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One of the emerging stories in the Ukraine conflict is the ability of the embattled country to keep its Turkish-made armed drones flying. The Bayraktar drone – a relatively new armed technology created by Turkey’s local arms industry – has been used in Syria and Libya by Ankara, and its success there led to increased sales abroad over the last several years.
Since the conflict began, there has been a focus on the fate of Ukraine’s two dozen Bayraktar drones. Ukraine does not have a large air force, and it was expected that Russia could gain air supremacy quickly over Kyiv. However, a week into the war, it is not clear if Russia has succeeded.
Reports say that Moscow has not committed most of its air force, but on the other hand, Ukrainian pilots seem less active – and Russia did say on Monday that it controlled the skies.
The Bayraktar TB2 that Ukraine uses has a length of only six meters (20 feet) and a wingspan of 12 meters. It weighs around 650 kg (1,433 lbs.) and can carry around 65 kg of munitions, usually including four missiles.
The US Reaper drone by comparison weighs three times as much, at about 2,000 kg (just under 3,100 lbs.), with more than 21 times the payload capacity of 1,400 kg. It can carry seven armaments or other devices, usually four missiles and two bombs. The US Predator, an ancestor of the Reaper, had a weight of 500 kg (1,100 lbs.) and could carry a payload of 500 kg as well, making it about the same weight as the Bayraktar but with more potential for heavier armaments.
Russia has amassed long convoys of vehicles to enter Ukraine, including one that stretches dozens of kilometers. If the Ukrainian Air Force was active, Russia would not be so obvious. However, Ukrainian social media has said the Ukrainian drones are still active in striking trains, convoys and vehicles of the Russian aggressors.
Middle East Eye, which tends to be pro-Turkey, noted on Monday that “footage released by the Ukrainian military over the weekend indicated that TB2s were operating against Moscow’s forces, destroying long Russian military columns in Kherson, near Kyiv. Dozens of lives and equipment were reportedly lost in the Bayraktar strikes.”
Pro-Ankara media has an interest in talking up the drones, because it is a good way to prove they can survive in contested airspace. Slow-moving armed drones, like the Reaper, cannot perform well in areas where an enemy has air defense, because they do not have a way to avoid radar, and they don’t fly fast.
According to the website Defense-Blog.com, the drones continue to carry out strikes.
“According to the chief of Ukraine’s Air Force, Lt.-Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk, Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones have carried out strikes on Russian troops in the Kherson region and near the city of Malyn, about 60 miles northwest of Kyiv,” the website noted.
Videos posted on social media show several such strikes. It is difficult to confirm or locate them. Reports generally place the strikes on the Crimea front line. This means they are not stalking the main Russian thrust at Kyiv, where a 60-km. convoy of Russian vehicles has been seen, but are hitting the soft underbelly of the Russian offensive. Although that does not mean Russia lacks air defense in Crimea, it should have air defense there to protect the Russian fleet.
That the Ukrainian drones are flying sorties from western or southern Ukraine seems apparent. They supposedly have a range of thousands of kilometers but need communications links. The distance from western Ukraine to Crimea is 800 km. (500 miles).
Ukraine’s Turkish drones are therefore turning out to be an important aspect of the invaded county’s defense against its huge and powerful eastern neighbor. | https://www.jpost.com/international/article-698994 |
In the face of slowing economic growth, the Chinese authorities appear ready to act. Franklin Templeton Emerging Markets Equity’s Sukumar Rajah and Jason Zhu explain how measures announced at the 13th National People’s Congress are designed to shore up China’s growth prospects.
Measures announced at China’s 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) suggest to us that the Chinese authorities are taking the threat of an economic slowdown seriously and are prepared to act.
While China faces slowing gross domestic product (GDP) growth, a trade standoff with the United States and disputes over China allowing foreign companies market access in return for technology transfers, we see policymakers stepping up to the plate to readjust and rebalance targets for a more sustainable economy.
In the face of an economic slowdown, Chinese officials have lowered the country’s 2019 GDP growth forecast to a range of 6% to 6.5%, compared to last year’s target of 6.5%. However, we feel that a slowdown is not a crisis. We believe there are ample strengths in China’s institutions and economy to prevent a hard landing.
Against this backdrop, our near-term view on China is slightly more cautious. We expect China’s economic growth to slow in the next few years as it focuses on resolving an array of challenges.
In spite of these hurdles, the historical ability of the Chinese authorities to implement their policies efficiently and effectively underpins China’s potential strengths. A strong government presence in Chinese markets is nothing new.
China’s ability to implement policies stems from a system of central rule that has allowed it to resolve problems at a speed and scale that is virtually unmatched by other large developing nations, such as India.
Consider the steps that China has taken to tackle excess capacity, high leverage and other economic and financial risks. In the coal industry, for example, the government shut thousands of coal producers and put numerous coal-fired power projects on hold to reduce overcapacity.
The high degree of compliance underscored the administration’s ability to implement new policies. And a result of this was a sharp recovery in coal prices, which supported cash flows and the debt-servicing capability of many coal-related companies.
Such supply-side policies, replicated across several industries, have helped address one of the key systemic risks in China—the concentration of debt owed by “old economy” state-owned enterprises. More importantly, these policies are part of a bigger package of reforms that government agencies have rolled out—all without dealing a major blow to overall GDP growth.
China’s transition from a manufacturing-driven economy to a services and consumption-led economy has been no mean feat. However, trade tensions with the United States have created roadblocks for China’s growth trajectory and softer domestic demand for key sectors in the country.
We’d expect a reduction in current value-added tax (VAT) rates to be a welcome boost for industries that are currently embroiled in the US-China trade spat, including construction material that include steel and aluminum.
The trade dispute has also put China’s commitment to opening up its markets under the microscope. Questions were raised over market access, protection over intellectual property and forced technology transfers. Debates at the NPC over foreign investment laws suggest Chinese officials could be ready to revise current laws to put foreign companies on equal footing with local firms.
In our view, the longer-term outlook for China still holds promise, if its rebalancing efforts result in an economy that is sturdier and more sustainable. Nonetheless, we believe that the complex investment landscape is where active stock-picking can thrive.
We think buoyant economic growth and loose liquidity previously had helped some companies flourish in a fast-growing economy. But amid slowing growth, waning liquidity and increasing consolidation across industries, we think there will be a greater dispersion between the winners and losers. And experience has shown us that solid fundamental research will be needed to identify them.
The encouraging news, however, is that these obstacles do not appear insurmountable for a country that has an array of proven tactics and new economic opportunities.
The age-old desire for progress is a powerful force, and we expect it to lead China toward sound policies that promote higher incomes and a better quality of life for its citizens. We believe this bodes well for the next chapter of its secular growth story. | https://www.franklintempleton.ca/en-ca/investor/commentary-details?contentPath=en-ca/blog-posts/beyond-bulls-and-bears/chinas-re-balancing-act |
Poverty, unemployment and insecurity bring Greece in the first place among eight European countries with regard to physical and psychological violence between couples. These data are derived from a survey among citizens of Spain, Hungary, Belgium, UK, Sweden, Portugal and Greece. According to the survey, «the rates of both physical and psychological domestic violence in Greece appear elevated in comparison with earlier data and compared with the corresponding last elements of other European countries”. In Greece the survey was conducted the Society for Research and Communication MARC.
Surprisingly the percentage of men saying that they were victims of domestic violence was high than of women. Specifically, 72% of men and 70.7% of women said that they suffered psychological abuse at least once within one year. 31.7% of men and 23.4% of women said they were victims of physical aggression. Up one level the results seem to be affected by the crisis, while the perpetrators are people of all educational and economic levels.
According to the survey makers, Greeks have higher rates in the kind of “slight physical assault” which is understood as to pull shortly the hand of the partner, to push, to throw an object or slap on the face.
Interestingly, however, the survey evidence in Greece, as well as in Hungary, Belgium and Spain, the victims of psychological abuse are mostly men.
This is explained by experts in the context of the economic crisis. When a man gets unemployed, his traditional role within the family is “canceled”*. This results to derogatory comments – like “useless”, “incapable”- and attacks or blackmailing with psychological background. | https://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2011/11/30/survey-greek-men-more-often-victims-of-domestic-violence-than-women/ |
In March 2015 the School moved into the stunning new Materials Science and Engineering Building at UNSW. At a cost to the University of $143 million, this exciting new space will take the School well into the future and is a clear sign of the commitment of UNSW Australia to the future growth of Materials Science and Engineering.
A key feature of the new building design is the flexibility of modular spaces that allows laboratories to be adapted to changing research and teaching paradigms. There are also several open, and highly flexible areas located throughout the building to serve as, for example, collaborative spaces for teaching and learning, exhibition space for students to present their research findings or areas for networking during research conferences and similar forays.
This state-of-the-art purpose-built facility was designed by Grimshaw Partners, Architects, with significant input from HDR, who were contracted to facilitate the design of laboratory spaces. Planning meetings were held between the architects, HDR and stakeholders from the School to develop detailed designs for the parts of the building dedicated to experimental research and teaching. The building construction contract was won by Brookfield Multiplex. | http://www.materials.unsw.edu.au/about/new-mse-building |
I’m excited to get started on this meta suite, which I’ve been informed is geared toward “meta newbies.” Now, I’m no meta newbie, but frankly I’m relieved at the thought that there’s nothing like “Prove Fermat’s last theorem, then turn it upside-down and translate it into Urdu” lurking around the corner. Just some good, old-fashioned meta fun. Fingers crossed, and off we go!
Notepad: The Meta Answer for this puzzle is a famous actress.
So, we’re informed that Puzzle 1 is on the easier side, and that the meta answer is a famous actress.
(???) + (JONZE/LEE) + (TEMP) + (PULL) = ???
SHIRLEY TEMPLE. Or, rather, SURE + LEE + TEMP + PULL. Concentration-style!
This meta is definitely on the easier side: I had it with just LEE and TEMP. But for a little puzzle (note that it’s only 14x15), it put up a fight! This is slower than my usual solving time for an “easy” puzzle, but maybe it’s just me!
36-Across, [Place in a 1969 Best Picture nominee?] -- ETTA. Very clever clue; it refers to Etta Place, from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. This crossed the also-challenging AERO [Gordie Howe, for four seasons], which is a defunct World Hockey Association team. Probably the most challenging crossing in the puzzle.
2-Down, [Drink with many pellets] -- ICEE. Presumably referring to ice pellets, but the Icees I’ve had in my day haven’t been particularly bumpy. I guess I’d call them ice… granules?
3-Down, [Part of a “Clue” accusation] -- ROOM. I just rewatched the cult classic Clue from 1985. Hard to believe it’s 30 years old, since it really holds up!
Notepad: The Meta Answer is a Nobel Prize recipient.
Puzzle 2, a slightly more challenging puzzle, asks us to figure out which Nobel Prize recipient is hinted at.
Look for clues that explicitly tell me how to arrive at the meta answer (as with Puzzle 1 in this meta suite).
If no such clues exist, look for a discrete set of “longest” answers, since they’re the most likely to contain thematic/meta content.
Well. What do we do with that?
A trick I’ve learned from having done my fair share of meta-puzzles (and crosswords generally) is that when a clue or answer contains the word BEGINNING, START, MIDDLE, CENTER, END(ING), FINISH, and so on, it’s a hint to look at the word before it. For example, [False start?] might clue EFF, since the start of the word “false” is the letter F; similarly, [Center of gravity?] might clue VEE; and so on. So when I see NERVE ENDING, I tend to think it’s a cryptic clue for the letter E. Let’s see if that bears out.
PARALLEL BARS must refer to some glyph represented by two parallel lines. Either || or =, right?
Hey, wait a minute. So far we have E and (quite probably) = … Wouldn’t it be nice if this turned out to be E = mc²? A GAME SHOW HOST is an EMCEE (MC), and TO THE SECOND is another way of saying SQUARED. I like it!
When I think of Nobel Prize winners, Einstein’s probably the first one that comes to mind. So if you started the puzzle thinking he might be the answer, you probably had an easier time finding him as the Meta Answer. Also, when in doubt, look at the title: “Winning Formula” suggests that we might be looking for a formula, and this is probably the most famous one of those in all of modern science. Even with all of that help, though, this meta puzzle was definitely tougher than Puzzle 1.
For some reason, I found solving the actual crossword easier than solving Puzzle 1. Very Monday/Tuesday-ish for me.
14-Across, [Hatred (and a drug if you change one letter)] -- ODIUM. The drug, obviously, is opium. I’m assuming that the parenthetical clue is there because ODIUM isn’t an everyday word for most people.
35-Across [Before, either way] -- ERE. As in, ERE is a palindrome, so it reads the same either way. Cute!
45-Across, [Common foe in an ‘80s action movie] -- USSR. See, e.g., the 1984 classic Red Dawn.
AHA! 64-Across, [With 55-Across, star of 2014’s “Million Dollar Harm”] -- JON / HAMM. Again, at 64-Across, we have a clue with an extra letter! The 2014 film was called Million Dollar Arm, so there’s an extra H in this clue. Now I’m positive Andrew’s up to something. I’m also guessing we might need a four- or five-letter word (depending on whether Puzzle 5 contains this feature as well) that starts with OH, in order to solve the meta suite. O’Hare? O’Hara? Ohio? Too soon to say, probably, but I do like the idea that (Scarlett) O’Hara would show up in A Cavalcade of Stars. Again, we’ll see how this bears out!
Notepad: The Meta Answer is a bygone actor.
Okay, so… what now? Probably our “bygone actor” is named Tom something, but I’m not sure what to do to figure out which Tom. My first thought was to try anagramming the remaining letters into a last name. We’ve got IRDSLEARTYRING. That’s a lot of letters--probably too many for a last name. But there’s no clear reason why we would want to try anagramming it into anything other than a name. I gave it a few tries, and the closest thing I found to a meaningful anagram was RIDLEY STARRING, which almost seems like something. Conclusion: This is a dead end.
There’s probably something else I’m missing--maybe there’s a hidden theme answer in the grid, or a special word like “Turkey” or “bygone,” that I’m supposed to perform this first-half-anagramming transformation on. But I can’t find anything like that, so my next strategy is to think of bygone actors named Tom and try to figure out how the puzzle hints at them.
The only bygone Tom that readily comes to mind is Tom Bosley. Those letters (BOSLEY) aren’t hidden anywhere obvious, nor is any of his more famous characters (Father Dowling, Mr. C on Happy Days). It’d be nice if, say, BOYLE’S LAW were somewhere in the grid, but it’s not. So, probably not Tom Bosley.
After quite a lot of brainstorming and low-key agonizing, I’ve decided to move on to Puzzle 4 and come back to this one later. I suspect that after solving the entire meta suite, I’ll be able to backsolve this one.
27-Down, [Awesome, to rappers] -- ILLIN’. See also The Great Illin’ Debate of 2012.
Our “clue to watch”: 64-Across, [Have a tone at dinner, perhaps] -- GORGE. [Have a ton at dinner, perhaps] would make sense, so this clue has an extra E. Not much starts with OHE except O HENRY, but there are only 5 puzzles… Hmm.
Something else interesting happened in this puzzle: 52-Down, [Poppies contain it] -- OPIUM. Remember last puzzle, when we had ODIUM, whose clue included the phrase “and a drug if you change one letter”? Seems awfully convenient for it to pop up in the very next puzzle. I’m thinking it’s not a coincidence, but I have no idea how it could be related to the overall meta.
Notepad: The Meta Answer is a comedian with 8 letters in his name who would both make a good fifth theme entry, and whose name can also describe the theme as well.
Thank goodness Puzzle 4 is an “Easier” puzzle. We’re looking for an eight-letter comedian who might make a good fifth theme entry, and who describes the theme. So what are the first four theme entries?
27-Across, [“I’m in need of assistance”] -- CAN YOU HELP ME?
This meta is much more transparent than Puzzle 3’s: The first word of every theme answer is a synonym for “toilet” (HEAD, CAN, PRIVY, POT). (The puzzle’s title, “#1 Choice,” cheekily hints at that.) So we’re looking for an eight-letter comedian whose first name is a synonym for “toilet.” Right away, JOHN comes to mind as a good candidate, but I can’t think of a comedian who fits the bill.
I just searched for a list of euphemisms for “toilet,” and near the top of that list was W.C. There we go--the meta answer is W.C. FIELDS. I don’t know that I would describe the theme entries as “fields,” so I’m not sure how well he “describes the theme.” I might have just stopped at “The Meta Answer is an eight-letter comedian who would make a good fifth theme entry.” Nevertheless, I feel confident that W.C. FIELDS is the right answer.
41-Down, [Rallying cry for University of Alabama fans] -- ROLL TIDE. Nice entry.
38-Down, [Florida setting for a Bogart/Bacall classic] -- KEY LARGO. Another nice entry!
Our “clue to watch”: 64-Across, [Gaul, Pay, or pen follower] -- PAL. We want “Gal,” not “Gaul” here, so U is our extra letter. OHEU. I’m baffled.
The weird typos are spreading! Besides the one I noted above (“Chocolately” instead of chocolatey), there’s also 17-Across, [Surrealist Jean] -- MIRO. It’s “Joan,” not “Jean.” I’m beginning to wonder whether some of these might just be regular old typos.
Notepad: The guests of honor are feeling a bit off. First, you’ll need to locate them at a common place in the previous four puzzles. Use the two step process revealed in this puzzle to locate them, and make them whole. Then, drawing on the previous Meta Answers, you’ll be able to identify the occasion that has brought everyone together. The Final Answer is six words long.
Alrighty then! So, we’re told that to find the guests of honor (who are in a common place in the previous 4 puzzles), we need to DISCOVER AN ERROR, then TRANSFER A LETTER FROM CLUE TO ENTRY.
In Puzzle One, 64-Across was [Opine age indicator] -- RING? So we have an extra O to transfer from the clue to the entry. The only reasonable way to do that is to turn RING into RINGO. Are you all thinking what I’m thinking?
In Puzzle Three, 64-Across was [Have a tone at dinner, perhaps] -- GORGE. An extra E + GORGE = GEORGE.
In Puzzle Four, 64-Across was [Gaul, Pay, or pen follower] -- PAL. An extra U + PAL = PAUL.
As it turns out, if you search for Shirley Temple + Albert Einstein + W.C. Fields + The Beatles, you’ll find that all of those people, plus actor TOM MIX, were among the many people featured on the album cover of SGT. PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND. As it happens, that album title is six words long (how convenient!). Not sure that I’d call a band an “occasion,” but it’s certainly something that binds the four Meta Answers as well as the four Beatles, so I’m perfectly willing to drop the confetti and balloons and call this a success!
Backtracking for just a second to talk about TOM MIX. He makes sense as the answer to Puzzle 3: He’s a bygone actor named Tom, and his last name is suggestive of anagramming. It’s by far the least elegant of the Meta Answers for me, especially because Tom Mix is such an obscure actor by today’s standards (even among crossword fans, who see him occasionally in clues/answers because he’s associated with the ever-present OATER). I wonder if more than a very few solvers will come up with him prior to solving the final puzzle. That said, you can solve the meta suite (as I did) without coming up with his name, so it’s certainly not the end of the world.
This was a really lovely meta suite!
The kernel of the thing is Sgt. Pepper, and Andrew’s given us two ways of getting there: through the four meta answers (TEMPLE, EINSTEIN, MIX, FIELDS) and the four hidden Beatles. I suppose if you’re very familiar with the album cover of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (and I suspect there are trivia fans and Beatlemaniacs alike who are), the hidden Beatles running throughout the puzzles are extraneous, but they were definitely useful to me.
Because there are so many people on that album cover, in hindsight this might have made for a really fun year-long meta suite in the style of Pete Muller’s monthly music metas (i.e., 12 puzzles, each hinting at a different person on the cover of Sgt. Pepper). That said, the first four puzzles of this one were well-conceived and pitched at a good difficulty level for less experienced meta solvers.
The one minor exception, to me, was Puzzle 3, “Turkey Trot.” I loved the idea of anagramming famous Toms and hiding them in the grid, and it was a fun solve despite my Meta Answer woes. Without more to go on than “a bygone actor” named Tom, though, it was very difficult to figure out TOM MIX until after solving the entire meta suite. Maybe “early 20th-century” rather than “bygone” would have been useful. It’s also entirely possible that I have a limited sense of how well-known he is, and older solvers may have less trouble coming up with him.
If you’re reading this part now, you’ve probably already solved the entire meta suite. Still, if you’re thinking about whether to recommend this to a friend, I give it a green light for both novice and experienced puzzle enthusiasts. For the beginner, it’s a good induction into the world of meta puzzles (though for the absolute beginner, I’d recommend solving with a more experienced friend who can explain the basic rules of metas). Plus, the crosswords themselves are well-constructed and top out at about a Wednesday New York Times difficulty. For the expert, if you’re looking for a brainburning meta puzzle challenge, you’ll probably want to wait for the end of the month at Matt Gaffney’s site. But this a light and clever diversion which, if you’re not like me and don’t spend hours agonizing over something you’ll backsolve later, shouldn’t take you more than a couple of hours. Well worth the price of admission! | http://ariesxword.com/cavalcade/review.htm |
Serial recall is often assumed to involve response suppression: the removal or inhibition of items already recalled so that they are not recalled again. Evidence for response suppression includes repetition inhibition and the separation of erroneous repetitions. Some theorists have suggested that response suppression, by eliminating competing responses, also contributes to recency in forward serial recall. We present experiments in which performance on the final item was examined as a function of whether or not the preceding retrievals entailed suppression of potential response competitors. In line with the predictions of response suppression, recency was found to be reduced when the earlier recall errors consisted of intrusion errors (which leave list items unsuppressed) rather than transposition errors (which involve suppression). | https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/response-suppression-contributes-to-recency-in-serial-recall |
Kidding is a rather dark take on the concept of a children's television icon, it presents this individual named Jeff Pickes (Jim Carrey) that's trying to do the right thing. He wants to teach the young viewers that have followed his show over the years about some of the important details of life with a cheery attitude. This is all while dealing with the recent tragic loss of a son, a separation from his wife and a distant second son. His life is essentially falling apart and this first season dives right into that chapter of his life. You get glimpses of what things were like, yet what we're really shown is the depressing reality of the current situation.
Not only are all these problems piling up, while he's trying to get better the important people in his life continue to tear him down. Even when moments seem brighter, an instance of continued destruction will send him crashing. It's very well done and has an almost perfect balance of everything. This is very clearly a mix of comedic and dramatic elements.
Going back to balance it's amazing how they're able to have you laughing along in one moment and then having you feel horrible the next. There's such a change in tone that works so well as each surprise arrives. One of my favorite scenes and a grand example is during their family dinner one night where it seems surreal with happiness to then come crashing down, yet at the same point it was funny. Such a clear mix of emotions, yet truly sad despite what else is going on.
You can never truly expect anything here as it will continue to delight and surprise every step of the way. Its one core narrative throughout with a tweaking of events as you see one man pushed right to the edge at almost every moment. It's particularly tragic when any great moments arrive as they often change right away. It's a pleasure to watch and a very creatively presented show with extra context that gets delivered throughout. By the end, you'll consider a rewatch just based on additional information you're given as it wraps up.
This is some of Jim Carrey's best work, going back to the style from those perfect dramatic films he's performed in the past. He provides joy through song and showmanship during the show, to then have this hidden darker side to it. It's great to see him get pushed so close to that edge and it's almost too delicate of a balance to keep this teetering setup going. That's where a good quantity of the shocking moments come from as it walks a fine line in that regard. I'm really trying to keep this spoiler free while just covering the core basics of what to expect while watching, that may be why some points are vague here. While I am focusing on the splendid performance of Carrey, the supporting cast is also excellent.
There's the just tired separated wife Jill (Judy Greer) that loves him yet is capable of telling it how it is. He has a son Will (Cole Allen) that I did find a bit annoying yet understand the situation he's stuck in. This is just his own family, the real strength of his interactions are with his sister Deirdre (Catherine Keener) and father (Frank Langella). Those two probably do the most damage on this character and have their own deeper problems that are explored. Deirdre gets really great character development later on and plays a key part in deeper meaning behind the puppets.
You have to keep in mind that with this being a long time children's show that Mr Pickles (Jim Carrey) is surrounded by his puppet friends. These act as a connection between reality and the show, they're all created by his sister. The quality of the puppets is great and that's carried throughout the presentation of the show in general. They have some really unique shots used throughout while still providing a gritty and real life.
There's something special about seeing this perfect wonderland and then being shown a small cramped room that Jeff is living in. Kidding is just filled with complexity and it ties together perfectly well throughout the short, yet structured first season. It leaves things open for what could come while still being a story that does stand alone as a stunning experience. I should also mention that sexual content is presented throughout, but in the context of what's being presented it does matter to the story and further fragmentation of the various characters.
Kidding is an amazing look at the concept of a children's television icon and twisting that in a sinister way. It really is a presentation of sorrow and continuously growing instability within an individual that tries to always present happiness to others. One that's been shielded and is now seeing the uglier side of life, or at least now fully understanding it. The first season will surprise you at every turn and bring you so close to the edge of what this great character can handle.
The cast is mostly excellent and work so well when they're paired off with one another. While Jeff is the focus here, his sister's tale is almost just as interesting as she deals with problems through a side story line. The puppets were great, the songs were excellent and I loved how it could go from charming to ever so sorrowing. I really have no idea where they'll take this further, but I certainly want to see where they go from this point. | https://gamerheadquarters.com/series/kidding-season-1-review.html |
RIO Country Report Lithuania 2014
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The annual RIO Country Report analyses and assesses the development and performance of the Lithuanian national research and innovation system and related policies in the perspective of EU strategy and goals.
The report highlights recent national policy and system developments occurring and assesses the match between national policy priorities and the structural challenges of the research and innovation system. It addresses among others:
- The progress of Lithuania towards achieving the Innovation Union, focusing on areas where action is needed;
- Progress in responding to the ERA actions, particularly in light of the ERA progress report findings published in September 2014;
- Country specific R&D and innovation recommendations as indicated in COM(2014) 400 final '2014 European Semester: Country specific recommendations, Building Growth' adopted by the Commission on 2 June 2014 and endorsed by the Council on 27 June 2014;
- Progress in tackling research and innovation system challenges beyond those outlined above;
- Areas highlighted by the Commission's Communication on 'Research and innovation as sources of renewed growth' (COM(2014) 339 final) and its accompanying Staff Working Document 'State of the Innovation Union, taking stock 2010-2014' (SWD(2014 181 final).
The RIO Country Report 2014 builds on the experience of the ERAWATCH project. The ERAWATCH Country Reports from previous years are also available for download on this page.
Country Report file
The Lithuanian economy continues to recover after the peak of the crisis in 2009 recording stable growth. Lithuania adopted the single euro currency in 2015. The economic crisis has not had a major impact on public R&I funding in Lithuania. The parliamentary elections led to a change of government in 2012. Nevertheless key R&I policies remained stable.
Lithuania’s financial commitments to joint research agendas are limited and national research programmes are only implicitly aligned with research priorities pursued at ERA level. There is no specific development in removing legal and other barriers to cross-border interoperability of national programmes. In 2012 the Minister of Education and Science set up the guidelines that shape the procedures that regulate Lithuanian research institutions’ involvement in international RIs.
Lithuania does not have a single R&I strategy, rather there are several strategies and programmes in the field of R&I. In 2013 the Ministry of Economy launched the Lithuanian Innovation Development Programme for 2014-2020 in 2013. In April 2014 the Lithuanian government also approved the Programme on the Implementation of the R&I Priority Areas and their Priorities. This programme sets out the Lithuanian smart specialisation priority areas and discusses the implementation and monitoring instruments.
The National Reform Programmes 2013 and 2014 set out that GERD should reach 1.9% of GDP by 2020, and BERD should at least reach 0.9% of GDP. These targets will not be met if the rate of progress remains the same. The key issue is the stagnating BERD/GDP indicator. Lithuania lags substantially behind both the leaders in innovation and the EU average.
Introduction:
There were 17,677 researchers in Lithuania in 2012 (1.2% of active population, while the same indicator was 1.05% in 2011 in the EU28). In 2009 Lithuania witnessed a major HE reform. A voucher-based system as a primary means for funding HEIs was introduced. An increasing proportion of research funding is allocated through competitive schemes. Management structures of public universities have changed towards greater autonomy.
Open, transparent and merit-based recruitment of researchers:
The Law on Higher Education and Research establishes necessary conditions for open, transparent and merit based recruitment of researchers. Public universities have the freedom to decide on their academic structures, stipulate salaries and conduct recruitment of their academic staff. While legal requirements seek to ensure openness and transparency of the recruitment process, there is in practice considerable room for improvement.
Access to and portability of grants:
As a general rule, competition-based national research grants and research fellowships which are provided by the Lithuanian Research Council are open to non-residents from the EU and third countries. However, funding is not portable outside Lithuania. The Lithuanian government has not put in place any specific measures supporting the portability of grants.
EURAXESS:
In 2011, LMT took over the function of coordinator of the Lithuanian national EURAXESS centre from the Centre of Quality Assessment in Higher Education. Local EURAXESS contact points are located in five main Lithuanian universities. The EURAXESS portal (http://www.euraxess.lt) provides background information on Lithuanian higher education and research landscape, social insurance, work permits, etc.
Doctoral training:
The right to provide doctoral training is granted by the Minister of Education and Science. Universities and research institutes have a joint right to train PhDs. Coordination between universities and research institutes increases the quality of doctoral training, and fosters openness and transparency in the research system. Draft PhD programmes are evaluated by the Lithuanian Research Council. As a general rule, researchers are encouraged to spend time abroad during their PhD.
HR strategy for researchers (HRS4R) incorporating the Charter and Code:
Low salaries and poor access to academic databases, libraries and world class equipment have been the principal obstacles to the attractiveness of a research career in Lithuania. The implementation of the ‘European Charter for Researchers’ as well as the ‘Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers’ is not actively promoted as a government programme. However, both the Rectors’ Conference and the Conference of Rectors of Research Institutions have signed the Charter.
Education and training systems:
Between 2007 and 2014 Lithuanian higher education institutions used the SF support for updating their study programmes, optimising internal structures, putting in place quality management systems and enhancing qualifications. Mobility possibilities for lecturers and for students have been expanded. In 2014 the Ministry of Education and Science increased funding of higher education in technology fields.
Not applicable.
e-Infrastructures and researchers electronic identity:
There is no national policy in respect to e-infrastructure. However, as a general rule publicly funded e-infrastructures are accessible to researchers from public and private sectors without major restrictions. MITA develops a portal “E-Science Gate” that will provide e-services to public research institutions and private enterprises.
Open Access to publications and data:
Green open access is least used in Lithuania (4.5%), while publishing in Gold journals is much more frequently encountered (12.8%). The Law on Higher Education and Research (2009) stipulates that the results of all research works carried out in state higher education and research institutions must be announced publicly. Implementation of these principles remains problematic. A number of public databases are available, but none of them has reached critical mass.
Lithuania ranks 24th (10th in the EU-28) in the World Bank’s Doing Business Rank 2015. Innovation policies are dominated by supply side instruments, however new demand-side measures (pre-commercial procurement) will be launched in 2016-2017. A remaining problem is the joint formulation, coordinated implementation and systemic evaluation of innovation policies. The key framework law addressing research and innovation is the Law on Research and Higher Education (2009).
Generally, the indicators for science based entrepreneurship are low in Lithuania. SF-funded measures Inogeb LT invested into strengthening of 10 science and technology parks operating in the science ‘valleys’, some of which include technology incubators. Since 2012, MITA has become active in promoting science-based and/or high tech innovative start-ups.
Funding flows:
R&I funding indicators demonstrated positive trends during the last four years. However, Lithuania’s BERD (0.24% of GDP) remains clearly below the EU average. The economic crisis has not had a major impact on public R&I funding in Lithuania. The R&I policy mix in Lithuania is mainly funded by the EU structural funds (up to 80% of the total R&D funding, which is about €150-200m per year).
Project vs. institutional allocation of public funding:
The project/institutional funding of public R&D comprises 24% vs 76%. Since 2011 50% of institutional funding is allocated to PROs on the basis of results of assessment of R&D activities (e.g. publications, business R&D contracts). The remaining 50% are allocated on the basis of “normative number of staff”. The Lithuanian public bodies responsible for allocating competitive research funds apply some of the core principles of international peer review. However, international experts are not used on a systematic basis.
R&I funding:
In Lithuania, policies targeting specifically R&I favour investments into public research infrastructure and centres of competence versus commercialisation of public research (e.g. through spin-offs), science-business collaboration and professional technology transfer services, or even direct funding for business R&I activities. Tax incentives, although available since 2009, do not play a major part in the overall policy mix, compared to subsidies or venture capital.
The Lithuanian Government has approved six priority areas and 20 specific priorities (specialisations) in 2013, as well as the Programme on the Implementation of the R&I Priority Areas and their Priorities (2014). The Programme provides the basic principles for implementing the priorities, such as the rules for selecting and approving the new priorities, monitoring and review procedures, key implementing bodies and their responsibilities.
A basic regulatory framework for intellectual property is in place, but its implementation at the institutional level is lagging. Universities and their research institutes generally lack clear spin-off creation and/or IPR protection strategies and policies. As of 2015, MITA funds R&D commercialisation feasibility studies and awareness raising activities, including specialised trainings on technology transfer and patenting. Financial support is ensured for legal entities who aim to protect intellectual property rights.
At national level, the Strategic Planning Methodology (2009) introduced an official requirement to evaluate all public programmes funded by the national budget at the ex ante, interim and ex post levels. However, the usage of ex post evaluation and international benchmarking can be further improved. In the R&I field, the analytical centre MOSTA under the Ministry of Education and Science is responsible for carrying out monitoring and evaluation assignments.
The Research Assessment Exercise in Lithuania took place from April 2014 until April 2015 and was run by MOSTA in consultation with the Research Council of Lithuania and following the methodology prepared by Technopolis Group. The key element of the exercise is international peer review that is based on broad disciplinary panels. The results are expected in the course of 2015.
21 open access centres have been set up in the five science ‘valleys’. Other measures include researchers’ placements in SMEs, innovation vouchers, promotion of clusters (Inocluster LT), open-access databases, and the “E-Science Gate” initiative implemented by MITA which should contribute to the knowledge flows between academia and the private sector.
According to the assessment of the Innovation Union Scoreboard (IUS) 2014, Lithuania’s aggregate innovation index stood at 0.289 in 2013, considerably below the EU average (0.554). Lithuania scores low in the majority of R&D performance indicators, and is above EU average only in the human resources category. Moreover, according to the new innovation output indicator scores for 2010 and 2011, Lithuania ranks just above Bulgaria. It is unlikely that Lithuania will bridge the innovation gap in the short or medium term.
In summary, the main structural challenges facing Lithuania largely remain: private sector R&I capacity building; commercialisation of public sector research results (entrepreneurial culture and technology transfer); mainstreaming internationalisation; and reducing R&I policy and governance fragmentation and improving policy capacities.
Concerning the misbalances in the current policy mix, the 2015-2020 R&I policy is expected to move to ’soft’ capacity building and R&I human resource development measures vs. infrastructure investments. Smart specialisation is expected to create a favourable environment for underpinning entrepreneurship and innovation and fostering emerging technologies, by matching supply and demand side policies. But this also requires moving beyond the current narrow understanding of innovation and circle of ’usual suspects’, both in terms of stakeholders involved and activities concerned.
A variety of funding instruments are available for SMEs in Lithuania, including clusters promotion and innovation vouchers, as well as co-financing of business R&D investments (Idea LT, Intellect LT) and acquisition of R&D equipment (Intellect LT+). The corporate profit tax incentive for R&D has been available since 2009. Although the support schemes are relatively well targeted to the needs of SMEs, the efficacy of public support is reduced by the formal, technical and ‘desk-top’ selection procedure.
Lithuania introduced new venture capital measures aiming to boost investments in early stage innovative companies in Lithuania, all supported by the European Investment Fund or JEREMIE initiative: the Baltic Innovation Fund (€100m) launched by Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, Practica Seed Capital Fund (€6m), Practical Venture Capital Fund (€15.7m), and LitCapital (€25m).
The Lithuanian innovation system relies mainly on innovation supply side instruments and neglects possibilities to link innovation demand with knowledge producing capacities. However, the legal basis for application of pre-commercial procurement is expected to be finalised in 2015. The pre-commercial procurement would be funded by the OP for 2014-2020 as of 2017.
The Lithuanian R&I system is mainly funded by the public sector as the majority of R&I funding comes from the EU structural funds. Since 2009, there have been considerable changes in the innovation governance system. The establishment of the Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology (MITA) in 2010, the adoption of the Lithuanian Innovation Strategy in 2010 followed by the adoption of the Lithuanian Innovation Promotion Programme 2014-2020 in 2013, mark the rising importance of R&I on the political agenda.
Other RIO Country Reports for Lithuania
RIO Country Reports for another country
Select another country: | https://rio.jrc.ec.europa.eu/library/rio-country-report-lithuania-2014 |
In the interview below, Taylor discusses recent advancements at the project, including the discovery of a new kimberlite pipe. He also suggests that recent findings have helped to establish the effectiveness of the company’s exploration methods.
Below is the video of our interview with Dunnedin Ventures CEO Chris Taylor. It is followed by a transcript that has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Dunnedin Ventures CEO Chris Taylor: Dunnedin is Canadian diamond explorer and our 100-percent-owned Kahuna diamond project is located just outside of the town of Rankin Inlet in Nunavut, Northern Canada.
INN: You recently announced the discovery of a new kimberlite pipe at the Kahuna property. What does this mean for the project moving forward?
CT: The Kahuna project is known to host many kimberlite pipe-type targets. Recent drilling shows us that the exploration methods we’ve been employing accurately identify the location of new kimberlites based on indicator mineral chemistry. By taking the drill, proving that we have kimberlites at the new targets and that some of those targets are diamond bearing, we’ve been able to establish that our exploration methods are effective.
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INN: Are there any other exploration highlights that you would like to share?
CT: Quite interestingly, we have discovered that some of the pipes that were drilled historically on the property are clearly multi-phased, which makes them similar to other kimberlite pipes globally, which are characterized by multiple magma pulses. In these pipes, some of the pulses will have much more diamond content than others.
In our recently concluded program, we placed drill holes across some of the kimberlite pipes to test and then prove that these different phases could be diamond bearing. This opens the door to a stack of additional targets that we will be able to test going forward and shows that we have the capacity for multiple diamond-bearing kimberlites on the property.
INN: What do these findings mean in terms of prospectivity for diamonds?
CT: When we took over the project over four years ago, we knew that we had the capacity to generate a diamond resource based on the kimberlite dikes that are on the property. This is very exciting for us. It is a big dike-based project that hosts some of the largest diamond-bearing kimberlite dikes in Canada. The grades are excellent, as are the diamond populations.
The discovery of diamonds within some of the kimberlite pipes means that we have numerous additional targets on the property. With Dunnedin, we have the capacity to increase the resource in the current high-grade kimberlite dikes, and also to define the amount of diamond-bearing kimberlite as well as the total number of targets that we have in the pipes.
INN: What is next for the Kahuna project and how does that fit into the company’s long-term plans?
CT: We are looking to recover diamonds from the kimberlite pipe that we just drilled. Some of the previous work conducted on the project by Stornoway Diamond (TSX:SWY) showed that one of the pipes hosted diamonds. We tested this again to determine whether it was multi-phased, which it is. We also wanted to see how many diamonds we were going to recover from that.
We then drilled a large new pipe, with over 100 meters of kimberlite intersected from surface, which is exactly what you’d like to see. We are waiting to see what the diamond-bearing content for that one could be.
The kimberlite pipe that we just drilled is the only instance that we’ve read about in historic data that shows the same types of indicator minerals that are generally associated with diamonds on our project. While there is no guarantee that there are diamonds in that new pipe, it does look very promising based on the minerals that we’ve seen in it so far.
CEO interviews are part of investor education campaigns for clients advertising on the Investing News Network. Important news is contextualized by CEOs, and the resulting interviews are disseminated to the Investing News Network audience because they have value to market watchers.
The Investing News Network interviews a CEO for an understanding of their perspective on the company, the investment potential of the company and market news related to the company. The information contained here is for information purposes only and is not to be construed as an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of securities.
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In the past, feline panleukopenia (FP) was a leading cause of death in cats. Today, it is an uncommon disease, due in large part to the availability and use of very effective vaccines. The disease is also called feline distemper or feline parvo.
Feline panleukopenia (FP) is a highly contagious viral disease of cats caused by the feline parvovirus. Kittens are most severely affected by the virus. The names feline distemper and feline parvo should not be confused with canine distemper or canine parvo— although their names are similar, they are caused by different viruses. The viruses do not infect people.
The feline parvovirus infects and kills cells that are rapidly growing and dividing, such as those in the bone marrow, intestines, and the developing fetus.
Which cats are susceptible to FP?
Because the FP virus is everywhere in the environment, virtually all kittens and cats are exposed to the virus at some point in their lives.
Because the FP virus is everywhere in the environment, virtually all kittens and cats are exposed to the virus at some point in their lives. While cats of any age may be infected with the feline parvovirus that causes FP, young kittens, sick cats, and unvaccinated cats are most susceptible. It is most commonly seen in cats 3-5 months of age; death from FP is more common at this age.
The virus has appeared in all parts of the United States and most countries of the world. Kennels, pet shops, animal shelters, unvaccinated feral cat colonies, and other areas where groups of cats are housed together appear to be the main reservoirs of FP. During the warm months, urban areas are likely to see outbreaks of FP because cats are more likely to come in contact with other cats.
Cats can shed the virus in their urine, stool, and nasal secretions; infection occurs when susceptible cats come in contact with these secretions, or even the fleas from infected cats. An infected cat tends to shed the virus for a relatively short period of time (1-2 days), but the virus can survive for up to a year in the environment, so cats may become infected without ever coming into direct contact with an infected cat. Bedding, cages, food dishes, and the hands or clothing of people who handle the infected cat may harbor the virus and transmit it to other cats. It is, therefore, very important to isolate infected cats. Any materials used on or for infected cats should not be used or allowed to come in contact with other cats, and people handling infected cats should practice proper hygiene to prevent spreading the infection.
The virus that causes FP is difficult to destroy and resistant to many disinfectants. Ideally, unvaccinated cats should not be allowed into an area where an infected cat has been — even if the area has been disinfected.
The signs of FP can vary and may be similar to other illnesses such as Salmonella or Campylobacter infection, pancreatitis, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection, or feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection. Infected cats may even show signs that resemble those seen when a cat has been poisoned or has swallowed a foreign object.
The FP virus causes damage to the cells that line the intestines. It also attacks the bone marrow and lymph nodes, resulting in shortages of all types of white blood cells (panleukopenia) and of red blood cells (anemia). The first visible signs an owner might notice include generalized depression, loss of appetite, high fever, lethargy, vomiting, severe diarrhea, nasal discharge, and dehydration. Sick cats may sit for long periods of time in front of their water bowls but not drink much water. In some cats, the fever will come and go during the illness and abruptly fall to lower-than-normal levels shortly before death. In young kittens, the virus can also damage the brain and the eyes.
Pregnant female cats that are infected with the virus and become ill (even if they do not appear seriously ill) may abort or give birth to kittens with severe damage to the cerebellum, a part of the brain that coordinates nerves, muscles and bones to produce body movements. These kittens are born with a syndrome called feline cerebellar ataxia, and their movement is accompanied by severe tremors (shaking).
Feline panleukopenia may be suspected based on a history of exposure to an infected cat, lack of vaccination, and the visible signs of illness. When that history of exposure is combined with blood tests that show severely reduced levels of all white blood cell types, FP is likely the cause of the cat’s illness. FP is confirmed when the feline parvovirus is found in the cat’s stool, but the results might be falsely positive if the cat was vaccinated for FP within 5-12 days prior to the test.
The likelihood of recovery from FP for infected kittens less than eight weeks old is poor. Older cats have a greater chance of survival if adequate treatment is provided early. Since there are no medications capable of killing the virus, intensive care and treatment are critical to support the cat’s health with medications and fluids until its own body and immune system can fight off the virus. Without such supportive care, up to 90% of cats with FP may die.
Treatment focuses on correcting dehydration, providing nutrients, and preventing secondary infection. Although antibiotics do not kill the virus, they are often necessary because infected cats are at a higher risk of bacterial infections because their immune systems are not fully functioning (due to the decreased white blood cells) and because bacteria from the damaged gut may enter the cat’s bloodstream and cause infection.
If the cat survives for five days, its chances for recovery are greatly improved. Strict isolation from other cats is necessary to prevent spread of the virus. Other cats that may have been in contact with the infected cat, or in contact with objects or people who were in close contact with the sick cat, should be carefully monitored for any visible signs of illness. In most cases, once a cat recovers from FP, it will not infect other cats through direct contact, but some recovered cats can shed the virus in their stool and urine for up to 6 weeks.
How can FP be prevented?
Cats that survive an infection develop immunity that likely protects them for the rest of their lives. Mild cases that go unnoticed will also produce immunity from future infection.
It is also possible for kittens to receive temporary immunity through the transfer of antibodies in the colostrum — the first milk produced by the mother. This is called “passive immunity,” and how long it protects the kittens from infection depends upon the levels of protective antibodies produced by the mother. It rarely lasts longer than 12 weeks.
Prevention is vital to your cat’s health.
Prevention is vital to your cat’s health. Today, there are vaccines that offer the best protection from feline parvovirus infection. Vaccination is equally important for strictly indoor cats as well as indoor/outdoor cats because the virus is everywhere in the environment. Most young kittens receive their first vaccination between six and eight weeks of age and follow-up vaccines are given until the kitten is around 16 weeks of age. Adult vaccination schedules vary with the age and health of the cat, as well as the risk of FP in the area. Consult your veterinarian for advice on an appropriate vaccination schedule for your cat(s). | https://www.gentlecarevet.com/patient-education/preventive-care/feline-panleukopenia/ |
“In practice, it means that every asylum-seeker, including children, would be detained in shipping containers surrounded by high razor wire fence at the border for extended periods of time,” Cécile Pouilly, a spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), told the media today at a news briefing at the UN Office at Geneva (UNOG).
“The new law violates Hungary’s obligations under international and European Union (EU) laws, and will have a terrible physical and psychological impact on women, children and men who had already greatly suffered,” she added.
According to the UN agency, under international and EU laws, the detention of refugees and asylum-seekers could only be justified on a limited number of grounds, and only where it was necessary, reasonable and proportionate.
That requires authorities to consider whether there were less coercive or intrusive measures to achieve those goals, based on an assessment of the individual’s particular circumstances, explained Ms. Pouilly, adding that alternatives to detention should always to be considered first. | https://lite.poandpo.com/politics/hungarian-detention-of-all-asylumseekers-against-obligations-says-un-832017656/ |
Flashback to the EU-Taiwan Online Workshop on GNSS for Unmanned Traffic Management
The article summarises the highlights of the recent online event organised by GNSS.asia – EU-Taiwan Online Workshop on GNSS for Unmanned Traffic Management.
Outline of the event
On 19 January, GNSS.asia held an online workshop which gathered 30+ GNSS experts and enthusiasts from both Europe and Asia to discuss the potential opportunities for the UAV industry in Taiwan provided by Galileo, the European GNSS with a focus on the development of the upcoming Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) systems. The list of speakers was diverse and included EU and Taiwanese institutions as well as representatives from academia and industry which engaged in a fruitful discussion.
The future of Urban Air Mobility with EGNSS
Carmen Aguilera Rios – the Head of Section Operational Market Development for Aviation at the European GNSS Agency (GSA) – presented the current state of the European GNSS (EGNSS), namely the operational capabilities of Galileo and EGNOS stretching across a wide range services that enable a multitude of applications. The focus was placed on the rising importance of positioning for the EU UAV industry that is projected to reach 10 bn EUR by 2035 to become the third most important GNSS market segment.
Galileo’s wide range of services, European GNSS Agency, 2021
The unique benefits of the EGNSS for unmanned aircraft system (UAS) and UTM are represented by four core pillars:
- Availability – enhanced performance in challenging environments
- Integrity – increased reliability of critical services
- Accuracy – unprecedented precision, including in the vertical axis, for new demanding applications
- Authentication – embedded cybersecurity features utilising Galileo’s Open Service – Navigation Message Authentication capabilities
An in-depth overview and analysis of technological and application aspects of the EGNSS capabilities for UAVs are available in the form of a dedicated white paper published by the GSA.
Taiwanese drone regulatory framework
Hwa Keng – a senior analyst at the Civil Aeronautics Administration, MOTC – continued the discussion by outlining the present regulatory conditions of the UAV industry in Taiwan.
The framework consists of five core “M’s”:
- Man – general/professional remote pilot license requirements
- Machine – registration/airworthiness certification of aircrafts
- Method – operational limitations and exemptions
- Medium – altitude-based differentiation of jurisdiction
- Measure – capability manual approval and operational application
UAV industry promotion in Taiwan
Yu-Che Huang – an associate researcher at the Institute of Transportation, MOTC – provided an insightful outlook on the situation of the Taiwanese drone industry. Whilst there exists a comprehensive manufacturing and R&D ecosystem, the majority of market players are SMEs focused on the development of small UAVs for aerial photography and surveying. The public sector is the main purchaser, in particular with respect to infrastructure inspection, disaster prevention, aerial surveying, and law enforcement. When it comes to emerging applications, agriculture spraying, wind turbine inspection, and drone delivery are particularly prominent.
Three main challenge groups were identified:
- Technological R&D – insufficient funds to develop key technologies & limited domestic market size and inadequate incentives for innovation
- Industry development – isolated R&D and marketing strategies & lack of international visibility and cooperation opportunities
- Regulation & infrastructure – the absence of UAS Test site and application scenarios & talent gap between academia and industry
Yet, such short-term opportunities as the market gap after the ban of DJI in the US could be leveraged to build up more long-term aspirations like the establishment of Urban Air Mobility (UAM). To further this ambitious agenda, a Roadmap for UAS developments in Taiwan has been formulated with the first action item being the assembly of the U-Team – UAV Industry Alliance.
GNSS-driven UTM solutions
In the end, a stimulating panel discussion took place where four speakers pitched their unique positioning solutions that promise to become the cornerstones of the future UTM system. Dr Chin-E Lin from Chang Jung Christian University showcased the results of the preliminary test of UTM in Taiwan, namely the Hierarchical UTM. The concept is based on the ADS-B-like communication infrastructure and differentiates between regional and nation UTM. So far, 12 LoRa GTS and 1 APRS GTS have been deployed in Southern Taiwan. This is planned to be further expanded to reach full coverage in Taiwan in 2022.
Next, Koen Meuleman – the Founder of Belgium-based Unifly – gave an insight into the company’s vision for the creation of the European UTM system with the key goal is to leverage the full potential of the EGNSS. The system development based on testing in a live environment in Antwerp, Belgium is conducted as part of the Project SAFIR.
Then Dr Ke-she Li – the COO of Taiwan-based Drone Cloud Service and Management, Earthbook Inc – presented their 4D DaaS Platform. The system intelligently embeds 3D models on a map and provides crucial learnings such as temporal or spatial overlaps that enables real-time drone positioning and collision avoidance.
Lastly, André Bauerhin – the COO of Germany-based Navcast for Drones, SpaceOpal – shed light on the firm’s global GNSS Precise Point Positioning (PPP). The service enables centimetre-level accuracy and fast convergence times for end-users worldwide. Moreover, elements like authentication, integrity, recording, alarming, as well as safe and secure dissemination further tailor the service to the needs of UTM applications.
Outlook for the future
It is still not fully clear how the UTM system landscape will evolve and which ultimate shape they will take, especially considering the differences in approaches employed by various involved European and Asian parties. What could be said for certain, however, is that Galileo with its unique differentiators has all the potential to become the key powering technology for the future of unmanned air mobility.
In case you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].
In case you wish to be connected to one of our speakers please register for industry support.
If you did not have the opportunity to watch the webinar live and would like to learn more, the recording of the event is at your disposal here. | https://gnss.asia/blog/flashback-to-the-eu-taiwan-online-workshop-on-gnss-for-unmanned-traffic-management/ |
Celebrating our Woodland Heritage
University of Bradford in collaboration with Pennine Prospects have announced the call for papers for the Celebrating Our Woodland Heritage Conference. They hope to...
St Albans Cathedral Finds Lost Abbot
A week or so back one of the burials being excavated at St Albans yielded an exciting find – a papal bulla, then a second...
Heeley City Farm get Wessex support for Graveyard Survey
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New Discoveries at Chisenbury Midden
In 2016, following earlier English Heritage investigations, additional excavation and a geophysical survey were undertaken at this remarkable Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age midden...
Agincourt Fleet smaller – research shows
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How I learned to stop worrying and love archives
Towering shelves of grey document cases…that’s what you are confronted by when you step into an archive room. They might seem like an impenetrable...
Restoration of Two Medieval Churches in the Hebrides
Archaeologists were present during specific stages of the conservation work where there was potential for archaeological material to be disturbed. At Eaglais na h-Aoidhe...
Stirling City Centre Dig reveals glimpse into medieval past
Skeletal remains of one individual, a large section of wall and a large assemblage of medieval material culture have been uncovered during the archaeological...
Glorious Gardens
Northlight Heritage are delighted to launch Glorious Gardens: Exploring hidden gardens and forgotten landscapes over the next two years they will be working with...
Roman pottery kiln uncovered near Manningtree, Essex
On the 22nd January, among the linear features - thought to be field boundaries - the archaeologists were excited when fieldstaff uncovered the remains... | http://www.bajrfed.co.uk/bajrpress/category/project/page/3/?filter_by=random_posts |
To contribute to the theoretical work on products that contain both tangible (goods) and intangible (service) dimensions, by arguing that the consumption of physical goods and services should be understood as a process with two major steps – the first and second moments of truth.
Design/methodology/approach
An investigation of the service perspective and packaging is made based on a literature review. Empirical examples are then presented from an interview study of people working with packaging‐related issues at Procter & Gamble, Schwarzkopf & Henkel, Procordia Food, and Coop. The relationship between theory/concepts and research in the paper can be described in terms of extension and emergent.
Findings
Consumers evaluate quality when they purchase an offering and when they consume it. Using the terminology of the present paper, this means that the perception of quality is created at both the first and second moments of truth. The first moment of truth is about obtaining customers’ attention and communicating the benefits of an offer. The second moment of truth is about providing the tools the customer needs to experience these benefits when using the product. The combination of these two moments of truth makes up the total customer experience.
Originality/value
This paper holds the potential to contribute to extending understanding of the service perspective and service encounters.
Keywords
Citation
Löfgren, M. (2005), "Winning at the first and second moments of truth: an exploratory study", Managing Service Quality: An International Journal, Vol. 15 No. 1, pp. 102-115. https://doi.org/10.1108/09604520510575290
Publisher: | https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/09604520510575290/full/html |
A team of investigators from the Center for Addiction and Mental Health, in Toronto, Canada, and the Technische Universität Dresden, in Germany, released a new study that exposed how people are consuming more alcohol, on a global level, compared to 30 years ago.
The lead authors note that the current spike will continue to grow over the next few decades.
“Our study provides a comprehensive overview of the changing landscape in global alcohol exposure,” said lead author Jakob Manthey.
The study which was initially published in The Lancet looks over the current trends in alcohol consumption in 189 countries from 1990-2017 and suggest that the numbers will continue to rise into the year 2030.
The team of experts studied the levels of alcohol intake per capita, alongside the complications of this consumption, working with information by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Burden of Disease research.
More importantly, the scientist involved tried to figure out how many people never consumed a sip of alcohol in addition to finding out how many drinks qualifies someone as a ” binge drinker,” which was concluded at 60 grams of pure alcohol or more during a single sitting.
The data used to configure these results were discovered between 1990–2017 within 149 countries, for non-drinkers, and in 118 countries, for binge drinkers.
To conclude the study, the team analyzed the estimates of the gross domestic products in all counties, including other information to try and distinguish how alcohol patterns may have evolved until the year 2030.
According to the research, the team discovered that globally the total volume of alcohol consumed every year raised 70% during the years 1990 and 2017 from 20,999 million liters per year to 35,676 million liters every year.
“Before 1990, most alcohols was consumed in high-income countries, with the highest use levels recorded in Europe. However, this pattern has changed substantially, with large reductions across Eastern Europe and vast increases in several middle-income countries, such as China, India, and Vietnam,” noted Manthey.
Furthermore, he continues by saying, “This trend is forecast to continue up to 2030 when Europe is no longer predicted to have the highest level of alcohol use.”
For example, in Europe, the alcohol consumption in adults per person, in each year fell from 12% from 11.2 liters to 9.8 liters over the span of seven years. The same numbers were discovered in Southeast Asian countries which increased by 34% from 3.5 liters to 4.7 liters.
Since alcohol is known to cause various dangerous health risk, the global burden of the disease will also increase dramatically.
“Economic growth seems to explain the global increase in alcohol use over the past few decades. For example, the economic transitions and increased wealth of several countries — in particular, the transitions of China and India — were accompanied by increased alcohol use,” said Jakob Manthey.
The Recover is an unbiased substance abuse and mental health news provider. Helping individuals looking for the right treatment programs in their area. Also providing information on drug rehab centers for addiction recovery. | https://therecover.com/study-reveals-global-alcohol-consumption-has-increased-by-70/ |
Claiborne Square Senior Apartments was completed in 2011 with 47 apartments for senior adults 55 years and older.
The ROPCDC has a mission “to redevelop and revitalize the human and physical capital in the Greater Harding Street-Delectable Heights neighborhood of Petersburg, Virginia, also known as the Halifax Community.” This historically significant community had, through decades of disinvestment and neglect, become an area that needed help on a massive scale. Though the ROPCDC had reinvested its time, energy and dollars through many valuable projects throughout the area, its board knew that there was more to be done. They also knew that, with the aid of outside organizations, ROPCDC’s mission could become a reality.
One of the critical needs ROPCDC identified was the shortage of safe and decent housing for the area’s senior residents. In its focus neighborhood, over 25% of the homes were abandoned, 70% of the existing housing stock was low-income rental units and the neighborhood was plagued by an active drug trade as well as criminal activity. Following guidance and facilitation by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), in late 2008, the ROPCDC entered into a partnership with the Richmond-based Better Housing Coalition (BHC) to construct Claiborne Square Apartments, a 47-unit complex of affordable housing for low and moderate-income residents ages 55 and older. This was the first housing development resulting from LISC’s community engagement process and represented a significant outcome from the Petersburg Strategic Investment Plan.
At the same time that the members of the ROPCDC board were excited about the venture and its impact on their community, they also were aware that they needed additional skills to oversee a building initiative of this magnitude. With members having experience in human services but little background in housing and community development, they knew they needed help. In early 2009, the ROPCDC approached The Cameron Foundation to request a grant for technical assistance for board development as well as the funds to support the hiring of a full-time executive director.
The Foundation approved the grant request and, leveraging an additional cash match and technical assistance from LISC, the ROPCDC hired a consultant to help the board build its organizational infrastructure, create a strategic plan and launch the search for an experienced executive director.
In November 2009, construction crews broke ground for Claiborne Square Apartments. Payne emphasized that the development is expected to “…change the face of the Halifax community and act as a catalyst for new investment in the neighborhood.” Given the city’s need for indigenous nonprofit housing developers, the ROPCDC is a welcome resource toward that end. Another welcomed addition is the beautiful new apartment facility that has become a beacon of light and hope for the area.
RIBBON-CUTTING
CLAIBORNE SQUARE
© 2015 Restoration of Petersburg Community Development Corporation. | http://www.ropcdc.org/ropcdc_community_clairbornesquare.htm |
Despite being an integral requirement for delivering health and social care agendas, staff often feel ill-equipped to work with individuals who have experienced trauma.
There is a common assumption that in order to identify, and work with, those who have suffered trauma, practitioners need to be mental health specialists. As a result, clients who could otherwise receive a more holistic service are referred on to other ‘specialist’ organisations.
In reality, trauma is an area that service users can absolutely explore with the practitioners they have already built a rapport with, as long as staff teams feel confident and knowledgeable enough to deliver trauma-sensitive interventions.
Mindful Living UK has developed an evidence-based training programme to ensure that staff with no prior knowledge of working with trauma can develop the skills to provide better support to clients with specific needs relating to trauma. In addition, our training ensures staff work through modules which directly align with the expectations of current behavioural health and social care agendas. | https://www.mindfullivinguk.co.uk/courses/trauma-informed-practitioner |
Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren released an open letter on Wednesday and shared that the conference’s decision to postpone fall sports due to COVID-19 will not be revisited.
The Big Ten Conference has been subject to criticism over the past week after announcing Aug. 11 that fall sports had been postponed in the conference due to ongoing health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Much of that criticism has stemmed from the conference’s lack of transparency.
In the letter, Warren said that he understands the disappointment in response to the conference’s decision and wanted to share additional points behind the decision. Warren noted that the vote by the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors (COP/C) was “overwhelmingly in support” of postponing fall sports.
“The decision was thorough and deliberative, and based on sound feedback, guidance and advice from medical experts.” Warren wrote in the letter. “Despite the decision to postpone fall sports, we continue our work to find a path forward that creates a healthy and safe environment for all Big Ten student-athletes to compete in the sports they love in a manner that helps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protects both student-athletes and the surrounding communities.”
Warren listed these points as the primary factors behind the COP/C decision:
“Transmission rates continue to rise at an alarming rate with little indication from medical experts that our campuses, communities or country could gain control of the spread of the virus prior to the start of competition.”
“As our teams were ramping up for more intense practices, many of our medical staffs did not think the interventions we had planned would be adequate to decrease the potential spread even with very regular testing.”
“As the general student body comes back to campus, spread to student-athletes could reintroduce infection into our athletics community.”
“There is simply too much we do not know about the virus, recovery from infection, and longer-term effects. While the data on cardiomyopathy is preliminary and incomplete, the uncertain risk was unacceptable at this time.”
“Concerns surrounding contact tracing still exist, including the inability to social distance in contact sports pursuant to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. While risk mitigation processes (e.g., physical distancing, face coverings, proper hygiene, etc.) can be implemented across campus for the student body population, it became clear those processes could not be fully implemented in contact sports.”
“With the start of full-contact practices and competitions, it became increasingly clear that contact tracing and quarantining would risk frequent and significant disruptions to the practice and competition calendar.”
“Accurate and widely available rapid testing may help mitigate those concerns, but access to accurate tests is currently limited.”
“Significant concerns also exist regarding the testing supply chain, generally, for many of our institutions.”
The Big Ten’s decision was announced six days after the conference released its new 2020 football schedule.
On Aug. 14, parents of Iowa football players wrote a letter addressed to Warren and the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors asking for more transparency from the conference. Parents from several other schools from around the conference have done the same.
In the letter, Iowa football parents “strongly encouraged” the Big Ten to reconsider playing the fall college football season.
“We understand the passion of the many student-athletes and their families who were disappointed by the decision, but also know there are many who have a great deal of concern and anxiety regarding the pandemic,” Warren wrote.
Financial considerations did not influence the COP/C decision, Warren wrote.
Iowa athletic director Gary Barta said in a letter to football season ticket holders Monday that the athletic department anticipates approximately $100 million in lost revenue and an overall budget deficit of between $60-75 million following the Big Ten’s decision.
The Big Ten and the Pac-12 are the only Power Five conferences that have postponed fall sports. The ACC, Big 12, and SEC are still scheduled to compete athletically this fall.
NCAA President Mark Emmert said Aug. 13 that NCAA Division I fall championships have been postponed. According to a report Wednesday by national college football reporter Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports, the NCAA Division I Council approved the recommendation to move fall championships to the spring.
This decision does not apply to the College Football Playoff, which is not an NCAA event but is run by the conferences.
Upon postponing the fall seasons, the Big Ten said it will continue to monitor a number of options regarding those sports, including possibly playing them in the spring.
“In evaluating winter/spring models, we will explore many factors including the number of football games that can reasonably be played from a health perspective in a full calendar year while maintaining a premier competitive experience for our student-athletes culminating in a Big Ten Championship,” Warren wrote. “The Big Ten Conference will continue to collect feedback from student-athletes, families, and other constituents and remains in active discussions with its television partners regarding all future plans.” | |
Ally’s Movie Review: 99 Homes
99 Homes had one of the most viscerally upsetting moments in film that I’ve seen this year in a scene where humans are seen at their lowest and most selfish, and it’s one that speaks largely to the overall nature of the film. Andrew Garfield and Michael Shannon star in director Ramin Bahrani’s newest film, 99 Homes, an emotionally riveting film that takes the economical housing crisis and turns it into a full-fledged drama. The film is about rich decadence being built on the shoulders of those feeling the economic hardships and how both on either end of the spectrum get to those positions. Dennis Nash (Garfield) is a young man who’s taking care of both his son and mother when one day he is evicted by bank representative Rick Carver (Shannon). Desperate to put his family back into a position of security, Nash will do anything to make ends meet, even if that means partnering with the man who kicked him out to begin with.
99 Homes is a film that hits close to home in its bigger emotional moments because the troubles that the families being evicted from their homes are facing are more universal, and more familiar than what we’re used to seeing in film. The great hurdle that these families are facing is the loss of their homes, of the tangible comforts that make their lives both easier and happier. Not every audience member can relate to a house of theirs being foreclosed on, but there’s a sense of displacement, of shame that radiates throughout the films’ narrative that is relatable. That viscerally upsetting moment I touched on briefly in the opening is a moment of such utter helplessness that I actually had to avert my eyes. The face of the old man sitting on the front lawn of what minutes before used to be his home is an image that’s going to be seared into my memory for quite some time and will likely go down as one of the most upsetting in film this year.
Director Bahrani never tries to take short cuts in the deplorable acts his characters are committing. Rick Carver isn’t a redeemable character and Dennis Nash isn’t simply acting out of the good of his family. Carver is corruption personified and Nash is swept up in the ideology that he can screw the system since the system screwed him. However, the script (also written by Bahrani) is intelligent in its way of making sure that while we question Nash and his questions, we’re never questioning his intent. We understand why Nash is making such poor decisions, one right after the other. We saw how much of the responsibility he held for his mom and son’s well-being but that doesn’t make his slow, slippery slope descent into Carver’s clutches any less upsetting. We want Nash to do the right thing even when his motives are abundantly clear.
This back and forth between the characters is made all the more engaging with Shannon and Garfield in front of the camera. The two actors share an enormously entertaining rapport and their dynamic is so good that the rest of the film suffered (albeit slightly) when the two weren’t sharing the screen. Shannon continues to be one of the most interesting actors today, playing slick slime ball with impassioned conviction. Garfield in turn (in his first film since playing Spider-Man) is the perfect juxtaposition for Shannon, who’s coiled businessman attire plays well off of Garfield’s everyman vulnerability, emotions worn clearly on his sleeves. His hopes are so, excruciatingly simple at the start of their partnership; he just wants his home back, losing himself once he tastes that small sip of power and influence. It’s a shame that Laura Dern was given so little to do when she’s such a capable actress and the character herself could have used some more fleshing out to justify all the time spent on her and Nash’s relationship.
Bahrani shoots all of this in a manner that’s undoubtedly stylish, positioning the camera in atypical point of views and giving the film its overall gritty atmosphere while it’s shooting the character’s surroundings. It’s a human drama, based on human emotions and Bahrani makes sure he is up close and personal with his actors as they’re portraying this. The film is biting and it refuses to write happy endings simply for the sake of it. Bahrani has a skill in taking what would seem to be mundane, everyday anxieties and making them cinematic and 99 Homes, despite it’s subject matter, feels greater due to the talent in front of and behind the camera. He understands the significance in Nash’s fear and his irrational behaviour, especially once money is involved. Despite the shame felt by the evicted characters, Bahrani never shoots the film or writes the characters as if they were actually deserving of that shame. It’s a compassionate film and an honest one, proving that all involved are still at the top of their games.
9/10
She is a 23 year old in Boston MA. She is hugely passionate about film, television and writing. Along with theyoungfolks, she also is a contributor over at TheMarySue.com . You can contact her on Twitter (@AllysonAJ) or via email: [email protected].
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District of Chetwynd Mayor and Council are extremely disappointed. Disappointed to hear the Federal Government and Province of BC signed the Intergovernmental Partnership Agreement for Conservation of Central Group of Southern Mountain Caribou (Partnership Agreement) today with Saulteau First Nations and West Moberly First Nations.
“Caribou recovery is at the core of this process,” stated District of Chetwynd Mayor Courtoreille; “Only by working together can we move forward to take meaningful action toward caribou recovery. And yet the Province has excluded local government from the beginning. Premier Horgan’s letter to us dated January 16, 2020 made it very clear that nothing in the draft Partnership Agreement would be changed and that Chetwynd would not be allowed to participate on the Caribou Recovery Committee that is referenced in the Partnership Agreement.”
Blair Lekstrom, former liaison to Premier Horgan for the caribou recovery plan, stated; “It is extremely disappointing to see the Federal government, the Provincial government, Saulteau First Nations and West Moberly First Nations move forward with the signing of this Partnership Agreement.”
"To sign an agreement of this magnitude with little or no understanding of the socio-economic impacts that it will have on our region is disgraceful. I am proud of the report I was asked to prepare for Premier Horgan which contained 14 recommendations that allowed for a path forward to help make the Partnership Agreement work for all. Unfortunately, it is clear today that the government had no intention of listening to myself or the people I engaged in the development of this report,” Lekstrom said.
“Our residents who enjoy the back country are respectful of the land and we do not need elected governments in Victoria and Ottawa unilaterally imposing an agreement upon us that fits their political agenda rather than the needs of our region. Our industries extract our resources as well or better than any jurisdiction in the world and we should all be proud of that. These resources are what help pay for all of our collective needs such as healthcare, education, housing and so much more. If the four signatories to this agreement believe this is a path towards reconciliation, they are sadly mistaken. This great country was built by First Nations and non-First Nations people together and if we are to ensure Canada remains the best country in the world in which to live, we must move forward together. Not First Nations Canadians, not non-First Nations Canadians but Canadians as one.”
Peace River Regional District (PRRD) Electoral Area “E” Director Dan Rose added, “The PRRD has stated all along that local involvement in caribou recovery will ensure its success. I will continue to try to find ways to heal the divisions that this process has inflicted on our communities. Mayor Courtoreille and I hope to meet with Saulteau and West Moberly First Nations soon to communicate community concerns and work together to mitigate them. We are one large community and we share challenges,” he said.
“Any negative impacts of the Partnership Agreement will have long lasting quality of life impacts as will any positive impacts. I believe the province is not capable of understanding reconciliation but our communities have lived and worked and played together for a long time and know how to solve problems. I sincerely believe collaboration among all our communities will provide the best way forward.”
Mayor Courtoreille added, “We support reconciliation. But is it reconciliation if most of the community of Chetwynd is excluded from the process? Caribou is the whole community’s concern.”
* * *
A large area has been excluded from the timber supply area for caribou recovery in the Partnership Agreement, but sources differ on the amount of the area excluded, as well as the impact this reduction in fiber supply will have economically and socially in Chetwynd. After it was pointed out that the costs ofthe proposed Partnership Agreement had not even been measured, the Province reportedly had a socioeconomic impact assessment done. But the District of Chetwynd was not consulted during the creation of the socio-economic impact assessment nor has it been provided with a copy of that study to date.
In May of 2018 Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Catherine McKenna, declared that Southern Mountain Caribou face imminent threats to their recovery. The Province of BC hascommitted to protect and restore cari bou habitat; the District of Chetwynd believes the stakeholders who are directly affected must be included in planning and that all initiatives must be a result of science and evidence-based analysis.
In closing, Mayor Courtoreille stated, “Over the past 18 months Premier Horgan made promises that Chetwynd would be engaged in the process and that our input would be considered with regard to the Partnership Agreement and Caribou Recovery Committee. We feel that being told by Premier Horgan that there would be no changes to the Partnership Agreement and that we would not be a participant on the Caribou Recovery Committee is disrespectful to the South Peace and to Chetwynd.”
© Copyright Dawson Creek Mirror News
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Hasan, Md. Mahmudul (2015) Rokeya’s anti-colonial ideas: corporate exploitation of women in Bangladesh. The New Age, Dhaka, Bangladesh .
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Abstract
ROKEYA Sakhawat Hossain (1880–1932) did not maintain any sense of hostility or prejudice against any particular group of people. Despite the fact that European colonisers were ravaging her country politically, economically and culturally, she did not demonstrate any anti-west bias in her work. She was targeting high. She was working persistently to create awareness of gender inequity and to equip her society so that it could get rid of the colonial yoke. The best way to decolonise India was, in her opinion, to establish gender justice in society so that both men and women could feel equally empowered to take part in a meaningful anti-colonial struggle. In literary discussion, however, her anti-colonial ideas are not adequately highlighted. Most women have broken the wall of seclusion which was impregnable and impermeable during Rokeya’s time. However, even though women have been able to participate in public life and enjoy employment opportunities, they are still placed in a subordinate role and receive unequal treatment and harassment. Women, whether at home or at workplace, have continued to encounter many gender discrepancies and discrimination. In the twenty-first-century Bangladesh, many women are waging a continuous battle to earn their agency and to appear and participate in public life with honour and dignity. In their continuous struggle, Rokeya still remains a beacon of guidance. | http://irep.iium.edu.my/46561/ |
A Guardian ad Litem is a legal guardian appointed by a court to represent the best interests of minor children and incompetent persons in legal proceedings. They are often used in child custody, child support, visitation rights and parentage cases. In proceedings involving minor children, either parent can request the use of a Guardian ad Litem or the court can appoint one on its own motion.
Upon being appointed to serve as Guardian ad Litem, we serve the needs of minor children and incompetent persons for the duration of the legal action. The duties often depend on the ages of those involved and the specific circumstances of each case. Here are some examples: | https://www.reginabanis.com/services/guardian-ad-litem/ |
Exact causes, as to why allergy occurs due to a common substance in few and not in others are unknown. Though, it is believed that immune system fails to recognize common substances as harmless and starts reaction against them. But why this happens is not known. Certain factors or substances which can trigger allergic reactions are listed below-
- House hold dust: Dust mites, house dust, moles, pollens (from tree, grass or weeds), animal hair, fur, insect bites, bee stings, tree pollen, smoke, pollutants, strong smell, cockroaches.
- Medicines: penicillin, ibuprofen, sulpha drugs.
- Food: Common food items which are culprits in triggering allergic reaction are peanuts, cow milk, soy products, eggs, fish, shellfish (seafood), nuts (pecan, pine nut, walnut, pistachio etc) , cheese, sesame seeds.
- Latex: Latex can trigger allergic reaction in some people. Healthcare workers are more likely to get this type of allergy due to latex gloves. It can cause skin symptoms like rashes or allergic contact dermatitis. | https://www.welcomecure.com/diseases/allergies/causes |
Searchable resource of more than 40,000 free recipes created, tested, reviewed, and approved by home cooks worldwide. Users can join to save, organize, and share recipes.
Suggests substitutions for thousands of cooking ingredients.
The online publication of Gourmet and Bon Appetit has a searchable database of recipes from the magazine archives, complete with reviews from users. Other features include technique videos, food and wine dictionaries, and forums. Users are also able to register with the website to create their own Recipe Box for saving, sharing, and reviewing recipes.
A searchable archive of recipes organized by type of recipe.
Healthy recipes and tips for families from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Companion site to the popular magazine. Includes recipes, an Ask the Experts section, a blog, advice on ingredients, storage and kitchen tools, as well as other resources (like advice on what to include in your vegetarian starter kit!).
Household Recipes, Large Quantity Recipes, Recetas en Español. | https://www.prattlibrary.org/research/tools/index.aspx?cat=104&id=4497 |
Drama: Most people claim to avoid it, yet so many of us unknowingly create it in our own lives and in those of others.
Turning small issues into full-blown sources of drama is a talent possessed by many, and not one that helps much in reducing daily stress (quite the opposite). After much reflection upon the sources of drama in my own life, I crafted these 6 tips that I plan to use (to the best of my abilities) in order to make my life as drama-free as possible.
1. Be honest with others about what is bothering you.
When something or someone is bothering us, we tend to keep our emotions bottled up until so much stress, anger, and anxiety has accumulated that we can’t help but explode. We may start an unnecessary argument with someone about something insignificant, or we might blow a problem out of proportion. Having had different roommates throughout college, I for one have had a lot of experience with avoidable drama. My roommates and I would get into huge fights over small things like dirty dishes left in the sink or snoring boyfriends; fights that could have been easily avoided if we were honest about our concerns to begin with.
Next time you become frustrated with one of your friends, roommates, or colleagues, just be honest from the beginning about what is bothering you. Being transparent about your issues will allow you to avoid bottling up negative emotions that lead to unnecessary arguments. If people do not know what is bothering you, you cannot blame them for keeping up the same habits.
2. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in the small annoyances of everyday life, but there’s no reason that you should let a spilled morning coffee or commuter traffic ruin the rest of your day. As a longtime planner, I used to struggle with getting frustrated if certain details of my day did not go as I had initially planned. This was a big source of unnecessary drama in my life. But as I grew older and was thrust into my first personal training job at Equinox, where your daily schedule can change in a second due to a client cancellation or rescheduling, I had to adapt to days that were virtually impossible to plan.
At first I found this very hard, but eventually, I realized that by letting go of my excessive need to follow a detailed daily schedule to a T, I was also letting go of the unnecessary pressure that I was putting on myself to lead the “perfect” day (an impossible task to accomplish). Nowadays, I still have a daily schedule that I try to stick with, but when life has other plans (and it usually does) I move forward and adapt to a new schedule knowing that I will do what needs to get done, even if my day may not look like the ideal one that I had anticipated. No longer am I letting a missed train or forgotten gym bag be a constant source of drama in my life, and I am a lot happier because of it.
3. Think about the big picture.
When you’re struggling to deal with drama in your life, take a moment to look at the cause (or causes) of drama in an objective way: does this problem or situation really warrant so much concern? Instead of getting wrapped up in the drama of a situation, can you look for a solution? If the situations, problems, or people in your life that cause the most drama can be avoided or fixed, then focus on getting rid of them. If instead, you cannot avoid the people or things that cause drama in your life, find a way to live with them and try to put a positive spin on the situation. If, for example, a big source of drama in your life is an overbearing parental figure who is constantly worried about your safety, instead of complaining about “constant nagging and phone calls” focus on the fact that you are very lucky to have parents who love you enough to care so much about you. As humans, we tend to gravitate towards thinking about things solely from our own perspective, so it is definitely beneficial to take a step back and look at our problems from the perspective of an unbiased outsider: are our problems and concern really as dramatic as we perceive them to be? In many cases, the sources of drama in our life are less of a big deal than we make them out to be and probably won’t matter much in the long run.
4. Identify toxic relationships and rid yourself of them.
For many of us, a big source of drama in our life is connected to our relationships with other human beings. As inherently social beings, we crave human connection; therefore it is not a surprise that we put a lot of emphasis on our interactions with other people. When dealing with the people that we love (i.e. friends, family, and partners) it is very hard to identify when a relationship has taken a turn for the worse into the “unhealthy” territory. But the maintenance of unhealthy relationships is a major source of drama in many of our lives. The good news is that unless you are dealing with a parent and you are still under the age of 18, this type of drama is avoidable. Realizing which relationships in your life have become toxic is a skill that is very important to learn when cultivating happiness. Here are a three signs to help you identify an unhealthy relationship:
1. This person constantly relies on you to fix his/her problems but offers no support in return.
2. This person only reaches out to you to ask for favors or when it directly benefits him/her, but seems to disappear at all other times.
3. When you are around this person you tend to feel worse about yourself because of the things that he/she says.
If a relationship that you have with a friend or SO meets any of these criteria, run for the hills! These types of relationships are not worth the upkeep and will only damage your well-being.
5. Try to care a lot less about the opinion of others.
I know-easier said than done. But caring about others’ opinions is something that we can all afford to do less of. We only have so much energy to spend in a given day, and using it all to stress about what others think of us is a big waste of time. We will never be able to meet everyone else’s expectations or to make everyone happy while also maintaining our own happiness, so there is no point in trying. Don’t let discovering that someone doesn’t like you or trust in your abilities cause drama in your life; you are better off focusing on meeting your own expectations. At the end of the day, you are your own best friend and it’s time that you start treating yourself like one.
6. Before starting or fueling an argument with others, think: Is it worth it?
Unnecessary arguments are a constant source of drama for many of us. Before engaging in an argument, you should think about whether there is a more amicable way to solve your disagreement. Feuds that could have been easily avoided through a simple conversation cause stress in the individuals involved and impact our happiness. These devastating effects are not worth the fleeting high that we get when proving someone wrong during an argument. This tip is very important for someone like me who has a hard time dealing with my irritation towards others in a calm way. If I am frustrated with friends, I tend to confront them right away when my emotions are still at an all-time high without thinking logically about what I’m going to say. This often results in me approaching a conversation in an overly agitated manner that can rub people the wrong way and start arguments. Nowadays, whenever I am angry or frustrated with someone, I try to take a moment and ask myself the following questions before confronting them: Is my frustration warranted? Will confronting this person help resolve my conflict with them? If my answer to both of these questions in “No,” then I will know that starting an argument is not worth the outcome.
Drama is fun to watch on TV, but it definitely isn’t fun when it affects you in your real life. My hope is that these 6 tips will help you identify the biggest causes of drama in your own life, and help you figure out which ones you can eliminate for good. The result will be a happier you who can focus on the important things in life that will lead you to success. | https://hertrack.com/2018/03/13/how-to-get-rid-of-drama-in-your-life/ |
On the Ada Tepe hill in the Bulgarian Rhodopes a Bronze Age gold mine was exploited since the 15th century BCE, which makes it one of the oldest gold mines in the wider region of Europe. Since the site had been excavated by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and a joint Bulgarian-Austrian project investigated the findings from the site including the settlement, focusing on the reconstruction of life, work and wide ranging interregional connections of that Bronze Age community.
The sensational discovery of the first and so far only excavated prehistoric goldmine in Europe at Ada Tepe/Bulgaria is offering a wide range of scientific opportunities for basic research. This pilot study aims to combine archaeological studies with archaeometrical analyses of physics, geological and metallurgical studies in an international and interdisciplinary effort to investigate the remains of the first gold mine on European soil. Main focus are potential producers and consumers of this Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age gold mine. Data of producers are provided by the already excavated settlements at Ada Tepe, which will be analysed by means of stratigraphy, architecture, chronology and materiality. The identification of probable consumers will be initiated by a first series of gold and metal analyses. Starting with a geochemical definition of the source and objects found on-site, further gold and metal assemblages of Bulgarian LBA and EIA are in focus.
These investigations will not only shed light on the regional development at Ada Tepe but also help to understand trade and distribution patterns on an international level in the Late Bronze Age to the Iron Age in Europe. The proposed project is designed as an interdisciplinary pilot study to create the first systematic, basic research data of the Ada Tepe gold mine and its adjacent settlements. Although final results are not to be expected due to the mass and complexity of data, these primary results will enable future substantial and long-term research. After the proposed three year project, a first characterization of this unique site will be produced by means of chronology, archaeological-cultural definition and gold analyses.
The main aims are focusing on the producers and consumers of the gold mine with several targeted scientific goals in this first step of research defined as work packages (WP). Although all WP are certainly very important and essential for understanding the Ada Tepe site, a three year outline has to concentrate on a few fields of work. Pottery studies (WP 1) are the main focus, supplemented by studies of architecture and stratigraphy (WP 2), chronology (WP 3) and gold and metal analyses (WP 4). A cooperation of the archaeologists with 7reasons lead to a reconstruction of the mining processes as well as of the Bronze Age settlement architecture. It is based on all the detailed stratigraphic evidence from the Ada Tepe excavations. A 3D video gives you an impression of life and work on the Ada Tepe during the second half of the second millennium BCE.
Project partners alongside OeAI, OeAW (Barbara Horejs, Reinhard Jung) and NIAM, BAS (Hristo Popov, Krassimir Nikov) will be the University of Vienna (Mathias Mehofer, Vienna Institute for Archaeological Science, VIAS, for archaeometallurgical research), Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography - BAS (Zdravko Tsintzov, for geological and archaeometallurgical research), CEZ Laboratories Mannheim (Ernst Pernicka, gold mining technology and analyses), the Catholic University of Leuven (Elena Marinova, for environmental studies) and the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (senior project advisor Albrecht Jockenhövel). | https://www.oeaw.ac.at/en/oeai/research/prehistory-wana-archaeology/mediterranean-economies/bronze-age-gold-road-of-the-balkans |
Silver spoon effects are constrained under extreme adult environmental conditions.
Early-life environmental conditions may generate cohort differences in individual fitness, subsequently affecting population growth rates. Three, nonmutually exclusive hypotheses predict the nature of these fitness differences: (1) silver spoon effects, where individuals born in good conditions perform better across the range of adult environments; (2) the "environmental saturation" hypothesis, where fitness differences only occur in intermediate adult environmental conditions; and (3) the "environmental matching" or "predictive adaptive response" (PAR) hypothesis, where fitness is highest when adult environmental conditions match those experienced in early life. We quantified the context-dependent effect of early-life environment on subsequent reproductive success, survival, and population growth rate (λ) of Svalbard reindeer, and explored how well it was explained by the three hypotheses. We found that good early-life conditions increased reproductive success compared to poor early-life conditions, but only when experiencing intermediate adult environmental conditions. This is the first example of what appears to be both "beneficial" and "detrimental environmental saturation" in a natural system. Despite weak early-life effects on survival, cohorts experiencing good early-life conditions contributed to higher population growth rates, when simulating realistic variation in adult environmental conditions. Our results show how the combination of a highly variable environment and biological constraints on fitness components can suppress silver spoon effects at both extremes of the adult environmental gradient.
| |
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
0001 The directed synthesis of biological macromolecules is one of the great achievements of biochemistry. The development of recombinant DNA techniques has allowed the characterization and synthesis of highly purified coding sequences, which in turn can be used to produce highly purified proteins, even though in native cells the protein may be available only in trace amounts. The biological synthesis may be performed within the environment of a cell, or using cellular extracts and coding sequences, or using systems of purified enzymes to synthesize nucleic acids, proteins, and other macromolecules in vitro.
0002 In vitro techniques allow greater control over reagents and catalytic systems in order to improve productivity, reduce costs and improve product quality. For example, the in vitro synthesis of nucleic acids is useful for producing a broad variety of agents for direct use as therapeutics or for use as templates for the synthesis of additional valuable products.
0003 In addition, In vitro transcription finds particular use when coupled with translation. Because it is essentially free from cellular regulation of gene expression, in vitro protein synthesis has advantages in the production of cytotoxic, unstable, or insoluble proteins. The over-production of protein beyond a predetermined concentration can be difficult to obtain in vivo, because the expression levels are regulated by the concentration of product. The concentration of protein accumulated in the cell generally affects the viability of the cell, so that over-production of the desired protein is difficult to obtain. In an isolation and purification process, many kinds of protein are insoluble or unstable, and are either degraded by intracellular proteases or aggregate in inclusion bodies, so that the loss rate is high.
Biotechnology Progress
Biotechnology Progress
Nucleic Acids Res.
2
0004 Recent publications have discussed many different strategies for cost reduction of in vitro transcription reactions, including reusing DNA templates and employing fed batch protocols. For example, see Kern and Davis (1997) Application of Solution Equilibrium Analysis to in-Vitro RNA Transcription13:747-756; Kern and Davis (1999) Application of a Fed-Batch System to Produce RNA by In-Vitro Transcription15:174-184. Their work suggests that pH, free magnesium ion concentration, concentration of pyrophosphate, concentration of individual NTPs, and ionic strength are most important for full length RNA formation. They further suggest that it is the low free magnesium concentration that is limiting transcription, instead of presence of pyrophosphate. Yin and Carter (1996) 24(7):1279-86 studied the yield of tRNA obtained from in vitro T7 RNA polymerase transcription using incomplete factorial and response surface methods. The concentrations of T7 RNA polymerase, DNA template, NTP and MgClproved to be significantly correlated with the yield of tRNA(Trp).
0005 Improvements are required to optimize in vitro transcription systems. The continuous removal of the inhibitory by-product(s) as well as the continuous supply of substrates for nucleic acid synthesis may enable the continuous or semicontinuous reaction system to support synthesis over long reaction periods. However, this approach may also result in inefficient use of substrates and therefore in high costs. Elucidation of inhibitory products, and prevention of their synthesis is of great interest for development of in vitro synthetic systems. Also important is the reduction of reagents costs. With present technology, the major reagent costs include enzymes, DNA template, and NTPs. Methods of decreasing these costs while enhancing yield are of great interest.
0006 Relevant Literature
0007 In vitro transcription has been described in the literature, typically using a bacteriophage RNA polymerase (for example from T7, T3, or SP6 phages). In addition to the RNA polymerase; DNA, magnesium ions, and nucleotide triphosphates are included in the reaction. Additional reagents buffer the pH and inhibit RNases that degrade RNA. There have been various reports of reagent compositions; particularly variations in the concentrations of NTPs and magnesium ions. For example, Milburn et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,256,555 discloses the use of higher nucleotide concentrations than many other sources, in order to maintain a lower magnesium concentration.
Biotechniques
0008 Cunningham and Ofengand (1990) 9:713-714 suggest that adding inorganic pyrophosphatase results in larger reaction yields by hydrolyzing the pyrophosphate that accumulates. Pyrophosphate is inhibitory because the pyrophosphate complexes with the free magnesium ions leaving less available for the transcription reaction.
Biotechnology Bioengineering
0009 Breckenridge and Davis (2000) 69:679-687 suggest that RNA can be produced by transcription from DNA templates immobilized on solid supports such as agarose beads, with yields comparable to traditional solution-phase transcription. The advantage of immobilized DNA is that the templates can be recovered from the reaction and reused in multiple rounds, eliminating unnecessary disposal and significantly reducing the cost of the DNA template.
0010 U.S. Pat. No. 6,337,191 describes in vitro protein synthesis using glycolytic intermediates as an energy source; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,931 describes enhanced in vitro synthesis of biological macromolecules using a novel ATP regeneration system.
++
++
0011 Compositions and methods are provided for the enhanced in vitro synthesis of nucleic acid molecules. A system is provided for the in situ phosphorylation of nucleoside monophosphates (NMPs) into nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs). This phosphorylation of NMPs in the reaction mix is driven by ATP. Also present in the reaction mix is an energy generating system for generation of ATP from AMP and ADP. Depending upon the ATP regeneration system chosen, use of this NTP supply system can prevent a net increase in free phosphate as a result of NTP hydrolysis, and also permits the use of relatively inexpensive nucleoside monophosphates in place of the triphosphates. Since the NMPs have a much lower affinity for Mg than NTPs, the availability of free Mg will remain more constant as the nucleotides are polymerized into nucleic acids. In order to permit the use of ATP to generate NTPs in situ, nucleotide kinase enzymes are also included in the reaction mix.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
0012FIG. 1 provides a comparison of yields from in vitro transcription reactions using nucleoside triphosphates versus the nucleoside monophosphates.
0013FIG. 2 is a graph depicting the yield from a fed-batch in vitro transcription reaction.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL
Example 1
In-Vitro Transcription and Other Polynucleotide Synthetic Reactions Using Nucleoside Monophosphates
0014 Compositions and methods are provided for the enhanced in vitro synthesis of nucleic acid molecules. The methods of the invention utilize a reaction mixture comprising nucleoside monophosphates (NMPs), along with ATP and an energy system for recharging ATP from AMP and ADP. Triphosphosphates other than ATP are substantially absent from the starting reaction, although trace amounts will be present during the course of the reaction as the result of the ongoing phosphorylation reactions.
0015 In vitro synthesis as used herein refers to the cell-free synthesis of nucleic acids in a reaction mix comprising biological extracts and/or defined reagents. The reaction mix will comprise at least ATP or ADP, an energy source and regenerative enzyme to generate ATP in situ; nucleoside monophosphates or deoxynucleoside monophosphates; a template for production of the macromolecule, e.g. DNA, mRNA, etc., and such co-factors, enzymes and other reagents that are necessary for the synthesis, e.g. transcriptional factors such as RNA polymerase, nucleoside monophosphate kinases, nucleoside diphosphate kinase, etc. Such enzymes may be present in the extracts used for transcription and translation, or may be added to the reaction mix. Such synthetic reaction systems are well known in the art, and have been described in the literature. The cell free synthesis reaction may be performed as batch, continuous flow, or semi-continuous flow, as known in the art. Synthetic systems of interest include the replication of DNA, which may include amplification of the DNA, and the transcription of RNA from DNA or RNA templates.
++
++
++
++
0016 Phosphorylation of NMPs is driven by ATP, which is then converted to ADP. ADP is recharged to ATP by addition of an energy source. In order to permit the use of ATP to generate NTPs in situ, nucleotide kinase enzymes are included in the reaction mix. These methods result in significant cost savings, and provide a constant supply of nucleotide triphosphates in a manner similar to that in living cells. The initial chelation of Mg is minimized, and phosphate accumulation is also minimized depending on energy system used, both of which factors allow the available magnesium ion concentration to be more precisely maintained. These features provide for increased rate and reaction duration. Typically Mg is included in the reaction, at a concentration of at least about 2 mM, more usually at least about 6 mM, and preferably at least about 25 mM. The methods of the invention also provide for much higher Mg concentrations, for example at greater than about 40 mM, greater than about 75 mM, and greater than about 100 mM. Generally the Mg concentration will be less than about 250 mM, more usually less than about 200 mM.
0017 The term nucleic acids, as used herein, is intended to refer to naturally occurring molecules, e.g. DNA or RNA, including DNA primers and longer sequences, tRNA, mRNA, rRNA, and synthetic analogs thereof, as known in the art. Analogs include those with modifications in the native structure, including alterations in the backbone, sugars or heterocyclic or non-native bases. The nucleic acids thus generated find use in a variety of applications. For example, RNA is useful as ribozymes, translational templates, tRNA molecules, RNAi and antisense therapeutics. DNA is useful for vaccines, for gene therapy, as an expression template for cell-free protein synthesis, and the like.
0018 The methods of the invention find particular use in coupled reactions of transcription and translation, for protein synthesis with eukaryotic cell extracts. Most eukaryotic in vitro protein synthesis systems require low magnesium concentrations for efficient translation. However, these low magnesium concentrations then result in inefficient messenger RNA synthesis from NTPs. The present invention allows the production of mRNA from NMPs, which have a lower affinity for magnesium. This system allows effective mRNA synthesis at the low magnesium concentrations required for eukaryotic translation.
0019 The methods of the invention mimic in some ways the in vivo environment for transcription, in which a nucleotide species supplies the nucleotides for incorporation into RNA through phosphorylation of nucleotide monophosphates to nucleotide diphosphates and then another to nucleotide triphosphates. Both sets of reactions are catalyzed by the appropriate kinase enzymes, utilizing energy supplied by ATP.
0020 During in vitro transcription, various sources may be used to generate ATP, for example by using high-energy phosphate carbon molecules that donate a phosphate bond to ATP. These include phosphoenol pyruvate (PEP), creatine phosphate, and acetyl phosphate, in combination with the enzymes pyruvate kinase, creatine kinase and alkaline phosphatase, respectively. The appropriate enzyme is included in the reaction mixture in an effective amount.
0021 In the phosphorylation of an NMP to the corresponding NDP, one ATP equivalent is consumed. A specific kinase for each of the four nucleotides catalyzes the reaction, e.g. adenylate kinase, CMP kinase, guanylate kinase, UMP kinase. UMP kinase has sufficient affinity for cytidine monophosphate that CMP kinase is not necessary, and guanylate kinase has sufficient affinity for adenosine monophosphates that adenylate kinase is not necessary. These enzymes are included in the reaction mixture in an amount effective to catalyze the reactions.
0022 A single nucleotide diphosphate kinase converts all of the nucleotide diphosphates to their nucleotide triphosphates, which each reaction consumes one ATP equivalent. This enzyme is included in the reaction mixture in an effective amount.
0023 When the nucleic acid polymer is DNA, the reaction mixture is modified to comprise deoxyribonucleotide monophosphates and enzymes required for phosphorylation. Alternatively, ribonucleotide monophosphates and the phosphorylation enzymes are employed, along with a ribonucleotide reductase to convert ribonucleoside diphosphates to deoxyribonucleoside diphosphates. The ribonucleotide reductase system requires a supply of NADPH, using a chemical source or reduction potential and may also require such factors as thioredoxin and glutaredoxin and their reductase catalysts. Where the DNA synthesis utilizes polymerase chain reaction, it is desirable to use thermostable enzymes. Where the desired nucleic acid is an analog of DNA or RNA, the appropriately modified nucleoside(s) are included in the reaction mixture.
0024 ATP may be regenerated by a variety of mechanisms, for example see U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,337,191 and 6,168,931, herein incorporated by reference. In one embodiment of the invention, a high phosphate bond molecule is used as an energy source, for example PEP, creatine phosphate, acetyl phosphate, and the like, for example phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) along with the enzyme pyruvate kinase. Generally, a small amount of ATP or ADP is present for initializing the reactions. In a similar manner, pyrophosphatase may be included in the reaction mixture, particularly when the phosphate is being recycled, e.g. when pyruvate is the energy source. Polyphosphate also finds use in recycling ATP. The concentration of energy sources is usually at least about 1 mM, more usually at least about 2 mM, and may be 10 mM or higher. Usually the energy source will be present at less than about 100 mM, more usually less than about 50 mM.
Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lactobacillus plantarum
0025 In another embodiment, pyruvate is used as the energy source in combination with the enzyme pyruvate oxidase, EC 1.2.3.3.; CAS: 9001-96-1. It is known that pyruvate oxidase is produced by a variety of microorganisms. For example, it is known to be produced by , microorganisms of the genus Pediococcus, Streptococcus, and Aerococcus, microorganisms of the genus Leuconostoc, etc. During oxidation of pyruvate, acetyl phosphate is generated, which then directly regenerates ATP from ADP via the catalytic activity of the enzyme acetate kinase. The by-product hydrogen peroxide is converted to water and oxygen by the action of the enzyme catalase or another peroxidase. The phosphate that is hydrolyzed from ATP is recycled during the pyruvate oxidation to generate acetyl phosphate, thereby preventing a net accumulation of free phosphate, which can have an inhibitory effect on synthetic reactions. Pyruvate may be supplied as a suitable biologically acceptable salt, or as the free acid, pyruvic acid. The final concentration of pyruvate at initiation of synthesis will usually be at least about 1 mM, more usually at least about 10 mM, and not more than about 500 mM, usually not more than about 100 mM. Additional pyruvate may be added to the reaction mix during the course of synthesis to provide for longer reaction times.
E. coli
E. coli
0026 Any of the required enzymes can be provided for in the reaction mix in a variety of ways. Purified or semi-purified enzyme may be added to the reaction mix. Commercial preparations of the enzymes described above are available, or the enzyme may be purified from natural or recombinant sources according to conventional methods. For example, the genetic sequences of pyruvate oxidases, pyruvate kinase, creatine kinase, etc. may be used as a source of recombinant forms of the enzyme. In the case of coupled transcription and translation reactions, the enzymes may also be included in the extracts used for synthesis. For example, extracts can be derived from for protein synthesis. The used for production of the extracts may be genetically modified to encode suitable enzymes. Alternatively, where the synthetic reactions include protein synthesis, a template, e.g. mRNA encoding the desired enzyme, or a plasmid comprising a suitable expression construct, etc. may be spiked into the reaction mix, such that a suitable amount of enzyme is produced during synthesis.
0027 The reactions may utilize a large-scale reactor, small scale, or may be multiplexed to perform a plurality of simultaneous syntheses. Continuous reactions will use a feed mechanism to introduce a flow of reagents, and may isolate the end product as part of the process. Batch systems are also of interest, where additional reagents may be introduced to prolong the period of time for active synthesis. A reactor may be run in any mode such as batch, extended batch, semi-batch, semi-continuous, fed-batch and continuous, and which will be selected in accordance with the application purpose.
0028 In addition to the above components such as cell-free extract, genetic template, nucleotide monophosphates and energy sources, materials specifically required for synthesis may be added to the reaction. These materials include salt, polymeric compounds, cyclic AMP, inhibitors for nucleic acid degrading enzymes, oxidation/reduction adjuster, non-denaturing surfactant, buffer component, spermine, spermidine, etc.
0029 The salts preferably include potassium, magnesium, ammonium and manganese salt of acetic acid or sulfuric acid, and some of these may have amino acids as a counter anion. The polymeric compounds may be polyethylene glycol, dextran, diethyl aminoethyl, quaternary aminoethyl and aminoethyl. The oxidation/reduction adjuster may be dithiothreitol, ascorbic acid, glutathione and/or their oxides. Also, a non-denaturing surfactant such as Triton X-100 may be used at a concentration of 0-0.5 M.
0030 When changing the concentration of a particular component of the reaction medium, that of another component may be changed accordingly. For example, the concentrations of several components such as nucleotides and energy source compounds may be simultaneously controlled in accordance with the change in those of other components. Also, the concentration levels of components in the reactor may be varied over time.
0031 Preferably, the reaction is maintained in the range of pH 5-10 and a temperature of 20-50 C., and more preferably, in the range of pH 6-9 and a temperature of 25-40 C.
0032 In vitro transcription reactions have a number of uses. One use is the synthesis of high specific radioactivity RNA probes, using radioactively labeled nucleotides as substrates. Another is the synthesis of larger amounts of unlabeled RNA for a variety of molecular biological uses that may benefit greatly by the use of the reaction mixture disclosed herein. These include, but are not limited to, in vitro translation studies, antisense RNA experiments, microinjection studies, and the use of RNA in driving hybridization reactions for the construction of subtractive cDNA libraries and the like. In particular, when very large libraries are constructed using in vitro techniques, the cost and efficiency of these reactions is critical.
0033 It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodology, protocols, cell lines, animal species or genera, constructs, and reagents described, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which will be limited only by the appended claims.
0034 Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices and materials are now described.
0035 All publications mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference for the purpose of describing and disclosing, for example, the cell lines, constructs, and methodologies that are described in the publications, which might be used in connection with the presently described invention. The publications discussed above and throughout the text are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the inventors are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention.
0036 The following example is put forth so as to provide those of ordinary skill in the art with a complete disclosure and description of how to make and use the subject invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of what is regarded as the invention. Efforts have been made to ensure accuracy with respect to the numbers used (e.g. amounts, temperature, concentrations, etc.) but some experimental errors and deviations should be allowed for. Unless otherwise indicated, parts are parts by weight, molecular weight is average molecular weight, temperature is in degrees centigrade; and pressure is at or near atmospheric.
0037 As used herein the singular forms a, and, and the include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a cell includes a plurality of such cells and reference to the protein includes reference to one or more proteins and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth. All technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs unless clearly indicated otherwise.
0038 Methods and Materials
0039 Chemicals were purchased from Sigma (St. Louis, Mo.) except phosphoenolpyruvate from Roche, and dithiothreitol from Gibco. Enzymes were purchased from Sigma except NMP kinase from Roche. RNaseOUT from Invitrogen, and T7 RNA polymerase was made and purified in our lab according to protocols described elsewhere. (Davenloo et al.)
E. coli
E. coli
0040 DNA templates were prepared from PCR of genomic DNA strain A19. Utilizing primer extension to add on the 17 consensus sequence of the T7 RNA promoter region to make the rare transfer RNAs found in : Arg U, Arg W and Leu W.
0041 DNA produced from PCR based reactions were directly used for in vitro transcription reactions except in the case of optimization experiments. For these experiments the DNA was purified using phenol/chloroform extraction followed by precipitation with 0.8 M LiCl and ethanol. The purified DNA was resuspended in TE Buffer (10 mM Tris, 1 mM EDTA).
0042 In-vitro transcription reaction conditions. For a standard transcription reaction with NTPs the following concentrations were used: 80 mM Hepes, 25 mM magnesium acetate, 20 mM DTT, 2 mM spermidine, 20 nM DNA, 6 mM of ATP, CTP, GTP, and UTP; 2.5 l/100 l RnaseOUT in 20-200 l reactions using 0.1% DEPC water to mix reagents.
0043 For transcription using NMPs the following concentrations were used: 80 mM Hepes, 25 mM magnesium acetate, 20 mM DTT, 2 mM spermidine, 20 nM DNA, 6 mM of AMP, CMP, GMP, and UMP; 2 mM ATP, 5 mM PEP, 0.5 mg/ml NMP kinase, 1 U guanylate Kinase, 123 U pyruvate kinase, 0.5 U NDP kinase, 2.5 l/100 l RnaseOUT in 20-200 l reactions using 0.1% DEPC water to mix reagents. The mixture for both NTPs and NMP conditions are incubated in a water bath at 37 C. for 3 hours.
0044 Samples were heated for 10 minutes at 85 C. prior to analysis in order to breakup secondary structure of the RNA.
0045 HPLC Quantification. Quantification of RNA produced was done using an Agilent ChemStation 1100 HPLC equipped with a diode array detector. A Dionex DnaPac column was utilized using running buffers of 5 M Urea, 25 mM Tris-Cl pH 7.8 and a gradient from 0 to 2 M NaCl. A flow rate of 1 ml/min was used. The peak area was taken from a chromatogram at 260 nm.
0046 Results
TABLE 1
Reagent
Concentration range
Hepes
40-400
mM
Mg ions
5-40
mM
DTT
.04-20
mM
Spermidine
0-20
mM
NTP
1-11
mM
NMP
1-11
mM
PEP
2-11
mM
NMP kinase
.1-1
mg/ml
Guanylate kinase
.15-1.5
U
NDP kinase
.25-2.5
U
DNA
1-20
ng
T7 RNA polymerase
0047 The in vitro transcription using NMPs instead of NTPs had a slight yield improvement after both reaction conditions were optimized for the length of DNA template being used. See Table 1 for optimization parameters. A standard fractional factorial design with centerpoints was performed using DNA templates as a blocked variable. After a first round of optimization the only significant parameters are the concentration of magnesium and the concentration of nucleotide. These were also highly correlated to each other. A second round of optimization used the concentrations of reagents that tended to yield the least amount of non-full length transcript. The second round of optimization used the prior value as center and took range around that including star points with an alpha value of 1.4.
0048 A comparison of optimized reactions for utilization of NTPs versus NMPs is shown in FIG. 1. This shows that for all three templates used, there is a significant yield increase when using NMPs instead of NTPs. It is also evident that there is variation in transcriptional efficiencies based on the DNA template used.
0049 The system provides for a significant reduction in the expense of some reagents. Outside of the cost of RNAse inhibitor (a reagent to prevent degradation from Rnases that are difficult to keep out of the laboratory), nucleotides make up the major cost in a conventional reaction. The NMPs are significantly less expensive than the NTPs. Although there are additional costs for the kinase enzymes, these can be produced by recombinant methods. A major commercial advantage of the system of the invention is a reduction in substrate cost, and improvement in yield. The yield improvement has further impact beyond savings in reagent costs, because higher yields per batch contribute to reduced labor and equipment costs in production to produce the same amount of product.
0050 A fed batch experiment was performed. This consisted of feeding the reactions with PEP every other hour: 2, 4, 6, and 8. The amount of PEP added was equal to the initial amount added at time zero. As shown in FIG. 2, the rate of the reaction is maintained in the fed batch reaction and produces a larger amount of RNA compared to the batch reaction. Another fed batch experiment used PEP to feed the NMP reaction and NTPs to feed the NTP reaction (1.67 mmol/ul reaction using 125 mM NTP mix). In addition magnesium acetate was added to maintain the ratio of nucleotides to magnesium ions.
0051 The use of NMPs shows an advantage over the use of NTPs, in both a yield improvement and a potential cost improvement. The homeostatic conditions achieved using NMPs is illustrated by being able to maintain the initial reaction rate for several hours. | |
Radial velocity monitoring of (candidate) hybrid A- and F-type stars from the Kepler mission
Abstract :
An ensemble of 50 candidate hybrid A/F-type stars from the Kepler mission was monitored during four years with the HERMES spectrograph attached to the Mercator telescope. From this survey, we obtained new radial velocities, new or improved atmospheric properties (Teff, log g, v sin i), and classified all our targets in terms of evidence for multiplicity, pulsation and/or fast rotation. An extension of 40 new candidate hybrid A- and F-type stars from the Kepler mission has been recently defined for a second survey to be performed under similar conditions. The new high-resolution spectra will be obtained with various small and medium-sized telescopes. For a number of newly detected stellar systems with good radial velocity coverage, we also computed much improved orbits by combining the radial velocities with the time delays obtained via the monitoring of the pulsation frequencies during the four years of Kepler photometry. | http://aa.oma.be/paper/Radial%20velocity%20monitoring%20of%20%28candidate%29%20hybrid%20A-%20and%20F-type%20stars%20from%20the%20Kepler%20mission |
Q:
Converting NSString to Currency - The Complete Story
After over a day of poking around with this problem I will see if I can get some help. This question has been more or less asked before, but it seems no one is giving a full answer so hopefully we can get it now.
Using a UILabel and a UITextView (w/ number keyboard) I want to achieve an ATM like behavior of letting the users just type the numbers and it is formatted as currency in the label. The idea is basically outlined here:
What is the best way to enter numeric values with decimal points?
The only issue is that it never explicitly says how we can go from having an integer like 123 in the textfield and displaying in the label as $1.23 or 123¥ etc. Anyone have code that does this?
A:
I have found a solution, and as per the purpose of this question I am going to provide a complete answer for those who have this problem in the future. First I created a new Helper Class called NumberFormatting and created two methods.
//
// NumberFormatting.h
// Created by Noah Hendrix on 12/26/09.
//
#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>
@interface NumberFormatting : NSObject {
}
-(NSString *)stringToCurrency:(NSString *)aString;
-(NSString *)decimalToIntString:(NSDecimalNumber *)aDecimal;
@end
and here is the implementation file:
//
// NumberFormatting.m
// Created by Noah Hendrix on 12/26/09.
//
#import "NumberFormatting.h"
@implementation NumberFormatting
-(NSString *)stringToCurrency:(NSString *)aString {
NSNumberFormatter *currencyFormatter = [[NSNumberFormatter alloc] init];
[currencyFormatter setGeneratesDecimalNumbers:YES];
[currencyFormatter setNumberStyle:NSNumberFormatterCurrencyStyle];
if ([aString length] == 0)
aString = @"0";
//convert the integer value of the price to a decimal number i.e. 123 = 1.23
//[currencyFormatter maximumFractionDigits] gives number of decimal places we need to have
//multiply by -1 so the decimal moves inward
//we are only dealing with positive values so the number is not negative
NSDecimalNumber *value = [NSDecimalNumber decimalNumberWithMantissa:[aString integerValue]
exponent:(-1 * [currencyFormatter maximumFractionDigits])
isNegative:NO];
return [currencyFormatter stringFromNumber:value];
}
-(NSString *)decimalToIntString:(NSDecimalNumber *)aDecimal {
NSNumberFormatter *currencyFormatter = [[NSNumberFormatter alloc] init];
[currencyFormatter setGeneratesDecimalNumbers:YES];
[currencyFormatter setNumberStyle:NSNumberFormatterCurrencyStyle];
if (aDecimal == nil)
aDecimal = [NSDecimalNumber zero];
NSDecimalNumber *price = [NSDecimalNumber decimalNumberWithMantissa:[aDecimal integerValue]
exponent:([currencyFormatter maximumFractionDigits])
isNegative:NO];
return [price stringValue];
}
@end
The first method, stringToCurrency, will take an integer number (passed in from a textfield in this case) and convert it to a decimal value using moving the decimal point as appropriate for the users locale settings. It then returns a string representation formatted as currency using NSNumberFormatter.
The second method does the reverse it takes a value like 1.23 and converts it back to 123 using a similar method.
Here is an example of how I used it
...
self.accountBalanceCell.textField.text = [[NumberFormatting alloc] decimalToIntString:account.accountBalance];
...
[self.accountBalanceCell.textField addTarget:self
action:@selector(updateBalance:)
forControlEvents:UIControlEventEditingChanged];
Here we set the value of the text field to the decimal value from the data store and then we set a observer to watch for changes to the text field and run the method updateBalance
- (void)updateBalance:(id)sender {
UILabel *balanceLabel = (UILabel *)[accountBalanceCell.contentView viewWithTag:1000];
NSString *value = ((UITextField *)sender).text;
balanceLabel.text = [[NumberFormatting alloc] stringToCurrency:value];
}
Which simply takes the textfield value and run it through the stringToCurrency method described above.
To me this seems hackish so please take the a moment to look over and clean it up if you are interested in using it. Also I notice for large values it breaks.
| |
A scientist invites a choreographer and dancer for a project. “Science and Art in Dialogue. Theoretical Reflection and Experimental Arrangements” is the title of this undertaking, which developed out of an engagement with the connecting lines of science, art, and gender.
The first experimental arrangement is a space of encounter, of getting to know each other.
While thinking about what we did, and how, and indeed how our actions were developing, there came up terms inspired by Karen Barad’s concept of agential realism. She sees the world according to quantum theory, as an entanglement, an interrelation of forms of knowledge and being. Understanding the world as becoming in the image of diffraction – “a material-discursive phenomenon that challenges the presumed inherent separability of subject and object, nature and culture, fact and value, human and nonhuman” (Barad 2007, 381) – is simultaneously challenging and relieving in the sense of opening up boundaries of thinking which encroach on doing and feeling, stifle it because they attempt to press us into an either-or.
Our approach is one that tries to bring the understanding coming from different disciplinary practices not to rival each other, but to communicate.
It is an entangled approach, for we trace the common ground, the links in art and science rather than the dissociative features. What can we find there? And how can we make it visible, audible, and tangible? | https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/926434/926435 |
Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design is Sweden’s biggest and oldest artistic, public university. 900 students attend the educations that range from art teacher training, a curator program to fine arts and furniture design.
Karolinska Institutet (KI) is one of the world’s foremost medical universities. Karolinska’s vision is to make a significant contribution to the improvement of human health; their mission is to conduct research and education and to interact with the community.
With over 14,500 students and 1,700 postgraduate students, The Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) is Sweden’s largest technological university. The Institute conducts education and research across a broad spectrum – from natural science to all branches of technology.
Founded in 1909, the Stockholm School of Economics (SSE) has 2,200 students and its researchers rank among the best in the world in areas such as health economics, finance, business law and economics.
The course examines both personal and managerial challenges that are typical of different stages of the entrepreneurial process – startup, growth, change of director etc. Using this framework, the course will discuss issues of particular importance to entrepreneurs and to those interested in facilitating entrepreneurship in their organizations.
How to finance start-ups is a main concern for entrepreneurs. Finance for Start-ups helps you understand and use the most common tools and techniques used in entrepreneurial finance.
“Entrepreneurial Leadership in Practice” is about leading entrepreneurial enterprises effectively and ethically, and offers you the opportunity to develop a skill set that is essential for entrepreneurial leaders.
Entrepreneur or not, it is an advantage to understand where tomorrow is going. This course seeks to introduce the students to the concept trends, trendspotting and future thinking.
In order to develop a business idea, whether in an economical or social context, you need to apply a number of business concepts. The aim of this course is to introduce relevant business tools in order to develop a business idea stemming from research. | https://www.sses.se/ |
My colleagues and I have held a series of meetings with clients over the past few weeks to present and discuss our latest assessment of the global macroeconomic and financial market outlook. Despite some positive news on growth in the third quarter, particularly in the euro area, our central message has remained largely unchanged since September: most major economies are facing recession. We are 90% confident that both the UK and the euro area are already there. The US is almost certainly not there yet, although we see a 70% chance that it will be early next year. For us, the historical precedent is compelling. Consumer confidence in most major economies has fallen to levels from which recession has never been avoided. And while both the US and the UK have once managed to bring inflation down from today’s levels without triggering a recession, that was as long ago as 1952.
We are, of course, always transparent. As we relay the above information, we add an important caveat: economists are not very good at predicting recessions (and that is something of an understatement). I first drew attention to this difficulty in a blog post almost four years ago — ‘The economist who cried wolf’ — in which I analysed the IMF’s forecasting track record. Over the period from 1988 to 2018, I found there had been 469 recessions across the 194 countries for which the organisation provided forecasts.
How many of these recessions do you think the IMF had predicted in the preceding year? Half, maybe? Perhaps just a quarter? No. They had predicted precisely 13 of the 469, less than 3%. Worse than that, perhaps, they had predicted 21 recessions that never occurred. For the purposes of this blog, I have extended my analysis to cover a further three years. The results are summarised in the table below. Over the period from 1988 to 2021, the total number of recessions has risen from 469 to 635. But the number predicted in the preceding year has changed hardly at all, rising from 13 to 15, or just above 2%. The number of false positives has risen from 21 to 23. It is perhaps a little unfair, in the circumstances, to blame the IMF forecasters for failing to predict, at the time of the October 2019 World Economic Outlook, the 160 recessions that took place worldwide in 2020. Fathom did though — well, some of them.
What is unusual at the present time is the degree of confidence with which economists, normally unable to predict recessions, expect one to occur within the next year. Since the late 1960s, the Philly Fed has published a quarterly Survey of Professional Forecasters (SPF). Among other things, respondents are asked to assign probabilities to the US suffering an economic contraction in the present quarter, and then one, two, three and four quarters ahead. In the latest survey, published last month, the mean probability forecasters attached to the US suffering a contraction four quarters ahead, so in 2023 Q4, was 43.5%. The mean probability at that horizon has never been higher, by some margin (the previous peak for the four quarters ahead probability was 34.1%, and that was in the survey before).
How sensible are the probabilities assigned in the SPF? Perhaps the first point to note is that they are typically a bit high. Across all five horizons, and looking across all surveys since the late 1960s, the reported mean probability of an economic contraction has been 18%, when in truth economic contractions have occurred just 14% of the time. So forecasters are prone to exaggerate the risks a little bit.
Nevertheless, as our chart shows, there is useful information in the survey. The blue bars show the mean probabilities of contraction that have been assigned to those quarters that turned out to be the first quarter of contraction, in a recession identified by the NBER. The green bars show the mean probabilities of contraction that have been assigned to all quarters, whether or not they turned out to be the start of a downturn. When the blue bar is significantly higher than the green bar, there is useful information in the survey. My interpretation of this chart is that forecasters are pretty good at spotting trouble brewing up to two quarters ahead. Thereafter, success is limited.
What do we conclude? The mean probability of the US being in recession four quarters from now is judged, by economists, to be higher than it has ever been in the past 50 years, by some margin. Forecasters have not had much success at predicting recessions this far ahead in the past. But equally, they often do not try – the interquartile range of the mean probability assigned to the quarter four quarters ahead runs from 13.1% to 21.3%. That is a narrow range, and a mean probability of 43.5% lies way outside it. As a profession, economists are clearly unusually worried.
I shall end on a (slightly) more positive note. The US is unlikely to enter recession this quarter. Of the 34 US recessions identified by the NBER since 1857, just 6 have got under way in Q4. Spending ahead of Thanksgiving, and Christmas, is probably the explanation.
When I published the first blog, I recorded the number of false positives over the period 1988 to 2018 as 23. Data revisions have brought that figure down to 21. By implication two countries previously thought not to have been in recession when one had been forecast now appear to have been in recession after all.
For us, it was a case of getting to the right answer for the wrong reasons. Through much of 2018 we were predicting a global recession in 2020, led by the US, as we saw a period of very strong growth, with little spare capacity, ending in a Fed policy tightening.
Relatedly, and for what it’s worth, February is the most troublesome month, with 5 of the 34 recessions starting then.
More by this author: | https://www.fathom-consulting.com/crying-wolf-take-24/ |
April 14, 2008 Wall St. Journal Op-Ed on Doha Services Negotiation In an article appearing in the April 11 edition of the Wall Street Journal Asia, US trade Representative Susan Schwab and Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean emphasize that they will not support a Doha package unless it includes an "ambitious outcome on services that delivers commercially meaningful results." In addition, they call for new services offers that bind existing market access and provide for additional liberalization. The article is copied below.
=================== OP-ED: Doha Dealbreaker (Wall Street Journal Asia)
April 11, 2008; By Australian Minister SIMON CREAN and Ambassador SUSAN SCHWAB In today’s world, having access to world-class service providers can be the difference between economic growth and stagnation. Open markets promote innovation and entrepreneurship, generate lower costs and higher-quality goods, increase the pace of technology diffusion and attract more foreign investment.
Reaching a strong outcome in services in the World Trade Organization’s Doha Round is so important that the United States and Australia have decided to make our position clear: Like many other WTO members, we will not support a Doha package unless it includes an ambitious outcome on services that delivers commercially meaningful results.
Communication, finance, energy, transportation and distribution services are essential inputs in the production of goods and services and are "force multipliers" that expand economic opportunities and increase productivity. An efficient services sector is crucial to the development of vibrant, modern and resilient economies. In fact, several developing countries have autonomously liberalized certain sectors as part of their development strategy, recognizing that high services barriers only constrain their economic potential.
For example, telecommunication markets have been opened up throughout the developing world, and everywhere it has resulted in greater telephone access and lower charges, with profound positive effects on rural farmers, small businesses and industrial exporters alike. This is why services are such an important part of most countries’ development strategies and why it needs to be part of Doha’s agenda.
The Doha negotiations give both developed and developing countries a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lock in services liberalization and harness its potential for future growth. Reforms to trade in agriculture and industrial products have dominated headlines on the Doha Round of world trade talks, and opening up agricultural and manufacturing markets will be extremely valuable. But liberalizing global services markets can provide even greater potential economic benefits.
Services contribute more to the world economy than agriculture and manufacturing combined, and are the fastest growing component of world economic growth, according to the World Bank. Comprehensive services sector liberalization – through open markets and nondiscriminatory treatment of service suppliers – would permanently boost the global economy by more than $1 trillion than would exist otherwise. This is a greater boost than the full removal of subsidies and tariffs around the world on agricultural and goods markets. We, the Australian and American trade representatives, believe the Doha Round of trade negotiations represents our best opportunity to deliver global and sustainable economic growth.
This is important because over the past five years world trade has grown twice as fast as world output. In the WTO services negotiations, we acknowledge that some countries are reluctant to offer more on services, especially in the absence of greater clarity in other parts of the Doha package. However, it is our view — and indeed a broader view – that the round will only deliver in terms of global growth and development if all areas of market access — agriculture, industrial products and services – are negotiated satisfactorily.
In recent weeks, we have welcomed the first draft of a services text that must – in its final form – provide the necessary multilateral political guidance for an ambitious services outcome. We believe this guidance should encourage countries to bind market openness that is currently available to overseas service suppliers wherever possible, and then to build on this platform by offering new market access in areas where significant impediments remain.
Over the next few weeks, Australia, the U.S. and others will pursue these objectives through renewed bilateral and plurilateral negotiations. This process should culminate in meaningful ministerial level engagement that coincides with the conclusion of negotiations on agriculture and industrial products.
At that time, we will be looking for key WTO members to signal their commitment to make significant improvements in their services offers. It is essential that major decisions on agriculture and industrial goods be accompanied by positive commitments on services.
Only full engagement across all three market access pillars will help us secure a Doha Round agreement worthy of the growth and development goals for which Doha was started. Mr. Crean is Australia’s minister for trade. Ms. Schwab is the U.S. trade representative. | https://ttcsi.org/global-services-network-newsletter-april-2008/ |
As the development and implementation of artificial intelligence continues to gather pace conversations on ethics and how to make the technology fair and beneficial for all are increasingly taking place across industry circles. As a major global company that aims to help business transform in the digital world, Accenture’s challenge to Turing DSG researchers was to develop a tool that can promote fairness in algorithmic decision-making across the financial services sector.
Interview
Dr Rumman Chowdhury, Accenture’s Lead on Responsible AI explains, “Fairness is currently a hot topic at conferences and our challenge is inspired by Dr Arvind Narayan’s tutorial at the FATML conference where he discussed 21 different types of fairness. Clients are increasingly aware of the importance of responsible deployment of AI and our challenge for Turing researchers was to develop a tool that can be applied to real world contexts and that is compliant with GDPR.”
Before work on the challenge began Rumman - a data scientist with a background in political science and quantitative social science - convened a space where the team of 11 researchers with backgrounds in statistics, ethics, applied statistics, and machine learning had a chance to review the literature on fairness and discuss its conceptual meaning.
Explaining her rationale for preparing the researchers in this way, she says: “At the moment a global conversation on fairness is taking place, but developing a real-world tool that is explainable, transparent, and accountable appears to be an insurmountable challenge. The idea of fairness is perceived in different ways across disciplines such as statistics and social science and I wanted to give the group the opportunity to consider a range of academic definitions outside of their own disciplines to help inform their approach to the challenge.”
Using a publicly available dataset on credit risk, the researchers were tasked with developing a quantifiable metric-based tool to map out and identify where bias and unfairness can creep in and fix it. Rumman says: “We envisage this tool being used by our clients in a broad range of industries. They would use the work flow assistant or software to assess the algorithms that they are currently using.”
"An excellent forum to solve hybrid questions that are experimental and underdefined"
Dr Rumman Chowdhury, Lead on Responsible AI at Accenture
After five long days of dedicated hard work, Rumman is highly satisfied with the outcome and believes it was definitely time well spent. She says: “This experience has been absolutely worthwhile. The team were fabulous and have come up with code that Accenture will build into a prototype. We plan to demo this tool at Accenture’s pavilion on responsible AI at the CogX exhibition in June .”
Reflecting on the team’s dynamics and the DSG experience overall, she adds: “The researchers were able to work collaboratively and come up with a coherent solution, but also demonstrate that there are multiple ways to address the problem. I think people were able to shine as individuals, learn something new, while also contributing at a macro level. | https://www.turing.ac.uk/collaborate-turing/data-study-groups/accenture-challenge-fairness-algorithmic-decision-making |
The viewpoints presented here include Gadolinium Toxicity news and thoughts about various aspects of living with the effects of Gadolinium Toxicity. They may just be one person’s idea or an experience that happened to them. These viewpoints are important to share, because someone looking at them from a different viewpoint may be able to tie some things together in a way that we did not see.
Open Letter to the FDA about Gadolinium-based Contrast Agents
Editorial – May 25, 2017
Sharon Williams
I am very disappointed and frustrated by the May 22, 2017, FDA Safety Announcement about gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs). I am beginning to wonder how many more people must be adversely affected by retained gadolinium before the FDA decides to take decisive action.
Personally, I don’t blame the FDA or radiologists for what happened to NSF patients. What happened to those patients was terrible, but I want to believe that no one knew then just how unstable the linear agents are, especially when they remain in the body for longer periods of time like they might do in renally-impaired patients. However, once the connection between NSF and GBCAs was discovered in 2006, that all began to change. No longer could the FDA and radiology community say that they didn’t know that gadolinium might be retained from MRI contrast agents or what it might do to the human body when that occurred.
From 2006 until the end of 2013, the FDA and medical community thought that only patients with severe renal problems were at risk of retaining gadolinium. Warnings were issued and action was taken to better screen renally-impaired patients and reports of new cases of Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) dropped dramatically. However, no one seemed to be investigating what might happen when less gadolinium was retained such as what might occur in patients with “normal” renal function or eGFRs greater than 60.
Since December of 2013 and the first paper by Kanda and his colleagues, the evidence has been mounting that clearly shows that patients with normal renal function retain gadolinium in their brains, bones, and elsewhere in their bodies. This seemed to be news to the FDA and radiology community, but it was something that patients affected by gadolinium have long been trying to tell their doctors. I first brought it to the attention of the FDA in my letter of October 23, 2012. In that letter, I noted that evidence of gadolinium retention in patients with normal renal function was reported by Gibby et al. in 2004 – that was 13 years ago, and it occurred after administration of both a linear and a macrocyclic GBCA.
The published literature clearly states that “gadolinium is toxic”. The FDA has acknowledged that “all GBCAs may be associated with some gadolinium retention in the brain, and other body tissues”. So why is it okay to keep injecting the least stable gadolinium-based contrast agents into patients when it is highly likely that those people are going to retain some unknown amount of a toxic metal? Gadolinium is a toxic metal that has been found to be neurotoxic, to impair mitochondrial function, induce oxidative stress, and much more. Researchers are looking for histological changes in the brain, but what about functional changes? (more…)
FDA indicates no effects found yet from retained gadolinium in the brain
On Monday, May 22, 2017, the FDA issued its second Safety Announcement about gadolinium retention in the brain. The following text is the FDA’s complete announcement.
FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA identifies no harmful effects to date with brain retention of gadolinium-based contrast agents for MRIs; review to continue
This is an update to the FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA evaluating the risk of brain deposits with repeated use of gadolinium-based contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)issued on July 27, 2015.
Safety Announcement
[ 5-22-2017]
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review to date has not identified adverse health effects from gadolinium retained in the brain after the use of gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). All GBCAs may be associated with some gadolinium retention in the brain and other body tissues. However, because we identified no evidence to date that gadolinium retention in the brain from any of the GBCAs, including GBCAs associated with higher retention of gadolinium, is harmful, restricting GBCA use is not warranted at this time. We will continue to assess the safety of GBCAs and plan to have a public meeting to discuss this issue in the future.
Our recommendations for health care professionals and patients remain unchanged from July 2015 when we informed the public that we were investigating this potential risk with GBCAs. As is appropriate when considering the use of any medical imaging agent, health care professionals should limit GBCA use to circumstances in which additional information provided by the contrast agent is necessary, and assess the necessity of repetitive MRIs with GBCAs. Patients, parents, and caregivers should talk to their health care professionals if they have any questions or concerns about the use of GBCAs with MRIs. Retention of gadolinium affects only GBCAs, and does not apply to other types of scanning agents used for other imaging procedures, such as those that are iodine-based or radioisotopes.
GBCAs contain gadolinium, a type of heavy metal, that is linked to a carrier molecule. MRIs are a way to scan the body for problems such as cancer, infections, or bleeding. GBCAs are injected into a vein to enhance the quality of the MRI images of internal organs, blood vessels, and tissues, which helps health care professionals diagnose medical conditions. There are two types of GBCAs based on their chemical structures, linear GBCAs and macrocyclic GBCAs.
We evaluated scientific publications1-17 and adverse event reports submitted to FDA. Some human and animal studies looked at GBCA use over periods longer than a year. These publications and reports show that gadolinium is retained in organs such as the brain, bones, and skin. The publications show that linear GBCAs retain more gadolinium in the brain than macrocyclic GBCAs. However, our review did not identify adverse health effects related to this brain retention.
To date, the only known adverse health effect related to gadolinium retention is a rare condition called nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) that occurs in a small subgroup of patients with pre-existing kidney failure. NSF is a painful skin disease characterized by thickening of the skin, which can involve the joints and cause significant limitation of motion within weeks to months. Recent publications report cases of reactions involving thickening and hardening of the skin and other tissues in patients with normal kidney function who received GBCAs and did not have NSF; some of these patients also had evidence of gadolinium retention.3, 12, 16 We are continuing to evaluate such reports to determine if these fibrotic reactions are an adverse health effect of retained gadolinium.
The manufacturer of OptiMARK (gadoversetamide), a linear GBCA, updated its label with information about gadolinium retention in various body organs such as the brain, skin, and other organs. We are reviewing the labels of other GBCAs to determine if changes are needed.
A recent review by the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) also identified no adverse health effects with gadolinium retention in the brain, but that Committee recommended suspending the marketing authorization of certain linear GBCAs because they cause a greater retention of gadolinium in the brain compared to macrocyclic GBCAs. The Committee’s recommendation is currently undergoing an appeal, which will be further reviewed by the PRAC and subsequently by the EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use.18
We are continuing to assess the safety of GBCAs. FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) is conducting a study on brain retention of GBCAs in rats. Other research is also being conducted about how gadolinium is retained in the body. We will update the public when new information becomes available and we plan to have a public meeting to discuss this issue in the future.
We urge patients and health care professionals to report side effects involving GBCAs or other medicines to the FDA MedWatch program, using the information in the “Contact FDA” box at the bottom of the page.
The list of approved GBCAs and References included with this FDA Communication can be found here: https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm559007.htm
The link to MedWatch can be found on the Contact FDA page.
https://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/ContactFDA/default.htm
Help Fund a Gadolinium Toxicity Researcher
The Berkeley Labs Foundation is raising $120,000 for a full-time researcher who will be dedicated to understanding and treating gadolinium toxicity.
I hope you will consider making a tax-deductible donation and sharing this information with your family, friends, and doctors too.
You can find out about the fundraising effort here: http://www.berkeleylabfoundation.org/support-berkeley-lab/ Gadolinium Toxicity is the entry to the far-right and the “Donate” button is above it.
On behalf of affected patients around the world, thank you for donating! No amount is too small to give.
Sharon Williams
European group recommends to stop using 4 linear GBCAs
March 10, 2017 – A committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended the suspension of the marketing authorizations for four linear gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) used for MRI scans because of concerns about small amounts of gadolinium from administered GBCAs being deposited in the brain.
At the completion of its year-long review of GBCAs, the EMA’s Pharmacovigilance and Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) “found convincing evidence of accumulation of gadolinium in the brain from studies directly measuring gadolinium in brain tissues and areas of increased signal intensity seen on MRI scan images many months after the last injection of a gadolinium contrast agent”.
Linear agents recommended for suspension by the PRAC are:
Gadobenic acid, marketed as MultiHance by Bracco Diagnostics Inc.
Gadodiamide, marketed as Omniscan by GE Healthcare
Gadopentetic acid, marketed as Magnevist by Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals
Gadoversetamide, marketed as OptiMARK by Mallinckrodt Inc.
The PRAC’s final recommendations will be sent to the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) for its opinion. Further details will be published when CHMP renders its opinion regarding the removal of the four linear agents from the market.
In its press release, the PRAC noted that deposition of gadolinium in other organs and tissues has been associated with rare side effects of skin plaques and Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF). It also noted that “non-clinical laboratory studies have shown that gadolinium can be harmful to tissues”.
The PRAC said that two linear agents will remain available: gadoxetic acid (brand name Eovist), used at a low dose for liver scans, since it meets an important diagnostic need in patients with few alternatives, and a formulation of gadopentetic acid injected directly into joints because its gadolinium concentration is very low. The PRAC indicated that both agents should be used at “the lowest dose that enhances images sufficiently to make diagnoses and only if unenhanced scans are not suitable”.
FDA actions
On July 27, 2015, the FDA issued its first, and so far only, Safety Announcement regarding gadolinium retention in the brain following repeated use of a GBCA for MRIs. It acknowledged that trace amounts of gadolinium may stay in the body long-term, and noted that “recent studies conducted in people and animals have confirmed that gadolinium can remain in the brain, even in individuals with normal kidney function”.
The 2015 announcement said that the FDA, including its National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR), “will study this possible safety risk further”. As of this writing, the FDA has made no further public safety announcements regarding the use of gadolinium-based contrast agents.
It remains to be seen if the FDA will follow the lead of the EMA and suspend the use of the linear GBCAs. Three of the four suspended agents are linked to the most unconfounded cases of NSF, and they are among the most widely used GBCAs for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures. | https://gadoliniumtoxicity.com/viewpoints/recent-viewpoints/ |
Doctors’ Religious Beliefs Affect How They Provide End-Of-Life Care, Study FindsCNN: "A doctor's own religious practice can become quite relevant to patient care, especially when end-of-life issues come into play. A new study finds that doctors who are not religious are more likely to take steps to help end a very sick patient's life, and to discuss these kinds of decisions, than doctors who are very religious. The study, published in the Journal of Medical Ethics, surveyed more than 8,500 doctors in the United Kingdom across a wide range of specialties such as neurology, palliative care, and general practice" (Landau, 8/26).
ABC News: "Past research suggests that a patient's faith influences the type of care they request, but the ultimate outcome depends on a collaborative effort between both the patient and the doctor, according to Holly Prigerson, director of the center for psycho-oncology and palliative care research at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston" (Neale and Salahi, 8/26).
Bloomberg Business Week: Study author Clive Seale "found that those doctors who focused on elder care were somewhat more likely to be Asian and to identify as Hindu or Muslim. Those in palliative care were more likely to be white, identify as Christian, and describe themselves as 'religious.' General practitioners, Seale noted, did not appear to be more likely to hold strong religious beliefs in general. ... Although ethnicity did not seem to play a significant role in the decision-making process regarding controversial ethical issues, in general white physicians (who were the largest group) were the least likely to describe themselves as having strong religious beliefs and the most likely to support legal changes that allow for physician participation in assisted-dying scenarios" (Mozes, 8/26).
CBS News: "What's certainly clear is patients will receive very different recommendations in hospitals than they would in special end of life facilities. The ultimate lesson, the researchers say, is it's important to understand your doctor's values and make sure they are in line with your own" (Katz, 8/26). This is part of the KHN Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription. | https://khn.org/morning-breakout/end-of-life-care-issues/ |
For this assessment, you will incorporate technology into your training and development program by designing a distance learning module. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.
· Describe the information conveyed to trainees in the distance learning module.
· Articulate how a distance learning module fits into the overall training program design.
· Assess the strengths and weaknesses of distance learning on an organization’s training strategy.
· Illustrate how practice and feedback are incorporated to measure the transfer of learning.
· Analyze how distance learning supports employee development.
· Evaluate the effectiveness of measurements used for a distance learning module in the training and development program.
· What diversity and cross-cultural factors might you consider in the design of your distance learning module?
· What impact might the age of trainees have on the use of technology in training? | https://customuniversitypapers.com/2018/07/31/describe-the-information-conveyed-to-trainees-in-the-distance-learning-module/ |
7. Walls of Babylon
The walls, which once included the ancient Ishtar Gate, were one of the original Wonders of the World. The walls and the gate were made of blue glazed tiles, and had alternating rows of bas-relief aurochs and dragons. Saddam Hussein later started the wall’s restoration and new construction on the ruins.
6. Walls of Ston
The 3.5 mile wall linking the two towns of Ston and Mali Ston was built at the narrowest point of the peninsula, just before joining the mainland, as the second line of defence for the city of Dubrovnik, protecting the precious salt pans that were very important for the wealth of the city.
5. Hadrian’s Wall
The Romans constructed the wall to prevent the tribes of Scotland from entering their colony, Britannia. Built in the early 2nd century AD, It stretches from the Irish Sea to the North Sea, for 73 miles across north of England, and is the longest wall of Europe.
4. Walls of Troy
The archaeological site of Troy, which now contains several layers of ruins, is a place of historic importance, as the site of the Trojan War, and the Walls of Troy, built to protect the legendary Troy, have withstood the 10 years of siege of the city.
3. The Western Wall
With about half the wall, i.e. 17 courses below the street level, built in around 19 BC at the end of the Second Temple period, and the remaining layers added from 7th century onward, it is a holy Jewish religious site.
2. The Great Wall of China
Though it has been constructed, reconstructed and maintained between the 5th and the 16th century BC to protect the borders of the Chinese Empire from the tribes of the north, the majority of what exists today was built in the Ming Dynasty as a series of fortifications, which with all its branches, stretches for a staggering length of 5500.3 m, and is the world’s largest man-made barrier.
1. Berlin Wall
The beautiful Berlin Wall in Germany is a modern construction, built at the peak of the Cold War in 1961. East Germany had it built in the middle of Berlin in a desperate effort to stop the East Berliners from escaping to the west of the city, and it proved to be an effective step. About 5000 people tried to escape the circumventing it, leading to several deaths. | http://www.7tint.com/7-most-famous-walls-in-the-world.html |
JERALD L. MEYER is the Partner-in-Charge of the Electrical, Mechanical & Chemical Engineering Department. Mr. Meyer's practice areas include patent prosecution and assisting in managing the patent portfolios of various firm clients. He is experienced in working with specialty chemicals, with a concentration in developing polymeric products based on desired physical and chemical properties. He is also proficient in the areas of power generation, heat recovery, and petroleum refining. Mr. Meyer's experience also includes monitoring and enforcing intellectual property rights in domestic and international markets. | http://nathlaw.com/professionals/jerald-meyer-tm |
Irrigation Services have assembled a team of highly trained professionals. We follow international best practice guidelines and New Zealand health and safety requirements and are constantly seeking improvement so that we can deliver the best solutions cost effectively to our clients.
Key Irrigation Services staff have completed the Farm Dairy Effluent: System Design and Management three day Massey University short course.
Irrigation Services proactively work in a safe manner, continually striving to provide a healthy environment for staff, clients and the public. Irrigation Services hold a green SiteWise prequalification.
Irrigation Services selects suppliers who comply with stringent ISO 9001:2008 quality and engineering standards.
The Quality Management System aims to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of any organisation, to manage the processes and activities used to eliminate risk to the customer and to ensure that its products and service conform to customer requirements, thus ensuring customer satisfaction. The ISO 9001 definition of "quality" refers to all the features of a suppliers product and service, which are required by the customer. | https://irrigationservices.co.nz/how-we-do-it/how-we-do-it-3/ |
It is given the greek symbol Phi (ANSI character 237 - looks like a circle with a slash through it). Its value is sqrt(1.25) + 0.5, or approximately 1.61803398875
If you take a square, draw a line from the middle of one of its sides to an opposite corner, and rotate that line so it is in line with the bisected side, and use that to make a rectangle, the ratio of the long side to the short side is the Golden Mean.
The classical Greeks said that objects fashioned using this proportion were more pleasing to the eye. This is probably because Phi occurs in nature - in seashell spirals, packed objects, etc. Indeed, the Greeks used the Golden Section a lot in their architecture.
Among other interesting features of the Golden Section is that its reciprocal is 0.61803398875, or Phi minus one. This value is given the symbol phi (lower case "p").
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Gender, women’s rights groups hail Cabinet appointments
Elita Chikwati, Harare Bureau
Gender and women’s rights organisations have hailed President Mnangagwa’s decision to increase the number of women in Cabinet as a positive development.
Members of the public also welcomed the increase in women representation in the Cabinet and said this showed that Zimbabwe was heading towards gender equality and equity in decision making positions.
Most women were happy that for the first time the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans and that of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation were now headed by women, Cde Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri and Ms Kirsty Coventry respectively.
Some organisations and individuals felt there was still more to be done to promote gender balance and full participation of women in all spheres of society on the basis of equality with men.
There are six female ministers in Cabinet up from the previous four, with five ministers of state compared to four previously.
“Zimbabwe Gender Commission appreciates the increase in numbers of women in Cabinet and the parity that is already guaranteed among the provincial ministers, but we still feel the representation of women is still low and we hope that more women will be appointed in future,” she said.
On Twitter, the Gender and Media Connect Zimbabwe said it was happy that women got influential posts.
“Of the 20 Cabinet ministers announced in #Zimbabwe today following the July 30 election, six are women,” it said. “Great improvement from last Cabinet. Key ministries, Defence and Information have women ministers.”
Gender activist, businesswoman and director for Tag a Life Ms Nyaradzo Mashayamombe said she was excited mainly by the appointment of Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri as Minister of Defence and War Veterans and also the increase in the number of female Ministers of State.
“I am excited that for the first time we have a female Minister of Defence,” she said. “We are celebrating the appointment of women to the ministerial posts.
“We feel there is still more to be done to ensure 50-50 percent representation. Women should also be appointed to higher posts such as the Vice President considering that they constitute 52 percent of the population.”
MDC politician, Ms Jessie Majome congratulated President Mnangagwa on his new Cabinet on her Twitter account.
“Congratulations @edmnangagwa & to the new Cabinet, refreshingly new, competent faces, it’s encouraging to see women increasing & some powerful ministries though not yet uhuru. My optimism for Zimbabwe has been given a shot in the arm. Fulfil this citizen’s great expectations.”
MDC-T spokesperson Ms Linda Masarira posted on Twitter that she was impressed by the new youthful faces in the Cabinet.
A Harare woman, Mrs Alice Moyo said she was happy that Ms Coventry landed a ministerial post.
“This is a good move considering that she was appointed on merit and not on political grounds,” she said. | |
Weegy: Domain is the set of all possible input values which produce a valid output from a particular function. Range is the set of all possible output values which result from using a particular function.
The Range is the difference between the lowest and highest values.
What is the meaning of interupted? | https://www.weegy.com/?ConversationId=26IW7V0Z |
Showing course contents for the educational year starting in 2019 .
Course responsible: Muyiwa Samuel Adaramola
ECTS credits: 10
Faculty: Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management
Teaching language: EN
(NO=norsk, EN=Engelsk)
(NO=norsk, EN=Engelsk)
Teaching exam periods:
This course starts in autumn parallel and has teaching/evaluation in autumn parallel
Course frequency: Annually if needed.
First time: 2016H
Course contents:
This course will teach the students on how to carry our resource assessment for solar energy conversion system as well as (specifically) teach them how to plan, design and predicting the performance of solar PV systems. The course will address solar energy resource, solar module characteristics and components as well as design processes of different PV system applications (such as grid-connected and standalone systems). In addition, the students will be able to use available solar radiation and other meteorological data to estimate the potential and performance of PV systems and carry out their economic viability.
Learning outcome:
After the completion of the course, students should be able:
- To plan, design and assess (the performance) PV energy systems
- To evaluate and predict the performance of solar energy conversion systems
- To carry out design calculations for PV systems
- To discuss factors that affect PV performance
- To use available solar radiation- and other meteorological data to assess the potential of PV.
- To select appropriate PV components for a given applications
- To communicate and discuss issues related to solar energy resource assessment
- To discuss issues related to planning and evaluation of PV energy systems projects
- To carry out performance analysis of PV installations
- To communicate issues covered in the course with both specialists and the public.
- To evaluate economic viability of PV energy systems
Learning activities:
Lectures, exercises and discussions
Teaching support:
CanvasCourse responsible can provide academic support to students during office hours
Syllabus:
Suggested reading books:Häberlin H (2012). Photovoltaics- system design and practice. John Wiley and Sons, Ltd, 1st EditionMasters GM (2013). Renewable and efficient electric power systems. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. Second Edition. (Note: Chapters 4, 5 and 6 for solar PV)Mertens K (2014). Photovoltaics: Fundamentals, Technology and Practice. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. First Edition.Messenger RA and Ventre J (2010). Photovoltaic systems engineering. CRC Press Taylor and Francis Group. Third Edition.
Other reading materials will be handed out at the first lecture
Prerequisites:
Basic knowledge in mathematics (MATH100) and MicrosoftExcel (BUS133), FORN200 or similar
Recommended prerequisites:
-
Mandatory activity:
Approved exercises, article review and presentation and, design project work.
Assessment:
3-hour written exam (counts 100%). Compulsory elements must be passed to pass the course.
Nominal workload:
300 hours
Entrance requirements:
Special requirements in Science
Type of course:
Combined 52 hours lectures and exercises, students' presentation
Note:
-
Examiner: | https://www.nmbu.no/course/FORN360?studieaar=2019 |
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
Industrial Applicability
The present disclosure is directed generally toward gas turbine engines, and more specifically toward a control system and method for a gas turbine engine.
A gas turbine power system can include a control system, a gas turbine engine having a plurality of engine actuators, and a plurality of engine sensors. The control system controls the engine by generating and providing effector signals to the engine actuators. The term "effector signal" is used herein to describe a command signal that controls operation of the engine through the engine actuators.
The effector signals can be generated by processing goals, limits and a basepoint estimate by a control system such that at least some of the goals are satisfied, subject to each limit being held (i.e., no limit is violated). An example of a goal is to operate the engine at a certain thrust level. An example of a limit (i.e., a maximum or minimum) is to prevent an engine component or system from exceeding a certain temperature, A limit is "active" when its limit value has been met; e.g., when a temperature of a component is, or is predicted to be, at or above a maximum limit temperature. A basepoint estimate is a set of goal and limit values that correspond to an equilibrium point at which each active limit is held and at least some of the goals are satisfied.
US 2013/0158680
discloses a hybrid control system for predicting behavior of a physical system. The hybrid control system includes a model inverting control system capable of implementing a model inverting control law and determining an active set of goals and limits, and a model predictive control system capable of implementing a model predictive control law and utilizing the active set of goals and limits to determine current effector requests.
During operation, the engine may experience various real-time changes in its system parameters. Changes in the system parameters can result from updated control signals, changes in environmental conditions and changes in operating conditions. Such changes can create discrepancies between engine parameters predicted by the control system and corresponding engine parameters measured by the engine sensors, which in turn can create error in the estimated basepoint.
A typical engine controller can compensate for discrepancies between predicted and measured engine parameters by determining basepoint error and correcting the next basepoint estimate as a function of the basepoint error. The basepoint error can be determined as a function of the goals, inequality limit equations derived from the limits, and equality basepoint equations generated by a basepoint estimator.
US 2015/0345403
discloses a control system for a gas turbine engine including a hybrid model predictive control (HMPC) module. The HPMC module receives power goals and operability limits and determining a multi-variable control command for the gas turbine enging using the power goals, the operability limits, actuator goals, sensor signals, and synthesis signals. The control system further includes system sensors for determining the sensor signals and a nonlinear engine model for estimating corrected speed signals and synthesis signals using the sensor signals, the synthesis signals including an estimated stall margin remaining. The control system further includes a goal generation module for determining actuator goals for the HMPC module using the corrected speed signals and an actuator for controlling the gas turbine engine based on the multivariable control command.
US 2011/0054704
discloses a control system for a gas turbine engine. The control system comprises a processor and a control law for controlling flow along a gas path. The processor includes an output module, a plurality of temperature modules, a thermodynamic module, a comparator and an estimator. The output module generates an output to direct the control law, as a function of rotor and housing temperatures defined along the gas path. The thermodynamic module models boundary conditions for the gas path, and the comparator determines errors in the boundary conditions. The estimator estimates the rotor and housing temperatures based on time derivatives, such that the errors are minimized and the flow is controlled along the gas path.
There is a need in the art, for an engine control system that can at least partially compensate for engine modeling errors and/or changes in engine operating conditions. There also exists a need for an engine control system that matches the change in power demand while maintaining a constant rotor speed.
In one embodiment, a control system for a gas turbine engine is disclosed, the control system comprising: (at least one) first sensor configured (operative) to generate a thrust lever angle signal indicative of a thrust lever angle commanded of the gas turbine engine; (at least one) second sensor in communication with the gas turbine engine and configured (operative) to generate at least one operating parameter signal indicative of at least one operating parameter of the gas turbine engine; a power rating module configured (operable) to receive the thrust lever angle signal and generate at least one goal signal indicative of an operating point goal for the gas turbine engine; an adaptation logic module configured (operable) to receive the at least one goal signal and the at least one operating parameter signal and generate a bandwidth signal indicative of an error between the at least one goal signal and the at least one operating parameter signal; a model-based estimation module configured (operable) to receive the bandwidth signal and generate an engine estimate signal indicative of estimated current engine parameters of the gas turbine engine based at least in part on the bandwidth signal; and a model-based control module configured (operable) to receive the at least one operating parameter signal, the at least one goal signal, and the engine estimate signal and to determine at least one of fuel flow, inlet guide vane schedules and stability bleed schedules based at least in part on the received at least one operating parameter signal, the at least one goal signal and the engine estimate signal, and to send effector signals to a gas generator of the gas turbine engine in order to control the gas generator according to at least one of the determined fuel flow, inlet guide vane schedules and stability bleed schedules.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the model-based control module may be configured to use a model-based constrained dynamic inversion methodology to determine at least one of the fuel flow, the inlet guide vane schedules and the stability bleed schedules.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the at least one operating parameter signal may comprise at least one of real-time speed, power, torque and thrust of the gas turbine engine.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the power rating module may utilize predetermined tables to generate the at least one goal signal.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the model-based control module may be also further configured to receive signals indicative of operation limits of the gas turbine engine, real-time inlet guide vane schedules and real-time stability bleed schedules.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the at least one operating parameter signal may comprise current engine speed, power, torque and/or thrust of the gas turbine engine.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the adaptation logic module may comprise: a comparator configured (operative) to determine an error signal comprising a difference between the at least one goal signal and the at least one operating parameter signal; a low pass filter configured (operable) to receive the error signal and produce a filtered error signal; an integrator configured (operable) to receive the filtered error signal and produce an integrated error signal; and a look-up table configured (operable) to produce the bandwidth signal based at least in part on at least one of the filtered error signal and the integrated error signal.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the model-based estimation module may comprise: a comparator configured (operative) to determine an error signal comprising a difference between the at least at least one operating parameter signal and a measurement of the engine estimate signal; a bias estimator configured operable to receive the error signal and the bandwidth signal and to produce a bias signal; a state variable model configured (operative) to produce a prediction signal indicative of a current state of the gas turbine engine; a prediction signal biasing device configured (operable) to receive the bias signal and the prediction signal and produce a predicted parameter signal indicative of the current state of the gas turbine engine; and a data storage device configured (operable) to store the predicted parameter signal and to produce the engine estimate signal.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the bias estimator may comprise one of a low pass filter, a Kalman filter, a neural network, optimal estimation, recursive system identification, asymptotic observer and an adaptive logic based on L1 adaptive control theory.
In another embodiment, a control system for a gas turbine engine including a power turbine is disclosed, the control system comprising: at least one sensor (operably coupled to) in communication with the gas turbine engine and configured (operative) to generate at least one operating parameter signal indicative of at least one operating parameter of the gas turbine engine; a load control module configured (operable) to receive a desired power turbine speed signal and to output a power turbine torque request (Qpt_req); and an adaptation logic module configured (operable) to receive the desired power turbine speed signal and the at least one operating parameter signal and generate a bandwidth signal indicative of an error between the desired power turbine speed signal and the at least one operating parameter signal; a model- based estimation module configured (operable) to receive the bandwidth signal and generate an engine estimate signal indicative of estimated current engine parameters of the gas turbine engine based at least in part on the bandwidth signal; and a gas generator control module configured (operable) to receive the power turbine torque request (Qpt_req) from the load control module and the estimated current engine parameters from the model-based estimation module, to determine at least one of fuel flow, inlet guide vane schedules, and stability bleed schedules based at least in part on the received power turbine torque request (Qpt_req) and the estimated current engine parameters, and to send signals to a gas generator of the gas turbine engine in order to control the gas generator according to at least one of the determined fuel flow, inlet guide vane schedules and stability bleed schedules.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the gas generator control module may be configured to use a model-based constrained dynamic inversion methodology to determine at least one of the fuel flow, the inlet guide vane schedules and the stability bleed schedules.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the gas generator control module may comprise: a gas generator model configured to determine system data based at least in part on the at least one operating parameter; an optimization formulation module configured to determine optimization data based at least in part on the system data; and a constrained optimization solver configured to use the model-based constrained dynamic inversion of the optimization data to determine at least one of the fuel flow, the inlet guide vane schedules and the stability bleed schedules.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the load control module may comprise: a rotor model configured or operable to receive a real-time collective lever angle command signal and to determine model system data; an optimization formulator configured or operable to receive the model system data and to produce optimization data; and a constrained optimization solver configured or operable to receive the optimization data and to generate the power turbine torque request (Qpt_req).
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, a load may be produced by a rotor coupled to the power turbine.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the at least one operating parameter signal may comprise current engine speed, power and/or thrust of the gas turbine engine.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the adaptation logic module may comprise: a comparator configured (operative) to determine an error signal comprising a difference between the desired power turbine speed signal and the at least one operating parameter signal; a low pass filter configured (operable) to receive the error signal and produce a filtered error signal; an integrator configured (operable) to receive the filtered error signal and produce an integrated error signal; and a look-up table configured (operable) to produce the bandwidth signal based at least in part on at least one of the filtered error signal and the integrated error signal.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the model-based estimation module may comprise: a comparator configured (operative) to determine an error signal comprising a difference between the at least at least one operating parameter signal and a feedback of the engine estimate signal; a bias estimator configured (operable) to receive the error signal and the bandwidth signal and to produce a bias signal; a state variable model configured (operative) to produce a prediction signal indicative of a current state of the gas turbine engine; a prediction signal biasing device configured (operable) to receive the bias signal and the prediction signal and produce a predicted parameter signal indicative of the current state of the gas turbine engine; and a data storage device configured (operable) to store the predicted parameter signal and to produce the engine estimate signal.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the bias estimator may comprise one of a low pass filter, a Kalman filter, a neural network, optimal estimation, recursive system identification, asymptotic observer and an adaptive logic based on L1 adaptive control theory.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the model-based estimation module may comprise: a state variable model configured (operative) to produce a prediction signal indicative of a current state of the gas turbine engine; a comparator configured (operative) to determine an error signal comprising a difference between the prediction signal and a feedback of the engine estimate signal; a low pass filter configured (operable) to receive the error signal and the bandwidth signal and to produce a bias signal; a prediction signal biasing device configured (operable) to receive the bias signal and the prediction signal and produce the engine estimate signal.
Other embodiments arc also disclosed.
FIG. 1
is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a gas turbine engine in an embodiment.
FIG. 2
FIG. 1
is a schematic representation of a control system for the gas turbine engine of in an embodiment.
FIG. 3
FIG, 2
is a schematic representation of an adaptation logic module for the control system of in an embodiment.
FIG. 4
FIG. 3
is a schematic representation of a lookup table that may be used with the adaptation logic module of in an embodiment.
FIG. 5
FIG, 2
is a schematic representation of a model-based estimation module for the control system of in an embodiment.
FIG. 6
FIG. 2
is a schematic representation of a model-based estimation module for the control system of in an embodiment.
FIG. 7
is a schematic representation of a gas turbine engine, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 8
FIG. 7
is a schematic representation of a control system for the gas turbine engine of in an embodiment.
FIG. 9
FIG. 8
is a schematic representation of an load control module for the control system of in an embodiment.
FIG. 10
FIG. 8
is a schematic representation of a gas generator control module for the control system of in an embodiment.
FIG. 11
is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process for controlling a gas turbine engine, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 12
is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process for controlling a gas turbine engine, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
The embodiments and other features, advantages and disclosures contained herein, and the manner of attaining them, will become apparent and the present disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following description of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to certain embodiments and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless he understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended, and alterations and modifications in the illustrated device, and further applications of the principles of the disclosure as illustrated therein are herein contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the disclosure relates.
FIG. 1
schematically illustrates a gas turbine engine 20. The gas turbine engine 20 is disclosed herein as a two-spool turbofan that generally incorporates a fan section 22, a compressor section 24, a combustor section 26 and a turbine section 28. Alternative engines might include an augmentor section (not shown) among other systems or features. The fan section 22 drives air along a bypass flow path B in a bypass duct, while the compressor section 24 drives air along a core flow path C for compression and communication into the combustor section 26 then expansion through the turbine section 28. Although depicted as a two-spool turbofan gas turbine engine in the disclosed non-limiting embodiment, it should be understood that the concepts described herein are not limited to use with two-spool turbofans as the teachings may be applied to other types of turbine engines including three-spool architectures.
The exemplary engine 20 generally includes a low speed spool 30 and a high speed spool 32 mounted for rotation about an engine central longitudinal axis A relative to an engine static structure 36 via several bearing systems 38. It should be understood that various bearing systems 38 at various locations may alternatively or additionally be provided, and the location of bearing systems 38 may be varied as appropriate to the application.
The low speed spool 30 generally includes an inner shaft 40 that interconnects a fan 42, a low pressure compressor 44 and a low pressure turbine 46. The inner shaft 40 is connected to the fan 42 through a speed change mechanism, which in exemplary gas turbine engine 20 is illustrated as a geared architecture 48 to drive the fan 42 at a lower speed than the low speed spool 30. The high speed spool 32 includes an outer shaft 50 that interconnects a high pressure compressor 52 and high pressure turbine 54. A combustor 56 is arranged in exemplary gas turbine 20 between the high pressure compressor 52 and the high pressure turbine 54. An engine static structure 36 is arranged generally between the high pressure turbine 54 and the low pressure turbine 46. The engine static structure 36 further supports bearing systems 38 in the turbine section 28. The inner shaft 40 and the outer shaft 50 are concentric and rotate via bearing systems 38 about the engine central longitudinal axis A which is collincar with their longitudinal axes.
The core airflow is compressed by the low pressure compressor 44 then the high pressure compressor 52, mixed and burned with fuel in the combustor 56, then expanded over the high pressure turbine 54 and low pressure turbine 46. The turbines 46, 54 rotationally drive the respective low speed spool 30 and high speed spool 32 in response to the expansion. It will be appreciated that each of the positions of the fan section 22, compressor section 24, combustor section 26, turbine section 28, and fan drive gear system 48 may be varied. For example, gear system 48 may be located aft of combustor section 26 or even aft of turbine section 28, and fan section 22 may be positioned forward or aft of the location of gear system 48.
The engine 20 in one example is a high-bypass geared aircraft engine. In a further example, the engine 20 bypass ratio is greater than about six (6), with an example embodiment being greater than about ten (10), the geared architecture 48 is an epicyclic gear train, such as a planetary gear system or other gear system, with a gear reduction ratio of greater than about 2.3 and the low pressure turbine 46 has a pressure ratio that is greater than about five. In one disclosed embodiment, the engine 20 bypass ratio is greater than about ten (10:1), the fan diameter is significantly larger than that of the low pressure compressor 44, and the low pressure turbine 46 has a pressure ratio that is greater than about five 5:1. Low pressure turbine 46 pressure ratio is pressure measured prior to inlet of low pressure turbine 46 as related to the pressure at the outlet of the low pressure turbine 46 prior to an exhaust nozzle. The geared architecture 48 may be an epicycle gear train, such as a planetary gear system or other gear system, with a gear reduction ratio of greater than about 23:1. It should be understood, however, that the above parameters are only exemplary of one embodiment of a geared architecture engine and that the present invention is applicable to other gas turbine engines including direct drive turbofans.
0.5
A significant amount of thrust is provided by the bypass flow B due to the high bypass ratio. The fan section 22 of the engine 20 is designed for a particular flight conditiontypically cruise at about 0.8 Mach and about 35,000 feet (10,688 meters). The flight condition of 0.8 Mach and 35,000 ft (10,688 meters), with the engine at its best fuel consumption - also known as "bucket cruise Thrust Specific Fuel Consumption ('TSFC')" - is the industry standard parameter of lbm of fuel being burned divided by lbf of thrust the engine produces at that minimum point. "Low fan pressure ratio" is the pressure ratio across the fan blade alone, without a Fan Exit Guide Vane ("FEGV") system. The low fan pressure ratio as disclosed herein according to one non-limiting embodiment is less than about 1.45. "Low corrected fan tip speed" is the actual fan tip speed in ft/sec divided by an industry standard temperature correction of [(Tram °R) / (518.7 °R)]. The "Low corrected fan tip speed" as disclosed herein according to one non-limiting embodiment is less than about 1150 ft / second (350.5 m/sec).
The present embodiments include a system and method for controlling a multivariable system such as a gas turbine engine to compensate for real-time changes in its system parameters. The engine system parameters may include a speed of one or more of the spools, pressure, temperature and air flow of various engine components and sections, and engine operation parameters such as stall margin remain, etc. Some of the engine system parameters may be used as engine system states in a physics engine model.
Changes in the system parameters can create discrepancies between one or more predicted engine parameters and corresponding measured engine parameters, which discrepancies can be referred to as "model error". The present system and method can compensate for such changes by processing one or more goal values derived from respective goals and one or more limit values derived from respective limits along with one or more biases using a control methodology, which will be described below in further detail. The biases (sometimes referred to as "tuners", disturbances", "estimates" or "model parameters") are numerical values (e.g., -5, 3/16, 8.7, etc.) used within the control system to adjust (e.g., correct) the goal and/or limit values for modeling error due to, for example, changes in engine state, engine efficiency (or inefficiency), wear, or a net effect of these or other signals. The present system and method, therefore, can (i) quickly respond to changes in system parameters and/or (ii) enable inclusion of additional goals and/or limits.
FIG. 2
FIG. 2
Referring now to , a control system 60 for the gas turbine engine 20 is shown, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The control system 60 may comprise digital and/or analog elements. In an embodiment, the control system 60 may comprise a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions, such as, at least one computer processor. As shown best in , the control system 60 may include a model-based control module 64. The model-based control module 64 is in communication with the gas turbine engine 20 (e.g., control units and/or sensors of the gas turbine engine 20). For example, the control system 60 may include a plurality of sensors operatively connected to the computer processor. The plurality of sensors may be disposed on the gas turbine engine 20, generating signals indicative of operating parameters, such as, without limitation, a real-time speed (NL), power and/or thrust 80.
The model-based control module 64 manages power demand of the gas turbine engine 20. A goals signal 66 (for example, speed (NL), power and/or thrust) may be sent to the model-based control module 64 from a power rating module 68. Power rating module 68 receives a thrust lever angle signal (TLA) from an appropriate sensor to generate goals signal. Since engine 20 speed, power and thrust are a function of the thrust lever angle (TLA), power rating module 68 may utilize tables to generate the goals signal 66 based on the thrust lever angle (TLA) command and flight conditions.
The model-based control module 64 may receive a signal indicative of estimated current engine parameters 70 in real-time from model-based estimation module 72. Model-based estimation module 72 may determine the estimated current engine parameters using a bandwidth signal 73 provided by adaptation logic module 75, as described in greater detail hereinbelow, Other inputs, such as, signals indicative of gas turbine engine limits 74, real-time inlet guide vane (IGV) and stability bleed (BLD) schedules 76, and measured values 78 from sensors on engine 20 may also be received by the model-based control module 64. Finally, model-based control module 64 may receive actual current engine 20 speed, power and/or thrust signals 80. A function of the model-based control module 64 is to make the goals signal 66 dynamically match the measurement signal 80 by controlling fuel (WF), inlet guide vane (IGV) schedules, and/or stability bleed (BLD) schedules. In some applications, if corresponding measurement signals 80 are not available for any of the goals 66 (such as thrust, for example), then estimated quantities 70 from the model-based estimation module 72 may be used, The model-based control module 64 may also choose between measurement signals 80 and estimated signals 70 for better closed-loop performance.
As used herein, the term "inlet guide vane schedules" may refer to the positioning of the low compressor stator vanes and the high compressor stator vanes, The term "stability bleed schedules", as used herein, may refer to the positioning of the bleed valves between the compressors. Both the inlet guide vane angles and the stability bleed valves may be scheduled or adjusted as a function of corrected compressor speed in a way to manage compressor stability margin.
US 2013/0158680 A1
Based at least in part on the received signals, the model-based control module 64 uses model-based constrained dynamic inversion (such as that disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication , to name one non-limiting example) to determine a fuel flow (WF), inlet guide vane (IGV) schedules, and stability bleed (BLD) schedules of the engine 22 that will achieve engine 20 operation in accordance with at least a portion of the goals 66. In so doing, the model-based control module 64 manages multi-variable controls of the engine 20 to quickly respond to power demand changes, A control request signal 79 that includes a fuel flow signal (WF) indicative of the determined fuel flow request, an inlet guide vane signal (IGV) indicative of the determined inlet guide vane position request, and a stability bleed signal (BLD) indicative of the determined stability bleed position request is sent from the model-based control module 64 to the gas turbine engine 20. The fuel flow, inlet guide vane positions, and stability bleed valves of the engine 20 are then adjusted via actuators according to the control request signal 79 received from the model-based control module 64.
The adaptation logic module 75 receives both the engine 20 sensor measurements 78 and the goals 66, and uses the error between the goals 66 and the measured feedback signal 78 to determine an approximate quantity of model inaccuracy. Using this inaccuracy determination, the adaptation logic 75 determines bandwidth (i.e., weighting) signal 73 to apply to the model-based estimation module 72.
FIG. 3
FIG. 4
In an embodiment, the adaptation logic module 75 may be implemented as shown in . A comparator 81 creates an error signal 82 by determining a difference between the goals 66 and the measured feedback signal 78. The error signal 82 is applied to a low-pass filter 84 to produce a filtered error signal 86. The low-pass filter may be a first order lag filter in an embodiment. The filtered error signal 86 is applied to an integrator 88 to produce an integrated error signal 90. At least one of the filtered error signal 86 and the integrated error signal 90 is used as an input to look-up tables 92. The output of the look-up tables 92 is the bandwidth signal 73 that is used to determine the estimation bandwidth 73. For example, the look-up tables 92 may take the form shown in in an embodiment. If the integrated error signal 90 is within a predetermined nominal range (for example, for aircraft or rotorcraft operating at cruise), then a predetermined minimum bandwidth Wmin may be chosen. The smaller bandwidth Wmin means that a relatively larger weighting will be given to the linear model prediction of the model-based estimation module 72, therefore the model estimation is given relatively more weighting than the measurement feedback. If, on the other hand, the integrated error signal 90 exceeds the predetermined nominal range (for example, when a fast transient causes a large rotor excursion in a turboshaft application), then a predetermined maximum bandwidth Wmax may be chosen. The larger bandwidth Wmax means that a relatively smaller weighting will be given to the linear model prediction of the model-based estimation module 72 and a relatively larger weighting will be given to the measurement 78, thereby favoring the measurement feedback over the model prediction. In other embodiments, other methods arc used to produce the bandwidth signal 73.
FIG. 5
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0281641
In an embodiment, the model-based estimation module 72 may take the form illustrated in . The measured feedback signal 78 and the estimated current engine parameters 70 are applied to a comparator 94. The output of comparator 94 is applied to a bias estimator 96. An example of a suitable bias estimator 96 is disclosed in , which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Other examples of suitable bias estimators include, for example, a low-pass filter, a Kalman filter, a neural network, optimal estimation, recursive system identification, asymptotic observer, an adaptive logic based on L1 adaptive control theory, etc. The bias estimator 96 uses the bandwidth signal 73 as a gain signal when determining a bias signal 98. An engine on-board state variable model 102 may use the control request signal 79 and/or real control actuation measurements in a real-time model prediction that produces a prediction signal 104. Both the bias signal 98 and the prediction signal 104 are summed together in the operation block 100 to produce output signal 106. The predicted parameter signal 106 is applied to a data storage device 108. The output of the data storage device 108 is the estimated current engine parameters signal 70.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,216,071
U.S. Pat No. 7,277,838
U.S, Pat. No. 7,472,100
12/552,656
12/475,038
Suitable examples of empirical and/or physics-based on-board models 102 are disclosed in , , , U.S. patent application Ser. No. , and U.S. patent application Ser. No. , each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The presently disclosed embodiments, however, are not limited to the aforesaid examples. The on-board model 102 may model, for example, how the dynamics of the engine 20 will change as a respective engine actuator responds to an effector signal to increase the fuel injection flow rate, for example. The on-board model 102 may predicted, for example, that the engine will operate at 60.5% thrust, rather than a goal 60.75% thrust, where environmental conditions have become unfavorable. One of the predicted engine parameters 104 therefore may be indicative of a fan speed that corresponds to the engine operating at 60.5% thrust.
FIG. 6
<mi>G</mi><mfenced><mi>s</mi></mfenced><mo>=</mo><mfrac><mi>W</mi><mrow><mi>S</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>W</mi></mrow></mfrac>
In another embodiment, the model-based estimation module 72 may take the form illustrated in . The measured feedback signal 78 and the predicted engine parameters 104 are applied to a comparator 94. The output of comparator 94 is applied to a low pass filter 110. The bandwidth W signal 73 is also applied to the low pass filter 110. In an embodiment, the low pass filter 110 frequency response comprises:
<mi>G</mi><mfenced><mi>s</mi></mfenced><mo>=</mo><mfrac><msup><mi>W</mi><mn>2</mn></msup><mrow><msup><mi>S</mi><mn>2</mn></msup><mo>+</mo><mi mathvariant="italic">kWS</mi><mo>+</mo><msup><mi>W</mi><mn>2</mn></msup></mrow></mfrac>
In another embodiment, the low pass filter 110 frequency response comprises:
An output of the low pass filter 110 is a bias signal 112. The bias signal 112 is applied as an input to the prediction signal biasing device 100. The engine on-board state variable model 102 produces a prediction signal 104 that is also applied as an input to the prediction signal biasing device 100. The output of the prediction signal biasing device 100 is the estimated current engine parameters signal 70.
FIG. 12
FIGS. 2-6
Turning now to , with continued reference to , an exemplary process 380 for controlling the gas turbine engine 20 is shown. At block 382, the control system 60 may receive the sensed real-time thrust lever angle command (TLA). The power rating module 68 of the control system 60 generates the goals 66, based at least in part on the real-time thrust lever angle (TLA) command, at block 384. At block 386, a bandwidth signal 73 is generated by the adaptation logic 75. The bandwidth signal 73 is used by the model-based estimation module 72 to generate estimated current engine parameters at block 388. At block 390, the model-based control module 64 of the control system 60 generates the fuel flow (WF), the inlet guide vane (IGV), and the stability bleed (BLD) signals based at least in part on the goals 66 generated by the power rating module 68 and the estimated current engine parameters generated by the model-based estimation module 72. The gas turbine engine 20 is operated according to the generated fuel flow (WF), inlet guide vane (IGV), and stability bleed (BLD) signals at block 392.
FIG. 7
Referring now to , in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure, another exemplary gas turbine engine 120 is shown, In this example, the gas turbine engine 120 is a turboshaft engine, although other types of gas turbine engines are certainly applicable to this disclosure. The gas turbine engine 120 may be used on an aircraft for generating thrust or power, on a rotorcraft for generating output shaft power, or in land-based operations for generating power as well.
The gas turbine engine 120 may generally comprise a gas generator section 122 and a power turbine section 124. The gas generator section 122 may include a compressor section 126 where air is pressurized, a combustor 128 downstream of the compressor section which mixes and ignites the compressed air with fuel and thereby generates hot combustion gases, a turbine section 130 downstream of the combustor 128 for extracting power from the hot combustion gases, and an annular flow path 132 extending axially through each.
The gas generator section 122 may comprise a single-spool configuration or a two-spool configuration. In this example, the gas generator section 122 comprises a two-spool configuration, particularly, a low spool 134 and a high spool 136. Mounted to the low spool 134 is a low pressure turbine 138 which drives a low pressure compressor 140. Mounted to the high spool 136 is a high pressure turbine 142 which drives a high pressure compressor 144. More or less than two spools may certainly be used in the gas generator section 122. The power turbine section 124 of the gas turbine engine 120 comprises a power turbine 146 mounted to a power turbine spool 148. The gas generator section 122 generates combustion gas that imparts torque to the power turbine spool 148 through the power turbine 146. The power turbine spool 148 may drive a load 150, such as, without limitation, a rotor, a turbo-pump, an electrical generator, a propeller, or other load. Although not shown, a gear box may multiply the torque or power from the power turbine spool 148 to the load 150.
FIGS. 8-10
FIG. 7
FIG. 8
Referring now to , with continued reference to , a control system 160 for the gas turbine engine 120 is shown, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The control system 160 may comprise digital and/or analog elements. In an embodiment, the control system 160 may comprise a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions, such as, at least one computer processor. As shown best in , the control system 160 may include a load control module 162 in communication with a gas generator control module 164. The load and gas generator control modules 162, 164 are also in communication with the gas turbine engine 120 and load 150 (e.g., control units and/or sensors of the gas turbine engine 120 and load 150), For example, the control system 160 may include a plurality of sensors operatively connected to the computer processor. The plurality of sensors may be disposed on the gas turbine engine 120 and load 150, generating signals indicative of operating parameters, such as, without limitation, a real-time power turbine speed and a real-time estimated power turbine torque.
The load control module 162 and the gas generator control module 164 create a cascaded architecture of the control system 160 in order to manage power demand of the gas turbine engine 120 and rotor speed of the load 150. The load control module 162 may be in communication with the load 150, and the gas generator control module 164 may be in communication with the gas generator section 122 of the gas turbine engine 120. In this example, the load 150 is a combination of the power turbine and main rotor of the helicopter, although other loads are certainly possible, The gas generator section 122 and the load 150 may also be in communication with each other. In addition, a model based estimation module 72 may be in communication with the gas generator control module 164 to provide the estimated current engine parameters 70 thereto, Adaptation logic module 75 provides the bandwidth W signal 73 to the model-based estimation module 72.
The load control module 162 may receive a signal from the rotor load 150 indicative of current power turbine speed feedback (NP) in real-time. In addition, the load control module 162 may receive a desired power turbine operation speed (NP_ref) signal and a signal indicative of a collective lever angle command (CLA), that is, a collective pitch command, in real-time. Based at least in part on the received signals, the load control module 162 determines a torque request (Qpt_req) of the power turbine that will match the power turbine speed feedback signal (NP) in real-time to the desired power turbine speed (NP_ref) by control regulation. Tn so doing, the load control module 162 may maintain the power turbine 146 at a same rotor speed, or power turbine speed. The ratio between rotor speed and power turbine speed may be constant and may be determined by the gear ratio of the gear box coupling the rotor to the power turbine spool in an embodiment. A signal indicative of the determined torque request (Qpt_req) is then sent from the load control module 162 to the gas generator control module 164.
FIG. 9
In order to generate the torque request, the load control module 162 may employ inversion of a dynamic model. For example, as shown in , the load control module 162 may include a rotor model 268, an optimization formulator 270, and a constrained optimization solver 272. The rotor model 268 may model dynamic behavior of the rotor. It is to be understood that the model 268 may apply to other loads than the rotor, such as, without limitation, a turbo-pump, an electrical generator, a propeller, or the like. The load control module 162 may also employ other methods, such as, proportional integral plus feed-forward control methods as an approach for dynamically matching the desired power turbine operation speed (NP_ref) and the current power turbine speed feedback (NP) so as to determine the power turbine torque request signal (Qpt_req) for the load control module 162.
The rotor model 268 may be a linear or nonlinear (e.g., differential algebraic equations, possibly in numerical simulation form), physics and data-based model based at least in part on the power turbine speed feedback signal (NP) and collective lever angle command (CLA), In addition, the model 268 may be based on other inputs, such as operational inputs or environmental conditions including airframe speed, power turbine speed percentage, collective lever angle percentage, and autorotation mode (e.g., autorotation and autorotation recovery). Optimization formulator 270 may receive model system data from the rotor model 268, as well as the desired power turbine speed (NP_ref) and the power turbine speed feedback signal (NP). Based on those inputs, optimization formulator 270 may formulate an optimization problem for which optimization software will be able to solve as a numerically iterative process in real-time.
Constrained optimization solver 272 may receive optimization data from the optimization formulator 270 in order to generate power turbine torque request (Qpt_req). Constrained optimization solver 272 may be a numerical iteration tool which finds a solution to the optimization problem formulated by optimization formulator 270. In addition, constrained optimization solver 272 may be constrained to certain limits, such as, a torque limit of the power turbine 124. In so doing, the load control module 162 utilizes constrained dynamic inversion of the rotor model in real-time to generate the torque request (Qpt_req).
FIG. 8
Referring back to , the gas generator control module 164 receives the power turbine torque request signal (Qpt_req) from the load control module 162. In addition, the gas generator control module 164 may receive a signal indicative of an estimated power turbine torque (Qpt_est) in real-time from the model-based estimation module 72. Other inputs, such as, signals indicative of gas generator speed maximum limit (NG_max), gas turbine engine limits, and inlet guide vane (IGV) and stability bleed (BLD) schedules in real-time may also be received by the gas generator control module 164.
The gas generator speed maximum limit (NG_max) signal may be sent to the gas generator control module 164 from a power rating module 173. Power rating module 173 receives a power lever angle signal (PLA) to generate gas generator speed maximum limit (NG_max) signal. Since gas generator speed is a function of power lever angle, power rating module 173 may utilize tables to generate the gas generator speed maximum limit (NG_max) signal based on the power lever angle (PLA) command.
As used herein, the term "inlet guide vane schedules" may refer to the positioning of the low compressor stator vanes and the high compressor stator vanes. The term "stability bleed schedules", as used herein, may refer to the positioning of the bleed valves between the compressors. Both the inlet guide vane angles and the stability bleed valves may be scheduled or adjusted as a function of corrected compressor speed in a way to manage compressor stability margin.
Based at least in part on the received signals, the gas generator control module 164 determines a fuel flow (WF), inlet guide vane (IGV) schedules, and stability bleed (BLD) schedules of the gas generator section 122 that will deliver the power turbine torque request (Qpt_req) generated by the load control module 162. In so doing, the gas generator control module 164 manages multi-variable controls of the gas generator section 122 to quickly respond to power demand changes, A fuel flow signal (WF) indicative of the determined fuel flow, an inlet guide vane signal (IGV) indicative of the determined inlet guide vane schedules, and a stability bleed signal (BLD) indicative of the determined stability bleed schedules (collectively, signal 179) are sent from the gas generator control module 164 to the gas generator section 122 of the gas turbine engine 120, The fuel flow, inlet guide vane positions, and stability bleed valves of the gas generator section 122 are then adjusted according to the signals received from the gas generator control module 164,
FIG. 10
In order to generate the fuel flow (WF), inlet guide vane schedules (IGV), and stability bleed schedules (BLD), the gas generator control module 164 employs a dynamical inversion approach, For example, as shown in , the gas generator control module 164 may include a gas generator model 274, an optimization formulator 276, and a constrained optimization solver 278. The gas generator model 274 may describe dynamic behavior of the gas generator. The gas generator model 274 may be a linear or nonlinear (e.g., differential algebraic equations, possibly in numerical simulation form), physics and data-based model based at least in part on the power turbine speed feedback signal (NP) and operational inputs. The operational inputs may include, but not be limited to an altitude of the airframe (ambient pressure over standard day pressure) and a corrected speed of the rotor spool.
US 2013/0158680 A1
Optimization formulator 276 may receive collect real-time data to formulate an optimization cost function (in part based on an error between a desired goal and the current state of a variable), and to formulate optimization constraints (in part based on an operational boundary of a variable in real physics). To do so, the optimization formulator 276 may use the power turbine torque request (Qpt_req) and the estimated power turbine torque signal (Qpt_est) to determine a cost function of the power turbine torque goal. The optimization formulator 276 may also use the IGV and BLD schedules together with the system data from the gas-generator model 274 to determine a cost function of the actuation goal. The optimization formulator 276 may further use the system data from the gas-generator model 274 together with the engine limits of the gas turbine engine 20, such as, without limitation, a rotor speed limit, a compressor stall limit, a lean blowout limit, a temperature limit, a pressure limit, or the like, as the optimization constraint data in formulating an optimization problem. Based on those inputs, optimization formulator 276 may formulate an optimization problem for which optimization software will be able to solve as a numerically iterative process in real-time. Constrained optimization solver 278 may receive optimization data From the optimization formulator 276 in order to generate the requested fuel flow, inlet guide vane schedules, and stability bleed schedules (WF, IGV & BLD request). Constrained optimization solver 278 may be a numerical iteration tool which finds a solution to the optimization problem formulated by optimization formulator 276 using a model-based constrained dynamic inversion (such as that disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication , to name one non-limiting example). Real-time implementation of the gas generator control module 164 generates values for fuel flow, inlet guide vane schedules, and stability bleed schedules that deliver a torque of the power turbine section 24 that is proximate or equal to the torque request (Qpt_req) and within the limits of the gas turbine engine 120.
FIG. 11
FIGS, 8-10
Turning now to , with continued reference to , an exemplary process 280 for controlling the gas turbine engine 120 is shown. At block 282, the control system 160 may receive the real-time collective lever angle command (CLA) and the real-time power turbine speed (NP) signal. The load control module 162 of the control system 160 generates the torque request (Qpt_req) based at least in part on the real-time collective lever angle (CLA) command and the real-time power turbine speed (NP) signal, at block 284. At block 286, a bandwidth signal 73 is generated by the adaptation logic 75. The bandwidth signal 73 is used by the model-based estimation module 72 to generate estimated current engine parameters at block 288, At block 290, the gas generator control module 164 of the control system 160 generates the fuel flow (WF), the inlet guide vane (IGV), and the stability bleed (BLD) signals based at least in part on the generated torque request (Qpt__req) by the load control module 162 and the estimated current engine parameters generated by the model-based estimation module 72. The gas turbine engine 120 is operated according to the generated fuel flow (WF), inlet guide vane (IGV), and stability bleed (BLD) signals at block 292. More specifically, the gas generator control module 164 sends the fuel flow, inlet guide vane, and stability bleed signals to the gas generator section 122 of the gas turbine engine 120 in order to control the torque output of the power turbine section 124.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that the teachings of this disclosure can find industrial application in any number of different situations, including but not limited to, gas turbine engines. Such engines may be used, for example, on aircraft for generating thrust, on rotorcraft for generating output shaft power, or in land, marine, or aircraft applications for generating power.
The described disclosure provides a multi-variable control system embedded with an adaptive estimation module for a gas turbine engine. In one non-limiting example, the presently disclosed control systems and methods may find application in the control of a turboshaft engine, where they allow for the gas turbine engine to promptly deliver a requested change in power demand during flight maneuvers, while at the same time, minimizing power turbine speed excursion caused by a rotor load at various power levels. The disclosed system and method coordinate multi-variable controls, i.e., fuel flow and ingle guide vane schedules, in order to meet the power demand under engine operation limits.
The cascaded architecture of the disclosed control system includes a load control module for power turbine control and a gas generator control module for gas generator control. Based on a collective lever angle command from a pilot of the aircraft, the load control module calculates a power turbine torque request based upon a power turbine speed error, thereby minimizing the power turbine speed excursion. In order to minimize error between the calculated power turbine torque request and an estimated real-time power turbine torque, the gas generator control module utilizes a real-time implementation of a dynamic model for the gas generator to regulate both fuel flow and inlet guide vanes of the gas turbine engine.
By using the control system and method disclosed herein, rotor speed excursion is reduced during quick changes in load or power demand, thereby providing improved flight handling quality at various power levels, In addition, more consistent compressor stall/surge protection is provided due to the limits or constraints incorporated into the gas generator control module, Furthermore, as applied to a turboshaft engine, the multi-variable control system with cascaded architecture affords smoother transients between autorotation and recovery. Moreover, the disclosed system and method provides improved integration with different airframes in load changes.
While the presently disclosed embodiments have been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, | |
Who is Robert Ruwe?
Robert Paul Ruwe is a senior judge of the United States Tax Court.
Ruwe was born in Ohio, and graduated from Roger Bacon High School, St. Bernard, Ohio, in 1959. He earned his BA at Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1963, and was a Special Agent for the Intelligence Division of the Internal Revenue Service from 1963-70. In 1970, he received his J.D. from Salmon P. Chase College of Law in 1970, graduating first in class. He then joined the Office of Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service in 1970, and held the following positions with the IRS: Trial Attorney, Director, Criminal Tax Division, Deputy Associate Chief Counsel, and Director, Tax Litigation Division. He was appointed by President Ronald Reagan as Judge, United States Tax Court, on November 20, 1987, for a term ending November 19, 2002. Ruwe retired on November 20, 2002, but continues to perform judicial duties as Senior Judge on recall.
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About the silhouette
The silhouette is different from the vintage ones that are still in the market as dead stock. We made the length longer and added a natural curve from the bust to the hem, and made the front length a little longer than the back length to create a sharp looking A-line.
The front length is a little longer than the back length to create a sharp A-line. The sleeves are also made thin enough to fit the modern Japanese body shape.
Characteristics of the fabric
For the cotton, we used a hard and rough raw cotton and spun it using a method (high-twist) that produces a rough feeling, creating an unprecedented uneven 5th count.
For the dyeing, we used 100% indigo to create a darker and darker color.
In order to make it easier to produce a sense of bite, low tension is applied and the fabric is hammered to the limit.
Features of sewing
For the sewing thread, four colors of threads (orange, banana yellow, golden brown, and white) and four different yarn counts (No. 30, No. 20, No. 8, and No. 0) are used in the right places.
The fabric is hot and hard, so a binder is used for wrapping and sewing.
We made a wrapper (binder) for this fabric from scratch, and after many failures, we were able to bring it into mass production. | https://eight-g.shop/en/products/8jk-02 |
"One of the Clinic's objectives is to improve patient safety, which is why it is particularly interested in improving the hygiene of our professionals' and patients' hands".
DR. FRANCISCO GUILLÉN GRIMA DIRECTOR. PREVENTIVE MEDICINE DEPARTMENT
The Clinic's Preventive Medicine Service seeks to optimize patient safety. Therefore, we improve the hygiene of the hands of its professionals and patients. It is an effective prevention.
The Clinic has advanced techniques of early diagnosis that have demonstrated their high degree of effectiveness.
We deal with medical actions to avoid complications in patients and we act in the sanitary activities to avoid or reduce the consequences of the interventions of the sanitary system: hospital infections of the surgical area, aspergillus, legionella, nocosomial pneumonia, infection by central venous catheter and urinary infection by catheterization.
We control and monitor patients with infections caused by germs resistant to multiple antibiotics, the so-called multi-resistant germs. We educate the patients and the relatives and companions of the patients with these diseases.
We perform sanitary controls in water, air, facilities and food to ensure that patients and their companions are in a safe environment at all times.
Infection prevention for the safety of our patients
IN NAVARRE AND MADRID
SECTIONS
-
Hand washing with soap and water
-
Hand washing with hydroalcoholic solution
-
Flora resident or colonizer
-
Transient or contaminating flora
NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS
-
Surgical site infection
-
Aspergillus infection
-
Legionella infection
-
Nosocomial pneumonia
-
Central venous catheter infection
-
Urinary tract infection due to catheterization
Our team of professionals
Hand washing
- Reduce the risks of contamination and infection associated with hands.
- Describe the technique of hand washing in different situations.
- Indications for cleaning and antiseptic hand washing.
- Indicate the soaps and antiseptics to be used for each hand washing.
- Inform and train all health workers about the convenience of handwashing and the specific technique to be used in each case.
- Establish the channel to evaluate the degree of adhesion and its effectiveness.
Safer than ever to continue taking care of you
We update safety protocols weekly with the latest scientific evidence and the knowledge of the best international centers with which we collaborate. | https://www.cun.es/en/our-professionals/medical-services/preventive-medicine |
Returning to Work and the Reluctant Employee
Epic Systems, the Verona, Wisconsin-based healthcare software company, announced this week that it will require all of its roughly 10,000 employees to return to work at its large campus outside of Madison by September 21, 2020. While it has been reported that employees will be required to wear masks and practice social distancing, and that employees with health issues will be offered accommodations, all others will no longer be allowed to work remotely. As such, Epic will join the legions of businesses across Wisconsin and the nation struggling with the challenges of reopening their workplaces and bringing on a full contingent of workers in the midst of a surging pandemic, which has no end in sight.
Like employees across the country in similar circumstances, Epic employees have expressed concerns that this move places their health at risk and many are understandably apprehensive and perhaps reluctant to return in the midst of the ongoing COVID crisis. Employees concerns about returning to work, and managements’ responses, raise a host of legal issues that govern the modern workplace. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution to address all of these concerns, the following is an examination of the issues to consider when employees express an unwillingness or indeed a refusal to return to work. As in most employment issues, caution is the watchword and a close examination and understanding of both the facts and legal landscape are critical before taking any action in response to these quandaries.
Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
Under OSHA, employees can refuse to work if they reasonably believe they are in imminent danger. They must have a reasonable belief that there is a threat of death or serious physical harm likely to occur immediately or within a short period of time for this to apply. The danger cannot be based on just a generalized fear, but it must be real and identifiable. As OSHA has published “Guidance on Returning to Work” (https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA4045.pdf), which is intended to align with the lifting of stay-at-home orders of state and federal governments, and incorporates the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it will be difficult for employees to demonstrate that the COVID crisis, in and of itself, presents such an imminent danger under OSHA. It is also worth noting that while there are no workplace safety standards that specifically address COVID-19, employers must continue to follow their duty under OSHA to provide workplaces that are free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm.
Americans with Disability Act (ADA)
Under the ADA, and similar law in Wisconsin, employees are entitled to a reasonable accommodation for conditions which are covered under those laws. Employers must consider providing employees with covered disabilities reasonable accommodations due to COVID-19, such as remote work, altered worksite assignments, extended leave, flexible hours, job-restructuring, physical changes to the worksite or additional protective equipment. Such disability related accommodations are required so long as those requests do not create an undue hardship for employers. The ADA requires employers to engage in an interactive process with employees to determine employees’ disability related concerns about returning to work and how those concerns may be alleviated. Employers may ask employees for documentation to support the requested accommodation. Such discussions should be conducted consistent with internal policies to address accommodation requests unrelated to the COVID crisis. In addition, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has posted a question-and-answer document entitled What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws (https://www.eeoc.gov/wysk/what-you-should-know-about-covid-19-and-ada-rehabilitation-act-and-other-eeo-laws) which provides helpful guidance on how to address employees who are concerned with returning to work due to a disability during the pandemic.
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
If an employee’s inability to return work is directly related to circumstances caused by the COVID crisis, they may be entitled to legally protected leave under the FFCRA. Employers with under 500 employees are subject to the leave requirements of the FFCRA, which very generally provides 12 weeks of paid leave for employees who are unable to work because they need to care for children related to school or daycare closure due to a public health care emergency. It also provides employees with 10 days (80) hours of paid sick leave when an employee cannot work due to circumstances related to the coronavirus. We previously explained the fairly detailed paid leave benefits under the FFCRA which can be reviewed here: https://gpjlaw.com/families-first-coronavirus-response-act/. Accordingly, if an employer reopens, employees may be still entitled to paid leave under FFCRA if they are unable to work (or to work remotely) for certain COVID-19 related reasons. In addition to the protections under FFCRA, employees may be entitled to additional leave under state and federal FMLA. Again, review of leave availability should be conducted consistent with internal policies in place to address leave requests unrelated to the COVID crisis
National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)
Employees, whether or not they are unionized, have the right to engage in concerted activity for mutual aid or protection under the NLRA. For example, if two or more employees refused to work or accept certain assignments due to conditions related to COVID-19, or an employee demanded certain safety equipment on behalf of herself and others, such activities may be protected under the NLRA. In such circumstances, employers may be subject to fines and penalties for violating an employee’s NLRA rights should they take adverse action against such employees for engaging in that conduct. Employers should carefully analyze all such situations before taking appropriate action so as to not mistakenly run afoul of the NLRA.
Unemployment Compensation Benefits
The ability to receive unemployment compensation benefits is largely governed by state law and procedures. For example, in Wisconsin if an employee voluntarily decides not to return to work when the business reopens, they will not be eligible for unemployment benefits. Unemployment benefits are available to individuals who are totally or partially unemployed due to no fault of their own. In this example, the individual—not the employer—is choosing not to work and, therefore, would be ineligible. However, the facts of each circumstance are important. An investigation would be conducted to determine if the employee would still be eligible.
In all situations where employees express some concerns about returning to work due to COVID-19, or simply refuse to return to work due to the pandemic, employers should clearly understand the basis for the employees’ reluctance. Some of the reasons for the reluctance may be legally protected while some may not. Employees with a generalized concern about contracting the virus will likely not be protected, while employees with an underlying health condition, disability or family leave issue, may be protected. Accordingly, employers are encouraged to develop policies and protocols to review requests thoroughly and in a consistent manner, and to document how those requests are resolved. This may be a fact-intensive analysis, which will likely have to be conducted on a case-by-case basis, but it is necessary to guaranty employee safety, maintain a positive work environment, and ultimately, limit employer liability. | https://gpjlaw.com/returning-to-work-and-the-reluctant-employee/ |
One chief reason why human societies differ from each other is because of the different ways in which they combine diverse means of transferring value.
Contemporary societies are called “monetary” because contractual obligations play the largest part, albeit other means are practiced to a lesser extent.
Gift-with-reciprocity practices are common within circles of family relationships, friendships and with volunteering activities. Organized barter is uncommon and often limited to the exchange of consumer goods or services in local communities. Negotiated bilateral barter, while not absent in interpersonal and international relations, is virtually never employed in the process of value creation.
Hierarchical relationships are ordinarily found within state and private organizations such as households, private associations including business companies (and, to be sure, within criminal organizations) as well as between the politically sovereign nation state and its citizens (e.g., taxation).
In contrast, contractual obligations with monetary settlement are the prevailing means of transferring value in contemporary societies, especially with respect to the provision of labor services and newly produced output. They unquestionably offer a powerful and effective means to organize physical and human resources as well as to deal with rising specialization and complexity of production.
Pervasively monetary production activities create their own distinctive consequences for an economy and also inevitably pose unique challenges.
The tricky features of monetary economies
As Smith claimed, a nation’s real wealth is measured by its capacity to produce output, even in monetary economies. And, as Keynes maintained, because one side of every contract gets denominated in nominal units of account, individuals inevitably deal with flows and stocks measured in nominal values.
Individuals living in a monetary economy thus develop both an interest in spending their money to obtain real values and a concern for seeking to obtain access to nominal flows as well as storing nominal value. An understanding of monetary economies, then, can hardly build on an extension of the barter system and should instead address the specific characteristics of monetary economies along the following lines:
a) In monetary economies, economic relations are contractual. When economic entities enter into contracts, they create real and nominal claims that expire on the execution date.
b) In the process, units of account and real values get transferred. Given that the monetary side of contracts is settled by delivery of a state-issued nonredeemable nominal claim, this should be investigated as a public monopoly.
c) Because contractual obligations generate nominal claims and monetary flows, monetary accounting of contractual relations and their consequences provides economic units with a score-keeping method.
d) The nominal value of financial and real assets (the latter including capital goods) is what one believes their net expected inflow of units of account is worth today. Our views about future outcomes thus influence our perception of current nominal values.
e) Because nominal claims and liabilities produce a highly interdependent and ever-shifting system, any attempt to make forecasts can hardly be based on probabilities extracted from past samples. Thus, the process of expectations formation is subject to ontological (as opposed to epistemic) uncertainty that cannot be permanently reduced.
f) Individuals attempt to contain the consequences of uncertainty by devising institutional arrangements, including wage and other forward contracts. These make nominal flows more predictable.
g) Given that labor services are offered in exchange for a nominal remuneration in a wage contract, failure of individuals to find buyers of their wage contracts is called unemployment. This is a measure of a lack of use of existing labor resources in the process of value creation. | http://www.mecpoc.org/2011/07/a-paradigm-for-understanding-monetary-economies/ |
EAST MARLBOROUGH—For the past two years, Unionville High School and Middle School students have been starting the school day about 25 minutes later than most other schools in Chester County. School directors were confident the extra sleep for students would be beneficial to wellness when they passed the measure 8 to 1 in 2017.
Now, several other school districts are seriously considering delaying school start times after seeing the success at Unionville. This week, Lower Merion School District formed a committee to study delayed school start time. Radnor and Tredyffrin-Easttown school districts are seriously studying the issue. Phoenixville Area School District followed Unionville to become the second school district to adopt later start times.
In an interview with WHYY earlier this week, John Sanville, superintendent of the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District said feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
“I’d say the positive to negative is 10 to 1,” Sanville said. “It has made family life better. There isn’t a battle every day. Kids are more alert. It’s been tremendous in terms of feedback.”
The students catch the bus at 7 a.m., instead of 6:17 a.m. Classes at Unionville High School and C.F. Paton Middle School start at 8 a.m. instead of 7:35 and elementary school classes. The school day at Unionville ends at 2:43 p.m.. It had ended at 2:18 p.m.
The district made the change, Sanville said, purely from a student wellness perspective.
The National Sleep Foundation recommends nine to 11 hours of sleep for children ages 6 to 13, with teens up to age 17 needing eight to 10 hours of sleep. Anything less than seven hours of sleep is deemed inappropriate and unhealthy.
A recent study published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics reports than even a 25-minute delay in school start time at the high school level shows improvements in sleep duration, daytime sleepiness, and mood.
Administrators at Unionville made tweaks to transportation and athletics. Because the district employs in-house transportation, they were able to work with transportation directors to develop bus routes that work. And Sanville said administrators are still looking to address some of the problems that affect student athletes during the last period of the day.
Sanville said he hopes other school districts across the region make the change.
“I’d like to see more and more districts make the change,” he said. “In fact, I’d like to revisit this and look at an 8:30 start, once we have friends who join us. To other districts, I say be brave. When we surveyed our community, students, and staff, we were split 50-50 (on the delayed school start). At the end of the day, we looked at health benefits for our kids, and made a recommendation to the school board. Our school board was brave enough to pass it 8 to 1.”
State lawmakers have recently launched pilot projects that could eventually make it routine for kids to start high school and middle school at 8 a.m. or after. | https://www.southernchestercountyweeklies.com/news/local/after-unionville-s-success-other-school-districts-considering-delayed-school/article_c5154d00-520e-11e9-95b9-43d809976110.html |
Musicians and music aficionados alike have lengthy savored the wealthy sound high quality of the violins created by Antonio Stradivari, notably on the daybreak of the 18th century (the so-called “golden interval”). Scientists have been equally fascinated by why Stradivari violins appear to sound so significantly better than fashionable devices; it has been an lively space of analysis for many years.
A current paper revealed within the journal Analytical Chemistry reported that nanoscale imaging of two such devices revealed a protein-based layer on the interface of the wooden and the varnish, which can affect the wooden’s pure resonance, and therefore the ensuing sound. In the meantime, one other paper revealed within the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America confirmed that the higher resonance of older violins produces stronger mixture tones, which might additionally have an effect on the notion of musical tones.
I’ve written extensively about this matter prior to now, and you’ll learn a useful abstract of among the analysis on this space so far right here. Per my 2021 article, the (perceived) distinctive sound cannot simply be because of the instrument’s geometry, though Stradivari’s geometrical strategy gave us the violin’s signature form. One speculation is that Stradivari could have used Alpine spruce that grew throughout a interval of uncommonly chilly climate, which prompted the annual progress rings to be nearer collectively, making the wooden abnormally dense. One other in style concept has to do with the varnish: particularly, that Stradivari used an ingenious cocktail of honey, egg whites, and gum arabic from sub-Saharan timber—or maybe salts or different chemical substances. | https://readof.com/contemporary-chemical-clues-emerge-for-the-distinctive-sound-of-stradivari-violins/ |
Szarina Abdullah, PhD. Information & Library Science (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), M.L.S (Hawaii), B.A. Honors (Chulalongkorn)
Professor Szarina Abdullah is currently attached to Wisdom Synergy Consulting as Principal Consultant after completing 37 years’ service at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam on 15 April 2012. Before joining UiTM she was a librarian at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore in 1974; and a special cataloger at the Asia Collection, University of Hawaii Library, Honolulu during 1972-1973. From January 1975 to April 2012, she served UiTM in various capacities, in addition to the essential role of lecturer and professor in Information Management. Her previous administrative posts included: Dean, Centre for Graduate Studies, Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Distance Education and Flexible Learning), Assistant Director (Academic), Head of School of Library & Information Science, and Course Leader of the School of Library & Information Science.
She has conducted workshops for Malaysian and international librarians covering topics such as: Strategic Planning and Implementation, Public Relations, Information Entrepreneurship, Information Literacy Assessment, Performance Measurement, Bibliometrics, Citation Studies and Research Performance, and Action Research for Librarians.
Professor Szarina has authored academic articles, book, chapters in books, and conference papers in national and international arena. Her prime article entitled, “Measuring Information Literacy Competency: Perception vs. Evidence-Based Data” International Information and Library Review, June 2010, has been selected as one of the top 20 quality academic articles of the year 2010 by the American Library Association.
She has been active in leading teams of researchers in two major areas: Information Literacy Assessment, and Bibliometrics. In August 2008, she was a key player in successfully conducting a Regional Workshop for Training the Trainers in Information Literacy, for UiTM /UNESCO. She is also a panel member of UNESCO’s expert group on Media and Information Literacy Indicators. During June 2003 to Aug 2004, and July 2008 to March 2010, she led a team of researchers from the Faculty of Information Management, UiTM, to conduct two national Bibliometric studies of Malaysia’s Science &Technology knowledge productivity for the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Malaysia. Findings from these comprehensive studies have implications for S&T policy makers, university administrators, researchers, and academics engaged in R&D activities, and were tabled to the Cabinet in August 2004 by the Minister. Since then, Malaysian academics, researchers and university administrators have become more aware of the importance of citation studies and their use in the assessment of science productivity, and ranking of universities. It has also led to the establishment of the national database for S&T indicators under the Malaysian Science & Technology Information Centre. She has conducted workshops for various groups of academics and researchers in Malaysian universities and research institutions on the proper use of citations as indicators of quality in international scholarly publications. | http://www.wisdomsynergy.com/new/trainers/prof-szarina-abdullah/ |
Related Stories
Coffee’s main crop season normally comes to an end in June with another starting in October with the onset of harvesting in eastern and western Kenya.
The volume sold during the review period was up by 1.8 million tonnes compared with last year by the time main crop ended.
“The season 2018/2019 enjoyed a higher number of sales from 29 sales in 2017/2018 to 34 sales due to the higher volumes that were offered for sale,” he said. The Coffee Directorate has urged Kenyans to consume more coffee and cut reliance on exports to cushion the price from external shocks.
Kenya has one of the best coffees in the world. But since early 1990s to 2010/11 crop year, area under coffee has declined by 35 percent from 170,000 hectares to 109,795 hectares as farmers abandoned the crop. | |
A life well-designed is one that ensures less waste. Please follow the care instructions below to ensure your garments age like a fine red wine.
WASHING
Please wash with similar colours, on a moderate or gentle cold cycle. This is particularly important for the garment's first wash where colours can potentially run and fabrics can shrink (our cotton shrink tolerance is 0-2%).
Please do not dry clean any garments with screen printing. Although it's unlikely, inks can soften and chip.
DRYING
Please do not put garments in the tumble dryer (especially cottons).
Tumble drying can shrink even our pre shrunk fabrics. Furthermore it damages the fabric and promotes ageing. Please hang to air dry, out of direct sunlight. It's better for the environment too. | https://porterjamessports.com/pages/garment-care |
BETI is all about Business, Employment, Transport and Infrastructure in the parish. The Neighbourhood Development Plan can set a framework by which people can most beneficially live and work here.
- BETI Meetings (Agendas and notes).
Vision:
To create an environment for a healthy, vibrant and thriving local economy serving the needs of all year round residents and visitors alike. Perranzabuloe will seek to attract and retain people and their families who can live, work and enjoy active leisure time in the locality.
Businesses including those within new technologies sectors will be attracted to establish and enlarge due to the provision of new infrastructure, a local labour pool and suitable premises.
Business
A strong all year round local economy will benefit everyone in the parish providing security and opportunity for the future. The Neighbourhood Development Plan can’t buy the goods and services produced here but it can help create the circumstances by which commerce can prosper. It will do this by creating a structure by which the allocation of land and use rights for new and existing buildings will be decided in the future.
Are there issues that are currently holding you back such as access to suitable premises, staff, training, broadband, or do you need other associated businesses to be located nearby.
So if you’re in business or work or want to work in Perranzabuloe tell us about your ambitions and needs.
We will also reach out through a series of public consultation meetings aimed at specific groups to get to know you and your views. These targeted meetings will include:
- Perranporth shops and services
- Goonhavern shops and services
- Tourism
- Agriculture
- Industry and logistics
- Small enterprises
Employment
Many living in the parish would also like to work locally but cant find employment opportunities that match their skill sets.
Creating an environment for new and local jobs is very much an issue the NDP could help with. We ask residents to participate and give us feedback so know what are your needs, aspirations and priorities.
Infrastructure and transport
Are you concerned that much of the parishes infrastructure of roads, drains, broadband, health and well being facilities, schools aren’t coping already? Over the next 13 years our needs of transport and infrastructure will continue to change. We need to make provision for an improved networks for cars, busses, bicycles and pedestrians enabling easier and safer accessibility for all.
Responsibility for the provision of roads, public transport and services is largely in the hands of Cornwall Council, statutory authorities and private service providers. Growth in the population and the commercial base will add new pressures but by seeking to link new development with improvements and the allocation of spaces could help alleviate some of these pressures is something we can achieve through the NDP process.
Contact
The BETI group is headed up by Kevin Havill – [email protected]. | https://www.perranplan.co.uk/beti/ |
Chick Magnet: Curried Chickpea Salad
Reading Molly Wizenberg's article this month in Bon Appetit, she says "behind every great chef, is a well stocked larder".
Meaning: a good cook can whip something up from pantry items like canned tomatoes, beans, pestos, vinegars, boxed stocks, etc. So make sure your pantry is well stocked, you don't want anyone thinking you are not a "great" cook!
Pantry meals are the best kind, using what ingredients you have on hand.
Today's pantry meal turned out to be a great lunch.
Curried Chickpea Salad (inspired by Molly Wizenberg):
15 oz. can of chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
4 tbsp olive oil
1/4 red onion, minced
1 large carrot, grated
handful of currants
1 tsp of curry powder
half clove of garlic, minced
handful of fresh parsley, minced
kosher salt
Mix all ingredients together and taste for seasoning. I added a bit more lemon juice and salt after tasting.
Place in the fridge at least 2 hours so flavors meld (is "meld" a word?). I liked this salad even better the 2nd day.
Be a great cook and enjoy! | http://www.staceysnacksonline.com/2011/03/chick-magnet-curried-chickpea-salad.html |
This attractive hotel is located directly beside the beach and is only around 1 km from the town centre. Countless shops can be found around the hotel building, and there are good Dolmus bus and taxi connections. Kemer can be reached in around 6 km, the historic Phasalis theatre is 20 minutes by car, and Antalya airport is 15 km from the hotel.
Facilities
This hotel was built in 1991. The air-conditioned establishment comprises a total of 314 rooms. At the accommodation, travellers are welcomed at the reception area with 24-hour reception and a 24-hour check-in/check-out service. The upper floors of the hotel can be accessed by lift. Amenities include a safe and a currency exchange service. Wireless internet access is available to guests in the public areas. Among the culinary options available at the establishment are a restaurant, a dining area, a breakfast room, a café and a bar. Various shops are available, including a supermarket. The grounds of the accommodation feature a playground and an attractive garden. Additional features at the hotel include a TV room and a playroom. Those arriving in their own vehicles can leave them in the car park of the establishment. Available services and facilities include a babysitting service, car hire, medical assistance, a laundry service and a hairdresser. Active guests can make use of the bicycle hire service to explore the surrounding area.
Rooms
Each of the rooms is appointed with air conditioning, central heating and a bathroom. Most rooms feature a balcony with a view for guests' enjoyment. The carpeted rooms feature a double bed or a king-size bed. A safe and a minibar are also available. Guests will also find a mini fridge included as standard. Internet access, a telephone and a TV add to the comfort of the holiday. Rooms suitable for wheelchair access are bookable. The bathrooms are fitted with a shower and a bathtub. A hairdryer is also available. Bathrooms with wheelchair access can also be booked. Special family rooms are available for families with children.
Sports/Entertainment
A refreshing dip in the indoor or outdoor pool is an enjoyable way to cool down on hot days. The sun loungers and parasols on the sun terrace offer a great place to unwind. The hot tub is the perfect place to relax. The poolside bar serves a selection of refreshing drinks. A variety of sporting activities, such as tennis, bocce, beach volleyball, basketball, crazy golf and archery, or for a fee, biking/mountain biking, are offered at the accommodation. Travellers at the hotel can choose from a range of water sports options, such as paddle boating, canoeing and aquafit, or for a fee, water skiing, windsurfing, jet skiing, motor boat rides, banana boat rides, sailing, catamaraning and diving. The establishment offers numerous indoor sporting opportunities, with activities such as a gym, table tennis, darts, gymnastics, aerobics and handball, or for a fee, billiards. The accommodation offers a range of services in the wellness area, such as a spa, a sauna, a steam bath, a hammam and a solarium, and for an additional fee, massage treatments. Leisure facilities include an entertainment programme, live music, a disco, a kids' club and a kids' disco. Copyright GIATA 2004 - 2017. Multilingual, powered by www.giata.com for client no. 125125
Meals
All-inclusive is bookable. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are available. The hotel also offers snacks. The establishment offers alcohol-free drinks and alcoholic beverages.
Payment
The following credit cards are accepted at the accommodation: VISA and MasterCard.
vezi mai multe
Alege localitatea de plecare
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Barlad
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Fetesti
Focsani
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Giurgiu
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Medgidia
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Pitesti
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Va rugam asteptati!
Cautam...
Va rugam asteptati! | https://www.cardinaltours.ro/vacante/la-mer-perre-resort-spa-5-stars-antalya-turcia/ |
Ginkgo biloba neuroprotection: Therapeutic implications in Alzheimer's disease.
An extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves, EGb761, is becoming one of the most popular dietary supplements in the United States to enhance memory. In Europe it is a commonly prescribed drug for treatment of age-related deterioration, including degenerative dementias of the Alzheimer type (AD). Substantial experimental evidence indicates that EGb761 has neuroprotective potency under conditions such as ischemia, seizures and peripheral nerve damage. However, the mechanisms of such neuroprotective effects remain unknown, partially because of the complex chemical composition of EGb761 and the resulting so-called "polyvalent" action. This review focuses on cellular and molecular approaches towards understanding the polyvalent action of EGb761 neuroprotective effect. Two potential mechanisms of action, reducing oxidative damage and stimulating cell survival machinery, are discussed. Better understanding of the neuroprotective mechanisms of EGb761 will provide impetus for possible combination therapies and for the design of rational, "mechanism-based" strategies that target age-related neurodegeneration and Alzheimer's disease.
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What is a Trademark Objection?
A trademark is a logo, symbol, tagline, or a combination of these that represents a brand’s identity. Oftentimes, during the trademark registration process, the Trademark Registrar raises objections on the intended trademark if it violates rules and laws of trademark registration. It could be due to several reasons like similarity with an existing trademark, offensive to a particular religion, absence of a distinct design, etc. In the event of a trademark objection, a comprehensive reply needs to be filed within a month, from the date of issuance of the objection.
How to Reply to Trademark Objection?
When an objection is raised, the status of the trademark in the Indian Trademark Registry Online will be marked as “Objected”. The following steps need to be followed to reply to a a trademark objection:
1) Analyze Trademark Objection
The first step involves analyzing and studying the objection carefully, as any ambiguity in understanding can lead to incorrect filing of Trademark Objection Response.
2) Draft Response to Trademark Objection
The next step is to draft a trademark reply which should include the following:
A proper answer to the objection raised with supporting rule of law and precedents and judgments supporting the case.
The differences between the conflicting mark and the mark of the applicant.
Other supporting documents and evidence that validates the response.
An affidavit stating the usage of the trademark in the applicant’s website and social media channels; advertisement in the media; publicity material; availability of trademarked products on e-commerce sites, etc. along with the documentary proof for the same
The response draft is then filed online on the Trademark e-filing portal.
3) Hearing of Trademark Objection
If the response is accepted, the application will be processed further for registration and advertisement in the Trademark Journal. If it is not accepted, or there are additional clarifications sought by the Trademark Examiner, there would be a trademark hearing scheduled and the same will be notified with a notice.
4) Publication In The Trademark Journal
If the outcome at the hearing is positive, the mark will be accepted and will be ordered to be published in the Trademark Journal.
In the event of a negative outcome, the Refusal Order will be passed, explaining the reason for the refusal. The applicant still would have the option to appeal the order by filing a review petition within 30 days from the date of the Refusal Order mentioning the grounds on which the order must be reviewed.
5)Trademark Registration
Once your trademark is published in the Trademark Journal, it will be open to scrutiny for a period of four months. If no third-party oppositions are filed within that period the mark will then proceed towards registration, and the Registration Certification is issued. If an objection is filed the opposition proceedings will take place as per the prescribed rules of the law.
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Inform about Trademark Objection
If you have filed your trademark with us, we will inform you that your trademark has been objected by the Registrar less than a month from the publication of the Examination Report containing the objection. If you are not a customer, it's best you contact us within a month from the publication of the report.
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We give due importance to each case and our best lawyers will handle your case and prepare the documents. The response will be submitted.
Handling Objections
If the Registrar does not accept your initial response, an interview is scheduled, where the arguments are presented in person. If the government is satisfied with the response, the objection will be lifted within 18 months..
Checklist For A Trademark Objection
The Trademark Examiner scrutinizes the trademark application to make sure the application isn’t in conflict with any trademark rules. A trademark application can face objection for any of the following reasons:
Filing Of Incorrect Trademark Form
If the application is not filed using the correct form an objection would be raised by the examiner. For example, it is Form TM-4 for registration of collective marks for goods and services in any one class. Form TM-51 for registration of a trademark under different classes of goods and services.
Incorrect Trademark Applicant Name
Trademark has to be filed on the true name of the applicant and double-checked for the right spellings.
Usage Of Deceptive And Offensive Terms:
Trademark names that include deceptive terms or that which try to deceive or mislead customers with false descriptions of products or services will be rejected. For instance, an entity branded “Vanilla chocolates” that sells chocolate flavours may be deemed deceptive. At the same time, applications registering for trademarks containing offensive terms will be rejected.
Insufficient Information On Goods/Services:
When the trademark application fails to mention in brief the products and services of the business, it is highly likely that the Trademark Examiner may reject the application due to the vague information.
Types of Trademark Objections
There are two different types of Trademark Objections in India
1) Substantive Objections
The Following objections fall under substantive examination
Objection Under Section 11 of the Trademarks Act
It is basically an objection that an Examiner raises in case he is of the opinion that there exists similar mark(s) on record already that may be phonetically similar or share some common part with your applied mark. In this objection the Examiner list out all those marks and give you an opportunity to cite the differences and put forward the unique point with respect to your marks in comparison to the cited marks.
Objection Under Section 9 of the Trademarks Act
It is basically an objection that is raised when your applied Trademark use some common name, surname, name of any geographical location or any such representation that is common in terms of figures and another objection that is commonly raised under section 9 is over the mark that are descriptive in nature of suggest the kind, quality or any inherent characteristics of the mark. These objections must be dealt carefully.
2) Formal Objections
The Following objections fall under formal examination
Objection over the TM-1
This objection comes into picture in case there is any formal mistake in the filing of trademark application.
Objection over Class Description
This objection is generally raised in case the description mentions wrong goods or mentions too many goods or services, or the description is not in accordance to nice classification.
Objection over Power of Attorney
Sometimes the stamp paper is not proper or the signatures of the authorized signatory are not properly visible. This may lead to an objection and the Examiner might ask for resubmission of the Power of Attorney.
Objection over the Applicant Details
Sometimes people fail to add the proper proprietor details or miss the names of partner in partnership firms or LLP which might lead to an objection at a later stage.
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Trademark Objection - Reply to Trademark Objection - LegalDocs FAQs
How will I know my Trademark is objected?
What are the common reasons for Trademark Objection? | https://legaldocs.co.in/trademark-objection |
Jewish growth in Judea and Samaria has outstripped Arab growth in the past three years – either because of or despite of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
The Associated Press reported the figures and reasoned that the Jewish growth of 18 percent in three years is a result of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s policies, but the truth may be the opposite. Under American pressure, he slapped a 10-month freeze on building new homes for Jews in Judea and Samaria in order to satisfy Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ conditions for a resumption of the moribund “peace process” for the establishment the Palestinian Authority as an independent country.
Abbas rejected the freeze as not fulfilling all of his demands, and direct talks never took place except for one short ceremonial discussion in Washington. When the freeze expired, Defense Minister Ehud Barak continued a de facto freeze, refusing to sign building permits for several months longer and choking off opportunities for newcomers to live in Judea and Samaria.
A large part of the 18 percent growth came from the relatively high birth rate of Jews in Judea and Samaria, not from new families moving from urban centers.
Another reason that the larger Jewish growth has nothing to do with Netanyahu is that the Arab growth rate in the Palestinian Authority – 2.8 percent in 2011 – is part of general trend of a lower Arab birth rate the past several years as the Arabs become more urbanized and affluent.
The AP report included a claim from PA spokesman Ghassan Khatib that the growing Jewish population in Judea and Samaria is “consistent with Netanyahu’s commitment to maintain the Israeli control over the Palestinian territories and consistent with his lack of commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution.”
The report also included an embedded bias and arguable statements that Israel “has long sought to cement its hold on the West Bank, captured from Jordan in the 1967 Mideast war, by having masses of Jewish settlers live there.”
To the contrary, the Israeli government has honored its commitments to the Oslo Accords and has relinquished virtually all control over urban areas. It has even gone further than the agreements by allowing more Arab authority in ‘Area C,” which is designated as being under Israeli control because of the presence of large Jewish communities.
Regardless of the reasons, the 342,000 Jews living in Judea and Samaria, along with approximately 250,000 living in Jerusalem neighborhoods claimed by the Palestinian Authority, now represent 10 percent of Israel’s Jewish population and more than 15 percent of the total population in Judea and Samaria.
The report, widely publicized in American media, also wrongly described Israel’s presence in Judea and Samaria as a result of its “capture” if the land from Jordan in the Six-Day War in 1967.
As pointed out in a report last week by a government-appointed panel of three judicial experts, not only is Israel not an “occupier” but its citizens also have a right under international law to live and build in Judea and Samaria.
The panel, headed by former High Court Justice Edmund Levy, corrected an oft-reported and wrong assertion that all of Judea and Samaria were under authorized Jordanian sovereignty after the War for Independence in 1948 until the Six-Day War in 1967.
Israel did not “capture” the land. Jordan abandoned all of Judea and Samaria in its retreat, and the Israeli government held discussions with Amman concerning surrendering the areas, but they never reached any substantive agreement.
The anti-nationalist Peace Now group was aghast at the report of the growth of the Jewish population in Judea and Samaria. Peace Now official Hagit Ofran was quoted by the Associated Press as charging that the relatively higher construction rate of new homes outside concentrations of large Jewish populations proves that “ideological settlers, the more radical, religious ones, are growing in number.”
However, the statistics are misleading. Although only 70 percent of the construction in the past 2.5 years was in major population centers, compared with 80 percent in the past, the actual number of homes was smaller because of the building freeze. Another reason for the decline in the construction rate in large population centers is the soaring prices in the area, where prices rival those of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. | http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/157694 |
While the child custody battles can be an emotional and confusing time for a married couple going through a divorce, the situation can be just as difficult for older people who have never legally married.
Child custody rights for unmarried couples were not as clear as one might think. If you want to know more about the child custody, then you can also visit https://www.maitlandlaw.com/family-and-divorce-lawyer-maitland/.
While the right may vary depending on the circumstances in which the parents are, each case is unique and there are several factors to consider when determining whether parents will award child support single or joint custody.
Image Source: Google
While the main purpose of the court is to put children where they will receive a better education while they are still able to develop a relationship with each parent, in some circumstances this cannot be done. custody battle unmarried unique to the separation.
It is important to know your rights as a mother and father if you take legal proceedings in the family court. The custody of children to fathers is much different for the married father.
Because the father is not automatically considered the biological father under the laws of the state in the absence of DNA testing, a mother must petition for DNA tests in court to prove the father before proceeding with the custody and support processes.
It does not matter if the father had signed the birth certificate or take responsibility for the child, the father must be proven through testing ordered by the court.
It is the responsibility of the mother to prove the father by identifying the biological father of their child before they can exercise their right to recover child support or go after sole custody of a child. | https://www.ecologiaaldia.com/joint-custody-child-support-and-child-custody-for-fathers/ |
An image posted to the NASA science blog and Astronomy Photo of the Day shows a mountain that seems hollowed out. It actually isn’t a hollowed mountain on Mars, but a lava tube ‘skylight’. The lava tube ‘skylight’ is a product of ancient volcanic activity below the surface of Mars. The feature is on the slopes of a volcano called Pavonis Mons, home to grabens, or long snaking lava tubes, as ScienceAlert details:
Lava tube caves like this are exciting because they offer some protection from the harsh radiation that bombards Mars. This means that they could be good sites to establish underground bases (if they are accessible; this particular one doesn't look like it's easy to get in and out of).
But there's another implication, too. If we're going to look for signs of life on Mars, caves might be the best option.
"Holes such as this are of particular interest because their interior caves are relatively protected from the harsh surface of Mars, making them relatively good candidates to contain Martian life," the APOD post explained.
"These pits are therefore prime targets for possible future spacecraft, robots, and even human interplanetary explorers." | https://www.neatorama.com/2020/03/05/There-s-A-Weird-Hole-On-Mars/ |
Preterm is defined as babies born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed. There are sub-categories of preterm birth, based on gestational age:
- Extremely preterm (less than 28 weeks)
- Very preterm (28 to 32 weeks)
- Moderate to late preterm (32 to 37 weeks)
We are not classifying here as LBW, VLBW OR ELBW, because that will complicate an issue ,And that is the management issue when sent for SNCU or NICU.
Extent of Prematurity:
An estimated 15 million babies are born too early every year which corresponds TO 10-12% of all babies born. Out of these, approximately 1 million children die each year due to complications of preterm birth (1). Globally, prematurity is the leading cause of death in children under the age of 5 years. Survivors also suffer from a lifetime of disability, including, organ system complications, learning disabilities and visual and hearing problems.
In developed countries, preterm birth rates are increasing because of reasons which are not common in developing world like infertility. Inequalities in survival rates around the world are stark. In low-income settings, half of the babies born at or below 32 weeks (2 months early) die due to a lack of feasible, cost-effective care.. In highincome countries, almost all of these babies survive. For better survival of these tiny tots, warmth, breastfeeding support, and basic care for infections and breathing difficulties management is cornerstone.
Need of hour
More than three quarters of premature babies can be saved with feasible, cost-effective care, such as essential care during child birth and in the postnatal period for every mother and baby, provision of antenatal steroid injections (given to pregnant women at risk of preterm labor and under set criteria to strengthen the babies’ lungs), kangaroo mother care (the baby is carried by the mother with skin-to-skin contact and frequent breastfeeding) and antibiotics to treat newborn infections. Obstetrics community also plays important role in prevention of prematurity. Effective midwifery services have been shown to reduce the risk of prematurity by around 24%.
Preventing deaths and complications from preterm birth starts with a healthy pregnancy. Quality care before, between and during pregnancies will ensure all women have a positive pregnancy experience.
Why does preterm birth happen?
Preterm birth occurs for a variety of reasons. Most preterm births happen spontaneously, but some are due to early induction of labor or caesarean birth, whether for medical or nonmedical reasons. Who advices caesarian section or induction of labor after 39 completed weeks, however there is no scientific reason why 39 week as a cutoff.
Common causes of preterm birth include multiple pregnancies, infections and chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure; however, often no cause is identified. There could also be a genetic influence. understanding of the causes and mechanisms remain still unclear and solutions to prevent preterm birth requires genuine data and multicentre studies.
Where and when does preterm birth happen?
More than 60% of preterm births occur in Africa and South Asia, but preterm birth is truly a global problem. In the lower-income countries, on average, 12% of babies are born too early compared with 9% in higher-income countries. Within countries, poorer families are at higher risk.
The 10 countries with the greatest number of preterm births(2):
- India: 3 519 100
- China: 1 172 300
- Nigeria: 773 600
- Pakistan: 748 100
- Indonesia: 675 700
- United States of America: 517 400
- Bangladesh: 424 100
- Philippines: 348 900
- Democratic Republic of the Congo: 341 400
- Brazil: 279 300
The 10 countries with the highest rates of preterm birth per 100 live births (2):
- Malawi: 18.1 preterm births per 100 births
- Comoros: 16.7
- Congo: 16.7
- Zimbabwe: 16.6
- Equatorial Guinea: 16.5
- Mozambique: 16.4
- Gabon: 16.3
- Pakistan: 15.8
- Indonesia: 15.5
- Mauritania: 15.4
Most of the countries with reliable data are showing increase in preterm birth rate. Possible reasons for this include better measurement, increases in maternal age and underlying maternal health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure, greater use of infertility treatments leading to increased rates of multiple pregnancies, and changes in obstetric practices such as more caesarean births before term.
More than 90% of extremely preterm babies (less than 28 weeks) born in low-income countries die within the first few days of life; yet less than 10% of extremely preterm babies die in highincome settings.
Management:
Important interventions to help prevent preterm birth, are
- Counseling on healthy diet and optimal nutrition,
- Tobacco and substance use;
- Fetal measurements including use of ultrasound to help determine gestational age and detect multiple pregnancies;
- Minimum of 8 contacts with health professionals throughout pregnancy to identify and manage other risk factors, such as infections.
- Better access to contraceptives and increased empowerment could also help reduce preterm births.
WHO recommendations on interventions to improve preterm birth outcomes
WHO is currently coordinating two clinical trials, first one called the WHO ACTION Trials (Antenatal Corticosteroids for Improving Outcomes in preterm Newborns) for women at risk of preterm birth .The trials will assess how steroid injections can be used safely and effectively for women and preterm newborns in low- and middleincome countries.
And second trial is Immediate kangaroo mother care (KMC) multi-country trial (compared with the current recommendations of initiating KMC when baby is stable) in Ghana, India, Malawi, Nigeria and the United Republic of Tanzania.
- Implementation research to scale-up KMC in India and Ethiopia. Are also important component of this trial.
- UNICEF India and its state branches are helping governments and non government organizations in organizing and implementing standard KMC care at various places.
PEDIATRIC ASSOCIATION OF INDIA can take active part in activities related to kangaroo mother care and publish valuable data in this venture. Most of the members of PAI have background of community which represents the resourse limited part of India. The hand in glove cooperation with obstetric and community medicine will help preterm of future in improving quality of life. | https://nijp.org/effective-preterm/ |
According to a Reuters report of January 27: "Plans to build a major new medical laboratory in England (have been) scrapped in the face of protests by animal rights groups."
Cambridge University (CU) officials attributed the cancellation to the increased security costs involved in keeping anti-vivisectionists and animal rights activists from entering the facility.
The lab, which had the full support of Tony Blair's government, would have used primates for neurological testing to study induced symptoms of human diseases resembling those of human Parkinsons's and Alzheimer's victims. It is taking some "scientists" a long time to recognize that superficial symptoms artificially induced in laboratory animals do not accurately represent those of spontaneously occurring human diseases.
Planning permission to build the laboratory in a greenbelt area had been granted in November despite serious reservations published in the chief planning inspector's report. (Permission to build is not easily obtained in the UK where unused space is in short supply and zealously guarded. Every application is, in theory at least, carefully reviewed with public interest in mind.)
It seemed that the University "felt there is no need to demonstrate scientific/medical worth of the research carried on at the non-human primate center," the planning inspector wrote. "The technical information that was presented to the inquiry could best be described as peripheral skirmishing. . . CU did not dispute that 80% of the trials proven successfully on animals did not succeed when the same tests/treatments formed clinical trials on humans. . . On the basis of technical input, therefore, I could not conclude that need in the national interest is demonstrated insofar as this pertains to the scientific/medical research and procedures undertaken by the University."
Dr Ray Greek, President of Americans for Medical Advancement and Europeans for Medical Advancement described the report as "a triumph of reason over vested interests and establishment prestige." It is available on the organization's website: http://www.curedisease.com.
Yet, according to the Reuters report, CU officials chose to blame the added expense of guarding against intrusion by animal rights activists for canceling their plans. This reasoning spared them from having to respond to the compelling arguments advanced by medical and scientific professionals that experimenting on animals does not produce results that are reliable for human conditions.
A BBC (British Broadcasting Company) News report pointed out that the decision to grant planning permission for the controversial laboratory had been "based entirely on economic - not scientific or public health - considerations." It went on , however, to present "an alternative view" from Greek who outlined some of the "abundant evidence of harm to humans as a result of experiments with primates." Among other examples he mentioned an Alzheimer's vaccine that had to be withdrawn in 2001 because it caused serious brain inflammation in humans after having been proved safe and effective for monkeys.
"The most dramatic differences between humans and other primates are in the brain," Greek explained. "Our brain is four times larger than that of achimpanzee, which is four times larger than that of a macaque.
"Biochemical pathways in the human brain are unique. Gene expression in our brain is dramatically different from that of the chimpanzee. Future advances in our understanding and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases will come from where they always have--human-based observation and ethical clinical research."
The University failed to present any evidence to the contrary because medical experience provides none. Instead, they relied on the erroneous concept that experimentation on animals will eventually lead to discoveries that will help humans.
When announcing cancellation of the project, they blamed animal rights activists for adding to the costs of the already expensive project without addressing the objections presented by serious scientists. Nevertheless, this is a significant victory because it prevents further proliferation of primate research and the vivisection industry.
The National Anti-vivisection Society and Animal Aid issued a joint statement that "the decision signaled that the university failed to show the proposed experiments would be of any use to people."
The animal research establishment responded by calling for specific legislation to prevent activists from interfering with their experiments on animals which they are unable to defend on scientific grounds. -Reuters internet report
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Life is a gamble. You pay your money and take your chances. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. All clichés but all true. Writing is the biggest gamble of all. A writer invests time and emotional energy to place words on paper and faces the inevitable voices of dissent, solely to present an idea or a story to others. Those unsuited for such a demanding life suffer considerable dismay at rejection by friends, peers, and the public.
I’ve written 15 novels to date. None have won Stoker Awards, Pulitzers, or world-wide acclaim, but some had moderate success, if measured by a exposure to sales ratio. My first novels sold a few hundred copies at most, usually by me personally. Later, as my writing skill improved and my social skills developed, I sold a few thousand of some novels. It seemed that elusive 10,000 books sold was within grasp.
Alas, it is still hit or miss. The novels that I really enjoyed writing, the ones I really expected to do well, didn’t. My fault? Publishers fault? Fickle audience? I don’t know. Even after 15 novels. My zombie novels sell well. Zombies are hot right now. Well, most zombies. One novel about Cordyceps fungus zombies was a bust. I guess people like traditional zombies. Horror seems to sell better than science fiction. I don’t think I’m that much better at writing horror, but my science fiction submissions can’t find a home. I keep trying, of course.
If I had thinner skin, I might have given up. Constant rejection is bad for the soul. Having some novels sell and still getting rejections for others is even worse. It raises doubts about one’s ability and makes them wonder if it’s worth the hassle. As for me, I would always write. It’s in my blood. I have to write. Sometimes I think it’s better to write it and then put it away in a dark box rather than try to sell it, but I usually do anyway. I certainly can write better. I hone my craft and vocabulary constantly. Every writer should. Words are tools of the trade, like a paint brush. I tried painting but I’m too colorblind. I play guitar. I’m pretty good, but at 60 I know I’m as good as I’ll ever get. I’ll never be a famous musician. Writing is my legacy, the tales I want people to read and see who I am, who I was. It’s an ego thing, I guess, but without ego, no one would subject themselves to the harsh reality of writing for a living.
I see friends do very well and I’m glad for them. I don’t quite envy them, (Maybe a little) but I do try to determine what they’re doing that I’m not. Perseverance seems to be the key. I’ve had a couple of novels – Ice Station Zombie and Judgment Day – that never leaped into the public eye, but still sell by dribbles. Over the years the sales add up. The more novels on my Amazon Authors Page, the more I sell. Slowly, but surely, the tortoise beats the hare.
If we judge ourselves as writers by winners and losers, we will eventually lose. Very few authors receive that six-figure advance, sell hundreds of thousands of copies, or sells a screen play. Most of us have to be satisfied with writing and selling in modicums. If we don’t love what we write, whether or not it sells, we will always be disappointed. Art for Arts Sake should be our motto.
Never give up. Luck, serendipity, fate – call it what you will – still plays a part in success, but you, as a writer, have to be prepared for it. Poor writing might sell, but will never build a career. Never lower your standards or your goals. It is better to fail at being better than you could ever be than being less than you could. In a world of winners and losers, be a winner. | http://www.jamesgurley.com/2014/04/ |
Don’t worry about the government…
friendship update
Mr LANGBROEK (10.29 am): My first question without notice is to the Premier. I table the 57 official media releases and policy statements distributed by the Premier during the recent election campaign and I ask: where in any of these election statements did the Premier mention selling Queensland assets or imposing a new fuel tax?
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Great article! Just came across your blog (for obvious reasons). I like what I see so far. Will delve further!
Actually, I think you're confusing the issue a little since the moon does "pull" on the water, just as intuition would suggest. Figure 4 on the tidal forces wiki page you referenced makes this clear, i think. It all depends on your frame of reference, top half of that picture (an absolute reference frame) or the bottom half (standing on the earth).
Furthermore, it's not just the water that goes through tides, the crust itself experiences tides, apparently on the order of 25 cm in Geneva.
"By themselves the tidal forces are too small to generate earthquakes, but in the critical stage of faulting they can trigger volcanic earthquakes."
This doesn't contradict the point of your previous blog post. But I do want to point out that the "do the math" advice is a bit misleading since there are often correction factors, misunderstandings, data with error margins, approximations, and mistakes, etc. One thing to point out is that geology is not like math -- in math, we can look at formulas, in geology we have to look at models.
The Hawaii islands discussion is quite interesting, I'll have to bring this up next time i'm talking with a geologist.
Lastly, I definitely do not think this is a futile exercise. You may not see it yourself, but people do change their minds on a lot of topics. Perhaps it's not so often that people change their minds by reading 1 article, or by 1 argument, but the aggregation over time can make a difference.
> the moon does "pull" on the water, just as intuition would suggest.
Yes, of course it does. I never said otherwise. What I said was that *the moon pulling on the water is not what causes tides*. What causes tides is tidal forces, which are related to gravitational forces, but are not the same. In particular, tidal forces are much weaker than gravitational forces.
BTW, tidal forces *can* be the source of enough energy to melt a planet. Io and Europa are both kept warm by the tidal forces from Jupiter. In Europa's case we don't know for sure, but there is evidence that this provides enough energy to melt the water on Europa and produce a liquid ocean covered by a thick sheet of ice. In the case of Io it provides enough energy to produce volcanoes spewing magma made mostly of sulphur.
"In the Hawai'i example of 52 eruptions since January 1832, there have been nearly 3,900 tidal maximums, of which roughly 3,850 of them went by without causing an eruption. Statistically, this is about a one percent chance that any tidal maximum will affect the start of an eruption."
So the effect is very, very small. It's certainly not fair to say that the moon *causes* volcanic eruptions.
> "By themselves the tidal forces are too small to generate earthquakes, but in the critical stage of faulting they can trigger volcanic earthquakes."
At the critical stage of faulting, a butterfly flapping its wings can trigger an earthquake. That does not mean that earthquakes are caused by butterflies.
> One thing to point out is that geology is not like math -- in math, we can look at formulas, in geology we have to look at models.
> Lastly, I definitely do not think this is a futile exercise.
"If the moon can push zillions of tons of seawater around, isn't it plausible that it could also move zillions of tons of magma around too? Well, no, it isn't."
It takes the same amount of force to move a ton of water as it does a ton of magma. There is a causal link between the moon and the motion of the crust.
"There is nowhere near enough energy in the moon's tidal influences to account for volcanism. "
But you didn't explain why this is the case because I don't know how big forces have to be. I know that there are indirect links, so there must be some effect. You merely stated that the effects were too small, and this hardly counts as "deconstruction". How do I know if 25 cm in Geneva is a lot?
I don't want to defend that other guy's arguments, since as far as I can tell it was all crap. My point is that if he read your rebuttal, he's not going to be convinced.
Fair enough. I guess it's actually not inconceivable that the moon does have measurable causal effects on volcanism. But that doesn't change the fact that the evidence for plate tectonics is overwhelming, and hence the evidence that the Hawaiian islands are very old is overwhelming. The moon is really a red herring in this case.
Now there's an example of something I never would have guessed, and why sometimes physical principles behave subtly. | http://blog.rongarret.info/2008/07/how-to-detect-bullshit.html |
New research estimates the great white shark population in Australasian waters has dwindled to about 2000.
The genetic analysis of the species, which migrates between New Zealand, Australia and the southwest Pacific islands, has made the estimate possible.
Estimating the populations of large sharks is difficult because the tools normally used, such as trawling and acoustic surveys or tag-and-recapture experiments, don't work well for them.
However, Niwa's principal scientist Malcolm Francis said the new genetic technique offers strong promise for monitoring rare and threatened species.
The total number of adults in the eastern population, which includes New Zealand is estimated to be about 750.
Including juvenile sharks, there's an estimated total population size of just over 5400.
Department of Conservation (DOC) marine technical adviser Clinton Duffy said the number of adult great whites was lower than previously thought.
"This new information shows how vulnerable the species is.
"The main threats to white sharks in New Zealand waters are through accidental by-catch in fisheries, particularly for small juvenile sharks on long lines and adults in set nets," he said.
At present, the species is classed as declining in New Zealand waters.
Great white sharks are currently protected in New Zealand waters and if people accidentally catch one they must release it immediately alive and unharmed, before notifying DOC. | https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/350107/dropping-great-white-shark-numbers-cause-concern |
This study was motivated by the question: How do the workers in the cleaning industry in Portugal perceive psychosocial risks associated with the performance of their duties? This question refers to the general objective of evaluating the level of risk perceived by workers. Specifically, it aims i) to measure the level of risk perceived by workers and ii) to describe these perceptions in order to be able to build a script reflection lines on possible measures to manage workers' exposure to risk during the performance of their duties in the workplace. To this end, we used the assessment tool FPSICO, built for official use of the National Institute of Seguridad and Hygiene en el Trabajo, in five companies specialized in cleaning that represent a significant share both in terms of turnover as in number of workers in the sector. The results showed that in eight of the nine factors evaluated, workers in cleaning sector in Portugal mainly realize appropriate risk situations. The only value mostly perceived as inadequate, was recorded on Participation/Supervision factor (PS), which refers to the power of decision on the job and on concrete tasks. The calculation of average levels of perceptions showed that, apart from this factor, the factors Autonomy (AU) and Paper Performance (DR) have average levels higher than the average obtained in the whole factors. This trilogy suggests that workers perceive high levels of risk related situations especially about their freedom for decide on specific aspects of the work, which is constrained by the apparently strict supervision of their duties, which leads workers to question their role in the organization. We conclude that the perception of psychosocial risk by cleaners working in Portugal reveals a tensional structure among the factors associated in accordance to the Job Demands-Control model, in which also interfere the elements Support and Resources, revealed by the workers’ perception of need for support from supervisors regarding essentially the quest for recognition of their work and their role. Apparently, this quest is a reaction to the restrictions workers feel in their autonomy in participating in the decision-making processes which define the tasks they perform. This reaction is presented as a means of claiming a relative authority that allows workers feel better in their role. | https://portalcientifico.unileon.es/documentos/5f77c68b29995278938fd9d3 |
The findings of a UN Secretary General report published today recommending the creation of a new institution dedicated to determining the fate and whereabouts of more than 110,000 missing and forcibly disappeared people in Syria is a triumph for victim and family groups who have been tirelessly campaigning for justice for their loved ones over the past decade.
Creating an international mechanism to establish the fate and whereabouts of the disappeared is a key demand of the Truth and Justice Charter, which was launched in February 2021 by a group of Syrian victim and family-led organizations demanding accountability for mass arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances in Syria.
“The findings of today’s report are long overdue and if implemented will deeply impact the present and future of Syria. The creation of an independent body dedicated to establishing the fate of the disappeared would be a momentous breakthrough for justice. After 11 years of campaigning and living with agonizing uncertainty, it would also offer the first glimmer of hope for the families of tens of thousands of people forcibly disappeared in Syria who continue to live in limbo, waiting for answers,” said Laila Kiki, Executive Director o f The Syria Campaign.
According to the Syrian Network of Human Rights (SNHR), at least 111,907 are missing in Syria including 3,041 children. More than 85% have been forcibly disappeared at the hands of the Syrian regime.
Fadwa Mahmoud, whose son, Maher, and husband, Abdulaziz, have been forcibly disappeared since 2012 is a member of the women-led movement Families for Freedom which is campaigning for freedom and justice for the detained and disappeared.
“Today’s report is the result of years and years of hard work from victim groups, families of detainees and the missing and Syrian civil society; telling our stories and our struggle to anyone who will hear us in the hope that someone listens. We’ve been waiting a long time for this, but it’s just the first step, now we need to see the UN turn these words into action by establishing the mechanism placing the demands of victim groups and detainees’ and missing persons’ families at the center – because we refuse to be on the margins anymore. This is a hugely important joint effort, we know the struggle ahead will be tiring but we will not stop until every detainee’s fate is uncovered and all those detained are released.”
In a statement members of the Truth and Justice Charter said :
“The continuation of the status quo and ignoring the recommendation of the Secretary-General regarding the creation of a new and special institution to address the crisis of the missing in Syria would greatly undermine the rights of the victims, including the families. The signatories cannot accept anything less than what is recommended by the report.”
Diab Serrih of the Association of Detainees and Missing of Sednaya Prison (ADMSP), which works to expose the fate of the disappeared and documents survivors’ testimonies said: | https://diary.thesyriacampaign.org/un-report-calls-for-creation-of-international-mechanism-for-syrias-disappeared/ |
Pregnancy is perhaps the most delicate period in every woman’s life. It is a time when a woman has to pay a lot of attention to every aspect of her health, including the diet. What mother eats, directly affects the baby’s health and development. Mothers are supposed to eat approximately 300 more calories daily, than they did before they become pregnant. Getting more calories can lead to overweightness and associated problems during pregnancy. Keeping a well balanced diet in pregnancy may be challenging because of the food cravings and problems with nausea and vomiting in the course of the first few months. However, a woman should try to follow a well balanced diet and keep herself and the baby healthy.
Crucial nutrients for pregnant women
Folic acid, also known as folate is one of the key nutrients in pregnancy. This acid helps to increase the mother’s blood volume and lessen the risk of Neural Tube Defects (NTD). Women can even substitute this ingredient in the first three months of pregnancy, to make sure they meet the daily needs.
Iron is extremely important as it supports production of hemoglobin and ensures optimum oxygen and nutrient supply to placenta and growing fetus. Iron rich foods include lean red meat, fish, poultry, dried fruits, whole-grain breads and iron-fortified cereals.
Calcium is extremely important for healthy bones and teeth. Moreover, this mineral helps baby to develop a healthy heart, nerves, and muscles and a functional heart rhythm and blood-clotting abilities. Milk and dairy products are loaded with calcium as well as the canned fish and calcium-fortified foods such as cereal, juice, soy and rice drinks, and pastry.
Vitamin D in high dosages may reduce pregnancy risk of complications like gestational diabetes, preterm birth and infections. Fortified milk and fatty fish are common food sources of vitamin D but a human body cannot synthesize this vitamin without sunlight. Daily sun exposure to the natural light may help prevent vitamin D deficiency in both mother and her child.
Diet tips for pregnant women
Simple tips can help to make dietary changes required in pregnancy easier. First of all, women should eat a great variety of foods of all colors, to make sure all of the nutrients are equally obtained. Foods high in fiber can help promote regular bowel movements, help with constipation and prevent food cravings. Having a snack a couple of times a day is also recommended to ensure optimum calorie intake without overeating. It would be the best to choose at least one good source per day for all of the most important nutrients, including vitamin C. | https://ic.steadyhealth.com/balanced-diet-for-pregnant-women |
Restriction requirements (or election of species) are supposed to be issued by the USPTO when the Examiner determines that there are multiple and/or distinct inventions claimed. The result is that an Applicant is required to elect one invention for prosecution on the merits. Based on the Applicant’s election, the Examiner proceeds to then search and examine only the elected claims, unless the Applicant can convince the Examiner to withdraw the restriction. The Applicant is, of course, able to file a divisional application to pursue non-elected claims.
Restrictions continue to be a major source of increased expense and delay for Applicants. While there are certainly many situations where restriction is warranted (and even beneficial to an Applicant), some restrictions do more than simply limit the number of claims being examined. In fact, sometimes the more troubling impact of a restriction is to limit the Applicant's ability to make future amendments.
37 CFR 1.145 explains that, after an office action on an application, if the Applicant presents claims directed to an invention distinct from and independent of the invention previously claimed, the applicant will be required to restrict the claims to the invention previously claimed if the amendment is entered, subject to reconsideration and review as provided in §§ 1.143 and 1.144. The Examiner can even reject the response (as non-responsive) if all claims are amended to be directed to a different invention (as determined by the Examiner). This can cause significant problems for the Applicant, as well as a significant waste of resources. While one can challenge these actions by Petition, the deadline clock does not stop and there is the fundamental problem that restrictions can be difficult to challenge.
Consider how an Examiner could use restrictions to frustrate the examination process for applicants (not that Examiners do, but the unchecked power lends itself to the potential for abuse). In virtually every case, a restriction is issued dividing the application into as many parts as possible, forcing Applicant to elect one (e.g., figure-based species restriction). Applicant then elects one figure and is forced to limit all future amendments in the application to only that figure, lest the amendments be asserted to be directed to a non-elected invention and subsequently restricted, or not entered. Applicant is left petitioning not only the initial restriction, but each subsequent instance where amendments are asserted to be outside the elected matter. At the same time, Applicant is trying to make amendments to distinguish cited art.
There are some things Applicants can do to limit the potential for such situations. As an initial matter, restrictions among figures or separate claims of the same type (e.g., method/method, or system/system) should be routinely traversed to maintain the ability to petition, and thus amend, if needed. Without the initial traversal, the Applicant may have little chance at subsequently petitioning the Examiner's refusal to consider an amendment. Further, the cost of traversing, and the negative statements that can be used against the Applicant, can be minimized as Applicants are not required to list every reason for the traversal.
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So what has gone so wrong in the intervening 15 months to cause the board to resort to the nuclear option barely half way through the contract extension. Evaluations are subjective tools based on the evaluator’s personality, values, experience, expertise, etc. Without knowing the goals and objectives and criteria, it is difficult to assess significance, worth or quality for purposes of performance improvement. To the extent the superintendent’s performance is directly related to the performance of the organization under his charge, MUSD’s performance should be an integral part of Mr. Gonzalez’ evaluation. A perusal of the MUSD, CDE and related websites disclose the following highlights during his tenure that can be seen starting on Page A1 in this edition of The Madera Tribune.
By all accounts, based on an internal survey conducted, workplace climate, employee morale and job approval have improved dramatically. In that connection, since his arrival, Gonzalez successfully negotiated three contracts with the union thereby averting the acrimonious labor strife (including an imminent strike) that regularly plagued the district during contract negotiations. In fact they were concluded in record time with 99 percent and above approval by union members, which is unheard of. Further, the district embarked on an ambitious parent engagement campaign that netted the State’s first annual LCAP Parent Engagement Exemplar Award in 2016. Still further, the district has hired and retained a number of highly qualified staff, some of whom have distinguished themselves and received recognition awards recently.
The significance of this is that all the above were accomplished notwithstanding the alleged failure of the superintendent to work with the board. Just imagine what the district could have accomplished if the superintendent and board worked hand-in-hand during this time. Let’s not throw out the baby with the bathwater. School districts, like all large organizations, are subject to conflict. It is unrealistic to expect the board/superintendent relationship to be above conflict when you bring together individuals who are ardently passionate about the organization’s mission as well they should be. By definition, the board of trustees sets policy and provides oversight of the organizational operations. As a practical matter, it shares the leadership with the superintendent who is on the ground implementing its policies. Often, those involved are too close to the situation to recognize root causes of the problem.
If it’s a matter of personality conflicts, management style clashes and faulty communication skills, how about bringing in an executive coach and/or conflict manager to work with the superintendent? To get the board and superintendent beyond the current impasse, why not bring an outside mediator to assist in negotiating a “win-win” resolution that accommodates competing, common and complimentary needs, expectations and interests of the parties?
Finally, our elected board of trustees plays a crucial role in our democratic system of governance. Indeed, their volunteerism represents the finest example of active citizenship that should be required of us all. These public servants dedicate their time without compensation, skill, knowledge and commitment to ensure academic success of our children, sound fiscal practices, compliance with state and federal standards and maintenance of school operations.
If the current trustees choose to go down the path of terminating Mr. Gonzales, it will only accentuate and escalate conflict that blocks the board from doing its best work, i.e., serving our students. Unfortunately, it will keep the district divided into factions once again. | https://www.maderatribune.com/single-post/2017/02/15/there-are-no-winners-only-losers |
Friday, November 18, 2016, 3:18 PM - Researchers from Dalhousie University have been scouring the Canadian Arctic for the answer to a summertime mystery for several years, and it turns out the answer was right under their feet.
It's bird poop.
Winter Sneak Peek: Classic Winter or green for the holidays? Exclusive first look at what the winter might bring this year. | FORECAST & MAPS HERE
In a report released earlier this week, the team from Dalhousie's Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science identifies seabird guano as the source of the mysteriously high concentrations of ammonia in the summertime Arctic air. "Every summer, tens of millions of seabirds flock to the Arctic," says the official release from the university, "where their nitrogen-rich diets lead to droppings, or guano, that release ammonia into the air."
This ammonia joins with other particles rising from the ocean to make cloud condensation nuclei - the seeds around which water droplets condense in the atmosphere to form clouds. More seeds generally means smaller droplets overall, as the same amount of moisture gets spread over more area.
The effect is brighter clouds, and brighter clouds are able to reflect more sunlight - keeping the area below cooler.
In the university's statement, study co-author Dr. Betty Croft said it is "very important to understand the set of interconnections that exist within the Arctic climate system," particularly because clouds play a key role in controlling temperatures in the region.
The seabird guano - cloud albedo connection. Image courtesy Nature Communications.
Unfortunately for the rapidly-warming Arctic, the impact of the cooling - while important to understand - is minor compared to the overall warming of the changing environment.
It's also important to note that while the more-reflective clouds are more efficient at repelling the sun's incoming energy, they're also better at trapping heat escaping from Earth's surface - a warming effect.
In their discussion, the study authors also caution that, "given the accelerated rate of Arctic warming, seabird numbers and migratory patterns may change, altering the seabird-guano ammonia emissions in the Arctic," suggesting that the cooling effect may also be subject to change in the future.
"The findings are surprising, and support the precautionary principle," says one of the study's co-authors, Dr. Randall Martin, "there are likely [other, similar] interconnections between the living and non-living components of Earth's climate system that we don't understand yet."
Sources: Dalhousie University | Nature | Live Science |
Watch below: See cloud particles in action with this cloud in a bottle. | https://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/articles/seabird-poop-plays-important-role-in-arctic-climate-puzzle/74746 |
Using wireless communications, one or more action devices, or a host device and one or more action devices are wirelessly connected and define a networked system. The devices have the ability to discover other devices wirelessly as those other devices come online within the same network, automatically adjust for the additional devices, and initiate intelligent interaction between one or more connected devices, A host device and action device are capable to effectively manage data to ensure no data is lost. The host device controls the timing and distribution of data to one or more multiple devices simultaneously in an asynchronous or synchronous manner that results in a coordinated and choreographed implementation of the system, The networked system and method utilize existing equipment without the need to obtain specialized equipment or modify the current operational aspects of existing technology by simultaneous use of multiple layers of the TCP/IP network stack. | |
The oceans cover more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, and yet they’re one of the least-understood habitats on the planet. And unfortunately, they’re one of the most threatened–by things like climate change, overfishing, bycatch, plastic pollution, and more. More and greater efforts to protect the oceans and the life they contain are vital.
If you care about ocean issues, here are some things you can do:
Push for Southern Resident Killer Whale conservation
Prevent plastic trash from getting into the oceans
Push for Southern Resident Killer Whale conservation
ACT NOW
The Southern Resident Killer Whales are a unique population of endangered killer whales living off the Pacific Northwest coast that exclusively eats salmon, instead of also eating marine mammals like many other killer whales. But salmon populations in the region are dwindling due to overfishing, habitat destruction and hydroelectric dams, and this is causing the Southern Residents to starve…because they will only eat salmon.
There are three pods, or families, of these killer whales: J, K and L. Each individual whale is named for its number and pod. The Center for Whale Research has recently confirmed that Southern Resident Killer Whales J17, K25 and L84 are dead, bringing the population down to 73 Southern Resident Killer Whales. These whales are long-lived, but reproduce very slowly. Successful births in recent years have been very rare.
It’s clear to whale researchers that the Southern Residents will go extinct if we don’t take drastic and necessary actions to save them. You can help by continuing to push Washington State Governor Jay Inslee to take actions that can help the Southern Residents. Thus far, he’s been an active supporter of legislation that can help these whales.
Here’s what to tell him: Emphasize the continued importance of increasing the number of salmon available to the Southern Residents by removing the Snake River Dams; and cutting pollution by stopping the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion, shutting down fish farms, fighting toxic dumping; reducing ship traffic where whales congregate; and taking action on climate change. You can contact him online or by phone at +1-360-902-4111.
In 2019 Jonathan Wilkinson, minister of Canada’s Fisheries and Oceans unit, passed a set of rules closing some salmon fisheries and requiring increased distance between boaters and whales in a bid to help the Southern Residents. You can help push further actions to save the whales forward by also reaching out to him and showing your support of dam closures, salmon conservation, climate action, pollution reduction, an end to pipeline expansion, and increased awareness of the Southern Residents’ plight. Find contact information for Minister Wilkinson and his office here.
You can also help out the Southern Residents by making changes in your everyday life:
-Tell everyone you know about the Southern Residents and ask them to also take action.
-Stop buying, eating and ordering salmon.
-Ride your bike, walk, take public transit, carpool, and buy locally to reduce your carbon footprint.
-Buy organic, so you don’t support farmers who grow plants with toxic chemicals
-Decrease your plastic consumption by using reusable products and buying unpackaged items.
-Turn your lights off to use less electricity (some of which could be hydroelectric).
Prevent plastic trash from getting into the oceans
ACT NOW
Plastic pollution is a global issue affecting land, air and water, all over the world. It’s a problem that’s very visible in the oceans, as plastic tends to travel far and wide through the sea. Humanity’s decades of plastic overuse, poor waste management practices and bad littering habits have led to the natural environment being completely filled with plastic items and particles called microplastic. Both intact plastic items and microplastic pose a threat to the health of wildlife, and humans too! Cleaning up plastic out of the environment is a good way to bring attention to the issue, but experts say it is critical to focus on preventing further use of plastic and the mismanagement of plastic waste.
Here are some ways you can help reduce plastic pollution in the oceans: | http://safinacenter.org/ocean-issues/ |
COVID-19 and the sudden rise in remote work linked to it have had a major impact on the way we work as well as on our value systems. After experiencing that remote work actually works for many professions across different industries, more and more employees request to retain their newly gained work flexibility, both in terms of working hours and choice of workplace.
During the pandemic, organizations have seen a significant amount of relocation requests by employees who either want to move back to their home country and be closer to family and friends or to escape the restrictions of lockdown to enjoy a workation on a paradise-like island. Their argument: If they were able to work from home successfully for more than a year, they should be able to work from anywhere.
While relocating to a different country is usually perceived by employees as a pretty straightforward move, international employee relocation can cause HR departments quite severe headaches. Unlike in cases where the employee simply decides to relocate to a different region, moving to a different jurisdiction entails a series of legal challenges for employers. Yet offering employees the option to work remotely is necessary to retain valuable talent.
In this article, we will dive into the complex challenges that come with remote employee relocation requests and point out different ways to master them. Finally, we will give you some practical tips on how to handle relocation requests from employees who want to work remotely from another country.
International employee relocation in the context of remote work
Usually, employee relocation is defined as a company or organization moving employees from one location to another, either on a local or international level. However, since the exponential rise in remote work during the coronavirus pandemic, employee relocation has acquired a whole new meaning. Before, employee relocation was primarily requested by the company. Now, relocation requests are made by employees who want to make use of the flexibility remote work arrangements offer them to travel or move abroad.
In this context, remote employee relocation requests can take three different forms:
- Short-term relocation for travel purposes such as a workation stay on a Caribbean island which is possible with a digital nomad visa – for inspiration, check our full list of countries offering remote work visas
- Short-term relocation as a resident but with intention to move back to current country of residence, for example employees spending a couple of months back in their home country to be close to family
- Long-term relocation with no intended return, e.g. employees fulfilling their dream to move to a country where they have always wanted to live
In this article, we will focus on long-term relocation requests remote employees might make to their employers.
Why remote employee relocation requests are an HR headache
Employees relocating to a different area within the same jurisdiction is no big deal. But relocation requests on an international level are a totally different story. Moving from one country to another triggers several administrative, tax and legal changes which make it difficult to ensure compliance throughout the process. There are various aspects which need to be considered, including employment law, tax systems and visa / residency requirements – at least if remote employees ask to relocate to a country where they don’t have resident status yet. In the next paragraphs, we will look at these challenges in more detail and highlight possible solutions.
Remote work relocation: What are the challenges?
Complying with local employment laws
The rules and regulations governing work are different from country to country. If one of your employees wants to move to a different country, this means your organization’s HR department has to ensure that the employment complies with local norms. Necessary adjustments may include weekly working hours, overtime, annual leave as well as sick leave. Also, in case of employee termination, the local proceedings must be observed. It’s no secret that businesses who fail to respect local labor laws risk heavy fines and penalties.
Possible need to establish a legal entity in the employee’s new country of residence
However, simply adjusting the remote employee’s employment contract to make it compliant under local laws is not enough. Depending on which country the employee has chosen to relocate to, it might not be possible for them to be hired under a foreign entity. In this case, international employee relocation might cause a need to set up a local entity which, as we all know, can be a very costly and lengthy process.
Setting up payroll in a foreign country
Payroll works differently in every country, not only with regard to necessary social security contributions but also regarding restrictions on which practices are allowed and which aren’t. Depending on the country, it might not be possible to include your remote worker in your home-country payroll once they moved abroad. Consequently, you would have to set up payroll in the new country – and also find a way of paying your remote employees without spending lots of money on exchange rates and transaction fees.
Managing taxation and benefits for remote employees relocating to different countries
Just as for payroll, each country’s tax system is different. Therefore, managing remote employee relocation requests also involves becoming familiar with foreign tax systems. Otherwise, you risk fines and penalties for not complying with local tax laws or missing the deadline for paying social security contributions for your remote workers.
Company taxation: Avoiding permanent establishment risk
Let’s consider the following example: A high-level executive of a remote-first company requests to relocate long-term to a different country while keeping his current position. In some countries, the presence of managers who make executive decisions for your business might trigger a so-called permanent establishment risk. This means that the local tax authorities might decide that having high-level decision makers who are based in the country makes your organization liable for corporate taxation.
Remote work logistics are not the same everywhere in the world
Relocating to a nice Caribbean island or to some hidden paradise in Asia might seem like the ultimate dream to many remote workers. In some cases, however, remote work relocation may quickly turn this dream into a remote work nightmare when the internet connection proves to be far less reliable than expected and remote employees are far too distracted by their beautiful surroundings to be productive and do what they are paid for.
Dealing with time zone differences
Having a remote team whose members are all based within the same time zone – or at least a similar time zone – usually doesn’t require special arrangements. This dramatically changes when one of your employees decides to relocate from Europe to somewhere in Australia, for example. With a time difference of more than eight hours, arranging meetings and ensuring smooth workflows can be challenging.
Adjusting salaries for remote employees who decide to relocate
One of the biggest challenges for companies who are switching to remote-first is how to set salaries for their remote workers. As basing remote work salaries on employee location is one of three strategies for remote work compensation, this means that the relocation of remote employees could have a severe impact on their salaries and benefits. For HR departments, this means recalculating salaries and adjusting benefit packages to local standards.
Dealing with immigration and visa requirements
Unless an employee is intending to move back to his or her home country, remote work relocation might also involve having to deal with immigration departments to make sure visa requirements are met. Even though it’s your employee who requests to relocate, leaving it up to him or her to sort out residency and visa requirements is often not a good idea. Not because you shouldn’t trust them to take this seriously, but mainly because they might unknowingly get it wrong which could, in the end, affect your business.
Mastering international employee relocation: These are the solutions
Use an Employer of Record (EOR)
Using an Employer of Record (EOR) allows you to continue to employ remote workers who decide to relocate to a different country without having to set up a separate legal entity to do so. The Employer of Record will act as your employee’s legal employer, thus taking care of all the compliance issues such as employment law, payroll and taxation while you stay in charge of the employee’s day-to-day activities.
Want to know more about Lano’s Employer of Record solutions? Check out our Global Employment page to find out how to hire and pay remote staff in over 150 countries.
Get a local payroll provider
Let’s imagine that, by coincidence, you end up having several remote employees requesting to relocate to the same country or you are thinking about expanding to that new market anyway. In this case, it might make sense for you to go ahead and set up a foreign legal entity. To reduce stress and compliance complexity, you can hire a local payroll provider who will take care of all payroll-related things in that particular country for you.
Need help finding the right payroll partner for your business? With Lano’s international payroll provider network, you can connect to local experts in over 130 countries. What’s more, our API allows you to consolidate payroll data for your entire global team in one place. Let us simplify global payroll for you.
Asynchronous communication is key for remote teams spread across different time zones
As soon as you have remote employees requesting to move to different countries, it’s time to make asynchronous communication a reality. Asynchronous communication means having ways to communicate with each other that don’t rely on team members being available to respond immediately. Helpful collaboration tools for asynchronous communication are Slack or Microsoft Teams. For more detailed information, check out our related blog post 3 tips for collaborating across different time zones.
Introduce a clear remote work compensation strategy
Remote work compensation has recently been all over the news. Big names like Facebook, Twitter or Google have announced pay cuts for remote employees deciding to relocate to less expensive areas, following a compensation strategy based on employee location. You can avoid trouble and salary discussion with remote employees by defining a clear remote work compensation strategy. Make it clear straight from the beginning that international relocation will have an impact on their salaries and benefits.
Tips for dealing with remote employee relocation requests
Don’t say ‘no’ straight away
Remote work has turned into an employee benefit in its own right. For instance, OWL Labs Remote Work report 2020 shows that 74 percent of employees are less likely to leave their employers if they are allowed to work remotely at least some of the time. Denying remote work relocation requests could therefore result in you losing some of your top performers. Trying to make relocation possible is crucial to retain valuable talent.
Be open about what employees who want to relocate can expect
When we really want something, not getting it or having to wait for it is likely to make us feel annoyed. The same goes for remote work relocation requests. Remote employees who wish to move to a different country are often really invested in the idea and want to relocate as soon as possible.
By establishing clear procedures and guidelines on how relocation requests are handled, you will not only avoid giving your remote team the impression that their wishes are not taken seriously, but you will also prevent possible complaints about unfair treatment because some colleague or other got more support than they did.
Get your employees involved in the relocation process
Who says managing international employee relocation is only for employers and HR departments? If it’s one of your remote employees who asks to relocate to a foreign country, you should use their eagerness to make their move a reality and involve them in the process. Encourage them to conduct some research on compliance-related topics and contribute to the task. Working together on a relocation request will lessen the burden on your HR department.
Having trouble imagining how employees can contribute to making remote work relocation a reality? Listen to Halley Bennett, Head of Marketing at Lano, on the State of Work podcast where she talks about how she managed to kickstart her own remote work journey and how she pushed for making her relocation to Spain happen.
Always know where your employees are
This isn’t exactly a tip for dealing with a concrete relocation request from one of your remote employees, but you should think of it as a general rule when working with a remote team. Although the nature of remote work makes it hard for superiors and managers to keep track of what their team is doing, this doesn’t reduce your responsibility as an employer. Even if, for example, one of your employees has already temporarily relocated to a different country without telling you, your company could still be liable for compliance risks. Therefore, it is crucial for remote businesses to always be aware of the whereabouts of their remote team members.
Get help handling international employee relocation from Lano
Whether you need to relocate remote employees internationally because of business reasons or because they ask for it, Lano is here to help you. With our Employer of Record solutions, you can hire full-time talent in over 150 countries without having to create a foreign legal entity. And if your employee’s relocation request is just the last push for you to finally establish a presence in a new market, let us simplify payroll for you. Get access to our network of top payroll providers and use our smart platform to have all your employee data consolidated in one single platform.
Get in touch with us today to have all your remote employee relocation needs covered.
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When we talk about self-care, we often think of it as an individual practice; as something we do on our own to combat the burnout that day-to-day life brings. But social self-care is just as important.
But what is social self-care, exactly? It's pretty much what it sounds like: Self-care, but for your social life. While this does mean making sure you’re giving your relationships the attention they deserve and putting in the work to form new bonds, it also means establishing healthy boundaries around your social life so you don’t end up overextending yourself.
As we enter the third year of the pandemic, many of us are feeling a little lost from a social perspective. While life feels somewhat “normal” again, with social distancing in mind, we did everything we could to avoid seeing our friends in person for so long. So as we come up for air, it’s hard to know exactly how to approach our social lives.
That’s where social self-care tips come in. Here are five of them.
Make plans
This seems pretty simple, right? But it can be easy to let the days and weeks pass without making plans to actually see our friends, especially because so many of us got out of the habit of doing that during the COVID-19 pandemic. So take out your phone and text or call a few friends asking when you can see them. And if you don't feel comfortable with indoor gatherings, suggest a walk outside or a virtual hangout.
Engage in traditional acts of self-care with your friends
To take your social self-care journey to the next level, ask yourself this: What are your favorite self-care activities, and which ones can you do with your friends? Some ideas might include:
- Taking a walk
- Side-by-side journaling using the same prompt
- Taking a yoga or other type of exercise class together
- Going hiking
- Painting or draw together
- Having a “vision board” night
- Cooking a nourishing meal together
- Watching a great movie or show
- Playing a board game
Side-by-side journaling using the same prompt can be a great social self-care practice
Give a gift
You know how the saying goes: It feels better to give than receive. So give someone you love a gift! This gift can be a thing — for example, maybe the two of you popped into a store together the last time you hung out and your friend mentioned loving a specific candle — that would be a great gift that will let them know you’re thinking of them.
But gift-giving can also mean signing the two of you up for a fun class you can take together, or going over to your friends’ house to cook them dinner during a particularly stressful week.
Put in effort to make new friends
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your social life, feel free to skip this tip. But if you feel like you could use some new friendships in your life, there are plenty of ways to make friends as an adult. Go to a Meetup, try an app like BumbleBFF, or consider hosting a party where you ask everyone to bring a friend.
When practicing social self-care, put in effort to make new friends.
Make time for play
In our productivity-centered society, it’s easy to feel like we’re working even when we’re not “officially” working. Think rushing to a workout class, cooking dinner for your family, doing laundry, the list goes on. But one of the more abstract aspects of social self-care is carving out time for play. Of course, you have to define what “play” means to you, but it could mean participating in an intramural sport, playing a board game, visiting a museum, going shopping, or simply laughing over dinner with a friend. When we play, we tap into our social selves — and usually end up forming new bonds along the way.
Set boundaries
It’s no secret that we’re big fans of boundaries here at Silk + Sonder. And one of the most important social self-care tips of all is to make sure that when it comes to your personal relationships, you’re taking care of yourself, too. It’s not uncommon to have a friend who goes on and on about their problems without stopping to ask how you are, or to have a friend who demands more time than you have to spare. So set boundaries around your friendships, and stand firm in them — even if that means having an awkward conversation. And make sure you’re carving out time to engage in individual self-care acts that help restore you, too.What does the term “social self-care” mean to you? Let us know in the comments. And while you’re at it, bookmark these 50 powerful affirmations for self-love. | https://www.silkandsonder.com/blogs/news/5-self-care-tips-for-when-your-social-life-needs-a-boost |
PRAXIS is a critical reapprehension of the structural dynamics of Western superhero comics, particularly Marvel’s X-Men. Following Grant Morrison’s New X-Men (2012), which interrogates the binary dynamics faced by the previously marginalised mutant community, PRAXIS follows a group of queer ‘expe’ (extraordinary people) students who set out to discover the truth of their world for themselves. This narrative structure allows me to test the suppositions of my thesis – that the formal system of comics lends itself to trans-temporal storytelling, that queer creators have intuited these dynamics, and that such non-linear narratives offer opportunities for critical engagement with the reader.
In this book, I test out some of the methods developed by engagement with Thierry Groensteen’s concept of spatiotopia, the arrangement and connection between objects on the comic page, and extended into chronotopia, the connection between objects across the entire ‘metaframe’ of the book and, thus, across time (2007). PRAXIS uses compressed storytelling, non-expository world-building, temporal mechanics unique to comics (such as the citation effect and resonance) and trials new methods such as “chrono-chromatics.” Each of these is used with a view to creating a critical relationship between author and reader, in which readers are invited to question socio-political structural dynamics. | https://sgsahresearch.com/portfolio/praxis-in-practice-queer-time-and-chronotopia-in-comics-and-graphic-novels/ |
This can help them rule out other knee problems. There are three grades of MCL tear depending on what proportion of the ligament is injured.
Your doctor can often tell if you have an MCL injury by examining your knee. How to Avoid Long Term Problems An MCL injury can have a long lasting impact on the stability of the knee therefore affecting balance and knee function e. It usually is recommended to keep the knee immobilized like this for 72 hours, depending on the severity of the injury.
This is self-explanatory, but try to be aware of activities that cause pain or discomfort, and either avoid them or modify them. Imagine getting out of bed in the morning with a spring in your step.
The most common recommendation is to apply ice for 20 minutes every 2 hours for the first 48 to 72 hours. It helps to connect your shin and thigh bones to keep your knee stable and working properly when you move.
Once the MCL has healed fully, you should have a minimum of long-term effects, providing there was no other damage to the knee. This pushes the bones apart on the inside of the knee which overstretches the ligament tearing the MCL 2 Twisting: An MCL injury usually occurs when there is a force through the outer side of a bent knee, e.
Amazon has listed his books on five Best-Seller lists. This is continued until a normal gait is obtained. Avoid activities that cause pain: Your doctor may also order an MRI scan.
These four exercises help to strengthen the major muscles and tendons located around the knee joint.
Avoid them at all costs. Often in the knee, the functional strength of the quadriceps muscle, especially the medial VMO muscle, is weak and atrophied. Crushed ice in a plastic bag is usually best. How long, how often?
The MCL is one of four ligaments that helps stabilise the knee and is found on the inner side of the knee joining the femur thigh bone and the tibia shin bone. If you are wearing a brace, it should be removed several times a day to carryout exercises to ensure the knee does not get stiff.
Currently, bracing with a hinged knee orthosis is common. Recovery times vary depending on the severity of your MCL injury. A retrospective study by Pandey et al compared outcomes in 35 patients who were divided into two groups, a group who had primary MCL- posteromedial corner repair without subsequent ACL reconstruction and group who a primary MCL- posteromedial corner repaired with a delayed ACL reconstruction.
If you suffer from MCL tear or MCL sprain, or are seeking to prevent its occurrence, it is important to follow the information in this article. She may push on the inside of your knee to see how stable or loose the joint is and whether it hurts.
The medial collateral ligament is very important in providing stability to the knee joint. You may also stretch or tear your MCL if your knee is suddenly pushed to the side, or if it twists or bends out too far.
By far the most common cause of medial collateral ligament sprain is a blow or sudden impact to the outside lateral of the knee joint. It is much better to apply ice for 3 to 5 minutes a couple of time an hour, than not at all.
Ligaments hold bones together and add stability and strength to a joint. Also, be aware that children and elderly people have a lower tolerance to ice and cold. Some people can walk, but their knee feels loose, and it wobbles more than it should when they move.
Even cold water from a tap is better than nothing at all. Ultrasound treatment and deep tissue friction massage can also help reduce pain and speed up healing from an MCL injury.Oct 06, · Medial Collateral Ligament Treatment MCL injury is just like any other soft tissue injury and should be treated accordingly.
This involves the application of R.I.C.E.R. (R) rest, (I) ice, (C) compression, (E) elevation and obtaining a (R) referral for appropriate medical treatment.5/5.
An MCL tear causes inner knee pain and killarney10mile.com medial collateral ligament gets over-stretched and torn with knee twisting or when there's contact on the outside of the knee.
Here we look at the common causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is located on the inner aspect, or part, of your knee, but it’s outside the joint itself.
Ligaments hold bones together and add stability and strength to a joint. The MCL connects the top of the tibia, or shinbone, to the bottom of the femur, or thighbone.
An injury to the MCL is often called an MCL sprain. May 31, · Correlation of valgus stress radiographs with medial knee ligament injuries: an in vitro biomechanical study. Am J Sports Med.
Feb. 38(2) Dale KM, Bailey JR, Moorman CT 3rd. Surgical Management and Treatment of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament/Medial Collateral Ligament Injured Knee.
Clin Sports Med. Treatment. If you have a mild MCL strain, it can heal on its own with rest, ice, and other self-care. You’ll need to raise your sore knee when you put ice on it, keep weight off the joint, and protect and compress the injury with a knee brace or elastic bandage. | http://xehugariwykice.killarney10mile.com/the-ways-of-treatment-of-the-medial-collateral-ligament-injury-86910xe1218.html |
Motion Systems – Michał Stanek conducting business activity under the business name Motion Systems Michał Stanek with its registered office in Nadolice Wielkie, 55-003 Nadolice Wielkie, 7 Miedziana Street, tax identification number (NIP) PL8862563627 – a supplier of motion systems, simulation systems and components.
Agreement – a mutual agreement between two or more parties aimed at mutual benefit and specifying the mutual obligations and rights of the parties. The Agreement includes the provisions of the GTCs, unless the parties have agreed otherwise in individual negotiations or the Offer states otherwise.
GTC – General Terms and Conditions of Order.
Buyer – refers to all contractors purchasing products (including but not limited to motion systems, simulation systems or components) from Motion Systems excluding consumers.
Offer – Motion Systems’ statement of intent to conclude the Contract on the terms and conditions indicated therein – defining at least the costs, estimated lead time, payment terms and the duration of the offer. The offer must contain the marking: “Commercial offer” or “The document constitutes an offer within the meaning of the Polish Civil Code”, otherwise it constitutes only an invitation to negotiate.
Order – the Buyer’s statement expressed in a documentary form (electronically or by e-mail) declaring his will to purchase the subject of the Offer under the conditions specified therein. | https://motionsystems.eu/legal/ |
The Board of Directors of Finet Group Limited always work persistently everyday to supervise the work and performance of Chief Executive Officer and other senior management staffs, and guarantee the ethics of the company’s operation. Meanwhile, they ensure the legality and compliance of every strategic decision and the long term interests of shareholders. In order to bring the functions and responsibilities of Board of Directors into full play, they must be responsible for their positions and take a proactive approach to ensure the consistent progress of the corporation, meanwhile bearing the social responsibilities and adhere to strict ethical standards.
The Board of Directors adopted the Committee regulations and governance guidelines, coupled with the Memorandum and articles of the corporation as below, to form the framework of Finet governance. | http://ir.finet.hk/en/%E4%BC%81%E6%A5%AD%E7%AE%A1%E6%B2%BB/ |
When Tammy Collins, Ph.D., was hired to direct the Office of Fellows' Career Development in 2012, she was already working with postdoctoral fellows at NIEHS to develop trainings and outreach opportunities as the Chair of the NIEHS Trainees’ Assembly. A former postdoctoral fellow in the NIEHS Laboratory of Molecular Genetics branch, Collins now provides NIEHS trainees with much-needed professional development services to supplement their NIEHS research.
“When I came to NIEHS as a basic scientist, I didn’t know what my career was going to be,” said Collins. “Through my involvement with the Trainees’ Assembly, I worked with a committee to plan workshops and programming for postdoctoral fellows and found that I really enjoyed interacting with a broad group of trainees to help them navigate professional experiences that supplemented their bench work.”
As the director of the OFCD, Collins oversees seminars, courses, and workshops that provide critical skills for future careers. These workshops range from basic writing and management to searching for and interviewing for jobs. The NIEHS Trainees’ Assembly works closely with the OFCD to hold an annual career fair, now in its 17th year that attracts more than 350 people from NIEHS and local universities. Collins also produces biweekly newsletters with professional development events and job opportunities, and provides individual consultation meetings to assist trainees with job applications and résumés, mock interviews, and career advice.
Improving career development for trainees
In 2013, Collins led the charge to develop and send out an in-depth survey to all fellows, including a specific subsection for international fellows, to better understand how the OFCD could help meet their needs.
“We found that international fellows felt they would benefit most from additional help with communication and job-searching skills in the U.S.,” said Collins. “As a result of the survey, we developed specific workshops catered toward international fellows, and we publicize programs that will help facilitate scientific writing and communication in English.”
In the past year, OFCD has held workshops specifically designed for international fellows, such as identifying common English grammar mistakes in academic writing and improving spoken English. They have also provided opportunities for all fellows through programs that address international needs including job search strategies, giving presentations, grant writing, writing and publishing scientific papers, as well as a wide range of other opportunities.
Putting a global perspective on training
The OFCD not only provides practical advice to international trainees, it is also including global environmental health in its programs. For the first time this summer, OFCD is facilitating a series of courses on global environmental health topics that will be taught by NIEHS fellows and scientists. These courses will not only raise awareness of global environmental health issues for high school and undergraduate trainees, but will also help fellows put their own research into a broader global perspective.
Other new initiatives led by OFCD include a workshop for the trainees to learn about finding careers abroad and how to secure funding for global work, and the opportunity to hear from NIH alumni who work internationally.
Even with an already long list of priorities to be addressed by workshops, Collins continues to search for unmet needs in training through individual meetings and events. | https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/programs/geh/geh_newsletter/2014/6/training/tammy_collins_providing_professional_development_opportunities_for_niehs_fellows.cfm |
Using official reports and eyewitness accounts, this new illustrated map and guide documents credible unexplained sightings in The Skies Above the United Kingdom.
In recent years, naval, military and scientific sources have begun to acknowledge the existence of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena - UAP. Explanations run from the commonplace, such as balloons or birds, to the more thrilling notion of extra-terrestrial visitors. In this illustrated map and guide we stick to known facts - the what, where and who. Entries include the 1980 sightings in Rendlesham Forest by military personnel and reports of UFOs spotted opposite the Houses of Parliament in 2008.
Written and researched by the hosts of That UFO Podcast, The Skies Above is a fact-based but lively exploration of
one of the planet's last great mysteries. | https://www.peregrinebookcompany.com/book/9781739897109 |
Suara.com – The Covid-19 pandemic has not only impacted mental health adults only. Children and adolescents are also vulnerable to mental health problems triggered by activity restrictions.
Drastic life changes during a pandemic cause increased fear, anxiety, and worry, and have the potential to interfere with mental health.
To address this situation, an adolescent psychologist, best-selling author and New York Times monthly columnist, Dr. Lisa Damour, revealed that there are a number of things that can be done to maintain mental health in order to stay sane during a pandemic that does not know when it will end.
Like what? See how to prevent the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the health of the following children and adolescents, as quoted from the official website of the Covid-19 Task Force.
Also Read:
The COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts the Quality of Life of Workers, Here’s the Survey
1. Anxiety is a natural thing
Realize that the anxiety you experience does not only happen to yourself but almost all teenagers in the world.
Losing important moments in life is hard, it’s not wrong if you experience anxiety because it is normal.
Dr. Lisa says psychologists have long recognized that anxiety is a normal and healthy function that can make us alert to threats, and help us take action to protect ourselves.
Because, according to him, anxiety can help make decisions that must be made at this time, such as not spending time with other people or in large groups, washing hands and not touching your face.
Also Read:
5 Meanings of Dreams About Hotels: Related to Romance and Complicated Situations
“Those feelings not only help take care of yourself, but also other people. This is what reflects how we take care of members of the community. We also think about the people around us, you know,” he said.
Meanwhile, to overcome anxiety due to COVID-19, it can be overcome by seeking the latest information from accurate and reliable sources such as government-owned websites and social media or credible media.
“And if you feel you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, immediately tell your parents so they can be treated immediately. Because generally in children and adolescents the symptoms are mild,” said Dr. Lisa.
2. Look for redirects
In life, we often have to deal with difficult conditions. However, the way that can be done to overcome it is to recognize the problem first. Problems that arise can be things that can be controlled or which cannot be controlled as it is today.
Therefore, we need a diversion to deal with it. According to Dr. Our Lisa can find a positive outlet and find balance in everyday life.
Examples include doing assignments, reading books or novels, watching movies, cooking, baking, exercising, singing, dancing, painting or even creating new creativity.
3. Find new ways to communicate
In today’s modern era, communication does not have to be done directly. You can use social media to interact with distant family or friends.
Although the role of social media is good, Dr. Lisa reminded not to go too far in its use. Still needed to set the time or screen time in their daily life.
“I will never underestimate the creativity of teenagers. They will find ways to connect with each other online in a way that has never been done before. But having unrestricted access to screens or social media isn’t a great thing. That’s unhealthy and unintelligent, and can even increase your anxiety,” says Dr. Lisa.
4. Focus on yourself
If before the pandemic you were so busy with various activities, now is the time for you to focus on yourself. You can use this time to improve your skills by reading a lot or taking online courses.
You can also do other productive things to maintain both physical and mental health. “When it comes to painful feelings, the only way out is to work through them.” said Dr. Lisa.
5. Feel your feelings
According to Dr. Lisa the best way to deal with disappointment is to allow yourself to feel this disappointment.
“When it comes to experiencing painful feelings, the only way out is to work through them. Go on with your life and if you feel sad, dive into your feelings. If you can allow yourself to feel sad, the sooner you’ll feel better.”
Of course, feelings of disappointment cannot be denied when we lose the opportunity to attend events with friends, activities to channel hobbies, or sports competitions, but this can be overcome.
Some children will express their feelings by creating art, while others choose to talk to their friends and use shared sadness as a way to feel connected in situations where they can’t physically meet.
“Everyone has a different way of processing feelings. Either way, the important thing is that you do what feels right to you,” says Dr. Lisa.
6. Do good
It is undeniable that due to the Corona virus, some teenagers have experienced bullying. The best way to deal with this according to Dr. Lisa is an advocate for every kind of bullying.
“Children and youth who are the target of bullying should not be asked to confront the bullies head-on. Instead, we should encourage them to seek help and support from friends or adults,” he said.
Therefore, he suggests that if you see a friend being bullied, then approach them and offer support.
“Because doing nothing can make your friend feel that no one cares about her. Remember the most important time for us to be wiser in deciding what we will share or say to others,” concluded Dr. Lisa.
. | https://www.archynewsy.com/6-ways-to-prevent-the-impact-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-on-mental-health-of-children-and-adolescents/ |
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial.
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Abstract
Tropical seasonal biomes (TSBs), such as the savannas (Cerrado) and semi-arid woodlands (Caatinga) of Brazil, are vulnerable ecosystems to human-induced disturbances. Remote sensing can detect disturbances such as deforestation and fires, but the analysis of change detection in TSBs is affected by seasonal modifications in vegetation indices due to phenology. To reduce the effects of vegetation phenology on changes caused by deforestation and fires, we developed a novel object-based change detection method. The approach combines both the spatial and spectral domains of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), using a pair of Operational Land Imager (OLI)/Landsat-8 images acquired in 2015 and 2016. We used semivariogram indices (SIs) as spatial features and descriptive statistics as spectral features (SFs). We tested the performance of the method using three machine-learning algorithms: support vector machine (SVM), artificial neural network (ANN) and random forest (RF). The results showed that the combination of spatial and spectral information improved change detection by correctly classifying areas with seasonal changes in NDVI caused by vegetation phenology and areas with NDVI changes caused by human-induced disturbances. The use of semivariogram indices reduced the effects of vegetation phenology on change detection. The performance of the classifiers was generally comparable, but the SVM presented the highest overall classification accuracy (92.27%) when using the hybrid set of NDVI-derived spectral-spatial features. From the vegetated areas, 18.71% of changes were caused by human-induced disturbances between 2015 and 2016. The method is particularly useful for TSBs where vegetation exhibits strong seasonality and regularly spaced time series of satellite images are difficult to obtain due to persistent cloud cover. | https://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/id/eprint/131945/ |
Earth has one huge moon looming overhead and you might think "that's enough moons" for us. But sometimes, wandering asteroids get a little too close to the planet and the Earth gets greedy. It's gravitational pull captures the space rocks and keeps them within its orbit -- collecting the cosmic marbles for months of years at a time.
The brief visitations by these "mini-moons" are fairly rare, with only two asteroids confirmed so far. The most recent came on Feb. 15, when tiny rock 2020 CD3 was discovered by astronomers at the NASA-funded Catalina Sky Survey. The glorious mini-moon had been ensnared by the Earth's gravity as early as 2015 and stayed with us until May 2020 before dashing off into the cosmos again.
But in the unprecedented year of 2020, astronomers have announced the detection of another potential mini-moon: 2020 SO.
Except this one isn't acting at all like a small asteroid would. Our mini-moon is no moon at all. It's moving far too slowly for it to be rock ejected from a cosmic body. Therefore, astronomers reason, it's probably just space junk left over from the early days of the Space Race.
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The current theory, proposed by astronomers and skywatchers since the object was first detected, holds that 2020 SO is the rocket body from an Atlas Centaur-D rocket originally launched in 1966. That rocket lifted off Sept. 20 carrying the Surveyor 2 lunar lander to the moon. The dimensions and the orbit of 2020 SO, published by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, seem to align neatly with the Centaur body.
On Sunday, NASA's Paul Chodas, director of the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, told the Associated Press that the near-circular orbit around the sun is a little too similar to Earth's for it to be a chunk of rock.
The object was grabbed by Earth in October and will have its closest approach on Dec. 1, getting to within around 31,000 miles of the planet. Astronomers should be able to get a closer look at the object then, assessing its shape and the kind of light its emitting to provide a definitive answer.
If it is the Centaur stage -- if it is junk -- it's still interesting junk. It's been out, wandering the solar system for over five decades. We might be able to learn a little about the effects of space on our old rocket bodies. And while it's not going to cause any problems for Earthlings, as far as we can tell, it does serve as a timely reminder of the space junk issue.
Since we first began launching rockets and satellites into orbit, we've been polluting space around our planet. Not everything that goes up immediately comes down. There are thousands of pieces of space junk, defunct satellites and tiny chunks of garbage, circling the Earth at great speeds. A collision with a piece of junk could be devastating, blowing a hole right through a rocket or satellite. More launches mean more junk and more junk poses a much bigger risk to spaceflight, satellites and our desire to occupy space. | |
# Anna Whitehead Bodeker
Anna Whitehead Bodeker (July 27, 1826 – October 26, 1904) was an American suffragist who led the earliest attempt to organize for women's suffrage in the state of Virginia. Bodeker brought national leaders of the women's suffrage movement to Richmond, Virginia to speak; published newspaper articles to draw attention and supporters to the cause; and helped found the Virginia State Woman Suffrage Association in 1870, the first suffrage association in the state.
## Early life, marriage, and family
Bodeker was born Anna Whitehead, July 27, 1826, in Midland Park, Bergen County, New Jersey to English immigrants Jesse and Sophia Whitehead. At age 10, she moved with her family to Richmond, Virginia where her father oversaw the construction of the Manchester Cotton Mill, south of the James River in Manchester. He served as superintendent of the mill for several years, and the family lived in a house nearby.
She married Augustus Bodeker, a German immigrant, on January 15, 1846, at age 18. Her husband worked as a clerk for a local druggist and would go on to open his own pharmaceutical business, A. Bodeker Apothecary, located on Richmond's Main Street, in 1864. Bodeker gave birth to three daughters; the first died in infancy. The Bodeker family lived in Richmond's Church Hill neighborhood, purchasing a two two-and-a-half story house there in 1862. The Bodekers stayed in the Richmond area for much of the duration of the Civil War. Bodeker's husband served in Virginia's House of Delegates during Reconstruction.
## Women's suffrage activism
Bodeker began to follow the work of the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) by the 1860s. On January 26, 1870, Bodeker invited NWSA activist Paulina Kellogg Wright Davis to her home to speak about suffrage in front of an audience of civic leaders, as well as Bodeker's friends and neighbors. After the evening's "impassioned discussion," Bodeker was ready to establish a women's suffrage organization in Richmond. In her report on her trip to Richmond in The Revolution, a pro-suffrage weekly newspaper, Davis called Bodeker brilliant and stated that Bodeker "might reach the whole south." Davis believed Bodeker was capable of leading the women's suffrage movement in the southern states of the U.S.
In March 1870, the Richmond Daily Enquirer published a two-part article written by Bodeker and other Richmond women entitled "Defence of Woman Suffrage." The article argued that giving women the right to vote would improve their economic opportunities and foster their independence.
### Virginia State Woman Suffrage Association
At Bodeker's invitation, NWSA organizer Matilda Joslyn Gage addressed a small group of suffrage supporters at a public meeting at Bosher's Hall in Richmond on May 5, 1870. The Virginia State Woman Suffrage Association (VSWSA)—the first women's suffrage association in the state of Virginia—was founded the following evening. Bodeker was elected president. Other founding officers included:
Vice presidents: United States District Court Judge John C. Underwood and his wife, Maria; Westel Willoughby and his wife; Freedman's Bureau superintendent Ralza M. Manly; novelist and Norfolk native Martha Haines Butt who had author anti-woman's rights editorials in the 1850s; Andrew Washburne, the first superintendent of Richmond Public Schools; and Willam E. Coleman. Secretary: Sue L. F. Smith, daughter of a former president of Randolph-Macon College. Executive Committee: Reverend W.F. Hemenway; Elisa Washburne, wife of Andrew Washburne; Georgianna Smith, wife of local physician E.H. Smith; Dr. F.H. Langstedt and his wife; and Florence Percy. Elizabeth Van Lew, a Reconstruction postmistress and former Union spy was also a leading member of the association.
The Virginia State Woman Suffrage Association soon became officially affiliated with the NWSA and sent Smith as a delegate to represent Virginia at the national convention.
### Work with the NWSA and the election of 1871
With the help of the NWSA, Bodeker and the VSWSA arranged for nationally known suffragists like Susan B. Anthony, Lillie Devereux Blake, Isabella Beecher Hooker, and Josephine Griffing to come to Richmond and speak about suffrage. However, despite their name-recognition, the speakers failed to attract audiences large enough to create lasting support for the suffrage movement.
In May 1871, Anthony appointed Bodeker to the National Woman Suffrage Educational Committee, a team of 34 women tasked with coordinating the association's future efforts. This committee urge NWSA members to vote in 1871 municipal elections, citing the Fourteenth Amendment and Fifteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Bodeker did so, arriving at the second precinct of Marshall Ward in Richmond ready to cast her vote. When election officials refused her ballot, Bodeker requested that the following note be placed in the ballot box:
"By the Constitution of the United States, I Mrs. A. Whitehead Bodeker, have a right to give my vote at this election, and in vindication of it drop this note in the ballot-box, November 7th, 1871."
Bodeker's attempt to vote was covered in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
### A legislative loss
In 1872, with the help of delegate George Booker, Bodeker petitioned the General Assembly for legislation giving women the right to vote, again claiming the right of suffrage under the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. In her petition Bodeker asked legislators "to pass laws as may, in the wisdom of the general assembly, be deemed sufficient and necessary for enforcing the right of suffrage without regard to sex." She also asked to address the assembly, in person or by proxy, on the subject of women's suffrage.
The petition was sent to the Committee for Courts of Justice, but it was ignored by legislators.
### The struggle to gain momentum and a withdraw from public advocacy
Despite Bodeker's widely praised organizing skills, the women's suffrage movement failed to gain traction in Virginia immediately after the Civil War. Women faced pressure to adhere to traditional female roles, and the first female suffragists were deemed radicals. Meanwhile, the VSWSA was viewed publicly as being heavily associated with carpetbaggers and black Republicans, making it difficult to convince whites in Richmond to support its cause.
Bodeker stopped her advocacy for women's suffrage after 1872, and the Virginia State Woman Suffrage Association faded from the suffrage movement soon after.
## Later years, death and legacy
Bodeker became involved in spiritualism in late 1871, and by 1872 she believed she was a powerful medium. Disturbed by Bodeker's unorthodox views and increasingly erratic behavior, her family admitted her against her will to the Western Lunatic Asylum (now called Western State Hospital) in Staunton, Virginia on September 19, 1873. She was released on October 20, 1874, and returned to Richmond.
Bodeker's husband died on July 26, 1884. Bodeker lived at the family home, 2801 E. Grace Street, with her two living daughters, Pearl and Ruby, until her death on October 26, 1904. She was buried at Hollywood Cemetery.
Bodeker was honored by the Library of Virginia as part of the 2003 class of Virginia Women in History.
Bodeker's name is featured on the Wall of Honor on the Virginia Women's Monument, located in Capitol Square in Richmond. | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Whitehead_Bodeker |
Published Apr 24, 1998 by Addison-Wesley Professional.
The first revision of this third volume is the most comprehensive survey of classical computer techniques for sorting and searching. It extends the treatment of data structures in Volume 1 to consider both large and small databases and internal and external memories. The book contains a selection of carefully checked computer methods, with a quantitative analysis of their efficiency. Outstanding features of the second edition include a revised section on optimum sorting and new discussions of the theory of permutations and of universal hashing.
Multiway Merging and Replacement Selection.
Practical Considerations for Tape Merging.
Searching by Comparison of Keys.
Appendix A: Tables of Numerical Quantities.
Appendix B: Index to Notations.
In what senses can algorithms be proved ''best possible''?
This volume comprises Chapters 5 and 6 of the complete series. Chapter 5 is concerned with sorting into order; this is a large subject that has been divided chiefly into two parts, internal sorting and external sorting. There also are supplementary sections, which develop auxiliary theories about permutations (Section 5.1) and about optimum techniques for sorting (Section 5.3). Chapter 6 deals with the problem of searching for specified items in tables or files; this is subdivided into methods that search sequentially, or by comparison of keys, or by digital properties, or by hashing, and then the more difficult problem of secondary key retrieval is considered. There searching related to sorting is a surprising amount of interplay between both chapters, with strong analogies tying the topics together. Two important varieties of information structures are also discussed, in addition to those considered in Chapter 2, namely priority queues (Section 5.2.3) and linear lists represented as balanced trees (Section 6.2.3).
I have not had time to search the patent literature systematically; indeed, I decry the current tendency to seek patents on algorithms (see Section 5.4.5). If somebody sends me a copy of a relevant patent not presently cited in this book, I will dutifully refer to it in future editions. However, I want to encourage people to continue the centuries-old mathematical tradition of putting newly discovered algorithms into the public domain. There are better ways to earn a living than to prevent other people from making use of one's contributions to computer science.
Before I retired from teaching, I used this book as a text for a student's second course in data structures, at the junior-to-graduate level, omitting most of the mathematical material. I also used the mathematical portions of this book as the basis for graduate-level courses in the analysis of algorithms, emphasizing especially Sections 5.1, 5.2.2, 6.3, and 6.4. A graduate-level course on concrete computational complexity could also be based on Sections 5.3, and 5.4.4, together with Sections 4.3.3, 4.6.3, and 4.6.4 of Volume 2.
For the most part this book is self-contained, except for occasional discussions relating to the MIX computer explained in Volume 1. Appendix B MIX computer contains a summary of the mathematical notations used, some of which are a little different from those found in traditional mathematics books.
This new edition matches the third editions of Volumes 1 and 2, in which I have been able to celebrate the completion of TeX and MF by applying those systems to the publications they were designed for.
The conversion to electronic format has given me the opportunity to go over every word of the text and every punctuation mark. I've tried to retain the youthful exuberance of my original sentences while perhaps adding some more mature judgment. Dozens of new exercises have been added; dozens of old exercises have been given new and improved answers. Changes appear everywhere, but most significantly in Sections 5.1.4 (about permutations and tableaux), 5.3 (about optimum sorting), 5.4.9 (about disk sorting), 6.2.2 (about entropy), 6.4 (about universal hashing), and 6.5 (about multidimensional trees and tries).
The Art of Computer Programming is, however, still a work in progress. Research on sorting and searching continues to grow at a phenomenal rate. Therefore some parts of this book are headed by an ''under construction'' icon, to apologize for the fact that the material is not up-to-date. For example, if I were teaching an undergraduate class on data structures today, I would surely discuss randomized structures such as treaps at some length; but at present, I am only able to cite the principal papers on the subject, and to announce plans for a future Section 6.2.5 (see page 6.2.5). My files are bursting with important material that I plan to include in the final, glorious, third edition of Volume 3, perhaps 17 years from now. But I must finish Volumes 4 and 5 first, and I do not want to delay their publication any more than absolutely necessary.
I am enormously grateful to the many hundreds of people who have helped me to gather and refine this material during the past 35 years. Most of the hard work of preparing the new edition was accomplished by Phyllis Winkler (who put the text of the first edition into TeX form), by Silvio Levy (who edited it extensively and helped to prepare several dozen illustrations), and by Jeffrey Oldham (who converted more than 250 of the original illustrations to METAPOST format). The production staff at Addison Wesley has also been extremely helpful, as usual. | http://www.informit.com/store/art-of-computer-programming-volume-3-sorting-and-searching-9780201896855 |
Surely the greatest characteristic of Imam Khomeini is that he was a God-centered and a Faith-pivoted man a characteristic, which has its roots in his religious ideology.
Saturday, February 22, 2020 12:07
Iranians have gone to the polls in the country's first general elections since the US imposed sanctions following the pullout from the 2015 nuclear deal.
Friday, February 21, 2020 10:27
Wednesday, February 19, 2020 02:55
Tuesday, February 18, 2020 11:32
Imam Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Republic stressed on spiritual perspectives of the Islamic Revolution.
Sunday, February 16, 2020 09:25
There is no doubt that the triumph of the Islamic Revolution in Iran and the overthrow of the Shah Reza Pahvali in February 1979 and the subsequent creation of the Islamic Republic were to a large extent the result of the guide and personality of Imam Ruhollah al Khomeini. | http://blog.imam-khomeini.ir/en/key/religious |
DEVILS LAKE, N.D. — How you assess cereal grain conditions in the Devils Lake area depends on whether you see the glass as half-full or half-empty. If it's the former, you'll focus on the many lush fields that promise good yields. If you see a half-empty glass, you'll focus on fields that couldn't be planted this spring, fields short on moisture this summer and fields hurt by drown-out after heavy July rains.
An accurate assessment, which Bill Hodous tried to make, takes both the positives and negatives into account.
On a breezy late-July day, with mostly green crops swaying in the wind, Agweek met with Hodous on the Agweek Cereal Crops tour. It included stops at fields of spring wheat, barley, durum and oats.
Devils Lake is in north-central North Dakota. The town of 7,300, the biggest in its immediate area, shares the name with the large lake that in recent years has been associated with severe flooding. Conditions were improving in recent years, but heavy rains this July reaggravated flooding for some producers.
Farmers in the Devils Lake area grow many crops, with spring wheat a staple in most farmers' rotations. Barley is fairly common, too, though less so than it once was, with spring wheat, corn and canola picking up most of the former barley acres.
Oats acreage also fell drastically over time, reflecting the regional trend. This year, however, oats acreage in Ramsey County is up because poor crop prices overall caused some farmers to plant alternative crops.
Some spring wheat fields could average 70-80 bushels per acre, with some barley fields averaging 80-90 bushels per acre and some durum fields averaging 60-70 bushels per acre — all excellent figures, Hodous said.
Trouble is, a lot of acres will produce little or no crop this growing season, pulling down average yields, he said.
Variable weather
"The spring was a hassle. We have a lot of prevent-plant (acres)," said Hodous, who was born, raised and once farmed himself in Ramsey County.
Then the summer turned dry. "There was a time we needed rain," and some fields in the area received too little even after heavy rains in July, Hodous said.
Though the rains initially helped crops, all the moisture eventually led to widespread drown-out, either complete or partial, in parts of otherwise good-looking fields.
"That drown-out really hurts," Hodous said.
Here's a hypothetical but realistic example: Say an 80-acre field of spring wheat produces 70 bushels on all the acres, obviously giving an average of 70 bushels per acre.
But say that same field, hit with heavy rains, produces 70 bushels per acre of 60 acres, 20 bushels per acre on 10 partially drowned-out acres and no crop on 10 completely drowned acres, giving a net average of just 55 bushels per acre.
If the field produces 70 bushels per acre of 60 acres and no crop on 20 completely drowned-out acres, the overall average falls even further to 52.5 bushels per acre.
Likewise, if 20 acres of the field couldn't be planted this spring and the remaining 60 acres produce 70 bushels per acre, the overage average yield is 52.5 bushels per acre.
The drop in average yield, whether to 55 bushels per acre or 52.5 bushels per acre, can easily mean the difference between the farmer turning a small profit on the field or finishing in the red.
Disease, weed, moisture
By and large, crop disease hasn't been a major problem in the Devils Lake area this season. Perhaps most importantly, scab, a disease that can ravage wheat and barley yields and quality, hasn't flared up noticeably, Hodous said.
But recent excess moisture has complicated weed control, especially of new-to-the-area Palmer amaranth and waterhemp. Fighting those two weeds before they're established is vital, Hodous said.
And receiving the right amount of rain, at the right times, remains crucial. Ag producers in the Devils Lake will need more rain, especially for corn, this growing season.
"But right now, we really don't need anymore," Hodous said. | https://www.agweek.com/business/agriculture/6593072-Good-looking-crops-with-major-caveats-in-north-central-ND |
Apps for iPhone and Android
Download a free app for iPhone and Android keeping you updated about air pollution in Scotland.
The app provides:
- Easy access to the latest pollution levels from the monitoring sites
- Colour coded map showing the pollution forecasts, plus a detailed breakdown
- Approved health advice based on the pollution levels
- Subscribe to free alerts when moderate, high and very high pollution is forecast
Pollution alerts
Choose to receive pollution alerts each day if elevated pollution levels are forecast. You can select from the local authorities in Scotland that you're interested in.
Latest data
View the map to see pollution levels currently measured across the network of monitoring sites, and select a monitoring site for more information and a 7-day trend chart.
Forecasts
Air pollution forecasts are shown on a coloured map allowing you to quickly see the pollution forecast for the day ahead.
More information
If you have questions about the app, you can email [email protected]. | http://www.scottishairquality.scot/stay-informed/apps |
Few American writers have been more concerned with the transformative power of science, and its unforeseen consequences, than Michael Crichton. In his work, Crichton demonstrated a keen ability to anticipate new technological developments long before they became reality and predict how even seemingly beneficial breakthroughs in biotechnology or artificial intelligence could quickly spiral out of their creators' control. This fall, join the Linda Hall Library for a retrospective film series that considers how Crichton’s views on science and technology evolved during the final decades of the 20th century.
Films will be screened at the UMKC Student Union Theater. A 30-minute audience discussion and Q&A will follow each screening.
About the November 11 film:
Runway (1984, 99 minutes, PG-13)
In the near future, a police officer specializes in malfunctioning robots. When a robot turns out to have been programmed to kill, he begins to uncover a homicidal plot to create killer robots... and his son becomes a target. Written and directed by Michael Crichton. Stars Tom Selleck, Cynthia Rhodes, Gene Simmons, and Kirstie Alley..
Upcoming films in the series: | https://www.eventbrite.com/e/michael-crichton-film-series-runaway-tickets-67600712551 |
With three highly efficacious vaccines widely available for COVID-19 in the United States (which were developed in record time, breaking the record set by a mumps vaccine in the 1960s), we are beginning to see the light at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the effort to reach herd immunity and reduce the COVID-19 pandemic into a controllable seasonal disease requires vaccinating as many people as possible as quickly as possible. This still presents public health officials with many logistical challenges. The most concerning of these is the relatively high degree of vaccine hesitancy. A recent KFF study shows that approximately 17% of Americans are hesitant about a COVID-19 vaccine and an additional 13–15% of Americans say they will “definitely not” get a COVID-19 vaccine.
While vaccine skepticism has a long history, Maya J. Goldenberg’s new book Vaccine Hesitancy: Public Trust, Expertise, and the War on Science gives us a fresh and timely new perspective on the most recent, and dangerous, cause of vaccine hesitancy: the so-called “War on Science.” Goldenberg argues, insightfully, that this combative language “is both descriptively inaccurate and normatively unhelpful” and that it only furthers “poor public trust” in scientific institutions.
Goldenberg wants to draw her readers’ attention to the important distinction between vaccine hesitancy and refusal: the latter is a behavior, but the former is a “a spectrum from mild to severe uncertainty” of safety, efficacy, or necessity, which might inform behavior. Studying hesitancy, Goldenberg argues, is especially useful for public health research, as it encompasses a much larger population, especially in the global North.
Goldenberg’s monograph examines many of the factors that may “turn the dial for skepticism to confidence in vaccines” as well as the ways in which “failing to communicate effectively . . . can harden vaccine-skeptical views, turning vaccine hesitators into vaccine refusers.” She argues throughout her first four chapters that although “battle-weary vaccine advocates” who must “combat torrents of online misinformation” might want to evoke the language of a “war,” doing so creates an us-versus-them dichotomy that often presents vaccine hesitant as illiterate, irrational, or willfully antiscientific and turns the dial in the “wrong” direction from hesitance to refusal. Rather, Goldenberg argues that public health officials must reframe their rhetoric to restore the public trust in scientific expertise. Goldenberg offers some lessons as to how we might achieve this in her latter two chapters.
In her first chapter, Goldenberg addresses the idea of “The Ignorant Public.” She dispels the idea that the public is easily susceptible to antiscientific misinformation despite decades of public health outreach. The vaccine-hesitant public might not understand “the values underlying scientific consensus,” but to portray the public as ignorant is self-defeating. To prove her point, Goldenberg takes her readers through the classic example of the now-debunked Lancet study by Andrew Wakefield, which claimed that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine causes autism, and the process through which vaccinologists like Paul Offit disproved this myth. The vaccinologists were so methodical in their dismantling of the study that they believed continued hesitancy could only persist due to ignorance. Goldenberg suggests otherwise: Public dissent often resulted from an individual’s personal sense of risk-management (i.e., concerns about safety or risk of adverse events) rather than an antiscientific position. By refusing to listen to these concerns, by shutting down dissenting views, or, worse, condemning them as ignorant, public health officials instead made the likes of Wakefield into a martyr among the vaccine hesitant populace.
In her second chapter, Goldenberg considers why pro-vaccine messaging often backfires, as Brendan Nyhan et al. observed, and how the media has made the problem even worse. However, Goldenberg rejects the “fatalistic conclusion that vaccine hesitators and refusers cannot be reasoned with.” She suggests that vaccine advocates must bear in mind the complex social psychology of motivated cognition, cultural cognition, and cognitive bias that influence vaccine hesitant parents. “Indirect” interventions, such as self-affirmation, enlisting a diverse set of experts, or “nudging” persuasion are perceived as less threatening by the target audience, and make them “more open to considering new evidence.”
Chapter Three considers “The Death of Expertise” and the rise of a populist culture war on science by “supposedly expert-loathing publics.” Once again, Goldenberg challenges this supposition. Noting that while expertise is often “vigorously challenged,” she suggests that this can be corrected through a “recalibration” of the role of the expert if they present themselves as both “technically competent and responsive to public interest and concern.” Better appreciating the social context of knowledge creation, Goldenberg contends, will restore trust in institutions that create scientific knowledge.
After a fourth chapter on the increasing politicization of science more broadly, Goldenberg spends the last two chapters (Part II) of Vaccine Hesitancy offering suggestions on alternative modes of science communication than the flawed “war on science” rhetoric she is critiquing.
Chapter Five examines how we might restore “Trust and Credibility in Science.” To start, Goldenberg calls for further and more robust research on how to measure trust. Goldenberg spends the bulk of her fifth chapter examining the epistemology of trust and risk: by placing trust in someone or something (like a vaccine) one is inherently exposing themself to a risk. Misplaced trust threatens the integrity of science, so trust must be earned. She reminds her readers that while the public cannot check experts on their empirical accuracy, it can “evaluate the character of the scientific expert or the integrity of the institution they represent.” According to Goldenberg, some of the metrics for evaluating trustworthiness are honesty, competence, conscientiousness, and the capability for self-assessment. Achieving trust, she contends, can take science farther than just scientific consensus alone in allaying public concerns.
Chapter Six returns to the role of “The Scientific Expert as Hero and Maverick.” Expertise exists in “unorthodox” places, like the world of social media, where many vaccine hesitant persons go out of an active distrust of traditional public health media. In these spaces a new breed of “alternative expertise” emerges that can range from challenging questions of power and privilege to active misinformation. In this new realm, scientists must be prepared to confront the unorthodox “mavericks” (like Andrew Wakefield) who represent a “populist counterforce to the power interests that expert elites are thought to represent and reinforce.”
Vaccine Hesitancy concludes with some lessons on “Rebuilding Trust.” Goldenberg once again reiterates the problematic use of a war metaphor and how it can turn the dial from hesitancy toward rejection of vaccination. She further argues that rather than play the blame game, accusing the public of being ignorant, irrational, or antiscientific, instead we (“the courageous defenders of science”) should be cognizant of why a crisis of trust has emerged and what we can do to correct it. Rebuilding trust in the scientific establishment will require actively listening, building bridges into hesitant populations, responding not with condemnation but with awareness of discrimination and patient dissatisfaction, and by appealing to shared values rather than blind trust. None of this can be done amid a “war.”
While Goldenberg’s monograph is not without its flaws – it is at times overly jargony and it assumes too much knowledge of a wide range of existing literature – it is also an extremely timely and relevant book. With a target of upwards of 85% of the population requiring vaccination to achieve herd immunity to end the COVID-19 pandemic, this will require convincing the 17% of the American public who are still “hesitant” to get the vaccine as soon as they can. Goldenberg tells us how we can. | https://nursingclio.org/2021/05/11/ending-the-war-on-science-a-review-of-maya-goldenbergs-vaccine-hesitancy/ |
The Lindy Hop is an exciting, athletic dance that has its origins in the African American community in Harlem in New York City, and dates back to the 1930's. This dance is all about joy, expression, and having fun with your partner! In the decades since then, Lindy Hop has continued to grow, evolve, and inspire dancers all over the world!
In this six week class, you will learn some of the fundamental concepts and connections of Lindy Hop. You will also learn some movement repertoire and some basic history of the dance. After this class, you will able to go out and social dance on a variety of styles and tempos, and with lots of different people! | https://www.sidestreetswing.com/collections/classes/products/swing-1-may-27-july-8-mondays-8-30-10-00-6-weeks |
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
FIELD
BACKGROUND
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Other Embodiments
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from: U.S. provisional application 61/183,431, filed on Jun. 2, 2009, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Described herein relates to an image forming apparatus.
Hitherto, there is an image forming apparatus including a density detection section to detect a toner density in a developing device and a determination section to determine that there is no toner in the developing device when it is determined that the toner density detected by the density detection section is a toner density threshold value or less.
However, even when the toner density in the developing device is decreased to the density threshold value or less, there is a case where there is toner in a toner cartridge. When there is toner in the toner cartridge, it should not be determined that there is no toner.
In general, an embodiment relates to an image forming apparatus including a development device in which a toner supplied by a toner cartridge section is carried by a magnetic carrier and is discharged, a first sensor to acquire information indicating a supply amount of the toner supplied by the toner cartridge section to the development device, a second sensor to acquire information indicating a toner density in the development device, and a controller which updates the information indicating the total supply amount and stored in a storage section storing information indicating a total supply amount of the toner supplied by the toner cartridge section to the development device based on the information acquired by the first sensor and determines a toner remaining amount in the development device based on the information indicating the total supply amount and stored in the storage section and the information indicating the toner density acquired by the second sensor.
The embodiment further relates to a method of determining a toner remaining amount of a development device in an image forming apparatus including the development device in which a toner supplied by a toner cartridge section is carried by a magnetic carrier and is discharged, the toner remaining amount in the development device is determined based on information indicating a total supply amount of the toner supplied by the toner cartridge section to the development device and information indicating a toner density in the development device.
Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1
FIG. 2
FIG. 3
is a longitudinal sectional view of an image forming apparatus. is a perspective view of a connector to and from which a toner cartridge is attached and detached, and the toner cartridge, in which arrows indicate correspondence relations at the time of mounting. is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus.
1
69
70
An image forming apparatus includes an image reading section R and an image forming section P. The image reading section R scans and reads an image of a sheet document. The image forming section P forms a toner image on a sheet based on image data of the image read by the image reading section R. The image reading section R includes an auto document feeder to automatically feed a document to a specified image reading position. A scanning optical system reads the image of the document placed on a document tray Rt.
51
54
10
10
20
20
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50
90
The image forming section P includes pickup rollers to , toner cartridges Y to K, photoconductive drums Y to K, developing devices Y to K and a display section .
51
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40
20
20
10
10
50
50
20
20
20
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21
21
67
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The pickup rollers to supply sheets picked up from cassettes to a sheet conveyance path. Based on the image data of the image read from the document by the image reading section R, a laser unit forms electrostatic latent images on the respective photoconductive drums Y to K. The toner cartridges Y to K contain developers corresponding to yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K). The developing devices Y to K supply the respective developers to the respective photoconductive drums Y to K where the electrostatic latent images are positioned. Toner images positioned on the respective photoconductive drums Y to K are transferred onto the belt surface of an intermediate transfer belt . The toner images on the intermediate transfer belt are transferred onto the conveyed sheet at a secondary transfer position T. The toner images transferred to the sheet are fixed by heating of a fixing unit . The sheet on which the toner images are fixed is discharged from a discharge tray .
10
1
1
1
11
10
50
12
11
12
11
17
16
10
10
1
1
1
1
1
10
10
10
1
1
1
19
12
19
12
12
FIG. 1
FIG. 1
The toner cartridge Y is mounted to the connector Ya of the image forming apparatus . In , the connector Ya is indicated by a dotted line. A conveyance screw Y cuts the toner contained in the toner cartridge Y and conveys it to a developing device Y. A screw motor rotates the conveyance screw Y. The drive force of the screw motor is transmitted to the conveyance screw Y through a main body side transmission gear Y and a cartridge side transmission gear Y. The toner cartridges M to K are respectively mounted to connectors Ma to Ka of the image forming apparatus . Incidentally, the connectors Ma to Ka are indicated by dotted lines in . The structures of the toner cartridges M to K are the same as that of the toner cartridge Y. Since the structures of the connectors Ma to Ka are the same as that of the connector Ya, their description is omitted. A controller is electrically connected to the screw motor . The controller controls the driving of the screw motor . The screw motor may be a stepping motor or a DC brushless motor.
10
101
101
10
101
102
13
101
1
13
13
12
102
101
101
19
13
13
14
The toner cartridge Y includes a cylindrical portion Y at the center in the diameter direction. The cylindrical portion Y is positioned at one end of the toner cartridge Y in the longitudinal direction. The cylindrical portion Y includes notches Y provided at plural positions in the circumferential direction and at regular intervals. A rotation number detection section Y as a first sensor is positioned in the inside area of the cylindrical portion Y in the diameter direction and is fixed to the connector Ya. The rotation number detection section Y may be a photo interrupter. The rotation number detection section Y includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and detects the number of rotations of the screw motor by detecting a light receiving state in which the light receiving element receives light emitted from the light emitting element and passing through the notch Y of the cylindrical portion Y, and a non-light receiving state in which light emitted from the light emitting element is blocked by a wall of the cylindrical portion Y and light reception of the light receiving element is inhibited. The controller is electrically connected to the rotation number detection section Y and stores the number of rotations detected by the rotation number detection section Y into an IC chip Y as a storage section.
10
10
14
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14
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14
10
10
1
4
4
4
10
1
4
101
10
14
101
10
The toner cartridge Y includes a chip fixing portion Ya at one end face in the longitudinal direction. The IC chip Y is fixed to the chip fixing portion Ya and is integrated with the toner cartridge Y. The IC chip Y may be a RAM (Random Access Memory). The IC chip Y stores history information of toner. The history information may be the production date of the toner cartridge Y, lot No. and production site. The IC chip Y is attached to the chip fixing portion Ya at the time of production of the toner cartridge Y. The connector Ya includes a chip terminal portion Y. The chip terminal portion Y includes plural springs Ya. In the mounting state of the toner cartridge Y and the connector Ya, these springs Ya are respectively in press contact with terminal pads Ya of the chip fixing portion Ya. The IC chip Y is positioned in an area except the terminal pads Ya in the chip fixing portion Ya.
14
12
10
10
12
10
50
The IC chip Y stores the number of rotations (hereinafter referred to as the rotation number threshold value) of the screw motor required for conveying all toner contained in the unused toner cartridge Y. Accordingly, when a phenomenon to prevent discharge of toner does not occur in the toner cartridge Y, when the screw motor rotates by the rotation number threshold value, all the toner in the toner cartridge Y is moved to the developing device Y.
12
19
14
14
12
10
1
12
19
14
19
32
20
32
When the rotation of the screw motor is stopped, the controller updates the number of rotations stored in the IC chip Y. That is, the IC chip Y stores the total number of rotations of the screw motor after the toner cartridge Y is mounted to the image forming apparatus . Accordingly, when the screw motor does not rotate, the controller does not update the total number of rotations stored in the IC chip Y. The controller controls a motor driver . The photoconductive drum Y rotates in an arrow S direction based on the signal outputted by the motor driver .
50
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504
50
50
50
503
The developing device Y is of a magnetic brush type, and includes a container Y, a development roller Y, a mixer Y and a toner density sensor Y as a second sensor. Since the developing devices M to K have the same structure as the developing device Y, their description is omitted. The mixer Y agitates a developer. The developer includes a toner for yellow and a carrier. The toner may include resin or carbon. The carrier includes ferrite and a coating layer formed on the surface of the ferrite. The coating layer is on the surface of the ferrite, so that friction charging between the carrier and the toner is stabilized.
503
502
20
20
When the mixer Y agitates the developer, a friction force is generated between the toner and the carrier, the carrier is charged to a plus, and the toner is charged to a minus. The development roller Y includes a magnet, and attracts the developer by the magnetic force to form a magnetic brush. When the magnetic brush contacts the photoconductive drum Y rotating in the arrow S direction, the electrostatic latent image of the photoconductive drum Y is developed.
504
50
50
504
The toner density sensor Y detects the toner density based on the magnetic permeability of the developer in the developing device Y. That is, when the carrier ratio of the developer in the developing device Y becomes high, the magnetic permeability becomes high, and the output value of the toner density sensor Y becomes high.
504
19
50
20
50
504
19
12
The toner density sensor Y is electrically connected to the controller . When the toner is moved from the developing device Y to the photoconductive drum Y, the toner density of the developer in the developing device Y is decreased. When the toner density of the developer is decreased, the quality of the developed image is degraded. Then, based on the output value outputted from the toner density sensor Y, when the toner density is decreased to a density threshold value or less as a second threshold value, the controller drives the screw motor .
50
10
1
12
14
101
1
102
19
504
103
19
FIG. 4
FIG. 4
A method of determining the remaining amount of toner in the developing device Y will be described with reference to . is a flowchart showing the determination method of the toner remaining amount. Incidentally, in the state before the toner cartridge Y is mounted to the connector Ya, the number of rotations of the screw motor stored in the IC chip Y is 0. At Act , the power source of the image forming apparatus is turned ON. At Act , the controller outputs a signal to instruct density detection to the toner density sensor Y. At Act , the controller determines whether the toner density is decreased to the density threshold value or less.
103
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19
12
12
At Act , when the toner density is decreased to the density threshold value or less, advance is made to Act , and when the toner density is not decreased to the density threshold value or less, return is made to Act . At Act , the controller performs drive control of the screw motor . The screw motor rotates in accordance with the predetermined number of rotations. The predetermined number of rotations may be a designed value.
105
19
12
14
13
At Act , the controller updates the total number of rotations of the screw motor stored in the IC chip Y based on the detection result of the rotation number detection section Y.
106
504
19
102
107
At Act , based on the detection result of the toner density sensor Y, the controller determines whether the toner density is restored. When the toner density is restored, return is made to Act , and when the toner density is not restored, advance is made to Act .
107
19
12
14
108
19
90
109
19
90
At Act , the controller reads the total number of rotations of the screw motor from the IC chip Y, and determines whether the total number of rotations is the rotation number threshold value or more. At Act , when the total number of rotations is less than the rotation number threshold value, the controller displays, on the display section , information indicating that there is toner. At Act , when the total number of rotations is the rotation number threshold value or more, the controller displays, on the display section , information indicating that there is no toner.
50
10
19
90
10
The information indicating that there is toner may be character information indicating a possibility that a phenomenon to prevent toner from moving to the developing device from the toner cartridge Y occurs. The controller may display solving means, together with this character information, on the display section . The solving means may be shaking of the toner cartridge Y.
107
19
14
19
10
At Act , when the total number of rotations is the rotation number threshold value or more, the controller may store discrimination information indicating that toner disappears in the IC chip Y. Based on the discrimination information, the controller may determine whether the toner cartridge Y is an original manufacturers product.
50
10
Information indicating the supply amount of toner supplied to the developing device Y by the toner cartridge Y includes all parameters having correlation with the toner supply amount as exemplified below.
12
12
When the screw motor is a pulse motor, the information indicating the supply amount of toner may be the number of rotations of the screw motor calculated from the number of pulses of the pulse motor.
12
20
50
The information indicating the supply amount of toner may be the drive time of the screw motor or the amount of toner discharged to the photoconductive drum Y by the developing device Y.
12
13
19
12
13
14
12
19
14
The detection section to acquire the drive time of the screw motor may be the rotation number detection section Y. The controller calculates the drive time of the screw motor based on the number of rotations detected by the rotation number detection section Y and may store this drive time in the IC chip Y. When the screw motor is a pulse motor, the controller calculates the drive time from the number of pulses of the pulse motor, and may store this drive time in the IC chip Y.
20
50
40
40
The amount of toner discharged to the photoconductive drum Y by the developing device Y may be calculated from the number of pixels irradiated by the laser unit , or may be calculated from the light emission time of the laser unit .
12
10
19
10
50
The rotation number threshold value may be less than the total number of rotations of the screw motor required for conveying all toner in the unused toner cartridge Y. That is, the controller may determine that the state where toner slightly remains in the toner cartridge Y is the state where there is no toner in the developing device Y.
19
14
14
FIG. 4
The controller may be in the IC chip Y. The IC chip Y executes the flowchart of .
The present invention can be carried out in various forms without departing from the spirit thereof or the principle features. Thus, the foregoing embodiments are merely examples in all points and should not be interpreted restrictedly. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims and is not restricted by the text of the specification. Further, all modifications, various improvements, substitutions and alterations within the scope equivalent to the claims are within the scope of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a longitudinal sectional view of an image forming apparatus.
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of a connector to and from which a toner cartridge is attached and detached, and the toner cartridge.
FIG. 3
is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 4
is a flowchart showing a determination method of a toner remaining amount. | |
Creating driver identifiers
Driver identifiers, or IDs, make it possible to define legitimate drivers that you can exclude from rootkit detection.
Driver IDs are necessary when you create audit rules for rootkit detection, and must be created beforehand.
For more information, refer to the section Protection against various threats.
Since IDs are specific to each rule set, you must create IDs in each set. You can however export all the IDs of a rule set to import and use them in another set. For more information, refer to the section Importing and exporting identifiers.Importing and exporting identifiers
- Select a policy in Policies, then select a set of rules.
- Click on the Identifiers tab at the top right, then on the Driver IDs tab.
- Click on Edit in the upper banner, then on Add an ID.
A blank ID appears below the existing IDs.
- Click on Edit at the bottom right side of the entry.
- In the field New driver ID, enter an ID name, then a description if needed.
- Click on and select all the ID criteria that you wish to use, e.g., Path and Hashes.
- Click outside the criteria window and define each ID criterion selected:Paths
Click on Edit then in the blue field at the bottom, enter the partial or full path to the driver file. This path may be a link or the path in the file system.
The characters * and ? are allowed. For example, enter *\drivers\Stormshield Endpoint Security Agent\es*.sys to include Stormshield drivers.
Full paths beginning with a letter (i.e., E:\Data\Backup) are not supported if the Volume type is remote or removable.
Stormshield highly recommends using the EsaRoots path roots provided in SES Evolution instead of drive letters (i.e., C:\...), as these letters may vary from one workstation to another.
You can also specify an alternate data stream. A file’s ADS contains metadata and makes it possible to find out the origin of the file. For further information, refer to Microsoft Windows documentation.
Click on Add.
Enter other paths in the blue field if necessary, then click on Add.
Click on OK to confirm the list of paths.
- To guarantee that a legitimate driver has not been replaced or modified. However, this requires tedious maintenance as you will need to change IDs after every software update. It should therefore be used only on systems that do not undergo many changes.
- To identify malware programs that often change names but may keep the same hash. Import the list of the most common malware hashes to block them from running.
Click on Edit then on the pencil icon.
In the blue field at the bottom, enter the MD5, SHA1 or SHA256 hash of the driver and a description, then click on Add..
To obtain the hash of a binary, you can use the following Powershell command. In this example, the SHA256 hash of all .sys files is obtained:
Get-ChildItem -Recurse -Filter '*.sys' | get-filehash -Algorithm SHA256 | select path, Hash
Enter other hashes the blue field if necessary, then click on Add.
Click on OK.
You can also import a list of hashes from a CSV or text file. The file must contain one hash and a description per line separated by a comma, tab or semi-colon:
Hash (MD5, SHA1 or SHA2),
Description
- Click on OK to confirm the list of hashes.
- Click on Manage.
-
From the drop-down list at the bottom, select the type of account that launches the identified driver (e.g., NT_AUTHORITY\System), then click on Add.
To obtain an SID, launch a command window with administration privileges and run the following command:
WMIC useraccount get name,sid
-
Select other accounts if necessary and click on Add.
-
Click on OK to confirm the list of accounts.
- Click on Add an entry if you want to add another list of criteria for the same ID. Having several entries makes it possible to group various resources under the same ID, if the same security rules use them. For example, you can group all legitimate drivers to compile a whitelist.
- Click on OK.
- If you have finished creating driver identifiers, click on Save in the upper banner.
- To show the contents of a driver ID without editing it, click on View.
To add hashes:
If there is an error or duplicate hash, SES Evolution will indicate it and only valid and unique hashes will be imported.
Once they have been entered and imported, the window shows the number of hashes for each algorithm.
Specifying more criteria will more accurately identify the driver because all criteria must match. | https://documentation.stormshield.eu/SES/v2/en/Content/Administration_Guide/create_driver_identifiers.htm |
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