current price of silver will yield the total value of your junk silver.
- For example, if you have 71.5 troy ounces of silver, and the current spot price is 32 dollars, then your junk silver is worth (71.5 * 32) or $2288.
- Factor in specie value. Although it is rare for junk silver to sell for much more than the price of raw silver, you might be able to get slightly more. In times during which coins are hard to find this amount should be a larger. Because silver dollars were less common than dimes and quarters, these can also go for slightly more.[10]
- To verify your calculation, search online for a melt value calculator.
EditThings You'll Need - Junk silver
- Calculator
- Computer
- Internet access
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| How to Relieve Symptoms of Gastritis Posted: 18 Oct 2016 01:00 AM PDT Gastritis occurs when the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed. It can be caused by different things including an infection, drinking too much alcohol, or overusing painkillers. It usually gets better quickly with treatment.[1] EditDiagnosing Gastritis - Recognize gastritis. Gastritis is a general medical term that can refer to many different diseases, such as dyspepsia (indigestion), peptic ulcer disease caused by H. pylori, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Not everyone has symptoms when they have gastritis. However, you may have gastritis if you suffer from the following symptoms:[2][3]
- A burning pain in your stomach. It may improve or worsen when you eat.
- An aching feeling in your stomach.
- Nausea or vomiting
- Abdominal discomfort
- Early satiety (feeling full after only a little bit of food)
- Bloating
- Go to the doctor if you think you may have gastritis. Get medical attention if you suffer from gastritis for longer than a week.[4][5]
- Go to the doctor immediately if you are vomiting blood, have streaks of fresh red blood in your stool, or black tarry stools.
- Go to the doctor immediately if you experience weight loss, painful swallowing, and bloody vomiting. You may need an EGD test.
- If you use prescription or over-the-counter painkillers, particularly those with aspirin, be sure to tell your doctor. Some painkillers may cause gastritis.
- Discuss your medical history with your doctor. This may help your doctor determine whether you are likely to be vulnerable to gastritis. Risk factors include:[6][7]
 - An infection with "Helicobacter pylori". Not all people who have this bacteria develop gastritis.
- Regular use of over-the-counter painkillers including aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, etc.), or naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox). These medications may make your stomach lining vulnerable to being irritated by your stomach acids.
- Your age. The stomach lining gets thinner as you get older, which increases your vulnerability.
- Alcohol use. Be honest with your doctor about your drinking. Alcohol can irritate your stomach lining, making it more vulnerable to your stomach acids.
- Use of tobacco
- Obesity (where your BMI is over 30)
- Hiatal hernia
- Pregnancy
- Stress. If you have been under severe stress, such as recovering from surgery, an injury, burns, or a severe infection, this increases your risk for developing gastritis.
- An autoimmune disorder. Tell your doctor if you have an autoimmune disorder such as Hashimoto's disease, type 1 diabetes, or if you know you have a B12 deficiency. These disorders make you more likely to develop autoimmune gastritis. This occurs when your immune system attacks the lining of the stomach.
- Get additional tests if your doctor recommends it. Because gastritis can have many different causes, your doctor may need to do additional tests to determine exactly what is causing it for you. Your doctor may suggest:[8][9]
 - A test for H. pylori. The doctor may test for H. pylori bacteria in several different ways. It can be done through a blood test, a stool test, or a breath test. If your doctor recommends a breath test, you will drink a cup of liquid that has radioactive carbon in it. It is clear and has no taste. If you have H. pylori, they will break down the fluid when it reaches your stomach, so it you will have it on your breath. A stool test is where a stool sample is taken and tested in the lab for H. pylori. It's considered equally effective to the breath test.
- An esophagogastroduodenoscopy, or an EGD. During this procedure, the doctor uses a thin tube with a camera on it to look at your digestive tract. The images will show areas of inflammation. If the doctor finds an area that looks inflamed a small tissue sample may be taken and tested for H. pylori.
- An x-ray. During this test you will drink white liquid containing barium. The barium coats your esophagus, stomach, and intestines, making them easier to see on the X-ray. This allows your doctor to look for areas with problems.
- If H. pylori is detected by one of these tests and you are treated for it, it is recommended to have a repeat test in 4-6 weeks to confirm eradication.
EditRelieving Gastritis with Medications - Ask your doctor about changing painkillers. Some painkiller medications, including commonly used over-the-counter medications, can cause gastritis. They are responsible for 15-30% of ulcers.[10] Always discuss any changes in medications with your doctor before making them, including changes in over the counter-medications. If your doctor thinks switching may be helpful to you, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is less likely to give you gastritis than:[11]
- Aspirin
- Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, etc.)
- Naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox)
- Take an antacid. These medications, such as Tums, neutralize your stomach acid, making it less acidic and less irritating to the lining of your stomach. They are fast acting.
- They can be purchased at your local drug store or grocery store without a prescription and taken as needed.
- Side effects can include constipation or diarrhea.
- Kill bacteria with antibiotics. If your doctor expects that an H. pylori infection is causing your gastritis, you may be prescribed antibiotics to kill it. Always take the full course of antibiotics even if your symptoms subside. This is important for not creating strains that are resistant to antibiotics. Your doctor will most likely prescribe these three medications for H. pylori:
- Clarithromycin
- Amoxicillin OR metronidazole OR levofloxacin, depending on if you are allergic to any specific antibiotics
- Omeprazole or another PPI
- Take histamine (H-2) blockers. These medications lower the amount of acid your body releases into your digestive tract. This helps to alleviate discomfort and let inflamed tissues heal. These medications are available by prescription and as over-the-counter products. Note, however, that these do not work immediately. Their mechanism of action is to reduce the amount of acid pumped in the stomach (at the molecular level). This can take 3-4 weeks, and if the drug is stopped, the effect can be lost. Common ones include:[12]
- Ranitidine (Zantac)
- Famotidine (Pepcid)
- Cimetidine (Tagamet)
- Nizatidine (Axid)
- Try proton pump inhibitors to reduce acid. These medications reduce the amount of acid your body produces and are more effective than H2 blockers. These medications are available over-the-counter and in prescription strengths. If you take them for long periods of time you may need to take calcium supplements to reduce your risk of hip, wrist, and spine fractures. Common proton pump inhibitors include:[13][14]
- Omeprazole (Prilosec)
- Lansoprazole (Prevacid)
- Rabeprazole (Aciphex)
- Esomeprazole (Nexium)
- Dexlansoprazole (Dexilant)
- Prantoprazole (Protonix)
EditRelieving Gastritis with Lifestyle Changes - Cut down on foods that may irritate the lining of your stomach. Note that this tip will work only if you are suffering from GERD, not if you are suffering from peptic ulcer disease.[15] Foods that are particularly likely to do this include:[16][17]
- Heavy, greasy, fried, or fatty foods. Avoid foods that are deep fried such as French fries and many types of fast foods. These foods are likely to make your gastritis worse.
- Acidic foods. Foods that are acidic will not neutralize your stomach acids. Avoid large doses of things like vinegar, tomatoes, lemon juice and other acidic fruit juices.
- Spicy foods. Spices, including hot chili peppers, may also irritate the tissues of your digestive tract.
- Eat smaller meals more often. This will prevent your digestive system by being overloaded at any one time. The small meals will keep a more constant flow of food through your system, reducing the amount of time that your stomach acids are sitting in an empty stomach.[18][19]
- Reduce the amount that you eat at breakfast, lunch and dinner. This will make you hungry sooner and you can add light snacks between breakfast and lunch and then again between lunch and dinner.
- Don't give in to the urge to snack on unhealthy, fried foods that will aggravate your gastritis. Avoid French fries, potato chips, and anything that is deep fried.
- Reduce your alcohol intake. Alcohol can irritate the lining of your stomach and bring on an episode of acute gastritis. If you know you have gastritis, you may want to abstain from alcohol completely until it heals. If you do drink alcohol, keep it moderate and stay within the recommended limits.[20][21][22]
- Women and men over 65 should drink no more than one drink per day. Men under 65 should drink no more than two drinks per day.
- A drink is a 12 ounce beer, a 5 ounce glass of wine, or a 1.5 ounce shot of hard alcohol.
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