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Mental Spaghetti recently visited the Single Homeless Project in Westminster to deliver a short creative writing workshop for its clients, in anticipation of our event with John Hegley on Friday May 15.
As we only had half an hour for the workshop, we wrote haiku relating to sections of heavenly and hellish scenes of the ambitious Hieronymous Bosch masterpiece, the Garden of Earthly delights.
Participants were encouraged to select particular features of the painting that resonated with them; seeking out the complex , detailed vignettes, the scenes within the scenes.
The only rule we stuck to was the syllable rule of 5,7,5 for each haiku.
Have a read through the fruits of our labour below! Big thanks to Caroleen and everyone at SHP Westminster.
Haiku for Hieronymous…
Rabbit man with claw
Who is on the telephone? | https://mentalspaghetti.org/2015/05/06/haiku-for-hieronymous/ |
A common source of joint discomfort is inflammation. In fact, many of the problems associated with joint pain stem from inflammation. This can cause joints to become inflamed, swollen, stiff and even rickety when cushioning in the area gets affected.
Here’s a look at some of the most common issues causing joints to become inflamed and painful.
Arthritis
Arthritis, despite being very common, isn’t well-understood. It’s not a single disease but a name given to group of about 200 problems that affect the joints. The root cause behind all of these problems is inflammation of the joints.
Arthritis can affect people of all ages but is most common in women and older individuals. The common symptoms that you can experience during arthritis are pain, swelling, decreased mobility and stiffness. Symptoms can range from mild and moderate to severe. As arthritis worsens, you may find doing everyday tasks a nuisance. Inability to climb the stairs or bend down are common symptoms of progressed arthritis.
Osteoarthritis is arthritis that occurs when wear and tear of cartilage takes place. Being the most common type of arthritis, this problem is characterized by excessive pain and stiffness. As the cartilage wears away, there’s no cushioning left for the bones. So, when you move, the bones run against each other and this friction causes the feeling of discomfort.
If the problem persists, the condition can get worse and joint strength is lost. The risk factors for this problem are obesity, age and any previous injury. Anyone with a family history of osteoarthritis is also likely to get it at some point in their life.
Arthritis can impact any set of joints, but its effects are felt most in the hips, knees, neck, back or the hands.
Another example is rheumatoid arthritis which is a kind of autoimmune disease. In this condition, inflammation increases in the body which causes joint damage and pain. Risk factors include genetic and environmental reasons.
For example, smoking is a risk factor that can cause rheumatoid arthritis in specific people who have a particular gene. The aim of medication that is given for treating this disease is to increase mobility and reduce stiffness.
Arthritis is diagnosed by a physician by doing blood testing and taking some imaging scans. If the problem gets bad, an orthopedic surgeon performs joint replacement surgery. Arthritis may also affect other parts of the body when it progresses, so other specialists like dentists and ophthalmologists may also be needed.
Gout
While the knees, neck and shoulders are spots more susceptible to joint pain, gout presents itself in the big toe of the foot. It’s a very common type of arthritis that causes stiffness in the area which is accompanied by excessive swelling and intense pain. While it’s common in men, women who have reached menopause also become more susceptible to gout.
The cause of this joint problem is the deposition of uric acid in the blood stream. This could be due to two reasons; either there is too much uric acid production or the kidney is not able to efficiently remove uric acid from the body. Inflammation, resulting from excess of uric acid crystals in the blood, is the prime cause of this problem.
Gout attacks are specific and quick, mostly occurring in the middle of the night. Medication is used to treat gout problems. It is used for reducing the symptoms and preventing future attacks. Since worsening of gout can also cause kidney stones, medication is used to prevent the situation from getting any more complex.
Bursitis
Bursitis is an inflammatory condition that affects the bursa. The bursa is a sac that is filled with fluid, present between the skin and the joints. As it is present above the joints, it acts as a cushioning agent between bones and tendons.
Common symptoms associated with bursitis are swelling and tenderness. Bursitis mostly occurs in elbows, knees, hips, knees and shoulders but other areas in the body can also get affected.
Bursas become inflamed when there is a repetitive movement or injury. If you indulge in any sports or physical activity where you are performing repetitive activities on daily basis, your chances of getting bursitis increase.
For example, if you bowl every day, you may get elbow bursitis. People who spend a lot of time on their knees such as gardeners are also prime victims of knee bursitis. Sometimes, bursitis may even be caused as a development in another arthritis condition such as gout.
Bursitis can also be treated at home. Easy treatment methods for bursitis are forming a cold pack or resting the area. Also, painkillers such as paracetamol can also help speed up the recovery process. Although the pain goes away in a few weeks, swelling lasts for a longer time.
To prevent bursitis, it is important that you wear knee pads when you are playing and always warm up before exercising. If your symptoms are not getting better at home even after 10 to 14 days of treatment, then seek medical help.
Repetitive Movement Injuries
Repetitive motion or stress injuries could be permanent or temporary injuries that cause damage to the nerves, tendons or ligaments. These injuries occur when you are doing the same thing over and over again.
For example, if you are playing a sport in which you do the same motion repetitively, then you are likely to suffer from a joint condition.
Carpel tunnel syndrome is a common form of such injury. It is caused by a disorder of tunnel that runs from the forearm to the wrist. When the ligaments and tendons in this area get compressed, swelling and pain are experienced. This type of repetitive movement injury is common in people who type on computer keyboards on daily basis.
This injury can cause a lot of pain. Numbness and lack of motion is also associated with this joint problem. If it persists, over time, the sufferer loses flexibility in the region. If treatment is not done, the end result is complete loss of friction.
Of the two hands, the dominant hand is more prone to this problem and women are three times more likely to get carpal tunnel syndrome as compared to men. People suffering from wrist trauma or diabetes are also at a greater risk of getting this problem.
Rehabilitation programs for repetitive movement injury includes occupational therapy and pain management techniques. Heat and cold applications at home can also help. Exercising the affected area helps to strengthen it and prevent any complete loss of mobility. Primary care doctors, medicine doctors, sports doctors and orthopedic surgeons are involved in treatment of repetitive movement injuries. It is always best to get help before the condition gets any worse. | https://webhli.com/what-causes-pain-in-multiple-joints/ |
Yesterday was the first day in the thirty-day challenge – living a life with no-regrets. If you missed the post, be sure to head back and check it out. Also, I asked yesterday what the five things in your life that you would change in you only had one month to live. If you haven’t already done so, I would love for you to share them on the comment section.
Moving on, how many of you like roller coasters? I am not talking the ones in the kiddie section of the park. I mean the real roller coasters that push you back in the seat from the beginning and keep you screaming until you are back at the station. I, for one, love roller coasters – the faster and higher, the better. However, even I had limitations on what I will ride. Some roller coasters, like the Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point, are just too much for me. At amusement parks, we have the choice of which rides we will go on and which we will pass on. Life, however, does not offer the same kind of choices. Many times, we are on the ups and downs, twists and turns of life’s roller coaster and cannot get off. What about you: do you see life like a thrill ride or more like a merry-go-round? Do you play it safe or take risks?
I truly hope that you are not one of the people that live in the Land of Someday: a person who keeps putting everything off until the timing, finances, etc. are perfect. Well, let me let you in on a little secret, it will never be perfect this side of heaven. You have to pack your bags on move out of Someday and live in Today. This is your life and it is happening now. I love how it is stated in the book, One Month to Live, “God did not design us simply to stand by and watch life pass as we wonder why we aren’t more fulfilled. God created us to take risks in faith and to conquer the giants that paralyze us with fear” (p.14). What are the giants in your life that you need to step out in faith and go against? David did this very thing in a literal way when he faced Goliath. Compared to God, David’s giant, just like the one in your life, will seem so such smaller. Think about your life for a moment, what are you doing right now that requires faith? If there isn’t anything, then why not? Are you living your life with God’s perspective or your own? God has so many wonderful things in store for each of us. However, in order to reach many of those things, we have to sit back and let Him lead. What ever twists and turns your ride may take, God is right there next to you through it all. Today, I would like to encourage you to take a risk and let God lead your life instead of fear.
What is your biggest regret? Why?
Do you have a particular area of your life that is stuck in the Land of Someday? Decide today that you will pack up and move that area into Today.
The authors used the metaphor of a roller coaster to illustrate life. What symbol or metaphor would you pick?
My metaphor or symbol is the Ocean. My life has been pretty steady or constant in the fact that I’ve worked for Indiana State University for 26 years. Each day I go to work and each evening I return home. Just like the ocean tides that go out and return back to shore on a regular schedule. The ocean is affected by the weather and that causes the tides to be calm or raging depending on whether or not there are storms. Likewise my mood tends to be high or low depending on the storms that I’m encountering at work or in my personal life. The tides are sometimes low and sometimes high, constantly in motion or changing. My moods are like the tides changing from high to low and affect those that are close to me, just like the tides effect the ones who are close to the shore. The Lord calms the sea/ocean and Christ is the only one who is able to calm the storm or moodiness in my life. I have to remember to not worry about the storms on the horizon but trust that God will take care of what is ahead.
I love this symbol! It works on so many levels, just like you mentioned. The storms of life tend to affect me as well. However, I love your reminder that God calms the storms in our lives. We only need to trust Him. Thanks so much for sharing! | https://jamywhitaker.org/2012/06/11/day-2-roller-coaster/ |
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About This Project
Despite widespread education about ticks, tickborne disease cases are increasing. TickSpotters, the nation's most established crowdsourced digital surveillance program, tracks tick trends and provides tailored risk and prevention information to the public. Using TickSpotters crowdsourced data, we hypothesize that individualized engagement and personalized public health messages tailored to a person's specific tick encounter will increase adoption of best prevention practices.
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The Lion Capital of Ashoka is a sculpture of four Asiatic lions standing back to back, on an elaborate base that includes other animals. A graphic representation of it was adopted as the official Emblem of India in 1950. It was originally placed atop the Aśoka pillar at the important Buddhist site of Sarnath by the Emperor Ashoka, in about 250 BCE. The pillar, sometimes called the Aśoka Column, is still in its original location, but the Lion capital is now in the Sarnath Museum, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Standing 2.15 metres (7 feet) high including the base, it is more elaborate than the other very similar surviving capitals of the Pillars of Ashoka bearing the Edicts of Ashoka that were placed throughout India several of which feature single animals at the top; one other damaged group of four lions survives, at Sanchi.
Contents
- How to pronounce lion capital of ashoka national emblem pronunciation in hindi
- Art history
- Rediscovery
- Symbolism
- Government act in using Sarnath Lion Capital
- References
The capital is carved out of a single block of polished sandstone, and was always a separate piece from the column itself. It features four Asiatic Lions standing back to back. They are mounted on an abacus with a frieze carrying sculptures in high relief of an elephant, a galloping horse, a bull, and a lion, separated by intervening spoked chariot-wheels. The whole sits upon a bell-shaped lotus. The capital was originally probably crowned by a 'Wheel of Dharma' (Dharmachakra popularly known in India as the "Ashoka Chakra"), with 24 spokes, of which a few fragments were found on the site. A 13th-century replica of the Sarnath pillar and capital in Wat Umong near Chiang Mai, Thailand built by King Mangrai, preserves its crowning Ashoka Chakra or Dharmachakra. The wheel on the capital, below the lions, is the model for the one in the flag of India.
Art history
The six surviving animal sculptures from Ashoka pillars form "the first important group of Indian stone sculpture", though it is thought they derive from an existing tradition of wooden columns topped by animal sculptures in copper, none of which have survived. There has been much discussion of the extent of influence from Achaemenid Persia, where the column capitals supporting the roofs at Persepolis have similarities, and the "rather cold, hieratic style" of the Sarnath sculptures especially shows "obvious Achaemenid and Sargonid influence".
Very similar four-lion sculptures are on the capitals of the two columns supporting the south torana of the Ashokan or Satavahana enclosure wall round the Great Stupa at Sanchi. Like other Ashoka pillars, the one at Sarnath was probably erected to commemorate a visit by the emperor.
Rediscovery
There were no surviving traces above ground of the Sarnath pillar, mentioned in the accounts of medieval Chinese pilgrims, when the Indian Civil Service engineer F.O. Oertel, with no real experience in archaeology, was allowed to excavate there in the winter of 1904-05. He first uncovered the remains of a Gupta shrine west of the main stupa, overlying an Ashokan structure. To the west of that he found the lowest section of the pillar, upright but broken off near ground level. Most of the rest of the pillar was found in three sections nearby, and then, since the Sanchi capital had been excavated in 1851, the search for an equivalent was continued, and it was found close by. It was both finer in execution and in much better condition than that at Sanchi. The pillar appeared to have been deliberately destroyed at some point. The finds were recognised as so important that the first onsite museum in India (and one of the few then in the world) was set up to house them.
Symbolism
What is being preached may be symbolised by the group of four lions of the capital. A group of four lions joined back to back symbolizes a group of four things of equal importance. The lion is frequently used as a symbol of the Buddha, as at Sanchi, and the animals on the abacus below also have symbolic meaning in Buddhism. The capital is clearly Buddhist and Mauryan in origin and thus probably symbolizes the spread of Dharma, and perhaps the extent of the Maurya Empire in all directions, or four parts of the empire. Alternatively, the group of four lions and bell jointly symbolize preaching of 'the Four Noble Truths' of Buddhism to all; those that emphasize the Middle Path. The symbol U with a vertical line placed symmetrically inside it symbolizes 'The Middle Path'. The Middle Path is the fundamental philosophy of Buddhism, the Buddhist Dharma.
A further clue could be the cylindrical portion of the Lion Capital. On the wall of the cylinder the bull, the horse, the Lion and the Elephant all in the moving position are being placed in between the Chakras. These could symbolize Bull, Lion, Horse and Elephant rolling the Chakras.
A study of the ancient coins and other archaeological finds of India and Sri Lanka reveals the fact that Buddha had been symbolized with a Horse, Lion, Bull, Elephant and a pair of feet. The Tamil epic Manimekalai mentions worship of a pair of feet. Pairs of feet made of stone had been discovered in Jaffna Peninsula, Anuradhapura and in a number of places of Tamil Nadu.In a number of Buddhist inscriptions of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, a pair of feet had been symbolized with a pair of fish or a pair of conch shells. In this way the symbols sculpted in the cylindrical portion of the Lion Capital represents Buddha rolling the Dhamma Chakra; that is, Preaching the Dhamma.
As Theravada Buddhism rejects symbolization of Buddha and Buddhism, the Lion Capital may be claimed as one of the finest sculptures of the main tradition that developed into Mahayana Buddhism several centuries later.
Government act in using Sarnath Lion Capital
Whenever the emblem is used by state governments or any other government body, the words Satyameva Jayate in Devanagari script (सत्यमेव जयते) has to be used right under the emblem as per the statute, State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005. | https://alchetron.com/Lion-Capital-of-Ashoka |
Materials Intelligence Research
The Materials Intelligence Research (MIR) group at Harvard University develops and uses computational methods combining quantum physics & chemistry and statistical mechanics with machine learning to understand and design complex materials.
Our goal is to create efficient algorithms and accurate atomistic models to be able to describe systems of surfaces, liquids, solids, and molecules for applications in energy storage and conversion.
Deep equivariant neural networks, Bayesian force fields, active learning, exascale reactive MD
Solid-state, ionic liquid, polymer electrolytes, correlated transport
Dynamics of nanoparticles, surface restructuring, heterogeneous reactions, 2D materials
Electrical conductivity, thermoelectric and magneto-transport properties. | https://mir.g.harvard.edu |
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have attracted considerable attention due to their facile manufacturing process and relatively high energy-conversion efficiency at reasonable cost[@b1]. In particular, their good performance under low light intensity, and the ability to fabricate devices with various colors, supports their application as portable energy devices. In DSSCs, appropriate electrolytes that can regenerate dyes at sufficient rate are crucial for cell performance. Solvent-based electrolytes, typically containing the I^−^/I~3~^−^ redox couple, exhibit good ion-transport characteristics; high power conversion efficiency of the corresponding cells (11.3% in I^−^/I~3~^−^ containing electrolytes and 12.3% in cobalt-based electrolytes) has been reported[@b2][@b3]. However, liquid electrolytes have their own disadvantages; they require hermetic sealing, and it is difficult to build flexible devices, which limits their commercialization[@b4]. Thus, the development of efficient solid-state DSSCs has become a key step towards the use of DSSCs as practical energy-conversion devices.
Thus far, a few different types of materials have been used to develop solid-state DSSCs. Solid-state hole-transporting-materials have yielded practical solid-state DSSCs, however their electronic hole-transport ability was not as effective as the ion-transport ability of typical electrolytes. This fact has limited the thickness of the TiO~2~ photoelectrode layer, and restricted cell efficiency to \<6%[@b5][@b6][@b7]. Addition of ionic salts into solid matrices has been a popular approach to prepare solid-state electrolytes. Polymers are attractive matrices because they have good mechanical properties and are easily fabricated into devices, but these polymer electrolytes (polymer/salt mixtures) show relatively low ionic conductivity (≤10^−6^ Scm^−1^) at ambient temperature, and are difficult to penetrate fully into the porous photoanode[@b8][@b9][@b10]. The ionic mobility of polymer electrolytes is largely associated with local segmental relaxations in the amorphous phase of the polymers; these segments are often not mobile enough to allow high conductivities. Therefore, the ionic conductivity of polymer electrolytes at room temperature (RT) is often too low for practical application in electrochemical devices[@b11]. Tactics to improve the ionic conductivity of polymer electrolytes have included the introduction of disordered structure[@b12][@b13][@b14], blending different polymers[@b8], and adding high dielectric-constant liquid solvents that can dissociate the salts efficiently to form gel electrolytes[@b15][@b16]. Although significant improvement in ion conductivity has been achieved by addition of organic solvents, polymer gel electrolytes which contain solvent have many of the shortcomings of liquid electrolytes[@b8][@b14][@b15][@b16]. High ionic conductivity has not yet been obtained in liquid-solvent-free polymer electrolytes[@b10][@b15]. Solid matrices which can dissociate the ions efficiently and also infiltrate the structure of the electrodes more effectively than polymer matrices should yield better solid-state electrolytes for DSSCs.
Succinonitrile (SN) is a unique organic plastic crystal, which is macroscopically solid-state at RT because of high lattice stability, and can offer good ion diffusivity on the addition of ionic dopants because of its high concentration of defects[@b17][@b18]. In organic plastic crystals, defects or vacancies are created by the rotational disorder of the molecules, and these defects support partial translational motion within the three-dimensional lattice. plastic crystal-based solid-state ionic conductors (SSICs) thus display sufficient ion transport to be applied in electrochemical devices. Thus far, two types of plastic crystals have been developed: ionic plastic crystals, which are formed by an appropriate choice of cation/anion combination; and non-ionic plastic crystals, which are doped with ionic salts[@b19][@b20][@b21]. SN is a non-ionic organic plastic crystal, which effectively dissolves various types of salts[@b19][@b22][@b23][@b24]. It forms a stable plastic crystal phase between 233 and 331 K, maintaining a body-centered cubic (bcc) structure and a stable solid-like appearance. In this phase, the molecules exist in three isomeric conformations: two (identical) *gauche* and one *trans* isomer; the *trans* isomers act as "impurities" that create defects in the lattice, and hence lead to high molecular diffusivity[@b25]. Doping SN with appropriate salts to achieve sufficient ion conductivity in a stable plastic solid phase is a plausible strategy to obtain effective SSICs for DSSCs. SN is a promising matrix because its chemical structure and polarity resemble those of popular liquid-state organic solvents such as acetonitrile, valeronitrile and glutaronitrile[@b26][@b27]. The facilitated mobility of ions in doped SN electrolytes was previously demonstrated using pulsed field NMR[@b28]. The strategy of using SN as a solid-state matrix to incorporate the desired salts has been used for various electrochemical devices, which display improved performance compared to devices containing similar polymer-based gel electrolytes[@b19][@b23][@b29][@b30][@b31]. However, the development of SSICs for DSSCs using plastic crystals is still in a very early stage. Grätzel and coworkers reported plastic crystal-based DSSCs in which conversion efficiency is as high as \~5% at AM 1.5 G one sun illumination[@b29]. Recently, our group improved the efficiency up to 7.6% by using novel hierarchical TiO~2~ nanofiber/nanosphere-based photoelectrodes, which can considerably reduce charge recombination[@b26][@b32]. This result motivated us to further develop this class of materials by further understanding of the fundamental aspects of plastic crystal-based SSICs.
In this study, highly efficient plastic crystal-based SSICs for solid-state DSSCs were developed by doping SN with various trialkyl-substituted imidazolium iodides (1-alkyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium iodides, DMAIIs) and iodine. Our DMAII-doped SNs (DMAII-SNs) displayed elevated conductivities (2.1--3.7 mScm^−1^) and iodide diffusion coefficients (2.6--3.5 × 10^−6^ cm^2^s^−1^ for I^−^) at RT, while maintaining their macroscopic solid-state properties. These values are much higher than those of typical polymer electrolytes, and are as high as those of imidazolium-based ionic liquid electrolytes[@b8][@b33]. In this paper we consider fundamental issues in the development of efficient plastic crystal-based SSICs (including lattice stability and ion transport properties). The effects of the chemical structure of the imidazolium salts and the ratio of salts/SN on the physical properties of the resulting SSICs are investigated. High performance solid-state DSSCs are fabricated using the DMAII-SNs, in conjunction with unique hierarchically structured TiO~2~ sphere photoelectrodes (TiO~2~-SP) that contain significant portion of macropores to improve electrolyte infiltration[@b34][@b35][@b36]. Some of the solid-state DSSCs fabricated using our DMAII-SNs exhibited power conversion efficiency values of 8.2% at AM 1.5 G (70 mWcm^−2^), which is significantly higher performance than reported previously for DSSCs using plastic crystal-based SSICs (5--6.5%)[@b37][@b38], or polymer electrolytes[@b39][@b40].
Results
=======
The SSICs were prepared by mixing various organic iodides with SN, a polar molecular plastic crystal. SN acts as a polar matrix, effectively dissolving the organic dopants (organic iodide salts and iodine), which supply the I^−^/I~3~^−^ redox couple. The facilitated diffusion of I^−^/I~3~^−^ in SN was reported previously[@b23]. Alkyl-substituted imidazolium iodides were selected as the source of I^−^ because they have been widely used in non-volatile electrolytes for DSSCs due to their high ionic conductivity and thermal stability[@b33][@b41][@b42]. Their physical properties are largely influenced by the alkyl-substituents on the imidazolium cations; these substituents determine the van der Waals (vdW) interactions among cations and Coulombic interactions with the anion. For example, the viscosities at room temperature (RT) of 1-alkyl-3-methyl-imidazolium iodides decrease as the alkyl chain length becomes shorter; 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide (HMII) \> 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide (BMII) \> 1-propyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide (PMII) because of the reduced vdW interactions between the cations. However, further shortening of the alkyl chain to 1,3-dimethylimidazolium iodide (DMII) or 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide (EMII) solidifies the salts at RT, as a result of their high lattice Gibbs energies arising from the conformational rigidity of the smaller cations.
Inspired by the excellent properties of 1-alkyl-3-methyl-substituted imidazolium iodides (AMIIs, [Fig. 1A](#f1){ref-type="fig"}) as non-volatile electrolytes for DSSCs[@b33][@b41][@b42], various AMIIs were chosen as the dopants for our first attempt at developing SSICs. The AMIIs and I~2~ were mixed with liquefied SN at 70°C, and then cooled to RT. Solid-state mixtures could be obtained at lower degrees of doping (\<2 mole % of AMIIs); however, the ionic conductivity of these samples was too low (\~10^−7^ Scm^−1^), because of the low ion concentration, for them to be effective SSICs. When the AMII concentration increased to \>3 mole %, the mixture turned into liquid-state ([Fig. 1B](#f1){ref-type="fig"}). Notably, even doping with solid AMIIs (EMII and DMII) resulted in liquid-state mixtures, indicating that there is a significant decrease in SN melting point with added salt. Dopant systems that can be incorporated into SN at sufficient concentration, while maintaining the plastic crystal phase stability, are critical for effective SSICs.
To achieve this goal, we chose 1-alkyl-2,3-dimethy-imidazolium iodides (DMAIIs, structures are shown in [Fig. 1A](#f1){ref-type="fig"}) as the dopants. In these compounds, the 2-position hydrogen is substituted by a methyl group. The additional CH~3~ group in DMAIIs can significantly reduce the rotational and conformational freedom, and thus facilitate the association among alkyl chains. This can overcome the loss of hydrogen-bonding interactions with anions, resulting in increased melting point and viscosity for the methyl-substituted compound[@b43][@b44]. Because of this behavior, we expect that plastic crystal phase of SN may remain stable, even at high doping levels of DMAIIs. [Fig. 1B](#f1){ref-type="fig"} shows photos of the DMAII-SN based SSICs prepared in this study. The DMAII-SNs remained solids at RT, at doping levels of up to 6 mol.% DMAII (8 mol.% in the case of DMHII), with 1 mol.% of I~2~. DMEII-SN was the exception, being a highly viscous liquid.
The thermograms of DMAII-SNs, measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), are shown in [Fig. S1](#s1){ref-type="supplementary-material"} of the [supporting information (SI)](#s1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}. These DMAII-SN samples contained 6 mol.% DMAIIs (ethyl; DMEII, propyl; DMPII, butyl; DMBII, hexyl; DMHII) and 1% I~2~. All the DMAII-SNs used in this study exhibited a plastic crystal phase at RT ([Fig. S1](#s1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}), which indicates that 6 mol. % doping with DMAIIs does not significantly change the phase behavior of SN. This result indicated that the enhanced vdW interactions among imidazolium cations of DMAIIs provided significant rotational barriers and thus retard the disturbance of the plastic crystal lattice[@b45][@b46][@b47]. The enthalpy change that occurs during the normal solid-state to plastic crystal transition of DMAII-SNs (60--65 J·g^−1^) was similar to that of SN (pure plastic crystal) (73 J·g^−1^). The maximum amount of DMAII dopants that could be added into SN whilst maintaining the macroscopic solid plastic crystal phase at RT (ca. 293 K) were 4, 6, 6 and 8 mol.% for DMEII, DMPII, DMBII, and DMHII, respectively (refer to [Fig. 1B](#f1){ref-type="fig"}).
Apart from solid-state stability, high ionic conductivity is another critical factor in the development of efficient SSICs. The ionic conductivities of our DMAII-SNs were obtained by measuring the impedance spectra of symmetric cells with Pt-coated FTO glass electrodes. [Fig. 2](#f2){ref-type="fig"} shows the *σ* values for DMAII-SNs at a range of temperatures. There was a transition in the ionic conductivity between as each electrolyte melted. The *σ* values of SN are known to be 10^−8^ \~ 10^−6^ Scm^−1^ in the plastic crystal phase (−30 to 58°C), with a corresponding activation energy (*E~a~*) of 0.22 eV, arising from the trans-gauche dynamics[@b22][@b25]. Upon the addition of DMAIIs and iodine, the *σ* values at RT increased several orders of magnitude (to \~10^−3^ Scm^−1^, [Fig. 2](#f2){ref-type="fig"} and [Table 1](#t1){ref-type="table"}). These *σ* values are sufficient to build efficient DSSCs, and are superior to those previously reported for other plastic crystal-based SSICs[@b23][@b29], and some ionic-liquid-based non-volatile or quasi solid-state electrolytes that have been investigated[@b29][@b36][@b37]. As the alkyl chains of the DMAIIs became longer, the ionic conductivity decreased, because of increased interaction and interference between the ions[@b48][@b49][@b50]. Generally, the *E~a~*values for ionic conduction in SN are reduced by the addition of salts, because the trans-gauche energy barrier is diminished by the enhanced microstructural disorder. However, a reduction in conformational dynamics can occur when the crystallinity is increased as a result of salt addition. The elevated *E~a~* values for DMAII-SNs, compared to that of pure SN, indicate a significant reduction of conformational freedom upon the addition of DMAIIs. The values of ionic conductivity and activation energy are listed in [Table 1](#t1){ref-type="table"}[](#t2){ref-type="table"}; these were determined by fitting the conductivity data to the Arrhenius equation: where *A* is the pre-exponential factor and *R* is the gas constant.
The ion diffusion behavior of the DMAII-SN materials was investigated using steady-state voltammetry in a two-electrode electrochemical cell ([Fig. 3](#f3){ref-type="fig"}). The ion diffusion coefficients of the redox couple species I^−^ and I~3~^−^, were calculated from the anodic and cathodic limiting currents by the following equation[@b51]: where *D*~app~ is apparent diffusion coefficient, *I*~lim~ is the anodic and cathodic steady-state limiting current, *n* is the electron number per molecule, *F* is the Faraday constant, *C* is the bulk concentration of electroactive species, and *A* is the radius of the Pt ultramicroelectrode. The diffusion coefficients of I^−^ and I~3~^−^ in DMPII-SN were determined as 3.4 × 10^−6^ cm^2^s^−1^ and 1.2 × 10^−6^ cm^2^s^−1^, respectively, which are higher than those of other reported plastic crystal-based SSICs[@b23], and ionic-liquid-based non-volatile or quasi solid-state electrolytes (1.9 × 10^−7^ cm^2^s^−1^ and 3.1 × 10^−7^ cm^2^s^−1^)[@b4][@b52].
In solid-state or quasi-solid-state electrolyte systems, the mass-transport of ions is retarded compared to that in liquid-state electrolytes. We hypothesize that the ion transport relies in these SN materials occurs mainly via a Grotthuss-type exchange mechanism (GEM), which requires much higher iodide/iodine ion concentration than typically found in liquid electrolyte solutions[@b53][@b54]. In the case of I~3~^−^ diffusion, the formation of a sufficiently high concentration of polyiodide species can reduce the required mass diffusion distance down to \~the I−I bond length, 2.9 Å, and allows the GEM to operate, as shown in [Fig. 4](#f4){ref-type="fig"}[@b53][@b55]. In the present case sufficient doping of the imidazolium salts (\~6 mol. %) and iodine (\~1 mol. %) into the SN matrix could enable efficient ion transport through the GEM, facilitated by the motion arising from crystal lattice defects. The optimum formulation for plastic crystal-based SSICs for DSSCs is one where high ion diffusion and macroscopic solid-state stability occur simultaneously. However, these requirements are not easily achieved, because the lattice defects within SN, which facilitate ion diffusion, diminish the lattice stability of the crystals. In our DMAII-SNs, the plastic crystal phase stability increased as the alkyl-substituents on the imidazolium salts became longer, but this then decreased the ion transport. After balancing these factors, DMPII-SN showed the highest ionic conductivity value (2.9 mScm^−1^) and diffusion coefficient (3.4 × 10^−6^ cm^2^s^−1^ for I^−^) with sufficient macroscopic solid-state plastic crystal stability at RT. This makes DMPII-SN the most promising candidate for DMAII-SN-based SSICs.
Ambient temperature solid-state DSSCs containing the DMAII-SNs as SSICs, were fabricated as shown in [Fig. 5](#f5){ref-type="fig"}. For the photoelectrodes, hierarchically-structured TiO~2~-SP layers prepared by the electrospray method (as shown in [Fig. S2](#s1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}) were used[@b56]. These TiO~2~-SP electrodes have a significant portion of macropores (pore diameter \~100 nm), which is known to be beneficial for electrolyte infiltration, as reported previously[@b56]. Ru-based N719 dye was absorbed overnight onto the TiO~2~-SP layers from an ethanolic solution. Thermolytically prepared Pt layers were used as cathodes. Finally, the molten DMAII-SNs at \>70°C were injected into the pre-assembled cells, followed by cooling to RT. The detailed cell fabrication procedure is described in the experimental section.
[Fig. 6A](#f6){ref-type="fig"} shows the photocurrent density-voltage (*J-V*) characteristics, under AM 1.5 G sunlight, of the solid-state DSSCs prepared using DMAII-SNs. All the devices displayed similar performance (as summarized in [Table 3](#t3){ref-type="table"}), however the DMPII-SN-based solid-state DSSC showed slightly higher efficiency because the relatively shorter propyl substituents promotes greater diffusional mobility than the longer alkyl substituents, with only minimal effects on the stability of resulting SSIC. [Fig. 6B](#f6){ref-type="fig"} shows the impedance plane plots of solid-state DSSCs, the analysis of which are described in more detail in the [supporting information](#s1){ref-type="supplementary-material"} ([Fig. S3](#s1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}). The internal series resistance (*R*~S~) of the device, as determined from the real component (*Z*′) ranged from 30--50 Ωcm^2^, while the resistance associated with diffusion (*R*~D~), at the lowest frequency, was reduced as the alkyl-substituent length of the DMAIIs became shorter ([Fig. 6](#f6){ref-type="fig"} and [Table 3](#t3){ref-type="table"}). This result is consistent with the trends in ion conductivity and diffusion coefficient values for DMAII-SNs with various alkyl chain lengths ([Tables 1](#t1){ref-type="table"} and [2](#t2){ref-type="table"}) - in the case of I^−^, 3.52 × 10^−6^ cm^2^s^−1^ for DMEII-SN compared to 2.65 × 10^−6^ cm^2^s^−1^ for DMHII-SN. As expected, the *R*~D~ values of the corresponding solid-state DSSCs ([Table 3](#t3){ref-type="table"}) exhibited the same trend (7.4 Ωcm^2^ for DMEII-SN and 14.6 Ωcm^2^ for DMHII-SN). Because the DMEII-SN is in a liquid-like state, the solid-state DSSCs using DMEII-SN showed the smallest *R*~D~ values and highest FF. However, their power conversion efficiency was lower than that of the DMPII-SN-based cells, because of their reduced *V*~OC~ value. As shown in the Bode phase plots ([Fig. 6C](#f6){ref-type="fig"}), the peak frequency for the DMEII-SN-based cell was \>10 Hz higher than those of the other DMAII-SN-based cells; this indicates that there is greater charge recombination on the TiO~2~ photoelectrodes in the DMEII-SN-based cell, possibly because of the enhanced diffusion of I~3~^−^ ions in the liquid-like DMEII-SN. It is intriguing that conversion efficiencies of solid-state DSSCs using our plastic crystal-based SSICs, in which the ions are transported by the GEM, were higher than that of the DSSC with the liquid electrolyte. Although DMHII-SN showed the most sluggish ion-transport, the corresponding solid-state DSSCs showed reasonable cell performance, with much enhanced solid-state stability. The cell performance results indicate that our DMAII-SNs are high-performance SSICs for DSSCs, and that our approach to design of the structures of plastic crystal-based SSICs for electrochemical devices has been effective.
To reveal the potential of our SSICs, we further optimized the solid-state DSSC using DMPII-SN by optimizing the thickness of the TiO~2~-SP and the concentration of additives. The effects of the additive compositions on the cell performance were shown in [Figure S4 \~ 8 and Table S2 \~ 3 in the SI](#s1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}). When \~13 μm thick TiO~2~-SP photoelectrodes with the optimized additive composition were used, the *J*sc value improved to 15.4 mAcm^−2^, and the power conversion efficiency reached \~7.8% (one sun illumination) with *V~OC~* and *FF* of 725 mV and 69.9%, respectively. The *J-V* characteristics of the optimized solid-state DSSC under AM 1.5 G at various light intensities are shown in [Fig. 7](#f7){ref-type="fig"}, and the resulting cell parameters are listed in [Table 4](#t4){ref-type="table"}. These efficiencies are significantly higher than those reported for other solid-state DSSCs using other plastic crystal electrolytes (\<6.5%)[@b29] or ionic-liquid-based quasi-solid-state electrolytes[@b4][@b52][@b53][@b54]. Recently, our group reported highly efficient solid-state DSSCs which used N-methyl-N-butylpyrrolidinium iodide (P~14~-I) doped SN as the plastic crystal electrolyte, and macroporous TiO~2~ nanofibers as the photoelectrode. The conversion efficiency was 6.5% (AM 1.5 G, 100 mWcm^−2^), the highest reported for cells using plastic crystal electrolytes. In the present work, the maximum efficiency value obtained was 8.2%, with *V*~OC~of 727 mV, *J*sc of 11.0 mAcm^−2^, and *FF* of 71.2% under optimized sunlight (70 mWcm^−2^ at AM 1.5 G). This value is even comparable to the state-of-the-art DSSC using the champion ionic-liquid-type electrolyte, as reported by Bai and coworkers[@b41], confirming the outstanding properties of the DMAII-SN electrolytes.
Discussion
==========
We have developed highly efficient SSICs for solid-state DSSCs by doping a non-ionic plastic crystal, SN, with trialkyl-substituted imidazolium-iodide-based organic salts. The chemical structures and doping levels of the salts strongly influenced the stability of plastic crystal phase and the ion diffusion characteristics. A balance between the lattice motion and phase stability achieved outstanding ion-diffusion properties with good solid-state stability. The performance of the solid-state DSSCs reflected the useful properties of our DMAII-SNs, yielding the highest conversion efficiency ever reported for a DSSC using either a plastic crystal or quasi-solid-state electrolyte. The optimized cell efficiency of these solid-state DSSCs was 7.8% (100 mWcm^−2^ at AM 1.5 G), comparable to that of state-of-the-art DSSCs using ionic liquid electrolytes. We believe that our work demonstrates a universal approach to effective design of plastic crystal-based SSICs for DSSCs. The core strategies outlined here can also be adapted for development of SSICs for other electrochemical devices.
Methods
=======
Preparation of hierarchically structured TiO~2~-SPs
---------------------------------------------------
10 wt % P-25(Degussa) nanocrystalline-TiO~2~ was dispersed in ethanol using an ultra apex mill (Model UAM-015, Kotobuki). The dispersed solution was loaded into a plastic syringe which was connected to a high voltage power supply (BERTAN SERIES 205B). Then, the dispersed P25 solution was electrosprayed directly onto conducting FTO substrates (10 × 10 cm). To prepare the hierarchically-structured TiO~2~ spheres with a diameter of about 650 nm, an electric field of 15 kV was applied between the metal orifice and the conducting substrate. The feed rate was controlled by a syringe pump at 35--30 μl/min. To form a uniform thickness over a large area, the nozzle and the substrate were placed on a motion control system which was equipped with a microprocessor. More details and schemes of e-spray methods are described in the [supporting information](#s1){ref-type="supplementary-material"} ([Fig. S2](#s1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}).
Characterization of DMAII-SN-based SSICs
----------------------------------------
Differential scanning calorimetric scans were obtained to investigate the phase behavior of the plastic crystal electrolytes. The thermograms were measured with a Q2000 (TA instruments) at a heating rate of 10°C min^−1^. The ionic conductivity of the plastic crystal electrolytes and its temperature dependence were determined by impedance measurements. The electrolyte was sandwiched between two mirror-finished stainless steel electrodes using a Teflon ring spacer in a constant-volume cylindrical cell, and was sealed with paraffin film in the glovebox. The sealed cell was maintained at various constant temperatures for at least 1 h prior to each measurement. The conductivity was calculated from the bulk resistance. To measure the steady state voltammograms for the electrolyte, a double-compartment electrochemical cell equipped with a 5.0 μm radius Pt ultramicroelectrode as the working electrode, a Pt foil as the counter electrode, and a Pt wire in the electrolyte as the reference electrode was used at a scan rate of 10 mV/s.
Device fabrication
------------------
For the working electrode, the TiO~2~ films (\~13 μm thick) were rinsed with water, and then sintered at 450°C for 30 min, after post-treatment with 0.05 M TiCl~4~ for 20 min at 80°C. The TiO~2~ electrodes were immersed into a purified 3 × 10^−4^ M *cis*-di(thiocyanato)-*N,N*′,bis(2,2′-bipyridyl-4-carboxylic acid-4′-tetrabutyl ammonium carboxylate) ruthenium (II) (N719, Solaronix) solution for 15 h at room temperature. For the counter electrode, the FTO plates were drilled using a microdrill, washed with 0.1 M HCl solution in ethanol, and then subsequently cleaned in an ultrasonic bath with water and ethanol for 15 min. A Pt counter electrode was prepared by drop casting 5 mM H~2~PtCl~6~ in isopropyl alcohol onto the washed FTO plates and then sintering the plates at 400°C for 20 min under air. The dye-adsorbed TiO~2~ electrodes were rinsed with ethanol and dried under nitrogen flow, before being assembled and sealed with the counter electrode using thermal adhesive film (Surlyn, Dupont 1702, 25-μm-thick) as spacer to produce sandwich-type cells. The plastic crystal electrolyte, which consisted of succinonitrile, iodine (I~2~), 1-alkyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium iodides (DMAIIs), and N-methylbenzimidazole (NMBI) in a 100:1:6:0.5 (mole ratio), was introduced at 70°C through the hole drilled in the counter electrode. Finally, the holes were sealed with hot-melt film and a cover glass.
Photovoltaic & photoelectrical measurements
-------------------------------------------
Photovoltaic measurement of the DSSCs employed an AM 1.5 solar simulator between the sample and a 450 W Xe lamp. The intensity of the simulated light was calibrated by a Si reference solar cell equipped with a BK7 filter to approximate AM 1.5 global radiation. The photovoltaic characteristics of the DSSC were obtained by applying an external potential bias to the cells and measuring the photocurrent generated with a Keithley model 2400 source meter. The photovoltaic performance was measured using black tapes with an aperture area of 0.25 cm^2^. IPCE was measured as a function of wavelength from 350--800 nm using a specially designed IPCE system for dye-sensitized solar cells (PV measurement, Inc.). A 75 W xenon lamp was used as the light source to generate a monochromatic beam. Calibration was performed using a NIST-calibrated silicon photodiode as a standard. IPCE values were collected at a low chopping speed of 5 Hz. The electrical impedance spectra were measured using an impedance analyzer (Solatron 1260) at open-circuit potential under AM 1.5 full sun illumination (100 mWcm^−2^), over a frequency range of 0.1--10^5^ Hz. The magnitude of the alternating signal was 10 mV. Impedance parameters were determined by fitting the impedance spectra using Z-plot software.
Author Contributions
====================
D.H., D.K. and S.Y.J. wrote the main manuscript text and figure 1. D.H., D.Y.K. and S.M.J. prepared figure 2--7 and Table 1--4. V.A. and D.M. wrote parts of discussion section. All authors reviewed the manuscript.
Supplementary Material {#s1}
======================
###### Supplementary Information
Supplementary Information
The authors gratefully acknowledge support from the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF, 2012045675), funded by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, and the Korea Research Council of Fundamental Science & Technology (KRCF) and KIST for "National Agenda Project (NAP)" program (S.Y.J.), the KIST Institutional Programs (2E23900 and 2K02120) (D.Y.K.), and the Global Frontier R&D Program on Center for Multiscale Energy System, funded by the National Research Foundation under the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Korea (2013-8-2018) (D.K.). D.R.M. is grateful to the Australian Research Council for his Australian Laureate Fellowship and for funding from the Australian Centre of Excellence in Electromaterials Science.
{#f1}
{#f2}
{#f3}
{#f4}
{#f5}
{#f6}
{#f7}
###### Conductivity parameters of DMAII-SNs
Sample Activation Energy (eV, kJmol^−1^) Conductivity at RT (mScm^−1^)
---------- ----------------------------------- -------------------------------
DMEII-SN 0.19, 18.7 3.7
DMPII-SN 0.32, 30.7 2.9
DMBII-SN 0.35, 34.6 2.6
DMHII-SN 0.36, 35.5 2.1
###### Ion diffusion coefficients in DMAII-SNs at T = 25°C
Diffusion Coefficient
---------- ----------------------- ------
DMEII-SN 3.52 1.18
DMPII-SN 3.43 1.18
DMBII-SN 2.73 0.96
DMHII-SN 2.65 0.73
###### Summary of the current-voltage (*J-V*) characteristics and EIS parameters of the three DSSCs, as determined by fitting the experimental data to the equivalent circuit shown in [Fig. S3](#s1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}
DSSC *V~OC~*(mV) *J~SC~*(mA/cm^2^) *FF* (%) *η* (%) R~S~ (Ω·cm^2^) R~Pt~ (Ω·cm^2^) R~CT~ (Ω·cm^2^) R~D~ (Ω·cm^2^) R~total~ (Ω·cm^2^)
---------- ------------- ------------------- ---------- --------- ---------------- ----------------- ----------------- ---------------- --------------------
DMEII-SN 745 12.72 71.4 6.8% 4.5 3.2 14.7 7.4 29.8
DMPII-SN 808 12.67 69.9 7.2% 4.6 3.1 20.3 8.5 36.5
DMBII-SN 804 12.40 69.3 6.9% 4.8 3.1 21.4 12.3 41.4
DMHII-SN 806 12.31 68.2 6.7% 4.8 3.0 24.9 14.6 47.3
###### Summary of the *J-V* analysis of the optimized DMPII-SN-based solid-state DSSCs
Light Intensity *V*~OC~(mV) *J*~SC~(mA/cm^2^) *FF* (%) η (%)
----------------- ------------- ------------------- ---------- -------
100 mWcm^−2^ 725 15.4 69.9 7.8%
70 mWcm^−2^ 727 11.0 71.2 8.2%
50 mWcm^−2^ 708 7.7 72.9 8.0%
30 mWcm^−2^ 697 4.8 72.8 8.2%
| |
Siddhant’s fashion blogging journey started in a very unexpected way. He never thought of becoming a blogger but it just somehow happened to him. Initially, he used to just dress up and post his outfit of the day pictures whenever he would go out. He started getting really good responses for those pictures. That is how he started posting regularly and often. It was never a planned thing for him but now that he is into it, he never has loved doing something like this ever. He is from Patna and did his schooling at Delhi Public School, Patna. By degree, Siddhant is a lawyer.
He used to do fashion blogging as his passion and his family never had a problem with this ever. Basically, his parents were rather quite supportive and motivating in this process of blogging. He never has faced any kind of roadblocks to doing blogging because of his parents. Besides blogging he loves listening to music, watching movies, dance, photography, and making videos. These are a few things of many that really interest him which he likes to do in his free time.
I have faced criticism and I generally handle it with a lot of maturity. If I feel there is any scope for improvement or learning from it then I try to make the changes in my work. Even rejections are a part of life. I deal with them with a lot of worldliness and try to make myself better so that next time I do not face rejection.
He considers his strength to be his inventiveness, talent, and hardworking nature. He believes his greatest weakness is never getting satisfaction with his work and always wanting to do much better which can be very tiring at times. Siddhant wants everything to be perfect. The process of reaching perfection gets a little weary for him.
I handle stress and pressure by keeping myself calm and focused on what I am asked to do. The toughest part of being a fashion blogger is to come up with something new with consistency but with the limited recourses you have, it gets really difficult. You have to invest a lot from your side before getting proper work.
Siddhant believes that social media is helping bloggers in a lot of ways. It gives bloggers a lot of exposure and opportunities in life and gives the right platform to showcase their talent and capabilities. You are also able to get a lot of work through social media as seeing your profile many brands will approach you.
His recent achievement was getting recognition by the biggest fashion icon in Bollywood that is Sonam Kapoor Ahuja on her Instagram. She posted his picture twice. She has also added him to her stories few more times for his vivid fashion sense. That is something that made him really happy and motivated him to do better. He would also like to collaborate with Sonam Kapoor for obvious reasons in the future if given a chance. He feels that she is one of the best-dressed celebrities in Bollywood.
The current fashion trend that I love the most is flare jeans, high waist pants, chunky loafers, loose fits, etc. These are some of my go-to clothes as well. But I am not into a particular type of fashion. I really like to experiment so I can’t box my sense of fashion under one label. My personal style is quite out of the box and experimental. But my forever favourite would be retro styles.
Siddhant’s favorite quote is “you will face many defeats in life, but never let yourself be defeated” by Maya Angelou. It basically means that you will have to face many obstacles and losses in your journey. But you never should get demotivated by that but rather learn from it and keep trying. Currently, he is not associated with any specific social cause but supported many. They do charity, feed people, and rescues animals.
Lastly, fashion blogging has given me a lot of confidence and exposure. It has changed my personality and opened a lot of doors for me. It’s a very nice way to explore my creative side. | https://wmhindia.com/interviews/i-really-like-to-experiment-so-i-cant-box-myself-under-one-label-siddhant/ |
Stirling Council libraries offer a wide range of volunteering opportunities across our service. We have lots of volunteers who take part in the following volunteer roles, whatever your age or experience we are sure to have something to suit you. Our volunteer opportunities include:
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Local and Family History Volunteers assist library users with family history queries and help the library service promote and develop interest in local studies. | https://www.stirling.gov.uk/community-life-and-leisure/libraries-and-archives/libraries/volunteering-with-us/ |
Hemalatha Ganesan shares her authentic Ghee preparation directly from India. This photo and video tutorial – prepared with her daughters – will show you how to make ghee in just a few minutes. This recipe is suitable for gluten-free and lactose-free diets. Enjoy! | https://theayurvedacentre.com/tag/ghee/ |
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If you are still dissatisfied, you have the right to contact the Data Inspectorate directly for a decision. | https://www.acinorway.com/gdpr-english |
The Island of Tanna holds an annual celebration for the first harvest of yam for the season, with the people from the southern part of the island marking the harvest with the Yanarawia festival.
It is customary to offer a special ceremony on that day to “Majikjiki”, the god or spirit who is believed to have been blessing them with a good harvest every year. Crops like banana, taro and fish are collected during the day before and stored at the nakamal as a thank you offering to the god.
As with all of Tannese life, the cycle of planting, raising and harvesting yams is interwoven with what we might call ‘magic’ or animistic practice, and what Tannese call ‘kastom.’ It includes fasting and observations of ‘taboos,’ right relationships, and honouring particular members of society. It also involves the manipulation of the elements, through a combination of rituals involving spirits relating to stones and the mental and emotional state of the people involved. This doesn’t just occur on an individual level, as it might in western society, but on a corporate level where the actions and beliefs of all members of the community can impact on the harvest as a whole. | https://vanuatu.com.au/yam-harvest-day-in-tanna/ |
On June 5th ILCWR will partner with the City of Kitchener and Dancing with DisAbility to celebrate Independent Living Across Canada Day. This day is dedicated to celebrating the achievements in community accessibility and programs/services dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities. Our theme this year is Life Without Limits. We are focusing on the recreation and leisure activities available to people with different abilities in our community. The celebration will take place at Kitchener City Hall, on Monday, June 5th from 1:00-3:00pm in the Rotunda.
We are excited to announce that Tanya MacIntrye from The Good News Only will be our MC that afternoon. There will be a few short presentations, dance performances, live music and an opportunity to learn about inclusive recreation and leisure activities available in Waterloo Region.
This is a FREE community event.
We hope to see you there! | http://www.ilcwr.org/events/independent-living-across-canada-day-2017 |
Tungsten Oxide in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Electrode
Development of new alternative electrode materials is essential in order for the polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) to be able to reach a broad market. Today, high platinum loadings are required, especially on the cathode, to obtain sufficient activity for oxygen reduction. In addition, electrode degradation causes loss of catalyst surface area and requires high initial loadings to maintain the cell performance over time. There are problems related to Pt also on the anode side where poisoning of the catalyst, by e.g. CO, reduces the activity.
Approaches to improve the electrodes and reduce their costs are continuously evaluated and include alternative catalysts or supports as well as new structures and morphologies of the catalyst layer. Alternative catalysts, based on non-precious metals, Pt alloys/mixtures, and/or novel supports should preferably reduce the total amount of Pt, increase the activity, and be stable in the fuel cell environment. The support material can influence the activity by spill-over effects as well as changing the electronic structure of the catalyst. New support materials can improve the activity, utilization, and stability of the catalyst or of the support itself.
Tungsten oxide is a material which has been extensively investigated for a wide range of applications, mainly, due to its unique electrochromic properties but also for its electrocatalytic activities. The electrochromism allows tungsten oxide to intercalate/deintercalate ions (of e.g. H, Li, Na, K, Pb, Cd) into its structure in the formation of tungsten bronzes. The most widely studied form is the hydrogen tungsten bronze where protons are inserted in the oxide structure as HxWO3 and 0 < x < 1. The bronze formation mechanism has been the subject for numerous studies and it is suggested that the hydrogen atoms form hydroxyl bonds in the tungsten oxide.
The bronze formation is greatly affected by the water content, porosity, and also crystallinity, which in turn affect the catalytic properties of tungsten oxide. At the same time as protons can be incorporated in the WOx structure, they also have a significant mobility which means that WOx functions as a proton conductor under these conditions. Since the hydrogen tungsten bronze formation is dependent on the water content, large variation in conductivity has been reported when varying the relative humidity. Moreover, Pt supported on tungsten oxide has been shown to affect the bronze formation and both an increased intensity of the hydrogen intercalation/deintercalation peaks as well as a shift of the peak potential to higher potentials has been reported.
Tungsten oxide has been evaluated both as support and active catalyst in fuel cell anode as well as cathode electrodes. Sole tungsten oxide has displayed activity for hydrogen oxidation, which was attributed to high porosity and high surface area. Combined Pt and tungsten oxide based catalysts have been investigated for methanol/ethanol oxidation, CO oxidation, hydrogen oxidation as well as oxygen reduction. For methanol oxidation, the Pt on WOx system has shown improved efficiency over Pt catalyst due to both the spill-over of hydrogen from Pt to WOx but also the ability of WOx to provide oxygen atoms at low potentials and thereby avoiding CO-poisoning. Others have attributed the improved performance to an increased electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) of Pt on WOx.
Tungsten oxide is also relatively stable in acidic environment, which is a prerequisite for use in polymer electrolyte fuel cell applications. However, some dissolution of tungsten oxides has been reported. In a previous study, we examined the impact of different metal oxides on the stability and activity of platinum in thin model cathodes in a PEFC. Pt on WOx did exhibit an improved activity for oxygen reduction and possibly also an improved stability compared to Pt alone. Interesting features such as reduced platinum oxide formation and platinum catalyzed hydrogen tungsten bronze formation were also seen when Pt was deposited on WOx. | http://tungsten-film.com/tungsten-oxide-fuel-cell-electrode.html |
Figure 4 Photocatalytic reactors employing (a) TiO2 particles in suspension and (b) immobilized TiO2 coatings on a support. UV light can be installed outside or inside of the reactors, depending on the application of the reactors.
potential impact of nanosize TiO2 to human health and the environment mandates immobilization of TiO2 onto various substrates for use in a variety of applications [68-70]. This will be more sustainable and a key feature for practical applications. However, as expected, immobilized-type TiO2 reactors exhibit a low catalytic activity due to limitations in catalyst loading (surface area) on a support and catalyst activation at the near surface, partial loss of catalyst by attrition, and possible mass transfer limitations. The first two problems can be solved by novel preparation routes that aim at the precise fabrication of immobilized nanoporous TiO2 catalyst with enhanced surface area and finely tuned nanoscale dimensions for better adhesion to the support, as discussed in Section 6.1 and will be mentioned in detail in Section 7.1. The third problem can be addressed by the development of innovative photocatalytic reactors that significantly reduce or eliminate the influence of mass transfer.
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Get All The Support And Guidance You Need To Be A Success At Understanding Waste Management. This Book Is One Of The Most Valuable Resources In The World When It Comes To The Truth about Environment, Waste and Landfills. | https://www.climate-policy-watcher.org/reverse-osmosis/reactor-design-and-immobilization-of-tio2.html |
To Members of the Clark Community,
Racism and structural inequities have been overlooked, tolerated, and accepted — in fact were institutionalized national practice — in our country for centuries. This painful and shameful reality and its implications in particular for African Americans and Black people have been laid bare again by the recent, senseless killings of Rayshard Brooks, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police.
We, leaders of Clark University, are committed to counteracting and doing our very best to end systemic racism and inequity and to actively promoting justice and equality at our institution. We are determined to achieve positive impacts and lasting change not only in the areas for which we have responsibility — teaching, research, community engagement, admissions, athletics, student services, campus police — but also across the entire University.
This moment in our history and the courageous voices demanding change awaken us even more fully to the imperative of this work—a reality on which we will all reflect with special attention tomorrow, Juneteenth, the annual commemoration of the end of slavery in our country. Amid a pandemic — which disproportionately infects and kills racially underrepresented communities — people of every age and background across the country and internationally have stood together to demand an end to police violence against Black people and a commitment to fixing the justice system so that it treats everyone equally and fairly. These same strong voices have joined in calling America to translate its values of equality into action like never before and in all realms of society. One powerful story after another has made it painfully clear how much work has yet to be done and how systemic racism undercuts not only individual opportunity, but, much more insidiously, entire communities and their ability to thrive.
We know this to be true at Clark. Systemic racism is part of Clark too. Racist acts happen at Clark too. Our University values express Clark’s commitment to inclusion, diversity, and equity. But we have far to go. As an educational institution, as a community of students, faculty, and staff — of teachers and learners — we must do better. The students in our charge have every right to expect it. The faculty and staff we serve alongside are expressing their fervent commitment that Clark will live up to those expectations. Each of us oversees a major academic or administrative unit at the University, and we are united in our determination to take action so that Clark gets far closer to living up to the values it espouses.
First, we know that those among us who have experienced unspoken privileges of being white in America, or have not faced the biases and discrimination that Black people continue to face, have much to learn. We have been affected by what we have seen and heard these last few weeks and the stark attention these events have brought to the brutal realities of racism in our country. And much of the recognition is humbling. In our professional lives, for example, we advocate for and believe in the importance of inclusion and diversity but too often leave the burden of change to colleagues who are people of color. No more. Each of us is determined to hold ourselves to much greater account for proactively pursuing changes in practices that will make equity, diversity, and inclusion a truly shared responsibility at Clark. As part of our commitment to learning, and guided by the University’s Chief Officer of Diversity and Inclusion, we will be the first at Clark to engage, as soon as possible and certainly before the end of the calendar year, in the anti-racism training provided by the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ). The model of the NCCJ, a human relations organization that promotes inclusion and acceptance through education and advocacy, helps build inclusive organizations for diverse perspectives. We look forward to growing from the experience.
Second, through a shared effort, we commit to returning to the Clark community within 30 days with a plan of action for the University that will advance the goals of equity, inclusion, diversity, and respect for all peoples across Clark. This will include proposals related to such matters as:
- New investments the University can make in practices or personnel to recruit, retain, and support students from Black and other historically underrepresented communities.
- New practices the University can implement to train and inform staff and faculty in bias awareness and anti-racist practices.
- Steps to better understand the lived experience of Clark students, employees, and alumni with Black and other historically underrepresented identities so that we can learn from errors, fix them, and implement systemic change.
- Initiatives to create and sustain new partnerships with faculty to build curricular offerings that accelerate how a Clark education helps uncover and eradicate the deep roots of systemic and institutional racism.
Third, we join in expressing our support without equivocation for the commitments that President Angel and President-elect Fithian have recently made to improve Clark’s ability to live up to its full mission. Many of these commitments were prompted by and communicated directly to Clark’s Black Student Union:
- To create a new leadership position, Assistant Dean for Equity and Student Success, within the Dean of Students division. This position will coordinate enhanced support for Black students and other marginalized students and assist with the development of outreach to faculty and staff, particularly to build better understanding of all Clark students’ experiences. We will each support the person appointed to this position in every way we can.
- To hire an additional mental health counselor specifically trained in working with students of color and in confronting racism.
- To expand training of all members of our community, and specifically anti-racism training. We will encourage every member of our staffs to pursue the Diversity and Inclusion Certificate Program for faculty, staff, and graduate students. Each of us who has not already earned this certificate will do so in the coming academic year.
- To establish a program to be completed by all faculty and staff that will include a component directly focused on anti-racist training and strategies. This program will be built in partnership with faculty since Clark operates through shared governance, which we embrace.
- To further diversify and increase anti-bias training of our University Police Department and explore new or different approaches to campus safety.
We will report to you — all members of the Clark community — on the progress we make in these and other initiatives each quarter for the next year and twice every year thereafter.
The present situation is intolerable, this work is urgent, and the need for genuinely transformational change at Clark is real. We commit ourselves to the learning, action, and leadership it requires. We invite each and every member of our community to join us as never before in living up to Clark’s values.
Respectfully, | https://www.clarku.edu/offices/president/2020/06/18/clarks-commitment-to-equity-diversity-and-inclusion/ |
Building permits are required for any new roof covered structure over 30 square feet of floor area in size. For example, permits are required for the addition of sheds, garages or carports, patio and decks with or without covers, porches, room additions and basement finish projects, swimming pools, and some hot tubs. A building permit is not required for the installation of residential driveways, however, there are standards that need to be met and a Public Works Improvement Permit may be required.
All of the following need to be submitted with the application for a building permit:
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3) Development Services Application
Most applications require the applicant to complete the City’s Development Services Application, to attach all of the required information, and to pay the required fee. Staff encourages all applicants schedule a Pre-Application meeting prior to submitting a Development Services Application. These meetings may help identify necessary changes and/or avoid potential problems. Upon submitting, please note: staff will not accept applications that are incomplete, missing necessary attachments, or without including the appropriate fee(s). The Development Services Application is required for the following requests:
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4) Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing & Sewer Permits
Residential MEP permits are typically issued over the counter in the Community Development Department in Grandview City Hall, 1200 Main Street, during regular business hours. Commercial and industrial permits require plans and a plan review. Please contact the Building Services Division of the Community Development Department at (816) 316-4825 for additional or specific requirements on your project.
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5) Home Occupation Permit Application
Any occupation or profession conducted entirely within a dwelling unit by the inhabitants thereof which is clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the premises for dwelling purposes and does not change the residential character thereof. There are several hundred licensed home occupations in Grandview. A yearly home occupation permit is issued by the Community Development Department without charge. The permit verifies that the home occupation is permitted and that it will follow the performance standards in the zoning ordinance. In most cases a city occupation license will also be required, which includes an annual fee and monitoring for compliance with city and state requirements. If you have any questions, call (816) 316-4822.
REGULATIONS AND LIMITATIONS:
Click HERE for specific performance standards found under Section 31-25(B) of the city's Zoning Ordinance.
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6) Occupational/Craftmen's (Business) License
To obtain a General Contractors/Business License or any other type of building contractors' license, the contractor must fill out an application and take it to the Finance Department or the Community Development Department in City Hall. The contractor must also provide a Certificate of Insurance that names The City of Grandview as a Certificate holder and must show the limits of the general liability and if the contractor employs more than zero (0) employees the certificate must also show the worker's compensation coverage. The fiscal year for these licenses is from the 1st of July through the following 30th of June. For more information, call (816) 316-4844.
To obtain an electrical, plumbing or heating and air conditioning contractors "Craftsmen's License", the contractor must comply with the requirements stated above plus the following:
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7) Pre-Application Meeting Request Forms
The City’s Development Review Team regularly meets with potential applicants to review their plans and offer comments and suggestions. A pre-application conference may help an applicant to identify necessary changes and avoid potential problems. Applicants preparing applications for site plans, subdivisions, and planned development are particularly encouraged to schedule a pre-application conference, but all potential applicants are welcome to meet with the Review Team to discuss their plans.
All meetings are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Please submit the proper request form and other documents by Friday at 12:00pm noon (official confirmation from the City Planner must be received) in order to make an appointment. The requested meeting will be held two (2) Tuesdays from the week submitted or seven (7) business days after the Friday deadline.
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8) Sign and Banner Permits
Required for the installation of signs, banners and inflatable (balloon) type signs. Banners and inflatable type signs on commercial and industrial properties are allowed one at a time, 6 times per calendar year for a 30-day period each.
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DIVISION FEE SCHEDULES
DISCLAIMER: the dollar ($) amount may be subject to change. Please call Amy Cook at (816) 316-4817 to obtain a detailed list of our updated fee schedule. Thank you.
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Building Division
Click HERE to download a PDF copy of fees associated with valuation.
Development Services
|A. Conditional Use||$475+A||31-28|
|B. Temporary Use||$250||31-28|
|C. Zoning Ordinance Amendment||$475+A||31-28|
|D. Planned District Review||$475||31-28|
|Historic Preservation Commission|
|A. Certificate of Appropriateness Application||$150||31-25A|
|B. Landmark Nomination||$475||31-25A|
|C. Historic District Nomination||$475||31-25A|
|Platting/Subdividing (< 5 total lots)|
|A. Preliminary Plat||$40/acre (min. $475)||
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27-8(2)
|B. Final Plat||$20/acre (min. $275)||27-8(3)|
|i. Minor Subdivisions||$250||27-44(C)|
|ii. Variance/Appeal to Zoning||$475||31-28|
|Site Plan Review/Grading Permit||$250 *A+B|
|A.Tax Increment Financing Application|
|i. Creation||Per Code Section||2-49.1|
|ii. Amendment||Per Code Section||2-49.1|
|Reproduction|
|A. Zoning Ordinance||$15||31-28|
|B. Zoning Map||$7||31-28|
|C. Comprehensive Plan||$20||31-28|
|D. Subdivision Regulations||$2||31-28|
|E. Prints (26"x 36")||$7||31-28|
|F. Prints (largest)||$15||31-28|
|G. Sign Ordinance||$3||31-28|
|H. Photocopy||$0.50||31-28|
|Miscellaneous|
|A. Street Name Change||$450||27-93.1|
|B. Comprehensive Plan Amendment||$450||31-28|
|C. Oil Well Permit||$25||31-28|
|"A" = if site is more than 5 acres, add $10.00 per acre|
|"B" = if fourth (4th) submission or more is needed, add $50.00 per submission|
Neighborhood Services
|ANIMAL IMPOUND||$60.00 (held at Wayside Waifs)|
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$30.00 per day up to 5 days, or
up to 10 days if the owner is known
|OWNER SURRENDER||$50.00 (cat or dog)|
|LITTER SURRENDER||$75.00 (puppies or kittens must be under 5 months old)|
To release a pet back to the owner after being impounded, the owner must provide the following:
- Copy of Driver's License
- Copy of valid Rabies Vaccination Certificate (if one cannot be provided, Wayside Waifs can administer the vaccination for a fee of $15.00; which is paid to Wayside Waifs)
1) Building Permit Application
Building permits are required for any new roof covered structure over 30 square feet of floor area in size. For example, permits are required for the addition of sheds, garages or carports, patio and decks with or without covers, porches, room additions and basement finish projects, swimming pools, and some hot tubs. A building permit is not required for the installation of residential driveways, however, there are standards that need to be met and a Public Works Improvement Permit may be required.
All of the following need to be submitted with the application for a building permit:
- Three copies of a stake-out survey prepared by a licensed architect, engineer, or land surveyor are required. See site plan Standards below for specific requirements.
- One set of building plans must be submitted. These plans must include the floor plans with all dimensions, wall sections, elevations, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, structural member materials (ceiling and floor joists, beams, and roof rafters) to include spacing, spans, sizes, grade, and species of lumber to be used.
- A building permit application (see below) must be filled out and submitted with the stake-out survey and building plans mentioned above.
New Shooting Range Opens to Police Training
Recent police training at the new shooting range has a lot of citizens asking questions. Below are answers to the most frequently asked questions.
Why this location?
The zoning around the parkland of Grandview Ballpark is primarily light industrial with the nearest residential zone nearly a half-mile away. The current range has also been on this property for 30 years. The new shooting range was built on the same piece of property as the existing shooting range, moved just 200 feet to the north.
Who approved all of this?
Grandview voters approved the new range and its current location by approving the No-Tax Increase Bond Issue in 2014. City leadership had decided prior to the election to keep the range on the same property to create minimum negative impact to the few residents in the area. That information was shared with the citizens in 2014 prior to the election as you can see from the information materials below.
The first conceptual drawings publicly published and mailed to every Grandview address in 2014 showed the new shooting range on the lower ballfield location at Grandview Ballpark. The measure was approved in a public vote. Here is the exact language as it appeared on the August 2014 ballot:
Throughout planning and construction of the new shooting range, Grandview Police Department talked with many residents who live nearby. We took many phone calls, exchanged emails, held multiple meetings, one with the shooting range designer, and even toured the range with neighbors to keep them informed about the process and progress.
What are you going to do about the noise?
We incorporated many noise-mitigating factors into the new shooting range including: 12-inch thick 20-foot concrete walls at the ends of the range, 12-inch thick 10-foot walls along the sides of the range, shredded tires behind targets, choosing the lowest point for construction, and having it surrounded by a wooded area. In addition, the designer of the shooting range had suggested planting evergreens in the area between the nearest residential properties on Robinson Pike Road and the range. Vegetation absorbs noise best. The City has purchased and sourced $10,000 worth of evergreen vegetation to be planted. The planting process will start next week. However, it appears that may not be enough.
Once Grandview Police Department began training exercises at the new shooting range the week of September 10, we started receiving complaints from around the City. Public Works crews have taken noise measurements from different locations around Grandview. Until noise can be controlled to our satisfaction there will be no shooting after 8:00 p.m., rifle training will be conducted at the old shooting range, and there will be no open range day.
Why are officers shooting at night?
As part of their annual rifle training and certification. It’s a liability for the City of Grandview to not provide officers, primarily those who work at night, the proper training in low-light or night conditions. A 1979 ruling in Indiana decided firearms training for law enforcement had to be more reflective of the conditions officers face while working.
What’s the next step?
Public works will compile the noise measurements taken from around the City and compare them to baseline measurements taken at the old shooting range. City leaders will review the data and consider if the noise is more than a nuisance and what we can do about it.
Grandview PD Chief Charles Iseman has also contacted the designer of the shooting range and requested a conference call next week to discuss what other immediate measures we can implement quickly without breaking the bank to improve the noise resonating from the shooting range.
What’s going to happen when it opens the public?
The new range will not open to the public until the spring of 2020. The safety of everyone in the City of Grandview is paramount to City leaders and the shooting range will be a safe, controlled environment. Days and hours of operation for the public will be limited to 2-3 days a week during the day. Sworn Grandview Police Officers will always be present during public shooting hours. They will act as Shooting Range Officers to ensure everyone’s safety. The caliber of the weapon is also capped at .50 BMG or 50 caliber. | https://www.grandview.org/Home/Components/News/News/2314/1265 |
The police watchdog will not press charges against officers in the death of Taresh Bobby Ramroop
The Ontario Police Department will not file criminal charges against Toronto Police in the death of Taresh Bobby Ramroop, who fell from a Toronto skyscraper last fall.
In a press release Thursday, the Special Investigations Unit said its director, Joseph Martino, had found “no reasonable grounds” to believe a Toronto police officer had committed a crime in connection with the Oct. 13 death.
In the days following his death, family and friends of Ramroop rallied outside the apartment building where he died, demanding police be held accountable and saying what their loved one needed was help with their mental health – no response the police.
No such help came, they claimed. They shouldn’t have spoken to Ramroop even in the last hours of his life, they said.
At this point, Martino noted that he could not blame the officer involved, who was later investigated by the SIU, because he chose not to involve Ramroop’s mother or other family members.
“Best practices in this area of policing suggest that the intervention of a family member in negotiations must be approached with great caution and assessed on a case-by-case basis, as strong emotional ties could trigger an impulsive or fateful response,” Martino wrote.
Ramroop was unarmed, the family says
Why no mobile crisis team was sent is not a viable option, “given the possibility that a knife was involved”.
Neither police nor the SIU initially mentioned a gun in Ramroop’s case.
The report said one of the officers noticed a knife was missing from a knife block in the apartment and that Ramroop’s brother said it may have been in the laundry.
His family said Ramroop was unarmed and, while suffering from depression, had no intention of ending his life.
The report points to audio and video footage in which Ramroop told police he believed they had “rigged” the internet so he couldn’t call for help.
At another point, Ramroop was recorded saying, “Things are so dark man I don’t know. No matter what happens, there is no normal life for me.”
The report also describes family members going in and out of various points in the superintendent’s office to use the washroom, contrary to family claims they were forced to wait in a locked office for six hours when themselves the incident played out.
News of the decision comes a day after Toronto City Councilors passed Mayor John Tory’s entire $16.1 billion spending package that included controversial increases in the police budget, despite efforts by some councilors to force a cut included.
Toronto has faced growing calls in recent years to cut the city’s more than $1 billion police budget. Toronto police receive approximately 33,000 mental health calls annually. But as previously reported, at least one lawyer has pointed out that not enough such calls are being routed to crisis workers.
Ramroop of ‘insane mind’ when police arrived: file a complaint
Police officers were called to the building in the Jane Street and Finch Avenue West area just before 4:30 p.m. after multiple reports that a person had thrown furniture from a 16th-floor balcony. Callers feared someone downstairs might get hurt, the SIU said in its report.
Photos of the scene showed personal belongings scattered about a children’s playground near a street-level daycare.
The report notes that Ramroop, whom it refers to as the “complainant”, was “mentally ill at the time”.
In the early afternoon, Ramroop himself had called 911 because someone had broken into his home. According to the report, he “sounded paranoid and delusional at the time.”
“He had mentioned conspiracies and heard ‘silent noises’ before hanging up the phone,” the report said.
Two officers arrived at Ramroop’s home around 4.50pm using a key provided by the superintendent, the report said. Inside, Ramroop’s brother told them Ramroop was alone in his bedroom.
For the next half hour, officers attempted to communicate with Ramroop through the closed bedroom door, telling him to stop throwing objects, the report said. Ramroop told police to leave and continued to throw things. At one point he told the police he wanted them to shoot him, it continued.
Meanwhile, a third officer arrived and decided to call in the emergency task force, who arrived around 5:30 p.m. The officer later investigated by the SIU was a member of the ETF, the report said.
Psychiatrist didn’t come before Ramroop’s death: report
The ETF considered abseiling from the roof of the building into the apartment but ultimately decided against that option in case Ramroop might be armed, the report said, adding: “The sergeant eventually decided that officers should not go into the apartment.” apartment unless the complainant was in some form of medical emergency.”
The report notes that in the absence of any viable means of getting to Ramroop, “arrangements were made for a forensic psychiatrist to be present at the scene to offer advice on how the proceedings were going.
“Unfortunately, the applicant fell before the psychiatrist could come.”
Meanwhile, two other police officers replaced the first two who were in the home and offered Ramroop food and drink and medical attention.
Ramroop accepted orange juice, which was handed to him through a hole drilled in the bedroom door. He asked to speak to his mother and brother. He was told he could do that but had to leave the bedroom first.
Around 6:40 p.m., the report said, Ramroop’s behavior became “increasingly reckless.” He climbed in and out through the open window and hung out the window. An officer begged him to go back inside, saying they didn’t want him to die. The report states that Ramroop has taken himself to safety twice.
The third time, at around 7:01 p.m., he lost his footing and fell 16 stories to his death.
Paramedics rushed to him, but he was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. His preliminary cause of death was ruled “multiple trauma,” the report said.
Ramroop’s case appears to bear similarities to the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet, who fell from the balcony of her 24th-floor apartment in May 2020 after her mother called 911 and said her daughter needed help.
The SIU later acquitted the five officers involved that day of wrongdoing, saying that while their efforts to de-escalate the situation were unsuccessful, none broke the law. | https://www.agata.cat/ca/the-police-watchdog-will-not-press-charges-against-officers-in-the-death-of-taresh-bobby-ramroop-1564.html |
- Published:
Assessing the capacity to diagnose human African trypanosomiasis among health care personnel from Chama and Mambwe districts of eastern Zambia
BMC Research Notes volume 8, Article number: 433 (2015)
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Abstract
Background
Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a neglected tropical disease affecting poor rural communities living in tsetse-infested regions of sub-Saharan Africa. In Zambia, sporadic cases of HAT have been reported mainly in the old foci along the tsetse-infested Luangwa river valley in north-eastern part of the country. In such places where malaria is the major endemic febrile disease, with possibilities of co-infections of HAT and malaria and where the levels of alertness to the presence of HAT among health care personnel (HCP) is low, there is a high chance of misdiagnosing HAT for malaria because of their similarities in clinical presentation. This study, conducted in Zambia’s tsetse-infested rural health centres (RHCs) of Chama and Mambwe districts, was designed to investigate the staffing levels, the HCP levels of alertness to the occurrence of HAT and their capacity to detect the disease.
Methods
Structured questionnaires were used to collect information pertaining to HAT alertness and the capacity to detect the disease from 101 HCP in a cross sectional study of 23 RHCs drawn from Zambia’s Chama and Mambwe districts between April and July 2013. The data collected were analyzed using Stata/SE version 11.0.
Results
Participants from both Chama and Mambwe district RHCs reported similar very low levels of qualified HCP and laboratory technicians, and that they had similar basic tools for HAT diagnosis. Although not statistically significant, respondents from Chama (~89 %) tended to be more aware about the occurrence of HAT compared to their Mambwe counterparts (~78 %). Whereas ~40 % of the HCP from Chama district (n = 52) claimed to have encountered at least one case of HAT, only ~4 % of their Mambwe counterparts (n = 49) had similar experiences (P = 0.000).
Conclusion
Health care personnel in RHCs from Chama tended to be more alert to the occurrence of HAT than the HCP from Mambwe district. The extremely low levels of categorized HCP, general absence of functional laboratories, coupled with absence of national HAT surveillance and control programs, are among some of the serious challenges that Zambia’s Chama and Mambwe districts face to control/eliminate HAT.
Findings
Background
Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a tsetse-transmitted disease caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (southern and eastern Africa) and T. b. gambiense (west and central Africa) . In Zambia, HAT is caused by T. b. rhodesiense, with many species of game and domestic animals harbouring the parasite and sustaining sporadic transmission to humans [2–5]. Encroachment of people and their livestock into tsetse-infested areas and the subsequent disappearance of large game animals because of human interference, force tsetse flies to feed on humans and their livestock . Historically, epidemics of rhodesiense HAT were reported from the north and south Luangwa valley and the Kafue river valley in the 1960s and early 1970s . According to world health organisation (WHO) , Zambia currently reports <100 new HAT cases annually, mainly from the old foci in the tsetse-infested Luangwa river valley in eastern and north-eastern parts of the country, including Chama and Mpika districts, where the disease is re-emerging . Despite past tsetse control efforts in eastern Zambia, HAT has never been eliminated due to the absence of a national HAT and tsetse fly control programme . Thus, HAT remains an important public health problem in eastern Zambia, particularly among the poor and marginalised people, living in remote rural areas where access to medical facilities is limited. Although treatable, several rhodesiense HAT cases in endemic areas such as eastern Zambia have continued to go undiagnosed due to lack of deliberate disease surveillance programmes and lack of functional laboratories in remote rural health centres (RHCs), leading to serious socio-economic consequences .
HAT comprises an early stage, characterized by the presence of parasites in blood and lymph and a late stage, characterized by parasite invasion of the central nervous system (CNS) [8, 10]. Symptoms of early stage HAT are non-specific and include headache, fever and nausea [10, 11]. In the late stage, the disease is characterized by severe neurological disorders such as behavioural changes, sleep disorders, severe wasting and organ malfunction that eventually leads to death [10, 11]. In endemic regions, rhodesiense HAT may be confused with other endemic febrile diseases such as malaria, enteric fever, tuberculosis, meningitis and HIV/AIDS due to their similar clinical signs . Therefore, clinical suspicions of HAT must be confirmed by laboratory tests .
It is noteworthy that T. b. gambiense and T. b. rhodesiense are phenotypically identical by microscopy . Although microscopy is associated with low sensitivity due to fluctuating parasitaemia in gambiense HAT patients, parasitological confirmation is relatively easier in rhodesiense HAT patients because bloodstream trypanosomes are numerous . In such rhodesiense HAT patients, trypanosomes are sometimes detected by chance while searching for other haemoparasites such as Plasmodium spp (malaria parasites) . Trypanosoma b. rhodesiense parasites may also be detected by microscopic examination of chancre aspirates shortly after the infective bite by a tsetse fly . Although microscopy is the WHO standard reference for rhodesiense HAT detection in patients, this technique may give false negative results during the remission phase of parasitaemia . However, molecular techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), although not yet validated by WHO for HAT diagnosis beyond research settings, have higher sensitivity and specificity for trypanosome detection [4, 13, 15]. Thus, LAMP and PCR may be used to determine infections when the parasitaemia is below the threshold of direct microscopic observation. Although HAT has been re-emerging in most of the old foci within sub-Saharan Africa since the 1970s, with T. b. gambiense accounting for more than 98 % of the reported cases , the latest WHO reports suggest that the number of new cases have reduced . In 2009, the number of cases reported dropped below 10,000 (9878) for the first time in 50 years, which further dropped to 7216 in 2012 . Continuous control efforts in affected areas have attributed to the decrease in the number of new cases reported . However, despite such progress, only a fraction of the population at HAT risk in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is under surveillance and relatively few cases are diagnosed annually [1, 17]. In particular, there is considerable under-diagnosis of rhodesiense HAT in SSA, including Zambia, mainly due to lack of HAT surveillance and control programmes [14, 18, 19]. Translation of disease diagnostic knowledge into proper care of patients is among the critical areas in health care delivery. This is only possible if health service providers posses the right knowledge of the health problems they are dealing with . It is assumed that the more years of health care service for the health staff in a particular district, the more knowledge and experience gained from the type and occurrences of diseases in the area. On the other hand, inadequate knowledge of any aspect of a disease is a potential contributing factor to disease misdiagnosis . Therefore, investigating the levels of knowledge of HAT diagnosis among health personnel and the diagnostic capacity of health centres may be an important step towards identifying gaps in the current diagnosis of rhodesiense HAT in Zambia’s tsetse-infested Luangwa valley.
Methods
Study area
The study was conducted between April and July 2013 in Mambwe and Chama districts of the Eastern and Muchinga Provinces of Zambia, respectively (Fig. 1). The two districts were purposively selected because they are tsetse-infested, with abundant wild animals and HAT has previously been reported from them [4, 5, 9]. Mambwe district has a total area of 4840 square km with human population estimated at 68,918 while that of Chama district (with a surface area of 17,630 square km) is estimated at 103,894, making it the biggest district in eastern Zambia . The total number of RHCs for Chama and Mambwe at the time the study was conducted was 20 and 13, respectively. In addition, Chama and Mambwe districts have a total of 136 and 77 health care personnel (HCP), respectively .
Study design and data collection
The study was cross sectional. The number of cluster centres to be included in the study from each district was determined as previously described , giving 12 clusters for Chama and 9 for Mambwe districts, respectively. These centres were also selected purposively from the total RHCs in each district. However, due to low staffing levels of HCP at the health centres, the number of clusters was increased to 11 for Mambwe district. Thus the RHCs involved in the study included Tembwe, Kambombo, Nthonkho, Buli, Sitwe, Kalovia, Kanyelele, Mphyanakunda, Katangalika, Chama general, Chikwa and Kambwili (Chama district) and Kamoto mission, Chikowa, Airport, Ncheka, Chilanga, Masumba, Kakumbi, Nsefu, Mpomwa, St. Lukes in Msoro and Kasamanda (Mambwe district) (Fig. 1).
A structured questionnaire was administered to medical officers, clinical officers, nurses, environmental health technicians and/or laboratory technicians, who were present at the visited RHCs and interviewed on the availability of HAT diagnostic tools at their centres, their levels of HAT knowledge, their HAT awareness, how they diagnosed HAT and the number of such cases previously handled. For the purpose of this study, all these categories of staff were referred to as HCP and were included in the study. At least 50 % of the total number of the categorized HCP present during the visit were enrolled from each district. Thus, 52 and 49 HCP were enrolled from Chama and Mambwe districts, respectively.
Data analysis
The data collected from the questionnaires were entered, stored and statistically analyzed using STATA version 11.0. The data from the interviews were summarized as frequencies and percentages and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Confidence interval was set at 95 %. The Chi square test was used to compare proportions between districts. For each analysis, Pearson’s Chi square P values <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare proportions between districts where expected values or responses were less than five.
Results
Demographic data
A total of 101 HCP were captured in the study drawn from 23 RHCs in Chama and Mambwe districts. All the interviewed staff had attained secondary education while about 87 % (n = 101) of the HCP had continued their studies to tertiary level (Table 1). The two districts under study had similar staffing levels of various categories of HCP except for nurses who seemed to be more in Mambwe than Chama (Table 2). The overall number of the categorised staff at each particular RHC, however, was extremely low. In particular, both districts reported very low numbers of medical and clinical officers, who in most cases provide the first point of care to patients visiting a health facility. Only Chama general and Kamoto mission hospitals had doctors (two each).The duration of health service delivery in their particular districts for most of the staff involved in the study was short. It was observed that Mambwe district [59 % (29/49)] reported slightly more staff serving less than 5 years in the district compared to Chama district [48 % (25/52)] which reported relatively more staff serving over 5 years.
Knowledge and awareness of HAT
We next investigated whether or not the HCP were able to suspect and identify a case of HAT in a patient. Malaria, diarrhoea, pneumonia and non-pneumonia respiratory tract infections were the four most common diseases reported by HCP from both Mambwe and Chama districts. Importantly, respondents from both districts had similar basic knowledge on how to identify a suspected case of HAT (Table 3). Most of the respondents indicated that HAT could be suspected upon a case of continuous intermittent fever and headache as well as abnormal sleep and non-responsiveness to anti-malarial drugs. In addition, the respondents submitted that microscopy provided definitive diagnosis of HAT in all the reported cases. The HCP from both districts indicated that they had previously encountered suspected HAT patients, with malaria-like symptoms but negative for malaria test based on laboratory evidence (mainly rapid diagnostic tests, RDTs) (χ2 = 2.17, df = 2, P > 0.05). Of note, whereas about 40 % of the HCP from Chama district (n = 52) indicated that they had encountered at least one case of HAT, only about 4 % of their Mambwe counterparts had similar experiences (n = 49) (χ2 = 18.90, df = 2, P = 0.000).
Availability of tools/equipment for HAT diagnosis and reported HAT cases
We next investigated if the RHCs had diagnostic tools for HAT. According to the obtained responses, the RHCs under study had the basic equipment and reagents for blood collection and detection of haemoparasites. Although a tendency towards having slightly more basic HAT diagnostic tools was observed in Mambwe district compared to Chama, this was not statistically significant. Importantly functional laboratories were only reported in Chama general and Kamoto mission hospitals which were normally used as referral hospitals for cases from RHCs. It was further observed that neither of the districts had PCR nor LAMP diagnostic tools.
It was also revealed that between 2003 and 2013, about 43 suspected HAT cases were reported from Chama district, of which 8 were confirmed by microscopy and treated. On the other hand, Mambwe district only reported one case (in March 2013) during the same period that was confirmed and later referred to the university teaching hospital in Lusaka for staging and treatment.
Discussion
In Zambia, HAT is caused by T. b. rhodesiense, transmitted by tsetse species of Glossina morsitans morsitans, Glossina pallidipes, Glossina morsitans centralis and Glossina brevipalpis. Zambia has been reporting sporadic cases of the rhodesiense HAT, mainly in the old foci along the Luangwa river valley in north-eastern part of the country, including Chama, Mpika, Chipata and Mambwe districts [4, 5, 9]. In addition, sporadic rhodesiense HAT cases have recently been on the increase in Zambia’s Rufunsa district [unpublished reports]. Most of the HAT cases in Zambia are detected passively during routine visits to the health centres and, in several cases, when other haemoparasites (mainly malaria) are suspected and a blood smear is being examined. Unfortunately, most of these HAT cases, reported from very remote rural areas amongst the poorest of the poor where social amenities are either weak or non-existent , are either reported when the parasites have already crossed the patient’s blood–brain barriers (late stage HAT) as they are usually initially misdiagnosed for malaria, tuberculosis or HIV/AIDs, or in most unfortunate circumstances, patients may die without knowing the cause of their illness. It is possible that these cases could represent several others that may be unreported. According to Odiit et al. , about 39 % of rhodesiense HAT cases and 92 % of the deaths it causes, are unreported.
The present study, conducted through questionnaires and interviews, was an attempt to investigate the staffing levels, the HCP’s levels of alertness to the occurrence of HAT in Zambia’s tsetse-infested RHCs of Chama district as well as their capacity to detect such HAT patients, and make comparisons with the situation in Mambwe district. According to the obtained data, the levels of categorized staff at the RHCs were extremely low in both districts. Of note, only Chama general hospital and Kamoto mission hospital had medical doctors i.e. two doctors each, while only ten clinical officers were recorded among the 23 RHCs in the 2 districts. Most of the RHCs were manned by only one trained HCP, in most cases a nurse, sometimes assisted by ancillary staff such as community health assistants. The extremely low categorized HCP at RHCs is not surprising as the majority of the health personnel prefer to work in urban areas and are unwilling to work in rural areas due to poor road network and transportation, poor housing, limited facilities at RHCs and the general lack of social amenities. There is need for responsible authorities and the government to come up with deliberate policies that provide incentives to attract, motivate and retain health workers in RHCs. In such RHCs, the few available HCP have to attend to all the health problems of the local community and are further involved in clinical and laboratory diagnoses . In this study, only Chama general and Kamoto mission hospitals had functional laboratories with qualified laboratory technicians. The two health facilities were also the only ones with doctors (two at each hospital) and hence offered points of referrals from the rural health centre network. As such, detection of endemic diseases including HAT may not be effectively done in most of the RHCs even when diagnostic tools are present.
In view of the fact that malaria, mainly detected by RDTs, is the major reported febrile disease in Zambia and was in the present study among the topmost four frequently reported diseases in the RHCs under study, most patients are treated with anti-malarial drugs on the basis of clinical diagnosis without laboratory confirmation. In such patients, HAT could easily be mistaken and treated as malaria due to the similarities in their clinical manifestations [10, 25]. There is also a possibility that HAT may co-exist with other endemic diseases including malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, in which case the co-infected patients may be treated only for malaria but may apparently be resistant to the administered drugs [10–12]. In such HAT patients, multiple co-infections may influence the disease pathogenesis and complicate its management . Even when a laboratory test is done, because RDTs are now more frequently used in most of the RHCs since they are more user-friendly and the fact that several RHCs do not have microscopes as reported in the present study, it is possible that HAT cases may easily be missed or misdiagnosed. Thus, although RDTs have been very helpful in diagnosing specific haemoparasites (mainly malaria parasites), their constant use have resulted in reduced diagnosis of other blood borne diseases which could normally be detected by microscopy. Taken together, these observations have serious implications in view of the fact that HAT requires specific treatment regimen during each of the disease phases without which life could easily be lost.
Although the majority of the HCP in RHCs from both districts had attained tertiary education and their RHCs had basic diagnostic tools for HAT, it is possible that the extremely low staffing levels may have resulted in their inability to effectively and efficiently diagnose HAT and other endemic diseases [5, 13]. Failure to detect HAT cases contribute to the current challenges of HAT elimination in tsetse-infested regions . However, the higher levels of awareness of HAT in Chama district could mainly be attributed to some HAT surveillance programs conducted between 2008 and 2012 during which period Chama was considered to be a HAT “hotspot” . In 2008 alone, between the months of March and July, about 12 suspected HAT cases involving Zambia wildlife authority staff assigned to the then newly opened Mbambanda Zaro sanctuary, were reported in Chama district along the borders of Zambia and Malawi . It must be emphasized that when a HAT case is diagnosed in the laboratory, there is a lot of publicity about it among HCP who usually encounter and attend to that case at one time or another during the long period when the patient is admitted for treatment. That could explain why close to half the number of HCP in Chama claimed they had previously encountered a HAT case. On the other hand, the very few sporadic cases being reported from Mambwe district may explain the scanty number of HCP who claimed to have had previous encounters with a HAT patient.
Conclusions
This study has provided evidence on the various challenges HCP face in their quest to diagnose and manage HAT, among various endemic diseases in Zambia’s tsetse-infested Chama and Mambwe districts within the Luangwa river valley. The extremely low numbers of qualified HCP in the RHCs, the general absence of functional laboratories, coupled with absence of national HAT surveillance and control programs, should be addressed for effective management and control of the disease in such endemic regions.
Abbreviations
- AIDS:
-
acquired immune deficiency syndrome
- HAT:
-
human African trypanosomiasis
- HIV:
-
human immune-deficiency virus
- NTDs:
-
neglected tropical diseases
- PCR:
-
polymerase chain reaction
- RHC:
-
rural health centre
- SSA:
-
sub-Saharan Africa
- WHO:
-
World Health Organization
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Authors’ contributions
GMM was involved in the study design, data collection/analysis and manuscript write-up. BN and RNL helped in conceptualizing the study design and supervised the entire study, and BN coordinated and helped drafting and reviewing the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Acknowledgements
We are thankful to all the study participants in Mambwe and Chama districts. Thanks are also due to the Provincial and District Medical Officers, Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis section and the Analytical team-School of Medicine, for the various roles they played to facilitate this study.
Compliance with ethical guidelines
Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Ethical standards Scientific and ethical clearance were sought from the institutional research ethics committee at the University of Zambia (Reference No. 001-12-12), Ministry of health headquarters, Eastern province health Director and district Directors of health. Individual informed consents were obtained from the health officers before commencement of the interviews.
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Mulenga, G.M., Likwa, R.N. & Namangala, B. Assessing the capacity to diagnose human African trypanosomiasis among health care personnel from Chama and Mambwe districts of eastern Zambia. BMC Res Notes 8, 433 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-015-1403-6
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Vince Doria, the former ESPN executive and 29-time Emmy Award winner wrote a letter, given below, in reference to The Ohio State University Sports and Society Initiative panel on careers in sports, October 28, 2016.
I’m sorry I couldn’t be with you today because of a prior commitment. The Sports and Society Initiative is both an ambitious and valuable effort to examine the connection between sports, our society, economy and culture, and I’m gratified to be a part of it.
I know we have a number of students from the School of Journalism in the audience, and I’m encouraged that so many of you are considering this career path, particularly given the shifting landscape, and the decline of the newspaper industry.
I graduated from Ohio State with a degree in journalism, and worked as a print journalist for 25 years at newspapers, including The Boston Globe and The Philadelphia Inquirer; and then for 23 years in television at ESPN.
Over that time, I saw an amazing evolution in the journalism industry. In the early ‘70s, the portals of news and information were essentially controlled by large newspaper industries, with an ordered process of presenting that information on a daily basis, in a timely, scheduled manner. Newspapers were expensive to produce, and the product landed on your doorstep not when the news happened, but when the newspapers’ production process dictated that arrival. And people were reasonably satisfied with that.
Radio and television were certainly in the mix, with the ability to bring breaking news to listeners and viewers with greater immediacy. But with a few exceptions, those platforms devoted a small portion of their daily product to news and information, relied heavily on newspapers to do much of their reporting, and could not provide the depth that print journalists often produced.
That began to change with the arrival of cable television and talk radio, which recognized a market for 24-hour news, sports, and information. It recognized, too, the potential attraction of opinion and personality.
Television and radio executives knew that boots-on-the-ground reporting was both costly and time-consuming. Relying on breaking news, enterprise and investigative reporting, would make it difficult to produce a daily product that was fresh, particularly one that filled 24 hours a day.
But they could TALK about news and sports 24 hours a day. They could discuss and debate it, with different personalities, different takes ad infinitum. You didn’t necessarily have to produce original reporting, but you could certainly talk about the stories that were being reported. It was a reliable process, and, the biggest attraction, fairly cheap to produce. You paid the people to talk, they often filled several hours a day, your costs were controlled. Contrast that with a newspaper or television entity that might pay a reporter for several weeks, fly him around the country, spend thousands of dollars for an investigation that might ultimately prove to be a dry a hole, and at best provide several minutes or column inches of information over a day or two. Easy to see where the cost efficiency existed.
I was lucky enough, at ESPN, to work for a company that has tried to do both. If you consume the product on television, radio, or on line, you’ll note there is plenty of talk. But you’ll also note with programs like Outside The Lines, E:60, SportsCenter, ESPN The Magazine, much of ESPN.com and associated sites, there is a real attempt to produce timely, news-breaking and in-depth journalism.
Part of that is the commitment the company and the people who work there have made. But certainly part of it is the financial success of the company that has made that commitment viable.
The game-changer in recent years, of course, has been the growth of the Internet, and the explosion of social media. Suddenly, the large media companies no longer controlled the flow of information. Anyone with a laptop, an iPad or an iPhone could get into the information business.
There were advantages to this for the consumer: Many more eyes were seeking out that information, social media could be dedicated to an audience which had apparently expressed a desire for that information by joining the network, and information could be disseminated almost immediately, including both still photos and video, for virtually no cost. Everyone was a publisher or a video network.
There was, of course, some downside. Much of this information was not the product of the type of reporting and vetting that most news organizations had made standard: Establishing something as fact, connecting with sources that could provide reliable information, uncovering documentation that could support assertions, fact-checking, editing, and vetting the material through an editorial process that further insured it as factual.
Getting something first was always important in the business of journalism. But getting something right was always the first rule. That wasn’t necessarily embraced by the new wave of on-line and social media information suppliers. The overriding credo in some cases – not all – was a democratic approach. If we’ve heard something that may or may not be true, you, the consumer, has the right to hear it, too.
It’s an interesting concept, but one that flies in the face of the bedrock values of journalism, which, before anything else, attempts to assure that what they are putting out to the public is true. It doesn’t always happen that way, of course, plenty of mistakes can be made in trying to produce a timely product. But real journalism is going to strive mightily to produce truth.
And regardless of what evolves, how talk proliferates, and social media becomes an important journalistic tool, there will be a reliance on reporting and journalism to produce the most factual news and information upon which the talk shows and social media build the their presentations.
In talking with journalism students about their ultimate goals, a number of them have pointed to a popular show on ESPN, PTI with Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon. They admire the opinions, the wit, and the tone of the show. They believe they, too, have the sort approach that could make for good television. And maybe some of them do.
But as some of you may know, Tony and Mike spent over five decades between them at The Washington Post, in the early years, particularly, knocking on doors, chasing sources, picking up the phone, conducting interviews not with a camera but with a notebook. They came by their opinions, their perceptions, their interpretations the hard way.
And regardless of where you want to be as a journalist – television, radio, newspapers, on line, social media, columnist, blogger, talk show host – learn to be a good reporter. Find a place where you can put in the time learning and practicing the basics of the craft. You may well produce some great work in the process – work that will provide fodder for talk shows and social media – and, ultimately, wherever you get to in the information profession, you’ll be better at your job. | https://sportsandsociety.osu.edu/vince-doria-panel-careers-sports |
As a service to our biotech and pharmaceutical manufacturing clients, MME conducted an online survey last month to assess COVID-19’s impact on practice dynamics and patient treatment options for independent and hospital-affiliated oncology practices.
The survey leveraged the insight of 51 oncologists from our vendor panel to evaluate effects from COVID-19 precautions. The following topics were discussed:
- impact on practice dynamics
- impact on practice’s participation in clinical trials
- impact on practice’s revenues
The result of this study highlight key factors affecting the market including:
- Nearly 80% of physicians reported moderate to severe disruptions. Impacts included: decreases in patient volume, absenteeism of staff (physicians, nurses, admin), delivery issues related to lab supplies. Issues affecting masks and gloves were reported to be the most disruptive.
- Around 70% of physicians reported an increase in the use of telemedicine for phone consultations and appointment rescheduling.
- 52% of physicians reported using an alternative site such as a home or outpatient hospital to provide active therapy.
- Practices reported that 46% of their clinical trials have been paused or discontinued due to the pandemic.
- On average, physicians estimate practices to continue to operate for six to seven months if pandemic dynamics continue.
As oncology practices adapt to the post-COVID-19 climate, developing grounded assumptions for changes to practice patterns will be critical for understanding PRMA implications. Schedule a virtual meeting to discuss these results and evaluate the implications for your product. | https://mmewp1.azurewebsites.net/news-and-analysis/covid-19-disruption-to-oncology-practices-and-patients/ |
My research group studied aerosols associated with mining activity such as wind-blown dust from mine tailings impoundments and smelting process emissions. We operate aerosol sampling equipment including MOUDIs and an SMPS analyzer at two field sites contaminated with arsenic and lead: the Iron King mine tailings near Dewey-Humboldt, Arizona; and the ASARCO copper mine and smelter in Hayden, Arizona (Journal of Water Air and Soil Pollution, 221, 145-157, 2011).
Pollution Prevention
I also served as PI on an EPA Pollution Prevention (P2) grant. Together with a local non-profit, the Sonora Environmental Research Institute (SERI), we monitored metals in PM10 samples obtained in the south side of Tucson, and trained promotoras (community health workers) to visit small businesses and to encourage them to lower emissions of air toxics, and to reduce water use.
Solar Energy
We developed forecasting capability for direct normal solar insolation using the Weather Research Forecast model; and we are examining the effects of atmospheric aerosols on solar radiation received at the surface using a high-resolution spectrophotometer to make daily observations. Work on a solar concentrator/photovoltaic array was completed in 2010. A 2-m diameter mirror was assembled, fitted to a solar tracker, and installed and tested at a Raytheon facility near the airport. The project was largely supported by Science Foundation Arizona.
Air Quality
There is great interest in better understanding the factors affecting air quality in the Great Lakes region because of the long, ongoing history of ozone exceedances in this densely populated part of the country. We analyzed airplane data acquired during the 10-year LADCO project to address some fundamental questions such as: What are the concentrations and diurnal patterns of ozone and ozone precursor compounds over the lake; and is ozone formation over Lake Michigan VOC-limited or NOx-limited? | https://betterton.faculty.arizona.edu/content/research |
Cellular homeostasis swings like a pendulum backward and forward between life and death. Two of the main processes, which regulate this equilibrium, are autophagy and apoptosis. While autophagy is a highly conserved self-digestion mechanism that mediates degradation of damaged or surplus components, apoptosis is a programmed cell suicide in which typical death signals induce the elimination of undesired cells. Both these processes are highly regulated by complex molecular machineries, including some common proteins whose "dual role" favors one process or the other. Among these proteins, the well-known antiapoptotic factor BCL2 downregulates autophagy through interactions with the essential autophagic effectors, BECN1/BECLIN 1 and AMBRA1. Recently, we have demonstrated that the proautophagic protein AMBRA1 contains a BH3 domain necessary for AMBRA1 binding with the antiapoptotic factor BCL2. We found that the AMBRA1-BCL2 couple have a "dual role" in autophagy and apoptosis: the mitochondrial pool of BCL2 is able to inhibit AMBRA1-dependent autophagy, whereas in cell death conditions, the cleaved form of AMBRA1 (AMBRA1CT), resulting from CASP/CASPASES-cleavage, abrogates the prosurvival activity of BCL2 and promotes a proapoptotic amplification loop. The CASP-cleaved form of AMBRA1 bound other antiapoptotic members of the BCL2 family proteins such as MCL1 and BCL2L1/BCL-X; by contrast, no binding could be detected with the proapoptotic-BCL2 factors such as BAK1/BAK and BAX. These findings underline an intricate interplay between autophagy and cell death in which the proautophagic protein AMBRA1 and the antiapoptotic BCL2 family members are the major players. Here, we give an overview of the AMBRA1-BCL2 family proteins interactome and its involvement in controlling life and cell death. We discuss a putative therapeutic target which offers the novel BH3 motif identified in the C-terminal part of AMBRA1.
Keywords: AMBRA1; Apoptosis; Autophagy; BCL2 family proteins; BH3 motif.
© 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28215535/ |
initiatives.
The American Lung Association (ALA) releases an annual “State of the Air” report that
analyzes the air in cities around the U.S. The report uses the Air Quality Index (AQI) to calculate
a score for each city based on its ozone and particle pollution levels, both short term and long
term. According to the 2013 report, L.A. failed both the ozone and particle pollution tests (ALA).
However, trends from ALA indicate a decreasing pattern, which points to L.A. slowly becoming
less polluted. This is in part due to the Clean Air Act of 1970, which sets air quality standards for
six common "criteria pollutants": particulate matter (particle pollution), ozone, sulfur dioxide,
nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and lead. The Clean Air Act mandates states to regulate air
quality based on national standards.
The Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation, which handles the city’s recycling program,
provides service to 750,000 households. Households are given four bins: blue for recyclables,
green for yard waste, black for residual waste, and brown for horse manure. According to the
Zero Waste Progress Report 2013 conducted by the UCLA Engineering Extension’s Municipal
Solid Waste Management Program, L.A. Achieved a recycling rate of 76%, the highest out of ten
major cities in the U.S. (UCLA). Moreover, the survey conducted reflects these results, as 82%
of respondents answered that they recycle regularly.
82% of survey respondents believe that there is not enough open space currently in L.A.
L.A. is a major city, with 3.9 million residents in only 503 square miles. Most of the city, from
my own experiences, is paved with streets or filled with buildings.
Ultimately, due to the heavy pollution, Los Angeles cannot be considered sustainable in
the transportation sector. However, the recycling program and the improvements in air quality
are important to note as steps to becoming sustainable.
Equity
The Egan Wheel analyzes equality in respect to age, gender, culture, race, as well as
other aspects, in society, to determine the extent to which a city can be deemed sustainable.
Los Angeles, although under U.S. legislation, still sees inequality in employment and access to
services on a regular basis. According to the L.A. Times, Los Angeles remains one of the cities
with the highest income inequality, especially in the downtown area with the zip codes 90014,
90013, 90015 and 90021. Moreover, differences in income between genders is still prevalent
in L.A., with... | https://brightkite.com/essay-on/environmentalism-in-los-angeles-ca |
You will fly into the Nanjing airport or take a train to Nanjing, and upon arrival you will be met by your local English-speaking guide. You'll be taken to your hotel, a 3 or 4 star hotel for common tours, and a 5 star hotel for luxury tours.
After getting some time to freshen up and unpack, you'll get in a bit of sightseeing today by visiting the Yangtze River Bridge. This is the first bridge to be independently designed and constructed by the Chinese themselves. The bridge was added to the Guinness World Records as the world's longest bridge featuring the dual functions of a highway and a railway.
Following breakfast in the hotel, you'll get started on your exploration of the city with your guide by visiting the Mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat Sen (also known as Zhongshan Ling). Dr. Sun was the first president of the Republic of China and one of the leading organizers of the struggle to create a modern republic in China. The impressive memorial was built in the 1920's. Its architecture is accentuated by its splendid natural setting on the forested slopes of Zijin Mountain on the outskirts of Nanjing, its buildings made of white stone with dark blue roof tiles.
Nearby in the Purple Mountains is the Linggu Temple. The site is a Buddhist temple set in a park. It is the southeastern part of the Purple Mountain area, east of the Mingxiaoling Mausoleum. There are three main buildings in the complex called the Beamless Hall, the Linggu Pagoda and a Buddhist temple.The Beamless (Wuliang) Hall at the site was constructed in 1831, and it is 22 meters high and 53.8 meters wide. The hall was made with stone arches and without wooden beams, so this makes the building distinctive. There are mannequins that depict Chinese history in it now.
The Linggu Pagoda is a pagoda that is about 10 stories tall that was built in 1930. There is also a Buddhist temple building. The site has a shrine that is said to harbor the skull of a Chinese monk who went to India to collect Buddhist scriptures long ago.
Along with Xian and Pingyao, Nanjing is one of the only cities in China to still contain traces of its old city wall, and we'll along it next. After accomplishing the modest feat of founding the Ming Dynasty more than 600 years ago, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang was apparently still unsatisfied with his achievements and commissioned a grandiose wall to protect China's new capital city of Nanjing. The ambitious defense project called for granite foundations and intricate layers of boulders and limestone. A special concoction of lime, tung oil and glutinous rice secured the layers together. Because of the meticulous building process, most of the ancient city wall still stands.
Of the 33.5 km original wall, more than 20 km still encircles the ancient city bearing true testament to Chinese engineering. Today, you can explore the wall's impressive 12m-high gates, battlements and bulwarks. One of the best-preserved gates of the wall, Zhonghua Men, also distinguishes itself as the largest castle in China.
We'll then a modern feat of engineering at the Yangtze River Bridge. The Great Bridge over the Yangtze River in Nanjing is not only a striking example of post-Revolutionary art and engineering, but the story behind it is a source of pride for people throughout China, and especially those in Nanjing. It is the first modern bridge completely built by Chinese people. After the 1949 Revolution, China worked closely with the Soviet Union, and the Soviets provided many technical advisors and engineers.
Next we'll head indoors to one of the country's first museums, the Nanjing Museum. With an area of 70,000 square meters, it is one of the largest museums in China. The Nanjing Museum is located inside the Zhongshan Gate of Nanjing City. lts predecessor was known as the Central Museum Preparatory Location. The complex of buildings represents an amalgamation of east and west, with the great hall copying the style of a Liao-dynasty palace. The Museum currently holds some 400,000 objects in its collections, among which are some of the most famous objects in China. These include the only complete set of 'jade suits sewed with silver thread' in China, which are world renowned. In 1982, a Warring States period Chu State tomb was excavated from which stellar pieces were retrieved that also form some of the extraordinary treasures in this museum.
We'll cap off your first full day in Nanjing with a trip to the Confucius Temple and its surrounding neighborhood. The Confucius Temple is south of the city's central district. There was a temple that was built in the year 1034 during the Song Dynasty period on the banks of the Qinhuai River. During the past millennium, it was renovated, reconstructed, and enlarged so that it became a large complex. It was used by Confucian scholars. Next to it was the Jiangnan Gongyuan that was the largest examination area for people taking the imperial examinations and the Xue Gong that was the Qing Imperial Academy for training mandarins to govern the vast empire.
The surrounding neighborhood is also a sight of itself, as is the place to be on weekends and holidays. Clothing shops and restaurants dominate the main streets (closed to vehicular traffic) while street stalls in the alleyways sell stuffed animals, plants, CDs and even more clothes.
After breakfast we'll resume our sightseeing. Our first stop will be the pleasant classical gardens of Xuyuan. It was originally a garden in the Price Han Residence. With an area of about 14,000 square meters, the artificial hills, rocks, buildings and ponds in the garden are well designed and arranged. The grass, flowers, bamboo, trees and fish swimming in the pond reflect the owner's spiritual pursuit. Now the garden's are composed of a number of attractions, such as the marble boat, Xijia (sunset) Building, the office of the Provincial Sun Yat Sen, Waterside Pavilion of Beaming with Delight, Fangsheng Pavilion and Chamber of Rippling Waves.
We'll learn a bit more about the ancient history of this city at the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum. It is the tomb of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of Ming Dynasty, which is one of the biggest Emperor Mausoleums existed now. The construction of the mausoleum began in 1383 and has more than 600-year history.
The mausoleum consists of two parts: front and behind part, surrounding by 45-kilometer stonewall. The mausoleum was heavily constructed and planted. The front part begins from the place of jumping off the horse at that time to Sifangcheng (Rectangular city). You can enjoy the stone animals guarding the tomb, a pair of decorative columns, couples of ministers and generals have been standing there for centuries to accompany their Majesty beneath along the way and the sacred way. The behind part includes portal, stele inscribed with 4 Chinese characters, which was written by Emperor Kangxi in his third inspection tour, Xiaoling Hall, Bao City and so on. The Emperor Zhu and his queen are buried behind Bao City. The red portal of the mausoleum lies in the north and face to the south, which is the best direction for Chinese. The name of the tomb "Mingxiao Ling" was printed on the head of the gate. Two pavilions behind it were destroyed, but you can still imagine the fantastic scale from the relics.
Then it is off to the Yuejiang Tower, which is located in northeast Nanjing. The Tower looks out over the broad sweep of the Yangtze River. The 50 meter high pagoda is built in the style of the Ming dynasty. The tower's walls and beams are painted red and dark green, and the glistening ceramic roof tiles are the shade of yellow once reserved for imperial buildings. Beneath the tower, a section of the Imperial city wall wraps around the base of the forested hill. The tower's highest balconies offer a breathtaking view over the broad Yangtze River.
We'll next revisit some of the Ming City Wall at the Terrace City. The Terrace City was once the Palace during the South Dynasty. People are accustomed to calling the walls between Jiefang Gate and Jiuhuashan Hill this name. Standing on the top of the city wall, the tourists can see Zhongshan Hill in the east, Xuanwu Lake in the north, city mansions in the south and Jiming Temple in the west. A museum about the history of Ming Dynasty's City Wall stands here.
Before dinner, we'll make our way to the curious sight of Swallow Crag. On Zhidu Hill outside of Guanyin Gate, a grotesque peak by the riverside thrusts itself towards the sky, which looks like a flying swallow, hence the name. The Swallow Crag is strategically located and difficult to access, and under the crag, the waves are surging and roaring. It has been an ideal place for men of letters to express their feeling since ancient times.
To conclude your time in Nanjing, you will be given a special farewell dinner at a local restaurant. The dinner will be made up of Jiangsu cuisine, the province Nanjing is located in. Jiangsu cuisine is one the 8 great culinary styles of China, and is noted for its light and sweet tastes.
Following breakfast in the hotel, you'll be driven to the Nanjing airport or train station, and you'll fly on to your next destination, ending your stay in Nanjing. If you would like to extend your stay in China then please go to our China City Tours and China Package Tours pages to find out about more of the great destinations in China we offer!
Enjoy the specials and the unbelievable low rates ONLY available at the Great Wall Adventure Club, the official partner of Holiday Inn, Nanjing Aqua City. | http://www.greatwalladventure.com/ChinaCityTour/Nanjing2.htm |
Welcome to the Book Marks Questionnaire, where we ask authors questions about the books that have shaped them.
This week, we spoke to the author of Burnt Sugar, Avni Doshi.
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Book Marks: First book you remember loving?
Avni Doshi: As a child, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. As a young adult, The House of the Spirits.
BM: Favorite re-read?
AD: I keep coming back to Manto’s short stories.
BM: A book that blew your mind?
AD: Luster by Raven Leilani.
BM: Last book you read?
AD: The Far Field by Madhuri Vijay.
BM: A book that made you cry?
AD: Shubhangi Swarup’s Latitudes of Longing.
BM: What’s one book you wish you had read during your teenage years?
AD: The Fire Next Time. I was supposed to read it for high school English class, but only read sections. When I read it in full years later, it changed me.
BM: What book from the past year would you like to give a shout-out to?
AD: I’d like to give a shout out to a book that will be coming out in 2021, if that’s okay. Nikesh Shukla’s Brown Baby. Also, Asylum Road by Olivia Sudjic.
BM: Classic book you hate?
AD: I’ve attempted James Joyce and put him aside.
BM: Classic book on your To Be Read pile?
AD: In Custody by Anita Desai.
BM: Favorite book no one has heard of?
AD: Season of Migration to the North… people have heard of it of course, but I hadn’t until a couple years ago. What an incredible book! Authors Fleur Jaeggy and Natalia Ginzburg were also revelatory to me, and I only heard of them really recently (because Alexander Chee recommended them on Instagram!).
BM: Favorite book you were assigned in high school?
AD: Their Eyes Were Watching God.
BM: Book(s) you’re reading right now?
AD: Milk Teeth by Amrita Mahale, and a set of pamphlets by Four Brown Girls Who Write.
BM: Favorite children’s book?
AD: At the moment, I Like Myself.
BM: Book you wish would be adapted for a film/tv show?
AD: Mira Jacob’s Good Talk would be an amazing animated film. Also, Ponti by Sharlene Teo.
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Avni Doshi was born in New Jersey and lives in Dubai. She has a BA in art history from Barnard College in New York and a Masters in history of art from University College London. She was awarded the Tibor Jones South Asia Prize in 2013 and a Charles Pick Fellowship in 2014. Her writing has appeared in Vogue UK, Granta and The Sunday Times. Her first novel, Burnt Sugar, was originally released in India under the title Girl in White Cotton, where it won the Sushila Devi Award and was longlisted for the Tata First Novel Prize. Upon publication in the UK, Burnt Sugar was shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize. It is being published in 23 languages. Avni is currently working on her second novel. | https://bookmarks.reviews/avni-doshi-on-raven-leilani-james-joyce-and-the-fire-next-time/ |
The accurate repair of DNA is critical for genome stability and cancer prevention. DNA double-strand breaks are one of the most toxic lesions; however, they can be repaired using homologous recombination. Homologous recombination is a high-fidelity DNA repair pathway that uses a homologous template for repair. One central HR step is RAD51 nucleoprotein filament formation on the single-stranded DNA ends, which is a step required for the homology search and strand invasion steps of HR. RAD51 filament formation is tightly controlled by many positive and negative regulators, which are collectively termed the RAD51 mediators. The RAD51 mediators function to nucleate, elongate, stabilize, and disassemble RAD51 during repair. In model organisms, RAD51 paralogs are RAD51 mediator proteins that structurally resemble RAD51 and promote its HR activity. New functions for the RAD51 paralogs during replication and in RAD51 filament flexibility have recently been uncovered. Mutations in the human RAD51 paralogs (RAD51B, RAD51C, RAD51D, XRCC2, XRCC3, and SWSAP1) are found in a subset of breast and ovarian cancers. Despite their discovery three decades ago, few advances have been made in understanding the function of the human RAD51 paralogs. Here, we discuss the current perspective on the in vivo and in vitro function of the RAD51 paralogs, and their relationship with cancer in vertebrate models. | http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/42101/ |
Thinking about the social and personal consequences of technology often leads to a debate between those who believe technologies are more or less neutral and those who believe technologies exert some kind of formative influence over human actions. The latter view I’ve taken to calling technological voluntarism, and the former is typically identified as some variety of technological determinism. On the one hand, it seems obvious that choices are being made by those who use technology, and those choices could reasonably be made to the contrary. On the other hand, an influence is felt, at the individual and societal level, which cannot easily be discussed without assigning, at least rhetorically, some causal power to technology. If it is difficult to argue that technology wholly determines our situation, it would also be difficult to argue that technology does not at all condition our situation. The challenge is to characterize the nature of this non-determinative, yet formative influence.
Here is one approach to this discussion that I would like to commend: evolving mutual reciprocity. The emergence and adoption of technology are a function of human agency, the ability to choose how technology is to be used, but human agency is itself conditioned by our prior use of technology. This approach grants primacy neither to the tool nor to the act of choosing. Our choosing is always already conditioned by our tools, and this conditioning is always already a consequence of our choices. But in order to advance this argument it’s necessary to conceptualize the manner in which this reciprocal state of affairs is actualized. To do this I’m going to borrow from an Aristotelian account of moral formation with particular emphasis on the embodied, and thus pre-cognitive, dimension of human action.
In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, choice is the foundation of the moral life: “Again, we feel anger and fear without choice, but the excellences [or, virtues] are choices or involve choices.” Choices, however, eventually become habits, and habits dispose us to choose in certain ways and not others. Notice the reciprocity between doing and being in Aristotle’s account of courage: “by being habituated to despise things that are terrible and to stand our ground against them we become brave, and it is when we have become so that we shall be most able to stand our ground against them.” Act bravely to become brave that you may act bravely. Aristotle illustrates his point by comparing the cultivation of virtue to the cultivation of skill at playing the lyre or the work of building. Skill at living well is acquired analogously to these other practical skills — it is acquired by embodied practice. So, Aristotle explains,
by doing the acts that we do in our transactions with other men we become just or unjust, and by doing the acts that we do in the presence of danger, and being habituated to feel fear or confidence we become brave or cowardly…. Thus, in one word, states arise out of like activities. This is why the activities we exhibit must be of a certain kind; it is because the states correspond to the difference between these. It makes no small difference, then, whether we form habits of one kind or of another from our very youth; it makes a very great difference, or rather all the difference.
There are two directions in which we can apply this insight to the question of technology and human agency. First, it suggests that the choices we make with our tools are initially experienced as choices, but in time take on the force of habits. These habits, if sufficiently ingrained, then act as would virtues or vices in Arsitotle’s schema, i.e., they condition subsequent choices. If we’re inattentive to the force of habituated action, we may be unable to fully account for the influence of technology, individually or socially.
The second direction follows Aristotle’s own examples and emphasizes the embodied dimension of habituated action. Lived experience consists of a circuit comprising mind, body, tools, and world. This circuit of perception and action typically runs so smoothly through these nodes that it may hardly be noticed at all. In fact, the tendency would be to lose sight of how deeply integrated into the experience of reality tools have become and how these tools mediate reality. To put it in a slightly different way, tools become the interface through which reality is accessed. (Putting it this way also illustrates how tools provide the metaphors by which reality is interpreted.) Katherine Hayles drew attention to this circuit when, discussing the significance of embodiment, she wrote,
When changes in [embodied] practices take place, they are often linked with new technologies that affect how people use their bodies and experience space and time. Formed by technology at the same time that it creates technology, embodiment mediates between technology and discourse by creating new experiential frameworks that serve as boundary markers for the creation of corresponding discursive systems.
New technologies, in other words, produce novel ways of using and experiencing bodies in the world. With our bodies we make our tools and our tools then shape how we understand and experience our bodies.
This often unnoticed circuit through which we experience the world is sometimes disrupted by some error in the code of digital devices or breakdown of machinery. We typically take these sorts of disruptions as annoyances of varying degrees; but because tools are an unnoticed link in the circuit encompassing world, body, and mind, disruptions emanating from the tools also elicit flashes of illumination by breaking habituated patterns of thought and action. Let’s call this the Empty Milk Jug Effect. When you pick up an empty milk jug that you think is full, you’re caught off guard; you experience a palpable rupture between unconscious, embodied judgments and the feedback flowing back through the embodied instantiation of those judgments. Likewise, the malfunction of our tools may elicit similar instances of startled realization with regard to the countless pre-cognitive and habituated dispositions and assumptions that facilitate our experience. Thus Hayles again:
. . . unpredictable breaks occur that disrupt the smooth functioning of thought, action, and result, making us abruptly aware that our agency is increasingly enmeshed within complex networks extending beyond our ken and operating through codes that are, for the most part, invisible and inaccessible.
While not referencing Aristotle, Hayles also employs the language of habit. She writes, for example, of bodily practices which have sedimented
“into habitual actions and movements, sinking below conscious awareness. At this level they achieve an inertia that can prove surprisingly resistant to conscious intentions to modify or change them. By their nature, habits do not occupy conscious thought; they are done more or less automatically, as if the knowledge of how to perform the actions resided in ones’ fingers or physical mobility rather than in one’s mind.”
An example: I recently switched to a MacBook Pro after years of using a variety of PCs. After a couple of weeks of using my new Mac I had become fairly well accustomed to the interface. When I went back to my PC to access some old files, I found myself making Apple gestures on the PC trackpad that I knew, had you asked me, would not work on the PC. But my fingers had already learned certain habits and sought to apply them. That is a seemingly insignificant illustration, but consider the implications if similar patterns of habituated expectation and action were consistently realized throughout the whole range of our technologically mediated experiences. I imagine, for example, that if we were to perform a careful case study of the embodied habits that have accumulated around our use of cell phones, we would come away with a string of other, more significant, examples of our technologically conditioned habits of being in the world and with others.
Returning to the question of human agency and technology equipped with the categories of habit and embodiment, a mediating position that transcends the impasse between voluntarism and determinism emerges. Technology does not achieve its influence apart from the countless choices to use technology in this way or that, and those choices to use technology are never free of the earlier habits acquired by the use of technology.
Technologies do not change the character of their age merely by their appearance, they do so through the use to which they are put by individuals whose perceptions, assumptions, and sensibilities are thereby re-ordered and re-calibrated. When this use becomes habitual, the new perceptions, assumptions, and sensibilities achieve a taken-for-granted status and become, as it were, a second nature. This technologically induced “second-nature” then becomes the ground for the subsequent inter-play between human agents and new technologies.
If we’re mindful of the manner in which technology exerts its influence, we may have a chance to address whatever we take to be the less desirable consequences of technology, at least on a personal level. We do well to remember Aristotle’s counsel: those who would transform their character by “taking refuge in theory” are like “patients who listen attentively to their doctors, but do none of the things they are ordered to do.” If character is formed, at least in part, by technological habits, then the use of technology must be calibrated by practices and counter-practices that will yield virtue. Merely thinking about how we would like to change won’t get us very far at all. | https://thefrailestthing.com/2011/10/26/technology-habit-and-being-in-the-world/ |
Loop 2.4.3 is an "open format", collaborative ensemble organized by Artistic Director, Thomas Kozumplik. The artists listed here have for many years been involved with recordings and major performances. Please read below and visit their sites to learn more about their endeavors, and see the Loop 2.4.3 group bio for other recent collaborators...
Sean Boyd helped promote Loop 2.4.3’s second album, Zodiac Dust, and went on to record and co-produce the group’s next 2 releases at his idyllic upstate NY studio. Sean’s talent, skills, and perspective have since been an invaluable presence. Please see Artfarmrecording.com.
Istvan Peter B'Racz collaborated on Loop 2.4.3's first public performance and has been an important part of the group's evolution. Istvan appears on 2012's American Dreamland, as well as countless live performances and in-studio radio programs. An accomplished pianist and composer, Istvan's own works range from solo piano, to orchestral music, to electronica. Istvan recieved a Fulbright Grant to study at the Franz Liszt Academy, and holds degrees from the Yale School of Music and Hartt School of Music. Istvan will be featured on piano for Time-Machine_music performances on the East Coast this season. http://istvanpeterbracz.bandcamp.com
Tom Burnett, director, performer and musician, is a founding member of the performance orchestra Coocoohandler, presenting shows at many venues in NYC, including The Kitchen, Webster Hall, the Knitting Factory, Fez, Performance Space 122, MoMA PS1 and the South Street Seaport. He was co-creator and keyboardist in the popular downtown show Uncle Jimmy’s Dirty Basement as seen at Joe’s Pub, the Bowery Ballroom, the Toyota Comedy Festival and the Bowery Poetry Club. As a director he has helmed multimedia performance events for Projects for a New Millennium based in New Haven, at sites as varied as the Stony Creek Quarry and the Bridgeport baseball stadium. Among his many other credits are co-director of Danny Mydlack’s Mr. Big company; director of plays by Winchester Chimes, with the Formica Cornice Theatre Company; and original works at The Kitchen. Recently directed/co wrote and sound designed James Godwin’s solo shows “Lunatic Cunning” and “The Flat Iron Hex” at Dixon place in NYC, receiving the Jim Henson collaboration award and winning best in show at the 2014 National Puppetry Festival. Burnett has been a collaborator with Loop 2.4.3 from its inception in 2004.
Tom and fellow Loop 2.4.3 collaborator James Godwin in the NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/19/theater/review-the-flatiron-hex-a-delirious-tale-with-puppets-and-ickiness.html?_r=0
NYC painter and digital artist Catherine Rutgers included Loop 2.4.3 in her Stripes! (Art for Music) project, and developed an exciting, ongoing collaboration where-in Catherine's original and visually striking digital images are woven into the group's live video projections. Learn more about Catherine at catrutgers4art.com.
Jon Waldo is a visual artist and painter based in NYC. Jon has been a part of Loop 2.4.3 since 2011, when he started contributing paintings, photography, and open ears. His artwork is featured in live performances, and on the LP and CD jackets for American Dreamland and Time-Machine_music. Learn more about Jon through his gallery profile at:
http://lindawarrenprojects.com/artists/jon-waldo/
Lorne Watson is a multi-faceted percussionist and composer currently living in Brooklyn, NY. Originally from Michigan, Lorne met Thom playing in the Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble which rehearsed extensively in room 243. Lorne’s composition has been praised for its “remarkable rhythmic breadth and tonal depth,” (New Haven Advocate) in a way that “positively shakes with life.” (New-Noise.net) In addition to Robert Hohner, Lorne has studied with percussion legends Jim Chapin, Joe Morello, and Alex Acuna. He currently studies and performs Cuban folkloric music with master drummer John Amira.
Lorne has performed with Clogs, The Brooklyn Philharmonic, The Javier Arau Big Band, The True North Orchestra, The Legacy Percussion Ensemble, Willie McBlind, led by micro-tonal guitarist Jon Catler (La Monte Young, Forever Blues Band), and singer Nina Vidal. He has played at the Blue Note, Brooklyn Academy of Music and Carnegie Hall, and is on the teaching roster for the New York Jazz Academy, The Lyric Chamber Music Society of New York, The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, and The Brooklyn Arts Council. Lorne has been a featured clinician at Michigan State University, Ithaca College, Cornell University, Alma College, St. Clouds University, University at Buffalo. He has published a drum method book titled, Three Dimensions: Hands, Reading, Drumset.
David Zerbe is an Associate Professor of Music at Alma College (MI). He was the recipient of the Faculty Barlow Award in 2013 and the Outstanding Faculty Award for the Humanities in 2011. A founding member of the internationally acclaimed DMP recording group the Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble, he has performed John Mackey’s Concerto for Percussion with the Alma Symphony, as a soloist for the Flint Symphony’s performance of Carman Moore’s Gospel Fuse and as a percussionist with the Midland, Saginaw, Traverse City, and West Shore symphonies. He was also featured with the C.M.U. Jazz Lab 1 performance of Rob McConnell’s I’ve Got Rhythm at the Montreux International Jazz Festival and Buddy Rich’s Channel One Suite arrangement at the Elmhurst and Aquinas Jazz Festivals. An active free-lance musician, Mr. Zerbe has appeared with Aretha Franklin, Michael Feinstein, Marie Osmond, Sharri Williams, Jive at Five, and for Rich Little. His Alma College Percussion Ensemble has been invited to perform eight consecutive years at the Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival, with vibist Joe Locke at the Port Townsend (Wash.) Jazz Festival and opened the 2009 Detroit International Jazz Festival sharing the Chase Main Stage with the Hank Jones Trio and Chick Corea, Stanley Clark and Lenny White. He is also the director of the percussion section of the Alma College Pipe Band; US Open Pipe Band Champions in 2012 and 2013. Dave Zerbe is the founder and director of the “Legacy Percussion Orchestra” a professional percussion ensemble with a national membership, which was a headline act for the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival, John Clayton Artistic Director, on February 26, 2011. | https://www.loop243.com/2013-08-03-14-00-48/collaborators |
Hunting has been crucial in early human evolution. Some San (Bushmen) of southern Africa still practice their indigenous hunting. The use of poisons is one remarkable aspect of their bow-and-arrow hunting but the sources, taxonomic identifications of species used, and recipes, are not well documented. This study reports on fieldwork to investigate recent indigenous hunting practices of G/ui and G//ana San communities in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR), Botswana. Here we discuss their use of spider poison. The hunters use the contents of the opisthosoma (‘abdomen’) of a spider as sole ingredient of the arrow poison and discard the prosoma that contains the venom-glands. Using taxonomic keys, we identified the spider as the garden orb-web spider Argiope australis (Walckenaer 1805) (Araneidae). The hunters’ choice of this species is remarkable given the scientific perception that A. australis is of little medical importance. The species choice raises questions about how the spider fluids could kill game, particularly when the prosoma, which contains the venom glands, is not used. Possibilities include trauma, as a source of pathogens, or abdomen- containing toxins. Based on characteristics of Argiope Audouin 1826, we hypothesize that the choice of this species for arrow poisons might have evolved from the recognition of aposematic signalling or spiritual symbolism. Indigenous knowledge (IK) is an important source for advances in biotechnology but is in decline worldwide. The study contributes to the documentation of the San people, and their ancient IK, which is threatened by marginalization, political pressures, and climate change. | https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/unsmaffil/7/ |
Emilenn Kate Sacdalan-Pateño graduated with a double degree in Development Studies and Economics from the Ateneo de Manila University. She completed her Master’s Degree in International Community Economic Development at the Southern New Hampshire University, United States of America. At present, she is a lecturer at the Development Studies Program of the Ateneo de Manila University.
As one of the pioneer members of SEDPI, she provides indefatigable and reliable delivery of customized and public-run training courses and technical and mentoring services to microfinance institutions in key cities and provinces all over the Philippines. She has worked on the documentation of best practices of microfinance institutions in the Philippines under the commission of the National Confederation of Cooperatives and the Peace and Equity Foundation. Moreover, she has led organizational appraisals of different microfinance institutions in the country.
Furthermore, Emilenn also provides technical and mentoring services to microfinance and microenterprise stakeholders the world over. She has conducted several trainings for the Central Bank of Nigeria as well as other Microfinance Training Service Providers in Nigeria. In addition, she has also provided Financial Literacy for Filipino migrants in Dubai and Hong Kong.
She leads SEDPI’s front liners in field research and training. Her excellent communication skills with the grassroots allow her to easily integrate into communities from which crucial data are gathered for research. She seamlessly conducts focus group discussions and completes surveys very efficiently. From her front line work, Emilenn is able to transform data into valuable information through rigorous statistical analysis and then later translate these in operational terms that could be understood by microfinance practitioners. | http://sedpi.com/en/emilenn-kate-sacdalan/ |
The Thorvaldsens Museum in Copenhagen is a single-artist gallery with the sculptures and art collection of the Danish classic sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen.
The purpose-built Thorvaldsens Museum is a gallery to display sculptures, copies, models and sketches of all the works produced by Thorvaldsen, as well as his own collection of art, antiquities and coins. Although inspired by Greek architecture, the museum has unique Pompeian-style painted ceilings and wall decoration to best show the classical sculptures and artist’s clay models. Admission is free on Wednesdays.
Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770 – 1844)
Karl Albert Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770 – 1844) was a Danish artist, who arguably was the most famous sculptor of his age. Although from a poor background, scholarships allowed him to train in the Royal Danish Academy of Art at aged 11 and to travel on a stipend to Rome in 1797.
He was due to return to Denmark in 1803, as his money ran out, but with his crates already packed, Thorvaldsen sold a statue of Jason to the wealthy English patron Thomas Hope. He fortunately took cash in advance, as the actual marble statue was only completed 25 years later. (He finished other works for Hope in the meantime.)
During the first half of the 19th century, Thorvaldsen developed to the foremost sculptor of neo-Classical sculptures in Europe. Antonio Canova praised his work and after Canova’s death in 1822, Thorvaldsen was the undisputed master of the genre.
Thorvaldsen kept to the classic ideals while producing sculptures of kings and nobles, historic and religious figures, as well as Greek mythology. His works can be seen all over Europe with some works also popular in the USA. He is the only non-Italian sculptor with a work in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican (Monument for Pope Pius VII).
Thorvaldsen returned to Copenhagen in 1838 as a national hero. He brought with him many items from his workshop including the models for all his sculptures. These models, as well as his personal art collection, were donated to Denmark and are displayed in the museum he helped designed himself. He died shortly after the completion of the design of the building in 1844 (although the museum itself could only open four years later).
The Thorvaldsens Museum in Copenhagen
The Thorvaldsens Museum on Slotsholmen Island next to the Christiansborg palace complex in central Copenhagen was purposely designed to house the collective works of Bertel Thorvaldsen. The museum is worth visiting not only for Thorvaldsen’s sculptures bit also the architecture, the beautiful decorations, the clever display techniques and the personal art collection of Thorvaldsen.
The Thorvaldsens Museum was designed by Michael Gottlieb Bindesbøll with the help of Thorvaldsen himself with the sole purpose to exhibit the lifework of Thorvaldsen. The building was inspired by Greek architecture but also has strong Egyptian and Pompeian influences. Each room in the museum has a unique ceiling decorations (some by Christen Købke) and wall colors selected to enhance the impact of the works on display.
The exterior is painted with a large series of paintings showing the triumphal return of Thorvaldsen to Copenhagen with his sculptures and workshop from Rome. The bronze Quadrigga with Victory over the main entrance was made by HV Bissen but designed by Thorvaldsen himself.
Exhibitions in the Thorvaldsens Museum
The displays in the Thorvaldsens Museum are spread over three floors:
The Main Floor
The Main Floor (ground floor) of the Thorvaldsens Museum has the most important works in the collection. The Grand Hall has plaster copies of some of the monumental works of Thorvaldsen that are now in various European capitals.
The magnificent marble statues and reliefs are displayed in the 20 gallery rooms that are on the outside of the corridors. Here each room has its own wall, floor and ceiling decorations – often inspired by Pompeian designs – to show off the white marble works of Thorvaldsen to best effect.
The Christ Gallery – on the opposite end of the museum from the Grand Hall – has the models for the statues of Christ and the Apostles that are now in marble in the Copenhagen Cathedral (Vor Frue Domkirke).
Thorvaldsens grave is at the center of the courtyard that is surrounded by corridors with his plaster models.
The Upper Floor
The main exhibition on the upper floor of the museum is of Thorvaldsen’s vast collection of antiquities and paintings.
Thorvaldsen’s artifacts from antiquity are an eclectic collection of works from ancient Greece, Egypt, Etruscan and Rome. The display is largely unaltered from what it looked like at the time of the museum’s opening. A delight for visitors who prefer items stacked high rather than dumbed down in a less-is-more fashion.
The Memorial Room is furnished, as Thorvaldsen’s professorial residence was in the Academy of Arts. His collection of Danish Golden Age and other European paintings are on display in the galleries on the northern side of the building.
As on the ground floor, original plaster models of Thorvaldsen’s work are on display in the corridors on the upper floor.
Lower Floor
The lower floor is mostly used for temporary exhibitions. The small permanent exhibition on this floor contains personal items of Thorvaldsen, early works, and an explanation of the process followed from clay model to plaster cast and finally carved marble. (The master rarely picked up a chisel himself. However, some works on display in the museum, including Ganymede with Jupiter’s Eagle, are believed to have been carved by Thorvaldsen himself.)
Visitors Information for the Thorvaldsens Museum
Admission Tickets
Admission to the Thorvaldsens Museum is DKK70 for adults, free for children under 18. The museum is free on Wednesday.
The ticket currently gives admission to the Nikolaj Kunsthal as well (within 48 hours).
The Copenhagen Card is accepted.
Audio guides are available for free in a range of languages.
Free wifi is available in the Grand Hall area. Only drinks and very small snacks are available in the courtyard area.
Opening Hours
The Thorvaldsens Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. The museum is closed on Monday, December 24, 25, 31 and January 1.
Location of the Thorvaldsens Museum
The Thorvaldsens Museum is at 2 Bertel Thorvaldsens Plads, 1213 Copenhagen K, tel. +45 33 32 15 32. This is on the Slotholmen Island next to the Christiansborg palace complex in central Copenhagen. The Strombroen, Nationalmuseet bus stop is directly in front of the museum and served by major bus lines including 1A, 2A, 9A, and 26. | https://www.copenhagen-travel.tips/sights/visit-the-thorvaldsens-museum-of-sculptures-in-copenhagen/ |
DESCRIPTION
Technical Field
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for compression of the neck spine for medical imaging purposes, in particular for diagnostic purposes at complementary examination using computed tomography or magnetic resonance tomography.
The object of the present invention is to obtain a device the use of which provides an aid for an adequate and reproducible examination of the neck spine under load in connection with computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance tomography, in particular for the diagnosis of degenerative and inflammatory conditions as well as degenerative instability in the neck.
Diagnosis of the neck with regard to degenerative and inflammatory conditions as well as degenerative instability are hard to carry out under well-defined conditions and the market does not recognise any such diagnostic tools or equipment for said purpose.
EP 95920357.1 discloses a device for compression of the lumbar spine for medical imaging purposes, and then in particular for the diagnosis of the spinal cord canal and nerve structures (spinal stenosis) present.
Further, it is previously known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,629,581 a device for positioning a patients shoulders in connection with an X-ray examination of the spine of a patient, whereby the upper spinal column is pressed downwards towards the examination table and makes it possible to obtain good X-ray pictures of the upper vertebras. Hereby a pressure is applied over the spinal column of the lying patient via two flexible strings provided with handles for the patient which strings are arranged around a foot plate.
There is thus a problem to be solved, viz. to obtain an apparatus or device for the diagnosis of the neck with regard to degenerative and inflammatory conditions as well as degenerative instability under well-defined conditions.
It has now surprisingly been shown possible to be able to solve this problem by the present invention which is characterized in that the device comprises
a waist arrangement to be placed around and in firm contact with the upper body of a patient,
a helmet arrangement to be placed around and in firm contact with the head of a patient, strings connecting said waist arrangement and said helmet arrangement, which strings can be stretched independently of each other and comprise each a tension meter to monitor the force by which the strings are stretched.
By means of the present invention a controlled load of the neck spine can be obtained when the waist arrangement applied around a patient's upper body and the helmet arrangement is placed around and over the head and the strings are stretched to a certain load. Further, the load can be applied asymmetric as well, whereby the neck spine can be examined and diagnosed in any bent position, such as forward, backward, and sidewise.
The invention will now be described more in detail with reference to the attached drawing, showing a preferred device of the invention, however, without being restricted thereto, wherein
FIG. 1
shows a lateral view of one embodiment of a device according to the present invention.
1
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denotes a waist coat arrangement which is arranged to be placed around the upper body of a patient, the thoracic region, and secured up to the armpit, whereby it is fastened conveniently using cords of the burdock type. The waist coat arrangement is applied firmly but still comfortably, but in such a manner that it does not slide over the body. A helmet is provided with means to have it arranged firmly and non-slidable onto a head. The helmet is generally of the type having a number of cords passing over the skull and a skull band which is adjustable as to the diameter of the head to be used on. Between the helmet and the waist coat arrangement there are at least four pulling cords or strings arranged, whereby each string individually can be disconnected/connected to the helmet/waist coat arrangements. Each string comprises a tension meter and a straining means arranged in such a way that each string can be stretched individually, whereby the tension in each string can be monitored. The straining means can, in a simple embodiment, be a mechanical rolling device, manually or motor driven. The tension meters are preferably of an electronic type so that they can be attached to a computer for collecting data necessary to determine and document the conditions used.
The patient provided with the device of the invention is placed upon a resting surface of a patient table being suitable for being introduced in a device for computed tomography or magnetic resonance tomography. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance tomography are known units and are subject of the present invention.
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By having at least four cords or stings the different bending conditions can be achieved. During normal examination the tension in the cords will be about 8 to 10 kpm, whereby under certain extreme conditions it may be as high as 15 to 20 kpm or even higher, e.g. when studying a whiplash damage, where the neck has been subject to very high forces and loads. The number of cords can be increased if more specific bending conditions will be achieved. In such cases six or eight cords or strings with their respective tension meters can be attached.
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The tension meters may also be connected to a motor which affects the straining of the cords whereby a predetermined, adjusted value can be maintained as the tension meters control the motor.
At an examination a patient is placed on his back on the resting surface of the patient table of a tomography apparatus the waist coat arrangement is arranged around the thorax and the helmet arrangement is arranged to the head of the patient, whereafter the cords or strings with their respective tension meters are attached between the two arrangements. The cords or strings are strained to a predetermined value, and the patient is brought into the tomography apparatus to obtain the pictures wanted. To determine conditions using a magnetic resonance tomograph certain special accessories can be needed to obtain the right signals due to a distance between the signal receiving parts and the patient. However, this is common knowledge to the operator of such tomographs, and is not part of the invention. | |
4-page handout with basic examples for citing the most common sources in ACS format.
ACS guide from the University of Texas at Arlington.
With ACS, you need to abbreviate the names of scientific journals.
For example, the Journal of the American Chemical Society would be J. Am. Chem. Soc.
Use this free online tool to convert the full name of a scientific journal into an acronym, as required when citing sources using the ACS style guide.
Include all author names in a reference citation. With multiple authors, separate the names from one another by semicolons. Always end the author field with a period. List the names in inverted form: surname first,then first initial, middle initial, and qualifiers (Jr., II).
Put spaces between the elements and after punctuation, just as you would in a regular sentence.
Remove hyperlinks. The URL should not be blue or underlined (in Word: right-click on the hyperlink --> remove hyperlink).
For journals, the year should be in bold.
For journals, volume numbers are in italics.
For journals, if there is an issue number, include it in parentheses.
For scientific journals, use the CASSI abbreviation for the journal name. If the journal is not in CASSI, use the full journal name and do NOT follow with punctuation.
End the citation with a period.
Keep visiting this box for updates!
Question: There's no date on an article from the U.S. Department of Energy website. How to do cite it?
Question: Do I use a permalink or the URL from the address bar?
Answer: For the Chemistry 142 annotated bibliography, when using an article from one of the library's databases, use the permalink for the article rather than the URL from the browser's address bar.
Question: The URL or permalink is very long, and it causes a big gap of white space at the end of the line. Should I break it up?
Answer: No. For the Chemistry 142 annotated bibliography assignment, don't worry about the white space; let the URL or permalink wrap naturally.
Question: Do I include the article title?
Answer: Yes. Although the ACS Style Guide says journal titles are optional information, it also says they can be "desirable to highlight the contents." For CHEM 142, including the article title will make it easier to share annotated bibliographies with classmates.
Question: Do I use title case or sentence case for the article title?
Question: Should I use a URL or a DOI?
Answer: If there is no permalink, use the DOI if one is available. If there is no DOI, use the URL from the browser.
Question: What format do I use for the letters DOI? Is it DOI: or doi:?
Question: How do I abbreviate a hyphenated first name, like Jane-Francis Smith?
Answer: Keep the hyphen. Jane-Francis Smith becomes: Smith, J.-F.
Question: What if a journal title is abbreviated, but it's not a CASSI abbreviation?
Answer: If it's not a CASSI abbreviation, track down the full journal name and use that.
Question: How do I treat names with participles, like Michael van der Putten?
Answer: We cannot find a rule in ACS, so we are following this format: Michael van der Putten would be: van der Putten, Michael, alphabetized under "V".
Question: If the journal title is not abbreviated, should I put a period or a comma at the end of the journal title?
Answer: No. For both scientific and non-scientific journals, do not put either a period or a comma at the end of a non-abbreviated journal title. | http://libraryguides.library.clark.edu/citing-sources/citing-sources-acs |
This has been a tough week for medical marijuana entrepreneurs in Northern California.
In Napa, the City Council voted 3-2 to ban medical dispensaries, while the board of supervisors in neighboring Solano County voted to permanently prohibit all medical cannabis operations in unincorporated areas.
The bans highlight the need for entrepreneurs to play an active role in the political process.
Entrenched political views, stubbornness and fear-mongering appear to have swayed the vote in both areas.
Opponents raised age-old – and mostly discredited – concerns about the medical cannabis business, such as the possibility of increased youth access. In Napa, children from local schools even spoke at a hearing to bolster this argument.
Lawmakers also exhibited a general lack of awareness about the industry.
In Solano County, one supervisor admitted that officials hadn’t done enough research on dispensaries. Another said he attended only three of the five public outreach meetings on medical marijuana.
To overcome these challenges, supporters must work to educate lawmakers and the public about medical marijuana and the business in general. Assuaging long-held fears and shooting down stereotypes is a great way to enact political change, and it could have been enough to tip the scales in both Napa and Solano County. | https://mjbizdaily.com/more-mmj-business-bans-in-northern-california/ |
Related: Informational Interview Tips: Scheduling, Example Questions to Ask & More!
In this video, we’ll share what an informational interview is and how informational interviews can benefit you in your current job search. Sinead will offer tips on scheduling an informational interview and how to prepare your questions (with examples!).
With thousands of different careers available, there's a lot to consider when narrowing down the right path for yourself. The best way to start is to reflect on your skills, interests and career goals so you can find a position you enjoy and excel in. Doing this designs a career path which you can use to make big life choices, such as which schools you attend, whether to pursue a diploma, certificate degree and which entry-level job is right for your future goals.
In this article, we look at what a career path is, provide examples of common career paths and how you can choose one that matches your skills and interest.
Related: How to Create a Career Plan in 9 Steps
What is a career path?
A career path is a series of roles you take to progress in your chosen field. You can develop a career path at any point in your life, but many start with entry-level jobs or a university degree. Career paths can be vertical, meaning you start with an entry-level position and advance to higher-level ones as you gain the necessary knowledge and skills. But they can also be lateral, which is when you take a position equal to yours within or across different industries. You may even decide to move backward later in your career path by taking on a role with fewer responsibilities and less stress.
How to choose a career path
Before choosing a career path, there are several factors you must consider, such as your goals, skill set and personality. Following these steps as you prepare your career path will guide you:
1. Assess your personality type
The first thing you should consider when creating your career path is your personality type. A personality type is a set of traits that fall into a specific group. There are plenty of great self-assessments to help you determine your personality type. Many of these assessments suggest career choices for each type, as unique personalities suit different careers better. You don't need to limit yourself to this list of suggested careers, but if the same careers come up multiple times, it's wise to research them.
Here are some popular tools you can use to identify your personality type:
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI): the MBTI is one of the most popular self-reporting questionnaires for identifying your personality type. It identifies your psychological preferences by asking introspective questions. Once completed, you receive a four-letter code that describes your personality type and a career report with a list of occupations that are popular among people with your personality type.
The Jungian Type Index (JTI): similar to the MBTI, the JTI helps people identify their psychological type by measuring their preference for different psychological functions. You can complete the questionnaire within 15 minutes and then receive an overview of your personality type and recommended careers.
The Keirsey Temperament Sorter: this self-assessment questionnaire focuses on behaviour and temperament questions to help you find a role that matches your temperament type. There are four temperament types: artisan, guardian, idealist and rational.
Related: Guide: 16 Personality Types
2. Review your previous experience
If you have previous work experience, reflecting on it can be helpful when creating your new career path. If you liked a previous job, your career path can include roles in the same industry. If it wasn't for you, you'll want to focus your attention elsewhere. The same goes for any volunteer or community experience. If you really liked the work you were doing, research ways you can make a career out of it. Reflecting on your previous experience helps you identify your skill set.
3. Assess your current skill set
After reflecting on your previous experience, you may have a better idea of your current skill set. Writing this down will help you find a career that matches your experience. Make a list of your current skills, certifications and areas of expertise. This list will also identify the skills you need to master or develop for a chosen career path.
4. List your interests
You may think that your hobbies or interests should stay separate from your work. However, you should love your work and finding a career that incorporates your interests is a great way to do that. Create a list of activities you enjoy, even if you think there's no way you could monetize them. These activities narrow down your career path by taking your favourite aspect and applying it to your work. For example, if you love to travel, working as a flight attendant, pilot or travel consultant are great ways to explore that interest. If you enjoy reading, a career in publishing could be a great option.
5. Identify your core values
Finding a job that you find fulfilling is important and identifying your core values beforehand can help you do that. Make a list of your values and qualities you think a company should have. It can be things as simple as, “A company that values its employees” or more in-depth, such as, “A company that provides comprehensive health and dental benefits.” Mark values that are deal-breakers to you, so if a company does not share them, you can continue your search. Identifying your core values narrows down your search to fields you know you find fulfilling.
6. Outline your career goals
After reflecting on your personality, experience, skills, interests and values, apply that information to create your career goals. This requires more self-reflection as you need to consider what you want from your career. Do you want a managerial position? Do you want to be earning a certain amount of money each year? Do you want to be an expert on a certain topic? Whatever your career goals are, it's important that you find a path to reach them.
Related: SMART Goals: Objectives for Your Career
7. Make a list of occupations to explore
You may already have an idea of what type of job you want, so make a list of all the occupations you want to explore. You can pull jobs from the personality assessments you did or just think of jobs that match your interests, experience, skills and values. Include as many jobs as you want and researching them to narrow down your list.
8. Research the occupations on your list
Once you have a list of occupations, you can start researching. Review job descriptions to see if the position details interest you. Look at educational requirements to see if you meet them and if not, consider whether you can take the time to get the necessary degree, diploma or certificate. Research career paths within the industry to see if they match your long-term goals. Will the job pay enough to meet your salary needs? All this research narrows down your list and creates a unique career path.
9. Make your career choice
You should now be able to narrow down your list to one career that meets your needs and interests. Pick the career that you think will bring you the most overall satisfaction. Volunteering, taking relevant courses or talking to people in the industry are all great ways to see if you're making the right decision before fully committing. It's also important to remember that this choice is not permanent. If you start an entry-level job in the industry and realize you don't like it, you can always create an alternative career path.
10. Create a five-year and ten-year plan
After making a career choice, you can finally establish a career path. You can do so by creating a five-year and ten-year plan. Research what positions you can work towards in your field over the years to reach your end goal. Look at what training or prerequisites you'll need and write them into your plan. You don't need to follow these plans exactly, but having them handy guides your progression.
Examples of career paths
To help create your own career path, review some examples in different fields. Here are several examples of common career paths in a variety of industries: | https://ca.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/career-path |
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has adopted its first-ever human rights policy statement.
The Statement outlines the Commonwealth sports movement’s ambition and responsibility to champion human rights, with programmes, activities, and agreements with future host cities and partners aimed at promoting the protection and enjoyment of human rights.
David Grevemberg, the chief executive of the CGF, noted.
"This human rights statement represents the next step in the CGF’s commitment to embed human rights within our governance, management systems, development, events, fundraising and marketing."
The Statement notes that the CGF Governance and Integrity Committee will continue to evaluate human rights impacts as part of the process of reviewing the CGF's wider governance structure, including how such considerations impact CGF's work with global sponsor and broadcast partners.
The aim of this work is to publish a CGF Human Rights Policy and human rights Due Diligence Strategy ahead of the CGF General Assembly in March 2018 for ratification.
Key Provisions of the Statement include:
- It was approved in Colombo, Sri Lanka following a two-day meeting of the CGF Executive Board
- The CGF Pledge section states: "The CGF in its daily operations and relationships is committed to implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (2011) and embraces the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (1998). We recognise our responsibility to respect human rights and to provide or contribute towards access to effective remedy where adverse human rights impacts occur."
- Affirms the expectations outlined also apply to its partners, including: Commonwealth Games Associations, the Local Organising Committees for the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games (the Games), commercial partners and suppliers, and others linked to the CGF through business relationships.
- Notes that the CGF is mapping its business relationships to identify where CGF activities and those of its partner organisations might adversely impact people’s human rights and to prevent and mitigate the most salient risks, noting the principal relationships at present are with: the Commonwealth Games Associations, and the Games Local Organising Committees.
- Outlines CGF's commitment to follow international human rights standards in the face of conflicting national legal requirements.
- Highlights the steps it is taking to embed its commitments into its governance and culture, including working with Unicef UK to carry out a human rights gap analysis and revise existing policies and procedures, including of the Candidate City Manual and Host City Contracts.
- Notes CGF has also published a revised Candidate City Manual, and consulted with human rights and transparency experts to strengthen its portfolio of bid-related documents. | https://www.sporthumanrights.org/en/news/commonwealth-games-federation-publishes-first-human-rights-policy-statement |
You Are Not Defined by Your Failure: How to Begin Letting Go and Moving On.
To fail is to fall short, to be perceived as weak, to break down, to fall, to not reach your purpose, to lack success. No wonder we are all so afraid of failure! When it comes to failure, we must decide whose rules we are playing by. Would you rather be a success in business and a failure as a parent, or vice versa? Would you rather be successful by the world’s standards or God’s? Now is the time to decide what definitions of success and failure you will live by.*
Often, we can become stuck in the present by our past mistakes and failures. How can we move forward effectively, learning and growing from our mistakes, and letting them go at the same time? Learning how to forgive yourself starts with accepting that God has already forgiven you.
You need to understand a few things when it comes to seeing failure through God’s eyes:
- You are human and will make mistakes; we all have weaknesses. Therefore, we must learn to live with our failures. Strong character is developed in accordance with how you deal with your mistakes and move on from them.
- Remember that failure is actually important for your development. Mistakes can teach us vital lessons about what to do differently in the future, which helps us avoid repeating them!
- It is within your weakness that He is best able to teach and strengthen you: “Realize that God’s work is not limited by our failures. He does not reject us in our weakness but rather embraces us so that we can receive strength to be all He intended us to be.”*
- God doesn’t hold our failures and mistakes over us; he gives us limitless grace and mercy. His love totally outweighs any mistake you have made, so you can begin to forgive yourself in this knowledge. And He designed you to have a loving relationship with him. Thus, “failure” in God’s sight is your living outside of the way He intended you live. Your biggest mistake would be to reject your loving creator. As such, this kind of failure is really hard to achieve for those who keep their eyes on Him.
Your history and your mistakes do not define who you are. Your identity is in Christ, not in any event or words said in the past. Letting go and moving on from failure can be achieved through the love of God, which leads to your acceptance and pursuit of the person He intended you to be.
Our friends at Way Nation sat down to discuss this topic with Tenth Avenue North’s lead singer, Mike Donehey. Donehey reveals his struggles with letting go and moving on. He finds grace and infinite mercy within his Creator’s arms, giving him the strength to discover self-forgiveness and his true identity in Christ. Check it out: | http://unfoldingfaithblog.com/2019/01/24/you-are-not-defined-by-your-failure-how-to-begin-letting-go-and-moving-on/ |
The field of fertility is rapidly evolving, bringing opportunities for improvement in our patients' quality of life as well as bringing new ethical dilemmas. As medical science continues to advance, significant numbers of the reproductive-aged population are living with chronic and/or terminal conditions but have reasonable odds of lengthy survival and wish to have children. Likewise, there are adolescents diagnosed with cancer who are increasingly expected to achieve an improved, if not normal, life expectancy after treatment. Oftentimes these children are told they must sacrifice their ability to later have genetically related offspring; however, technologies to preserve fertility are changing this prognosis. Patients with chronic infection are living longer, more normal lives and are increasingly seeking reproductive assistance. Moreover, there is an increasing number of patients' families desiring posthumous use of gametes, which also raises ethical and legal issues. This article discusses ethical principles of bioethics and then highlights specific ethical issues through four plausible cases that may be seen in a fertility practice providing medical care to patients with chronic illness or terminal disease. It concludes that prompt referral of patients to the reproductive endocrinologist, along with a multidisciplinary approach to care, provides increased chances of successful treatment of this group of patients. | https://researchexperts.utmb.edu/en/publications/the-ethical-challenges-of-providing-fertility-care-to-patients-wi |
Kawasaki's Approach to the SDGs
In 2015, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which are a set of 17 goals that we should achieve by 2030 including eradication of poverty, inequality and unfairness and response to climate change. The SDGs are specific action plans which request businesses, governments and communities around the world to address the global agenda jointly in order to realize the prosperity of humankind and the earth. It is widely believed that the contribution by business enterprises to resolve of social issues through business activities is indispensable.
We believe the Kawasaki Group Mission—“Kawasaki, working as one for the good of the planet”—is extremely compatible with the SDGs. Furthermore, we believe that our efforts to provide solutions to social issues through our business activities will contribute significantly to the achievement of the SDGs.
In the process of identifying material issues the Kawasaki Group designated three ways of creating social and environmental value through its businesses as its greatest priorities over the long term.
These ways are the three focal fields on our Group Vision 2030: “a safe and secure remotely connected society,” “near-future mobility,” and “energy and environmental solutions.” The three fields are also positioned as a clear statement of our commitment to contribute to the SDGs through our business. Additionally, the management identified SDGs that the Group should contribute to and set non-financial targets to reach by 2030. We will periodically disclose its progress toward these targets while working to maximize social and environmental value, achieve sustainable growth, and contribute to the realization of the SDGs. | https://global.kawasaki.com/en/corp/sustainability/materiality/sdgs.html |
I was the only designer on the AWS team when they went through a site redesign. The main site housed 4 different departments each with their own objectives and services they provided. The challenge was making a flexible framework that would satisfy all departments needs and wants.
I collaborated with Project Managers and stakeholder teams on developing landing pages and a flexible UX framework for all the products under the Amazon services umbrella. I created final designs including high-fidelity, pixel-perfect screenshots to gain executive approval for the site development. Also, I updated the UX guidelines with polished images, redline/visual specifications and expected rules of control usage and interaction.
The Approach
This was my first exposure to a waterfall process which proved to be challenging at the beginning but I adjusted my tactics and approach along the way to adapt. With this process, things moved very fast so I had to accommodate that during design rounds. I set up bi-weekly meetings with all stakeholders (15 in total) to review wireframes and design decisions. I then would take feedback and adjust the designs and present to the group again. In the end, this proved to be a very painful and tedious process. After some lengthy discussions about the websites objectives and priorities, the stakeholders and I were able to come up with a flexible framework that met all their needs. I’m proud of this project because of the fact that this website has stayed live for many years, proving that the flexible framework that I designed was able to be easily updated and adapt.
Before & Afters
I was unable to take away any of the wireframing or initial design work due to very strict NDA’s. What I do have is before and after screens showing all that changed and how the new design looks. | http://danasmitham.com/portfolios/amazon-2/ |
Éditeur:
Date de sortie : 1998
Regine Pernoud has addressed herself to the study of many questions about the status of women in the Middle Ages and presents her surprising answers in this captivating work. Here one learns that the most ancient treatise on education in France was written by a woman; and medicine was practiced regularly by women in the thirteenth century; that in the twelfth century the Order of Fontevraud gathered both monks and religious sisters under the authority of an abbess. This is a systematic study that provides a multitude of concrete examples. No aspect of feminine activity in the course of the medieval periods is neglected: administration of property, professions and commerce, the intellectual life, even politics; writers, educators, sovereigns, and those who enlivened the royal courts. Moreover, the author draws from the history of law and the history of events and social customs to sketch something never before attempted, an outline of the evolution of the power of women. This is a classic work without reference to which any inquiry into the questions addressed here must remain incomplete.
Auteur : Régine Pernoud
Auteur : Régine Pernoud
la langue : en
Éditeur: Ignatius Press
Date de sortie : 2000
As she examines the many misconceptions about the "Middle Ages", the renown French historian, Regine Pernoud, gives the reader a refreshingly original perspective on many subjects, both historical (from the Inquisition and witchcraft trials to a comparison of Gothic and Renaissance creative inspiration) as well as eminently modern (from law and the place of women in society to the importance of history and tradition). Here are fascinating insights, based on Pernoud's sound knowledge and extensive experience as an archivist at the French National Archives. The book will be provocative for the general readers as well as a helpful resource for teachers. Scorned for centuries, although lauded by the Romantics, these thousand years of history have most often been concealed behind the dark clouds of ignorance: Why, didn't godiche (clumsy, oafish) come from gothique (Gothic)? Doesn't "fuedal" refer to the most hopeless obscurantism? Isn't "Medieval" applied to dust-covered, outmoded things? Here the old varnish is stripped away and a thousand years of history finally emerge -- the "Middle Ages" are dead, long live the Middle Ages!
Auteur : Rachel Fulton
la langue : en
Éditeur: Columbia University Press
Date de sortie : 2005-01-22
Devotion to the crucified Christ is one of the most familiar, yet most disconcerting artifacts of medieval European civilization. How and why did the images of the dying God-man and his grieving mother achieve such prominence, inspiring unparalleled religious creativity as well such imitative extremes as celibacy and self-flagellation? To answer this question, Rachel Fulton ranges over developments in liturgical performance, private prayer, doctrine, and art. She considers the fear occasioned by the disappointed hopes of medieval Christians convinced that the apocalypse would come soon, the revulsion of medieval Jews at being baptized in the name of God born from a woman, the reform of the Church in light of a new European money economy, the eroticism of the Marian exegesis of the Song of Songs, and much more.
Auteur : Ken Follett
la langue : en
Éditeur: Penguin
Date de sortie : 2010-06-29
#1 New York Times Bestseller Oprah's Book Club Selection The “extraordinary . . . monumental masterpiece” (Booklist) that changed the course of Ken Follett’s already phenomenal career. Look out for Ken's newest book, A Column of Fire, available now. “Follett risks all and comes out a clear winner,” extolled Publishers Weekly on the release of The Pillars of the Earth. A departure for the bestselling thriller writer, the historical epic stunned readers and critics alike with its ambitious scope and gripping humanity. Today, it stands as a testament to Follett’s unassailable command of the written word and to his universal appeal. The Pillars of the Earth tells the story of Philip, prior of Kingsbridge, a devout and resourceful monk driven to build the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has known . . . of Tom, the mason who becomes his architect—a man divided in his soul . . . of the beautiful, elusive Lady Aliena, haunted by a secret shame . . . and of a struggle between good and evil that will turn church against state and brother against brother. A spellbinding epic tale of ambition, anarchy, and absolute power set against the sprawling medieval canvas of twelfth-century England, this is Ken Follett’s historical masterpiece.
Auteur : Meg Lota Brown
la langue : en
Éditeur: Greenwood Publishing Group
Date de sortie : 2005
This volume examines the attitudes and practices that shaped the varied roles of women in the Renaissance and also the important ways women shaped the world in which they lived.
Auteur : Stanford E. Lehmberg
la langue : en
Éditeur: Princeton University Press
Date de sortie : 2014-07-14
Stanford Lehmberg, a noted authority on the Tudor period, examines the impact of the Reformation on the cathedrals of England and Wales. Based largely on manuscript materials from the cathedral archives themselves, this book is the first attempt to draw together information for all twenty-nine of the cathedrals that existed in the Tudor period. The author scrutinizes the major changes that took place during this era in the institutional structure, personnel, endowments, liturgy, and music of the cathedral and shows how the cathedrals, unlike the monasteries that were dissolved by Henry VIII, succeeded in adapting successfully to the Reformation. Forty-two illustrations depict sixteenth-century changes in cathedral buildings. Narrative chapters trace the changes that occurred during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, "Bloody" Mary, and Elizabeth I. Analytical sections are devoted to cathedral finance and cathedral music. The changing lives of cathedral musicians are described in some detail, and even greater attention is paid to the cathedral clergy, whose living conditions changed markedly when they were allowed to marry. Using a variety of sources, including such physical remains as tombs and monuments, the concluding chapter discusses the role of cathedrals in English society. Originally published in 1989. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905. | http://webmaster24.info/livre/women-in-the-days-of-cathedrals |
Several classes at Irvington are still taught by substitutes, over two months into the school year. This inability to find full-time teachers can be traced back to FUSD hiring policy. The policy establishes a preference for hiring intradistrict teachers over educators who have taught outside the district until April 15 of the current school year. Only after this deadline is administration free to consider all applicants equally for the job, and have approximately 4 months before the start of the next school year to do so.This policy leaves school administration little time to find full-time teachers, causing inconsistencies in teaching for students and reliance on long-term substitutes, both of which lead to adverse effects for students in regards to learning ability, grading, and progression.
Without a permanent teacher, students are subject to great inconsistency. Long-term substitutes can only teach for a maximum of 30 days. After this period, a new long-term substitute must be hired to instruct the class. This constant change of instructors disrupts students’ ability to learn. There is no regularity in material, teaching style, and grading,all of which can negatively impact the degree to which a student can learn effectively and consistently, and even the accuracy of a student’s grade.
Several students has voiced their concerns about substitutes as well. “The sub effectively took away a month of potential learning from us, ” said junior Humza Khan. “It kept us doing what can only be described as busy work.”
Under a substitute teacher, students cannot progress as consistently as they would under a permanent teacher, especially academically. A study conducted by Matthew Kraft, Assistant Professor of Education at Brown University, found that “hiring teachers after the school year starts reduces student achievement by 0.042 SD in mathematics and 0.026 SD in reading.” Once hired, the permanent teachers often have to reteach material and re-establish relationships with students. The study concluded that “late-hired teachers remain persistently less effective…relative to other teachers in their same school, grade, and year…because they have less time to…learn new curriculum, develop lesson plans, and learn school operations and…must juggle these tasks while teaching.” Using substitutes stalls students’ learning, leaving them unprepared despite having taken the class.
While the administration scrambles to secure permanent teachers, substitutes continue to teach classes one month at a time, resulting in an educational disadvantage. Students shouldn’t have to the pay the price for a district policy that leaves administrators with little time to find stable educators. Despite FUSD policy, better balancing applicants with deadlines would aid in alleviating the situation, and ensure students’ education is not neglected, but rather takes priority. | https://ihsvoice.com/2015/11/03/wanted-permanent-teacher/ |
PAS Selangor will continue to carry out its responsibilities in the state despite pressure from DAP for it to quit the state government.
Selangor PAS coordinator Datuk Iskandar Abdul Samad (PAS-Chempaka) said DAP should focus on service to the people and should not drag political matters into the fray, especially when the state assembly just resumed its session.
“PAS would remain in the government and our job is to carry out the responsibility as a part of the state government. We have a lot of work, the 2016 budget had just been passed, and our focus should be to look after the welfare of the people,” he said.
At the recently concluded Selangor DAP convention, Kajang Baru DAP chairman Chiong Yoke Kong suggested that DAP leaders pressure Selangor Mentri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali to axe PAS excos from the state government within a stipulated time frame.
Should Azmin fail to do so, Chiong said DAP leaders will not hesitate to leave the state’s government.
When asked by reporters on whether PAS Selangor would bring the issue to its central committee, Iskandar said they have yet to decide on it and would instead focus on their work.
Meanwhile, Selangor DAP publicity secretary Ng Suee Lim (DAPSekinchan) said the matters brought by Chiong was based on his personal capacity and does not necessarily reflect the party’s stand.
“That is his personal opinion, the convention was the best platform for him to express his views and we should respect that,” Ng said. | https://www.pressreader.com/malaysia/the-sun-malaysia/20151103/281595239403257 |
Ft. Pierce, Florida - May 17, 2010 | The Ocean Research and Conservation Association (ORCA) announced today that it has deployed a water quality monitoring system called Kilroy to determine watershed flow patterns and physical water characteristics from Island Creek into the Choptank River of Chesapeake Bay. The Kilroy system is compiling data for water flow speeds, flow direction, temperature, wave height and water depth.
ORCA's Top Scientist Receives Conservationist of the Year Award
Ft. Pierce, Florida - May 21, 2009 | Dr. Edith “Edie”Widder, co-founder, president and senior scientist of the Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA), has received the Conservation Alliance of St. Lucie County’s Environmentalist of the Year award. Dr.Widder was recognized for her leadership in developing the ORCA Kilroy, a new water quality monitoring system deployed to help protect the Indian River Lagoon.
Technology Protects Critically Endangered Goliath Grouper
Ft. Pierce, Florida - November 19, 2008 | The Ocean Research & Conservation
Association (ORCA) and its collaborators announced today the world's first use of an
acoustic underwater camera to survey juveniles of goliath grouper in mangrove habitats.
This high tech sonogram finds the baby giants tucked away in mangrove nurseries.
Dr. Widder wins MacArthur Fellowship
Ft. Pierce, Florida - September 19, 2006 | Dr. Edith Widder, President & Senior Scientist of the Ocean Research & Conservation Association, has been named a MacArthur Fellow for 2006. She will receive $500,000 in “no strings attached” support over the next five years under the terms of the award from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
ORCA IS DEDICATED TO THE PROTECTION & RESTORATION OF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS &
THE SPECIES THEY SUSTAIN THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES
& SCIENCE BASED CONSERVATION ACTION.
PLEASE HELP SUPPORT OUR MISSION.
"Deployment of
ORCA’s Kilroys in the Indian River Lagoon
will be a huge step forward for improvement and restoration efforts as well as the quality of life for area residents." | http://www.oceanrecon.org/cfiles/press.cfm |
BACKGROUND: Patches of Hope is proof that a small group of people can make a big difference. In 2002, a group of co-workers in Saskatchewan launched the Patches of Hope Quilt Auction after losing a number of their colleagues to cancer. Thanks to support from the community, the first three years of the auction have been a great success. 2005 will be the event's fourth year.
This year's auction will take place October 13 and thanks to your media support, the event is sold out. We have had a significant number of people buy tickets at the door in previous years. We need to let the general public know that the event is sold out and that tickets will not be available at the door this year.
THANKS TO THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR SPONSORS AND ALL THOSE WHO BOUGHT TICKETS, THE PATCHES OF HOPE 2005 QUILT AUCTION HAS BEEN SOLD OUT. TICKETS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR.
ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE OCTOBER 13 QUILT AUCTION WILL GO TO THE CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY TO HELP FUND CANCER RESEARCH AND CANCER PATIENT SUPPORT HERE IN SASKATCHEWAN.
PATCHES OF HOPE...FIGHTING CANCER - STITCH BY STITCH. | http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/Canadian-Cancer-Society-Patches-of-Hope-Quilt-Auction-Sold-Out-562394.htm |
Summer Beauty Ornamental Chives features bold balls of lightly-scented pink flowers at the ends of the stems from early to late summer. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its fragrant sword-like leaves remain dark green in color throughout the season. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.
Summer Beauty Ornamental Chives is an open herbaceous perennial with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.
Summer Beauty Ornamental Chives will grow to be about 10 inches tall at maturity extending to 20 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 10 inches. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years.
This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation. | http://plants.thegrowingplace.com/12120014/Plant/5942/Summer_Beauty_Ornamental_Chives |
I was looking in my parsha archives for what to write about this week and came across this little gem. It was from 2000, a good 19 years ago so I am sure you don’t remember it. You will quickly see that it is dated somewhat because I write about my son Moishe as a seven-year-old. I have expanded it a bit since I would like to think that I might be a better writer these days.
In the Hagadah, we read that in each and every generation, one is obligated to see him or herself as if he or she had personally come out of Egypt. This line has bothered commentaries throughout the ages for how realistic is this requirement given that we have not had the Exodus experience personally? We all know that when we have an intense experience – good or bad – another person cannot fully appreciate it unless they have had a similar or identical experience.
My father who was a Holocaust survivor used to always say that one who has not been through it could never imagine what is was like and I think we could all agree to that. So similarly how could we be expected to feel like we were slaves, to feel the daily oppression, the bondage, the inability to live a free life and then the subsequent redemption, if we have not had a similar Exodus from Egypt happening in our lives? I am sure some have been redeemed from some very difficult situations, but for most of us who have grown up in the freedom and luxury of the United States, Canada or Britain, it is a foreign concept.
So allow me to illustrate how this might be accomplished or at least understood. My son Moishy is a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey club. One day his friend at school asked him why the Florida Panthers are not his favorite team. “My dad is from New York but I am not a Rangers fan, so what if your dad is from Toronto, you grow up here and should be a Panthers fan like me” he tells my son. Perplexed at how to deal with this challenge to his love and identity, Moishy asked me how he should answer his little buddy. So I explained to him the difference. To his dad who grew up in New York, Hockey is a game; to Moishy’s dad who grew up in Toronto – Hockey is a tradition. For them, it is just another sport like so many others they follow like baseball or basketball. But for Canadians, hockey is more akin to a religion, and just like a religion it gets passed down from one generation to the next.
We all know that memory is crucial to the identity of a person and a nation. The tragedy of Alzheimer’s disease is that there is no awareness by one of the parties of that history that created the relationship. All the memories of the thousands of experiences, events, shared emotions and moments together that created the love and bond are lost. And because relationships by definition are a two way street – the relationship in a large sense is gone. There is still intense love for the person, but there is little relationship since one party has had its memory erased.
Similarly, on a national basis, without a connection to the defining moments that have made up that nation and created it, without being part of the ongoing experiences of that people, then there is no relationship to the peoplehood of one’s past. This is why it’s crucial for Jews to visit Israel – it instantly connects us to our glorious past and history. It is why one of the first things I teach to my JWRP brothers after the Israel trip is A Crash Course in Jewish History. It gives people a sense of who they are and from whence they came.
The Haggadah knows that we cannot fully experience the miracles that the Israelites did 3500 years ago. But that is not the point. Seeing yourself as coming out of Egypt is not in the experience but in the identification that you are part of the continuum of that experience. That you are part and parcel of the Jewish nation and a crucial entity in its continuation and mission in the world.
It is no accident that Hockey Night in Canada will often include historical videos in its pregame montages (here is one of my favourites: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vczq0HbgEZo). They know that tapping into history is key for the game to go on, and for fans to connect to it. Jewish tradition has understood the same all along. Our life and people is a montage of thousands of years of amazing and miraculous event. It began before Egypt with the forefathers and mothers, became defined in Egypt and Sinai and Eretz Yisrael and continued ever since – during the high points and during the dark days – for thousands of years until today.
This Shabbat is Rosh Chodesh Nissan, the first of the month of Nissan – Pesach is two weeks away. It’s time for the playoffs to begin. It’s time to make your own montage of Jewish history stretching back to Egypt, and to pass it on to your children. Let the games begin, or better yet, let the games continue. | https://aishfl.com/the-playoffs/ |
10 Ideas For Healthy Eating
Part of being healthy is eating healthy. Making your diet a priority can help reduce your risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other illnesses. Not to mention, it can boost your overall well-being.
Here are some ways to start making better food choices, with tips from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition.
1. Eat more fruits and vegetables
Add red, orange and dark-green vegetables to your meals. The more colorful your plate, the more likely you are to get the vitamins, minerals and fiber you need.
Try: Adding fruits and veggies to just about anything - pizza, smoothies, pancakes, sandwiches. Swap out the cookie jar at home for a fruit bowl; this will help you and your family make smarter choices when craving a snack.
2. Eat more whole grains
Start eating whole wheat bread instead of white bread. Read the ingredients list on products and choose ones that list whole-grains first - things like “whole wheat,” “brown rice,” “bulger,” or “rolled oats.”
Try: Adding granola to your yogurt, or using whole wheat flour for baking instead of white flour.
3. Go lean
Switch to a lower-fat milk and look for lower-fat options in other dairy products like yogurt and cheese. Choose leaner cuts of meat.
Try: Swapping out meats that are higher in fat for leaner ones. For example: ground turkey or chicken for ground beef.
4. Cut back on sodium
Even though some food may have less fat, they could be packed with salt. Be mindful of your sodium intake by reading the nutrition facts. Look for “low sodium” or “no salt added” labels on foods - especially canned and frozen ones.
Try: Cooking without salt, and using herbs or spices to add flavor.
5. Drink more water
Soda, energy drinks, and sports drinks add unnecessary sugar and calories to your diet.
Try: Adding a slice of lemon, lime, or watermelon or a splash of 100 percent juice to your glass of water for flavor.
6. Eat more seafood
Fish and shellfish has protein, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids (heart-healthy fat).
Try: To eat at least eight ounces a week of a variety of seafood. (Children can eat smaller amounts). Use shrimp in your pasta instead of meatballs, or use fish in tacos instead of beef.
7. Limit solid fats
Baked goods like cakes and cookies are often made with butter, margarine or shortening. Also processed meats like sausages, hot dogs and bacon are a major source of fat.
Try: Healthier brands of foods that aren’t processed, and those with fewer preservatives. When baking, use substitutes like applesauce for ingredients that add fat.
8. Watch portion size
Eat to be satisfied, but not full. Avoid the temptation to finish what’s on your plate; you can always save leftovers for lunch the next day.
Try: Using smaller plates, so you’re not overdoing the portions.
9. Eat out less
While many restaurants have started posting nutrition facts on their menus, you don’t always know the ingredients in your food. If you prepare meals at home, you know exactly what is going into them.
Try: If you do eat out, choose baked or grilled food instead of fried to reduce the amount of fat and calories.
10. Reduce “impulse buying”
Those cookies that are on sale. The chips you’ve always wanted to try. It’s not easy to resist the urge, especially when shopping with kids. Stick to your shopping list and save treats for special occasions and rewards.
Try: Shopping in the “outer ring” of the store. That’s where the healthier foods like fresh produce, fish, eggs and dairy tend to live.
To learn more about how the Y can help you achieve a healthier lifestyle, visit us online or stop by your local branch. Because the Y is for all, financial assistance is available to eligible families and individuals who would like to be part of the YMCA.
Comments
0 comments on "Want to Eat More Healthy? 10 Ideas to Start" | https://www.metroymcas.org/blog/2019/07/30/healthy-living/want-to-eat-more-healthy-10-ideas-to-start/ |
For her first solo exhibition in Belgium, Sofia Hultén shows recent works, some of which were specifically designed for the gallery space. The exhibition 99 Problems is an embodiment of the issues that she has been examining for the past ten years. Whilst basing her work on meticulous observation of commonplace objects, this young artist questions time, memory, traces and transformation.In the right-hand room, Hultén has installed a video monitor on the floor showing Past Particles, where she individually recorded over a thousand small objects taken from a found toolbox. This video, lasting 72 minutes, presents heterogeneous objects which no longer have any precise use (bits of plastic, bent nails, pieces of wood, ...) but which probably at some time belonged to a do-it-yourself enthusiast who saw a purpose in them. Past Particles is a work in which the fragile survival of the object is emphasised whilst opening up a process of reflection about the 'inertdata of experience'. The explosion of the content of this toolbox is counterbalanced by With Added Dimensions which, whilst having the appearance of a ready-made, is actually an object manipulated and transformed by the artist. This formal reinterpretation is also visible in 99 Problems, consisting of ninety nine padlocks locked to each other, and ninety nine matching keys, arranged next to each other, but in a random sequence. Finally, The Actual Calculated Size ofa Black Hole is a photograph of a scientific book, which describes the size of a black hole if it had the same mass as the Earth. The size of the hole has been drilled through the glass of the frame, and also through the wall where the photograph hangs.In the left-hand room, Hultén presents One Step One Time, a staircase rescued from the scrapyard, which she has carefully observed. After having identified one special features on each step (a drop of paint, a scrape mark, ...), she reenacts the actions that led to the appearance of these features on each of the other steps. For example, the drop of paint visible on the first step is recreated deliberately on the other six steps. The artist records all her actions on video, in a close-up which, by placing us in an intimate setting, also positions us in a tense atmosphere. This work also creates a camouflage effect (where is the original, where is the copy?) that we find in the diptych Test/Tat, showing side by side a photograph of the found state of a soiled shirt-sleeve which has then been dry cleaned, re-enacted by the artist and photographed to make the second photograph.In the videobox, is the video From the Long Story, a work taking audio-cassettes recorded by Hultén's grandmother for her grand-daughter, aged three at the time, as a starting point. The story, told in Swedish, lasts a total of twelve hours, but here it has been edited down to 32 minutes. In the manner of a storyteller, she speaks about the history of the world: how the Earth was created, the circulation of the blood and the discovery of electricity amongst many other topics.In her work, Sofia HULTÉN presents a record of a world scattered with traces of the past, and clues which she brings back to life, thus enabling a real experience of time.
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Let’s recall the 3 steps you can take to create what we consider the pillars of the most fundamental and widely used start position on the elite level: find mid-foot pressure, connect the bar and shins, and align the bar with the back of your shoulders. These 3 steps are optimizing the angles in the body for each individual and placing it where it needs to be in relation to the bar to set the stage for moving the bar in an efficient path. Since the start position is the precursor of your movement through the rest of the lift, and your movement is controlling the bar (hopefully), we need to talk about the path we’d like the bar to take here before going any further. This will help us better understand the need for these 3 steps and the desirable actions to follow.
First of all, the path that the barbell takes from the beginning to the end of the lift is simply referred to as “bar path” or “barbell trajectory”. This path can be traced and examined to help determine the effectiveness of a lifter’s technique and the efficiency of the movement of the bar in relation to the body. For these purposes, the tracing that makes an observable image is taken directly from the side. Also, it typically ends at the point at which the athlete reaches their lowest point in the squat when receiving the load since up to that point is where all of the “technique” is taking place. As an example of what a “bar path” might look like, we in the weightlifting community have been told for many years that the most efficient and effective bar path is one that looks somewhat like a flattened “S”. This means that the bar immediately travels toward the body and remains on this horizontal trajectory up until contact with the bar and body are made, then it loops out and around slightly (now traveling away from the body) before coming back toward and down with the body now underneath (more on this specific bar path later).
Additionally, just as we’ve said we want to look at the technique of the snatch and clean as being the same (just taking the bar to different end locations), this would also be true for “bar path”. With “technique” each individual should express positions and overall movement with the 2 lifts that are almost mirror images of one another (NOT 2 completely different, conflicting actions). With “bar path”, the major difference between the 2 would just be the overall length since the snatch requires a greater distance to be traveled.
Though these tracings of the snatch and clean can be extremely helpful in understanding the efficiency of the lift, “bar path” should be considered as nothing more than another by-product. In “The Weightlifting Encyclopedia”, Arthur Drechsler states that, “bar movement is more appropriately viewed as an effect rather than a cause”. This means that we should aim to correct any faulty bar path by focusing on adjusting our body positions during the set up and different portions of the lift. This is opposed to being fixated on bar path and trying to force a change on the pattern directly without adjusting any positions, actions, or timing within your technique. It is true that saying something like “keep the bar closer” through any juncture of the lift can elicit a positive change (or even a negative one for that matter), but it is an action from the body that made that change. Certainly keep cueing directly on the bar as an option, but it is more meaningful in the end to “root” the problem.
For example, if the bar is swinging out and around the body excessively from the hip to overhead, then consider how the body is moving or setting up before that portion of the lift to likely find the “cause” of the “effect”. If the hips are thrusting excessively forward at extension which is pushing the bar out further than optimal, then simply telling the athlete to “keep the bar close” from hip to overhead will not work. Ask yourself, WHY are the hips thrusting forward? It could be a bad habit directly at extension, or something before that point in the lift such as the hips being too high in the start position (which is contributing to the bar being separated from the body and the hips coming forward at extension to find it). That brings us back to our 3 essential steps to start position for a moment; by nailing these down you fix the most common root to a faulty bar path and/or any faulty technical movement beyond that point (we’ll talk much more about assessing and addressing faults with this “rooting” method later).
Additionally, it should be understood that there is not necessarily any one exact bar path that is optimal, but from each individual we’re looking for an EFFICIENT one. If you look at 100 of the best lifters in the world there is almost no chance that you will see the exact same bar path for any 2 of them. This aspect of the Olympic lifts reminds me of a fingerprint. We all recognize that a fingerprint is a fingerprint even though no 2 are the exact same. We would be able to tell by looking at a given fingerprint if the finger was damaged or had a scar in the print area, or if something was off from what a normal, healthy fingerprint looks like. So it is for a lifter’s bar path (a “barprint” if you will). Once we know the general characteristics of what is efficient and effective, we can tell if something is off for any one that we observe.
What then are the characteristics of an efficient bar path (a normal, healthy “barprint”)? I tried so hard for many years to make the statement and concept of “the shortest distance between 2 points is a straight line” be true and relevant for the snatch and clean. This would have made for such a simple and beautiful story. But the more I taught this and the more I could not confirm it with observation, the more I had to stretch the truth. To continue on a “path” of teaching “straight”, I would have to believe and lead others to believe that every lifter on the elite level is wrong for having some curvature/horizontal movement to their barprint. Additionally, this would indicate that there is only ONE exact bar path that is ideal for everyone and that they should spend a lifetime trying to achieve perfectly and literally straight. Well, at this point, for any lifter at any level to move the bar literally straight throughout the entire lift I’m not sure is even physically possible.
So, here is another “unavoidable” for weightlifting in general and a constant characteristic of bar path: curvature. Let’s think about how most roads have many curves and turns. Within a traveler’s trip from point A to B, even on a long stretch of highway, they will have to follow a path that is not perfectly straight. Why is this? Why didn’t they just make the road straight? It’s because there is terrain to consider that is made up of hills, mountains, trees, bodies of water, buildings, etc. Now, I’m not at all about to tell you that we should be creating a path that completely moves the bar around the “terrain” of the body as it mostly needs to be the other way around (moving the body around the bar). But, there are 2 objects working together here (the bar AND the body) and there will have to be some give and take. With a snatch and clean and moving a bar from point A to point B, we will give some consideration to the “terrain”/shape of the body, best leverages of the body to lift the load, maintaining balance (of the body and between the load and the body which are “offsetting” one another), and leading the 2 objects to work together as much as possible. There is also contact to be made with the bar towards the end of the 1st Ascent as we’ve confirmed before which will at least slightly knock it out of a perfectly straight path.
All that being said, let’s now cover some guidelines on how to read “bar path” or “barbell trajectory” diagrams using a flattened “S” example (taken from “The Weightlifting Encyclopedia” by Arthur J. Drechsler). This will set the stage to move through the rest of the information and to better understand bar path in general:
The base component here is what is called the “vertical reference line”. This line must come straight up from the outer edge of the sleeve of the bar (which is the dot that you see in the middle of the “plates” in the figure shown) and goes at least up to the height the barbell ultimately reaches. Depending on the source, the reference line may start at the “dot” or go through it coming up from the ground (as you see in this first example here). The dot (the outer edge of the sleeve of the bar) is also the point that is tracked as the barbell moves and therefore is the “pen” that “draws” what becomes the image of one’s bar path (their “barprint”). This tracking helps determine any horizontal displacement throughout the whole lift, if and how much it crosses the vertical reference line in either direction, and where the lifter ultimately receives the bar from where it started.
You also see this line drawn in relation to the foot. Though the exact location of the bar in relation to the foot (front to back) is not always known, it can be estimated. One way to get a good idea of this alignment is by determining how much the foot is sticking out from the back and/or front of the plates when looking directly from the side (and ideally at the same level). Another would be stopping the video as soon as the weights leave the floor (to the extent that the foot is showing) and drawing a line straight down from the bar to and through the foot (keep in mind though that the bar may have moved a little front to back by this time). In the example above you see it positioned relatively in line with the ball of the foot. This is the general location in relation to the foot where the bar is starting for most elites and where we will confirm we recommend to set it (BUT without thinking about it; another by-product). (NOTE: The bar starting too far forward or back of this will cause body and bar movement compensations from what will be a disadvantaged position and relationship between body and bar; more on this later).
With all that being said, we can see that with this bar path example, the bar is immediately traveling toward the body when it leaves the floor and continues doing so as it passes the knees and until it reaches the hips. The point at which it begins to travel away from the body is when contact is made (at the “hip”). It is the contact that knocks it forward, BUT this is not a bad thing. It is a necessary and optimal thing, we just don’t want it to be bumped, pushed, thrusted forward too much of which we can gauge with the vertical reference line. Here we see the bar traveling back out to its original placement in relation to the foot (touching the vertical line). The point at which it begins to travel back away from the line (toward the body) is when the arms and remainder of the torso are going under the bar to receive. The last little hook up top is the final turnover of the wrists and the absorption of the load with the entire body (the legs resisting but relenting to end range).
This bar path example is still showing to be, and considered to be an efficient path, but there is an alternative one that is currently being demonstrated by MOST of the best in the world. This has been determined from a recent, detailed, and widely accepted study that was conducted by a group of researchers that included two long-time staples and contributors in the community, Kyle Pierce and Michael Stone. The article expressing the results was published by MDPI (https://www.mdpi.com/) on August 25, 2020 and it surveyed the barbell trajectory and kinematics of the snatch lift from the 2015 World Weightlifting Championships (WWC) and the 2017 Pan-American Weightlifting Championships (PAWC). Data was collected through video analysis of 319 successful attempts from the 2 major international competitions. These 319 attempts were made up of the heaviest successful attempts from all athletes who lifted in the A sessions (THE athletes lifting the most weight).
In summary, the current determination is that there are 4 main TYPES of bar paths being exhibited on the elite level (Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, and Type 4). Remember, since no 2 bar paths are exactly the same, the figures shown are only EXAMPLES of each type of bar path, and the bar path of each lifter is placed into one of those 4 categories.
More important than the exact drawing of each example is understanding the horizontal movement relative to the vertical reference line and the lifter. The definitions of each type taken directly from the article are as followed:
Type 1
“The type 1 trajectory exhibits a ‘toward-away-toward’ pattern, crossing the vertical reference line during the ‘away’ phase and may or may not cross during the final ‘toward’ phase.”
Type 2
“The type 2 trajectory also consists of a ‘toward-away-toward’ pattern but does not cross the vertical reference line at any instant during the lift.”
Type 3
“The type 3 trajectory shows an ‘away-toward-away-toward’ pattern.
Type 4
“The type 4 pattern may begin with a ‘toward’ phase, as in the type 1 or 2 trajectories, or an ‘away-toward’ phase as in the type 3 trajectory. The defining feature of the type 4 trajectory is an interceding ‘away-toward’ phase between the first ‘toward’ phase and the final ‘away-toward’ phase.”
NOTE: Also indicated in the article, “Only the type 1 trajectory necessarily crosses the vertical reference line.” This means that it is possible for Type 3 to stay forward of the line through the whole lift, or for Type 4 to stay forward OR behind the line through the whole lift.
It is Type 1 that for many years has been considered most favorable. This is specifically when the bar travels just to or only slightly past the vertical reference line on the ‘away’ phase and then comes back behind it on the final ‘toward’ phase (just as shown in the diagram). (If a Type 1 stays forward of the vertical reference line during the final ‘toward’ phase, this would surely be considered an “unhealthy” barprint.) It is understandable that the conclusion of Type 1 being most favorable could easily be drawn since the bar is moving into the body immediately from the ground (close and finding center is good) and is doing so only slightly (it seems that minimal would be better here).
Additionally, there is generally minimal movement front to back from start to finish (especially in comparison to Type 2 where there is more initial displacement toward the body and the bar is being received further back from where it started). BUT (and this is a BIG “but”), Type 2 AND Type 3 are showing to be far more prevalent than Type 1 here on the international stage! Though Type 2 has been suggested as being advantageous, Type 3 has been generally regarded as being non-beneficial and even potentially detrimental. So it is especially SURPRISING that Type 3 is showing to be the MOST prevalent! Here are the numbers amongst all A session lifters:
Type 1 = 13% at WWC and 8% at PAWC
Type 2 = 30% at WWC and 30% at PAWC
Type 3 = 53% at WWC and 59% at PAWC
Type 4 = 6% at WWC and 3% at PAWC
*The numbers for the results given for the WWC in the article do not add up to 100% (rather 102%) which I am assuming is due to some rounding (ie, circa 30% is indicated for Type 2 at both WWC and PAWC).
Next, we’ll talk about how and why Type 3 might be so common, if it is “right” or “wrong”, and what it means for YOUR best “barprint”.
Until next time,
Chad Vaughn,
2-Time Olympian, USAW
_______
With
Dr. Aaron Horschig, PT, | https://vaughnweightlifting.com/2022/02/07/the-basics-of-a-world-class-bar-path-part-1/ |
The Industrial Biotechnology Forum (IBF) on the 13–14.3.2018 was a showcase of international academic and international research activities covering broad areas of expertise encompassing enzyme catalysis, metabolic- and bioprocess engineering as well as downstream bio-separation engineering, synthetic biology, and bio-informatics trends in biotechnology. Not surprisingly the manuscript contributions submitted to the Frontiers IBF special issue covered various current topics on metabolic engineering and biocatalysis, bio-separation technology, and bioprocess engineering.
In that context, the fermentative production of amino acids and their functionalized derivatives constitutes a major industrial application, as it delivers sustainable building blocks for chemical and pharmaceutical synthesis under economic production constraints. Conventionally, amino acids are either generated in classical, recombinant microbial hosts such as Escherichia coli or Corynebacterium glutamicum using established glucose based fermentation media. However, glucose based fermentations are rather expensive compared to equivalent applications with alternative carbon sources, such as glycerol, which is considered to be a waste stream of biodiesel production processes. In that context, the featured manuscript in this IBF special issue presented by Mindt et al., described the efficient conversion of the sustainable and cost efficient carbon source glycerol into Methylglutamate using a metabolically engineered Pseudomonas putida. This work is remarkable as it expands the microbial chassis that can be applied to directly generate functionalized amino acids. In essence, P. putida is genetically traceable and has the inherent metabolic capacity to convert glycerol in value added products. As such this recombinant production system synergistically expands the available microbial host platforms to enable production of renewable amino acid based commodity chemical intermediates. With a reported product yield of 17.9 g l−1 N-methylglutamate in fed-batch cultivation mode, the reported process has a high potential for consequent technical validation and commercialization. Much like amino acids, aromatic amines are highly sought chemical building blocks in the manufacture of dyes, pesticides, drugs, polymers among other industrial products. To that end, the featured article by Nargesi et al. reports the de-novo engineering of a para-amino-L-phenylalanine biosynthesis pathway utilizing genetic elements of the fungal Ehrlich pathway. The construction of this synthetic biosynthesis route allows recombinant production of the aromatic amines para-amino-phenylethanol (PAPE) and para-amino-phenylacetic acid (4-APA) from glucose in E. coli. Under controlled fed-batch conditions the best recombinant production strains reached yields of 2.5 g l−1 PAPE (11% C mol mol−1 glucose) and 3.4 g l−1 4-APA (17% C mol mol−1 glucose) from glucose respectively. These production levels are the highest obtained for any aromatic amine thus far.
Driven by current climate change concerns, there is an increasing scientific activity in the design- and industrial deployment of microalgae based photoautotrophic bioprocesses, that allow rapid CO2 fixation and its subsequent biomass based conversion into value adding industrial products. The high CO2 fixation rate is inherently linked to the enhanced photosynthetic efficiency of microalgae, which is about twice as high as those of equivalent vascular, terrestrial plants. Moreover, microalgae can be cultivated on marginal lands using waste-, brackish-, or salt water. Therefore, algae cultivation does neither compete with agricultural activity nor rely on freshwater resources, that are essential to maintain terrestrial plant-, animal- and human populations. The excellent review by Molazadeh et al. links and reviews bioprocess for algae based CO2 fixation with the algae's ability to remove excess nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorous, from agricultural- and municipal wastewater streams. For each of the featured bioprocess options, the article covers details of energy efficiency and performance differences across microalgae species. In its conclusion the article suggests that linking algae biomass growth with wastewater treatment could be the key to resolve economic and ecological barriers that currently hamper industrial deployment of algae based biofuel solutions. While algae cultivation processes are reaching industrial maturity, harvesting and downstream processing of algae biomass from aqueous media remains a scientific and economic challenge. This holds particularly true for biomass separation from highly saline aqueous solutions due to the charge difference between algae biomass and the cultivation medium. In that context, the innovative article by Bracharz et al. describes a new, energy efficient flocculation method. Here a pH shift in combination with the first in class use of a tannin based flocculent, provides a mass efficient algae biomass dewatering process. Moreover, the utilized tannin based flocculent, is derived from a side stream of a tea leave extraction process and is therefore not only cost efficient but also completely biodegradable, which renders this new algae dewatering process highly economical and ecologically efficient.
The example of algae biomass harvesting demonstrates that efficient bio-separation technologies are at the heart of an economical bioprocess design. The topic of bio-separation is explicitly highlighted in the review of Schwaminger et al. This review focuses specifically on the rather new and highly specific technology for bio-product purification by the aid of magnetic beads from complex biological matrices. The review (Schwaminger et al.) provides an overview of the progress of capture and separation of biomolecules derived from biotechnology and food technology. While several technological challenges, such as development of flexible separation devices and more broadly applicable separation conditions have to be resolved, it is apparent that magnetic separation technologies will increasingly be applied in industrial bioprocesses.
In that respect, the IBF special issue highlights innovations in up- and downstream bioprocess development that will capacitate industry and society alike to establish a globally sustainable bioeconomy in order to reclaim, preserve and protect the natural resources of our planet.
Author Contributions
TB has orgnized and edited the Frontiers special issue Industrial Biotechnology Forum 2018. Additionally, he wrote the editorial of this special issue.
Conflict of Interest
The author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Acknowledgments
The editor would like to thank all contributors of the special issue for their excellent scientific contribution that showcase the diversity of industrial biotechnology. The presented technologies are elemental to establish a globally, sustainable bioeconomy.
Keywords: industrial biotechnology, bioeconomy and circular economy, bioprocess engineering, metabolic engineering, bioseparation technology, synthetic biology, biocatalysis
Citation: Brück TB (2019) Editorial: Industrial Biotechnology Forum (http://ibf-conference.org). Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol. 7:434. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2019.00434
Received: 02 November 2019; Accepted: 05 December 2019;
Published: 20 December 2019.
Edited and reviewed by: Manfred Zinn, HES-SO Valais-Wallis, Switzerland
Copyright © 2019 Brück. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2019.00434/full |
… in the rolling up of a CIA operation in Iran and Lebanon?
That’s the question of the day given this cadre of America haters who are running the show:
In a significant failure for the United States in the Mideast, more than a dozen spies working for the CIA in Iran and Lebanon have been caught and the U.S. government fears they will be or have been executed, according to four current and former U.S. officials with connections to the intelligence community.
The spies were paid informants recruited by the CIA for two distinct espionage rings targeting Iran and the Beirut-based Hezbollah organization, considered by the U.S. to be a terror group backed by Iran.
“Espionage is a risky business,” a U.S. official briefed on the developments told ABC News, confirming the loss of the unspecified number of spies over the last six months.
“Many risks lead to wins, but some result in occasional setbacks,” the official said.
Robert Baer, a former senior CIA officer who worked against Hezbollah while stationed in Beirut in the 1980’s, said Hezbollah typically executes individuals suspected of or caught spying.
“If they were genuine spies, spying against Hezbollah, I don’t think we’ll ever see them again,” he said. “These guys are very, very vicious and unforgiving.”
…
“If you lose an asset, one source, that’s normally a setback in espionage,” said Robert Baer, who was considered an expert on Hezbollah.
“But when you lose your entire station, either in Tehran or Beirut, that’s a catastrophe, that just shouldn’t be. And the only way that ever happens is when you’re mishandling sources.”
When you lose not just one but two entire stations, then you can’t help but consider treasonous acts.
Who knew what when?
It’s time for some people to face some questions. | https://www.wizbangblog.com/2011/11/21/what-role-did-the-obama-administration-play/ |
The problems of modern Ukrainian education related to providing future professionals with a quality education have been outlined in the article. The quality is considered as an integral characteristic of the educational system, reflecting the degree of conformity the achieved results to regulatory requirements, social and personal expectations. The importance of its theory and practice in training specialists in the field of elementary education has been pointed. Austria education is shown as an example of the activity specifics of educational institutions that train future teachers at all levels (college, institute, university, postgraduate education). Also there has been specified that the Austrian system attracts its openness to positive innovation, and at the same time - to preserve the unique identity, national and regional features. These features are of general value, special subject components and professional training; establishing the optimal balance between reasonable scientific disciplines different cycles that begin from the first courses; variability, which provides three types of courses - compulsory, elective and partly completely elective. The requirements that contribute to a quality of teacher profession have been outlined: receiving compulsory higher education; learning throughout life; mobility; partnership. Important levers of the specialist to perform their multifunctional responsibilities after training are the preparedness that is after obtaining the initial basic pedagogical education. This problem has a solution through: ensuring the connection between standards, teacher training and school standards because in most countries teacher training system is designed to teach students to teaching specific school subjects; inclusion in curricula of study disciplines important for teachers at the present stage of development, ICT, using an interdisciplinary approach to teaching, gender aspects of education, multiculturalism, communication techniques; participating in research activities; creating a tiered model of quality training, which includes studying the course of general and vocational education first, while the passage of practices with regional institutes of postgraduate education (Pedagogische) (training period of 4.5 years, as in classical universities (Allgemeines Hochschul-Studiengesetz ). Educational program of training also provides an increase in the percentage of courses teaching areas: mandatory joint activities between the school administration and the University (lectures and seminar classes type: lecture two experienced teachers and University professors); the introduction of school practice in the invariant part of the curriculum; consistency of learning and practicing modern educational needs; the implementation of the competence-oriented approach to learning and training. | https://lib.iitta.gov.ua/723943/ |
How do you safeguard your assets from claims beyond the grave?
The decision to exhume Salvador Dalí’s remains this year marked a new chapter in the lengths individuals will go to in establishing an inheritance claim. The exhumation was to determine whether Pilar Abel was his daughter and could therefore make a claim to be his legal heir. A DNA test on the Spanish surrealist’s remains disproved the claim.
We are seeing more and more inheritance claims go to lengths further than ever before. The Salvador Dalí exhumation marks a 10-year struggle to establish a claim. If Abel had managed to prove she was the artist’s daughter she would have been entitled to 25% of his estimated $1bn Estate.
Inheritance claims in the UK
In the UK, inheritance claims are increasing in frequency and complexity. According to the Royal Courts of Justice, claims issued under the Inheritance Act 1975 rose almost 40% to 158 between January and December 2016.
The increasing complexity of modern family structures means there is often a larger pool of potential claimants for estates, and a growing risk that some will feel left out or hard done by and bring claims. At the same time, intestacy laws often fail to reflect modern living arrangements, such as cohabiting unmarried partners or civil partnerships.
There have been developments in English case law concerning inheritance claims. In July, the judge in the Nahajec case allowed an estranged daughter to receive £30,000 from her father’s £240,000 Estate, in the first case heard since the Supreme Court decision in Ilott v The Blue Cross in March this year. Ilott made it clear that even if an adult child were estranged from a parent, a claim is likely to succeed if the child is in clear financial need.
It is important to have safeguards in place to ensure assets are protected and to minimise family feuds and ambiguity. Adding a “letter of intent” with your Will to explain the reasons why you have decided to bequeath your Estate in the way you have and, where appropriate, why certain individuals have been excluded from benefiting. While this is not legally binding, it will be taken into account should there be claims made on the Estate.
Lines of attack
One possible line of attack against your Estate might include claims against the validity of your Will by family members who stand to inherit if your Will is declared invalid. Claimants could say a person were of insufficient mental capacity when they made their Will and did not understand the extent of their Estate, or that they were coerced into making their Will.
These types of claims are often heavily reliant on statements from witnesses who testify, after your death, that what they might have heard you say, or how you behaved in their presence at around the time you made your Will, casts doubt on the validity of your Will.
How, then, do you safeguard your assets from claims beyond the grave?
Planning is absolutely essential and there are options to ensure your assets go to chosen beneficiaries.
For advice on how safeguard your assets, get in touch today! | http://nationalwillwriters.co.uk/news/inheritance-disputes/ |
The regeneration of Exmouth seafront has taken a big step forward after the council submitted plans for temporary attractions on the site of the former Exmouth Fun Park that closed at the end of August.
East Devon District Council have submitted plans for a temporary use of land, buildings and structures for a twelve month period for the purposes of entertainment, recreation and leisure.
The temporary uses being proposed will include a free children’s play area, a space for outdoor events and an area for street food kiosks and a seating area – but would see the boating ponds used for the famous swan boats would also be permanently filled-in.
Cllr Philip Skinner, East Devon District Council’s portfolio holder for the economy and Chairman of the Exmouth Regeneration Programme Board, said: “The council is planning to introduce some new, temporary attractions similar to the Big Wheel which was so popular in the summer and attracted thousands of visitors and the open air cinema events which were all well attended.
“We have applied for a temporary use of land planning application at Queens Drive which is expected to go before East Devon District Council’s Development Management Committee in the New Year. The temporary uses being proposed will include a free children’s play area, a space for outdoor events and an area for street food kiosks and a seating area.
The applications says that installing temporary uses on the site will avoid the land being unused and derelict and will provide a good mix of high quality attractions for both visitors and residents.
The site will be divided into three zones.
The red zone will see the existing boating lake filled in with material to create a soft sand or hard surfaced area and will be used as a seating area for the existing kiosk to the north of the boating area that will be refurbished and for temporary food kiosk that will be installed.
The green zone will be used as a play space, primarily for children and teenagers, and may include a climbing wall or a rope walk.
The blue zone will be an area where events are proposed that could include a variety of entertainment, including a large cinema screen, a music concert or fairs.
Already, East Devon District Council have started a tender process for to find experienced food festival operators who were interested in running to run an exciting and innovative a food and drink opportunity as part of the Queen’s Drive regeneration project.
The deadline for applicants is January 15.
The attractions would start to be available from March 2018 through to at least September 2018, potentially covering the winter period into 2019 and with a strong possibility of operating through the spring/summer season 2019.
The proposals are part of East Devon District Council’s phase three redevelopment site on Queen’s Drive.
Phase one would see the Queen’s Drive road realigned and phase two is the watersports centre.
East Devon District Council’s planning committee will decide on the plans in the new year. | https://businessesforsaledevon.co.uk/childrens-play-area-open-air-cinema-and-food-kiosks-planned-for-former-exmouth-fun-park-site/ |
In the second or third trimester of pregnancy, a headache could be a sign of preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy-induced condition marked by high blood pressure. Other symptoms of preeclampsia include an unusual amount of protein in the urine, vision changes, and liver and kidney abnormalities.
Is it normal to have headaches in second trimester?
Headaches tend to be more common in the first and third trimesters, but they can occur in the second trimester as well. While there are common causes for headaches during pregnancy, it’s important to note that headaches during the second and third trimester can also be due to high blood pressure, called preeclampsia.
When should I be worried about headaches during pregnancy?
When should I be concerned? When a headache is severe, or just doesn’t go away, or when you have dizziness, blurred vision, or changes in your field of vision, you should contact your healthcare provider. Headaches can sometimes be related to blood pressure problems in pregnancy.
How do I get rid of a headache in my second trimester?
What can I do about headaches during pregnancy? I’d rather not take medication.
- Avoid headache triggers. …
- Include physical activity in your daily routine. …
- Manage stress. …
- Practice relaxation techniques. …
- Eat regularly. …
- Follow a regular sleep schedule. …
- Consider biofeedback.
Is it normal for a pregnant woman to have headaches everyday?
Is it normal? Could it be something serious? A: Headaches are very common during pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester. Your hormone levels are skyrocketing and this can lead to daily headaches.
Why am I so exhausted in my second trimester?
Simply put, you feel tired because you’re growing a baby. In addition to hormonal changes, physical and emotional changes also lower your energy levels and make you feel fatigued. Some of these changes include: increased levels of estrogen and progesterone (which, by the way, acts as a natural sedative)
What do preeclampsia headaches feel like?
Dull or severe, throbbing headaches, often described as migraine-like that just won’t go away are cause for concern.
Why do I keep getting headaches while pregnant?
During the first trimester, your body experiences a surge of hormones and an increase in blood volume. These two changes can cause more frequent headaches. These headaches may be further aggravated by stress, poor posture or changes in your vision.
What helps headaches while pregnant?
Primary headaches in pregnant women usually can be treated at home. Rest, a neck or scalp massage, hot or cold packs, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs such as Tylenol, aspirin, or ibuprofen can reduce the pain.
Why do I keep waking up with a headache while pregnant?
As well as hormonal changes, headaches in the early stages of pregnancy can be caused by an increase in the volume of blood your body is producing. Other causes of headaches during pregnancy can include: not getting enough sleep. withdrawal from caffeine (e.g. in coffee, tea or cola drinks)
Which painkiller is best in pregnancy?
Continued. Most pregnant women can take acetaminophen if their doctor gives them the thumbs-up. It’s the most common pain reliever that doctors allow pregnant women to take. Some studies have found that about two-thirds of pregnant women in the U.S. take acetaminophen sometime during their nine-month stretch.
How do you stop a headache?
Treatment
- Rest in a quiet, dark room.
- Hot or cold compresses to your head or neck.
- Massage and small amounts of caffeine.
- Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) and aspirin.
When should I call the doctor during pregnancy?
The following symptoms during pregnancy warrant an immediate call to your practitioner: Heavy bleeding or bleeding with cramps or severe pain in the lower abdomen. Severe lower abdominal pain — either in the center or on one or both sides — that doesn’t subside, even if it isn’t accompanied by bleeding.
How long do pregnancy headaches last?
Moderate to severe, throbbing head pain. Symptoms — including increased sensitivity to light, noise or smells, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite — that last between four hours and three days. | https://realgirlramblings.com/babies/what-causes-headaches-in-2nd-trimester.html |
Old age is a phenomenon programmed by nature. With its normal physiological course, this process is not complicated by the sudden onset of a whole bunch of diseases. Such old age is observed in practically he althy people who are considered elderly (at 60-74 years old), as well as old (at 75-90 years old). However, in most cases, this phenomenon occurs prematurely and is complicated by various kinds of ailments. But in both cases, a person undergoes a change in metabolism and the state of all systems and organs. Is it possible to correct the situation in any way? Influencing the nature and pace of physiological age-related changes will allow a change in the nutrition of an elderly person. If it is rational, it will be an important factor in the prevention of pathologies that appear in the process of physiological aging. There is a whole scientific discipline that studies the nutrition of people in the older age group. It is called gerodietics.
Why is it important for older people to eatright?
In the process of aging, the body undergoes multiple psychological and physiological changes. Nevertheless, such a phenomenon never has clear age boundaries. That is why some people, even at 70 years old, will look like 40-year-olds, while others at 50 can not be distinguished from pensioners. Why is this happening? The aging of the body depends primarily on the quality of life, which is based on proper nutrition. This is the main factor that affects the compensatory and adaptive capabilities, metabolism, the prevention of many ailments, etc. In the process of aging of the body, various kinds of age-related changes accumulate in it. They appear at the tissue, molecular and cellular level. There are also changes in the digestive system. The gastric mucosa becomes thinner. This reduces the ability of all cells to divide. Such changes deactivate the motor and secretory functions of the stomach. But that's not all. Simultaneously with these changes, there is a decrease in the level of acidity of gastric juice, which worsens the condition of the intestinal microflora. The pancreas becomes much less active enzymes. Accelerates the aging process and excess weight.
A balanced diet for the elderly will help maintain the body's performance and its normal state. This will significantly reduce the rate of aging processes. He althy eating and physical activity are key components to keepperformance and avoid illness at any age. It is especially important to adhere to this lifestyle for those who have crossed the 60-year mark. Such people just need to know the basic principles of nutrition of the elderly, which are considered by the science of gerodietika.
Energy value of the diet
In elderly people, in direct proportion to their age, the metabolic processes of the body decrease. The change concerns the work of the nervous and endocrine systems, the nutrition of each individual cell.
The elderly body is characterized by a decrease in energy consumption. A person reduces his physical activity, because of which he has a reduction in muscle mass. At the same time, the body no longer needs so much energy and nutrients. In this regard, according to the science of gerodietics, the caloric intake of an elderly person over 60 years of age should be 1900-2000 kcal for women. The norm for men is 2000-3000 kcal.
Variety of daily diet
What should an elderly person eat? One of the principles of its organization is the diversity of the food set. This will give the body everything it needs for its life.
Among the dietary habits of the elderly is the restriction of the use of strong broths (fish and meat). Less should be on the table of offal, fatty meat, eggs, fatty dairy products (due to the large amount of cholesterol they contain). Older people should not eat a lot of pasta, rice, legumes, s alty and smoked foods, sugar, cream,confectionery, rich flour and puff products, as well as chocolate. In addition, cooked meals should be gentle on the gastrointestinal tract and chewing apparatus.
Acceptable in the diet of an elderly person are sweet and sour or water-diluted juices of berries and fruits, as well as tomatoes. The inclusion of low-fat and weak broths, vinegar and citric acid, spicy vegetables (garlic and onions, dill and herbs, parsley, etc.) in the daily diet is welcome.
The diet of an elderly person should include foods that help normalize the intestinal microflora. These are pickled and pickled vegetables, fermented milk drinks, as well as everything that is rich in dietary fiber. The diet of the elderly should include such dishes that will be easily digested by the digestive organs. Products that stimulate the motor and secretory functions of the gastrointestinal tract are also needed. In the daily menu, it is important to provide for the presence of food that normalizes the intestinal microflora.
Eating routine
What are the dietary habits of the elderly? The next principle of gerodietics is the observance of the correct diet. Compared to that which was at a young age, it should be more uniform. The diet of an elderly person must be made regular. At the same time, the intervals that take place between meals should not be made long. It is also not recommended to eat a lot of food. An older person should eat four times a day. His breakfast should contain 25% of the total dailyenergy value of food, lunch - from 15 to 20%. At lunch, this figure increases from 30 to 35%, and at dinner it ranges from 20 to 25%. Before a night's rest, sour-milk drinks or raw fruits and vegetables are desirable.
If there is a recommendation from doctors, an elderly person should arrange fasting days for his body with the inclusion of fruits, vegetables, kefir and curd products in the diet. Total fasting is not recommended.
Proper nutrition for older people with existing diseases includes 5 meals a day. The distribution of the energy value of food in this case looks like this:
- breakfast - 25%;
- lunch – 15%;
- lunch - 30%;
- first dinner - 20%;
- second dinner - 10%.
In addition, a 5-time regimen is also recommended in the diet of an elderly person after 80 years. People of this age tend to gain weight, which negatively affects the he alth of the body.
Eating a recumbent elderly person should also be 5-6 times a day. It is better if the meal for such a patient will be made at certain hours. This will allow the body to start producing gastric juice at the same time, which will improve appetite and digestion.
Customization of nutrition
This is another principle that older people should adhere to when designing their daily menu. It consists in taking into account the peculiarities of metabolic processes, as well as the state of certain systems and organs. In addition, older people should take into account their long-term habits ineating food. So, the nutrition of people of age who do not have special he alth problems does not include a ban on the use of certain foods. In this case, you can talk about more or less preferred food.
Unacceptable is monotonous food. It will definitely cause a shortage in the body of certain substances. It is physiologically impossible to justify the transition of people of age after their usual diet to strict vegetarianism. The same applies to separate meals, to eating only raw food, as well as to other non-traditional methods.
Proteins
What should be the rational diet of the elderly? As for the protein composition of food, scientists have not yet unequivocally decided this issue. In an aging body, there is a decrease in the synthesis of hormones, enzymes, protein structures, and tissue regeneration is not so active. What conclusion can be drawn from this? It is very difficult for the body of people of age to absorb proteins from meat. This happens due to a decrease in the efficiency of digestive enzymes. At the same time, the breakdown of proteins increases. Their loss by the body also increases.
Also, scientists have found that limited nutrition, which reduces human immunity in youth, has the opposite effect in old age. That is why over the years, protein intake is recommended to be reduced to 1 g / 1 kg of weight. On the other hand, the regeneration of obsolete, worn-out cells is important for the elderly. And for this process, protein in the body mustcome in sufficient quantity. Otherwise, those age-related changes that are associated with metabolism will worsen.
Animal proteins
From those products that contain animal proteins, older people are advised to give preference to milk, fish, and lean meats. As first courses, it is advisable to cook vegetarian soups (vegetable, dairy, cereal and fruit). But fish and meat broths should be included in the diet of an elderly person no more than two or three times a week. Recommended for older people are carp, pike and zander. In addition to river fish, sea fish can also be included in their menu. These are cod varieties (pollock, hake, navaga, cod, etc.). Fish in the diet should not be more than 75 g per day.
As for eggs, an elderly person can eat only 2-3 of them a week. It is also desirable that they be served soft-boiled or as an omelet on the table. However, recommendations from nutritionists to reduce the number of eggs for older people are most associated with cholesterol, which is part of the yolk. But protein can be attributed to the products that are most optimal in terms of amino acid composition. That is why an egg without a yolk can be eaten daily by older people.
In the diet of an elderly person, dairy products must also be present. They will provide the body not only with protein, but also with calcium, which is necessary for the prevention of osteoporosis. Older people are recommended to include daily in their menu 100 g of fat-free or a maximum of 5% cottage cheese, as well as low-fat cheeses in the amount of 10-30 g. With good tolerance by the bodymilk should be in the daily menu 300-400 ml.
Special benefits for maintaining he alth will bring curdled milk, kefir and acidophilus. These products include in their composition lactic acid bacillus, due to which the normal composition of the intestinal microflora is maintained and the development of putrefactive processes is blocked. Kefir for the elderly should be consumed daily. Nutritionists recommend one glass before bed. In addition, kefir is recommended to be included in the diet for constipation in the elderly. The treatment of this unpleasant phenomenon is especially effective when one tablespoon of any vegetable oil is added to a glass of fermented milk drink. Such a tool quickly fixes problems.
Vegetable proteins
They should also be on the menu of an elderly person. In the body, vegetable proteins should come at the expense of legumes and grains. However, the first of them often cause rumbling in the stomach, heartburn, belching, increased gas formation, and even stool disorder.
In the diet for diarrhea in the elderly in such cases, it is recommended to include green peas. As for cereals, the most useful of them are oatmeal and buckwheat. It is desirable to add milk to the porridges prepared from them, which will improve their amino acid composition. Barley and millet groats are included in the diet if they are well tolerated. But the use of rice by the elderly should be limited due to a decrease in the motor activity of the gastrointestinal tract. Semolina is recommended only for those people who need a sparing diet.
The intake of vegetable protein in the body is also carried out when eating bread. It is better if it is rye, from whole grains, from wholemeal flour or with bran. These breads are high in vitamins, minerals and fiber, which improves intestinal motility.
Fats
What should be a balanced diet for the elderly? In their daily diet, in addition to proteins, fats should also be present. However, their consumption decreases with age to 30% of the calorie content of all products. Only in this case it is possible to provide a balanced diet without causing any negative consequences for the body. In addition, by reducing fat intake, the daily menu becomes he althy. Adhering to it, older people carry out an excellent prevention of the development of atherosclerosis. However, the main thing in this matter is not to overdo it. With an excessive restriction of fats (less than 20% of the daily requirement), the quality of nutrition deteriorates significantly.
Animal fats
The intake of natural fats into the body of the elderly should be carried out with the use of butter. It is easily digestible. During the day, an elderly person should consume 15 g of butter, adding it to cooked food before serving.
Note that patients with hyperlipidemia should limit their intake of this product, as well as other products containing animal fats.
Vegetable oils
What should an elderly person eat? In the daily diet of elderly people, the presence of vegetable oilsshould be increased in proportion to age. However, this must be done with caution, because with an uncontrolled increase in the volume of vegetable oils on the menu, you can significantly weaken the intestines. It is also important to ensure that there is no shortage of this product in the diet.
The result of this can be a "fatty" liver. In addition, it should be borne in mind that vegetable oils have an antioxidant effect, slow down the processes of degenerative changes in organs, reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and have a choleretic effect, which is extremely important for all older people.
Carbohydrates
The amount of these substances in the meals of the elderly should be limited. This is due to the general decrease in energy consumption for the age under consideration.
Simple carbohydrates
Restriction of this element in the diet of an elderly person should be carried out at the expense of sweets and sugar. At the same time, fruits, vegetables, and grains are welcome in the diet of an elderly person in sufficient quantities.
Excessive consumption of simple carbohydrates in old age can cause overstrain in the functioning of the pancreas. The result is the development of diabetes. Also, simple carbohydrates adversely affect the functions of the biliary tract and liver. That is why an elderly person should consume sugar from 30 to 50 g in one day. Doctors recommend giving preference to honey, berries and fruits, in which sugar is represented by fructose.
Dietary fiber
HowShould the elderly be fed? Older people are advised to develop their daily diet with a large number of foods with complex carbohydrates and, first of all, these are dietary fibers. These substances will satisfy the body's need for energy by 5%. Soluble dietary fiber contributes to the activation of intestinal motility, and also normalizes stools. Due to this, they are an effective measure for the prevention of dysbacteriosis, diverticulosis, and colon cancer. Dietary fiber perfectly adsorbs toxic substances, and also improves the intestinal microflora. In addition, their work can reduce the level of bile and cholesterol in the blood.
Aged people need to eat in such a way that their body receives from 25 to 30 g of fiber per day. To do this, they need to eat apples and cabbage, cereal bran, carrots and oranges. These foods are essential in the diet for constipation in the elderly. They are treated by activating the activity of the intestines.
Vitamins
These useful substances are necessary for a person at any age. However, older people have an increased need for vitamins. Why is this happening? Yes, because the aging body absorbs them much worse. But vitamins are necessary to stimulate redox processes. They are also designed to improve the processing of cholesterol and fats in the body. In addition, vitamins P and C help strengthen the walls of the arteries. This allows you to maintain the he alth of blood vessels and the heart. To replenish these elements, older people should include in their dietnutrition cabbage, citrus fruits and sweet peppers.
Vitamins of groups B, E and others are important for human he alth. To maintain a nutritious diet, older people should eat fresh fruit. Additionally, it is recommended to take multivitamin preparations.
Minerals
The diet of any person should include foods rich in trace elements such as calcium and magnesium, copper and chromium, zinc and iodine. This is especially true in old age, because calcium maintains he althy bones, which helps to avoid osteoporosis. A large amount of this element is found in dairy products. However, older people should include only fermented milk products and cottage cheese in their daily menu. Cheese, for example, will be absorbed quite poorly by an aging body.
Necessary for the elderly to maintain he alth and an element such as magnesium. With its sufficient intake, stress will be easier to endure, kidney stones and such an unpleasant phenomenon as hemorrhoids will appear less often. Quite a lot of magnesium is found in beans and peas, millet and oatmeal, as well as in buckwheat.
Iodine, which is enough in seafood, activates the process of cholesterol breakdown.
Eating products with selenium is a preventive measure to prevent cancer. The source of this mineral is wheat bran and yeast, seafood and barley, as well as pearl barley, offal and yolk. The absorption of selenium by the body can be largely prevented by flour and sweet foods containing in their compositionsimple carbohydrates. This must be taken into account when compiling a menu for an elderly person.
Important for the he alth of the aging body and zinc. It is an indispensable component in the processes of bone formation, makes people more resistant to stress, colds, and has a positive effect on the condition of the skin. This element is especially important for older men. It helps prevent prostate cancer and the development of prostatitis. The most affordable sources of zinc are mackerel and herring, mushrooms and oatmeal, garlic, wholemeal bread.
Drinking mode
In the diet of people aged should be present 1.5 liters of fluid in laziness. And only if there are indications for that, it should be limited. Elderly people are advised to drink compotes and juices, rosehip broth, weak tea with lemon and milk. However, many of them are used to something else. Most people throughout their lives have consumed strong tea and coffee, and it is quite difficult for them to give up this eating habit. It is not necessary to deprive them of such a need. To maintain he alth, older people should be advised to drink no more than 1 cup of coffee with milk or chicory daily, as well as the same amount of strong tea, but only with milk or lemon.
For those over 80
It is especially important to properly organize nutrition for older people after 80 years. Due to changes in the chewing apparatus, completely different requirements for the choice of products, as well as for their culinary processing, appear. Elderly people should give their preference to easily absorbed anddigestible food. This list includes fish, minced meat and cottage cheese. People over 80 should eat more carrots and beets, pumpkins and zucchini, tomatoes and cauliflower, and mashed potatoes.
Sweet varieties of fruits and berries, apples and citrus fruits, lingonberries and black currants are recommended to them. But the use of cabbage should be limited, because this product leads to increased fermentation processes. In case of violations of the digestive system, as well as exacerbations of colitis, cholecystitis and gastritis, the prepared food should be mashed. Its temperature will also be of great importance. Food for the elderly should be neither too hot nor too cold. | https://babymagazinclub.com/17166036-nutrition-for-an-elderly-person-basic-principles-dietary-features-advice-and-recommendations-from-specialists |
Tuesday, September 19, 2017 from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Eastern Time
Significant changes over the past decade and more have challenged the traditional scholarly publishing business model and forever changed the requirements for roles in our industry. For those who started their careers before or at the nascence of these factors, acquiring new skills is required to stay on top of the rapidly changing paths for career development. This seminar will discuss the new skills that publishers now look for over and above the ‘core’ skills, in both new hires and for promoting from within, where publishers go to get them, how they attract from outside the ‘core’ publishing market, and what mid-career publishing professionals can do to acquire these skills and expand their future opportunities.
Moderator:
- Jason Pointe, Publishing Director, International Anesthesia Research Society
Speakers: | https://www.sspnet.org/events/past-events/reboot-refit-re-energize-creating-opportunity-for-mid-career-growth/ |
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/11/2...
|
|Keywords||Altimetry, SAR, Sea ice|
|Subject categories||Remote sensing, Geosciences, Multidisciplinary, Physical Geography|
Radar altimetry in the context of sea ice has mostly been exploited to retrieve basin-scale information about sea ice thickness. In this paper, we investigate the sensitivity of altimetric waveforms to small-scale changes (a few hundred meters to about 10 km) of the sea ice surface. Near-coincidental synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery and CryoSat-2 altimetric data in the Beaufort Sea are used to identify and study the spatial evolution of altimeter waveforms over these features. Open water and thin ice features are easily identified because of their high peak power waveforms. Thicker ice features such as ridges and multiyear ice floes of a few hundred meters cause a response in the waveform. However, these changes are not reflected in freeboard estimates. Retrieval of robust freeboard estimates requires homogeneous floes in the order of 10 km along-track and a few kilometers to both sides across-track. We conclude that the combination of SAR imagery and altimeter data could improve the local sea ice picture by extending spatially scarce freeboard estimates to regions of similar SAR signature. | https://www.gu.se/english/research/publication?publicationId=287850 |
New Ulm woman wins Andrew Zimmern’s Folklore Recipe Contest
NEW ULM — An old family recipe was a winner for Darcy Schmidt of New Ulm at the Minnesota State Fair Monday.
Schmidt was announced as the winner of the “Folklore: The Quest for Legendary Recipes” contest hosted by Andrew Zimmern and “Explore Minnesota.” Zimmern presented the cook and her family recipe on Monday on “The Jason Show” live from the Minnesota State Fair.
Darcy Schmidt found the information for the Folklore Recipe contest online and decided to submit her grandmother Eleanor Kretsch’s recipe for sauerkraut with potato-bread dumplings. It was a winning combination, decided Zimmern along with his fellow judges, who raved about the locally-produced ingredients such as cabbage and hocks, and the preservation of a traditional German-Minnesotan dish. They especially admired that Darcy Schmidt did not use one single canned or otherwise preserved item, but even baked her own bread for the dumplings.
Darcy Schmidt, who works at Legal Professionals, says she did not expect the victory.
“I was completely caught off-guard when I got the email telling me that I won. I was like, ‘Wait, is this real?’ I even forgot that I had entered the recipe. So it was a surprise. A happy surprise, but a surprise nonetheless.”
Darcy Schmidt had learned the recipe, which has always been one of her favorites, from her grandmother, who taught her how to prepare the sauerkraut and dumplings when she was 17.
“Grandma never used measurements. She always just said that you need to make sure that the ingredients complement each other. So it took me almost 15 years to get it just right,” she says jokingly. “The secret to a good kraut is to me the pork hocks, which have a bit more fat and thus more flavor. And you want to make sure to cook the kraut six hours at the right temperature to get the right texture and flavor. As for the dumplings, I think it is key to use fresh bread, because it absorbs the taste better.”
She only had good things to report about Zimmern and Jason Matheson, the host of “The Jason Show.”
“Andrew was so nice and very easy to talk to. He is a really down-to-earth guy, as is Jason. They were both really, really nice to me,” Darcy Schmidt said.
Sarah Warmka, who works at the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce, is happy about Darcy Schmidt’s victory as well.
“I posted the contest information in the “New Ulm Now and Then” Facebook group, where it got a lot of responses. So we posted the video from the Monday broadcast from the State Fair in the group as well. We were excited when Darcy won, so we sent her, Andrew, and Jason gift baskets with sauerkraut, a ‘Germans have more fun’-T-Shirt, and a Schell’s beer stein among other things.”
When asked if there was anything Darcy Schmidt wanted to tell New Ulm people, she responded that it is important to keep up traditions. | https://www.nujournal.com/news/local-news/2018/08/29/new-ulm-woman-wins-andrew-zimmerns-folklore-recipe-contest/ |
University of Toronto
Dear parents, coaches, and administrators,
Researchers at the university of Toronto are currently recruiting youth athletes and their parent(s)/guardian(s) to participate in a research study that focuses on parent-athlete communication. More specifically, the purpose of this research is to examine the interactions between athletes and their parent(s)/guardian(s) during the car ride before and after sport practices and competitions.
Participation is open to parents and athletes within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Male and female athletes between 12-16 years of age, from any sport, any level are eligible to participate in the study. The information collected from parents and athletes is confidential and participation is completely voluntary. Parental consent is required for athletes to participate. Each participant will receive a $20 SportChek gift card for participating in the study ($40 per parent-child pair). Each dyad (one parent, one athlete) will be given a GoPro camera to record themselves in the car ride to and from sport practices and competitions. Parents and athletes will decide when and how to record their conversations and have the opportunity to delete videos or withdraw from the study at any time.
If you are willing to help, please contact Sina Azimi at [email protected]
Thank you! | http://communitysportcouncils.com/u-of-t-seeks-athletes-and-the-parents-for-athlete-parent-communication-study/ |
Work Email And Your Mental Health
Feeling that you’re expected to deal with your work email at home can stress you out, even if very little actual time is involved. What’s more, a new study from the Virginia Tech found that your partner or other family members may be negatively affected as well. The researchers reported that employees don’t have to actually spend time on work at home to feel the harmful effects. They found that the mere expectation that they must be available increases strain.
Study leader William Becker, an associate professor of management, commented that the research reflects the reality that “flexible work boundaries often turn into ‘work without boundaries’” compromising the health and well-being of employees and their families. The investigators suggested that employers’ expectations should be clearly stated when a newcomer joins the firm and that employers should establish schedules for employees to respond to email after work hours if they are expected to do so.
The study team interviewed 142 employees and their significant others about the work they were expected to do at home, their health and well-being. They also interviewed 100 employers about what they expected of employees after business hours. The team suggested that employees counter after-work anxiety with mindfulness exercises.
Source:
William J. Becker et al, “Killing me softly: Electronic communications monitoring and employee and spouse well-being.” Academy of Management Proceedings, July 9, 2018, DOI: 10.5465/AMBPP.2018.121
Also in this week’s bulletin: | https://www.drweil.com/blog/bulletins/work-email-and-your-mental-health/ |
I agree wholeheartedly with this statement despite Mr. (John) Powell’s implication to the contrary (Reporter-News, July 2).
However, my article (Reporter-News, June 25) was not focused on “Christian character”; if it had been, I would have defined the term. My purpose was to refute the accusation that Christians who voted for Donald Trump were hypocrites.
I used the word “character” in its commonly understood meaning of ethical and moral behavior, such as honesty, integrity, courage and other attitudes and behaviors which are generally admired and respected in our society. I would never suggest that these qualities are not desirable in those who occupy public office. I even cited John Adams, that paragon of Puritan rectitude, as an example. However, it is not desirability but availability that voters have to consider. What if neither candidate measures up to the high standards we would wish for our public servants?
It is naïve to assume that a candidate of high moral and ethical character would necessarily be the best person for the job. Neither do shortcomings in character necessarily disqualify someone from office.
In lists of the most effective presidents in the past, the names of Thomas Jefferson, Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy appear among the top choices. Most people would agree. However, Jefferson was a slave owner all of his life, even though he believed slavery was wrong. He almost certainly fathered the children of his slave Sally Hemings. He was also a spendthrift who borrowed large sums of money which he had to know he could not repay. \
FDR’s personal family life was highly irregular to say the least, and he could play fast and loose with the truth, especially regarding his physical condition.
JFK was a womanizer, before and during his tenure in the White House. He had ties to organized crime, and he lied repeatedly about his physical health. Moral failings; great presidents.
On the other hand, we have had some leaders of sterling character. I remember when people of both parties were ecstatic over Jimmy Carter.
At last we’ll have a good Christian in the White House, they said. And he was. But we all know how that worked out. Then there was George W. Bush: good family man, all-around great guy, but you won’t find his name in the top 10 list of presidents. High morals; not-so-great presidents.
According to the Bible, God has at times used ungodly people to accomplish divine purposes. For example, it was the pagan king Cyrus who ordered the return of the Jewish people to their homeland after many years of Babylonian captivity. He provided funds for their needs and implemented the restoration of the city of Jerusalem. The first task, incidentally, was building a wall.
I cite these few examples (based on research, not just my opinion) only to illustrate my point that, as much as we hope and pray for noble leaders, cold, hard reality demands that we examine the issues and vote for the candidate whose policies would best reflect our own Bible-based, Christian values.
For me, and for many others, this includes some non-negotiables such as pro-life, pro-family, pro-marriage and pro-patriotism. These strongly held beliefs would necessarily preclude voting for a candidate who would put no limits on abortion. Neither could I possibly vote for someone who expresses a desire to redistribute my money (not exactly “wealth”) or declares that I must change my long-held religious beliefs to accommodate a socialistic agenda.
Why would I vote for someone clueless enough to offer a cheap, tacky, plastic “reset button” as an act of diplomacy? Or someone heartless enough to reply to criticism about the loss of lives at Benghazi by saying, “What does it matter?” Or mindless enough to sell Russia a quarter of our country’s uranium? Not to mention the infamous e-mail server scandal.
At first, I did not take Donald Trump seriously as a viable candidate. I thought he would jump in, stir things up, throw his support to another candidate and get out. I was wrong. As events unfolded, I responded to his critics by saying, “We might have to vote for him.” And I was right.
On the Deplorability Scale, felonious trumps distasteful any day (no pun intended). We evangelicals did what we had to do. If I had it to do over, I would do it again and this time I would feel a lot better about it.
LaNelle Stiles lives in Abilene. | https://www.reporternews.com/story/opinion/contributors/2017/07/30/we-evangelicals-would-vote-trump-again/497627001/ |
Developments of Regional Impact (DRIs) are large-scale developments that are likely to have regional effects beyond the local government jurisdiction in which they are located. The Georgia Planning Act of 1989 authorized the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to establish procedures for review of these large-scale projects. These procedures are designed to improve communication between affected governments and to provide a means of revealing and assessing potential impacts of large-scale developments before conflicts relating to them arise. At the same time, local government autonomy is preserved since the host government maintains the authority to make the final decision on whether a proposed development will or will not go forward.
DCA's statewide rules for DRIs were updated in July 2012 to:
- Streamline the process;
- Provide regional flexibility in the administration of the program;
- Minimize the emphasis of the Regional Commissions' positive/negative DRI finding;
- Reinforce the program’s regional perspective;
- Ensure that the program provides worthwhile assistance to local governments when desired; and,
- Focus the program on communication among all parties involved in the DRI process.
ALWAYS contact your regional commission prior to beginning the DRI process to ensure that your project is submitted and handled appropriately.
DRIs in the Atlanta Region
Taking advantage of the increased regional flexibility provided in the 2014 DRI rules, the Atlanta Regional Commission has carried out the process of involving its member-communities in drafting and gaining DCA approval for an alternative, region-specific DRI program. For more information please visit ARC's DRI program at their website:
http://www.atlantaregional.com/land-use/developments-of-regional-impact
Developments of Regional Impact: Alternative Requirements—Atlanta Regional Commission: DCA Rules 110-12-7
Georgia Regional Transportation Agency
Contact the Atlanta Regional Commission prior to beginning the DRI process to ensure that your project is submitted and handled appropriately. | https://www.dca.ga.gov/local-government-assistance/planning/regional-planning/developments-regional-impact |
Fat-soluble vitamins in the maternal diet, influence of cod liver oil supplementation and impact of the maternal diet on human milk composition.
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Issue Date2001
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CitationAnn. Nutr. Metab. 2001, 45(6):265-72
AbstractBACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate lactating mothers' intake of fat-soluble vitamins in free-living subjects and to what extent cod liver oil supplementation influences the maternal intake in a population with common intake of cod liver oil. The impact of maternal diet on the concentration of fat-soluble vitamins in human milk was studied. METHODS: Dietary intake of 77 lactating women was investigated by 24-hour diet recalls and breast-milk samples were taken at the same occasions. Breast milk samples were analyzed for fat-soluble vitamins. RESULTS: The median intakes were 927 microg/day for vitamin A, 5.5 mg/day for vitamin E and 3.3 microg/day for vitamin D. Maternal vitamin A, E and D intakes were higher when the diet was supplemented with cod liver oil. Icelandic breast milk was found to have high contents of vitamin A and E. Only vitamin D was too low in breast milk to meet the recommended intake for infants. Retinylpalmitate in relation to lipids correlated with maternal vitamin A intake (r = 0.23, p < 0.05). The group with cod liver oil supplementation had significantly lower levels of gamma-tocopherol in breast milk (p < 0.01), whereas the supplementation did not affect other fat-soluble vitamins. CONCLUSION: The recommended intake of fat-soluble vitamins for lactating women can more easily be met with a cod liver oil supplementation than diet alone. Only vitamin D in human milk cannot meet the recommended intakes for infants, with normal breastfeeding. There is a relationship between the content of vitamins A and E in human milk and the maternal diet.
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Additional Linkshttp://www.karger.com/DOI/10.1159/000046737
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1.1 In these Conditions the following words have the following meanings:
the Buyer: the person(s), firm or company who purchases the Goods from the Company;
the Company: Richard Campey Ltd ;
Contract: any contract between the Company and the Buyer for the sale and purchase of Goods, incorporating these Conditions;
Contract Price The price agreed to be paid by the Buyer to the Company for the purchase of Goods, incorporating these Conditions;
Delivery Point: the place where delivery of the Goods is to take place under condition 3;
Goods: any goods agreed to be supplied to the Buyer by the Company (including any part or parts of them).
1.2 In these Conditions references to any statute or statutory provision shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be construed as a reference to that statute or statutory provision as from time to time amended, consolidated, modified, extended, re-enacted or replaced.
1.3 In these Conditions references to the masculine include the feminine and the neuter and to the singular include the plural and vice versa as the context admits or requires.
1.4 In these Conditions headings will not affect the construction of these Conditions.
2 Application of Terms
2.1 Subject to any variation under condition 2.3 for the sale of Goods by the Company to the Buyer the Contract will be on these Conditions to the exclusion of all other terms and conditions (including any terms or conditions which the Buyer purports to apply under any purchase order, confirmation of order, specification or other document).
2.2 No terms or conditions endorsed upon, delivered with or contained in the Buyer’s purchase order, confirmation of order, specification or other document will form part of the Contract simply as a result of such document being referred to in the Contract.
2.3 These Conditions apply to all the Company’s sales and any variation to these Conditions and any representations about the Goods shall have no effect unless expressly agreed in writing and signed by a director of the Company.
2.4 Each order for Goods by the Buyer from the Company shall be deemed to be an offer by the Buyer to purchase Goods subject to these Conditions.
2.5 No order placed by the Buyer shall be deemed to be accepted by the Company until a written acknowledgement of order is issued by the Company or (if earlier) the Company delivers the Goods to the Buyer.
2.6 The Buyer must ensure that the terms of its order and any applicable specification are complete and accurate.
2.7 Any quotation is given on the basis that no contract will come into existence until the Company despatches an acknowledgement of order to the Buyer. Any quotation is valid for a period of days only from its date, provided that the Company has not previously withdrawn it.
2.8 The Company’s employees or agents are not authorised to make any representations concerned the Goods unless confirmed by the Company in writing. In entering into the Contract the Buyer acknowledges that it does not rely on, and waives any claim for breach of, any such representations which are not so confirmed.
2.9 Any advice or recommendation given by the Company or its employees or agents to the Buyer or its agents as to the storage, application or use of the Goods which is not confirmed in writing by the Company is followed or acted upon entirely at the Buyer’s own risk, and accordingly the Company shall not be liable for any such advice or recommendation which is not so confirmed.
2.10 The quantity, quality and description of and any specification for the Goods shall be those set out in the Company’s quotation or the Buyer’s order (if accepted by the Company).
2.11 The Company reserves the right to make any changes in the specification of the Goods which are required to conform with any applicable safety or other statutory requirements or, where the Goods are to be supplied to the Company’s specification, which do not materially affect their quality or performance.
3 Delivery
3.1 Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company, delivery of the Goods shall take place at the Buyer’s place of business. It is the Buyer’s responsibility to provide suitable off-loading facilities and the Seller shall not be liable in respect of any loss or damage suffered by the Buyer after the commencement of unloading, and the Buyer shall be responsible for the costs of delivery.
3.2 Any dates specified by the Company for delivery of the Goods are intended to be an estimate and time for delivery shall not be made of the essence by notice. If no dates are so specified, delivery will be within a reasonable time.
3.3 Subject to the other provisions of these Conditions the Company will not be liable for any direct, indirect or consequential loss (all three of which terms include, without limitation, loss of profits, loss of business, depletion of goodwill and like loss), costs, damages, charges or expenses caused directly or indirectly by any delay in the delivery of the Goods (even if caused by the Company’s negligence), nor will any delay entitle the Buyer to terminate or rescind the Contract unless such delay exceeds 91 days.
4 Risk/Title
4.1 The Goods are at the risk of the Buyer from the time of delivery (being the time when the Goods leave the Seller’s place of business).
4.2 Ownership of the Goods shall not pass to the Buyer until the Company has received in full (in cash or cleared funds) all sums due to it in respect of:
4.2.1 the Goods; and
4.2.2 all other sums which are or which become due to the Company from the Buyer on any account.
4.3 Until ownership of the Goods has passed to the Buyer, the Buyer must:
4.3.1 hold the Goods on a fiduciary basis as the Company’s bailee;
4.3.2 store the Goods (at no cost to the Company) separately from all other goods of the Buyer or any third party marked in such a way that they remain readily identifiable as the Company’s property;
4.3.3 not destroy, deface or obscure any identifying mark or packaging on or relating to the Goods;
4.3.4 maintain the Goods in satisfactory condition and keep them insured on the Company’s behalf for their full price against all risks to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company. On request the Buyer shall produce the policy of insurance to the Company; and
4.3.5 hold the proceeds of the insurance referred to in condition 4.3.4 on trust for the Company and not mix them with any other money, nor pay the proceeds into an overdrawn bank account.
4.4 Notwithstanding that the Goods (or any of them) remain the property of the Company the Buyer may sell, hire, lease or use the Goods in the ordinary course of the Buyer’s business at full market value for the account of the Company. Any such sale or dealing shall be a sale or dealing of the Company’s property by the Buyer on the Buyer’s own behalf and the Buyer shall deal as principal when making such sales or dealings. Until property in the Goods is passed from the Company the entire proceeds of sale or otherwise of the Goods shall be held in trust for the Company and shall not be mixed with other money or paid into any overdrawn bank account and shall be at all material times identified as the Company’s money.
4.5 The Company shall be entitled to recover payment for the Goods notwithstanding that ownership of any of the Goods has not passed from the Company.
4.6 Until such time as the property in the Goods passes from the Company the Buyer shall upon request deliver up such of the Goods as have not ceased to be in existence or resold to the Company. If the Buyer fails to do so the Company may enter upon any premises owned occupied or controlled by the Buyer where the Goods are situated and repossess the Goods. On the making of such request the rights of the Buyer under clause 4.4 shall cease.
4.7 The Buyer shall not pledge or in any way charge by way of security for any indebtedness any of the Goods which are the property of the Company. Without prejudice to the other rights of the Company if the Buyer does so all sums whatever owing by the Buyer to the Company shall forthwith become due and payable.
4.8 The Buyer grants the Company, its agents and employees an irrevocable licence at any time to enter any premises where the Goods are or may be stored in order to inspect them, or, where the Buyer’s right to possession has terminated, to recover them.
- Price
- The price for the Goods shall be exclusive of any value added tax which amounts the Buyer will pay in addition when it is due to pay for the Goods.
- Packing and carriage are extra for spares and accessories. To meet HM Revenue & Customs requirements for VAT, customers intending to arrange external funding via finance companies must inform the Company when the order is placed. If external funding arrangements are requested after the date of the order an arrangement fee of £50.00 will be charged. Any settlement discount will only be granted if payment is received by the company from either the customer or any finance company, within the settlement period that is stated on the quotation and invoice.
6 Payment
6.1 Payment of the price for the Goods is due no later than 30 days – or (in the event of a sale of machinery) 7 days – from the date of the invoice. Time for payment shall be of the essence. The Company may request that the Buyer pays a deposit for the Goods prior to delivery and pays the outstanding balance upon delivery.
6.2 No payment shall be deemed to have been received until the Company has received cleared funds.
6.3 All payments payable to the Company under the Contract shall become due immediately upon termination of the Contract despite any other provision.
6.4 The Buyer shall make all payments due under the Contract without any deduction whether by way of set-off, counterclaim, discount, abatement or otherwise unless the Buyer has a valid court order requiring an amount equal to such deduction to be paid by the Company to the Buyer.
6.5 If the Buyer fails to pay the Company any sum due pursuant to the Contract the Buyer will be liable to pay interest to the Company on such sum from the due date for payment at the annual rate of 4% above the base lending rate from time to time of Yorkshire Bank plc, accruing on a daily basis until payment is made, whether before or after any judgment. The Company shall also be entitled to claim all legal costs or other costs incurred by instructing solicitors or debt collection agents to collect any outstanding amounts due by the Buyer to the Company for work undertaken by the Company’s solicitors or debt collectors both before and after judgment and the Buyer hereby indemnifies the Company against all such costs and interest referred to in this Condition.
7 Limitation of Liability
7.1 The following provisions set out the entire financial liability of the Company (including any liability for the acts or omissions of its employees, agents and sub-contractors) to the Buyer in respect of:
7.1.1 any breach of these Conditions; and
7.1.2 any representation, statement or tortious act or omission including negligence arising under or in connection with the Contract.
7.2 Subject to condition 7.3:
7.2.1 the Company’s total liability in contract, tort (including negligence or breach of statutory duty), misrepresentation, restitution or otherwise, arising in connection with the performance or contemplated performance of the Contract shall be limited to the Contract Price; and
7.2.2 the Company shall not be liable to the Buyer for any indirect or consequential loss or damage (whether for loss of profit, loss of business, depletion of goodwill or otherwise), costs, expenses or other claims for consequential compensation whatsoever (howsoever caused) which arise out of or in connection with the Contract
7.3 Goods are provided “as is’ and without warranties of any kind either express or implied. To the fullest extent permissible pursuant to applicable law, the Company disclaims all merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The Company does not warrant or make any representations regarding the use or the results of the use of the Goods in terms of their correctness, accuracy, reliability, or otherwise. The Buyer and not the Company assume the entire cost of all necessary servicing, repair or correction. The Seller will use all reasonable endeavours to procure that the Buyer has the benefit of any warranty given by the manufacturer of the Goods.
8 Termination
8.1 The Company may terminate the Contract with immediate effect if the Buyer:
8.1.1 fails to pay any sums due to the Company as they fall due; or
8.1.2 is a company and goes into administration, liquidation or receivership, or is a person and is declared insolvent; or
8.1.3 makes an arrangement with its/his creditors (whether formal or informal);or
8.1.4 breaches any of these terms and conditions and fails to correct the breach within 14 days following written notice from the Company to the Buyer specifying the breach; or
8.1.5 ceases or threatens to cease trading; or
8.1.6 encumbers or in any way charges the Goods.
8.1.7 Where credit terms are agreed these can be withdrawn without notice
9 Assignment
9.1 The Buyer shall not be entitled to assign the Contract or any part of it without the prior written consent of the Company.
9.2 The Company may assign or sub-contract the Contract or any part of it to any person, firm or company.
10 Force Majeure
The Company reserves the right to defer the date of delivery or to cancel the Contract (without liability to the Buyer) if it is prevented from or delayed in the carrying on of its business due to circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the Company including, without limitation, acts of God, governmental actions, war or national emergency, acts of terrorism, protests, riot, civil commotion, fire, explosion, flood, epidemic, lock-outs, strikes or other labour disputes (whether or not relating to either party’s workforce), or restraints or delays affecting carriers or inability or delay in obtaining supplies of adequate or suitable materials Provided that, if the event in question continues for a continuous period in excess of 91 days, the Buyer shall be entitled to give notice in writing to the Company to terminate the Contract.
11 General
11.1 Each right or remedy of the Company under the Contract is without prejudice to any other right or remedy of the Company whether under the Contract or not.
11.2 If any provision of the Contract is found by any court, tribunal or administrative body of competent jurisdiction to be wholly or partly illegal, invalid, void, voidable, unenforceable or unreasonable it shall to the extent of such illegality, invalidity, voidness, voidability, unenforceability or unreasonableness be deemed severable and the remaining provisions of the Contract and the remainder of such provision shall continue in full force and effect.
11.3 Failure or delay by the Company in enforcing or partially enforcing any provision of the Contract will not be construed as a waiver of any of its rights under the Contract.
11.4 Any waiver by the Company of any breach of, or any default under, any provision of the Contract by the Buyer will not be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach or default and will in no way affect the other terms of the Contract.
11.5 The parties to this Contract do not intend that any term of this Contract will be enforceable by virtue of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 by any person that is not a party to it.
11.6 The formation, existence, construction, performance, validity and all aspects of the Contract shall be governed by English law and the parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
12 Communications
All communications between the parties about this Contract must be in writing and delivered by hand or sent by pre-paid first class post or sent by facsimile transmission (in case of communications to the Company) to its registered office or such changed address as shall be notified to the Buyer by the Company or (in the case of the communications to the Buyer) to the registered office of the addressee (if it is a company) or (in any other case) to any address of the Buyer set out in any document which forms part of this Contract or such other address as shall be notified to the Company by the Buyer. | https://campeyaustralia.com/terms/ |
An ancient mind-body practice combining movement and stretches with meditation, yoga is used to manage symptoms and side effects and body terrain imbalances common in cancer.
Yoga at a glance
Yoga is an ancient mind-body practice combining gentle breathing exercises, meditation, stretches and poses to promote flexibility, strength, and balance. Many specific types of yoga are available.
Yoga is linked to better balance of body terrainthe internal conditions of your body, including nutritional status, fitness, blood sugar balance, hormone balance, inflammation and more factors, including body weight, blood sugar and insulin imbalance, hormone levels, inflammation, and oxidation. Yoga practice is also linked to lower frequency and/or severity of symptoms and side effects common among people with cancer, especially anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disruption, stress, and distress, leading to overall better quality of life for many people.
CancerChoices ratings for yoga
We rate yoga on seven attributes, with 0 the lowest rating and 5 the highest. | https://cancerchoices.org/therapy/yoga/ |
The Pandemic has favored the web and app development industry on a massive scale. Businesses are shifting from traditional physical operations to digital space. With it, numerous new opportunities are knocking on the door for investment. The boom of the industry has increased the demand for Front and Back-End developers.
Before hiring a third-party web and app company, you, as a business, should at least equip yourself with the basic knowledge of web development and skills required for it. Read this article till the end to learn all about Front-end development; the newest trends required skills and technologies involved.
Front-End Development Explained
Let's start with the basics:
What is Web Development?
Using codes, languages, and content management systems to develop a website is called the Web Development process.
Web development is divided into two parts:
- Front-end
- Back-end
Let's take a deeper look
What is Front-End Development?
The front-end can be seen as customer-side development and refers to the component of the program that customers can view and interact with.
The responsibility of a front-end developer is not restricted to the implementation of visual components alone. It also involves designing and managing interactive functions, such as navigation, buttons, and anything else that impacts the application's functionality.
2021 Front-End Development Trends
To assist you in identifying some guidance in 2021, we've compiled a list of some of the patterns that a front-end developer should be familiar with.
Headless Architecture
In today's fast-paced agile environment, decoupling your web application's appearance and delivery layer from the CMS makes a lot of sense. With enterprise-grade systems like Sitecore adopting headless, the future of developing sophisticated user-driven apps appears bright.
Isomorphic Applications
Typescript
Micro Front-Ends
Micro front-ends are the logical extension of back-end microservices. When you merely made a slight change to one component, why deploy your complete front-end? How? Divide your monolithic front-end architecture into smaller, autonomous components.
Web Components
Web components will continue to grow in popularity in 2021 since they are framework-independent.
GraphQL
GraphQL allows you to get declarative data from a single endpoint. Sending only the data a client has requested, rather than the predefined data structures of the past, allows for improved efficiency and faster feature development.
JAMstack
The dynamic JAMstack, which was previously exclusively the domain of a pre-rendered static site, is now a thing; see Next.js' Incremental Static Regeneration' is a js function that performs incremental static regeneration. No server is required for automated builds, atomic deployments, or cache invalidation. What is there not to like about this?
Frameworks
Vue.js continues to rise gradually to the top but probably won't grab the crown soon. Maybe web-based frames such as Stencil will grow in 2021.
Component Driven Development
In 2021, solutions like Bit will continue to gain traction as a means of facilitating quick creation and the export of existing components into a dynamically reusable shared collection. Think of a sped-up version of a Storybook.
Progressive Web Applications
PWAs are still a thing, and we keep expecting them to take off every year. With recent browser improvements, more and more businesses are opting to integrate PWA features into their existing or new web apps rather than developing a separate native app, giving them the best of both worlds.
What Front-End Developers Should Know?
HTML: the Key Front-End Technology
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is a computer language used to build web pages that anyone can see with an Internet connection.
HTML is made up of tags, which are shortcodes that are normalized into a text file by the site designer. The text is subsequently saved as an HTML file, which may be viewed using a browser. The browser scans the file and transforms the text into a visually accessible form.
HyperText is the method of navigating the internet by clicking on hyperlinks, which are unique texts that lead to other pages. Hyper implies that it is not linear and can be moved anywhere because there is no predefined order.
This is how we gradually move to HTML5.
HTML5
HTML has seen a lot of changes since its original release in 1991. In 2014, HTML5 was published. It includes features like offline media storage support, more precise content elements (e.g., header, footer, navigation), and audio and video integration support.
CSS: Styling your Façade
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is a language for creating style sheets. It's used to specify how HTML components should appear on a webpage in terms of style, layout, and modifications for various devices and screen sizes. CSS is capable of mastering the layout of several web pages at the same time.
CSS interacts with HTML elements, which are the building blocks of a website. CSS utilizes selectors to connect with HTML. A selector is a component of CSS code that specifies which HTML elements will be affected by CSS style.
- A declaration contains properties and values that the selector employs.
- Properties define font size, color, and margins. Values are the settings for these properties.
External style sheets are saved as.css files and may be used to determine the design of an entire website with only one file, rather than adding several instances of CSS code to each HTML element that needs to be changed. To use an external style sheet, .html files must have a header section that links to the external style sheet.
DOM: the Web Page Structure
The structure of a web page is known as the Document Object Model (DOM). A programming interface for HTML and XML documents is known as the Document Object Model (DOM). It interprets the page so that programs can change the document's structure, style, and content. The document is rendered as nodes and objects by the DOM, allowing programming languages to connect to the page.
How does it work?
How Front-End Communicates with the Back-End?
The front-end does not exist in a vacuum from the back-end or the data-handling server. Let's have a look at some of the client-server communications ideas.
Asynchronous Operations
Asynchronous is the foundation of the whole toolset. The approach's most important function is to asynchronously refresh web content.
- XML (or Extensible Markup Language) is a markup language that allows you to send data from a page to the browsers that view it. This is critical for particular computer systems, which frequently cannot communicate with data formatted by another system.
How Asynchronous Updates Work?
REST and GraphQL
REST and GraphQL are acronyms for Representational State Transfer and GraphQL, respectively. It's a lightweight architectural style used to communicate between a client (front-end) and a server (back-end). RESTful services and APIs are web services following the REST architecture.
The current version of messaging is GraphQL. It's a query language for client-side apps to query databases. GraphQL describes how to present data to the client on the server-side and accommodates various sorts of clients and their data requirements. Read our post on GraphQL Core features if you want to learn more about this topic.
Most Popular Front-End Development Languages
Here are some of the suggested top front-end development languages for you to select from, along with their perks, when it comes to developing and building the front-end of your website or program.
Famous websites
- eBay
- Wikipedia
2. CSS - CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets. It describes how the HTML components on your site are shown and presented on the screen when coded into the site's functioning.
Famous Websites
- Angry Birds
- Your Plan Your Planet
3. HTML - HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language. It is used to create web pages for your website. This language represents the page's structure, and it will be made up of several distinct components that will display the page's planned organization.
Famous Websites
- Fizz
- Four Hundred Years
Famous Websites
- Asana
- Airbnb
5. AngularJs - AngularJS is a programming language that combines functionality with the ability to build aesthetically appealing web pages. One of the most prominent aspects of Angular is the scalability it provides to web developers.
Famous Websites
- Upwork
- Netflix
6. Vue.js - This development language is preferred by web developers seeking inexpensive, budget-friendly pricing. It creates and simplifies the construction of websites. Vue.js is not only affordable, but it's also ideal for front-end developers who are new to the field.
Famous Websites
- GitLab
- Behance
7. Elm - Elm uses Redux's architecture to allow users to construct client-facing web pages without the inefficiencies that come with HTML and CSS.
Famous Websites
- Elmify
- UNLI Reverse Flight Search
Famous Websites
- Sky
- Wix
Famous Websites
- Microsoft
- Zoom
10. SASS - SASS stands for Syntactically Awesome Style Sheets and is a CSS-like programming language. With its distinct characteristics, SASS provides users with variables, nestles rules, mixins, and other capabilities for a more fluid front-end experience.
Famous Websites
- Toyota
- Vox Media
How to Hire a Front-End Web Developer?
Effective front-end developers and UI/UX projects integrate several criteria, including:
- User accessibility
- Navigation
- Compatibility with their user base/audience, and
- Sleek user interfaces
All of this works together to tap into the user's subconscious joys.
Front-end developers, in other words, are in charge of optimizing and customizing the sweet spot proportion of an appealing user interface.
What Does a Front End-Web Developer Do?
The following are the bare-minimum duties of a front-end developer for organizations with non-specific and general web development job criteria:
- Developing novel user interfaces (UI) and user experiences (UX)
- Build and deploy reusable code, frameworks, and front-end libraries for future applications.
- Evaluate and determine the technical feasibility of UI/UX designs via mockups and wireframe presentations.
- Optimize web applications with responsiveness, scalability, clean navigation, and speed in mind.
- Aggregate user feedback and ensure that all user-level features and design methods are validated before submitting final versions to the back-end.
- Collaborate with the full-stack ecosystem; work with other team members and stakeholders to configure UI/UX designs accordingly.
Front-End Web Developer Skills
These are the skills and expertise a front-end developer should possess.
- Proficiency in HTML and CSS.
- Cross-browser compatibility
- Responsive design
- UI frameworks and CSS-transforming tools
- 2D and 3D graphics
- User Accessibility
- Graphic design and Typography
- UI/UX design
- Web template systems
- Code versioning tools and utilization
How to Hire a Front-End Software Development Company?
Struggling to hire an in-house software engineer? Have an idea for a great product but don’t have a skilled team? The best solution is to look for a software development house. By outsourcing the development you gain access to professionals with experience in working on various projects and priceless business insights.
Choosing the right software development partner is the key factor in successful outsourcing.
What to look for:
- Testimonials
- Portfolio
- Blogs
Key Criteria for Selecting a Front-end Software development company:
- Price-oriented approach
- Experience-oriented approach
- Management-oriented approach
- Communication-oriented approach
Read a dedicated article on How To Choose A Custom Software Development Company.
Capabilities and Key Expertise for Front-end Development Company
The company should be well-versed with the newest trends and technology. The developers should have the ability to handle the project with dedicated teams.
Staff Augmentation is another buzzing word for developers. When hiring a development company, you need to check the portfolio of the previously served customer using the technique.
Conclusions
There are several articles about front-end development that may help you choose the right technology, but in the end, it all depends on the details of your project and the objectives you want to achieve.
If you're having difficulties selecting which tech stack to use to create your project we encourage you to contact us. Our highly experienced staff can help you select the finest front-end solution for your specific company requirements. Look through our portfolio, which includes hundreds of successfully executed front-end projects for clients from diversified industries. | https://selleo.com/blog/fundamentals-of-front-end-development |
This paper proposes an alternate interpretation of the traditional lookup table controller via the center average defuzzifier (CAD) in fuzzy set theory with a set of disjoint block pulse membership functions (DBPMFs). The DBPMFs with CAD can be proved to be equivalent to the traditional fuzzy lookup table controller (FLTC). Further, a new Heaviside search algorithm (HSA) is also proposed to implement the FLTC in a more efficient way. The HSA is to find the indices for every fuzzy input variable independently, in order to speed up the table-searching process. The computational complexity of our new HSA is far less than the complexity of the traditional linear search algorithm (LSA), where HSA is the sum of Ri, where Ri is the number of membership functions for ith input variable in FLTC. The average computational complexity in LSA is the product of Ri divided by 2. The HSA also reduces the complexity of coding significantly in the same order as the comparison of computation complexities between HSA and LSA. The balancing of the inverted pendulum system is adopted as the benchmark to show the feasibility and efficiency of this new FLTC and HSA. | https://scholar.nctu.edu.tw/en/publications/from-fuzzy-center-average-defuzzifier-cad-to-fuzzy-lookup-table-c |
Attendees at a Feb. 5 public meeting at Klein Cain High School were generally in favor of a proposed plan to open all polling locations on Election Day to all eligible Harris County voters.
Harris County voters may soon be able to cast ballots at any of the county’s 700 polling locations—regardless of which precinct they live in—as early as the May 4 election.
The Harris County Commissioners Court will consider submitting an application to the Texas Secretary of State for permission to participate in the countywide polling place program during its Feb. 12 meeting. The deadline to apply for the May election is Feb. 18.
“Countywide voting centers simply means that all polling locations are open to all eligible voters in Harris County,” Harris County Clerk Diane Trautman said during a Feb. 5 public meeting at Klein Cain High School.
Trautman said implementing countywide voting centers would enhance voter convenience and satisfaction, while easing voter confusion over assigned polling locations and reducing administration costs. Harris County voters can currently vote at any polling location during the early voting period but must vote at their assigned polling location based on the precinct they live in on election day.
If the Secretary of State grants approval, the next step is to educate voters on voting day processes and polling locations to further increase voter turnout, Trautman said. Strategies include running ads on Harris County TV access stations, minority outreach efforts and hosting more community meetings like the one held Feb. 5.
After a few elections with the new system, Trautman said the county can look at voting patterns to determine voter needs and if polling locations should be consolidated or relocated. However, she added that local communities would be consulted before consolidating polling locations.
Attendees at the Feb. 5 meeting, many of which were election day judges and volunteers, were generally in favor of the proposed changes.
Other attendees voiced concern over potential voter fraud and logistic issues.
However, Trautman said the new voting program will not compromise voter integrity, as all polling locations will still be required to uphold the same standards, such as housing electronic machines and electronic poll books that contain all registered voters.
Trautman said if approved, the proposed plan would be implemented prior to the November election to sort out logistic issues.
“We must start with a smaller election. That way we can see whatever kinks need to be worked out,” she said. | https://communityimpact.com/houston/spring-klein/city-county/2019/02/11/harris-county-commissioners-court-to-consider-election-day-voting-centers-feb-12/ |
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Klipspringer Antelope in Kruger National Park near Nkumbe Lookout
Klipspringer Antelope in Kruger National Park near Nkumbe Lookout
Bob and I had no sooner left the parking lot at Nkumbe Lookout when we spotted a trio of Klipspringer antelope gallivanting among the rocks on the other side of the road. What nimble little creatures!
We had reveled in the sense of isolation and perfect silence that was found at Nkumbe Lookout in Kruger National Park, and took advantage of it for an opportunity to reflect on our travels in South Africa up to that point. Despite our expansive view of the savanna that stretches from there towards the west, we saw no signs of life on the open veldt. A Rock Monitor did keep us company as we savored some juicy nectarines, and then it was time to motor back towards Skukuza Rest Camp.
Barely back on the main road, we caught a flicker of movement off to our right where the landscape was covered in rust-coloured rocks of many sizes. Only for one Klipspringer antelope silhouetted against a pale grey boulder in the distance, we might have missed spotting the spry creatures altogether. There are 3 of them in this photo. Can you find them?
While the male, female and calf deftly scampered over the rocks, it was difficult to keep track of them. Their brownish-grey hair blended perfectly with the terrain.
Klipspringers are stocky antelopes with a short neck and body, and their hindquarters are well developed, large in proportion to the rest of their body, giving them an advantage when leaping among rocks, in gorges and on cliff sides. A Klipspringer antelope measures up to 24 inches at the shoulder with the females being slightly larger than the males.
What is most fascinating is how the Klipspringers walk on their hoof tips, a gait that enhances their grip on uneven rocky surfaces. In fact, the name Klipspringer comes from the Afrikaans language and means “rock jumper”. It was intriguing to observe them bounding from rock to rock because, each time, they landed on all 4 feet at once. Poised like elegant ballerinas on tiptoes, these small antelopes can actually scale sheer cliffs with no difficulty, an ability that enables them to escape predators.
What makes the Klipspringer antelope particularly handsome are the prominent pre-orbital glands in front of their eyes lending a vulnerability to the Klipspringers’ overall appearance. Another characteristic that stands out are the white and black markings on the insides of the ears. This draws more attention to the ears when they are flicked, perhaps in warning to other Klipspringers.
Klipspringers are normally inactive during the hot afternoon, so once again luck was on our side to find this family out foraging in the late afternoon. Their preferred habitat only provides a variety of sparse vegetation with flowers, green shoots and low foliage making up the bulk of their diet. A Klipspringer’s water requirements are met by succulents rather than depending on a local water supply.
Most often, Klipspringer antelope are seen in a small family grouping with a breeding pair and one offspring. Only one calf is born each year, usually in spring or early summer, and it remains with the parents for one full year, until it reaches maturity. It was November 7th when we saw the Klipspringers, so this calf was likely born in August because the young are kept hidden for 2-3 months.
In South Africa, only the males have short spiky horns, which are a mere 3 inches long. In other parts of Africa, both the males and females have horns. This may allude to the fact that there is less competition in South Africa.
Another trait peculiar to most antelopes is a dense coat of hollow hairs that rattle when they move. The hair serves multiple purposes. One, it protects a Klipspringer from abrasion when brushing up against rough and sharp rocks. Two, the hairs stand up when the animal is hot and assist with distribution of heat. When laying flat, the hairs deflect the sun’s rays. If a Klipspringer takes a fall, the springy texture of the coat cushions the animal. Did you notice that there are 2 animals in this photo?
As the hour was getting on, we had to make tracks for Skukuza Rest Camp. The gates close at 5 p.m., so we had to return to the compound by then to ensure our own personal safety through the night. Tomorrow would be another day with the gates opening promptly at 4 a.m. for those of us keen enough to be awake by that hour. | https://frametoframe.ca/2017/04/klipspringer-antelope-kruger-national-park-nkumbe-lookout/ |
Position Information:
Hours: 24 hours per week
Location: St. Paul, MN
Start Date: June 9, 2020 - August 28, 2020
Application Deadline: February 28, 2020. Cover letter is required for this application. Please scroll to the "Next Step in the Application" section for more information.
Are you looking for Internships/Fellowships at the largest station-based public radio organization in the US?
If so, look no further. Our Internship and Fellowship program will give YOU the real-world experience you are seeking in production, research, reporting, interviewing, audio and digital storytelling and more, as well as experience in public media operations. In addition to professional development, this program will help you build a network with other professionals in the industry. Don't miss out on the chance to build your professional portfolio alongside the best people within public media.
Who we are:
Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) is one of the nation's premier public radio stations producing programming for radio, digital and live audiences and operates a 46-station radio network serving nearly all of Minnesota and parts of surrounding states. Reaching 1 million listeners each week, MPR and its three regional services'MPR News, Classical MPR and The Current'produce programming for radio, digital and live audiences.
Intern, Community Engagement
You will be joining a multi-faceted team whose mission is to create more relevant, inclusive and impactful community engagement in order grow new and diverse Audiences. One of our 2025 strategies is to leverage Audience insights to help us create better content. We have a great opportunity to use our community engagement work in order to accomplish this goal, as well as, to diversify our Audiences.
You will work with the Director of Impact and Community Engagement to reach new Audiences in order to gain Audience insights and build mutually beneficial external relationships. As the Intern, Community Engagement, you will also forge internal relationships across the news and music services to provide support for community engagement.
Key Learning Goals:
The two key learning goals for the position are:
- Develop expertise in engaging historically underserved populations. The cultural competency skills acquired during the internship will be valuable for roles in community engagement, communications, and diversity and inclusion. These skills can be applied in for-profit, non-profit and government organizations that seek to engage their employees, and the wider community, in inclusive conversations and information exchange in the pursuit of engagement, enrichment and impact.
- Develop foundational skills related to measuring impact. These skills include identifying specific project goals, measuring and evaluating project goals and synthesizing information into clearly articulated oral and/or written presentations and reports. These analytical skills will be valuable for careers in analytics, research and social science.
Responsibilities:
- Assist Director in planning and executing community engagement and impact projects.
- Assist Director in managing cross-divisional relationships and communications within MPR|APM related to community engagement and impact.
- Synthesize information into clearly articulated oral and/or written presentations and reports.
- Work cross-divisionally with MPR and APM business units on projects and programming, i.e. working with Audience Insights on listening sessions, working with Live Events on events etc.
Benefits:
- Partial subsidy for onsite parking or bus transportation. Day to day transportation is your responsibility.
- Eligible to accrue for sick and safe time off.
- Eligible for health insurance as required under the ACA.
Programming:
- Participate in robust on-boarding experience.
- Professional development: on-the-job training, personality assessment training, formal performance review feedback sessions, etc.
- Opportunities to be mentored by one of our top professionals within public media.
- Volunteering opportunities.
Required Qualifications:
- Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors OR recent graduate (Bachelor's or Master's degree) of no more than 1 year from a college/university program.
- Some college courses in the humanities or social science or equivalent experience.
- Experience listening to and engaging diverse cultural communities.
- Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with colleagues in multiple departments/divisions.
- Passion for diversity, inclusion and community engagement.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to do basic research such as literature reviews.
- Diversity and inclusion experience and cross-cultural competency.
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
- Ability to learn new software and digital applications as required.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Skill in planning, development, and fulfillment of successful multi-faceted, multi-stakeholder community projects.
- Experience with Salesforce.
Next Step in the Application:
In addition to your skills and knowledge, we want to get to know you in the application process. In addition to your resume, please include a cover letter (of no more than 1 page) with answers to the following:
- What professional skills would you like to add to your toolbox in the months and years to come to grow in your career field?
- Where do you see yourself professionally in five-years and how will this role help you achieve that goal?
Physical Demands and Working Conditions:
- Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Physical Demands:
- Required to move about in an office environment and sit for extended periods of time.
- Required to move about in the community.
- Frequent use of hands for data entry/keystrokes and simple grasping.
- Working Conditions:
- Moderate noise level.
- Occasional exposure to prevalent weather conditions.
Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply.
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Hi there!
My name is Grace and I am a personal style & lifestyle blogger.
How it all started:
I enjoyed (still do) dressing my friends and family up, shopping for them, organising their outfits for work and events, so I decided to put myself and my love for fashion out there, documenting and showcasing my personal style hence the start of my blog in November 2014.
What started as something small, soon became my after-work obsession as one post led to another and now four years, later I can say I’m not doing badly.
My style posts are to make my readers understand that when it comes to Fashion, there is a difference between fashion and personal style. Personal style is an inside job. It’s something you create for yourself and it comes from within you. It is an expression of who you are, so the genesis of true personal style is an interior journey, and everyone has theirs.
I also blog about fashion related tips & tricks, fashion on a budget and I have a segment called Talk Thursday where I write about topics we as humans deal with and can relate to.
Let’s not forget the lifestyle part where I talk blog about happenings, events, and generally, things that interest me (and you hopefully).
My other loves include:
Sewing, Music (soft rock), Poetry, Art, Video games and I love to read as well. I hate traveling, heights, and small spaces.
I am also a naturalista and so far, I must say I am enjoying my natural hair journey.
You can contact me via email – [email protected]
I hope you enjoy my blog and will stay. | https://epiphany29.com/about-me/ |
It’s hard to believe, but there was a time when mineral commodities were considered passé and BHP Billiton rarely made broker headlines – but between the early 1980s and 1990s a credit crunch and sovereign debt crisis in Latin America and Russia saw a sharp downturn in commodities prices.
Crises are nothing new and the European debt crisis is yet another blip on the evolutionary path of economic mayhem. A fascinating study by Carmen Reinhart at Paterson Institute for International Economics puts the current crisis into perspective. After analysing data from the mid-fourteen century of Edward III of England to the subprime crisis in the US, she says that the current financial crisis is nothing new. ‘Capital flow/default cycles have been around since at least 1800-if not before. Technology has changed, the height of humans has changed, and fashions have changed. Yet the ability of governments and investors to delude themselves, giving rise to periodic bouts of euphoria that usually end in tears, seems to have remained a constant,’ she writes.
The chart below details the percentage of countries in default or restructuring for the years 1800 to 2006 (the database covers 36 countries). The chart shows that repeated sovereign debt default is the norm throughout nearly every region in the world, including Asia and Europe. The data shows that country defaults tend to come in clusters, including especially the period of the Great Depression, when much of the world went into default,
the 1980s debt crisis, and also the 1990s debt crisis.
There are five pronounced peaks or default cycles – the first during the Napoleonic War to the emerging market debt crises of the 1980s and 1990s. Reinhart argues that the years of early 2000 were simply a lull before the next crisis hit in 2008.
Interestingly, the study shows that over the period 1800 to 2006, peaks and troughs in commodity price cycles appear to be leading indicators of peaks and troughs in the capital flow cycle.
The charts below illustrates the pre and post war periods and suggest that spikes in commodity prices are almost invariably followed by waves of new sovereign debt defaults. ‘Favorable trends in countries’ terms of trade (meaning typically, high prices for primary commodities) typically lead to a ramp-up of borrowing that collapses into defaults when prices drop,’ she writes.
Reinhart singles out emerging markets as a potential sore spot over coming years: over the last decade emerging markets have benefited from low international interest rates, buoyant world commodity prices and solid growth in the US and elsewhere. “If things can’t get better, the odds are that they will get worse,” she notes.
“Weaker growth in the US and other advanced economies soften growth prospects for export-dependent emerging Asia and elsewhere; inflation is on the rise.” Already this is apparent in Australia’s important trading partners, India and China, where India’s inflation currently sits at 9.04%, notwithstanding its Reserve Bank hiking interest rates 13 times since early 2010. China’s annual consumer inflation rate sits at 4.2% for November, down from 5.5% in October.
A regularity discovered in the analysis is that countries that experience large capital inflows – such as emerging markets did following the global financial crisis in 2008 – are at high risk of a debt crisis. “Default is likely to be accompanied by a currency crash and a spurt of inflation.”
Many investors are plagued by the thought of the commodities boom coming to an abrupt end, which would impact returns from not just miners, explorers and its servicing industry, but to banks, construction and property companies. The memory of the sovereign debt defaults in Latin America and the credit crunch of the Savings and Loans crisis in the US, has haunting similarities to today. Will this current financial crisis spell the end of our once-in-a-century commodities boom?
There is one marked difference between the two periods. Back then interest rates were sky high, with the US federal funds rate reaching 21.5% by June 1982. In contrast, the benchmark interest rate in the US currently stands at 0.25%.
According to Jeffrey Frankel, professor of economics at Harvard Kennedy School, real interest rates are an important determinant of real commodity prices. He notes that low interest rates lower the cost of carrying inventories, and hence raise commodity prices. “Monetary policy news and real interest rates, along with other factors, do appear to be significant determinants of real commodity prices historically,” he adds, hence explaining why commodity prices flew skyward as the sub-prime crisis played out and global growth slowed.
Interest rates aside, demand from China – the world’s largest consumer of commodities – will continue to be the crucial ingredient in the outlook for commodities.
Chinese demand governs prices for iron ore and coal, our largest export markets. While most agree that the China surge that we’ve witnessed over the past ten years is unlikely to be repeated, the government still has plenty of ammunition to keep investment ticking along for the time being.
BHP and Rio Tinto are certainly not acting as though a China slowdown is imminent, with multi-billion dollar mine expansions in full swing. Last month Rio Tinto increased its iron ore expansion target by 20 million tonnes to 353 million tonnes a year by the first half of 2015, from roughly 240 million tonnes a year currently. Brazil’s Vale is also citing its intention to raise its yearly iron ore output to 469 million tonnes by 2015 from 308 million tonnes today. BHP and Fortescue Metals have also earmarked output expansions.
Australia’s monthly trade surplus narrowed by more than expected in October to its smallest since March, as demand for commodities from China slowed. The Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics in Australia is far from worried, however. It forecasts a 15% rise in mineral and energy export earnings coming from iron ore, coal, oil, gas and gold in 2011-12.
The first serious setback for Aussie miners, particularly BHP and Rio, was the 30% plunge in the price of iron ore to around $US120 a tonne back in October. Iron ore prices are back up to $US137, but it was a demand scare that’s ever present for commodity investors as we move into 2012. Over the past two weeks offer prices from China have reflected restrained buying from steel producers.
Exports to China are declining – down 19% for hard coking coal, 50% for semi-soft coal and 25% for thermal coal. Although volumes are up in most cases, lower commodity prices are to blame for lower export values – which basically means falling mining profits, and weaker share prices.
Gold too is acting strangely lately; it’s off its highs of $US1921 an ounce three months ago, and lately has been seen to droop in lure with sold off sharemarkets, which is raising eyebrows. Traditionally, gold is the safe haven investment, the fall back option, when shares and bonds look too risky, but investors have been turning to gold for decades now, creating something of a bubble. Nevertheless, there are plenty of gold bulls still roaring, including Deutsche Bank with a forecast of $2,100 a troy ounce on the precious metal, and $44 on silver.
The point to remember here is that commodity prices move in cycles and are not a one-way road to higher ground. If Reinhart is on the money here, we should expect lower commodity prices next year as clusters of sovereign debt defaults and restructuring become the next blip on our economic map. Time will tell. | https://thebull.com.au/24934-commodities-busts-and-debt-defaults-go-hand-in-hand/ |
In humans, one of the side effects of chronic chemical antidepressant treatment is a change in body mass. The mechanism of these induced changes is not clear but may include alterations in metabolic rate, as well as effects on specific body components such as body lipid, protein or water. We have previously noted chemical antidepressant induced alterations in the body mass of Syrian hamsters being treated chronically with the monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) clorgyline. This project was undertaken to more formally explore the behavioral and physiological mechanisms responsible for these alterations in Syrian hamsters. We have observed that initial clorgyline treatment decreases food intake. During chronic drug administration, clorgyline administration reduces the rate of weight gain although the level of food intake is not different from control. Thus, drug treated hamsters consume more food per unit of body mass than do control animals, i.e., they exhibit a negative energy balance relative to control animals. Analysis of the carcass composition of clorgyline treated hamsters indicates that drug induced changes are due to a decrease in body lipid content, rather than protein or water. SINCE seasonal changes in body mass are due to fluctuations in body lipid content, our results indicate that clorgyline may be affecting the same photoperiodic process which is responsible for photoperiodic-induced changes in body mass in the Syrian hamster.
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From birth, every human being possesses inalienable rights known as human rights. These have been codified over a long historical process. But they still continue to be violated. KfW is well aware of this threat. We have made an express commitment to promote human rights with our projects and within our projects. The global community’s sustainability goals are helping to make the implementation of human rights a reality.
What is special about human rights?
Human rights are different from all other rights: they apply always and everywhere. Even if a state has not enshrined human rights in its constitution or other laws, they are still valid. Furthermore, they apply to all people, regardless of nationality.
Generally, states pledge their commitment to human rights under international law by ratifying the relevant agreements. Many countries have incorporated human rights into their own national legislation. There are also regional agreements, such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Certain human rights are of such fundamental importance that they are legally binding for nations, even if they have not yet ratified the agreement in question. These include the right to life, the prohibition of racial discrimination, and the prohibition of torture and slavery.
Human rights are:
• universal – they apply to everyone
• inalienable – you can not reject them for yourself or withdraw them from someone else
• indivisible – the series of rights belong together; none of the human rights is more important than another
Since the end of the Second World War, the international community has taken gradual steps to formulate human rights and lay these down in binding agreements.
Milestones in human rights and development objectives
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
As early as the start of the 20th century, a debate began on the international level about enshrining human rights in law. But it was the horrors of the Second World War and the atrocities of National Socialism that proved the decisive factor for codifying these rights. These events led to an understanding that individual states can fail to safeguard legal provisions for civil and human rights.
However, there were concerns. It was feared that a universally binding codification of human rights would restrict the sovereignty of individual nations. This was compounded by the world’s developing division into Western and Eastern blocs after the Second World War, which soon evolved into the political antithesis of one another.
But despite all the objections, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was finally adopted by the UN on 10 December 1948. The 56 member states at the time adopted the Declaration without any votes against, but with eight abstentions (among them, the Soviet Union, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia). Since then, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has become a point of constant reference. It contains 30 articles, which can be split into four topic areas.
Contents of the UN Declaration of Human Rights
The UN human rights covenants
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was originally a simple resolution of the United Nations General Assembly. The next intended step was for its content to be incorporated into a legally binding treaty. But, as mentioned above, the associated international negotiations were hampered by the worsening Cold War. In addition, new countries came into existence in the course of decolonisation and added their voices to the discussion. This resulted in protracted negotiations. A single draft could not be agreed upon, with two treaty texts written instead. It took 12 years before the international community settled on a final version.
Finally, the Civil and Social Covenants were adopted by the UN General Assembly on 16 December 1966. It took another ten years for them to become binding under international law. The minimum number of ratifications granting international validity to the two covenants was only reached in 1977.
“Addressing major, structural problems would require responsible, global political and economic action instead of egoism on the part of national governments and profit maximisation strategies from global economic players.”
Dr Michael Krennerich, Chair in Human Rights and Human Rights Politics at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and senior editor of the Zeitschrift für Menschenrechte (Journal for Human Rights)
Interview
The National Action Plan for Human Rights
Human rights abuses by commercial enterprises are repeatedly the cause of scandals, for instance in cases involving violations of working time provisions, prohibitions on child labour or people being expelled from their own lands. Up to this point, in a globalised economy with supply chains spanning the whole planet, it has often been difficult to identify the individuals responsible for these abuses. The core human rights treaties are primarily addressed to governments, defining them as duty-bound to respect human rights.
To date, lawsuits against companies that have violated human rights have seldom been successful or have not been brought at all due to a lack of access to legal remedies. In an attempt to change this, initiatives are now being formed to highlight companies’ duty of care towards human rights along their entire their supply chain.
“As the Federal Government, we expect all companies to appropriately implement human rights due diligence. They must identify, prevent, and mitigate adverse human rights impacts in their business activities. In particular, we have pledged to help small and medium-sized companies with this. Our goal is for at least half of all German companies with more than 500 employees to perform their human rights due diligence by 2020. Otherwise, the Federal Government will look into legal measures.”
Irene Maria Plank, Head of the Business and Human Rights Division at the German Federal Foreign Office
KfW is committed to human rights
KfW has adopted “responsible banking” as a slogan. As a state-owned promotional bank and major international development financier, we feel a special responsibility to act sustainably in accordance with human rights. Consequently, in 2008, we issued a self-declaration on matters of human rights.
UN sustainability goals and human rights
Alongside agreements on human rights, the international community has also set development objectives. Namely, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and subsequent human rights treaties already include important content that is closely related to developmental objectives such as the right to health, education and political participation. However, for a long time, human rights and development were not discussed in the same breath. It was not until the 1990s that the interdependence between human rights and development objectives increasingly became a focus of attention. This is also demonstrated by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the 2030 Agenda.
The 2030 Agenda: the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
At the UN General Assembly in September 2000 in New York, the global community set itself eight collective goals: the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). These were intended to be achieved by 2015, which was only a partial success. In 2015, the MDGs were replaced by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These are known as the 2030 Agenda, as the aim is for the 17 goals to be met by the year 2030. The SDGs were set out more specifically in 169 targets.
Human rights are an essential legal and political foundation that makes it possible to achieve the SDGs. Civil and political rights receive less attention in the SDGs, although their content includes many references to economic, social, and cultural rights. In addition, the SDGs saw the global community set itself targets beyond the realm of human rights — specifically, in the areas of the environment, climate change mitigation, and peace.
Significance of SDGs for companies
SDG 17 agrees to a “global partnership” as a means of achieving the objectives. This global partnership not only includes government representatives, but also actors in the worlds of civil society and business. This underscores the importance of companies and promotional banks.
KfW Group affirmed its commitment to the SDGs by being a founding member and sponsor of the “Sustainable Finance Cluster” . This is a platform used by key players in the German financial industry to commit to strengthening green and sustainable financing methods — as well as, in explicit terms, committing to the UN sustainability objectives.
Other information you may also be interested in: | https://www.kfw.de/nachhaltigkeit/KfW-Group/Sustainability/sustainability-report-2017/weg-der-menschenrechte/ |
Digital Gravity is looking for a Software Project Manager for its Karachi office. The incumbent would be responsible for the following:
- Handle multiple software projects through entire life-cycle.
- Develop Scope of work and Project Plan.
- Monitor and enhance software development, troubleshooting and QA process.
- Create wire-frames and define user experience processes.
- Track project performance, specifically to analyse the successful completion of short and long-term goals.
- Conduct post project evaluation and identifying successful and unsuccessful project elements.
- Should be able to identify the unanticipated risks that may occur during project development risk, analysis the damage might cause these risks and take risk reduction plan to cope up with these risks.
Requirements:
- Computer Science Graduate with 2-3 years of relevant experience in digital agency/ software house.
- Proficiency in English is a must.
- Proficiency in project management software tools
- Knowledge of programming languages. Should also have a know-how of UX/UI frameworks.
- Confident, independent, should possess excellent decision-making and leadership capabilities.
How To Apply
Apply at [email protected] mentioning 'Project Software Manager' in the subject line. | https://www.digitalgravityagency.com/careers/software-project-manager.php |
Indexed in: Scopus, EBSCO, Ulrich's Periodicals Directory.
The aim of this e-book series is to publish high quality economic research in agricultural and applied economics. It particularly fosters quantitative studies which make original contribution on important economic issues, the results of which help to understand and solve real economic problems. This volume contains research papers focusing on the areas of agricultural policy, agricultural price volatility, agricultural finance and cooperatives, consumption economics, firm production and organization, human capital convergence, international economics and multinational business, investment decisions in organic agriculture, market structure and industry studies. The research papers of this volume make use of recent methodological approaches and provide conclusions which are useful to both private sector participants and policy-makers.
*(Excluding Mailing and Handling)
Pp. 130-144 (15)
Joshua Anyangah
When included as part of a larger emissions rights trading system, carbon offset projects can
automatically achieve a given reduction of emissions in a cost-effective manner. One major concern
with this system, however, is the risk of emissions reversal-the deliberate or accidental release of
carbon back to the atmosphere long after carbon credits have changed hands. This downside risk may
adversely affect the market value of offset credits and undermine the integrity of the carbon trading
system. To address this weakness, at least two financial responsibility rules have been proposed. One
calls for the imposition of liability, ex post, upon project developers. The other alternative, an ex ante
measure, requires that project developers have adequate liability insurance coverage prior to
undertaking any offset projects. Taking the view that project developers can control the severity of
financial losses arising from reversal and assuming a negligence rule of liability for harm, this paper
employs the methods of mechanism design to examine the impact of ex-post liability rules and ex ante
liability insurance requirements on incentives to reduce risk. We find that the relative ranking of these
two rules crucially depends on the extent of uncertainty regarding the legal standard under liability
rules: if uncertainty regarding the legal standard is sufficiently large, then incentives are more
pronounced under insurance rules than under liability rules; if the uncertainty regarding the legal
standard is sufficiently small, however, then the converse is true.
Liability, carbon offsets, climate change, emissions reversal risk. | http://www.eurekaselect.com/51540/chapter/ex-post-liability-for-loss-vs.-ex-ante-liability-insurance-as-solutions-to-reversal-risk-in-carbon-o |
BACKGROUND:
Success rates for treatment of chronic total occlusion (CTO) have dramatically improved in recent years with the development of new CTO guidewires and development of new techniques such as the retrograde approach. In the antegrade approach, a guidewire is occasionally passed through a side branch despite successful wire crossing of the CTO lesion. In order to pass a wire through the main artery, there are a few side branch techniques such as a reverse wire technique.
CASE REPORT: A 54-year-old man with symptoms of heart failure was admitted to our hospital. Coronary angiography showed CTO of the proximal left anterior descending artery. Percutaneous coronary intervention with an antegrade approach was started. We succeeded in passing the wire through a side branch but not the main artery. Unfortunately, a reverse wire technique failed in this case. Next, the wire passed through a side branch was exchanged with the Soutenir CV, and a retrograde approach was started. The wire crossing from retrograde was entwined around the Soutenir CV. After that, the retrograde wire was snared and guided to the antegrade guiding catheter, which resulted in successful wiring into the main artery easily.
CONCLUSIONS: The side branch technique using the Soutenir CV may be an effective strategy in some cases. | https://www.amjcaserep.com/abstract/index/idArt/901273 |
The first step you can take on your Android device, especially if you share a device with your kids, is to create separate user accounts that have stricter restrictions. To create a new user account go to:
Settings > Users > Add New User
Once a new user account has been created you can go a bit further by uninstalling or disabling apps within settings:
Settings > Apps > All > Pick Apps to Uninstall > Click Uninstall
Play Store
You can block app downloads by going to:
Play Store > Settings > Parental Controls > Create Pin > Set Content Restrictions > Save
Within these settings you can also limit the age restrictions and purchases:
Play Store > Menu Options > Settings > Require Authentication for Purchases
Third Party Apps
Because Android allows third-party apps to be downloaded, users can customize their Android phones more than IOS users – but this freedom can be more dangerous. To block third-party apps from being downloaded go back to settings: | https://en.bloguru.com/pspinc/query/?pg=11 |
What internal tools can you build with Softr?
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Single Sign-On Configuration (SAML)
How to set up Single Sign-On for your Softr app
In this section, we'll go through the steps of setting up
SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language)
for your Softr app. SAML is an open standard that allows
identity providers (IdP)
to pass authorization credentials to
service providers (SP)
, so that users can use a single set of credentials to log into different SPs. In this case your Softr app is the
SP
, and you need to connect it to an IdP to implement
Single Sign-On (SSO)
on your Softr app. There are several IdP services (e.g. Azure, Okta, Box) that you can use, but here we'll demonstrate the setup flow using
OneLogin
. So, let's start.
Creating an Application on IdP
From the OneLogin dashboard, we are going to navigate to
Applications
and click
Add App
.
Adding an application
In the list that opens next, search for "saml test connector," select it, and create the application.
SAML Test Connector
Configuring the Application
In the Application settings, we are going to navigate to
Configuration
and fill in the following fields:
Audience (EntityID)
Recipient
ACS (Consumer) URL Validator
ACS (Consumer) URL
To do this, you need to navigate to your Softr app's
Settings => SAML Integration
. From there, copy the
ACS URL
and paste into
Recipient
and
ACS (Consumer) URL*
fields as well as copy the
Audience URL
and paste into the
Audience (EntityID)
field. In the
ACS (Consumer) URL Validator
field, just add "
.*
".
SAML Settings in your Softr app
So, the
ACS URL
is basically your application SAML URL, while the
Audience URL
is a unique identifier that allows the IdP to identify the SP. Eventually, your setup should look similar to what's shown below.
Configuration section setup
Configuring Application Parameters
As soon as you're done with the
Configuration
section, navigate to application's
Parameters
, where you need to create the
Email
,
First Name
, and
Last Name
fields. In the pop-up that opens after clicking the Create button, you need to add the field name (can be anything) and check the
Include in SAML assertion
flag.
New Field
Then hit
Save
and choose the field's value ("Email," "First Name," or "Last Name" depending on which one you're configuring).
Field's Value
In the screenshot below, we already have all the three fields added.
Field added
Getting the Metadata XML
Further on, navigate to the
SSO
section and copy the
Issuer URL
. As soon as you paste it in the browser address bar, it will download a metadata XML file, which we are going to use in the next step.
Issuer URL
Configuring Single Sign-On in Your Softr App
Now that you have everything ready, go to your Softr app's
SAML Settings
and fill in the Metadata.xml field with the XML you downloaded in the previous steps and the key fields with the names of the fields we defined
earlier
.
SAML Settings Configured
Adding the Single Sign-On Block
That's it, you're all set and can now add the
Single Sign-on
block from
Blocks => User Accounts
to allow your users to log in with their IdP (in this case OneLogin) credentials.
Single Sign-On block
You can customize the Logo, Title, Page after signin, and other settings and publish your app. Now, all the users that have an account on your OneLogin application, will be able to log in to your Softr app, and a user will be created for them. See below. | https://docs.softr.io/studio/application-settings/saml-configuration |
Max Stannard is a composer and arranger, primarily for brass band, whose music has been published across Europe. He studied music at Lancaster University and gained a First Class Honours Degree, specialising in conducting. Max has conducted a range of ensembles from Brass Band and Wind Band to Orchestras and Choirs. He has performed on trombone with brass bands and big bands in the North West and Midlands.
Max began writing and arranging music whilst at university and has completed works for a wide variety of ensembles. His pieces have featured in the Composers Voice concert series, and his work, the Kraken, was performed as part of their 15 Year Anniversary Concert. Max has also had work commissioned for performances at the UniBrass Championships and the University of Lancaster Music Society Alumni Concert. He is always on the look out for new opportunities so please get in touch with any enquiries. | https://www.maxstannardmusic.com/bio |
To check counterfeiting, the government plans to change security features of higher denomination banknotes of Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 every 3-4 years in accordance with global standards.
Advocating the move, Home Ministry officials said most of the developed countries change security features of their currency notes every 3-4 years and therefore, it is absolutely necessary for India to follow this policy.
The change in design of Indian currency notes of higher denominations was long due. Till its demonetisation, there had been no major change in the Rs 1,000 note since its introduction in 2000. Changes in the old Rs 500 note, which was launched in 1987, were carried out more than a decade ago.
The newly introduced notes had no additional security features and were similar to those in the old Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes, officials said. A close look by the investigators on some of the recently seized fake notes found that at least 11 of the 17 security features in the new Rs 2,000 notes had been replicated.
These included the transparent area, watermark, Ashoka Pillar emblem, the letters 'Rs 2000' on the left, the guarantee clause with the Reserve Bank of India Governor's signature and the denomination number in Devanagari on the front, officials said.
Besides, the motif of 'Chandrayaan', the 'Swachh Bharat' logo and the year of printing had been copied on the reverse side. Although the print and paper quality of the seized counterfeits was poor, they resembled genuine notes.
The officials said the change of security features of currency notes in every 3-4 years will lead to curbing of counterfeiting to a great extent. Those who were arrested recently along with fake notes with face value of Rs 2,000 have told investigators that the notes were printed in Pakistan with the help of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and had been smuggled into the country through Bangladesh, the officials claimed.
A study conducted by the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, in 2016 pegged the value of fake Indian currency notes in circulation at Rs 400 crore. | https://www.deccanherald.com/content/604264/govt-plans-change-security-marks.html |
Whether you’re talking to a child, a co-worker or the love of your life, when we stop, look and listen to them, we’re giving them our full attention, which says YOU MATTER! All three actions are keys to having meaningful, connected conversations which in turn leads to significant, connected relationships.
What does it mean to stop?
Stop means purposefully ending whatever you’re doing to give someone undivided attention. Close the laptop, lay down the phone, put it on silent, remove the earbuds, stop folding the clothes and turn off the television. STOP means to remove yourself from anything that is fighting for your attention. It’s not always convenient, but “stop” requires intentional focus. It demonstrates interest in the other person, their world and whatever interests them.
“The first act of love is always the giving of attention.” Dallas Willard
What does it mean to look?
To look is to face them, look at them in the eye. When you look at someone in the eye, they feel they’re receiving your full and undivided attention. When we don’t “look,” we often miss some of their feelings because we miss facial expressions, body language and the pain or glee in their eyes. Neuroscientists are finding that eye to eye holds our attention. It keeps us from getting distracted and mind wandering. Research shows that eye to eye contact also shapes our perception of the person who is meeting our gaze. We see them as more sincere, and it creates a kind of melding of each other. Another study suggests that we can read complex emotions from the eye muscles, whether the person is narrowing or opening their eyes wide. The old adage that our eyes are the windows to our souls may be more than a grain of truth.
“Our eyes say the words we leave unspoken.”
What does it mean to listen?
Listening is a skill that we’re in danger of losing in a world of digital distraction and information overload. Yet it’s imperative to the wellbeing of our relationships and our society. Fortunately, we can train ourselves to be better listeners, but it is hard work. Listening is active not passive and, therefore, is sometimes tiring.
It is others-centered not self -centered and, therefore, sometimes sacrificial.
It is crucial not peripheral and, therefore, indispensable. It is difficult not easy and, therefore, often neglected. It is scarce not common and, thus, exceedingly desirable. Listening is not like a chess game – planning your next verbal move while the other person is talking. Listening is not a trial – judging what is said or how it is said. It is not a 100-yard dash – thinking how quickly you can end the discussion. Listening is like a sponge – absorbing as much as possible of what is being said and the feelings behind the words. It’s like a pair of binoculars – fixing attention on and bringing into clear focus what is being said. Generous listening requires discipline, effort, intentionality and practice. Becoming a better listener is developing a pattern of attention.
“The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand.” Karl A. Menniger
Attention matters
Show your spouse, child, friend, co-worker and neighbor that they matter. Set aside your own needs and desires long enough to Stop, Look and Listen. | https://www.goodnewsfl.org/stop-look-and-listen-you-matter/ |
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a deformation measuring method and device, and more particularly to an improvement of deformation measuring method and device in which a part of the surface of an object is irradiated with a laser beam before and after being deformed, to obtain speckle patterns. The amount of deformation of the object is determined on the basis of the cross-correlation function between the speckle patterns.
A speckle pattern is formed by interference of diffusion lights which are reflected from a rough surface of an object when a laser beam is applied to the surface. When the surface is displaced or deformed, the speckle pattern is displaced while gradually deformed. In this connection, a "speckle correlation method" has been proposed, in the art in which a speckle pattern is photoelectrically scanned and the speckle displacement is obtained from the correlative peak positions of the signals thus obtained, and the relations between the speckle displacement and the displacement (or deformation) of the surface are utilized to measure the minute deformation of the object due to translation, rotation and distortion or the like. This method is disclosed in detail in Japanese Patent Publication No. 52963/1984; "Laser Science Research" No. 6, pp 152- 154 (1984) and "Latest Precision Measurement Technology" pp 241-244, on July 1, 1987.
Of the speckle correlation methods, the most practical method uses a one-dimensional image sensor 15 and a micro-computer 16 as shown in FIG. 1. By this method, a parallel movement of 1 &mgr;m or more and a rotation of the order of 10.sup.-5 rad can be measured.
In the device as shown in FIG. 1, a laser beam about 1 mm in diameter which is generated by a laser source 12 is applied to a measuring point on an object, through a magnifying lens 14 if necessary, and the one- dimensional image sensor 15 is disposed in the propagating passage of the light beam reflected from the measuring point. In this case, the beam diameter W on the object 10 and the distance Lo between the object 10 and the image sensor 15 are adjusted so that an average diameter of the speckle pattern is approximately &lgr;Lo/W (&lgr;: wavelength of the laser beam) on the sensor 15 is larger than the pitch (10 to 20 &mgr;m) of the sensor. In addition, the axis of the one- dimensional image sensor 15 is adjusted so as to be coincided with the direction of displacement of the speckle pattern which is determined by the optical system and the kind of displacement (the direction of parallel movement, rotation or distortion) of the object.
The output of the one-dimensional image sensor 15 is subjected to A-D (analog-to-digital) conversion and applied to a micro-computer 16. A correlation unit 18 calculates a cross-correlation function between the outputs of the micro-computer which correspond to the speckle patterns before and after the deformation of the object, and the speckle displacement is obtained from the peak positions of the correlation function substantially in real time. In this connection, in order to reduce the time required for calculation of the cross-correlation function, a method of calculating a "characteristic correlation" has been proposed in the art. In this method, the output signals of the one- dimensional image sensor 15 are binary-coded with respect of the average thereof. The speckle pattern thus obtained has high contrast, so that the peak position is coincided with that of the ordinary cross- correlation function at all times. Accordingly, the speckle displacement can be detected from the extreme position of the cross-correlation function.
In the conventional speckle correlation method, the cross- correlation function is obtained as follows: The speckle pattern provided by a scanning operation before the deformation of the object is used as a fixed reference speckle pattern (data) and the speckle pattern provided by a scanning operation while the object is being deformed is utilized as a comparison speckle pattern (data). Those data are compared with each other to obtain the cross-correlation function therebetween. Alternatively, the speckle pattern provided by a scanning operation while the object is being deformed is employed as a comparison data, but the data obtained by the preceding scanning operation, which is carried out immediately before the present scanning operation for the comparison data, is used as a reference data. That is, the cross-correlation function is obtained while the reference data is renewed every time.
In the former method adopting the fixed reference data, the speckle pattern to be compared is largely changed with the deformation of the object in comparison with the reference speckle pattern, and therefore the extreme value of the cross-correlation function becomes lower than the unrelated peak values around it, as a result of which it is impossible to obtain the position of the extreme value correctly, and the range of measurement is limited.
On the other hand, in the latter method adapting the reference data to be renewed every time, in the case where a speckle pattern is displaced at a distance less than half of the pitch interval of the one- dimensional image sensor 15 between two successive scanning operations (the present and preceding scanning operations), the reference data is identical to the comparison data, so that the position of the extreme value is not moved and the displacement of the object is disregarded. Since this error occurs every scanning operation, the low speed displacement of the speckle pattern cannot be detected particularly when the displacement between two successive scanning operations is less than half of the pitch interval of the image sensor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to eliminate the above-described difficulties accompanying a conventional speckle correlation method.
More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a deformation measuring method which is improved in the accuracy of measurement by widening the range of measurement of displacement with no errors.
Another object of the invention is to provide a deformation measuring method which is improved also in the accuracy of measurement by minimizing the error in measurement of the displacement of an object in the case where the speckle pattern is less changed.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a deformation measuring device to which the deformation measuring method can be applied.
The foregoing objects of the invention have been achieved by the provision of deformation measuring method and device in which a part of the surface of an object is irradiated with a laser beam before and after being deformed, thereby obtaining speckle patterns before and after deformation of the object. The speckle patterns thus obtained are subjected to photo-electric conversion to provide electrical signals, and the cross-correlation function between the electrical signals is calculated, so that the amount of deformation of the object is determined from the amount of displacement of the speckle pattern which is obtained as the position of the extreme value of the cross- correlation function. According to a first aspect of this invention, a reference speckle pattern for mutual correlation is renewed, when the extreme value of the cross-correlation function becomes lower than a predetermined value, or when the position of the extreme value comes out of a predetermined range.
According to another aspect of this invention, when the extreme value of the cross-correlation function becomes lower than a predetermined value, a reference pattern for the cross-correlation function is renewed, and when displacement of the position of the extreme value comes out of a predetermined range, a calculation range for the cross-correlation function is changed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining the principle of a conventional speckle correlation method;
FIG. 2 is also a perspective view for explaining the principle of the conventional speckle correlation method;
FIGS: 3(A), 3(B) and 3(C) are diagrams showing the output waveform, auto-correlation waveform and mutual-correlation waveform of a one- dimensional image sensor, respectively;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of deformation measuring device used in a deformation measuring method according to the invention;
FIG. 5 is a front view of a photosensitive element array in the deformation measuring device;
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a correlator employed in a first example of the method of the invention;
FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining the first embodiment of the method of the invention;
FIG. 8 is a graph showing the relationships between amount of movement of a linear stage and measured values thereof in the case of changing a threshold value for the extreme value for the extreme value of the mutual- correlation function in the first embodiment of the method of the invention.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a correlator employed in a second embodiment of the deformation measuring method according to the invention;
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a correlation calculation circuit included in the correlator as shown in FIG. 9; and
FIG. 11 is a flow chart for explaining the second embodiment of the deformation measuring method according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described hereinunder with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First, the principle of measurement in a deformation measurement method according to the invention will be described with reference to FIG. 2.
As shown in FIG. 2, a laser beam 13 outputted by a laser source 12 is applied to a measuring region O of an object 10, through a magnifying lens 14 if necessary, and the resultant speckle pattern is observed on an observation plane 30. In this case, it is assumed that the coordinate axes on the object's surface are represented by x, y and z; the distance OS between the divergence point of the laser beam 13 and the measuring region 0, Ls (OS Ls); components representing the direction from the divergence point to the center of the region 0, lsx, lsy and lsz; the distance between the object's surface, and the observation plane 30, Lo; components representing the direction from the center of the region 0 to an observation point P, lx, ly and lz; and the components of translation, rotation and distortion of the object 10 at the region irradiated by the laser beam 13, (ax, ay, az), (&OHgr;x, . OMEGA.y, &OHgr; z) and (. epsilon.xx, &egr;yx, &egr;yy), respectively.
Speckle patterns are formed at the observation point P before and after deformation of the object. The cross-correlation function C(x, y) between the intensity distributions I.sub.1 (x,y) and I.sub.2 (x,y) of the speckle patterns thus formed is as fOllows:
C(x,y)= < I.sub.1 (x,y)×I.sub.2 (x+xY+y) (1)
where < > means a set average.
Calculating equation (1), it can be understood that C(x,y) has a maximum value with x=Ax and y=Ay, where Ax and Ay are represented by the following equations (2) and (3) and physically correspond to the amount of displacement of the speckle pattern caused by the deformation of the object: ##EQU1##
Accordingly, when the amount of displacement of the speckle pattern (Ax and Ay) are observed with one-dimensional image sensor disposed at the observation plane 30, the output waveform of the image sensor changes as shown in FIG. 3A after and before deformation of the object, the auto- correlation waveform is as shown in FIG. 3(B), and the cross-correlation waveform is as shown in FIG. 3(C).
In measuring the deformation of an object with the above- described device, unlike the conventional method in which the reference data (speckle pattern) is fixed or renewed every time to obtain the cross- correlation function, the reference data (speckle pattern) is renewed in this invention only when the extreme value of the cross- correlation function is lower than a predetermined value or the position of the extreme value comes out of a predetermined range. Thus, when the speckle pattern is displaced greatly with the deformation of the object, the reference pattern is renewed and therefore the range of measurement is not limited. In contrast, in the case where the deformation of the object is small and therefore the position of the extreme value is within the predetermined range, according to the method of the invention the reference speckle pattern is fixed, so that the displacement at a low speed can be detected unlike the conventional method in which the reference data is renewed every time. Accordingly, the accuracy of measurement can be increased while the range of displacement measurement is increased with no errors.
FIG. 4 shows the arrangement of one example of a deformation measuring device to which the deformation measuring method according to the invention is applied. The device, as shown in FIG. 4, comprises: a laser source 12 for applying a laser beam 13 to the surface of an object 10 to be measured to form a speckle pattern. In order to subject the speckle pattern to photo-electric conversion, two photosensitive element arrays 20 and 24 are arranged with an angle therebetween. FIG. 5 shows that each of the photosensitive element arrays has a strip or comb structure in which each of the photosensitive elements (---, 22.sub.n-1, 22.sub.n, 22. sub.n+1, ---) constituting a photosensitive element array has a rectangular form with a large ratio of a long side to a short side (for example, a short side of 13 um and a long side of 2.5 mm), which are arranged at intervals of 25 &mgr;m in a strip form.
The speckle patterns, after being subjected to photoelectric conversion by the photosensitive element arrays 20 and 24, are applied to correlators 40 and 42 according to the invention as shown in FIG. 4, in each of which the change in position of the extreme value of the cross- correlation function before and after the speckle pattern displacement is detected.
The correlators 40 and 42 are identical in construction, and therefore only the correlator 40 will be described with reference to FIG. 6.
The correlator 40 as shown in FIG. 6, comprises: a memory 40A for temporarily storing the preceding speckle pattern (one-frame) data of the binary-coded (A/D-converted) electrical signal A which is obtained by the preceding scanning operation through the photosensitive element array 20 as shown in FIG. 4 (in the case of the correlator 42, through the photosensitive element array 24 as shown in FIG. 4); correlation IC 40B (for instance TDC1023 manufactured by TRW Company) for receiving a reference speckle pattern data B from the memory 40A and a comparison speckle pattern data C from the photosensitive element array 20 or 24 (as shown in FIG. 4) to output the correlation value D between the reference and comparison data B and C; a gate 40C for renewing the reference speckle pattern data B; a maximum value detecting circuit 40D for outputting the extreme value E of the correlation values D provided every shift clock pulse CL, and its timing output F; a counter 40E for receiving the timing output F and the shift clock pulse CL to output a signal G representing the position of the extreme value (in this case, maximum value); and a comparison circuit 40F for comparing the extreme value E outputted from the maximum value detecting circuit 40D with a predetermined threshold value, to output a reference pattern exchange signal H when the extreme value E is less than the threshold value. The correlator 40 further comprises: a comparison circuit 40G for comparing the shift of the position G of the extreme value outputted from the counter 40E with a predetermined maximum threshold value for the maximum range, and outputting a reference pattern exchange signal I when the position of the extreme value exceeds the maximum threshold value; a comparison circuit 40H for comparing the shift of the position G of the extreme value with a predetermined minimum threshold value (for the minimum range), and outputting a reference pattern exchange signal J when the position G of the extreme value is less than the minimum threshold value; an Or gate 40I for performing add operation between the reference pattern exchange signals H, I and J and outputting the resultant to the gate 40C and an FIFO (first-in first-out) memory 40J (described later); and the FIFO memory 40J for temporarily storing position G of the extreme value outputted from the counter 40E and the reference pattern exchange signal H+I+J and applying them to a CPU bus 40K.
According to a flow chart shown in FIG. 7, when the extreme value is lower in level than the threshold value therefor or the position G of the extreme value is out of the predetermined range, the renewing operation of the reference pattern is automatically carried out.
The shift of the position of the extreme values detected by the correlators 40 and 42 shown in FIG. 4 are applied to and processed by the computer 44, in which the amount of deformation of the object is calculated from the amount of displacement of the speckle pattern.
The computer 44 applies an instruction to the stepping motor controller 46 to move along the x-axis the linear stage 48 on which the object 10 is placed, so that the speckle pattern is displaced along the x- axis, and at the same time applies necessary timing signals to the correlators 40 and 42.
FIG. 8 is a graph showing the relation between the measured and actual data with the threshold value of the extreme value E set to 100%, 90%, 80%, 70% and 60% in the case where the linear stage 48, shown in FIG. 4 is moved 6 mm along the x-axis. In the measurement using the threshold value of 100%, the reference speckle pattern is renewed every time. This is identical to the conventional measurement in which a speckle pattern of the just preceding frame is employed as the reference pattern. In the measurement using the threshold value of 60%, the reference pattern is not renewed because the threshold value is low. This is substantially identical to the conventional measurement in which the reference pattern is fixed.
On the other hand, it is apparent from FIG. 8, in the case where the reference speckle pattern is renewed with the threshold values ranged from 70% to 90%, the measured displacement of the linear stage which is obtained from the displacement of the speckle pattern corresponds substantially to the actual movement of the linear stage 48 shown in FIG. 4.
In the first embodiment of the method for obtaining the cross- correlation function as described above, when the deformation of the object is made in the direction intersecting to the observing plane of the object, that is, the same position of the object is irradiated by the laser beam before and after deformation, the speckle pattern is moved over the image sensor with small displacement. In this case, with the extreme value of the cross-correlation function less decreased, the position of the extreme value is moved. Accordingly, the number of times at which the position of the extreme value comes out of the predetermined range is increased and therefore the number of exchanging the reference pattern of the cross-correlation pattern is greatly increased. An exchange of the reference pattern causes an error of the half of the pitch interval of the photosensitive element in the image sensor at maximum, so that the total error corresponding to the product of the pitch interval and the number of exchanging the reference pattern may be caused.
In order to overcome this difficulty, the following second embodiment is employed: When, in obtaining the cross-correlation function, the extreme value of the cross-correlation function is smaller than a predetermined value, the reference pattern of the mutual- correlation function is renewed; and when the position of the extreme value comes out of the predetermined range, the reference pattern of the cross- correlation function is not renewed, and instead thereof the range of calculation for cross-correlation function is changed (or shifted). Hence, when the same part of the object is irradiated by the laser beam before and after deformation of the object as in the case where the object is displaced out of the observing plane of the object, the frequency of exchanging the reference pattern is decreased and therefore the measurement error can be decreased. Accordingly, in measurement of the displacement of an object when the speckle pattern is less changed, the error is minimized and the accuracy of measurement is increased.
The deformation measuring device to which the second embodiment of this invention is applied has the same fundamental construction as that in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4; however, it should be noted that the correlators of the first and second embodiments are greatly different from each other.
The correlator 40 (or 42) of the second embodiment as shown in FIG. 9, comprises three shift registers (140A, 140B and 140C) for holding reference pattern data B for the binary-coded electrical signal A of the speckle pattern provided by the photosensitive element array 20 (or 24 shown in FIG. 4), for holding comparison data C for calculation of the correlation function with the reference pattern data B, and for holding the binary-coded electrical signal A provided by the photosensitive element array 20 (or 24) during calculation of the correlation function.
The roles of three shift registers are dynamically swapped for one another by means of a sequencer 140D; that is, the shift registers are used alternately as a reference pattern data shift register, a comparison data shift register, and a buffer shift register.
The shift register selected for holding the reference pattern data is connected in ring mode by the sequencer 140D, so that the reference pattern data is held for the next correlation calculation.
The sequencer 140D selects the input of a multiplexer (MPX) 140E to apply one of the outputs of the three shift registers, as the reference pattern data B, to a correlation calculation circuit 140G; and further it selects the input of the other multiplexer (MPX) 140F to apply another of the outputs of the three shift registers, as the comparison data C, to the circuit 140G.
The correlation calculation circuit 140G is shown in detail in FIG. 10. The circuit 140G comprises: a shift register 140H; an array 140I of, for example, 16 EXCLUSIVE OR circuits; and an array 140J of 16 binary counters, so that sixteen points of the correlation function can be simultaneously calculated.
A maximum value detecting circuit 140K shown in FIG. 9 receives the values of sixteen points of the correlation function which has been calculated by the correlation calculation circuit 140G, to detect the extreme value of the correlation function and its position E, and outputs them to comparison circuits 140L, 140M and an FIFO (first-in first-out) memory 140N.
In the comparison circuit 140L, the extreme value D provided by the maximum value detecting circuit 140K is compared with a predetermined threshold value Dth. When the extreme value D is lower then the threshold value Dth, the comparison circuit 140L applies a reference pattern exchange signal F to the sequencer 140D and the FIFO memory 140N.
On the other hand, in the comparison circuit 140M, the position E of the extreme value provided by the maximum value detecting circuit 140K is compared with a predetermined correlation calculation range threshold value H. According to the result of the comparison, the comparison circuit 140M applies a correlation calculation range shift signal I to the sequencer 140D and the FIFO memory 140N to shift the correlation calculation range to the positive side or to the negative side.
In response to the reference pattern exchange signal F, the sequencer 140D causes the roles of the shift registers 140A, 140B and 140C to be exchanged for one another, and changes the selected input terminals of the multiplexers 140E and 140F. In addition, in response to the correlation calculation range shift signal I, the sequencer 140D applies a shift clock pulse to the reference pattern data shift register to shift the correlation calculation range.
As shown in a flow chart of FIG. 11, when the extreme value D becomes lower than the predetermined threshold value Dth, the reference pattern is automatically renewed and when the position E of the extreme value comes out of the predetermined range H, the correlation calculation range is automatically shifted.
As shown in FIG. 4, the shifts in the position of the extreme value detected by the correlators 40 and 42 are applied to and processed by the computer 44, and the amount of deformation of the object to be detected is calculated from the amount of displacement of the speckle pattern.
The computer 44 applies an instruction to the stepping motor controller 46 to move the linear stage 48 along the x-axis on which the object 10 is placed, thereby to displace the speckle pattern along the x- axis, and at the same time applies timing signals to the correlators 40 and 42.
In the above-described first and second embodiments, the photosensitive element arrays 20 and 24 comprising photosensitive elements are in the strip (comb) form and each photosensitive element has a rectangular form of a large ratio of a long side to a short side, that is, is in a strip of fancy paper, and further at least two of the photosensitive element arrays are provided. As a result, it is unnecessary to coincide the direction of displacement of the speckle pattern with the direction of the photosensitive element array, and the components in each of the directions can be measured.
The configuration of the photosensitive elements and the number of photosensitive element arrays are not limited only to those in the above- described embodiments. For instance, in the case where it is required to extract only the components of a speckle pattern along the x- axis, the number of photosensitive element arrays to be provided may be only one. In addition, the provision of more than two photosensitive element arrays will allow the measurement with high accuracy. | |
Background: Back pain (BP) is among the most common musculoskeletal problems globally and is a leading contributor to disability among adults. Millions of women especially those in low-income settings, engage in strenuous domestic activities that may increase their risk of BP.
The purpose of this meta-analysis was to estimate the association between physically demanding domestic work (PDDW) which is characterized as intensity, frequency, duration of work and biomechanical risk factors of work and BP among women.
Methods: Five databases were searched for records published from January 1991 to March 2020; and results from 11studies were included in the meta-analysis. A random effects model and the generic inverse-variance method was used to estimate the pooled odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (CI), and the degree of heterogeneity among studies (I2). Stratified and sensitivity analyses were conducted to identify the influence of outliers and identify the sources of heterogeneity. Results: Exposure to high physically demanding domestic work was significantly associated with BP (OR = 1.63; 95% CI 1.30, 2.04; I2 =70%). The odds of back pain were highest among the following groups: women performing domestic work in non-neutral postures (OR=2.30; 95% CI= 1.75 – 3.04; I2 = 0%; N= 4 studies) and among women from low and middle income countries (OR= 1.98; 95% CI = 1.58-2.49; I2=29%; N = 5 studies). We found no evidence of publication bias (Egger’s test p-value = 0.15). | https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-131819/v1 |
Because i said i would, (and people actually seem to want it), here is the pattern for the hat i knit up for the little man! it was cleverly named “TriceraTops” by AuntMartha on Ravelry, and i think it’s a perfect name! yeah!
Okay, i’m going to give you 2 sets of instructions….
one for knitting it little man size with the same weight yarn i used.
one for knitting it any size, with whatever yarn you want. (which will be given like this).
because i spin, i appreciate when people just give you a formula for a pattern, because usually i have NO idea what weight my yarn will be when i’m spinning it! plus, mommies need cool hats too!!!!
TriceraTops
2yr old size (calculate your own size)
gauge= 4 stitches per inch (measure your gauge, x=stitches per inch)
heavy worsted yarn (use whatever yarn)
needles= size 5 circular or whatever you need for gauge (use needle that will produce a nice fabric, and measure gauge)
Cast on 76 stitches loosely (measure victim’s head, multiply measurement by x. then, subtract 1/2x. this will give you the number to cast on. ie. head measures 19.5″ times 4 stitches per inch = 78. 78 minus 2= 76)
next section, same for both toddler pattern and (calculate your own size pattern)
Round 1. Place marker to mark beginning of round, join in the round, Purl 1 round
Round 2. Knit 1 round
Round 3. Purl 1 round
Round 5-9. Repeat rows 2 & 3
Rounds 10-?. Knit in stockinette stitch until hat measures 6-6.5″ (knit in stockinette until it looks deep enough for victim’s noggin)
Now comes the tricky part. We are going to divide the top stitches into 3 different areas and kitchener stitch them together. Section 1 will be 24 stitches, Section 2 will be 26 stitches, and section 3 will be 26 stitches. (take number of stitches cast on, and divide in to 3 even numbered sections as close in stitch count as possible)
each section will be folded in half, and kitchener stitched together with itself. I found that having an extra double point needle around was helpful during this process, because i could slip half of the section on the double point, fold it so it’s lined up with the other needle, kitchener, and do it again on the next sections.
i will try to take photos of this, but the bad pictures are what i’ve got for now to help with this section. in the end you want your hat to look like this on top:
Left Earflap-
Look at hat and decide which section you want to be the front, and lay hat flat with the brim at the top, and front of hat to the right. Pick up 19 stitches, keeping in mind that ears are not directly in the center of your head when wearing a hat. (Take number of stitches cast on and divide by 4, and make it an odd number. This is the number of stitches you need to pick up ).
So you will want the center of these stitches to be further to the left, like this:
Row 2-6 knit (knit until earflap is 1/3 the length you’d like it to be)
Row 7. knit 1, SSK, knit to the last 3 stitches, knit 2 together, knit 1. (same directions)
row 8-10 knit (knit next 3 rows)
Row 11. knit 1, SSK, knit to the last 3 stitches, knit 2 together, knit 1 (same directions)
Row 12. knit (same directions)
Continue repeating row 11 and 12 until you have 3 stitches left. knit an I cord until it is long enough to tie. (same directions)
Right Earflap:
Lay the hat flat with the brim up and the front to the left. pick up 19 stitches (the same number of stitches for last flap) centering the flap off to the right.
Follow same instructions as the Left earflap.
Weave in ends, put on victim, and enjoy!!!
7 Responses to “TriceraTops Hat”
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# Bethanyon 29 Feb 2008 at 2:45 pm
aw, so cute. :) The hat too. Instructions make sense to me! Thanks!
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# Knittingnoviceon 29 Feb 2008 at 3:10 pm
How Cool are you! You even gave us diagrams! Thanks!
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Ooh! I love it!
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I love instructions like these!
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# Stitch It!! Podcast » episode 81: “Gang Busters”on 23 Jul 2009 at 10:39 pm
[...] on/off the needles: -handspun socks still being worked on -lace project…..hitting the wall -sweater lust Coraline by Ysolda -swatching for it with handspun, and using a WPI tool -Owen’s new hat is a triceratops [...]
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# Erinon 22 Oct 2009 at 9:35 am
Thanks for posting this! I was looking for a simple but unique hat pattern to knit for my son, and voila! Here it is!
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# Chelseaon 17 Jan 2010 at 8:50 pm
Love your drawings!
I am inspired to make a similar hat but with only 2 “lobes” and some tassles!!!
Thanks again! | http://stitchitpodcast.com/triceratops-hat/ |
Moving from Normative Frameworks to Enforcement and Delivery of Justice to Survivors of Violence against Women and Girls
Date:
Key Take Aways from the TOT for Justice Sector in Ahmara Region of Ethiopia.
Notwithstanding the commendable normative frameworks for the promotion and protection of women’s rights put in place by the Government of Ethiopia, enforcement still remains a challenge. Law enforcement agents and the justice delivery sector lack the capacity, skills and commitment to handle cases of Violence against Women and Girls ((VAWG). To address this gap UN Women partnered with the Amhara Bureau of Justice to develop the knowledge and skills of law enforcement professionals in Amhara Regional State. A Training of Trainers (TOT) for 170 participants including Police Officers manning Child and Women Friendly Protection Units, Public Prosecutors and Judges was held from 11--22 April 2016 in Injibara District, Amhara region.
The participants benefitted from a training package which included modules on how to handle and deal with cases of violence against women and girls at all stages including investigation, prosecution and adjudication. Practical cases and exercises enabled participants to evaluate and identify the challenges in their daily work and acquire skills and methods to appropriately respond to VAWG cases.
In his opening speech, Mr. Firdie Cheru, Head of Amhara Bureau of Justice, highlighted that it was the Amhara Regional Government’s priority to build the capacity of law enforcement bodies and share experiences and improve their skills on gender responsive justice delivery in the region. “These legal experts know the law very well. However, there is a big gap in terms of how to interpret and apply it in order to guarantee the protection of women and children. It is key to enable these three bodies to reach consensus on how to address the challenges they face. This will result in better service provision for survivors of violence and will translate in better justice service for the society at large”, he noted.
A pre and post evaluation of the training was quite revealing. Prior to the training, 50% of the participants had not been in such a training before. The post training assessment showed that more than 80% of the participants would have responded to specific practical cases differently if they had received the training before. Around 98% of them also declared that they had acquired enough knowledge to be able to train others.
The participatory approach of the training allowed participants to exchange experiences, views on key constraints and reach consensus on the following main issues among others: limiting the accused bail rights of VAWG suspects, the importance of setting up women friendly benches and hearings victim’s testimony, the risk of victim blaming, the need for the police and prosecutors to jointly investigate VAWG cases and secure moral damage for victims of violence, link with shelters for additional support and the importance of Judges’ involvement in validating and requesting for more evidence on VAWG cases given that Ethiopia follows an inquisitorial judiciary system.
Some take aways from some of the participants are worth sharing:
The training showed me the gaps that existed in legal and enforcement institution and I learned on the ways that I can contribute to fill the gap”. Ms. Anguach Fante, Public Prosecutor, Semen Gonder, Gonder Town, Amhara region who also highlighted the importance of linking survivors with shelters, when they require additional support, as something she had learnt during the training.
Ms. Firehiwot Abebaw, a Public Prosecutor (civil bench) from Amhara Bureau of Justice, noted “After the training, I am now committed to ensure that women and girls are awarded adequate moral and material damage compensation”.
Mr. Temsegne, President of the High Court in West Gojam district stated, “I’ve worked as a judge for 11 years from local to Federal level, mostly in a criminal bench. In all those years, we used to treat cases of VAWG just as ordinary criminal cases. Now, I have learned that they require special priority and attention. Thus, I will make sure to establish a special bench for these cases, also, will train our women judges specifically and I will make sure that they are the ones assigned to handle them.”
One positive outcome of the training was an agreement among all the participants on the importance of hearing the victim’s testimony in court as a key part of the examination processes testified by one of the participants; “In most cases, judges tend to focus on the evidences provided by the prosecutor and the accused and forget to involve the voice of the victim which is very important especially in cases where there are no direct evidences to the crime.”
UN Women and the Amhara Bureau of Justice have committed to follow up and monitor the outcomes of the training, in ensuring that justice is served for survivors of violence in Amhara Region.
About the Programme: This training was undertaken as part of UNW ECO’s EVAWG programme, which aims at supporting women and girls in Ethiopia to access justice and protection services, while also working towards the prevention of violence against women/girls. The programme is funded by Irish Aid, Royal Danish Embassy and the Embassy of France in Ethiopia. | https://africa.unwomen.org/en/news-and-events/stories/2016/06/esar-may-tot-ethiopia |
"Barney! My Fruity Pebbles Cookies!"
I'm in a bright and cheery party-like mood. And I hope you are, too. Why? Well, for many of us, we're getting ready to shut down our computers for the weekend and we're taking off to celebrate America. Hooray! With any luck, come tomorrow the sun will be shining; the grills will be fired up; and the red, white, and blue desserts will go on for miles.
This dessert isn't really red, white, and blue. But it does involve all those colors! Plus a whole bunch more. Which make it more party-like than patriotic. And I think our nation would appreciate the fact that we're throwing it a big party with confetti. Or Fruity Pebbles. They're pretty much one and the same, and I hereby propose that we celebrate our country by throwing Fruity Pebbles instead of confetti. Not only are they better for the environment, but they taste fabulous in sugar cookies. Whether you're having people over for a nice relaxed 4th of July or you're headed to a BBQ with friends, I recommend having these Fruity Pebbles Cookies with you as part of the celebration.
Happy 4th of July!
- Duration
- Cook Time
- 3 dozen cookiesServings
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1½ tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1¼ cups Fruity Pebbles Cereal
Preparation
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large bowl with a hand mixer), cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy
- Add eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
- With mixer on low, gradually beat in the flour mixture until just combined (taking care not to overmix).
- With a wooden spoon, gently stir in the Fruity Pebbles cereal.
- Chill dough in refrigerator for about 10 minutes.
- On a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, drop dough by rounded tablespoon.
- Bake at 350 degrees for about 10-12 minutes until just golden around edges. Let cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes.
- Remove to wire rack to cool completely. | https://parade.com/51358/wearenotmartha/fruity-pebbles-cookies/ |
the Yellow-shouldered Blackbird, a bird endemic to the archipelago of Puerto Rico, engages in anting, a behavior in which birds rub ants on their feathers?
the French admiral Dupetit Thouars took possession of the Tahiti archipelago against his government's will?
Svalbard, an Arctic archipelago, features no roads between settlements?
Severnaya Zemlya was the last archipelago on Earth to be discovered?
East Wallabi Island has the highest number of plant species on any island of the Houtman Abrolhos archipelago in the Indian Ocean?
This article is about a chain of islands. For other uses, see Archipelago (disambiguation).
.An archipelago (pronounced /ɑrkɨˈpɛləɡoʊ/) is a chain or cluster of islands that are formed tectonically.^ On maps , the archipelago usually appears as the Solovetski Islands , but the diminutive form of the name, Solovki , is how most Russians refer to it.
^ Art from the Bismarck Archipelago -- a chain of islands...obscurity".
.The word archipelago, is directly derived from the Greek ἄρχι- - arkhi- ("chief") and πέλαγος - pelagos ("sea").^ The word "archipelago" literally means "chief sea".
.In Italian, possibly following a tradition of antiquity, the Archipelago (from medieval Greek *ἀρχιπέλαγος) was the proper name for the Aegean Sea and, later, usage shifted to refer to the Aegean Islands (since the sea is remarkable for its large number of islands).^ Excursions An island where you can experience the remarkable maritime terrain of the outer archipelago.
^ On maps , the archipelago usually appears as the Solovetski Islands , but the diminutive form of the name, Solovki , is how most Russians refer to it.
^ The archipelago has been known by many different names, including the " Enchanted Islands " because of the way in which the strong and shifting currents made navigation difficult.
.It is now used to generally refer to any island group or, sometimes, to a sea containing a large number of scattered islands like the Aegean Sea.^ A group of islands in the sea.
^ Improve ] An archipelago is a group, chain or cluster of islands surrounded by a large body of water, usually the open sea.
^ A California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) checking me out in Broken Group Islands, Barkley Sound.
.Archipelagos are usually found in the open sea; less commonly, a large land mass may neighbour them.^ One of the seven large land masses.
^ A large arm of an ocean or sea extending into a land mass.
^ A sea may be partly or completely surrounded by land.
.For example, Scotland has more than 700 islands surrounding its mainland.^ Study Island products are utilized by approximately 9 million students in more than 21,500 schools in 50 states and Canada.
^ Nothing in the general physiognomy of the islands is more remarkable than the number and distribution of the volcanoes, active or extinct.
^ Largest group of islands in the world, consisting of the more than 13,000 islands of Indonesia & 7,000 islands of the Philippines.
.Archipelagos are often volcanic, forming along island arcs generated by subduction zones or hotspots, but there are many other processes involved in their construction, including erosion, deposition and land elevation.^ Dotted around the randomly generated maps are neutral islands, which are your first port of call in dominating the entire archipelago.
^ There are many reasons why you might consider using archipelago candles during the Christmas holiday this year.
^ As old and new media companies increasingly form alliances with Wall Street, look to Archipelago to strike other deals that may well put it in the spotlight.
.The five largest modern countries that are mainly archipelagos are Japan, the Philippines, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Indonesia.^ While the Dutch were thus consolidating their authority, other countries were acquiring new commercial or colonial interests in the archipelago.
^ The archipelago was included in Papua New Guinea when it established as a self-governing country in 1973.
^ It contains 6 of the world's 30 largest islands; BAFFIN ISLAND (fifth) is larger than the United Kingdom.
.The largest archipelago in the world, by size, is Indonesia.^ The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands and is one of the largest archipelagos in the world.
^ Apart from GREENLAND , which is almost entirely ice-covered (and geologically an extension of the archipelago), the Canadian Arctic Archipelago forms the world's largest high-arctic land area.
.The archipelago with the most islands is the Archipelago Sea in Finland, but these islands are generally small.^ Dotted around the randomly generated maps are neutral islands, which are your first port of call in dominating the entire archipelago.
^ The House on the Sea was born from the need to force the world’s leaders to look towards the islands of the archipelago.
It is said to be the home of the fictional character Crash Bandicoot, and abundant with Wumpa fruit.
^ "Archipelago". Farlex, Inc.. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/archipelago. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
^ "Indonesia". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. 2008-12-04. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/id.html. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
. "Archipelago". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.^ Retrieved January 26, 2010, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/114743/Zhoushan-Archipelago .
.ARCHIPELAGO, a name now applied to any island-studded sea, but originally the distinctive designation of what is now generally known as the Aegean Sea (Aiyaiov 7rEXayos), its ancient name having been revived.^ Archipelagos were known by a variety of names.
^ The main islands of the archipelago (with their English names) are: .
^ What are the names of some of the islands in the Bismarck Archipelago?
.Several etymologies have been proposed: e.g. (I) it is a corruption of the ancient name, Egeopelago; (2) it is from the modern Greek, `Ayco iraayo, the Holy Sea; (3) it arose at the time of the Latin empire, and means the Sea of the Kingdom (Arche); (4) it is a translation of the Turkish name, Ak Denghiz, Argon Pelagos, the White Sea; (5) it is simply Archipelagus, Italian, arcipelago, the chief sea.^ Aigaion pelagos "Aegean Sea" (M.L. Egeopelagus ), or influenced by that name.
^ [Italian Arcipelago , the Aegean Sea , alteration (influenced by arci- , chief, archi- ) of Medieval Latin Ēgēopelagus : Latin Aegaeus, Ēgēus , Aegean (from Greek Aigaios ) + Latin pelagus , sea (from Greek pelagos ; see plāk- 1 in Indo-European roots).
.For the Grecian Archipelago see Aegean Sea.^ Archipelago, the Aegean Sea.
^ Also see on Answers.com Archipelago (history, the Aegean Sea) Antonio Crispo, Governor of the Duchy of the Archipelago (died 1584) Can you answer these travel questions?
Other archipelagoes are described in their respective places.
An archipelago (pronounced /ɑrkəˈpɛləgoʊ/) is a chain or group of islands. The word archipelago means "chief sea", from Greek arkhon (arkhi-) ("leader") and pelagos ("sea").
Archipelagos are usually found in the open sea; less commonly, a big land mass may neighbor them, an example being Scotland which has more than 700 islands surrounding the mainland. Archipelagoes are often volcanic, forming along mid-ocean ridges or hotspots, but there are many other processes involved in their construction, including erosion, deposition, and land elevation.
The four biggest countries that are mainly archipelagos are Japan, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and Indonesia (the world's biggest archipelagic country according to the CIA World Factbook) .
The biggest archipelago in the world by size is in Northern Canada, the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, which is in the Arctic Ocean.
Here are sentences from other pages on Archipelago, which are similar to those in the above article.
Archipelago - archipelago - definition of archipelago by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia. | http://www.thefullwiki.org/Archipelago |
How long does it take from USA to Singapore?
The air travel (bird fly) shortest distance between Singapore and United States is 15,299 km= 9,506 miles. If you travel with an airplane (which has average speed of 560 miles) from Singapore to United States, It takes 16.98 hours to arrive.
How far is Singapore from Florida by plane?
12121 miles / 19506.86 km is the flight distance between these two places.
What is the shortest flight in the world?
The shortest flight in the world is a long-established air route between two of the Orkney Islands (Westray and Papa Westray) in Scotland. The distance is a mere 1.7 miles and with favorable winds, the flight often lasts less than a minute!
Why do planes avoid Pacific Ocean?
The primary reason airplanes don’t fly over the Pacific Ocean is because curved routes are shorter than straight routes. Flat maps are somewhat confusing because the Earth itself isn’t flat. Rather, it’s spherical. As a result, straight routes don’t offer the shortest distance between two locations.
How long can a plane fly without stopping?
So, how long can an airplane fly without refueling? The longest commercial flight without refueling lasted 23 hours, covering a distance of 12,427 miles (20,000 km ). The longest non-stop commercial flight route as of today is 9,540 miles (15,300 km) long and lasts nearly 18 hours. | https://igomakan.com/southeast-asian-countries/question-how-far-away-is-florida-from-singapore.html |
JUST WATCHED
Inside an Ebola outbreak epicenter
MUST WATCH
Story highlights
The Ebola outbreak in West Africa has killed more than 1,000 people, WHO says
The experimental drug ZMapp is on its way to Liberia
There is no proven or licensed cure for the virus, which can kill up to 90% of those infected
A WHO panel is discussing the ethics of using experimental drugs to combat the virus
The government of Liberia says that sample doses of the experimental Ebola drug ZMapp will be sent there to treat doctors who have contracted the deadly virus.
The White House and Food and Drug Administration approved the Liberian request for the drug to be made available to them.
Liberia identified itself as the recipient of the drug after the company that makes ZMapp said earlier that its supply was exhausted after fulfilling the request of a West African country, which it did not name.
The delivery of the ZMapp to Liberia follows a request made on Friday from Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to President Barack Obama.
The sample doses will be brought to Liberia by a U.S. government representative this week, the Liberian government said.
A World Health Organization panel convened Monday to discuss the ethics of using experimental medicine to fight Ebola in West Africa.
JUST WATCHED
Ethicist: Give Africans the Ebola serum
MUST WATCH
JUST WATCHED
How the experimental Ebola serum works
MUST WATCH
How the experimental Ebola serum works 02:32
In the current outbreak, the virus is believed to have infected 1,848 people and killed 1,013, according to WHO's latest figures.
There are no proven vaccines or drugs to treat Ebola, but ZMapp was given to two American missionaries infected with the disease early last week. Both patients had to give consent to receive the drug, knowing it had never been tested in humans before. Their conditions are said to be improving.
ZMapp is also being given to Miguel Pajares, a Spanish priest infected with Ebola while working in Liberia, Spain's Ministry of Heath announced Saturday. The drug was sent from Geneva, Switzerland, to Madrid, where Pajares is being treated in a special isolation unit at Hospital Carlos III.
The patients' treatment has raised questions about the use of unproven and unlicensed drugs to treat Ebola and why these three have received the serum when so many others in West Africa also have the virus.
Medical ethicists, scientific experts and lay people from the countries affected by the Ebola outbreak will discuss the use of unlicensed medicines to combat the virus during the WHO teleconference Monday.
The Ebola virus causes hemorrhagic fever that affects multiple organ systems in the body. It can kill up to 90% of those infected.
Early symptoms include weakness, muscle pain, headaches and a sore throat. They later progress to vomiting, diarrhea, impaired kidney and liver function -- and sometimes internal and external bleeding.
Ebola spreads through contact with organs and bodily fluids such as blood, saliva, urine and other secretions of infected people. The most common treatment requires supporting organ functions and maintaining bodily fluids such as blood and water long enough for the body to fight off the infection.
| |
WESTPORT, Conn. – A Westport Gap employee was charged with running a scheme that allowed some customers to get their merchandise for free, police said.
Claudia Elliston, 52, of 132 Bennett St., Bridgeport, was charged Tuesday with fifth-degree larceny.
Police said they were called to The Gap at 125 Main St. in November to meet with the company's regional loss prevention manager about ongoing employee theft.
Elliston was seen on video surveillance multiple times scanning the tags of purchased clothing for customers, then deleting the scans and removing the item from the customer’s bill, police said.
The total amount of the items that were not paid for came to $594.29, police said.
She turned herself in on an arrest warrant. Her bond was set at $5,000, and she has a court date of March 31 in Norwalk.
Click here to sign up for Daily Voice's free daily emails and news alerts. | https://dailyvoice.com/connecticut/shelton/police-fire/police-westport-gap-employee-didnt-charge-all-her-customers/705015/ |
of the archive.
|
For each player, statistics are provided by season, coupling starting and substitute appearances to offer total matches played. Along with appearance data, you can view goals scored, red cards accumulated and in the case of goalkeepers, a total number of clean sheets. Yellow cards are also noted from the 2007 season onwards. Each of these stats are tallied in the footer of the player’s record. For each player who has appeared in the national league or played overseas, links to their playing record on Aussie Footballers can be found by clicking on the logo when it appears on their vicfootball record.
The record lists summarise the players by number of appearances (all players with 200 appearances or more), number of goals (50 or more) and number of clean sheets (50 or more). Abbreviated lists by club - Top 10 for appearances and goals - are provided in each of the individual pages in the Clubs section of the archive. | http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/vicfootball/players.html |
Q:
Geometry - Intersection over Union for 2 squares with the same orientation
I have 2 squares with the same orientation. I know the coordinate of their centers. They have the same size area.
They may intersect each other. I want to compute their area of their intersection as well as area of their union.
Let's say that their centers are (a, b) for the first square and (x, y) for the second square. The length of one of their sides is l. How can I compute their intersection and their union based on this?
A:
Since they have the same orientation, you can rotate the two squares first so their sides are aligned with the x, y coordinates, then it should be easy to compute what you want.
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Baseball fans who followed last year’s postseason will recognize a few names toward the top of this season’s Rookie of the Year oddsboards.
Rays playoff standout Randy Arozarena is still eligible for the award thanks to a shortened 2020 season, even though this will be the third regular season in which he has taken part. Over in the National League, promising young right-handers Sixto Sánchez and Ian Anderson, both of whom made postseason starts, are the pitchers with the lowest odds.
Here are complete odds with Opening Day on the horizon.
All odds are as of March 29 and via DraftKings.
_BookPromo=49
American League Rookie of the Year Odds
|Player||Odds|
|Randy Arozarena||+350|
|Wander Franco||+1000|
|Jarred Kelenic||+1000|
|Ryan Mountcastle||+1200|
|Adley Rutschman||+1200|
|Andrew Vaughn||+1250|
|Bobby Dalbec||+1500|
|Casey Mize||+1500|
|Nate Pearson||+1500|
|Garrett Crochet||+1800|
|Luis Patino||+1800|
|Alex Kirilloff||+2000|
|Nick Madrigal||+2000|
|Brendan McKay||+2000|
|Triston McKenzie||+2000|
|Bobby Bradley||+2200|
|Deivi Garcia||+2200|
|Nolan Jones||+2500|
|Michael Kopech||+2500|
|Julio Rodriguez||+2500|
|Taylor Trammel||+2500|
|Bobby Witt Jr.||+2500|
|Matt Manning||+3000|
|Dane Dunning||+3500|
|Josh Jung||+3500|
|Vidal Brujan||+4000|
|Jeter Downs||+4000|
|Luis Garcia||+4000|
|Logan Gilbert||+5000|
|Tarik Skubal||+5000|
There is more depth to the odds in the American League compared to the National. On the Junior Circuit, Randy Arozorena is heavily favored over soon-to-be teammate Wander Franco.
In total, there are 22 players at +2500 or lower. Arozarena’s early success, especially in last year’s postseason, gives him a leg up, but he’s the only position player set to start the season in a top-of-the-order impact role on this list, aside from Ryan Mountcastle, who is lower on the list because he has only played 35 games and is on the Orioles.
Former No. 1 overall pick Casey Mize and Blue Jays right-hander Nate Pearson are tied as the highest pitchers on the list. Mize showed off his flashes of potential last season, as did Pearson, who is going to start the 2021 campaign on the injured list due to a lower-body injury.
National League Rookie of the Year Odds
|Player||Odds|
|Ke’Bryan Hayes||+350|
|Sixto Sánchez||+500|
|Dylan Carlson||+700|
|Ian Anderson||+750|
|Nick Lodolo||+1200|
|Cristian Pache||+1200|
|Joey Bart||+1500|
|Spencer Howard||+1800|
|Tyler Stephenson||+1800|
|Ha-Seong Kim||+1800|
|MacKenzie Gore||+2000|
|Miguel Amaya||+2200|
|Seth Beer||+2200|
|Jazz Chisholm||+3000|
|Adonis Medina||+3000|
|Seth Romero||+3000|
|Lewin Diaz||+3300|
|Josiah Gray||+3300|
|Pavin Smith||+3300|
|JJ Bleday||+3500|
|Luis Campusano||+3500|
|Adbert Alzolay||+3500|
|Brailyn Marquez||+4000|
|Keibert Ruiz||+4000|
|Jonathan India||+4000|
|William Contreras||+4500|
|Oneil Cruz||+5000|
|Jorge Ona||+5000|
|Heliot Ramos||+5000|
|Drew Waters||+6000|
Unlike the AL, the NL has four players who have clear high-impact roles to start the season.
Ke’Bryan Hayes is probably the best athlete on the list and put up very strong numbers in a brief cameo at the end of last season. Whether the rest of the Pirates’ mediocre lineup holds him down will be a potential concern, but the talent is there.
Sixto Sánchez and Ian Anderson both thrived at the end of last season and will play major roles in the Marlins and Braves’ rotations, respetively in 2021, while Dylan Carlson is poised for an everyday role in the Cardinals’ outfield. Carlson has a fantastic minor-league track record, although he struggled in 2020.
Other players poised for starting roles from the get-go include Marlins second baseman Jazz Chisholm, Cubs starter Adbert Alzolay and Reds infielder (soon to be a second baseman) Jonathan India. | http://thebestsportsbooks.com/2021-mlb-rookie-of-the-year-betting-odds-randy-arozarena-kebryan-hayes-favored/ |
Hovenweep Campground is located just down the road from the Hovenweep National Monument Visitor Center. This front-country campground offers easy access to hiking trails and the opportunity to enjoy the night sky.
Hovenweep Campground
Contents
There is not a ton of shade in the campground. You will want to be prepared for the wind and sun. There are shelters over most of the picnic tables to provide some shade.
If you are planning to tent camp be prepared it is going to be hot during the day and cool at night.
Number of Sites: 31
Location in the park: Just down the road from the Visitor Center
Campsite Cost: $15
Senior/Access Camping Fee: $7
Payments accepted:
Reservations: No, All campsites are first come first served.
Latitude/longitude: 37° 22' 58.8900" N 109° 4' 19.2468" W
Accessible Sites: One campsite is wheelchair-accessible but is not designed for tent camping.
Pets Allowed: Yes, Pets must be on a leash.
Campground Reservations
Are campground Reservations Available? No
First Come, First Served? All campsites are first come first served.
Campground Amenities
There are designated tent pads in each tent site along with shade structures over the picnic tables to help with the hot sun. Some of the sites can accommodate RVs up to 36 feet long.
Dump Station: No
Bear Boxes: No
Flush Toilets: Yes
Payphone: No
Is wifi available? No
Is cellular Phone Service Available? No
Is camp host available on site? No
Is firewood available for purchase? No
Amenities at each campsite:
Fire ring in the site? Yes
Picnic Table in the site? Yes
Bear Box in site/area? No
Potable Water? There is a 5 gallon limit for water. Make sure to bring a water jug with you.
RV Camping at Hovenweep Campground
Some of the campsites are marked as RV only.
RV Length: RVs up to 36 feet long
How to get to Campground
Campground Regulations
The maximum number of people in a campsite: 8
The number of cars per campsite: 2
Checkout time: 10 am
Quiet Hours: 10 pm - 8 am
Hovenweep Campground Map
Photos of Campground
Great Park Sites near Hovenweep National Monument
Mesa Verde National Park
Natural Bridges National Monument also check out the Natural Bridges campground if you are visiting multiple parks and need a place to camp.
Canyon De Chelly National Monument
Great Sand Dunes National Park
Check out all of the National Parks in Colorado and neighboring Utah National Parks, Wyoming National Parks, Nebraska National Parks, Arizona National Parks, Kansas National Parks, Oklahoma National Parks, and National Parks in New Mexico.
Don't miss these easy camping meals! | https://www.parkrangerjohn.com/hovenweep-campground-hovenweep-national-monument/ |
Drill Sergeant Harvey K. Buicks watched the line of soldiers as they stood taut and strong. Their backs concave, chests out, muscles rippling. He turned to a small man in a white lab coat who twitched nervously next to him.
“Things were good until about a week ago. I hope you can sort this mess out,” said Buicks.
“Can you tell me exactly how the… uhm… anomaly manifested itself?” said white lab coat. His plastic pen paused over a tiny PDA, the fingers itching to write.
“I’ll show you,” said Buicks and walked over to one of the soldiers. A black balaclava under a helmet of dark alloy covered the soldier’s head. His features were hidden except for two glittering green eyes that stared ahead.
“Soldier,” barked Buicks in his best drill voice. “Shoot this man.” His index finger swept upwards to point at white lab coat.
“Drill Sergeant Buicks!” gasped white lab coat and staggered backwards looking for an escape route.
Buicks face was grim and emotionless, like oven-baked granite. The soldier raised his rifle and fired. The white lab coat was pelted with circles of blue dye as he turned to flee. He staggered only a few paces then came to an abrupt halt.
White lab coat sighed with relief and then his face turned red with embarrassment. “Was that really necessary?” he squeaked.
The soldier raised the pistol. White lab coat cringed, shielding his face with both arms. The soldier trembled for a second and then at lightning speed turned the gun on himself and fired. His head was driven back by the impact and he crumpled to the ground, a dark stain of blood pooling on the tarmac.
White lab coat frowned and stepped cautiously forward. “Curious,” he said and began to flip through his PDA.
“And you can fix it, right?” said Buicks.
“Version 5.10,” they said in unison, their voices sounding like a hollow recording.
A red mist sprayed the air as the bullet pierced white lab coat’s skull. | https://365tomorrows.com/2009/02/05/version-510/ |
Q:
Show that m has to be even if for every integer $a$, $a^m\equiv1\pmod{n}$.
Let $n$ be a positive integer, and let $m$ be an integer such that $a^m\equiv1\pmod{n}$ for every integer $a\ \epsilon\ (\mathbb Z/n\mathbb Z)^*$. Show that $m$ is even.
I know that $a^{\phi(n)}\equiv1\pmod n$ by Euler's Theorem, so is this question then just about showing that $\phi(n)$ is even?
A:
As has been said in the comments, $a\equiv -1$ suffices. Because, modular arithmetic, obeys normal arithmetic rules mostly (otherwise it would be useless in diophantine equation analysis). $$(-1)^{2x+1}=-1$$ is one such rule. So m can't be odd, and work in this case. No need to get anything else involved.
Exception n=2 and n=1 though. Because then 1 and -1 are congruent.
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