content
stringlengths 0
1.88M
| url
stringlengths 0
5.28k
|
|---|---|
Burnout may be a workplace buzzword, but it has real consequences. According to the World Health Organization, burnout is a harmful, workplace phenomenon. Left unaddressed, it can have far-reaching consequences to our health and work, including: absenteeism, disengagement, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and more...
The good news!? It's PREVENTABLE. And there are some easy (and even fun!) ways to prevent it and support your team through it. In this 60-minute webinar, participants will get a chance to:
- Better understand the root causes of burnout, how to prevent it, and why self care isn’t enough.
- Learn how to identify and mitigate symptoms of it at work
- Gain tips & tricks to have conversations about it and provide support to direct reports.
- Learn how to create a culture of openness and wellness on their teams.
Participants will leave with a guide of crowdsourced wisdom to help start the conversation about burnout with their direct reports.
We hope you can join us! | https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beating-burnout-tickets-466350395587?aff=erelexpmlt |
Previously, Ms. Stussman conducted focus groups and qualitative interviews for a large multiagency study on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. For a study on fibromyalgia and pain responses, she conducted interviews with participants about their pain ratings. In 2014, she interviewed leaders in the fields of complementary and integrative health to provide qualitative information for NCCIH’s name change.
In addition to conducting qualitative research, Ms. Stussman has extensively analyzed quantitative data from national health surveys and authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications. Before joining NIH, Ms. Stussman worked for the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 20 years, where she led the development of large questionnaires fielded on the National Health Interview Survey and conducted cognitive interviews for NCHS’s Questionnaire Design Research Laboratory. | https://www.nccih.nih.gov/about/staff/barbara-j-stussman |
Cholera: what impact for vaccination campaigns in DRC?
Since the first appearance of the Vibrio Cholerae bacteria in 1974 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the country has been regularly plagued by cholera epidemics. The extent of the outbreaks varies, but only a rapid response can contain their spread. Some areas are also known to be endemic because the disease regularly reappears there.
The main epidemic reservoir of the bacteria is human beings. The disease is transmitted by drinking water or eating food contaminated by the stools of infected people. Once in the intestine, the bacteria secretes cholera toxin, which is responsible for the acute watery diarrhea and severe dehydration characteristic of the infection. Cholera affects vulnerable populations, living in unsanitary conditions, with insufficient sanitary structures, sometimes due to war or natural disaster.
Evaluating the impact of an oral vaccination campaign
Two oral vaccines, Shanchol™ and Euvichol®, are part of the global stockpile established by WHO with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. They are intended to support outbreak response and complement prevention and control measures put in place, following WHO recommendations and the roadmap to eliminate cholera by 2030. "Notably because of the small number of doses available, these stocks have been little used for preventive vaccination campaigns in areas where cholera is endemic," notes Anaïs Broban, epidemiologist at Epicentre.
However, some vaccination campaigns have already taken place in DRC, for instance in the lake regions in the east of the country, where new cases of cholera regularly appear. Other campaigns are already being considered.
"With a two-dose campaign targeting individuals over the age of one year and covering a large proportion of the population, it is expected that the incidence of the disease will be significantly reduced compared to the period prior to vaccination for at least three years. However, the real impact of these preventive vaccinations is still very poorly documented," says Anaïs Broban.
Epicentre has therefore just launched an operational study to evaluate the impact of a preventive oral vaccination campaign in cholera hotspots, thanks to a funding from the Wellcome Trust, UK AID and the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, and in an integrated manner with MSF's activities and with the support of the DRC Ministry of Health and the National Program for the Elimination of Cholera and the Control of Other Diarrheal Diseases (PNECHOL-MD). "The objective of our project is to follow the incidence of cholera after vaccination for at least two years, and to better understand the impact of the vaccine on the level and characteristics of disease transmission," adds the epidemiologist.
An ambitious project for a disease that affects the most vulnerable
This study, which is taking place in Goma, has three components. First, the implementation of surveillance in 7 cholera treatment centers or units (CTC/UTC), the care structures set up during epidemics to isolate and treat cholera patients. Thus, these enhanced surveillance activities began in the city on May 11, 2021 under the supervision of Anaïs Broban.
Then several seroprevalence surveys will allow to determine the recent infection rates in the general population, and its evolution over the seasons.
Finally, a third component will consist in following up positive patients at home, but also other members of the household and evaluate the presence of Vibrio cholerae bacteria in the home environment. This part of the study will explore the modes of spread and transmission of the bacteria within the household (including asymptomatic) and differences in transmission in vaccinated and unvaccinated households. The study will also take place in a rural site in DRC.
Each year, an estimated 1.3 to 4 million people are infected with Vibrio Cholerae bacteria worldwide and 21,000 to 143,000 die from the disease (1). Cholera remains a global health threat.
For many years, Epicentre has been supporting MSF programs to improve the management of cholera patients and epidemic response strategies, as well as to prevent the occurrence of this disease. This study is a continuation of this work and should provide new knowledge on the impact of vaccination campaigns and the spread of the disease, which will be crucial in guiding disease control strategies. | https://epicentre.msf.org/en/news/cholera-what-impact-vaccination-campaigns-drc |
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
EXAMPLES
Example 1
General Procedure for Separating Waste Material
Example 2
General Procedure for Processing a Feedstock Derived from Waste Material by Mixing and Heating
Example 3
Composition of Processed Material Obtained by Exemplary Procedures
Example 4
Separation of Waste Material Using 15% Salt Solution
Example 5
Separation of Waste Material Using 20% Salt Solution
Example 6
Processed Material Derived from Waste Material Mixed with Polypropylene Copolymer
Example 7
Spectroscopic Analysis of Processed Material Derived from Waste Material
Example 8
Effect of Hypertonic Solution on Biomass in Waste Material
Example 9
System for Separating Waste Materials According to Specific Gravity
Example 10
System for Separating and Processing Waste Materials
The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to waste treatment and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to methods and systems for sorting and/or processing waste material and processed material produced thereby.
The most common method of disposing of waste material is deposition in landfills. However, environmental concerns and/or the cost of land may render this method unsatisfactory.
Standard recycling of waste material typically requires sorting of waste material into different types of material, and recycling or discarding the different types of material separately.
An alternative to standard recycling is production of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) by shredding and dehydrating solid waste material, and combustion of the RDF in power plants.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,475 describes a process of converting household garbage into useful byproducts by reducing the garbage to an aggregate shard, optionally expelling liquid from the aggregate shard, and heating the aggregate shard under pressure to create a pulp. A system comprising a grinder for converting household garbage to an aggregate shard, and a hydrolyzer for decomposing the remaining aggregate shard after the liquid has been removed, to form the pulp, is also described. The process hydrolyzes lignocellulose in the garbage, to obtain an aggregate cellulose pulp having traces of metals and plastics. As further described therein, the aggregate cellulose pulp can be separated into pure cellulose pulp and a residue containing inorganic materials.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,497,335 describes “hydrogravity” separation of a multiple domain solid feedstock to produce particles of each substantially a single domain, each type of particle having a different density. Particles are slurried into a suitable fluid to effect binary separation of the mixture of particles into a stream with a higher average specific gravity and a stream with a lower average specific gravity.
International Patent Application having Publication No. WO 2006/035441 describes a method of encapsulating pieces of waste with melted plastic by heating and mixing.
International Patent Application having Publication No. WO 2010/082202 describes a composite material prepared by drying waste, and heating the dried waste while mixing under shear forces. The composite material has thermoplastic properties, and is processed to obtain useful articles.
Additional background art includes International Patent Applications having Publication Nos. WO 2005/077630, WO 2005/092708 and WO 2006/079842; European Patent No. 1711323; KR 2003/0014929; U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,850,771, 4,013,616, 4,772,430, 4,968,463, 5,217,655, 6,017,475, 6,253,527 and 6,423,254; and U.S. patent applications having Publication Nos. 2004/0080072 and 2004/0080072.
According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, there is provided a method of processing waste material so as to form a non-particulate processed material.
According to some embodiments, the method comprises:
removing at least a portion of inorganic materials in the waste material, to thereby obtain a sorted material containing at least 90 weight percents of an organic material;
providing a feedstock having a water content of at least 15 weight percents, wherein at least 50 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock is the sorted material;
subjecting the feedstock to mixing via shear forces; and
subjecting the feedstock to heating, thereby obtaining a non-particulate processed material.
According to some embodiments, the removing comprises separating materials according to specific gravity, the separating comprising contacting the waste material with a liquid selected such that at least a portion of inorganic materials sink; and the feedstock is subjected to the mixing and the heating without being dried.
According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, there is provided a method of sorting waste material, the method comprising:
separating materials in the waste material according to specific gravity, the separating comprising contacting the waste material with an aqueous liquid selected such that a portion of the waste material sinks, to thereby obtain a sorted material containing at least 90 weight percents of material having a specific gravity within a pre-selected range.
According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, there is provided a polymeric material obtainable by a method of processing waste material described herein.
According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, there is provided an article-of-manufacturing formed from the polymeric material described herein.
According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, there is provided a use of a waste material for the production of the article-of-manufacturing described herein.
According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, there is provided a system for processing a waste material to form a non-particulate processed material.
According to some embodiments, the system comprises:
a separator configured for removing at least a portion of inorganic materials from the waste material by separating materials in the waste material according to specific gravity, the separator containing a liquid selected such that at least a portion of inorganic materials sink, to thereby provide a sorted material containing at least 90 weight percents of an organic material;
an apparatus for subjecting a feedstock to mixing via shear forces, the apparatus comprising a first mixing zone and a second mixing zone, each independently being adapted for subjecting the waste material to heating; and
a first vent and a second vent, each being adapted for removing gases released during the mixing and the heating from the apparatus,
the system being configured for providing to the apparatus a feedstock comprising the sorted material, and having a water content of at least 15 weight percents, and
the apparatus being configured for subjecting the feedstock to mixing in the first mixing zone and removing gases from the first vent, and subsequently subjecting the feedstock to mixing in the second mixing zone and removing gases from the second vent, to thereby obtain a processed material, wherein the feedstock is subjected to the mixing and the heating without being dried.
According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, there is provided a system for sorting a waste material.
According to some embodiments, the system comprises:
a separator configured for separating materials in the waste material according to specific gravity, the separator containing a liquid selected such that a portion of the waste material sinks, to thereby obtain a sorted material containing at least 90 weight percents of material having a specific gravity within a pre-selected range.
According to some embodiments of the invention, at least 90 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock is the sorted material.
According to some embodiments of the invention, at least 99 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock is the sorted material.
3
According to some embodiments of the invention, less than 10% of a volume of the non-particulate processed material consists of particles having a volume of at least 0.2 mm.
According to some embodiments of the invention, separating materials according to specific gravity comprises obtaining a sorted material containing at least 90 weight percents of material having a specific gravity within a pre-selected range.
According to some embodiments of the invention, separating materials according to specific gravity further comprises removing at least a portion of a polymer selected from the group consisting of a thermoset polymer and a synthetic polymer having a melting point of at least 250° C. in the waste material, to thereby obtain a sorted material containing at least 90 weight percents of an organic material other than the thermoset polymer and the synthetic polymer having a melting point of at least 250° C.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the water content of the feedstock is at least 40 weight percents.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the water content of the feedstock ranges from 50 to 70 weight percents.
According to some embodiments of the invention, at least 70 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock is lignocellulose.
According to some embodiments of the invention, no more than 95 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock is lignocellulose.
According to some embodiments of the invention, no more than 5 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock is inorganic material.
According to some embodiments of the invention, from 15 to 30 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock comprises synthetic polymers.
According to some embodiments of the invention, at least 50 weight percents of synthetic polymers in the feedstock is polyolefins.
According to some embodiments of the invention, at least 1 weight of the dry weight of the feedstock is inorganic salts.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the mixing and the heating are performed until a water content of the processed material is less than 1 weight percent.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the method further comprises contacting the waste material or sorted material with an acidic substance, to thereby provide the feedstock.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the acidic substance comprises hydrochloric acid.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the acidic substance comprises an aqueous solution characterized by a pH of less than 4.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the method further comprises mixing the sorted material with an additional material, to thereby provide the feedstock.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the additional material comprises at least one carbohydrate.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the processed material comprises a polymeric material.
According to some embodiments of the invention, a concentration of carbon in the processed material is at least 55 weight percents.
According to some embodiments of the invention, a concentration of oxygen in the processed material is at least 20 weight percents.
According to some embodiments of the invention, a total concentration of carbon and oxygen in the processed material is at least 80 weight percents.
According to some embodiments of the invention, a total concentration of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in the processed material is at least 90 weight percents.
According to some embodiments of the invention, a total concentration of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, alkali metal and halogen atoms in the processed material is at least 93 weight percents.
According to some embodiments of the invention, at least 95 percent of the non-hydrogen atoms in the processed material are carbon or oxygen atoms.
According to some embodiments of the invention, at least 97 percent of the non-hydrogen atoms in the processed material are carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, alkali metal or halogen atoms.
According to some embodiments of the invention, a molar concentration of alkali metals in the processed material is at least 50% higher than a molar concentration of alkali metals in the dry weight of the waste material.
According to some embodiments of the invention, a molar concentration of halogens in the processed material is at least 50% higher than a molar concentration of halogens in the dry weight of the waste material.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the waste material is a shredded waste material.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the method further comprises shredding the waste material prior to contacting the waste material with the liquid.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the method further comprises shredding the sorted material subsequent to contacting the waste material with the liquid.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the method comprises contacting the waste material with an aqueous liquid, to thereby obtain a partially sorted material, and further comprises subjecting the partially sorted material to at least one additional cycle of separating materials according to specific gravity, the separating comprising contacting the partially sorted material with an additional liquid, to thereby obtain the sorted material.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the method further comprises shredding the sorted material subsequent to contacting the partially sorted material with the additional liquid.
According to some embodiments of the invention, at least one of the at least one additional cycle of separating materials according to specific gravity comprises removing material which sinks in the additional liquid.
According to some embodiments of the invention, at least one of the at least one additional cycle of separating materials according to specific gravity comprises removing material which floats in the additional liquid.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the method further comprises separating at least a portion of oils from the sorted material.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the polymeric material described herein is a thermoplastic polymeric material.
3
According to some embodiments of the invention, the polymeric material described herein is characterized by a density below 1.2 gram/cm.
According to some embodiments of the invention, a concentration of carbon in the polymeric material is at least 55 weight percents.
According to some embodiments of the invention, a concentration of oxygen in the polymeric material is at least 20 weight percents.
According to some embodiments of the invention, a total concentration of carbon and oxygen in the polymeric material is at least 80 weight percents.
According to some embodiments of the invention, a total concentration of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in the polymeric material is at least 90 weight percents.
According to some embodiments of the invention, a total concentration of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, alkali metal and halogen atoms in the polymeric material is at least 93 weight percents.
According to some embodiments of the invention, at least 95 percent of the non-hydrogen atoms in the polymeric material are carbon or oxygen atoms.
According to some embodiments of the invention, at least 97 percent of the non-hydrogen atoms in the polymeric material are carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, alkali metal or halogen atoms.
According to some embodiments of the invention, a molar concentration of alkali metals in the polymeric material is at least 50% higher than a molar concentration of alkali metals in the dry weight of the waste material.
According to some embodiments of the invention, a molar concentration of halogens in the polymeric material is at least 50% higher than a molar concentration of halogens in the dry weight of the waste material.
According to some embodiments of the invention, a melt-flow index of the polymeric material is at least 1 gram per 10 minutes at a temperature of 190° C.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the article-of-manufacturing comprises two or more materials adhered to and/or blended with one another, wherein at least one of the materials is the polymeric material described herein.
According to some embodiments of the invention, at least one of the two or more materials in the article-of-manufacturing is a plastic.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the system comprises at least one separator configured for separating materials in the waste material according to specific gravity, the at least one separator being configured for obtaining a sorted material containing at least 90 weight percents of a material having a specific gravity within a pre-selected range.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the system is configured for removing at least a portion of a polymer selected from the group consisting of a thermoset polymer and a synthetic polymer having a melting point of at least 250° C. from the waste material, to thereby obtain a sorted material containing at least 90 weight percents of an organic material other than the thermoset polymer and the synthetic polymer having a melting point of at least 250° C.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the first mixing zone and the second mixing zone are each independently adapted for heating the feedstock at a temperature in a range of from 90° C. to 230° C.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the system further comprises a sensor for determining a water content of material in the apparatus described herein.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the apparatus comprises a screw for effecting the mixing.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the system is configured for contacting the waste material or sorted material with an acidic substance.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the system is configured for mixing the sorted material and/or the processed material with an additional material.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the system further comprises a shredder configured for shredding the waste material prior to contacting the waste material with the liquid.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the system further comprises a shredder configured for shredding the sorted material subsequent to contacting the waste material with the liquid.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the system further comprises a monitor for monitoring a specific gravity of the liquid in the separator, wherein the system is configured to adjust a specific gravity of the liquid in the separator to a predetermined value.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the system comprises a first separator configured for separating materials according to specific gravity to thereby obtain a partially sorted material, and at least one additional separator configured for subjecting the partially sorted material to at least one additional cycle of separating materials according to specific gravity, the additional separator containing an additional liquid selected such that a portion of the partially sorted material sinks.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the system further comprises a shredder configured for shredding the sorted material subsequent to contacting the partially sorted material with the additional liquid in the additional separator.
According to some embodiments of the invention, a specific gravity of the liquid is at least 1.05.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the liquid comprises an aqueous salt solution.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the salt is sodium chloride.
According to some embodiments of the invention, a concentration of the salt in the aqueous salt solution is at least 10 weight percents.
According to some embodiments of the invention, a water content of the processed material is less than 1 weight percent.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the pre-selected range is no more than 1.25.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the system further comprises at least one apparatus configured for separating oils from said liquid.
Embodiments of the present invention encompass any combination of any of the embodiments described herein, unless otherwise indicated.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and/or scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the invention, exemplary methods and/or materials are described below. In case of conflict, the patent specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and are not intended to be necessarily limiting.
The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to waste treatment and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to methods and systems for sorting and/or processing waste material and waste material produced thereby.
Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components and/or methods set forth in the following description and/or illustrated in the drawings and/or the Examples. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways.
The present inventor has uncovered that separating materials in a waste material according to specific gravity can be used to obtain, in an efficient and cost-effective manner, a sorted material useful for further processing without drying the sorted material. The present inventor has further uncovered that separation according to specific gravity can beneficially affect both the process progress and parameters and properties of the obtained processed material. For example, contacting waste materials (e.g., unsorted waste materials) with a liquid such as an aqueous solution can be utilized to advantageously separate some materials, particularly inorganic materials, from the obtained sorted materials and/or to increase a water content to a level particularly suitable for processing. Furthermore, separation by contacting waste materials with a liquid may be readily performed using wet waste material (e.g., waste material that has not been dried), whereas wet waste material poses an obstacle to other separation techniques, for example, by resulting in fragments of different types of material sticking to one another. The present inventor has further demonstrated that the processed waste material, obtained upon specific gravity separation, exhibits exceptional and controllable properties.
FIG. 1
Referring now to the drawings, illustrates a general procedure for separating waste material according to specific gravity, according to exemplary embodiments of the invention, as described in detail in the Examples section that follows.
FIG. 2
illustrates a general procedure for processing a sorted material, according to exemplary embodiments of the invention, as described in detail in the Examples section that follows.
FIG. 3
FIG. 4
illustrates a system for separating and processing a waste material, according to exemplary embodiments of the invention, as described in detail herein under. illustrates a system for processing a material (e.g., a sorted material), according to exemplary embodiments of the invention, as described in detail herein under.
FIGS. 5A and 5B
show a relatively homogeneous processed material produced according to exemplary embodiments of the invention.
FIGS. 6-9B
show physical properties of processed material produced according to exemplary embodiments of the invention, as described in detail in the Examples section that follows.
FIGS. 10A and 10B
show that hypertonic solution facilitates release of carbohydrates from biomass.
FIG. 11
illustrates a system for separating waste material according to specific gravity, according to exemplary embodiments of the invention, as described in detail herein under.
FIG. 12
illustrates a system for separating waste material according to specific gravity and processing the obtained sorted material, according to exemplary embodiments of the invention, as described in detail in the Examples section that follows.
According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a method of sorting waste material, to thereby obtain a sorted material. In some embodiments, the method according to this aspect of the present invention is effected by separating materials in the waste material according to specific gravity. In some embodiments, separating is effected by contacting the waste material with a liquid selected such that a portion of the waste material sinks in the liquid (and another portion does not sink).
Herein throughout, the phrase “waste material” refers to substantially solid waste, such as municipal solid waste, which, in some embodiments, is obtained mostly from domestic sources, and is also referred to as “trash” or “garbage”. The phrase “waste material” as used herein encompasses substantially unsorted waste material (e.g., prior to removal of a portion of the materials as described herein), that is, it comprises a wide variety of substances typical of domestic waste, and optionally further encompasses waste material, as defined herein, which has undergone some sorting (e.g., removal of readily recyclable items).
Thus, the waste material may optionally be in the form it is received at a solid waste management facility or at a waste dump or from a landfill (referred to as “unsorted” waste material), or alternatively, waste material which has undergone preliminary sorting, that is, waste material (e.g., from the aforementioned sources) from which one or more components (e.g., magnetic materials) are selectively removed (partially or entirely) before further sorting according to the method described herein. The waste material may include some waste from non-domestic sources, such as sludge (e.g., sewage sludge), industrial waste (e.g., discarded packaging material) and/or agricultural waste.
The waste material typically comprises some liquid (e.g., water, oils), for example, liquids absorbed by the waste material and/or within containers in the waste material. It is to be appreciated that the method of sorting described herein is effected by contact with a liquid, so that the waste material can therefore optionally be sorted without any need for prior drying of the waste material.
Herein throughout, the phrase “sorted material” is used to describe a material obtained by removing a portion of materials in a source material (e.g., a waste material) so as to obtain a material having a different composition than the source material. By “source material” it is meant, for example, the waste material as described herein, which is subjected to the sorting as described herein.
Herein throughout, the term “sorting” and grammatical derivations thereof is used to describe a process of obtaining a sorted material, as defined herein, from a source material (e.g., a waste material), as defined herein.
Herein throughout, the term “processing” and grammatical derivations thereof, in the context of an act performed on a material (e.g., waste material), is used to describe alteration of the composition, chemical properties and/or physical properties of the material, to thereby obtain a different, second material, referred to herein as “processed material”, having a different composition, chemical properties and/or physical properties than the material subjected to processing. The term “processing” as used herein encompasses sorting, as defined herein, but is not limited to sorting.
For the sake of clarity, the term “processing material” is generally used herein to describe a material obtained by procedures other than sorting (whereas a material obtained by sorting is referred to as “sorted material”), for example, by subjecting a sorted material (as defined herein) to processing other than sorting (e.g., heating).
In some embodiments of this aspect of the present invention, the method provides a sorted material enriched in material having a specific gravity within a pre-selected range, and the liquid is selected in accordance with the pre-selected range (e.g., selection of a suitable concentration for an aqueous salt solution, as discussed in further detail herein below).
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein, the sorted material contains at least 90 weight percents of material having a specific gravity within a pre-selected range. In some embodiments, the sorted material contains at least 95 weight percents of material having a specific gravity within a pre-selected range. In some embodiments, the sorted material contains at least 98 weight percents of material having a specific gravity within a pre-selected range. In some embodiments, the sorted material contains at least 99 weight percents of material having a specific gravity within a pre-selected range. Any value between 90 and 99.9 weight percents is also contemplated according to these embodiments.
As used herein, the term “specific gravity” refers to a ratio of density of a material to a density of pure water under the same conditions (e.g., temperature, pressure). Thus, the specific gravity of pure water is defined as 1. In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein, the specific gravity is a specific gravity at room temperature (e.g., 25° C.) and atmospheric pressure. However, because specific gravity is a ratio, it is less sensitive than density to changes in conditions (e.g., temperature, pressure). Hence, in some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein, the specific gravity is a specific gravity under working conditions. For example, ambient temperature under working conditions may vary, for example, within a range of about 0° C. to 50° C., and ambient pressure may vary according to altitude of the location.
A pre-selected range for the specific gravity may optionally be characterized by an upper limit and a lower limit, or alternatively, the range may optionally be an open-ended range, for example, characterized by an upper limit with no lower limit, or by a lower limit with no upper limit.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein, the pre-selected range is no more than 1.25, that is, the upper limit of the pre-selected range is no more than 1.25, such that the entire range is no more than 1.25. In some embodiments, the pre-selected range is no more than 1.225. In some embodiments, the pre-selected range is no more than 1.20. In some embodiments, the pre-selected range is no more than 1.175. In some embodiments, the pre-selected range is no more than 1.15. In some embodiments, the pre-selected range is no more than 1.125. In some embodiments, the pre-selected range is no more than 1.10.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein, the sorted material is enriched (relative to the waste material from which it is derived) in material having a specific gravity below a specific gravity of the liquid. In some of these embodiments, the method is effected by removing materials which sink in the liquid from the waste material, to thereby obtain the sorted material.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein, the sorted material is enriched (relative to the waste material from which it is derived) in material having a specific gravity above a specific gravity of the liquid. In some of these embodiments, the method is effected by removing materials which do not sink in the liquid from the waste material, to thereby obtain the sorted material.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein, the sorted material is enriched (relative to the waste material from which it is derived) in material having a specific gravity below a specific gravity of a first liquid (e.g., an aqueous salt solution) and above a specific gravity of a second liquid (e.g., water or a dilute aqueous salt solution). In some of these embodiments, the method comprises a stage of removing materials which sink in the first liquid from the waste material, as well as a stage of removing materials which do not sink in the second liquid from the waste material.
Herein, the term “sink” encompasses sinking to a bottom of a liquid (e.g., sedimenting), as well as sinking below a surface of the liquid.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, at least a portion of the inorganic materials of a waste material (which are frequently denser than organic materials) sink to a bottom of the liquid.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, materials which sink to the bottom are removed (e.g., by removing sediment), and substantially all other materials are collected.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, materials which float in the liquid are collected (e.g., by skimming a surface of the liquid), and substantially all other materials are removed.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, separation of waste material comprises removing substantially all of the material from the liquid (e.g., both the collected sorted material and the material removed from the waste material in order to obtain the sorted material removed from the liquid), such that the liquid can be reused to separate more waste material according to specific gravity. Removal from the liquid can be for example, by skimming floating material from a surface, removing sedimented material, and/or filtering out material which sinks below a surface of the liquid but does not sink to the bottom.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the waste material is stirred in the liquid, for example, by rotation of at least one paddle (e.g., rotation of a paddle wheel). Stirring is optionally selected to be sufficiently vigorous to facilitate separation of different types of material (which may be stuck to one another, for example), while being sufficiently gentle to allow separation of materials in the liquid.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, stirring comprises perturbation (e.g., rotation, vibration, agitation) at a frequency of 120 per minute or less. In some embodiments, stirring comprises perturbation at a frequency of 60 per minute or less. In some embodiments, stirring comprises perturbation at a frequency of 30 per minute or less. In some embodiments, stirring comprises perturbation at a frequency of 20 per minute or less. In some embodiments, stirring comprises perturbation at a frequency of 10 per minute or less.
The liquid may be any type of liquid, including a pure liquid, a solution, and a suspension.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the liquid is an aqueous liquid.
As used herein, the phrase “aqueous liquid” refers to a liquid in which at least 50 weight percents of the liquid compound(s) therein (e.g., excluding solid materials suspended and/or dissolved in the liquid) is water. In some embodiments, at least 60 weight percents is water. In some embodiments, at least 70 weight percents is water. In some embodiments, at least 80 weight percents is water. In some embodiments, at least 90 weight percents is water. In some embodiments, at least 95 weight percents is water. In some embodiments, at least 98 weight percents is water. In some embodiments, at least 99 weight percents is water. In some embodiments, the liquid component substantially consists of water.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the liquid is a solution, for example, an aqueous solution. Suitable solutes for a solution (e.g., an aqueous solution) include water-soluble salts, that is, any compound which form ions in water (e.g., sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium bromide, potassium bromide, calcium chloride, calcium nitrate, potassium carbonate) and water-soluble carbohydrates (e.g., glucose, sucrose, lactose, fructose).
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the solute is a salt, that is, the liquid is an aqueous salt solution (solution of ions). In some embodiments the salt comprises sodium chloride. The sodium chloride may optionally be substantially pure. Alternatively, the sodium chloride is mixed with other salts, for example, as in sea salt.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the liquid comprises sea water (e.g., sea water diluted with fresh water and/or concentrated sea water, that is, sea water from which a portion of the water has been removed). In some embodiments, the liquid consists essentially of sea water.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the liquid is a suspension, for example, an aqueous suspension. Suitable suspended materials for a suspension include water-insoluble salts and/or metallic substances, such as, for example, calcium carbonate, iron powder and ferrosilicon (FeSi). In some embodiments, the suspended material is magnetic, which facilitates removal its removal from separated waste materials (e.g., for reuse).
The specific gravity may be selected in accordance with the materials which are desired to be separated from the waste material and/or with the materials which are desired to be retained in the waste material (e.g., for further processing).
The specific gravity of a solution or a suspension can be finely controlled in accordance with the separation requirements, by controlling the concentration of the solute or suspended material.
Thus, for example, if it is desired to separate only materials with are characterized by high specific gravity, a solution or suspension with a relatively high specific gravity (yet lower than that of the materials to be separated) is to be used, and therefore, a high concentration of the solute or suspended material is included.
If it is desired to retain in the waste material only materials which have a specific gravity that is lower or is the same as that of water (e.g., organic materials), a solution or suspension with a specific gravity that is slightly above that of water is to be used, and therefore, a relatively low concentration of the solute or suspended material in included.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, a specific gravity of the liquid is in a range of from 1.00 to 2.50.
A specific gravity of up to 2.50 may be suitable, for example, for removing all or almost all inorganic materials which may be present in the waste material. Thus, for example, window glass has a specific gravity of approximately 2.58, silica has a specific gravity of approximately 2.65, aluminum has a specific gravity of approximately 2.7, and specific gravities of other minerals and metals are typically even higher. In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the specific gravity of the liquid is at least 2.00, for example, in a range of from 2.00 to 2.50. A specific of at least 2.00 may be suitable, for example, for retaining all or almost all organic materials, such as plant materials, animal materials, and polymeric materials (e.g., rubber and plastics).
Herein, “animal material” refers to material which originates from an animal, and “plant material” refers to material which originates from a plant or fungus. It is noted that coal and petroleum products and the like, which originate from organisms which lived only in the distant past, are not considered herein as animal or plant material.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the specific gravity of the liquid is at least 1.50, for example, in a range of from 1.50 to 2.00. A specific gravity of at least 1.50 may be suitable, for retaining a large majority of organic materials. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is at least 1.60. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is at least 1.70. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is at least 1.80. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is at least 1.90.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the specific gravity of the liquid is at least 1.20, for example, in a range of from 1.20 to 1.50. A specific gravity of at least 1.20 may be suitable, for retaining many or even most organic materials, while removing some organic materials (e.g., synthetic polymers). In some embodiments, the specific gravity of the liquid is at least 1.25. In some embodiments, the specific gravity of the liquid is at least 1.30. In some embodiments, the specific gravity of the liquid is at least 1.35. In some embodiments, the specific gravity of the liquid is at least 1.40. In some embodiments, the specific gravity of the liquid is at least 1.45.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the specific gravity of the liquid is at least 1.01, for example, in a range of from 1.01 to 1.20. A specific gravity in a range of 1.01 to 1.20 may be suitable, for retaining many or even most animal materials and plant materials, while removing many synthetic polymers, such as thermoset polymers, synthetic polymers having a melting point of at least 250° C. (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Herein, the term “thermoset” refers to a synthetic polymer that has been irreversibly cured by any technique, including curing by heating, by chemical reaction (e.g., as in epoxies) or irradiation. Examples of thermoset polymers include, without limitation, thermoset polyesters (e.g., as used in fiberglass), polyurethanes, vulcanized rubbers, phenol-formaldehydes (e.g., Bakelite® polymer), Duroplast, urea-formaldehydes (e.g., as used in plywood), melamine resins, epoxy resins, polyimides, cyanate esters and polycyanurates.
Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that reducing a proportion of thermoset polymers, synthetic polymers having a high melting point (e.g., at least 250° C.) and/or PVC in an obtained sorted material renders the sorted material more amenable to processing (e.g., as described herein). It is further believed that separation according to specific gravity, as described herein, is a particularly convenient method for obtaining a sorted material with a reduced proportion of such polymers relative to a waste material from which the sorted material is derived.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the specific gravity of the liquid is no more than about 1.25 (e.g., about the specific gravity of a saturated aqueous solution of sea salt). In some embodiments, the specific gravity is no more than 1.20. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is no more than 1.15.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the specific gravity of the liquid is at least 1.05. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.05 to 1.25. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.05 to 1.20. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.05 to 1.15.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the specific gravity of the liquid is at least 1.06. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.06 to 1.25. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.06 to 1.20. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.06 to 1.15.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the specific gravity of the liquid is at least 1.07 (e.g., an aqueous sodium chloride solution at a concentration of about 10 weight percents). In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.07 to 1.25. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.07 to 1.20. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.07 to 1.15.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the specific gravity of the liquid is at least 1.08. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.08 to 1.25. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.08 to 1.20. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.08 to 1.15.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the specific gravity of the liquid is at least 1.09. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.09 to 1.25. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.09 to 1.20. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.09 to 1.15.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the specific gravity of the liquid is at least 1.10. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.10 to 1.25. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.10 to 1.20. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.10 to 1.15.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the specific gravity of the liquid is at least 1.11 (e.g., an aqueous sodium chloride solution at a concentration of about 15 weight percents). In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.11 to 1.25. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.11 to 1.20.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the specific gravity of the liquid is at least 1.12. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.12 to 1.25. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.12 to 1.20.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the specific gravity of the liquid is at least 1.13. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.13 to 1.25. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.13 to 1.20.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the specific gravity of the liquid is at least 1.14. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.14 to 1.25. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.14 to 1.20.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the specific gravity of the liquid is at least 1.15 (e.g., an aqueous sodium chloride solution at a concentration of about 20 weight percents). In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.15 to 1.25. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.15 to 1.20.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the specific gravity of the liquid is at least 1.175. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.175 to 1.25. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.175 to 1.20.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the specific gravity of the liquid is at least 1.20. In some embodiments, the specific gravity is in a range of from 1.20 to 1.25.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the specific gravity of the liquid is approximately 1.03 or less, for example, in a range of from 1.01 to 1.03. A specific gravity in a range may conveniently and inexpensively be obtained, for example, using sea water or diluted sea water, as sea water has a specific gravity in a range of from 1.02 to 1.03, typically approximately 1.025.
In general, liquids with relatively low specific gravities (e.g., up to 1.25, up to 1.20) are relatively convenient to prepare and use, they may readily be obtained from solutions of common and inexpensive materials. For example, specific gravities of aqueous sodium chloride solutions range from 1.00 to about 1.20, depending on concentration. Relatively low specific gravities are particularly suitable for efficiently removing inorganic materials, including for example, composite materials (e.g., fiberglass and polymers with glass filler) which have a lower specific gravity than pure inorganic materials, as well as relatively dense organic materials such as PVC, PET, PTFE and thermoset polymers (e.g., as described herein).
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, specific gravities of at least 1.20, optionally at least 1.25, are obtained using high density water-soluble salts such as calcium salts, magnesium salts, transition metal salts, bromide salts and/or using suspensions.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, contact of waste material with a salt solution inhibits microbial (e.g., bacterial) survival and/or activity in the obtained sorted material (in addition to facilitating the sorting process). Such inhibition is comparable to preservation of food in salt water (e.g., pickling). Such inhibition may for example, enhance hygiene and/or reduce malodor of sorted material, thereby and facilitating handling and/or storage of the sorted material.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, a concentration of salt in a solution is selected to be capable of inhibiting microbial (e.g., bacterial) survival and/or activity in waste material contacted with the solution, and/or in sorted material and/or processed material (e.g., as described herein) derived therefrom.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the concentration of salt (e.g., sodium chloride, sea salt) in a salt solution (e.g., aqueous salt solution) is at least 3 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of salt is in a range of from 3 to 35 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of salt is in a range of from 3 to 30 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of salt is in a range of from 3 to 25 weight percents.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the concentration of salt (e.g., sodium chloride, sea salt) in a salt solution (e.g., aqueous salt solution) is at least 5 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of salt is in a range of from 5 to 35 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of salt is in a range of from 5 to 30 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of salt is in a range of from 5 to 25 weight percents.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the concentration of salt (e.g., sodium chloride, sea salt) in a salt solution (e.g., aqueous salt solution) is at least 10 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of salt is in a range of from 10 to 35 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of salt is in a range of from 10 to 30 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of salt is in a range of from 10 to 25 weight percents.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the concentration of salt (e.g., sodium chloride, sea salt) in a salt solution (e.g., aqueous salt solution) is at least 15 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of salt is in a range of from 15 to 35 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of salt is in a range of from 15 to 30 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of salt is in a range of from 15 to 25 weight percents.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the concentration of salt (e.g., sodium chloride, sea salt) in a salt solution (e.g., aqueous salt solution) is at least 20 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of salt is in a range of from 20 to 35 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of salt is in a range of from 20 to 30 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of salt is in a range of from 20 to 25 weight percents.
Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believes that contact of waste material with a salt solution comprising salt concentrations of at least 10 weight percents, especially at least 15 weight percents, and most especially at least 20 weight percents, is particularly effective at inhibiting microbial (e.g., bacterial) survival and/or activity not only in waste material contacted with the solution, but also at inhibiting microbial (e.g., bacterial) survival and/or activity in sorted material and/or processed material (e.g., as described herein) derived therefrom, that is, residual salt remaining in the sorted material and/or processed material (after the material has been removed from the salt solution) can effectively inhibit microbial survival and/or activity long after the separation according to specific gravity has been completed.
It is to be appreciated that cellulose and other compounds from animal material or plant material (e.g., lignin) are characterized by a specific gravity of approximately 1.5, but that animal materials and plant materials typically exhibit considerably lower specific gravities as a result of porosity (for, example, the voids in wood, which reduce the specific gravity of most wood to less than 1) and/or a considerable amount of water therein (which results in a specific gravity close to 1). Thus, a specific gravity of many materials is indicative of its water content and/or porosity.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, removal of materials with a relatively high specific gravity (e.g., as described herein) may increase a water content of the material (e.g., by removing relatively dry animal material and/or plant material, while retaining relatively moist animal material and/or plant material), resulting in the obtained sorted material having a water content higher than that of the waste material (e.g., even without absorption of water during the separation process). Thus, removal of materials as described herein may be used to increase water content of the obtained sorted material (e.g., to a water content described herein), relative to the waste material, by facilitating absorption of water and/or by removing relatively dry materials.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, removal of materials with a relatively high specific gravity (e.g., as described herein) may result in the sorted material having a reduced (average) specific gravity, for example, less than 1.20, optionally less than 1.15, optionally less than 1.10, optionally less than 1.05, and optionally less than 1.00.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the sorted material contains at least 90 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material, for example, by selecting a liquid in which inorganic materials sink.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the sorted material contains at least 90 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than thermoset polymers and synthetic polymers having a melting point of at least 250° C. (e.g., PET, PTFE), for example, by selecting a liquid in which such polymers sink.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the sorted material contains at least 90 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than PVC, for example, by selecting a liquid in which PVC sinks.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the sorted material contains at least 90 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than thermoset polymers, synthetic polymers having a melting point of at least 250° C. (e.g., PET, PTFE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), for example, by selecting a liquid in which such polymers sink.
In this respect, it is to be appreciated that thermoset polymers, synthetic polymers having a melting point of at least 250° C. (e.g., PET, PTFE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are typically characterized by a relatively high specific gravity.
For example, among synthetic polymers characterized by a melting point of at least 250° C., PET (which is particularly widespread in waste material, e.g., due to its use in food and liquid containers) typically exhibits a specific gravity in a range of from 1.37-1.455 and PTFE typically exhibits a specific gravity in a range of 2.1-2.2.
Similarly, polyvinyl chloride (a widespread polymer) typically exhibits a specific gravity in a range of from 1.35-1.45 in its rigid, relatively pure forms, whereas flexible forms of polyvinyl chloride typically exhibit a lower specific gravity (e.g., in a range of from 1.1-1.3) due to a presence of plasticizers. Thus, a liquid with a specific gravity below 1.1 may be suitable for removing substantially all polyvinyl chloride, whereas a liquid with a moderately higher specific gravity (e.g., in a range of from 1.1-1.3) may be suitable for removing a considerable proportion of polyvinyl chloride.
In addition, thermoset polymers typically comprise a considerable amount of heteroatoms (e.g., nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur), for example, in ester groups, urethane groups, and sulfur cross-links of vulcanized rubber, which increase the specific gravity of the polymer.
It is to be appreciated that contacting waste material with a liquid for separating according to specific gravity (according to any of the respective embodiments described herein) may effect partial removal of liquids which originate in the waste material and are miscible with the liquid for separating according to specific gravity, as the liquids remain intermixed when a sorted material is removed from the liquids. For example, aqueous liquids in a source waste material may optionally be at least partially removed upon contact with an aqueous liquid (e.g., salt solution) according to any of the respective embodiments described herein.
In addition, liquids (e.g., oils) are commonly present in the waste material which are immiscible with the liquid used for separating according to specific gravity (e.g., an aqueous solution), and form a distinct liquid layer during the separation process, for example, a layer of oils floating on a surface of an aqueous liquid (as opposed to floating solids which are partially submerged in the aqueous liquid).
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the method further comprises (as part of any one or more cycles of separating materials according to specific gravity) separating at least a portion of liquids of source waste material (which are immiscible with the liquid for separating according to specific gravity) from the other waste material and from the liquid for separating according to specific gravity. In some embodiments, oils in the source waste material which float on a surface of an aqueous liquid (e.g., salt solution) for separating according to specific gravity are separated.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the sorted material has a lower concentration of oils than does the waste material prior to sorting.
Herein, the term “oil” refers to a liquid which is immiscible with water, and encompasses substances which are liquid at a temperature in a range of 0° C. to 100° C.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein, the oils are liquid at a temperature in a range of 0° C. to 50° C. In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein, the oils are a liquid at 20° C.
Herein, the phrase “immiscible with water” means that for at least some proportions of water and another liquid (e.g., an oil as defined herein), the liquid and the water do not form a homogeneous solution with one another, and separate into distinct phases.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein, the oil is composed of compounds characterized by a log P (logarithm of a partition coefficient) of at least 1. In some embodiments, the log P of compounds in the oil is at least 1.5. In some embodiments, the log P of compounds in the oil is at least 2.
Herein, the term “log P” refers to a logarithm of a ratio of a concentration of a compound in 1-octanol to a concentration of the compound in water, upon contact of the compound with a combination of 1-octanol and water (which form separate phases). The concentrations pertain to compounds in an unionized form.
Removal of immiscible liquids according to any of the respective embodiments described herein may optionally be performed using standard techniques known in the art. For example, a layer of oil may be skimmed from a surface of an aqueous solution using a weir skimmer, and/or an oleophobic and/or metallic skimmer (e.g., using a rotating element such as a drum, rope, disc and/or belt to adhere to and remove oils). The skimmers (of any type) are optionally configured to cease skimming when oil is not present in sufficient quantities to be skimmed effectively.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, oils separated from the liquid for separating according to specific gravity (e.g., by skimming the oils from a surface of the liquid) are collected, for example, for use as a raw ingredient for further processing of oils.
Alternatively or additionally, separation of the oils may be in order to obtain a sorted material with less oil, and/or to reducing levels of oil impurities in the liquids used in a process described herein. In some such embodiments, the separated oils are discarded.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the oils comprise lipids released from cells in the waste material during the separation process, for example, upon contact with an aqueous salt solution (e.g., a hypertonic solution) which subjects the cells to osmotic stress.
Removal of materials may optionally be performed before and/or after shredding, and/or during shredding (e.g., between two stages of shredding).
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the waste material is a shredded waste material, that is, obtained in a shredded form, for example, waste material has been subjected to crushing (e.g., by a hammer mill). In some embodiments, the shredded waste material is further shredded as described herein.
As used herein, the terms “shred”, “shredded” and “shredding” and the further grammatical diversions thereof refer to reduction in size of the solid components of material (e.g., waste material, sorted material) by any mechanical means, including chopping, dicing, grinding, crumbling, cutting, tearing and crushing.
A variety of devices are available in the art for shredding waste material, including, without limitation, industrial shredders, grinders, chippers and granulators. Optionally, the device used for shredding is designed to be suitable for handling the presence of hard substances such as metal, glass, clay and stone in waste material, for example, by using blades or plates made of robust materials such as stainless steel or titanium.
Herein, the term “shredder” encompasses all devices configured for shredding, as defined herein.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, waste material is shredded prior to removal of materials by contacting with a liquid (e.g., as described herein for, for example, sorting), for example, so as to facilitate separation of different types of material which are attached to one another (e.g., metal attached to plastic) and/or to facilitate escape of gases and entry of liquid to crevices in particles of waste material. In some embodiments, solid particles in the shredded material are less than 50 mm in diameter, optionally less than 20 mm in diameter, when materials are removed. In some embodiments, the solid particles are less than 10 mm in diameter when materials are removed.
In some embodiments, shredding prior to removal of materials is effected by hammers (e.g., crushing), for example, by a hammer mill.
Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that hammers are relatively resistant to damage associated with a presence of hard materials (e.g., inorganic materials such as mineral, ceramic, glass, metal) in waste material which has not yet been subjected to removal of such materials.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, a sorted material is shredded subsequent to removal of materials by contacting with a liquid (e.g., by shredding to a particle size described herein), for example, so as to remove hard and dense materials (e.g., inorganic materials) which may damage an apparatus effecting shredding, and/or so that particles of the waste material will not be so small as to interfere with removal of materials. For example, small particles generally separate according to specific gravity more slowly than do large particles. In some embodiments, the solid particles are at least 2 mm in diameter when materials are removed. In some embodiments, the solid particles are at least 5 mm in diameter when materials are removed. In some embodiments, the solid particles are at least 10 mm in diameter when materials are removed.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein relating to shredding, shredding subsequent to removal of materials is effected by cutting (e.g., by blades and/or plates), for example, in an industrial shredder.
Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that such a shredding technique is particularly suitable for forming relatively small particles, which may be more suitable for further processing (e.g., by mixing and heating as described herein), but may be relatively susceptible to hard and dense materials (e.g., inorganic materials), and therefore suitable for sorted material which has a reduced amount of such materials.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, waste material is shredded prior to removal of materials to a relatively large particle size (e.g., at least 10 mm in diameter), for example, using crushing, hammers and/or similar techniques. Subsequent to removal of materials, the sorted material is then optionally further shredded to smaller particles of a size (e.g., less than 10 mm in diameter) selected as suitable for further processing (e.g., mixing and heating as described herein).
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the method comprises more than one cycle of separating materials according to specific gravity.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the waste material is contacted with an aqueous liquid (e.g., as described herein) to thereby obtain a partially sorted material, and the partially sorted waste material is further subjected to at least one additional cycle of separating materials according to specific gravity. In each of the aforementioned at least one additional cycle, the separating comprises contacting the partially sorted waste material with an additional liquid (e.g., a liquid described herein for separating materials).
Herein, the phrase “partially sorted material” refers to a sorted material, as defined herein, which is intended to be subjected to further sorting. Thus, the phrase “sorted material” encompasses “partially sorted material”.
It is to be understood that each cycle may be effected with a liquid (e.g., an aqueous salt solution) which is the same or different than a liquid (e.g., an aqueous salt solution) used in another cycle, and that each cycle may independently comprise removing the high-density materials (e.g., materials which sink in the liquid) from the waste material or removing the low-density materials (e.g., materials which float in the liquid) from the waste material.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, at least one cycle of separating materials according to specific gravity comprises removing material which sinks in the liquid of that cycle. In some embodiments, at least one cycle other than the first cycle (i.e., at least one additional cycle) comprises removing material which sinks in the liquid of that cycle (i.e., an additional liquid described herein). In some embodiments, a first cycle comprises removing material which sinks in the liquid of that cycle. In some embodiments, a first cycle and at least one additional cycle comprises removing material which sinks in the liquid of that cycle.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, at least one cycle of separating materials according to specific gravity comprises removing material which floats in the liquid of that cycle. In some embodiments, a first cycle comprises removing material which sinks in the liquid of that cycle, and at least one later cycle comprises removing material which floats in the liquid of that cycle.
Each cycle may be independently optionally further comprise shredding the obtained sorted material (optionally partially sorted material after cycles other than the final cycle) subsequent to contact with the liquid of that cycle (e.g., as described herein). In some embodiments of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material, at least one cycle other than the first cycle (i.e., at least one additional cycle) further comprises shredding of the sorted material subsequent to contact with the liquid of that cycle (i.e., an additional liquid described herein). In some embodiments, the final cycle comprises shredding of the sorted material (i.e., after contact with the liquid of the final cycle). In some embodiments, each cycle comprises shredding of the obtained sorted material (including partially sorted material after cycles other than the final cycle).
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, removal of liquid is performed subsequent to at least one cycle of separating materials according to specific gravity. The removal of liquid may optionally be effected by drainage (e.g., gravity-driven drainage) and/or compression of the sorted material, for example, using a screw press. Optionally, at least a portion of the removed liquid is reused for separating materials as described herein.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, removed liquid comprises liquid which originates in the waste material, for example, aqueous liquids and/or oils. For example, liquid removed according to any of the respective embodiments described herein (e.g., by drainage and/or compression) may optionally comprise an aqueous liquid (e.g., salt solution) used for separating according to specific gravity (according to any of the respective embodiments described herein), as well as aqueous liquid originating in the waste material which is intermixed with the aqueous liquid for separating according to specific gravity, and/or oils originating in the waste material.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, separation of oils from the removed liquid is performed, for example, in order to collect oils for further processing, and/or to facilitate reuse of a liquid (e.g., aqueous liquid) for separating materials by reducing levels of oil impurities.
Separation of oils from the removed liquid may be performed according to techniques and apparatuses known in the art, for example, electrochemical emulsification; bioremediation; oil-water separators known in the art, including, without limitation, gravity oil-water separators (e.g., API separators, gravity plate separators) and centrifugal oil-water separators; and/or a skimmer (e.g., any skimmer described herein).
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, the method comprises both collecting oils separated from the liquid for separating according to specific gravity (e.g., by skimming the oils from a surface of the liquid) according to any of the respective embodiments described herein, as well as collecting oils separated from removed liquid according to any of the respective embodiments described herein, and combining the collected oils, for example, for further processing. That is, in such embodiments, oil is collected both during at least one cycle of separating materials (wherein waste material is contacted with a liquid), and subsequent to at least one cycle of separating materials (wherein liquid is removed from sorted material, and oils are separated from the removed liquid).
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to sorting waste material according to specific gravity, separated materials (e.g., inorganic materials) are further sorted (e.g., using techniques known in the art) so as to extract useful and/or valuable materials such as metals (e.g., iron, gold) and silica and/or glass (e.g., for use as filler in concrete, plastics, and the like).
It is to be noted that the removal of materials as described herein affects the chemical composition of the end product (e.g., a processed material obtained by processing the sorted material as described herein) and that the selection of the liquid used in any of these embodiments can be made also in accordance with the desired characteristics of the end product, so as to retain in the waste material materials of a chemical composition that would impart the desired characteristics of the end product.
For example, the dry weight of a representative domestic waste material may comprise about 60% of wood-derived materials (e.g., paper, cardboard, branches) containing lignin, typically in the form of lignocellulose; about 20% of organic materials without lignin (e.g., plastics, non-woody plant-derived material such as food); and about 20% of inorganic materials (e.g., stone, sand, glass, ceramic, metal). The proportion of lignocellulose-containing materials (e.g., materials containing lignin, cellulose and/or hemicellulose) is expected to increase upon removal of dense materials such as inorganic materials and/or polymers such as thermoset polymers, PET and PVC from the waste material, as described herein.
The sorted material obtained as described herein is particularly amenable to further processing according to procedures uncovered by the present inventor and described herein. Furthermore, such procedures are particularly suitable for processing wet material, such as waste material sorted by contact with a liquid (e.g., as described herein). Thus, the sorting and further processing may be combined as a particularly efficient and effective method of processing waste material.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to separating materials according to specific gravity as described herein, removal of inorganic materials in the waste material is such that an obtained sorted material contains at least 90 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material. In some embodiments, the sorted material contains at least 95 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material. In some embodiments, the sorted material contains at least 98 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material. In some embodiments, the sorted material contains at least 99 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to separating materials according to specific gravity as described herein, the method comprises removing at least a portion of certain organic materials (e.g., synthetic polymers, as defined herein) in the waste. In some embodiments, the method comprises removing at least a portion of polyvinyl chloride, synthetic polymers having a relatively high melting point (e.g., at least 250° C.) and/or thermoset polymers (e.g., as described herein).
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to separating materials according to specific gravity as described herein, the sorted material contains at least 90 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than thermoset polymers and synthetic polymers having a melting point of at least 250° C. In some embodiments, the sorted material contains at least 95 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than thermoset polymers and synthetic polymers having a melting point of at least 250° C. In some embodiments, the sorted material contains at least 98 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than thermoset polymers and synthetic polymers having a melting point of at least 250° C. In some embodiments, the sorted material contains at least 99 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than thermoset polymers and synthetic polymers having a melting point of at least 250° C.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to separating materials according to specific gravity as described herein, the sorted material contains at least 90 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than PVC. In some embodiments, the sorted material contains at least 95 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than PVC. In some embodiments, the sorted material contains at least 98 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than PVC. In some embodiments, the sorted material contains at least 99 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than PVC.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to separating materials according to specific gravity as described herein, the sorted material contains at least 90 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than PVC, thermoset polymers and synthetic polymers having a melting point of at least 250° C. In some embodiments, the sorted material contains at least 95 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than PVC, thermoset polymers and synthetic polymers having a melting point of at least 250° C. In some embodiments, the sorted material contains at least 98 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than PVC, thermoset polymers and synthetic polymers having a melting point of at least 250° C. In some embodiments, the sorted material contains at least 99 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than PVC, thermoset polymers and synthetic polymers having a melting point of at least 250° C.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to separating materials according to specific gravity as described herein, no more than 5 weight percents of the dry weight of the sorted material is inorganic material. In some embodiments, no more than 4 weight percents is inorganic material. In some embodiments, no more than 3 weight percents is inorganic material. In some embodiments, no more than 2 weight percents is inorganic material. In some embodiments, no more than 1 weight percent is inorganic material. In some embodiments, no more than 0.5 weight percent is inorganic material. In some embodiments, no more than 0.2 weight percent is inorganic material. In some embodiments, no more than 0.1 weight percent is inorganic material.
Herein, wherever an amount of “inorganic material” in a sorted material and/or feedstock is described, the amount does not include any inorganic water-soluble salt and/or ions included in an aqueous liquid used for separation as described herein.
Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that such salts do not have a substantial deleterious effect, and may even have a beneficial effect, on further processing of the sorted material, whereas other inorganic materials are likely to have a deleterious effect (e.g., as described herein), and hence, it is advantageous to reduce an amount of such inorganic material.
As described in detail herein, the sorted material obtained as described herein is particularly amenable to further processing. The sorted material may optionally be subjected to further processing as is, or may be used to prepare a feedstock intended for processing.
Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that the sorted material obtained as described herein is particularly amenable to processing comprising moderate heating, mixing and/or extrusion, as materials which are less amenable to such processing, such as materials which do not melt or substantially soften at such temperatures (e.g., inorganic materials, thermoset polymers, polymers having a relatively high melting point), materials which form toxic products upon heating at such temperatures (e.g., polyvinylchloride), highly abrasive materials (e.g., hard inorganic materials) and materials which tend to cause clogging (including, but not limited to, materials which do not melt or substantially soften upon heating at such temperatures).
Furthermore, procedures described herein are particularly suitable for processing wet material, such as waste material sorted by contact with a liquid (e.g., as described herein).
Furthermore, the sorted material obtained as described herein facilitates recycling of waste material by removing materials which are not amenable to recycling, such as toxic metals and minerals (e.g., arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, mercury, nickel, lead, antimony, selenium, asbestos), and materials which are typically not recycled due to formation of toxic products upon heating (e.g., polyvinylchloride).
Thus, the sorting and further processing may be combined as a particularly efficient and effective method of processing waste material.
Hence, according to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a method of processing waste material so as to form a non-particulate processed material. The method comprises providing a feedstock comprising a sorted material derived from a waste material (e.g., as described herein). In some embodiments of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, the method is effected by subjecting the feedstock to mixing via shear forces, and subjecting the feedstock to heating, to thereby obtain a processed material. The feedstock is preferably subjected to the mixing and the heating without being dried beforehand.
Thus, in some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein, the method of processing waste material as described herein incorporates a method of sorting waste material according to any one of the embodiments described herein pertaining to separating materials according to specific gravity as described herein.
Herein, the term “feedstock” refers to a material subjected to processing (material that is processed) by heating and/or mixing as described herein, except where indicated otherwise. The feedstock may consist of a sorted material as described herein, in any one of the respective embodiments, or may be different than the sorted material, for example, when a feedstock comprises a sorted material in combination with one or more additional materials (e.g., as described herein).
In some embodiments of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, the term “feedstock” encompasses a sorted material as described herein. In some embodiments, the term “feedstock” describes a sorted material as described herein combined (e.g., mixed) with one or more additional materials, as described herein.
3
3
3
Herein, the term “non-particulate” refers to a solid material which is not composed of discrete particles (e.g., particles adhered to one another, or optionally aggregates thereof) having a volume of more than 0.2 mm, that is, the material is not formed of particles of the aforementioned volume characterized by visible boundaries and/or particles consisting of different substances than their adjacent surroundings. In some embodiments of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, the non-particulate material is not composed of discrete particles having a volume of more than 0.04 mm. In some embodiments, the non-particulate material is not composed of discrete particles having a volume of more than 0.01 mm. It is to be understood that a non-particulate material may comprise some discrete particles embedded therein, but that the bulk of the material comprises a continuous non-particulate matrix.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, less than 20 weight percents of the non-particulate processed material consists of discrete particles. In some embodiments, less than 10 weight percents of the non-particulate processed material consists of discrete particles. In some embodiments, less than 5 weight percents of the non-particulate processed material consists of discrete particles. In some embodiments, less than 2 weight percents of the non-particulate processed material consists of discrete particles. In some embodiments, less than 1 weight percents of the non-particulate processed material consists of discrete particles.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, heating is performed subsequent to mixing. In some embodiments, heating is performed prior to mixing. In some embodiments, the feedstock is subjected to mixing and heating simultaneously.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, at least 50 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock is a sorted material obtained by separating materials in a waste material according to specific gravity, as described herein. In some embodiments, at least 60 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock is a sorted material. In some embodiments, at least 70 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock is a sorted material. In some embodiments, at least 80 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock is a sorted material. In some embodiments, at least 90 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock is a sorted material. In some embodiments, at least 95 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock is a sorted material. In some embodiments, at least 98 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock is a sorted material. In some embodiments, at least 99 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock is a sorted material. In some embodiments, substantially all of the dry weight of the feedstock is a sorted material.
Herein, descriptions of a feedstock and/or a composition thereof, refer to a feedstock prior to mixing and heating, except where indicated otherwise.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, the feedstock (prior to mixing and heating) has a water content of at least 15 weight percents. In some embodiments, the feedstock has a water content of at least 20 weight percents. In some embodiments, the feedstock has a water content of at least 30 weight percents. In some embodiments, the feedstock has a water content of at least 40 weight percents. In some embodiments, the feedstock has a water content of at least 45 weight percents. In some embodiments, the feedstock has a water content of at least 50 weight percents. In some embodiments, the feedstock has a water content of at least 55 weight percents. In some embodiments, the feedstock has a water content of at least 60 weight percents.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, the feedstock (prior to mixing and heating) has a water content of from 15 to 70 weight percents. In some embodiments, the feedstock has a water of from 20 to 70 weight percents. In some embodiments, the feedstock has a water content of from 30 to 70 weight percents. In some embodiments, the feedstock has a water content of from 40 to 70 weight percents. In some embodiments, the feedstock has a water content of from 45 to 70 weight percents. In some embodiments, the feedstock has a water content of from 50 to 70 weight percents. In some embodiments, the feedstock has a water content of from 55 to 70 weight percents. In some embodiments, the feedstock has a water content of from 60 to 70 weight percents. In some embodiments, the feedstock has a water content of about 64 weight percents.
The origin of water in the feedstock may optionally be the water content of a waste material, an aqueous liquid used for separation according to specific gravity (e.g., as described herein), and/or water added to a sorted material.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments pertaining to processing waste material described herein, the feedstock has a water content which is higher than that of a waste material from which it is derived. For example, the contact of waste material with an aqueous liquid during separation according to specific gravity as described may result in a sorted material (which is then comprised by the feedstock) having a water content which is higher than that of a waste material from which it is derived (e.g., due to absorption of the aqueous liquid). Additionally or alternatively, water is added to the sorted material to produce the feedstock. Thus, the feedstock may optionally have a water content which is higher than that of the sorted material.
It is to be appreciated that the use of an aqueous liquid to separate materials is particularly suitable in the context of a method suitable for utilizing a feedstock having a relatively high water content (e.g., as described herein), as the incorporation of water from the aqueous liquid into the sorted material is not necessarily a problem when using such a feedstock.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, at least 20 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 20 to 95 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 20 to 90 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 20 to 85 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 20 to 80 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 20 to 70 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 20 to 60 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 20 to 50 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, at least 40 weight percents of the lignocelluloses is carbohydrates. In some embodiments, at least 60 weight percents of the lignocelluloses is carbohydrates. In some embodiments, at least 80 weight percents of the lignocelluloses is carbohydrates. In some embodiments, at least 90 weight percents of the lignocelluloses is carbohydrates.
As used herein, the term “lignocellulose” refers to dry matter derived from plants, which is composed primarily of carbohydrates (primarily cellulose and hemicelluloses) and lignin. Thus, an amount of lignocellulose described herein may be considered a total amount of dry matter derived from plants, regardless of the proportions of, e.g., carbohydrates and lignin.
Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that the carbohydrates in lignocelluloses (e.g., cellulose and/or hemicelluloses) are particularly amenable to processing as described herein (e.g., as compared to lignin) and provide desirable properties to the obtained process material. The proportion of carbohydrates in the lignocellulose may optionally be enhanced by limiting an amount of lignin-rich material in the waste material being processed, for example, by using waste material with no more than a limited amount of wood (e.g., tree trimmings, lumberyard waste).
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, at least 30 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 30 to 95 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 30 to 90 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 30 to 85 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 30 to 80 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 30 to 70 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 30 to 60 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 30 to 50 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, at least 40 weight percents of the lignocelluloses is carbohydrates. In some embodiments, at least 60 weight percents of the lignocelluloses is carbohydrates. In some embodiments, at least 80 weight percents of the lignocelluloses is carbohydrates. In some embodiments, at least 90 weight percents of the lignocelluloses is carbohydrates.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, at least 40 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 40 to 95 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 40 to 90 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 40 to 85 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 40 to 80 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 40 to 70 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 40 to 60 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, at least 40 weight percents of the lignocelluloses is carbohydrates. In some embodiments, at least 60 weight percents of the lignocelluloses is carbohydrates. In some embodiments, at least 80 weight percents of the lignocelluloses is carbohydrates. In some embodiments, at least 90 weight percents of the lignocelluloses is carbohydrates.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, at least 50 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 50 to 95 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 50 to 90 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 50 to 85 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 50 to 80 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 50 to 75 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 50 to 70 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, at least 40 weight percents of the lignocelluloses is carbohydrates. In some embodiments, at least 60 weight percents of the lignocelluloses is carbohydrates. In some embodiments, at least 80 weight percents of the lignocelluloses is carbohydrates. In some embodiments, at least 90 weight percents of the lignocelluloses is carbohydrates.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, at least 60 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 60 to 95 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 60 to 90 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 60 to 85 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 60 to 80 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, at least 40 weight percents of the lignocelluloses is carbohydrates. In some embodiments, at least 60 weight percents of the lignocelluloses is carbohydrates. In some embodiments, at least 80 weight percents of the lignocelluloses is carbohydrates. In some embodiments, at least 90 weight percents of the lignocelluloses is carbohydrates.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, at least 70 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 70 to 95 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 70 to 90 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 70 to 85 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 75 to 85 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, from 80 to 85 weight percents of the dry weight is lignocellulose. In some embodiments, at least 40 weight percents of the lignocelluloses is carbohydrates. In some embodiments, at least 60 weight percents of the lignocelluloses is carbohydrates. In some embodiments, at least 80 weight percents of the lignocelluloses is carbohydrates. In some embodiments, at least 90 weight percents of the lignocelluloses is carbohydrates.
Typically, the feedstock will comprise at least a portion of the synthetic polymers in the waste material, which are present in the sorted material. In addition, the feedstock may optionally comprise synthetic polymers added to the sorted material (e.g., an additional material described herein).
Herein, the phrase “synthetic polymers” refers to polymers other than those found in plant or animal material (e.g., lignin, carbohydrates, polypeptides) or polymers formed from heating and mixing plant or animal material as described herein (e.g., products of hydrolysis, caramelization and/or pyrolysis of carbohydrates, polypeptides, etc.). Examples of synthetic polymers include, without limitation, polyolefins, polystyrene, polyvinylchloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polyacrylonitrile, polybutadiene, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyesters (e.g., rayon), and nylon. Polymers formed by chemical reactions of a natural polymer, for example, cellulose which has been chemically treated (e.g., by carbon disulfide) and regenerated to form rayon, are considered herein to be synthetic polymers. The skilled person will be aware of additional synthetic polymers which may be found in waste material, and which consequently may be included in the feedstock described herein.
Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that polyolefins will comprise a substantial portion of the synthetic polymers in the sorted material and feedstock, due to the relatively low specific gravity of polyolefins. In addition, the feedstock may optionally further comprise synthetic polymers added to the sorted material.
Herein, the term “polyolefin” refers to a polymer prepared from an olefin monomer. Examples of polyolefins include, without limitation, polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethylpentene, polybutene-1, polyisobutylene, ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber, and copolymers thereof. Polyethylene and polypropylene are particularly common in waste material, and therefore likely to be present in substantial amounts in the sorted material and feedstock.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, at least 50 weight percents of the synthetic polymers is polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 60 weight percents of the synthetic polymers is polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 70 weight percents of the synthetic polymers is polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 80 weight percents of the synthetic polymers is polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 90 weight percents of the synthetic polymers is polyolefins.
Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that thermoplastic polymers will comprise a substantial portion of the synthetic polymers in the sorted material and feedstock, due to the relatively low specific gravity of many thermoplastic polymers, including, but not limited to thermoplastic polyolefins (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethylpentene, polybutene-1). In addition, the feedstock may optionally further comprise thermoplastic polymers added to the sorted material. It is further believed that thermoplastic polymers, particularly thermoplastic synthetic polymers, undergo softening and/or melting upon mixing and heating as described herein, which allows for a more homogeneous processed material.
Furthermore, the presence of one or more thermoplastic synthetic polymers may optionally enhance the thermoplasticity of the processed material (e.g., a polymeric material described herein), and/or allow for recycling of the synthetic polymer.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, at least 50 weight percents of the synthetic polymers is thermoplastic. In some embodiments, at least 60 weight percents of the synthetic polymers is thermoplastic. In some embodiments, at least 70 weight percents of the synthetic polymers is thermoplastic. In some embodiments, at least 80 weight percents of the synthetic polymers is thermoplastic. In some embodiments, at least 90 weight percents of the synthetic polymers is thermoplastic. In some embodiments, at least 95 weight percents of the synthetic polymers is thermoplastic.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, at least 5 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 5 to 80 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 5 to 70 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 5 to 60 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 5 to 50 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 5 to 40 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 5 to 30 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 5 to 25 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 5 to 20 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 5 to 15 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, at least 50 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprises or is consisted of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 60 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprises or is consisted of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 70 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprises or is consisted of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 80 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprises or is consisted of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 90 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprises or is consisted of polyolefins.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, at least 10 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 10 to 80 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 10 to 70 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 10 to 60 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 10 to 50 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 10 to 40 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 10 to 30 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 10 to 25 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 10 to 20 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 10 to 15 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, at least 50 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprises or is consisted of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 60 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprises or is consisted of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 70 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprises or is consisted of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 80 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprises or is consisted of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 90 weight percents of the synthetic polymers is polyolefins.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, at least 15 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock is synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 15 to 80 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 15 to 70 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 15 to 60 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 15 to 50 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 15 to 40 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 15 to 30 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 15 to 25 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 15 to 20 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, at least 50 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprises or is consisted of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 60 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprises or is consisted of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 70 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprises or is consisted of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 80 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprises or is consisted of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 90 weight percents of the synthetic polymers is polyolefins.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, at least 20 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock is synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 20 to 80 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 20 to 70 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 20 to 60 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 20 to 50 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 20 to 40 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 20 to 30 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 20 to 25 weight percents of the dry weight comprises or is consisted of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, at least 50 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprises or is consisted of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 60 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprises or consists of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 70 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprises or is consisted of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 80 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprises or consists of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 90 weight percents of the synthetic polymers is polyolefins.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, at least 25 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock is synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 25 to 80 weight percents of the dry weight comprise or consist of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 25 to 70 weight percents of the dry weight comprise or consist of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 25 to 60 weight percents of the dry weight comprise or consist of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 25 to 50 weight percents of the dry weight comprise or consist of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 25 to 40 weight percents of the dry weight comprise or consist of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 25 to 30 weight percents of the dry weight comprise or consist of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, at least 50 weight percents of the synthetic polymers is polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 60 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprise or consist of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 70 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprise or consist of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 80 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprise or consist of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 90 weight percents of the synthetic polymers is polyolefins.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, at least 30 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock comprise or consist of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 30 to 80 weight percents of the dry weight comprise or consist of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 30 to 70 weight percents of the dry weight comprise or consist of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 30 to 60 weight percents of the dry weight comprise or consist of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 30 to 50 weight percents of the dry weight comprise or consist of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 30 to 40 weight percents of the dry weight comprise or consist of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, at least 50 weight percents of the synthetic polymers is polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 60 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprise or consist of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 70 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprise or consist of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 80 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprise or consist of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 90 weight percents of the synthetic polymers is polyolefins.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, at least 40 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock is synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 40 to 80 weight percents of the dry weight comprise or consist of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 40 to 70 weight percents of the dry weight comprise or consist of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 40 to 60 weight percents of the dry weight comprise or consist of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 40 to 50 weight percents of the dry weight comprise or consist of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, at least 50 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprise or consist of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 60 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprise or consist of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 70 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprise or consist of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 80 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprise or consist of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 90 weight percents of the synthetic polymers is polyolefins.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, at least 50 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock comprise or consist of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 50 to 80 weight percents of the dry weight comprise or consist of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 50 to 70 weight percents of the dry weight comprise or consist of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, from 50 to 60 weight percents of the dry weight comprise or consist of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, at least 50 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprise or consist of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 60 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprise or consist of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 70 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprise or consist of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 80 weight percents of the synthetic polymers comprise or consist of polyolefins. In some embodiments, at least 90 weight percents of the synthetic polymers is polyolefins.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, the feedstock contains at least 90 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than thermoset polymers and synthetic polymers having a melting point of at least 250° C. In some embodiments, the feedstock contains at least 95 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than thermoset polymers and synthetic polymers having a melting point of at least 250° C. In some embodiments, the feedstock contains at least 98 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than thermoset polymers and synthetic polymers having a melting point of at least 250° C. In some embodiments, the feedstock contains at least 99 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than thermoset polymers and synthetic polymers having a melting point of at least 250° C.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, the feedstock contains at least 90 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than PVC. In some embodiments, the feedstock contains at least 95 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than PVC. In some embodiments, the feedstock contains at least 98 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than PVC. In some embodiments, the feedstock contains at least 99 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than PVC. In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, the feedstock contains at least 90 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than PVC, thermoset polymers and synthetic polymers having a melting point of at least 250° C. In some embodiments, feedstock contains at least 95 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than PVC, thermoset polymers and synthetic polymers having a melting point of at least 250° C. In some embodiments, the feedstock contains at least 98 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than PVC, thermoset polymers and synthetic polymers having a melting point of at least 250° C. In some embodiments, the feedstock contains at least 99 weight percents (dry weight) of an organic material other than PVC, thermoset polymers and synthetic polymers having a melting point of at least 250° C.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, no more than 5 weight percents of the dry weight of the feedstock is inorganic material. In some embodiments, no more than 4 weight percents is inorganic material. In some embodiments, no more than 3 weight percents is inorganic material. In some embodiments, no more than 2 weight percents is inorganic material. In some embodiments, no more than 1 weight percent is inorganic material. In some embodiments, no more than 0.5 weight percent is inorganic material. In some embodiments, no more than 0.2 weight percent is inorganic material. In some embodiments, no more than 0.1 weight percent is inorganic material.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, at least 1 weight percent of the dry weight of the feedstock is inorganic salts (e.g., including inorganic salts derived from an aqueous salt solution used for separation according to specific gravity). In some embodiments, at least 1.5 weight percent of the dry weight of the feedstock is inorganic salts. In some embodiments, at least 2 weight percent of the dry weight of the feedstock is inorganic salts. In some embodiments, at least 2.5 weight percent of the dry weight of the feedstock is inorganic salts. In some embodiments, at least 3 weight percent of the dry weight of the feedstock is inorganic salts.
Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that inorganic salts (e.g., salts derived from an aqueous salt solution used for separation according to specific gravity) facilitate processing of the feedstock by mixing and heating (e.g., as described herein) to form a processed material with desirable properties.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the feedstock comprising a sorted material as described herein may optionally consist essentially of the sorted material.
Alternatively, in some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, providing the feedstock as described herein comprises combining the sorted material with one or more additional materials. In some embodiments, the method further comprises mixing the sorted material with an additional material. An additional material may optionally be added to the sorted material in order to fine-tune the composition of the feedstock (e.g., to arrive at a feedstock composition described herein) and/or to impart the obtained processed material with a desired property and/or because it is desired to process the additional material (e.g., so as to avoid the need to dispose of it by other means).
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the sorted material and the additional material are mixed (e.g., the feedstock is provided) prior to subjecting the feedstock to mixing via shear forces as described herein. Thus, the heating and mixing via shear forces described herein is optionally performed on a previously prepared feedstock.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the sorted material and the additional material are mixed concomitantly with subjecting the material to mixing via shear forces as described herein, that is, providing the feedstock and subjecting the feedstock to mixing via shear forces are optionally performed concomitantly.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the method further comprises mixing the processed material with an additional material. In these embodiments, the additional material can be mixed with a processed material obtained at the end of processing of the feedstock (e.g., upon subjecting the feedstock to one or numerous cycles of heating and/or mixing), or, during processing of the feedstock (e.g., upon subjecting the feedstock to a first cycle of heating and/or mixing and prior to subjecting the feedstock to a second cycle of heating and/or mixing; upon subjecting the feedstock to a first cycle of heating and/or mixing and prior to gas removal; upon subjecting the feedstock to a first cycle of heating and/or mixing, subsequent to gas removal and prior to subjecting the feedstock to a second cycle of heating and/or mixing; or upon subjecting the feedstock to a first cycle of heating and/or mixing and gas removal and to a second cycle of heating and/or mixing, but prior to a second gas removal).
In embodiments where an additional material is mixed with a processed material, the additional material is supplemented to the container where processing is performed, at a desired section of the container.
In any of the embodiments described herein relating to an additional material, an additional material added to a sorted material may optionally be a material consisting primarily (e.g., more than 50 weight percents) of water, for example, water or an aqueous solution. As described herein, addition of water may be used to increase a water content of the feedstock.
In any of the embodiments described herein relating to an additional material, the additional material (other than water) may optionally comprise animal and/or plant material.
Alternatively or additionally, the additional material (other than water) is not derived from plants or animals.
Examples of animal material which may be added (e.g., to the sorted material) include, without limitation, fecal material (e.g., sewage solids, manure), corpses, animal organs, feathers, hair (e.g., wool), meat, animal fat, dairy products, egg shells, and bones.
Examples of plant material which may be added (e.g., to the sorted material), without limitation, hay, grass clippings, cuttings, trimmings, inedible portions of crops, leaves, sawdust, wood chips, leaves bark, fruit, vegetables, grains, vegetable oil, textiles (e.g., cotton, linen, hemp, jute) and paper products (e.g., paper, cardboard).
Animal material and/or plant material may optionally be added (e.g., to the sorted material), for example, in order to dispose of waste, such as sewage (e.g., in the form of sewage sludge), agricultural waste (e.g., sorted agricultural waste), food industry waste, gardening byproducts and/or carpentry byproducts, and/or for recycling paper products (e.g., as part of a municipal recycling program).
Alternative examples of optional additional materials (i.e., other than animal or plant material) include, without limitation, minerals (e.g., sand, dried cement, stone), glasses (including fiberglass), metals, and polymeric materials (e.g., synthetic polymers in textiles and/or rubbers). Such materials may optionally be added, for example, in order to recycle industrial waste, waste from construction activities and the like, and/or in order to modify and/or enhance the physical properties of the processed material (e.g., similarly to the inclusion of sand in concrete). For example, an additional material may be an elastic material (e.g., rubber or another elastomer), a fiber (e.g., a glass fiber, a polymeric fiber) for enhancing mechanical strength, and/or a polymer for modifying the properties of the obtained processed material by blending with the processed material (e.g., in a form of a polymer blend).
In embodiments, wherein an additional material is substantially an inorganic material (e.g., a minerals, glass and/or metal), the additional material is preferably added to the obtained process material (e.g., so as to avoid interference of the inorganic material with the processing described herein) and/or selected so as to be a form which does not interfere excessively with the processing (e.g., a fine grained form which does not cause excessive abrasion and/or clogging).
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, an additional material and/or an amount thereof is selected based on a composition of the sorted material and a desired composition of the feedstock (e.g., a feedstock composition described herein), for example, wherein a composition of sorted material differs from a desired composition of the feedstock.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, a waste material to be processed (and/or an amount thereof) and an additional material (and/or an amount thereof) are selected so as to be complementary, for example, wherein an expected composition of a sorted material derived from the waste material is expected to differ from a desired composition of the feedstock.
For example, in some embodiments, the waste material comprises a relatively high percentage of plant and/or animal material (e.g., in a form of agricultural waste, trimmings, cuttings, leaves, cardboard, sewage sludge and the like), and consequently has less synthetic polymer (e.g., polyolefins) than desired in the feedstock (e.g., in accordance with a feedstock composition described herein), and the additional material is selected to comprise a synthetic material, to thereby obtain the desired feedstock composition (e.g., while also facilitating recycling of the aforementioned waste material).
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the additional material comprises material (e.g., an inorganic material, a polymer) separated from a material (e.g., primarily inorganic material) previously separated from the waste material as described herein, that is, a portion of the material (e.g., an inorganic material, a polymer) removed from the waste material is returned thereto.
The additional material may optionally be a sorted material obtained by sorting the same waste material (e.g., using a different process) and/or a sorted material obtained by sorting a different waste material.
For example, an additional material may optionally comprise at least a portion of a lignocellulose-rich material removed by precipitation in a liquid having a specific gravity of no more than 1.03, and optionally no more than 1.01 (e.g., water), in which the sorted material does not sink. The lignocellulose-rich material removed from a waste material, or a residue remaining upon fermentation/anaerobic digestion of lignocellulose, may optionally be added (e.g., returned, if originating from the same waste material) to the sorted material.
In another example, an additional material may optionally comprise a polymeric material obtained by sorting waste material in a liquid having a specific gravity of no more than 1.03, and optionally no more than 1.01 (e.g., water), in which low-density polymers (e.g., polyolefins) do not sink (whereas materials such as lignocellulose, high-density polymers and inorganic materials sink). The sorted polymeric material may be sorted from the same waste material or a different waste material.
Optionally or additionally, the polymeric material is obtained upon subjecting another waste material to a separation according to specific gravity as described herein.
It is to be appreciated that the additional materials may optionally be composite materials, such as laminates (e.g., comprising a polymer in combination with a paper product and/or a metal) and glass-polymer composites (e.g., comprising glass fiber embedded in a polymer). Such composite materials are particularly difficult to recycle by standard methods.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the additional material comprises at least one carbohydrate (e.g., a monosaccharide, a disaccharide, a trisaccharide, an oligosaccharide, a polysaccharide).
Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that carbohydrates react during heating and mixing as described herein in a manner which results in processed material with desirable properties.
The carbohydrate(s) may be from any source described herein (e.g., animal or plant material).
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein, carbohydrate(s) is obtained from a liquid (e.g., aqueous solution) which leaches out of the waste material and/or sorted material (e.g., a partially sorted material), for example, upon compression and/or drainage of the material (e.g., as described herein), prior to providing the feedstock, and is collected. Such a liquid may leach out of waste material during or shortly after a shredding process and/or during a separation process described herein, for example, a liquid removed subsequent to a cycle of separating materials according to specific gravity, as described herein (e.g., comprising a carbohydrate in an aqueous salt solution). A carbohydrate(s) obtained from the liquid may optionally be used as an additional material described herein.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein, the carbohydrate(s) is separated from at least a portion of the liquid from the waste material and/or sorted material (e.g., a partially sorted material). In some embodiments, the carbohydrate(s) is concentrated prior to being added to the sorted material, for example, by evaporation and/or filtration of the liquid.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein, the carbohydrate(s) obtained from a liquid (as described herein) may optionally be used as a feedstock material for a process other than the processing of a waste material described herein, for example, for preparation of a polymeric material (e.g., a polysaccharide-containing and/or polylactic acid-containing material). A carbohydrate(s) obtained from a liquid derived from the waste material and/or sorted material (e.g., a partially sorted material) may be processed by techniques known in the art, for example, by heat treatment, fermentation, cross-linking, condensation, and/or polymerization.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein, the carbohydrate(s) is separated from some or all of the liquid derived from the waste material and/or sorted material (e.g., a partially sorted material) prior to further processing, for example, by concentration and/or purification of the carbohydrate(s) (e.g., as described herein).
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein, the carbohydrate(s) is processed while in liquid derived from the waste material and/or sorted material (e.g., a partially sorted material), that is, without first separating the carbohydrate(s) from the liquid. For example, the liquid may be treated by heating and/or addition of a reagent such as a cross-linking agent, an enzyme, a microorganism, an acid, a base, an organic solvent and/or any other reagent used in the chemical arts for effecting fermentation, cross-linking, condensation, and/or polymerization.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein, the carbohydrate(s) is processed as described herein so as to produce a polysaccharide-containing polymeric material (e.g., a plastarch material).
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein, the carbohydrate(s) in the liquid are subjected to fermentation (e.g., by a microorganism or isolated enzymes), so as to convert the carbohydrate(s) to a metabolite, for example, lactic acid. In some embodiments, the metabolite (e.g., lactic acid) in the liquid is then processed as described herein (e.g., to produce polylactic acid).
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, the feedstock prior to mixing and heating is a shredded feedstock. Feedstock may optionally be obtained in a shredded form (e.g., in a form of a shredded sorted material and/or additional material as described herein), or the method may optionally further comprise shredding the feedstock prior to the mixing and heating described herein.
Optionally, the feedstock is substantially devoid of relatively large particles. Particles above a certain size may be removed, for example, by sieving.
In some of any of the embodiments pertaining to a method of processing waste material as described herein, solid particles in the feedstock (e.g., shredded feedstock) are less than 50 mm in diameter, optionally less than 20 mm in diameter. In some embodiments, the solid particles are less than 10 mm in diameter. In some embodiments, the solid particles are less than 5 mm in diameter. In some embodiments, the solid particles are less than 2 mm in diameter.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the heating of the feedstock is at a temperature of at least 90° C. In some embodiments, the heating of the feedstock is at a temperature of at least 100° C. In some embodiments, the heating of the feedstock is at a temperature of at least 110° C. In some embodiments, the heating of the feedstock is at a temperature of at least 120° C. In some embodiments, the heating of the feedstock is at a temperature of at least 130° C. In some embodiments, the heating of the feedstock is at a temperature of at least 140° C. In some embodiments, the heating of the feedstock is at a temperature of at least 150° C. In some embodiments, the heating of the feedstock is at a temperature of at least 160° C.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the heating of the feedstock is at a temperature of no more than 230° C. In some embodiments, the heating of the feedstock is at a temperature of no more than 225° C. In some embodiments, the heating of the feedstock is at a temperature of no more than 210° C. In some embodiments, the heating of the feedstock is at a temperature of no more than 200° C. In some embodiments, the heating of the feedstock is at a temperature of no more than 190° C. In some embodiments, the heating of the feedstock is at a temperature of no more than 180° C.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the heating of the feedstock is at a temperature in a range of from 90° C. to 230° C. In some embodiments, the heating of the feedstock is at a temperature in a range of from 90° C. to 180° C. In some embodiments, the heating of the feedstock is at a temperature in a range of from 140° C. to 180° C. In some embodiments, the heating of the feedstock is at a temperature in a range of from 180° C. to 225° C.
The heating may optionally be at a constant temperature throughout the heating process.
Alternatively, the temperature may vary during the heating process. For example, in exemplary embodiments, the heating is at a temperature of about 110° C. in one stage of the heating process, and from about 180 to about 225° C. in a later stage of the heating process, as is further discussed in detail herein below with regard to repeating cycles of heating and mixing.
Herein, the term “about”, when used in reference to a temperature, indicates ±10° C. In some embodiments, “about” indicates ±5° C.
Subjecting the feedstock to mixing via shear forces may optionally be performed prior to, concomitant with, and/or subsequent to subjecting the feedstock to heating. In exemplary embodiments, subjecting the feedstock to mixing via shear forces is performed concomitant with the feedstock to heating.
For simplicity, the step of subjecting the feedstock to mixing via shear forces and the step of subjecting the feedstock to heating (as these steps are described herein), are referred to herein as “mixing and/or heating”. Thus, the phrase “mixing and/or heating” refers to heating with temperatures described herein and to mixing with shear forces as described herein.
Mixing may be effected by any method which generates shear forces.
As used herein and in the art, “shear force” refers to a force which causes a stress in a material in a direction which is parallel to a cross-section of the material. It is to be appreciated that movement of fluids over a solid surface characteristically incurs a shear force.
Hence, according to some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, mixing is performed in such a way as to maximize passage of feedstock over solid surfaces. Optionally, solid components with large surface areas (e.g., a screw, a propeller) are utilized to increase shear force.
Optionally, shear forces are generated by a compounder, such as, without limitation, an extruder, an internal mixer (a Banbury® mixer), a co-kneader, and/or a continuous mixer etc.
The shear forces and mixing time should be sufficient such that the obtained processed material is essentially evenly dispersed matter throughout the mass/body thereof.
−1
−1
−1
−1
−1
−1
−1
−1
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the shear forces are characterized by a shear rate of at least 1 second, optionally at least 2 second, optionally in a range of from 3 secondto 300 second. In some embodiments the shear rate is in a range of from 1 to 30 second. In some embodiments the shear rate is in a range of from 30 to 100 second. In some embodiments the shear rate is in a range of from 100 to 200 second. In some embodiments the shear rate is in a range of from 200 to 300 second.
According to optional embodiments, mixing is effected by rotation of a screw. The screw is optionally in a barrel (e.g., the barrel forming a closed container). The barrel may optionally be heated (e.g., by an electric heater) in order to effect heating along with mixing. Alternatively or additionally, the screw may optionally be heated (e.g., by a flow of heated fluid inside the screw) in order to effect heating along with mixing.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, mixing is effected by rotation of a screw in an extruder.
An extruder typically comprises a heated barrel containing rotating therein a single or multiple screws. When more than a single screw is used, the screws may be co-rotated or counter-rotated. Screws may be intermeshing, or non-intermeshing. The extrusion apparatus may be a single extruder or combinations of extruders (such as in tandem extrusion) which may be any one of the extruders known in the plastics industry, including, without limitation, a single screw extruder, a tapered twin extruder, a tapered twin single extruder, a twin screw extruder, a multi-screw extruder. In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein relating to an extruder, the extruder is a single screw extruder.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the extruder is equipped with a venting zone. In some embodiments, the extruder is equipped with more than one venting zone. In some embodiments the nozzle of the extruder is chilled during the extrusion process.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the method further comprises passing the material being processed through at least one screen during the mixing and/or heating. Optionally, a plurality of screens are used (the screens being the same or different in dimensions), such that the material being processed is passed through screens at more than one stage of the heating and/or mixing.
As used herein, the term “screen” encompasses any apparatus having spaces which selectively allows the passage of solid material with sufficiently small dimensions.
In some embodiments, the spaces in the screen are no more than 10 mm in width. In some embodiments, the spaces in the screen are no more than 5 mm in width. In exemplary embodiments, the spaces are about 3 mm in width.
Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that the use of a screen results in a more homogeneous and non-particulate processed material, by removing solid particles containing materials which do not considerably melt or soften upon heating, in contrast to the bulk of the material being processed.
However, the present inventor has found that the use of one or more screens when processing waste material is limited by the tendency of screens to be clogged during processing, for example, by solid materials which the screens are intended to remove, and/or by fluids which are too viscous to readily pass through the screens. Such clogging may require considerably time for cleaning and/or replacing the screens, thereby significantly reducing efficiency of the processing. The present inventor has further uncovered that sorting waste material according to a method described herein considerably reduces clogging of screens, thereby facilitating their use.
Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that sorting waste material according to a method described herein reduces clogging by removing materials which remain solid upon heating (e.g., inorganic materials, thermoset synthetic polymers, synthetic polymers having a high melting point), and/or by increasing a proportion of polymers (e.g., polyolefins) which readily melt upon heating (e.g., thereby enhancing flow of the material being processed). It is further believed that the use of feedstock with a relatively high water content (e.g., as described herein) may reduce clogging by decreasing a viscosity of the feedstock.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, mixing and/or heating is performed under conditions with relatively low oxygen concentrations. Low oxygen concentrations may optionally be obtained by performing the mixing and/or heating in a closed container having a low volume of air. Optionally, the volume of air in the container is less than 30% of the container volume, optionally less than 20% of the container volume, optionally less than 10% of the container volume, optionally less than 5% of the container volume, optionally less than 2% of the container volume, and optionally less than 1% of the container volume.
Optionally, air is removed from a closed container by generating a vacuum in the container, in order to lower an oxygen concentration in the container during mixing and/or heating.
Alternatively or additionally, air is removed from a closed container by flushing the container with a gas which comprises little (e.g., less than 20%) or no oxygen (e.g., nitrogen gas, argon gas, carbon dioxide), in order to lower an oxygen concentration in the container during mixing and/or heating.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the feedstock is compressed prior to heating and mixing, thereby lowering the volume of air included within the feedstock itself.
An extruder may optionally be used to compress the feedstock. For example, the feedstock may enter a first extruder to be subjected to heating and mixing, while a tandem extruder (e.g., perpendicular to the first extruder) compresses the feedstock entering the first extruder in order to remove air. The tandem extruder may comprise, for example, a conical extruder and/or an internal mixer (e.g., a Banbury® mixer).
Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that excessive oxidation reactions may adversely affect the utility of the processed material, and that performing the disclosed process under conditions with relatively low oxygen concentrations is desirable is order to reduce the level of such oxidation reactions. For example, excessive oxidation (e.g., combustion) may break down the solid materials in feedstock to a considerable extent, thereby weakening the obtained processed material.
It is further believed that some of the reactions which advantageously affect the utility of the processed material are endothermic, in sharp contrast to exothermic oxidation reactions (e.g., combustion). An additional advantage of limiting exothermic oxidation reactions is that excessive exothermic reactions may be difficult to control.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the method further comprises removing gases released during mixing and/or heating. The gases include steam (gaseous water), and may further include additional gases, such as vapors of volatile organic compounds.
Optionally, removal of gases is effected using suction, e.g., via a pump.
Optionally, the method comprises removing gases (as described herein) more than once (i.e., at more than one stage of the process), for example, twice, three times, four times, and even more. In exemplary embodiments, gases are removed twice.
It has been demonstrated that removal of gases during the process affects the properties of the obtained processed material. For example, removal of steam during the process facilitates a gradual reduction in water content during processing from the relatively high concentration found in the feedstock (e.g., as described herein) to a low concentration (e.g., as described herein) which allows for beneficial physicochemical properties of the processed material. In addition, removal of gases during the process prevents formation of excessive pressure, and thereby allows for a thorough, long-lasting process, which further enhances the physicochemical properties of the processed material.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the processed material obtained by mixing and/or heating (e.g., as described hereinabove) is subjected to at least one additional cycle of mixing and/or heating, as described herein, so as to obtain at least one additional processed material. Thus, the method may comprise, for example, 2 cycles, 3 cycles, 4 cycles, 5 cycles, and even more, of mixing and/or heating as described herein, wherein each cycle produces a new processed material, until a final processed material is produced by the final cycle.
In exemplary embodiments, the method comprises two cycles of mixing and/or heating, as described herein. A first processed material obtained from the first cycle of mixing and/or heating is subjected to a second cycle of mixing and/or heating, thereby producing a second, and final, processed material.
The various cycles of mixing and/or heating may be effected by moving the material being processed between different zones for mixing and/or heating.
Optionally, each of the cycles of mixing and/or heating further comprises removing gases (e.g., as described herein) released during the cycle. Thus, the method may optionally comprise sequential cycles (e.g., 2 cycles), each comprising mixing and/or heating, as described herein and removing gases, as described herein.
Alternatively, one or more cycles comprise both mixing and/or heating and removing gases and the other cycles comprise only mixing and/or heating, as described herein.
Optionally, a final cycle of mixing and/or heating does not comprise removing gases released during the cycle (e.g., wherein little or no gases are released during the final cycle). Thus, the method may optionally comprise sequential cycles (e.g., 2 cycles) of mixing and/or heating and removing gases, followed by a final cycle (e.g., a third cycle) of mixing and/or heating without removing gases.
Thus, an exemplary process according to some embodiments of the present invention is effected by subjecting the feedstock as described herein to mixing and to heating, at certain conditions (e.g., certain mixing technology and a certain temperature, as described hereinabove, which can be referred to in this context as a first temperature).
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, upon the mixing and heating, a first removal of gases is effected, as described herein.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the resulting processed material is then subjected to a second cycle of mixing and heating, as described herein, at certain conditions (e.g., certain mixing technology and a certain temperature, as described hereinabove, which can be referred to in this context as a second temperature.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, upon the mixing and heating, a second removal of gases is effected, as described herein.
In some embodiments, the above is repeated for as many cycles as desired.
Thus, in some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the processed material resulting from a second cycle of mixing and heating (e.g., as described hereinabove) is then subjected to a third cycle of mixing and heating, as described herein, at certain conditions (e.g., certain mixing technology and a certain temperature, as described hereinabove, which can be referred to in this context as a third temperature).
In each cycle, the conditions for mixing and heating can be the same or different.
In each cycle, the removal of gases can be effected or not.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, mixing is the same in each of cycles.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the first, second, third, and so on, temperature is different.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the first temperature is higher than the second temperature.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the first temperature is lower than the second temperature.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the second temperature is higher than the third temperature.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the second temperature is lower than the third temperature.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the first temperature is higher than the third temperature.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the first temperature is lower than the third temperature.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the third temperature is about 150° C.
In an exemplary process, mixing is effected by a screw of an extruder, the first temperature is about 110° C. and the second temperature is from about 180 to about 225° C.
In some embodiments of this exemplary process, the first temperature and second temperature are achieved by the same heating mechanism, and the difference between the two temperatures is a result of changes in the properties of the material being processed (e.g., the lower second temperature reflecting an increasingly endothermic reaction).
In this exemplary process, removal of gases is effected within each cycle.
In an exemplary process, removal of gases is effected by a pump.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the total duration (i.e., including all cycles) of heating of feedstock is at least 5 minutes. In some embodiments, total duration of heating of feedstock is at least 10 minutes. In some embodiments, the total duration of heating of feedstock is at least 15 minutes. In some embodiments, the total duration of heating of feedstock is at least 20 minutes. In some embodiments, the total duration of heating of feedstock is at least 30 minutes. In some embodiments, the total duration of heating of feedstock is at least 40 minutes. In some embodiments, the total duration of heating of feedstock is at least 60 minutes.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, upon the first mixing and heating described hereinabove, water in the material being processed is eliminated via removal of steam formed by the heating and/or mixing (e.g., via removal of evaporated water during removal of gases). In addition, water may optionally be further eliminated via chemical reactions (e.g., hydrolysis, in which a water molecule reacts with another molecule, resulting in cleavage of a covalent bond). Consequently, the water content is reduced during the process. Optionally, mixing and/or heating are performed until the water content of the material being processed is reduced to a desired level.
Water content may be measured, for example, using a commercially available moisture gauge.
As the mixing and/or heating process results in evaporation of water, mixing and/heating is optionally performed at a suitable temperature and a suitable length of time which result in sufficient evaporation of water. In addition, gas removal is optionally performed at a rate suitable for eliminating substantially all of the generated water vapor, until the water content of the waste material is reduced to a desired level.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the majority of the water in the feedstock is eliminated via a first gas removal, such that the water content of the processed material obtained after the first gas removal is less than 50% of the water content of the feedstock before effecting the process. Optionally, any additional gas removals effect a further reduction of the water content to a low concentration such as described herein (e.g., less than 1 weight percent).
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the method described herein is effected such that the obtained processed material has a water content of less than 1 weight percent. In some embodiments, the water content of the processed material is less than 0.1 weight percent.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, mixing, heating and removal of gases are performed until a water content of the processed material is less than 0.03 weight percent. In some embodiments, mixing, heating and removal of gases are performed until a water content of the processed material is less than 0.01 weight percent. In some embodiments, mixing, heating and removal of gases are performed until a water content of the processed material is less than 0.003 weight percent. In some embodiments, mixing, heating and removal of gases are performed until a water content of the processed material is less than 0.001 weight percent.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the method further comprises contacting the waste material or sorted waste material (e.g., as described herein) with an acidic substance (e.g., a solid or liquid substance comprising an acid), to thereby provide a feedstock that is more acidic than it would have been in the absence of the contacting with the acidic substance. In some embodiments, the additional material(s) added to the sorted material, as described herein, comprise the acidic substance.
Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that acid enhances reactions during the mixing and heating process described herein, in an advantageous manner.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the acidic solution is sufficiently acidic so as to result in cleavage of lignocellulose in the waste material, sorted material and/or feedstock to smaller units (e.g., cleavage of polysaccharide to smaller polysaccharide, oligosaccharide, trisaccharide, disaccharide and/or monosaccharide units), prior to and/or during mixing and heating as described herein.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, sorted material and/or feedstock is contacted with the acidic substance (e.g., an acidic liquid), for example, so as not to wash out the acidic substance during separation in a liquid as described herein, which may reduce an amount of acid during mixing and heating and/or deleteriously expose devices involved with separation to an acid.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the acidic substance is mixed with the waste material prior to sorting.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the waste material, sorted material and/or feedstock is submerged in an acidic liquid, and removed from the acidic liquid, with a portion of the acidic liquid remaining adhered to the material. In some embodiments, the waste material, sorted material and/or feedstock is removed from the liquid using a screw configured for removing solids from a liquid (e.g., an inclined screw). In some embodiments, the waste material, sorted material and/or feedstock is removed from the liquid by filtration.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the acidic substance comprises hydrochloric acid.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the acidic substance comprises an acidic aqueous solution. In some embodiments, the acidic aqueous solution is characterized by a pH of less than 4. In some embodiments, the acidic aqueous solution is characterized by a pH of less than 3. In some embodiments, the acidic aqueous solution is characterized by a pH of less than 2. In some embodiments, the acidic aqueous solution is characterized by a pH of less than 1. In some embodiments, the acidic aqueous solution is characterized by a pH of less than 0 (i.e., a negative pH).
As described in the Examples herein, the processed material obtainable by heating and mixing as described herein may be thermoplastic and consequently moldable.
Herein, “thermoplastic” refers to an ability to undergo a reversible transition to a deformable state when heated. The deformable state may be, for example, a liquid which results from melting upon heating, or a softened solid or semi-solid, which may be readily deformed (as plastic deformation) by application of pressure.
Herein, the term “moldable” refers to an ability to deform a shape of a material (e.g., upon heating of a thermoplastic material) in a controllable manner, so as to obtain a product with a pre-determined shape (e.g., upon cooling of a thermoplastic material after molding).
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the method further comprises molding the processed material. Molding may be according to any technique used in the art for molding thermoplastic substances.
In some embodiments, the molding comprises extrusion molding. In some embodiments, the molding comprises injection molding. In some embodiments, the molding comprises rotation molding. In some embodiments, the molding comprises compression molding.
In some embodiments, an additional material, as described herein, is mixed with the processed material prior to or during molding the processed material.
In this manner, articles of a defined configuration may be manufactured. For example, flower pots, housing siding, deck materials, flooring, furniture, laminates, pallets, septic tanks and the like can be prepared by molding or otherwise reshaping the processed material.
Molding may optionally be effected by heating the processed material at a temperature of at least 90° C., optionally at least 100° C., optionally at least 110° C., optionally at least 120° C., optionally at least 130° C., optionally at least 140° C., optionally at least 150° C., optionally at least 160° C., optionally at least 170° C., and optionally at least 180° C.
In some embodiments, molding is effected at a temperature that ranges from about 50° C. to about 200° C., or from about 90° C. to about 180° C. Any intermediate value is contemplated.
Such heating may be effected by maintaining the heating used to process the feedstock, as described hereinabove, and/or by reheating the processed material subsequent to processing of the feedstock by heating, and optionally mixing, as described herein.
Using the process described herein results in a processed material as described herein. The composition of the processed material will be similar to the feedstock composition (e.g., a feedstock composition described herein) with the water removed, but will typically be somewhat different than the feedstock composition due to chemical reactions induced, for example, by the heating and mixing described herein.
According to optional embodiments, the processed material comprises a polymeric material (e.g., a non-particulate polymeric material).
According to another aspect of some embodiments of the invention, there is provided a processed material which is a polymeric material (e.g., non-particulate polymeric material) obtainable by any of the processes as described herein. The polymeric material is optionally and preferably a thermoplastic polymeric material.
Herein “polymeric material” refers to a material in which a concentration of polymers is at least 50 weight percents of the material. The polymers may be synthetic polymers or polymers derived from biomass (e.g., plant material and animal material.
Thus, in some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material and/or a processed material, at least 50 weight percents of the processed material consists of polymers. In some embodiments, at least 60 weight percents of the processed material consists of polymers. In some embodiments, at least 70 weight percents of the processed material consists of polymers. In some embodiments, at least 80 weight percents of the processed material consists of polymers. In some embodiments, at least 90 weight percents of the processed material consists of polymers.
The remainder of the processed material may comprise, for example, ash, residual liquids (e.g., water), small organic compounds (e.g., sugars, furfural, amino acids, lipids), and/or small amounts of inorganic materials present in the waste material (e.g., metals, sand, stone, glass and/or ceramic, and/or an inorganic salt derived from an aqueous liquid used in separation, as described herein).
In some of any of the embodiments described herein, the polymeric material is a thermoplastic material. It is to be understood that the polymeric material may comprise a variety of polymers, and that it is meant that the polymeric material as a whole is thermoplastic, and that the polymeric material may comprise polymers which are not characterized as being thermoplastic per se.
Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that polymers in the processed material obtained according to embodiments of the invention are largely responsible for the thermoplastic properties of waste material processed as described herein.
The removal of inorganic materials and optional addition of an inorganic salt as described herein, affect the elemental composition of the obtained processed material, for example, by increasing a percentage of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and/or elements in the salt (e.g., alkali metals and/or halogens), particularly carbon and hydrogen (e.g., because oxygen and nitrogen may be depleted due to their presence in inorganic materials and/or organic materials having a relatively high specific gravity) and/or by decreasing a percentage of other atoms.
Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that the obtained elemental composition is associated with desirable properties of the processed material.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material and/or a processed material, a concentration of carbon in the processed material is at least 55 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon is at least 57.5 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon is at least 60 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon is at least 62.5 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon is at least 65 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon is at least 67.5 weight percents.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material and/or a processed material, a concentration of carbon in the processed material is at least 55 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon is at least 57.5 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon is at least 60 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon is at least 62.5 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon is at least 65 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon is at least 67.5 weight percents.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material and/or a processed material, a total concentration of carbon and hydrogen in the processed material is at least 65 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon and hydrogen is at least 67.5 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon and hydrogen is at least 70 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon and hydrogen is at least 72.5 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon and hydrogen is at least 75 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon and hydrogen is at least 77.5 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon and hydrogen is at least 80 weight percents.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material and/or a processed material, a concentration of oxygen in the processed material is at least 20 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of oxygen is at least 22 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of oxygen is at least 24 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of oxygen is at least 26 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of oxygen is at least 28 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of oxygen is at least 30 weight percents.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material and/or a processed material, a total concentration of carbon and oxygen in the processed material is at least 80 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon and oxygen is at least 82 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon and oxygen is at least 84 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon and oxygen is at least 86 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon and oxygen is at least 88 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon and oxygen is at least 90 weight percents.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material and/or a processed material, a total concentration of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in the processed material is at least 90 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen is at least 92 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen is at least 94 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen is at least 96 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen is at least 98 weight percents.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material and/or a processed material, a total concentration of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, alkali metal and halogen atoms in the processed material is at least 93 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, alkali metal and halogen atoms is at least 94 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, alkali metal and halogen atoms is at least 95 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, alkali metal and halogen atoms is at least 96 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, alkali metal and halogen atoms is at least 97 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, alkali metal and halogen atoms is at least 98 weight percents. In some embodiments, the concentration of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, alkali metal and halogen atoms is at least 99 weight percents. It is to be appreciated that a relatively high total concentration of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, alkali metal and halogen atoms indicates a relatively low concentration of inorganic material other than water-soluble inorganic salts (which typically comprise an alkali metal action and/or a halogen anion).
In some embodiments, non-hydrogen atoms (e.g., any atoms other than hydrogen) are quantified. This allows the use of elemental analysis techniques which are not effective at detecting hydrogen atoms (e.g., as exemplified herein).
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material and/or a processed material, at least 95% of the non-hydrogen atoms in the processed material are carbon or oxygen atoms. In some embodiments, at least 96% of the non-hydrogen atoms are carbon or oxygen. In some embodiments, at least 97% of the non-hydrogen atoms are carbon or oxygen. In some embodiments, at least 98% of the non-hydrogen atoms are carbon or oxygen.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material and/or a processed material, at least 97% of the non-hydrogen atoms in the processed material are carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, alkali metal or halogen atoms. In some embodiments, at least 97.5% of the non-hydrogen atoms are carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, alkali metal or halogen atoms. In some embodiments, at least 98% of the non-hydrogen atoms are carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, alkali metal or halogen atoms. In some embodiments, at least 98.5% of the non-hydrogen atoms are carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, alkali metal or halogen atoms. In some embodiments, at least 99% of the non-hydrogen atoms are carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, alkali metal or halogen atoms. In some embodiments, at least 99.5% of the non-hydrogen atoms are carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, alkali metal or halogen atoms.
It is to be appreciated that when determining percentage of atoms, as opposed to weight percentages, the elements described herein represent a particularly high percentage, because atoms associated with inorganic materials (e.g., silicon, metals) tend to be heavier and atoms such as carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, and are therefore disproportionately represented in weight percentages.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material and/or a processed material, a molar concentration of alkali metals in the processed material is at least 50% higher than a molar concentration of alkali metals in the dry weight of the waste material. In some embodiments, the molar concentration of alkali metals is at least 100% higher (i.e., two-fold). In some embodiments, the molar concentration of alkali metals is at least 150% higher. In some embodiments, the molar concentration of alkali metals is at least 200% higher. In some embodiments, the molar concentration of alkali metals is at least 300% higher. In some embodiments, the molar concentration of alkali metals is at least 400% higher. In some embodiments, the molar concentration of alkali metals is at least 600% higher. In some embodiments, the molar concentration of alkali metals is at least 900% higher (i.e., ten-fold).
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material and/or a processed material, a molar concentration of halogens in the processed material is at least 50% higher than a molar concentration of halogens in the dry weight of the waste material. In some embodiments, the molar concentration of halogens is at least 100% higher. In some embodiments, the molar concentration of halogens is at least 150% higher. In some embodiments, the molar concentration of halogens is at least 200% higher. In some embodiments, the molar concentration of halogens is at least 300% higher. In some embodiments, the molar concentration of halogens is at least 400% higher. In some embodiments, the molar concentration of halogens is at least 600% higher. In some embodiments, the molar concentration of halogens is at least 900% higher.
Herein, the phrase “molar concentration” refers to a number (e.g., in mole units) of molecules or atoms (e.g., alkali metal atoms, halogen atoms) per volume.
Herein, a molar concentration in the dry weight of waste material refers to a molar concentration in the waste material when dried (e.g., by evaporation) until substantially dry (e.g., no more than 1 weight percent water), for example, wherein a water content of the dried waste material is substantially the same as the water content of the process material to which it is being compared.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material and/or a processed material, a melt-flow index (MFI) of the processed material is at least 1 gram per 10 minutes at a temperature of 190° C. (the melt-flow index being determined according to ISO 1133 standards). In some embodiments, the MFI is at least 1.5 grams per 10 minutes. In some embodiments, the MFI is at least 2 grams per 10 minutes. In some embodiments, the MFI is at least 2.5 grams per 10 minutes. In some embodiments, the MFI is at least 3 grams per 10 minutes. In some embodiments, the MFI is at least 3.5 grams per 10 minutes. In some embodiments, the MFI is at least 4 grams per 10 minutes. In some embodiments, the MFI is no more than 10 grams per 10 minutes (e.g., from 1 to 10 grams per 10 minutes). In some embodiments, the MFI is no more than 8 grams per 10 minutes (e.g., from 1 to 8 grams per 10 minutes). In some embodiments, the MFI is no more than 6 grams per 10 minutes (e.g., from 1 to 6 grams per 10 minutes).
Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that a melt-flow index of at least 1 gram per 10 minutes is associated with a relatively high polymeric nature of the processed material (e.g., a polymeric material as described herein), particularly a thermoplastic polymeric nature of the processed material.
It is further believed that thermoplasticity of the processed material (e.g., as indicated by a MFI as described herein) is associated with relative flowability of the feedstock during processing by heating and mixing, and that such flowability during processing by heating and mixing advantageously allows for the effective use of screens during processing for removing inhomogeneities (e.g., solid material), resulting in a more homogeneous and non-particulate processed material. In contrast, a feedstock with a lower flowability could tend to clog the screens, thereby preventing the efficient use of screens to further enhance homogeneity and reduce particulate levels of the processed material.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material and/or a processed material is less brittle at low temperatures (e.g., less susceptible to cold-cracking), optionally at 10° C., 0° C., −10° C., and/or −20° C., than a material obtained by processing (unsorted) waste material instead of sorted material, that is, by processing a feedstock comprising the waste material instead of sorted material. In some embodiments, the increased resistance to cold-cracking is characterized by higher impact strength (e.g., Izod impact strength, Charpy impact strength) at a temperature of 10° C., 0° C., −10° C., and/or −20° C.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material and/or a processed material is more resistant to combustion (e.g., combustion occurs at a higher temperature) than a material obtained by processing (unsorted) waste material instead of sorted material, that is, by processing a feedstock comprising the waste material instead of sorted material.
Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that reduced brittleness at low temperature and/or higher resistance to combustion are associated with a lower degree of inhomogeneities, for example, inhomogeneities (e.g., metals, minerals) which induce crack formation (e.g., increased brittleness) and/or which induce temperature inhomogeneities upon heating that facilitate combustion.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the processed material is characterized as being largely soluble in appropriate solvents, for example, in organic solvents. It is to be appreciated that being soluble “in organic solvents” may refer to dissolution using multiple solvents (e.g., some of the processed material is soluble in one solvent and some is soluble in another solvent), and does not necessarily indicate that all of the material can be dissolved in a single solvent.
Such solubility is optionally associated with a high amount of polymers and/or a low amount of inorganic materials.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, at least 90% of the processed material is soluble in organic solvents. In some embodiments, at least 95% of the processed material is soluble in organic solvents. In some embodiments, at least 99% of the processed material is soluble in organic solvents. In some embodiments, at least 99.9% of the processed material is soluble in organic solvents.
It is to be appreciated that low amounts of non-soluble material renders a processed material more suitable for being combined with various polymers (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene), which may become fragile when combined with excess amounts (e.g., more than 5%, more than 8%) of non-soluble (e.g., inorganic) materials.
Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that carbohydrates such as polysaccharides in the feedstock, at least a portion of which originate in waste material, undergo hydrolysis when subjected to heating and mixing as described herein, resulting in a mixture of monosaccharides, disaccharides, trisaccharides and/or oligosaccharides which may comprise, for example, glucose (which may be derived, for example, from cellulose, hemicellulose and/or starch), and/or xylose, mannose, galactose, rhamnose, and/or arabinose (which may be derived, for example, from hemicellulose). The substantial degree of hydrolysis is believed to be due to the initial presence of substantial amounts of water in the feedstock (such as described herein). In addition, pyrolysis of polysaccharides may also result in monosaccharides, disaccharides, trisaccharides and/or oligosaccharides.
It is further believed that carbohydrates in the feedstock further undergo polymerization and other forms of covalent bond formation (e.g., by caramelization and/or Maillard type reactions), resulting in the formation of polymeric materials (e.g., carbohydrates and derivatives thereof) which are not present in the feedstock prior to processing. It is further believed that pyrolysis further alters the structure of polymeric materials in the feedstock during processing, thereby further forming polymeric materials which are not present in the feedstock prior to processing.
The degree of hydrolysis is believed to gradually decrease as the material being processed becomes progressively drier upon heating during processing, whereas the relative degree of other reactions (e.g., caramelization, pyrolysis) is believed to gradually increase as the material being processed becomes progressively drier.
Thus, in some of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a method of processing waste material, the processed polymeric material comprises polymers other than those present in the feedstock prior to processing. In some embodiments, at least 1 weight percent of the polymeric material in the processed material consists of polymers other than those present in the feedstock prior to processing. In some embodiments, at least 5 weight percents of the polymeric material consists of polymers other than those present in the feedstock. In some embodiments, at least 10 weight percents of the polymeric material consists of polymers other than those present in the feedstock. In some embodiments, at least 20 weight percents of the polymeric material consists of polymers other than those present in the feedstock. In some embodiments, at least 50 weight percents of the polymeric material consists of polymers other than those present in the feedstock. In some embodiments, at least 75 weight percents of the polymeric material consists of polymers other than those present in the feedstock.
According to some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein, the processing described herein results in a loss of the structure which characterizes plant and animal material in the waste material. For example, microscopic examination of plant and animal material typically shows structures such as cell walls and fibrous structures (e.g., collagen fibers), whereas in the processed material, such structures are optionally substantially absent upon microscopic examination. In some embodiments, osmotic stress induced by a solute (e.g., a salt) in a solution used for separating according to specific gravity (e.g., as described herein) facilitates loss of the structure which characterizes plant and animal material, by altering cell structure (e.g., cell volume). Such osmotic stress may occur during separation according to specific gravity and/or after separation according to specific gravity (e.g., due to solute remaining in the sorted material).
Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that loss of the original structure of plant and/or animal material reduces the brittleness and enhances the thermoplasticity of the processed material.
3
3
3
3
3
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein in the context of a processed material, the processed material (e.g., polymeric material) described herein is characterized by a density below 1.2 gram/cm. In some embodiments, the density is below 1.15 gram/cm. In some embodiments, the density is below 1.1 gram/cm. In some embodiments, the density is below 1.05 gram/cm. In some embodiments, the density is below 1.0 gram/cm.
3
Without being bound by any particular theory it is believed that separation according to specific gravity, as described herein, is particularly likely to result in a processed material characterized by a relatively low density (e.g., below 1.2 gram/cm), as compared to other materials made by processing waste materials, as high density materials are separated from the waste material prior to heating and mixing as described herein.
As described herein, the processed material obtained by the process described herein may be useful for a variety of purposes, such as making plastic products, and thus facilitates the beneficial recycling of the waste material.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments described herein, the process described herein allows for disposal of a hazardous material (e.g., a toxic compound, a radioactive compound). A feedstock material comprising a hazardous material, for example, sorted material which has been mixed with an additional material that comprises a hazardous material (e.g., a toxic sludge) is processed as described herein so as to provide a processed material in the form of a solid matrix, in which the hazardous material is embedded. A degree of leaching of the hazardous material from the solid matrix is low, such that the hazardous material is safely contained.
According to optional embodiments, at least 10 weight percents of the processed material consists of one or more synthetic polymers, for example, synthetic polymers present in the waste material prior to processing (e.g., plastic products). In some embodiments, at least 15 weight percents of the processed material consists of one or more synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, at least 20 weight percents of the processed material consists of one or more synthetic polymers. In some embodiments, at least 30 weight percents of the processed material consists of one or more synthetic polymers.
The processed material (e.g., polymeric material) described herein may optionally be initially formed into pellets and the like and stored before further processing it into usable articles (e.g., an article-of-manufacturing described herein). The further processing may include injection molding, compression molding or other article fabricating processes. Further processing may also include mixing virgin or recycled plastic with the processed material which may be in the form of pellets or in any other suitable form. This mixture can then be formed into usable objects (e.g., an article-of-manufacturing described herein).
Mixture of various materials (e.g., virgin or recycled plastic) with the processed material (e.g., polymeric material) described herein may be in order to meet desired specifications, e.g., with respect to physical properties, cost, etc. For example, an elastic material may be mixed with the processed material to provide enhanced elasticity, a rigid material may be mixed with the processed material to provide enhanced rigidity, a particularly cheap material may be mixed with the processed material to reduce costs, and so forth.
In some of any of the embodiments described herein, the processed material (e.g., polymeric material) described herein is combined with an additional polymeric material (e.g., plastic).
The processed material (e.g., polymeric material) described herein, as well as a material obtained by mixing the processed material with an additional material (e.g., a plastic), may optionally be further processed through a variety of industrial processes known in the art, to form a variety of semi-finished or finished products.
According to another aspect of some embodiments of the invention, there is provided an article-of-manufacturing formed from the processed material (e.g., polymeric material) described herein.
In some embodiments, the article-of-manufacturing is formed by molding the processed material (e.g., polymeric material) described herein (e.g., according to a process described herein).
Non-limiting examples include building material, panels, boards, pallets, pots, and many others.
The processed material (e.g., polymeric material) of embodiments of the invention related to articles of manufacturing may be the sole component or may be in a combination with one or more additional materials, such as a polymer, a compatible polymer blend (a stable blend of immiscible polymers which bind to one another) and/or a miscible polymer blend (a homogenous blend of miscible polymers). The processed material may be combined with an additional material by adhering to and/or being blended with each of the additional material(s). Optionally, the additional material is a plastic (e.g., a polymer, a compatible polymer blend or a miscible polymer blend described herein).
The additional material may optionally be a sorted material obtained by sorting the waste same waste material (e.g., using a different process) and/or a sorted material obtained by sorting a different waste material. For example, an additional material may optionally be a polymeric material obtained by sorting waste material in a liquid having a specific gravity of no more than 1.03, and optionally no more than 1.01 (e.g., water), in which low-density polymers (e.g., polyolefins) do not sink (whereas materials such as lignocellulose, high-density polymers and inorganic materials sink).
In accordance with some embodiments, the article-of-manufacturing may include also laminates adhered to each other, where at least one layer comprises the processed material (e.g., polymeric material) described herein. Such multi-layer structures may be obtained by lamination, co-calendering, co-compression, co-extrusion or tandem extrusion of two or more materials (one being the processed material of embodiments of the invention) so as to form the multi-layer product.
As the articles-of-manufacturing described herein comprise processed material derived from waste material, and in some embodiments may consist essentially of such processed material, they may be conveniently recycled by including the article-of-manufacturing as a waste material which is subjected to the process described herein. Thus, the articles-of-manufacturing described herein are particularly easy to recycle.
According to another aspect of embodiments of the invention, there is provided a use of a waste material for the production of an article-of-manufacturing described herein. The waste material is optionally processed as described herein, so as to produce a processed material (e.g., polymeric material) described herein. Optionally, the use further comprises processing the processed material as described herein (e.g., by molding the material as described herein).
According to another aspect of embodiments of the invention there is provided a system for sorting a waste material. The system comprises at least one separator configured for separating materials in waste material according to specific gravity (e.g., as described herein), to thereby obtain a sorted material (e.g., a sorted material described herein), for example, a sorted material enriched in material having a specific gravity within a pre-selected range (e.g., as described herein). In some embodiments, sorted material contains at least 90 weight percents of a material having a specific gravity within a pre-selected range (e.g., as described herein).
Herein, the terms “separator” and “separating chamber”, which are interchangeably used herein, refer to a device containing a liquid selected such that a portion of the waste material sinks (e.g., a liquid as described herein), thereby being capable of effecting a cycle of separation of inputted material into a relatively high-specific gravity material and relatively low-specific gravity material (e.g., as described herein).
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments pertaining to a system described herein, one or more separator(s) is configured for removing material which sinks in the liquid. The removed material may be transferred, for example, to a bin adapted for receiving removed materials (e.g., inorganic materials, thermoset polymers, PET, PTFE, PVC). In some embodiments, the separator(s) is further configured for conveying material which does not sink to another component of the system.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments pertaining to a system described herein, one or more separator(s) is configured for removing material which floats in the liquid. The removed material may be transferred, for example, to a bin adapted for receiving removed materials. In some embodiments, the separator(s) is further configured for conveying material which does not float to another component of the system.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments pertaining to a system described herein, one or more separator(s) is configured for removing material which floats in the liquid and/or material which sinks in the liquid, the configuration of the separator(s) being controllable and reversible.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments pertaining to a system described herein, the system is configured for sorting a shredded waste material (e.g., as described herein), for example, waste material subjected to crushing (e.g., by a hammer mill).
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments pertaining to a system described herein, the system further comprises at least one shredder configured for shredding the waste material (e.g., as described herein).
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments pertaining to a system described herein, the system is configured such that at least one separator and at least one shredder are in operative communication in tandem, such that the system is configured for performing at least one separation according to specific gravity and at least one shredding process in a desired sequence (e.g., a sequence described herein).
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments pertaining to a system described herein, the system is configured for shredding the waste material prior to contacting the waste material with the liquid of a separator (e.g., as described herein).
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments pertaining to a system described herein, the system is configured for shredding the sorted material subsequent to contacting the waste material with the liquid of a separator (e.g., as described herein). Such a sorted waste material may be a partially sorted waste material, that is, a sorted material for which further sorting (e.g., in a separator as described herein) is intended; or a final sorted waste material, that is, a sorted material for which no further sorting is intended.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments pertaining to a system described herein, the system comprises at least two separators, a first separator configured for separating materials according to specific gravity as described herein, to thereby obtain a partially sorted material, and at least one additional separator configured for subjecting the partially sorted material to at least one additional cycle of separating materials according to specific gravity (e.g., as described herein). In some embodiments, the system further comprises at least one shredder configured for shredding the partially sorted waste material and/or the sorted waste material subsequent to contact with liquid of any one or more of the separators (e.g., to effect a sequence of separating and shredding described herein).
Different separators in a system may contain the same liquid or different liquids. The liquid of each separator is preferably selected such that a portion of inputted waste material or partially sorted material sinks therein.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments pertaining to a system described herein, the system comprises at least one plurality of separators and/or at least one plurality of shredders configured to operate in parallel. In such embodiments, the plurality of separators and/or plurality of shredders may be configured to perform essentially the same operation, which may allow, for example, a greater throughput of material for such an operation.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments pertaining to a system described herein, the system further comprises a monitor adapted for monitoring a composition and/or specific gravity of the liquid in one or more separators. In some embodiments, the monitor is configured to adjust a composition and/or specific gravity of the liquid, for example, for maintaining a specific gravity at a predetermined value (e.g., within a predetermined range). In some embodiments, the monitor is configured for controlling entry of water and/or additional substance such as a solute (e.g., a salt described herein) into the separator liquid, to thereby adjust the composition and/or specific gravity of the liquid.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments pertaining to a system described herein, the system comprises at least one apparatus (e.g., an oil-water separator described herein) configured for separating oils from a liquid of one or more separators, and optionally collecting oils. Such an apparatus may be configured to remove oils from a separator (e.g., by skimming) and/or from liquid processed outside a separator (e.g., liquid separated from the sorted material outside of a separator, according to any of the respective embodiments described herein).
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments pertaining to a system described herein, the system further comprises an apparatus configured for separating at least a portion of liquid from a sorted material by compression. In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a screw press. The liquid being separated may comprise, for example, a combination of liquid used for separating according to specific gravity (according to any of the respective embodiments described herein) and liquid derived from the source waste material (e.g., aqueous liquids and oils).
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments pertaining to a system described herein, an apparatus configured for separating liquids from a sorted material by compression is configured to receive material from at least one shredder described herein. In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a screw press.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments pertaining to a system described herein, the system comprises at least one reservoir for collecting carbohydrate-containing and/or oil-containing liquid derived from the waste material, the reservoir being in operative communication with at least one component of the system which handles waste material and/or a material derived therefrom. In some embodiments, the reservoir is in communication with at least one shredder adapted for conveying liquid from waste material and/or a sorted material derived therefrom undergoing shredding to the reservoir (e.g., being adapted for draining liquid).
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments pertaining to a system described herein, the reservoir is configured for separating oils from at least a portion of the liquid (e.g., as described herein).
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments pertaining to a system described herein, the reservoir is configured for separating carbohydrate(s) from at least a portion of the liquid (e.g., as described herein).
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments pertaining to a system described herein, the reservoir is configured as a fermentor and/or reactor suitable for processing the carbohydrate(s) by fermentation, heating, and/or reaction with a reagent (e.g., as described herein).
FIG. 3
130
130
132
110
is a schematic illustration of a system for processing waste material, according to some embodiments of the present invention. System optionally and preferably comprises one or more separating chambers for removing at least a portion of inorganic materials in the waste material and an extruder system, such as, but not limited to, extruder system .
In some embodiments, one or more of the separating chambers removes material (e.g., inorganic materials, thermoset polymers, PET, PTFE, PVC) which sinks in the liquid and in some embodiments, one or more of the separating chambers removes material which floats on the liquid. Also contemplated are embodiments in which one or more of the separating chambers removes material which floats on the liquid and/or material which sinks in the liquid, wherein the configuration of the respective separating chamber is being controllable and reversible. The removed material may be transferred, for example, to a bin (not shown) adapted for receiving removed materials.
130
In some embodiments, system comprises two or more separating chambers, a first separating chamber for separating materials according to specific gravity as described herein, to thereby obtain a partially sorted material, and at least one additional separating chamber for subjecting the partially sorted material to at least one additional cycle of separating materials according to specific gravity (e.g., as described herein).
130
Different separators in system may contain the same liquid or different liquids. The liquid of each separating chamber is preferably selected such that a portion of inputted waste material or partially sorted material sinks therein.
132
134
134
132
110
132
134
110
132
132
132
FIG. 3
FIG. 3
Separating chamber preferably provides the feedstock to extruder system either directly or, as illustrated in , via a conduit , which is optionally and preferably provided with a controllable valve ′ for controlling the flow from chamber to extruder system . The principles according to which the feedstock is formed from the waste material are described in greater detail below. In the illustration of , chamber provides the feedstock to conduit (or directly to extruder system ) from the upper part of chamber . This embodiment is particularly useful when the inorganic material sinks in the liquid. When the removed inorganic material floats on the liquid, it may be preferred to constitute chamber to provide the feedstock from the lower part of chamber .
130
138
132
132
138
132
140
140
138
138
132
110
138
132
110
140
140
138
110
130
132
132
110
FIG. 3
In some embodiments, system comprises a shredder for shredding the material before entering the separation chamber or after exiting separation chamber . While illustrates a configuration in which shredder feeds a shredded waste material to chamber (via a conduit , which is optionally and preferably provided with a controllable valve ′ for controlling the outflow from shredder ), this need not necessarily be the case, since in some embodiments shredder is positioned between chamber and extruder system , so that shredder receives the feedstock from chamber , shreds the feedstock and provides a shredded feedstock to extruder system (e.g., conduit and valve ′ which in this embodiment connect shredder with extruder system ). Further, the present embodiments also contemplate configurations in which system comprises more than one shredder, for example, one shredder before chamber and one shredder between chamber and extruder system .
Thus, the system optionally and preferably is adapted for processing a shredded feedstock (e.g., as described herein). Shredding of feedstock may be performed by providing the feedstock and then shredding it, and/or by shredding one or more materials (e.g., a sorted material and additional material(s) described herein) prior to the materials being combined to form the feedstock.
110
In some embodiments, the system comprises two or more shredders configured to operate in tandem, so as to facilitate provision of a continuous supply of shredded feedstock to extruder system .
130
130
130
In some embodiments, system mixes a sorted material (e.g., a sorted material described herein) and or a processed material produced by the system an additional material (e.g., as described herein). In some embodiments, system directly mixes the sorted material with an additional material, to thereby provide the feedstock. In some embodiments, system indirectly mixes sorted material with an additional material, by mixing waste material with an additional material prior to sorting the waste material, such that the obtained sorted material comprises the additional material.
110
Optionally, the sorted material can be mixed with the additional material (e.g., prior to the transfer to extruder system ) using any device suitable for mixing such materials.
110
110
Alternatively or additionally, extruder system mixes the sorted material with an additional material after the materials are received by system , such that the feedstock is provided within the barrel of the extruder system.
130
142
142
a
f
FIG. 3
The various materials employed by system can be provided in separate reservoirs . Six reservoirs -are shown in but any number of reservoirs is contemplated, including a single reservoir. Each reservoir optionally and preferably contains a different type of material. For example, the system may comprise a first reservoir for containing a sorted material (e.g., as described herein) and one or more reservoirs for containing one or more additional materials as described herein and/or a different sorted material than is contained in the aforementioned first reservoir (e.g., sorted material derived from a different source of waste material and/or sorted material provided by a different sorting process).
138
132
110
138
132
110
144
144
144
144
a
f
a
f′.
Each of the reservoirs is arranged to receive material from shredder or chamber or extruder system , and/or to feed material into shredder or chamber or extruder system . Material flow from and/or to the reservoirs is by means of one or more conduits that are schematically illustrated at -. Other connections are also contemplated. One or more of the conduits is optionally and preferably provided with a controllable valve for controlling the inflow and/or outflow from the respective reservoir. These controllable valves are shown at ′-
142
In some embodiments, at least one of reservoirs contains carbohydrate(s) obtained from a liquid derived from the waste material (e.g., as described herein). Such a reservoir is optionally configured to receive the carbohydrate(s) obtained as described herein.
123
130
130
123
110
137
132
Controller can also be employed by system . The controller is optionally and preferably configured to control the various valves so as to select the proportions of material from the different reservoirs that are used for preparing the feedstock. Alternatively, system can include more than one controller, wherein one controller (e.g., controller ) controls the controllable components of extruder system , and another controller controls the material proportions. The controller can also include a circuit having monitoring capabilities, for example, for monitoring a composition and/or specific gravity of the liquid the separating chamber, for example, by receiving signals from a sensor or a camera installed in or in proximity to separating chamber . In some embodiments, the controller adjusts a composition and/or specific gravity of the liquid, for example, for maintaining a specific gravity at a predetermined value (e.g., within a predetermined range). In some embodiments, the controller controls the entry of water and/or additional substance such as a solute (e.g., a salt described herein) into the separating chamber, to thereby adjust the composition and/or specific gravity of the liquid.
130
System optionally and preferably produces a processed material comprising a polymeric material (e.g., a processed material described herein), optionally a thermoplastic polymeric material such as described herein.
According to another aspect of embodiments of the invention there is provided a system for processing a waste material (e.g., a waste material described herein), to form a non-particulate processed material (e.g., as described herein), wherein a feedstock (e.g., as described herein) derived from a waste material is subjected to mixing and heating without being dried (e.g., according to a method described herein). The feedstock may optionally have a relatively high water content (e.g., as described herein).
The system for processing a waste material incorporates a system for sorting a waste material, comprising one or more separators, as described herein. In some embodiments of any of the embodiments pertaining to a system described herein, the system for sorting a waste material is configured for removing at last a portion of inorganic materials in the waste material, such that the obtained sorted material contains at least 90 weight percents of an organic material (e.g., as described herein).
The system for processing a waste material is configured for providing a feedstock comprising sorted material obtained from the system for sorting a waste material (e.g., a feedstock described herein), the feedstock having a water content of at least 15 weight percents (e.g., a water content described herein).
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments pertaining to a system described herein, the system is adapted for removing some materials (e.g., inorganic materials, thermoset polymers, PET, PTFE, PVC) from waste material (e.g., as described herein), such that the feedstock has a reduced content of such materials (relative to the waste material).
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments pertaining to a system described herein, the system is configured for contacting the feedstock and/or a material incorporated into the feedstock (e.g., a sorted material and/or a waste material prior to sorting) with an acidic substance.
The system for processing a waste material further comprises an apparatus for subjecting the feedstock to mixing via shear forces, and to heating.
FIG. 4
200
200
210
260
220
240
290
200
230
250
200
200
210
220
220
230
240
240
250
200
290
220
240
220
290
240
260
illustrates an exemplary apparatus for subjecting the feedstock to mixing via shear forces (e.g., as described herein), as well as optional components of a system for processing a waste material which are associated with the apparatus, according to some embodiments of the invention. Apparatus comprises an inlet and an outlet , as well as a first mixing zone and a second mixing zone , and optionally a third mixing zone , each mixing zone being independently adapted for subjecting the feedstock to heating. Apparatus further comprises a first vent and a second vent , each being adapted for removing gases released during mixing and heating (e.g., as described herein) from apparatus . Apparatus is configured for subjecting the feedstock entering inlet to mixing in first mixing zone , removal of gases released in first mixing zone via first vent , and subsequently subjecting the feedstock to mixing in second mixing zone and removal of gases released in second mixing zone via second vent . Apparatus is optionally further configured for subjecting the feedstock to mixing in third mixing zone . First mixing zone is adapted for mixing wet feedstock (e.g., waste material having a water content described herein), whereas second mixing zone is adapted for mixing semi-wet feedstock (e.g. feedstock partially dried by heating in mixing zone ), and optional third mixing zone is adapted for mixing dry feedstock (e.g. feedstock dried by heating in mixing zone ). A processed material then exits outlet .
295
240
290
295
200
200
295
240
290
FIG. 4
In some embodiments, the system further comprises optional apparatus , which is configured for molding processed material received from second mixing zone or third mixing zone . Apparatus may optionally be configured as a component of apparatus (e.g., as depicted in ), or alternatively, as a separate apparatus, for example a separate apparatus which is in communication with apparatus . Optionally, apparatus is configured for extrusion molding, and comprises a die suitable for extrusion molding in communication with mixing zone or .
270
220
240
290
220
240
220
240
240
290
In some embodiments, mixing is effected by at least one optional screw and/or blade (e.g., as described herein). The at least one screw and/or blade optionally extents through mixing zones and (and optionally also mixing zone ), so as to be capable of effecting mixing in both zones. When more than a single screw and/or blade is used, the screws and/or blades may be co-rotated or counter-rotated. In some embodiments, mixing zone comprises counter-rotated screws and/or blades. In some embodiments, mixing zone comprises a single screw and/or blade (e.g., configured as an extruder). Screws and/or blades may be intermeshing, or non-intermeshing. In some embodiments, the direction of extrusion through mixing zone is approximately perpendicular to the direction of extrusion through mixing zone , and/or the direction of extrusion through mixing zone is approximately perpendicular to the direction of extrusion through mixing zone .
220
240
290
220
240
290
Mixing zones , and are preferably adapted for subjecting feedstock to a first cycle, a second cycle, and a third cycle, respectively, of heating and mixing, as described herein. Mixing zones , and are each independently adapted for heating the feedstock at a temperature described herein, optionally a temperature in a range of from 90° C. to 230° C., optionally from 90° C. to 180° C., and optionally from 140° C. to 180° C. Optionally, the apparatus in general, and the mixing zones in particular, are adapted for effecting mixing and heating (e.g., mixing and heating as described herein) simultaneously.
200
210
260
220
240
290
230
250
295
295
295
200
260
295
200
In some embodiments, apparatus is configured such that material therein is passed through one or more optional screens (e.g., one or more screens as described herein). The one or more screens are optionally configured so as to be readily removable from the apparatus, for example, to facilitate cleaning of the screen(s). The screen(s) may optionally be located at any portion of the apparatus, including, for example, at inlet , at outlet , in first mixing zone , second mixing zone , third mixing zone , first vent and/or second vent . In some embodiments, at least one screen is positioned such that material passes through the screen(s) shortly before entering apparatus , for example, positioned at the entry into apparatus (e.g., when apparatus is configured as a component of apparatus ) or at outlet (e.g., when apparatus is configured as a separate apparatus, in communication with apparatus ).
280
220
240
290
280
220
240
290
220
240
290
220
240
290
FIG. 4
The system optionally comprises at least one temperature control element adapted for heating the feedstock as described herein in mixing zones and (and optionally also mixing zone ). Temperature control element comprises a heating element (e.g., an electric heater) for heating the waste material, and optionally also a cooling element (e.g., comprising a cooling fluid) for avoiding excessive temperatures. A heating element and cooling element may be joined in a single module, or may be present in separate modules. The system may optionally comprise one or more temperature control elements adapted for effecting heating (and optionally also cooling) in both mixing zones and , and optionally also mixing zone (as depicted in ). Alternatively or additionally, the system comprises separate temperature control elements for each of mixing zones and (and optionally also ). Alternatively, the system comprises one or more temperature control elements adapted for effecting heating (and optionally also cooling) in one mixing zone (e.g., mixing zone ) directly, wherein heating of the other mixing zone (e.g., mixing zones and/or ) is effected by heat transfer from the directly heated mixing zone.
280
270
280
270
270
In some embodiments, at least a portion of temperature control element is in screw and/or blade . Optionally, temperature control element comprises a heated (and/or cooled) fluid flowing through at least a portion of the length of screw and/or blade , for effecting heating (and/or cooling), and optionally further comprises a mechanism (which may be inside or outside in screw and/or blade ) for heating (and/or cooling) the fluid.
220
210
In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises a zone configured for intake of the feedstock, being in communication with first mixing zone (e.g., via inlet ).
200
210
200
200
In some embodiments, the system further comprises a module configured to allow continuous feeding of feedstock into apparatus (e.g., via inlet ), such that little or no air enters apparatus with the feedstock. Such a module may optionally comprise a conical extruder and/or an internal mixer. The module optionally comprises a feeding controller configured to monitor (e.g., by weighing) and control a rate of feeding of feedstock into apparatus .
220
240
In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises one or more heating controllers for maintaining a desired temperature (e.g., a temperature described herein) in at least a portion of the apparatus (e.g., in first mixing zone and/or in second mixing zone ).
In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises at least one sensor, for determining a water content of the feedstock at one or more locations in the apparatus. By monitoring water content, the sensor(s) may allow for control over the water content of the processed material produced by the system, such that the processed material will have a desired water content (e.g., a water content described herein), for example, less than 1 weight percent.
200
In some embodiments, apparatus is an extruder, as described herein.
In some embodiments, the system is adapted for processing a shredded feedstock (e.g., as described herein).
210
200
Thus, in some embodiments, the system further comprises a shredder configured for shredding feedstock prior to subjecting to mixing (e.g., prior to intake via inlet ). In some embodiments, the system is configured such that feedstock shredded by the shredder passes into the abovementioned module configured to allow continuous feeding of feedstock into apparatus . Shredding of feedstock may be performed by providing the feedstock and then shredding it, and/or by shredding one or more materials (e.g., a sorted material and additional material(s) described herein) prior to the materials being combined to form the feedstock.
210
200
In some embodiments, the system comprises at least two shredders configured to operate in tandem, so as to facilitate provision of a continuous supply of shredded feedstock to inlet (optionally via the abovementioned module configured to allow continuous feeding of feedstock into apparatus ).
In some embodiments, the system is configured for mixing a sorted material (e.g., a sorted material described herein) and or a processed material produced by the system an additional material (e.g., as described herein).
In some embodiments, the system is configured for directly mixing sorted material with an additional material, to thereby provide the feedstock. In some embodiments, the system is configured for indirectly mixing sorted material with an additional material, by mixing waste material with an additional material prior to sorting the waste material, such that the obtained sorted material comprises the additional material.
220
210
Optionally, the system further comprises an apparatus for mixing the sorted material with the additional material prior to subjecting to mixing in first mixing zone (e.g., prior to intake via inlet ). Any device used in the art for mixing such materials may be included in the system.
220
220
220
Alternatively or additionally, the system is configured such that the sorted material is mixed with an additional material in first mixing zone , such that the feedstock is provided (in its final form) in first mixing zone concomitantly with performance of the mixing in first mixing zone .
230
250
Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that the inclusion of vents and allows for release of excess gases, thereby avoiding potentially damaging increases of pressure inside the apparatus, while maintaining a sufficiently closed system which results in a suitable environment (e.g., low oxygen concentration, high temperature) which facilitates the desired chemical reactions. In addition, it is to be appreciated that release of gases removes heat, and may be used to control the temperature in the mixing zones.
220
240
It is to be understood, that additional vents and/or additional mixing zones (e.g., between the mixing zones and ) may be included in the system.
220
250
In some embodiments, the length of the apparatus, as measured from mixing zone to vent , is at least 6 meters, optionally at least 7 meters, optionally at least 8 meters, optionally at least 9 meters, optionally at least 10 meters, optionally at least 11 meters, optionally at least 12 meters, and optionally at least 15 meters. In exemplary embodiments, the length is about 11 meters.
Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that the aforementioned lengths allow for a longer residence time of the feedstock in the apparatus, which enhances the chemical reactions which occur therein, thereby improving the physicochemical properties of the obtained processed material.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments pertaining to an apparatus described herein, the residence time of feedstock in the apparatus is at least 5 minutes. In some embodiments, the residence time of feedstock in the apparatus is at least 10 minutes. In some embodiments, the residence time of feedstock in the apparatus is at least 15 minutes. In some embodiments, the residence time of feedstock in the apparatus is at least 20 minutes. In some embodiments, the residence time of feedstock in the apparatus is at least 30 minutes. In some embodiments, the residence time feedstock in the apparatus is at least 40 minutes. In some embodiments, the residence time of feedstock in the apparatus is at least 60 minutes.
It is to be noted that the residence time as described herein corresponds to the duration of the feedstock mixing stage in a method as described herein for processing a waste material.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments pertaining to a system described herein, the system further comprises a plurality of reservoirs, each reservoir being for containing a different type of material. For example, the system may comprise a first reservoir for containing a sorted material (e.g., as described herein) and one or more reservoirs for containing one or more additional materials described herein and/or a different sorted material than is contained in the aforementioned first reservoir (e.g., sorted material derived from a different source of waste material and/or sorted material provided by a different sorting process).
220
200
The reservoirs are optionally in communication with an apparatus for mixing sorted material with the additional material (e.g., as described herein) and/or for mixing and heating feedstock (e.g., first mixing zone in apparatus ), so as to allow thorough mixing of the materials from the different reservoirs, to thereby form the feedstock.
In some embodiments of any of the embodiments pertaining to a system described herein, at least one reservoir is for containing carbohydrate(s) obtained from a liquid derived from the waste material (e.g., as described herein). Such a reservoir is optionally configured to receive the carbohydrate(s) from an apparatus configured for collecting the carbohydrate(s) obtained from a waste material-derived liquid (e.g., as described herein) obtained from one or more components of the system, such as one or more shredders and/or one or more separators (e.g., as described herein).
Thus, the system optionally further comprises an apparatus configured for collecting the carbohydrate(s) from a liquid obtained from one or more components of the system, such as one or more shredders and/or one or more separators (e.g., as described herein). Such components in communication with the apparatus for collecting liquid may optionally be configured for conveying waste material-derived liquid to the apparatus.
200
The system is optionally configured so as to allow control over the proportions of material from the different reservoirs, so as to thereby provide control over the composition of the feedstock subjected to heating and mixing (e.g., in apparatus ).
As exemplified in the Examples section, the system described herein is suitable for producing a processed material comprising a polymeric material (e.g., a processed material described herein), optionally a thermoplastic polymeric material such as described herein.
As used herein the term “about” refers to ±10%.
The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, “including”, “having” and their conjugates mean “including but not limited to”.
The term “consisting essentially of” means that the composition, method or structure may include additional ingredients, steps and/or parts, but only if the additional ingredients, steps and/or parts do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed composition, method or structure.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance or illustration”. Any embodiment described as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments and/or to exclude the incorporation of features from other embodiments.
The word “optionally” is used herein to mean “is provided in some embodiments and not provided in other embodiments”. Any particular embodiment of the invention may include a plurality of “optional” features unless such features conflict.
As used herein, the singular form “a”, “an” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term “a compound” or “at least one compound” may include a plurality of compounds, including mixtures thereof.
Throughout this application, various embodiments of this invention may be presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as individual numerical values within that range. For example, description of a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range.
Whenever a numerical range is indicated herein, it is meant to include any cited numeral (fractional or integral) within the indicated range. The phrases “ranging/ranges between” a first indicate number and a second indicate number and “ranging/ranges from” a first indicate number “to” a second indicate number are used herein interchangeably and are meant to include the first and second indicated numbers and all the fractional and integral numerals therebetween.
As used herein the term “method” refers to manners, means, techniques and procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readily developed from known manners, means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the chemical arts.
It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.
Various embodiments and aspects of the present invention as delineated hereinabove and as claimed in the claims section below find experimental support in the following examples.
Reference is now made to the following examples, which together with the above descriptions illustrate some embodiments of the invention in a non-limiting fashion.
FIG. 1
A general procedure for separating waste material according to some embodiments of the present invention is shown in .
FIG. 11
FIG. 12
In some embodiments, the procedure is performed using a system such as described and exemplified in and/or in .
10
Waste material is provided, optionally “wet” waste material, i.e., waste material which has not been subjected to drying, and optionally wet substantially unsorted waste material (SUW). The waste material is preferably domestic waste material, e.g., collected from private households. Optionally, the waste material has been subjected to preliminary processing procedures (e.g., at a waste disposal facility), such as crushing (e.g., by a hammer mill), and/or removal of magnetic materials.
10
20
10
10
12
14
12
14
25
10
12
14
12
14
Waste material is subjected to separation according to specific gravity (by contacting the waste material with a liquid), resulting in separation of waste material into a low-specific gravity material and a high-specific gravity material . Low-specific gravity material (and optionally high-specific gravity material ) is subjected to shredding , resulting in a shredded material, which may optionally be subjected to one or more additional cycles of separation of waste material into a low-specific gravity material and a high-specific gravity material , and optionally shredding the low-specific gravity material and/or high-specific gravity material .
14
The separated high-specific gravity material may optionally be further sorted so as to extract useful and/or valuable materials such as metals (e.g., iron, gold) and silica and/or glass (e.g., for use as filler).
20
Additional cycles of separation may be according to the same distinction between low-specific gravity material and high-specific gravity material (e.g., using the same specific gravity of liquid used for separation) as in a previous cycle or a different distinction between low-specific gravity material and high-specific gravity material (e.g., using a different specific gravity of liquid used for separation).
20
25
Additional cycles of separation and shredding optionally comprise finer shredding of material than in a previous cycle.
20
25
25
20
Optionally, the first cycle of separation and shredding comprises removing high-specific gravity inorganic materials which may interfere with shredding , followed by at least one additional cycle of separation .
20
25
Optionally, additional cycle of separation is made more effective due to the previous shredding , which facilitates, for example, removal of air pockets from the material and/or dismantling of waste material particles into their component materials.
25
20
25
20
Optionally, shredding is performed in such a manner as to remove liquid (e.g. liquid absorbed during separation ) from the sorted material being shredded, for example, by compression (e.g., using a screw press) and/or drainage of the material during shredding. Optionally, shredding is performed in such a manner after each cycle of separation .
10
12
14
25
Additional materials (e.g., as described herein) may optionally be added at any stage, during one or more cycles described herein, for example, to waste material , to low-specific gravity material and/or to high-specific gravity material prior to and/or subsequent to shredding .
Sorted material obtained according to this general procedure may optionally be subjected to a procedure for processing a feedstock by mixing and heating, e.g., the procedure described in Example 2.
FIG. 2
A general procedure for processing a feedstock derived from waste material according to some embodiments of the present invention is shown in .
FIG. 4
FIG. 12
In some embodiments, the procedure is performed in a system such as described and exemplified in and/or in .
70
Sorted material is provided by separating waste material according to the general procedure described in Example 1, so as to remove at least a portion of inorganic material from the waste material.
80
90
90
70
The sorted material is optionally combined with an additional material to form feedstock . Alternatively, feedstock consists essentially of sorted material .
90
30
32
30
32
220
200
30
32
40
40
40
230
200
FIG. 4
FIG. 4
Feedstock comprising the (optionally shredded) sorted material, optionally in combination with an additional material, is subjected to mixing via shear forces and heating . In some embodiments, mixing and heating are effected in a first zone of apparatus shown in . Following mixing and heating is removing of gases released during said mixing and heating. Removing of the gases is optionally effected by pumping gases out of the waste material. In some embodiments, removing of gases is effected in vent of apparatus shown in .
30
32
40
50
50
35
30
32
40
35
30
32
50
60
60
Mixing and heating and removing result in processed material . Processed material is then optionally subjected to one or more additional cycle of steps , and . Additional cycle may comprise the same conditions as steps and/or or different conditions (e.g., different temperature and or level of shear forces). Processed material may be subjected to molding . In some embodiments, molding comprises pelletizing.
30
32
240
200
40
250
200
FIG. 4
FIG. 4
In some embodiments, a second cycle of mixing and heating are effected in a second zone of apparatus shown in . In some embodiments, a second removing of gases is thereafter effected in vent of apparatus shown in .
50
30
32
40
The processed material then optionally undergoes quality control and/or packaging. In some embodiments, quality control is performed on processed material immediately upon completing steps , and (e.g., while material is still hot). Such quality control is optionally utilized to regulate any of the previous steps.
FIGS. 4A and 4B
Waste material was separated in an aqueous salt solution comprising about 10 weight percents NaCl, according to the procedures described in Example 1. The separated low density portion of the waste material was then used as a feedstock for processing by mixing and heating according to the procedures described in Example 2. A representative sample of the obtained processed material (in its extruded form) is depicted in .
For comparison, waste material from the same source was also processed by mixing and heating according to the procedures described in Example 2, without a prior separation process.
When using the feedstock produced via separation of waste material, during the heating and mixing, the heated material passed through 3 mm screens which were intended to block contents which do not melt or soften. In contrast, when using (non-separated) waste material, the screens could not be used because they immediately became clogged by solid, inorganic materials.
Similarly, processed material obtained using the feedstock produced via separation of waste material could be readily pelletized, whereas the processed (non-separated) waste material clogged the pelletizer.
3
3
The density of the processed material obtained using the abovementioned feedstock was 1.07 grams/cm, whereas the density of the processed (non-separated) waste material was 1.29 grams/cm. This result confirms that the separation results in a substantial reduction in the density of the processed material derived from waste material.
The mineral composition of the samples was then analyzed by extracting 10 grams of each sample in 500 ml of boiling water, and performing an elemental analysis on the water by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) mass spectroscopy. The concentrations of elements for which at least 1 mg/liter was detected (in at least one sample), as well as toxic metals (arsenic, barium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, mercury, nickel, lead, antimony, selenium), are presented in Table 1.
TABLE 1
Concentration (mg/liter) of elements in extract of processed
material derived from waste material, with or without
prior separation of waste material
(N.D. = not detected; underlining indicates relatively high
change in concentration; italics indicate greatest
changes in concentration)
With separation
Element
Without separation
(in 10% NaCl solution)
Boron
2.0
2.4
Calcium
<u style="single">45.4</u>
<u style="single">25.0</u>
Potassium
<u style="single">48.4</u>
<u style="single">16.7</u>
Magnesium
<u style="single">0.8</u>
<u style="single">1.6</u>
Sodium
<u style="single"><i>82.6</i></u>
<u style="single"><i>462</i></u>
Sulfur
<u style="single">20.9</u>
<u style="single">9.2</u>
Silicon
<u style="single">4.8</u>
<u style="single">17.4</u>
Arsenic
N.D.
N.D.
Barium
0.011
0.024
Cadmium
N.D.
N.D.
Cobalt
0.010
0.004
Chromium
0.017
0.012
Mercury
N.D.
N.D.
Nickel
0.15
0.03
Lead
0.02
0.01
Antimony
0.06
0.04
Selenium
N.D.
N.D.
As shown in Table 1, separating the waste material in an aqueous salt (NaCl) solution resulted in a five-fold increase in the concentration of sodium in the obtained processed material. This indicates that some salt is incorporated into the sorted material obtained using the salt solution, thereby affecting the composition of the final product.
As further shown therein, separating the waste material in the aqueous salt solution resulted in a decrease in the concentrations of common ions such as calcium and potassium (but not magnesium), which may reflect exchange of cations in the waste material by sodium and/or extraction of water-soluble ions by the aqueous salt solution. The small increase in magnesium concentration may be due to a presence of magnesium in sea salt.
As further shown therein, separating the waste material in the aqueous salt solution resulted in a decrease in the concentrations of each of the detectable toxic metals, except for barium (possibly due to the presence of barium in sea water). This indicates that the separation process reduces toxicity of processed material.
In order to further characterize the elemental composition of the processed material obtained via separation of waste material, elemental analysis was performed by CHNS (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur) flash combustion analysis (using a Thermo Flash EA-1112 elemental analyzer) and by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).
According to the CHNS elemental analysis, the weight percentage of carbon in the processed material obtained via separation of waste material was 69.5±0.3%, the weight percentage of hydrogen in the processed material was 10.8±0.1%, the weight percentage of nitrogen in the processed material was 0.38±0.01%, and the weight percentage of sulfur in the processed material was less than 0.1%.
The weight percentages of elements according to the XPS elemental analysis are presented in Table 2 (elemental percentages exclude hydrogen and helium, which are not detected by this method).
TABLE 2
Elemental composition of exemplary processed material
Element
Weight percentage
Atom percentage
Carbon
64.93
73.95
Oxygen
25.81
22.07
Sodium
1.56
0.93
Magnesium
0.15
0.08
Aluminum
0.61
0.31
Silicon
1.67
0.81
Phosphorus
0.07
0.03
Sulfur
0.06
0.03
Chlorine
2.40
0.92
Potassium
0.04
0.02
Calcium
1.62
0.55
Titanium
0.74
0.21
Iron
0.35
0.09
Taken together, the above elemental analyses indicate that processed material obtained via separation of waste material consists primarily of carbon (e.g., at least about 60 weight percents), oxygen (e.g., at least about 20 weight percents), hydrogen (e.g., about 10 weight percents) and a small amount of nitrogen (e.g., about 0.4 weight percent), with much of the balance being sodium and chlorine in approximately equimolar amounts (e.g., each representing about 0.9% of the total amount of atoms). Carbon, oxygen and hydrogen alone represent over 90 percent of the total amount of atoms in the material. The significant amount of sodium and chlorine is presumably due to the salt in the solution used for separating.
The composition was further analyzed using calorimetry. 6.67 mg of the processed separated waste material was analyzed from 25 to 300° C. at a rate of 10° C. per minute.
FIG. 6
As shown in , the processed material obtained via separation of waste material was characterized by a phase transition at about 109° C. which was associated with a heat of transition of about 32 joules per gram, and by a phase transition at about 153° C. which was associated with a heat of transition of about 20 joules per gram.
These results suggest the presence of polyethylene (associated with the melting point of about 109° C.) and polypropylene (associated with the melting point of about 153° C.), both of which are common in waste material, and which have a relatively low specific gravity.
The processed material obtained via separation of waste material was compared to the processed (non-separated) waste material by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Polyethylene (20%) was added to each sample.
FIG. 7
−1
−1
−1
−1
As shown in , both samples exhibited similar IR peaks at about 2800-3000 cm(associated with carbon-hydrogen bonds), but the processed material obtained via separation of waste material exhibits a different and less complex spectrum in the “fingerprint region” of about 600 to 1800 cm, as compared to the processed (non-separated) waste material. The correlation of the spectra was 0.97 over the range of 600-4000 cm, but only 0.77 over the range of 600-2724 cm.
In addition, the processed material obtained via separation of waste material met European Union REACH regulation standards.
This result indicates that separation of the waste material results in a processed material that has a more hydrocarbon-like nature, presumably due to the removal of materials which are denser than hydrocarbons and similar materials.
10
8
4
Waste material was separated in an aqueous salt solution comprising about 15 weight percents NaCl, according to the procedures described in Examples 1 and 3, to obtain a feedstock. The 15% salt solution resulted in incorporation in the feedstock of a higher percentage of relatively dense organic polymers, typically characterized by a relatively high ratio of heteroatoms (e.g., poly(ethylene terephthalate), characterized by CHOunits), in the sorted material.
The feedstock was processed by mixing and heating according to the procedures described in Examples 2 and 3, to obtain a processed material which was moderately denser and/or richer in heteroatoms (e.g., oxygen) than the processed material obtained using a 10% salt solution, as described in Example 3.
The physical properties of the processed material were analyzed by measuring tensile strength, tensile modulus, and notched impact strength (according to ISO 179eA standards), and compared to the corresponding properties of the common polymers low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP). The results are presented in Table 3.
TABLE 3
Physical properties of exemplary processed material,
polyethylene and polypropylene
Processed
material
prepared
by
separating
Low-density
High-density
waste
polyethylene
polyethylene
Polypropylene
material
(LDPE)
(HDPE)
(PP)
Tensile
12
11
27
35
strength
(MPa)
Tensile
375
150
1100
1650
modulus
(MPa)
Tensile
85
95
9
9
strength
(%)
notched impact
52.5
60
4
2.5
strength - ISO
179eA (kJ/m<sup>2</sup>)
The melt-flow index of the processed material was measured according to ISO 1133 standards at a temperature of 190° C., and found to be 3.6 grams per 10 minutes.
In contrast, the melt flow index of processed material prepared by heating and mixing non-separated waste material could not be measured, as the material did not flow at 190° C.
These results indicate that the separation of waste material for preparing a feedstock, as described herein, improves the flowability of the obtained processed material, and that the physical properties of the obtained processed material are similar to those of polyethylene.
10
8
4
Waste material was separated in an aqueous salt solution comprising about 20 weight percents NaCl, according to the procedures described in Examples 1 and 3, to obtain a feedstock. The 20% salt solution resulted in incorporation in the feedstock of a higher percentage of relatively dense organic polymers, typically characterized by a relatively high ratio of heteroatoms (e.g., poly(ethylene terephthalate), characterized by CHOunits), in the sorted material, as compared to the feedstocks described in Examples 3 and 4.
The feedstock was processed by mixing and heating according to the procedures described in Examples 2 and 3, to obtain a processed material which was moderately denser and/or richer in heteroatoms (e.g., oxygen) than the processed material obtained using a 10% salt solution, as described in Example 3, or the processed material obtained using a 15% salt solution, as described in Example 4.
Processed material prepared as described in Example 5 was combined with polypropylene copolymer at a weight ratio of 30:70 (processed material: polypropylene copolymer) to form a plastic material. Five different batches of the plastic material were prepared, and their physical properties were analyzed by measuring density, tensile strength at yield, tensile modulus, elongation at yield, elongation at break and Izod impact strength (notched and unnotched samples). The results are presented in Table 4 below.
As shown in Table 4, batch-to-batch variations were relatively small, indicating that the product obtained by the methodology described herein is reproducible.
In addition, the obtained impact strengths were higher than those of similar plastic materials prepared using processed material prepared by heating and mixing non-separated waste material (data not shown).
TABLE 4
Physical properties of mixtures of exemplary processed material with
polypropylene copolymer
Average ±
Batch
Batch
Batch
Batch
Batch
standard
1
2
3
4
5
deviation
Density (g/cm<sup>3</sup>)
0.9461
0.9031
0.9281
0.9219
0.9289
0.9256 ± 0.0155
Tensile strength
19.4
21.1
19.7
20.7
19.4
20.1 ± 0.8
at yield (MPa)
Tensile modulus
1158
1215
1110
1194
1100
1155 ± 50
(MPa)
Elongation
5
5
6
5
6
5.4 ± 0.5
at yield (%)
Elongation
11
10
14
12
13
12 ± 1.6
at break (%)
Izod impact
72
65
71
75
75
72 ± 4
strength-notched (J/m)
Izod impact strength-
475
521
526
525
500
509 ± 22
unnotched
(J/m)
A feedstock comprising waste material separated in an aqueous salt solution comprising about 20 weight percents NaCl was processed as described in Example 5. The feedstock was supplemented with polyethylene prior to processing of the feedstock. The obtained processed material was examiner by X-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.
FIG. 8
As shown in , the main feature of the EPR spectrum was an anisotropic signal of a carbon radical, with g1=2.7, g2=2.19 and g3=1.7, giving an isotropic g value of 2.20 (i.e., (2.7+2.19+1.7)/3).
This high g value, as compared to a classical carbon radical which is characterized by a g value of about 2.0, suggests an influence of a delocalized free electron surrounding the carbon radicals, thus generating a local magnetic field and increased g value.
As the carbon electrons are embedded in a polymeric structure and cannot rotate freely, an anisotropic EPR spectrum was obtained, with different g1, g2 and g3 values, representing interaction of each of the x, y and z components of the spin vector carbon with the external magnetic field.
In addition, the peak-to-peak width (ΔHpp) observed in the EPR spectrum was very broad, about 1200 G (gauss), as compared to 1-20 G for a typical free carbon radical, and about 200 G for alkyl or allyl radicals in cellulose (for which the signal is broadened by hyperfine structure due to interaction of hydrogen atoms surrounding the carbon radical). The very broad signal suggests that the sample may contain several species of carbon radicals and/or that significant dipolar interactions between neighboring unpaired electrons are present.
13
The composition of the processed material was further characterized by solid-state NMR spectroscopy, performed using a Chemagnetics™ Infinity console (300 MHz proton frequency) with a Chemagnetics™ triply resonant variable temperature probe. C spectra provided information regarding molecules in the processed material.
FIG. 9A
2
2
3
3
2
As shown in , the NMR spectrum was dominated by peaks at 28, 31, 32.8 and 34 ppm (not shown) that are characteristic of polyethylene (PE) polymer, and which were far stronger than the peaks characteristic of cellulose. The peak at 32.8 ppm is typical of highly ordered arrangement of the aliphatic polymer chains in polyethylene, also called crystalline PE. The peak at 31 ppm is of semi-crystalline PE where chains are less tightly packed and some disorder in the polymer exists. A semi-quantitative analysis of the two peaks shows that about 2:1 exist between the crystalline and semi-crystalline polymer phases. Peaks at 21.8, 23.8, 26.5, 28.1 ppm and at 38.2 and 44 ppm flank the main polymer lines. These lines and their ratios are indicative of the degree of branching in high-density polyethylene (HDPE). In typical commercial HDPE, the main polymer chain CHgroups appear at 27.1-27.4 and 34-37.5 ppm and the branched chain CHcarbons at 26.6 ppm and CHcarbons at 19.9 ppm. Some shifts are possible compared to the these values due to changes in measurement conditions and in material processing, therefore, the line at 21.8 is identified at branched CH, the 26.5 as branched CHand main polymer lines at 28.1 and 38.2. The observed peak at 44 ppm was associated with C—OH or open chain ether group either in a polymer or in a smaller molecule. It is less than 1% of the total carbon content in the spectrum.
FIG. 9B
J Amer Chem Soc
As shown in , the NMR spectrum showed peaks at 65.8, 72, 75, 83.5, 89 and 105.5 ppm, which were identified as those of highly-crystalline cellulose, in accordance with Atalla et al. [1980, 102:3249]. Peaks typical of lignin were not observed.
The lines at 94.6 and 96.5 ppm and the symmetric lines at −30.8 and −31.9 ppm are sidebands of the main PE carbon line due to sample spinning at 8000 Hz and have no chemical importance, as is the case with the small line observed at 160.1 ppm.
The weakness of NMR signal associated with lignocellulose as compared with polyolefin signal suggests that free radicals present in the processed material (as demonstrated by the EPR spectrum) selectively reduce the lignocellulose NMR signal, which indicates that free radicals are concentrated in lignocellulosic material in the processed material rather than in polyolefins in the processed material.
13
6 grams of fresh organic waste (carrot, cucumber, banana peels) was placed in samples of 60 ml fresh water or 60 ml of salt water with about 20 weight percents, and incubated at room temperature for 3 hours. Filtrates of each sample were then analyzed by C-NMR spectroscopy, performed as described in Example 7.
FIGS. 10A and 10B
FIG. 10A
As shown in , the filtrate from the salt solution exhibited NMR signals in a range of from 60-100 ppm (), typical of carbohydrates such as glucose and xylose, whereas no such signals were observed for the filtrate obtained from fresh water.
These results indicate that the use of hypertonic solutions to separate waste material breaks cell walls and facilitates release of carbohydrates.
FIG. 11
An exemplary system for separating waste materials according to specific gravity according to some embodiments of the invention is shown in . The system is may optionally be incorporated within a larger system for sorting and/or processing waste material, as described herein.
300
310
350
300
300
310
310
300
The system comprises a container which is at least partially filled with liquid , and optionally a stirrer (e.g., a paddle wheel) within container or in communication with container . Liquid is selected to have a specific gravity suitable for separating waste material (e.g., in a range of from 1.00 to 2.50). Liquid is optionally an aqueous solution. Container , along with its associated devices (as described herein), is also referred to as a “separator”.
300
320
315
310
310
300
300
330
325
Container is configured to allow waste material (optionally shredded waste material) to enter (as indicated by arrow ), and to allow some waste material at surface of the liquid , and optionally additional material in liquid which does not sediment (e.g., is not at the bottom of container ), to exit container via outlet (as indicated by arrow ).
365
315
315
310
300
330
315
365
365
Optional conveyor is located at or near surface , and is configured to convey material at or near surface of the liquid out of container via outlet . For example, material floating at surface comes into contact with conveyor , allowing conveyor to convey the material.
360
300
300
360
315
300
Optional conveyor is configured to convey material at or near bottom of container (e.g., sediment) out of container . Conveyor may optionally be configured to raise material above surface before exiting container .
365
360
Conveyor and/or conveyor optionally comprise teeth and/or grooves and/or the like (not depicted), configured for grabbing material, so as to facilitate conveying.
330
310
330
300
330
310
330
300
340
Outlet is optionally configured to remove, optionally by gravity and/or centrifugal force, at least some liquid which adheres to and/or is absorbed by sorted materials exiting via outlet , or otherwise leaks from container into outlet . Liquid which is removed in outlet may optionally be returned to container via optional conduit .
310
Liquid is optionally a solution (optionally a salt solution) or a suspension, comprising a solvent (optionally water) and an additional substance (e.g., a solute and/or a suspended substance).
The system is optionally configured to adjust a specific gravity of said liquid to a predetermined value (e.g., a value within a predetermined range).
380
300
390
310
Optional reservoir(s) comprises water and/or additional substance, which enter container via conduit(s) to replenish and/or adjust a composition and/or specific gravity of liquid .
370
300
310
370
380
300
310
Optional monitor is in communication with container , and monitors a composition and/or specific gravity of liquid . Monitor is optionally configured to control entry of water and/or additional substance from reservoir(s) into container , so as to control a composition and/or specific gravity of liquid .
395
300
330
325
310
330
Optional container receives sorted material exiting container via outlet (as indicated by arrow ), and is filled with a liquid (not shown) adapted for rinsing off at least some liquid which adheres to and/or is absorbed by sorted materials exiting via outlet .
315
330
395
In some embodiments, conveyor extends into outlet , and optionally into container .
330
395
In some embodiments, an additional conveyor (not shown) conveys material through outlet and/or container .
330
395
Outlet and/or container is optionally configured for conveying sorted material to an apparatus for shredding the sorted material (e.g., shredding to a finer particle size) and/or to an apparatus for heating and mixing a feedstock derived from waste material as described herein.
300
395
395
310
395
300
310
300
Container and/or container is optionally in communication with a filtration apparatus (not shown), optionally a reverse osmosis filtration apparatus, adapted for filtering out solutes and/or small particles of material. In some embodiments, a filtration apparatus in communication with container is adapted for filtering residual solute of liquid out of the liquid in container . In some embodiments, a filtration apparatus in communication with container is adapted for filtering small particles of material out of liquid in container .
300
360
365
350
330
395
300
In some embodiments, a system comprises a plurality (e.g., a pair) of containers (e.g., a plurality of separators), configured for operating in parallel and/or in tandem, each configured as described herein (e.g., with conveyors and , stirrer and outlet ), being in communication with a single container . Such a configuration may allow for continuous operation of the system when one container is not available for separating waste materials (e.g., due to maintenance and/or removal of waste materials therefrom) and/or for performing multiple cycles of separation (e.g., using liquids with different specific gravities).
FIG. 12
An exemplary system for separating waste materials according to specific gravity and processing the waste materials according to some embodiments of the invention is shown in . The system may optionally be incorporated within a larger system for processing waste material, as described herein.
400
400
410
402
496
404
400
400
The system optionally comprises a waste reservoir which is adapted for storing (e.g., for up to 24 hours or more) a large amount (e.g., about 25 tons) of waste materials without polluting (e.g., by odor pollution and/or leakage of liquids) the surrounding environment and/or for receiving transported waste materials (e.g., from a waste disposal vehicle). Optional waste reservoir is configured for conveying waste material to a first separator via optional conduit , and optionally further configured for conveying gas released by the waste material therein to optional gas control system via optional conduit (e.g., a conveyor belt in communication with a bottom of reservoir ). Waste reservoir is optionally configured for monitoring a weight of waste material therein.
402
402
Optional conduit (e.g., a conveyor belt) is configured for conveying material comprising liquids without leakage (e.g., without leakage between slats of a conveyor belt). Conduit is optionally configured for conveying waste material at a rate of at least 0.5-3 tons per hour.
410
420
412
410
410
3
First separator contains an aqueous salt solution (e.g., at a volume of about 3-4 m) and is configured for separating waste materials according to specific gravity as described herein (e.g., configured as a system described in Example 9), and for conveying partially sorted materials obtained by separation to first shredder via conduit . First separator is optionally further configured for separating oils which float on a surface of the aqueous salt solution (e.g., by skimming) from the partially sorted materials and aqueous salt solution, first separator optionally comprising a skimmer adapted for skimming oils (e.g., a weir skimmer, oleophilic skimmer and/or metallic skimmer described herein).
410
410
494
416
410
494
416
410
494
494
410
410
410
492
414
First separator is adapted for partial separation (e.g., by compression and/or drainage) of liquid (composed to a large degree of the aqueous salt solution) from partially sorted material exiting the separator and maintaining the separated solution in the separator. The separated liquids may further include oils originating in the waste material. First separator is in communication with separator solution control system via conduit(s) . First separator , separator solution control system and conduit(s) are configured for conveying liquid (composed to a large degree of the aqueous salt solution) from separator to separator solution control system for monitoring the content (e.g., specific gravity) of the solution and/or for conveying aqueous salt solution or any ingredients thereof from separator solution control system to separator , for replenishing or otherwise controlling the solution in separator . First separator is optionally further configured for conveying separated materials such as inorganic materials to optional inorganic material bin via optional conduit .
420
410
430
422
420
424
490
First shredder is configured for shredding (e.g., by cutting blades) partially sorted material received from separator into crudely shredded pieces of about 12 mm in size, and for conveying the shredded partially sorted material to second separator via conduit . Shredder is optionally further configured for conveying liquid from the shredded partially sorted material (e.g., by compressing and/or draining the shredded partially sorted material) via optional conduit to optional liquid control system . The liquid may include oils originating in the waste material.
430
420
440
432
430
430
3
Second separator contains an aqueous salt solution (e.g., at a volume of about 3-4 m) and is configured for separating crudely shredded partially sorted materials received from shredder according to specific gravity as described herein (e.g., configured as a system described in Example 9), and for conveying sorted materials after separation to second shredder via conduit . Second separator is optionally further configured for separating oils which float on a surface of the aqueous salt solution (e.g., by skimming) from the partially sorted materials and aqueous salt solution, second separator optionally comprising a skimmer adapted for skimming oils (e.g., a weir skimmer, oleophilic skimmer and/or metallic skimmer described herein).
430
430
494
436
430
494
436
430
494
494
430
430
430
492
434
Second separator is adapted for partial separation (e.g., by compression and/or drainage) of liquid (composed to a large degree of the aqueous salt solution) from sorted material exiting the separator and maintaining the separated solution in the separator. The separated liquids may further include oils originating in the waste material. Second separator is in communication with separator solution control system via conduit(s) . Second separator , separator solution control system and conduit(s) are configured for conveying liquid (composed to a large degree of the aqueous salt solution) from separator to separator solution control system for monitoring the content (e.g., specific gravity) of the solution and/or for conveying aqueous salt solution or any ingredients thereof from separator solution control system to separator , for replenishing or otherwise controlling the solution in separator . Second separator is optionally further configured for conveying separated materials such as inorganic materials to optional inorganic material bin via optional conduit .
440
430
460
442
440
444
490
Second shredder is configured for further shredding (e.g., by cutting blades) sorted material received from separator into shredded pieces of about 5-6 mm in size, and for conveying the shredded sorted material to optional mixer via conduit (e.g., a conveyor belt). Shredder is optionally further configured for conveying liquid from the shredded sorted material (e.g., by compressing and/or draining the shredded sorted material) via optional conduit to optional liquid control system . The liquid may include oils originating in the waste material.
410
420
430
440
420
440
Any one or more of first separator , first shredder , second separator and second shredder optionally comprises a screw press configured for compressing partially sorted material exiting the separator and/or shredder, to thereby separate a portion of the liquids from partially sorted material. Optionally, first shredder and/or second shredder comprise a screw press.
450
460
452
450
452
460
442
452
442
460
452
460
Optional additional material reservoir (e.g., a silo) is configured for conveying an additional material to be added to the sorted material (e.g., an additional material described herein) to mixer via optional conduit . Reservoir may optionally be configured for breaking any lumps in the additional material. Conduit may communicate with mixer separately from conduit , or conduits and may be joined to form a single conduit in communication with mixer . Conduit is optionally configured for conveying the additional material to an optional separator (not shown) for sorting the additional material, after which the sorted additional is conveyed to mixer .
460
442
452
460
460
490
464
Mixer is configured for mixing sorted material received via conduit and optionally additional material received via conduit , for forming a feedstock. Mixer is optionally configured for mixing the sorted material in an acidic solution (e.g., aqueous hydrochloric acid, pH 2). The acidic solution is optionally sufficiently acidic so as to result in cleavage of lignocellulose in the sorted material to smaller units (e.g., cleavage of polysaccharide to smaller saccharide units). Mixer is optionally further configured for conveying liquid released from the sorted material to optional liquid control system via optional conduit(s) .
460
480
470
462
472
Optionally, mixer is a component (e.g., the mixer component) of mixer/reactor , and optional buffer container and optional conduits and are not present.
460
480
462
462
480
Alternatively, mixer is configured for conveying the feedstock directly or indirectly to mixer/reactor via optional conduit . Conduit is optionally in direct communication with mixer/reactor .
462
470
480
472
480
470
462
470
496
476
490
474
Alternatively, conduit is in communication with optional buffer container , which is configured (e.g., in a form of a hopper) for conveying feedstock to mixer/reactor via conduit at a controlled rate which is adapted for operation of mixer/reactor . The controlled rate may be different than the rate at which the feedstock is conveyed to container via conduit . Buffer container is optionally further configured for conveying gas released from the feedstock to optional gas control system via optional conduit , and/or for conveying liquid released from the feedstock to optional liquid control system via optional conduit .
480
480
FIG. 4
Mixer/reactor is configured for subjecting the feedstock to shear forces and heating as described herein (e.g., configured as described in ), and for releasing gas from heated feedstock (e.g., via vent(s)). Mixer/reactor is optionally configured for extruding a processed material.
480
472
Mixer/reactor optionally comprises a first zone and second zone for mixing and heating. The first zone is configured for receiving feedstock from conduit , subjecting the feedstock to mixing and heating at a first temperature (e.g., at about 110° C.) sufficient for forming a relatively homogeneous mixture (e.g., kneading), and releasing gas. The second zone is configured for receiving material from the first zone, subjecting the material to mixing with shear forces as described herein and heating at a second temperature (e.g., at about 180-225° C.), and releasing gas, and optionally for extruding a processed material. The second zone is optionally configured as an extruder (e.g., as described herein).
480
480
472
480
Mixer/reactor optionally comprises at least one mixer adapted for subjecting incoming material to intensive shearing forces, for example, by rotation of intersecting spiral-shaped blades (e.g., as in a Banbury® mixer). Such a mixer may be configured as a first zone of mixer/reactor (as described herein) and/or for receiving material from conduit and conveying material to a first zone of mixer/reactor (as described herein).
480
480
Mixer/reactor is optionally in communication with a pelletizer (not shown) configured for preparing pellets from processed material conveyed (e.g., by extrusion) from mixer/reactor .
484
496
484
Optionally, gas is conveyed via optional conduit(s) to optional gas control system . Optionally, conduit(s) comprises at least one conduit in communication with a first zone described herein and/or at least one conduit in communication with a second zone described herein.
494
410
430
494
410
430
494
Separator solution control system is configured for cleaning one or more separator solutions (e.g., by removal of particles of waste material by filtration, removal of oils by any suitable oil-water separation technique, and/or removal of foam, which may be caused, for example, by detergents in waste material), and for controlling an amount of solution in separator and/or . Solution control system is optionally configured to receive information from one or more monitors (not shown) which detect an amount of solution in separator and/or . Solution control system optionally comprises a plurality (e.g., two) of parallel mechanisms for cleaning solutions, such that the system can remain operative during maintenance of one mechanism (e.g., cleaning and/or replacing a filter and/or oil-water separator).
494
494
410
430
410
430
Solution control system is optionally in communication with a reservoir for collecting oils removed by solution control system . Alternatively or additionally, the reservoir for collecting oils is in communication with first separator and/or second separator , and is for collecting oils separated (e.g., by skimming) in first separator and/or second separator , as described herein.
496
400
470
480
496
400
470
480
Optional gas control system is optionally configured for condensing (e.g., forming water from steam) and/or storing at least a portion of gas received from reservoir , container and/or mixer/reactor , and optionally further configured for separating liquids (e.g., water) formed by the condensation. Such a gas (e.g., methane) may have an industrial use (e.g., as a fuel). Optional gas control system is optionally configured to reduce pollution (e.g., air pollution, water pollution and/or soil pollution) by gas received from reservoir , container and/or mixer/reactor , and/or by liquids (e.g., water) formed by the condensation.
490
400
420
440
460
470
490
460
464
Optional liquid control system is configured for collecting and optionally treating a liquid received from reservoir , shredder(s) and/or , mixer and/or container . Such a compound may have an industrial use (e.g., use in feedstock). Liquid control system is optionally further configured for conveying a compound (e.g., carbohydrate) from a liquid to mixer via conduit .
Treating the liquid may optionally comprise concentrating a compound (e.g., carbohydrate) in the liquid (e.g., by filtration and or evaporation of the liquid), fermenting and/or processing the carbohydrate(s) by fermentation, heating, and/or reaction with a reagent (e.g., as described herein).
410
430
The salt in the aqueous salt solutions of separator and/or optionally consists essentially of sea salt (e.g., NaCl with some additional salts present). The salt solution is optionally sea water or concentrated sea water or diluted sea water.
Materials comprised by the system are selected to be suitable for operation in a corrosive environment while minimizing galvanic corrosion.
Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.
All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference into the specification, to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention. To the extent that section headings are used, they should not be construed as necessarily limiting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
Some embodiments of the invention are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of embodiments of the invention. In this regard, the description taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled in the art how embodiments of the invention may be practiced.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1
is a flow chart depicting a method of separating waste material according to some embodiments of the invention;
FIG. 2
is a flow chart depicting a method of processing sorted waste material according to some embodiments of the invention;
FIG. 3
is a scheme depicting a system for separating and processing waste material according to some embodiments of the invention;
FIG. 4
is a scheme depicting a system for processing waste material according to some embodiments of the invention (large arrow shows direction of waste material; small arrows show direction of released gases);
FIGS. 5A and 5B
FIG. 5A
FIG. 5B
are images of a cylindrical sample of extruded processed material according to some embodiments of the invention (side view ; cross-section ; diameter of sample is approximately 10 cm);
FIG. 6
is a graph showing heat flow as a function of temperature during a calorimetry scan (at a rate of 10° C. per minute) of a processed material according to some embodiments of the invention, as well as the temperature of observed phase transitions (represented by peaks) and heat of phase transitions;
FIG. 7
shows an infra-red spectrum of processed material prepared from waste material with (green) and without (blue) separation of the waste material according to some embodiments of the invention;
FIG. 8
is a graph presenting an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum of a processed material according to some embodiments of the invention, including peaks representing g1, g2 and g3 values; locations of a peak representing g values of 2.0 (characteristic of carbon radical) and 3.4 (characteristic of cellulose) are also shown;
FIGS. 9A and 9B
present portions of an NMR spectrum (at different y-axis scales) of a processed material according to some embodiments of the invention;
FIGS. 10A and 10B
FIG. 10A
FIG. 10B
show NMR spectra of a filtrate of sea salt aqueous solution (about 20 weight percents) () and fresh water (), each filtrate being obtained after 3 hours incubation with plant biomass;
FIG. 11
is a scheme depicting a system for separating waste material according to some embodiments of the invention; and
FIG. 12
is a scheme depicting a system for separating and processing waste material according to some embodiments of the invention. | |
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids that are moldable. Plastics are typically organic polymers of high molecular mass, but they often contain other substances. They are usually synthetic, most commonly derived from petrochemicals, but many are partially natural. Plastics are synthetic materials created by linking together into polymers - i.e., polymerizing - molecules of monomer raw material derived from petroleum, natural gas or coal. Polymers alone rarely have the physical qualities to be of practical value, so most plastics contain various chemical additives to facilitate the manufacturing process or produce a particular desirable property, such as flexibility or toughness.
High temperature plastics have a permanent operating temperature of more than 150`C . | https://www.seminarstopics.com/seminar/775/high-temperature-plastic |
Computer programs consist of a set of instructions intended to be executed on a computer system to perform some useful task. Typically, programs are designed to execute certain instructions conditionally, i.e. if one or more conditions are satisfied then the conditional instructions will be executed otherwise they will not be executed. In this context, "executed" means that an instruction performs a specified operation which will result in a modification of the state of the computer system and/or result in a particular sequence of events within the computer system. In traditional computer systems conditional execution is implemented via the branch or jump instruction well known in the art. "Predicated execution" or "predication" (sometimes referred to as "conditional execution" or "guarded execution") is a technique whereby instructions can be executed conditionally without the need for a branch instruction.
Predicated execution is implemented by associating a "predicate" with an instruction where the predicate controls whether or not that instruction is executed. If the predicate evaluates to "true", the instruction is executed; if the predicate evaluates to "false", the instruction is not executed. The definition of "true" and "false" may vary with each embodiment. The function by which the predicate is determined to be true or false may also vary with each embodiment. For example, some embodiments may define the predicate to be a single bit where a value of one is true and a value of zero is false while alternate embodiments may define the predicate to be multiple bits with a specific function for interpreting these bits to be true or false.
By conditionally executing instructions under the control of a predicate, predication eliminates branch instructions from the computer program. This is beneficial on wide and deep pipelines where the flushes due to branch mispredictions causes several "bubbles" in the execution pipeline, giving rise to a large loss of instruction execution opportunities. Predication improves performance by eliminating branches, and thus any associated branch mispredictions. Since branch instructions typically cause breaks in the instruction fetch mechanism, predication also improves performance by increasing the number of instructions between branches thus increasing the effective instruction fetch bandwidth.
Predicates are typically stored in a dedicated "predicate register set". The exact form of the predicate register set may vary with each embodiment. For example, some embodiments may define a plurality of registers each containing a single predicate while alternate embodiments may define the predicates to be one or more bits in a "condition code" or "flags" register. The exact number of predicates may also vary with embodiment. For example, one embodiment may define 64 predicates while another may define only 8 predicates.
There are typically two methods employed to access predicates: individual and "broadside". Predicates are typically written individually by compare instructions and read individually by any predicated instruction. Broadside access refers to reading or writing all predicates simultaneously in a single access. Predicates are typically read and written in broadside fashion for procedure entry and exit and for context switching (a "context switch" occurs when execution on the presently active "process" or "task" is stopped and another process is selected for execution). In broadside access the contents of the predicate register set are typically saved/restored to/from another register in the processor or to/from a memory location in the computer system
Typically the predicates in the predicate register set are equally accessible to all procedures (also known in the art as "functions" or "subroutines") in a computer program. This necessitates the specification of rules by which the sharing can occur so that one procedure does not overwrite the predicates of another procedure. For this purpose registers are divided into two classes: "scratch" and "preserved". By software convention, the contents of scratch registers are lost at the point of a procedure call; the contents of preserved registers are maintained across a procedure call. Note that the division of registers into scratch and preserved classes is a convention used by software and is typically not enforced by the instruction set architecture. This division necessitates certain actions on the part of each procedure. For example, assume procedure A (the "caller") is calling procedure B (the "callee"), therefore a all instruction to procedure B will appear within procedure A and a return instruction to procedure A will appear at the end of procedure B. If procedure A needs the contents of any scratch register after the call to procedure B, then it must save their contents before the instruction that calls procedure B and must restore their contents after said instruction. If procedure B needs to use any preserved register then it must save their contents before using them and must restore their contents before returning to procedure A.
In the situation where procedure B does use preserved predicate registers, when procedure B restores the preserved predicate registers all predicates will be overwritten since, as discussed above, predicates are accessed in broadside fashion for procedure entry and exit. If any instructions following this broadside restore need to read the predicate register set (e.g. any predicated instruction), it would be necessary to insert additional instructions to re-write the predicate register set after the broadside restore and before said predicated instructions. These additional instructions reduce the performance of the procedure by increasing the number of sequentially dependent instructions. In addition, due to the use of pipelining in modern processors, performance may be further degraded due to pipeline stalls caused by instructions that read the predicates waiting on a previous broadside predicate restore to complete.
Therefore, there is a need for a method and apparatus that overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by restoring selected predicate registers of a predicate register set in response to a single instruction.
| |
Novel robotic system capable of learning ownership relations, norms
Researchers have developed a robotic system capable of representing, learning and inferring ownership relations and norms that may address some challenges associated with teaching robots social norms and how to conform to them.
According to the researchers from Yale University, ownership norms are a set of social norms that help to navigate shared environments in ways that are more considerate towards others.
Teaching these norms to robots could enhance their interactions with humans, allowing them to distinguish between un-owned tools and owned tools that are temporarily shared with them, TechXplore reported.
“My research lab focuses on building robots that are easy for people to interact with,” co-author Brian Scassellati was quoted as saying by TechXplore.
“Part of that work is looking at how we can teach machines about common social concepts, things that are essential to us as humans but that are not always the topics that attract the most attention,” he said.
“Understanding about object ownership, permissions, and customs is one of these topics that hasn’t really received much attention but will be critical to the way that machines operate in our homes, schools, and offices,” Scassellati added.
In the approach devised by the research team, ownership is represented as a graph of probabilistic relations between objects and their owners.
This is combined with a database of predicate-based norms, which constrain the actions that the robot is allowed to complete using owned objects.
The system devised by the researchers combines a new incremental norm-learning algorithm that is capable of both one-shot learning and induction from examples, with Bayesian inference of ownership relations in response to apparent rule violations and percept-based prediction of an object’s likely owners.
Together, these components allow the system to learn ownership norms and relations applicable in a variety of situations.
The researchers evaluated the performance of their robotic system in a series of simulated and real-world experiments.
They found that it could effectively complete object manipulation tasks that required a variety of ownership norms to be followed, with remarkable competency and flexibility. | https://www.jerah.org/2019/01/02/novel-robotic-system-capable-of-learning-ownership-relations-norms/ |
BACKGROUND: The health crisis associated with the COVID-19 pandemic is causally linked to negative mental health symptoms in the same way as other diseases such as Ebola.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper is to describe the relationship between mental health symptoms, binge drinking, and the experience of abuse during the COVID-19 lockdown.
METHOD: We surveyed 9,361 participants, all Mexican, with an average age of 33 years old (SD = 10.86). In this group of people, we found out that 59% were single (5,523), 71% were women (6,693). Forty-six percentage were complying with lockdown procedures (4,286), 50% were partially complying (4,682), and 4% were not complying at all (393). The invitation to participate was open from April 24th to April 30th during the second stage of the pandemic in Mexico, in 2020, characterized by voluntary complete lockdown staying at home. Thus, we used a cross-sectional online survey design to assess mental health risk factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey was available on a WebApp designed by Linux(®), PHP(®), HTML(®), CSS(®), and JavaScript(®). We calculated descriptive and inferential analysis to describe the mental health average distribution as a function of the lockdown, binge drinking, and experience of abuse. To calculate the reliability and validation of the subscales, we used Cronbach's Alpha and Factor Loading. We run the confirmatory factor loading analysis, and we described the relationship between each latent variable and its item factor load, obtained through structural modeling equations, derived from 179 iterations and 207 parameters (t ([1,171]) = 28,079.418, p < 0.001). We got a CFI of 0.947, a TLC of 0.940, an RMSEA of 0.049 (0.049-0.050), and an SRMR of 0.048.
FINDINGS: The results indicated that reported attitudes such as avoidance, sadness, withdrawal, anger, and anxiety were associated with acute stress, which was linked to an anxiety condition caused by uncertainty about achieving or maintaining overall good health.
DISCUSSION and Prospects: People in lockdown mentioned a sudden increase in alcohol consumption. They lived episodes of physical and emotional abuse, in contrast with those who stated that they did not go into lockdown or consume alcohol, or experienced abuse. Limitations: Further studies should diagnose mental health conditions as part of the impact of COVID-19, ensure their follow-up, and assess the effect of providing remote psychological care. There is a need to explore methods to curb the increase in the number of people affected by post-traumatic stress disorder. | |
The scientific, organizational and disciplinary management of a research and development laboratory.
The development and optimization of procedures for the production of intermediates for pigments and additives.
Scale
*up of laboratory procedures to fit technical standards in collaboration with the process development and production departments.
Planning and ensuring the execution and evaluation of laboratory tests.
ResponsibilitiesThe development of innovative ideas in order to develop research products, as well as intermediates based on market requirements and economic, ecological and safety technology aspects.
Managing respective development projects after consulting / in accordance with the stipulations of the product manager and as agreed with the department manager IM.
Drafting and optimizing company
*specific production procedures after consulting / in accordance with the stipulations of the department manager IM and as agreed with the product manager (PM).
Optimizing the procedures and products in the assigned plants in regards to cost effectiveness and quality.
Looking after the products in the assigned production plants, including production processes and quality control.
For this purpose, the person holding the role shall independently identify quality
*relevant process parameters, as well as to optimize these in order to achieve the required quality and cost effectiveness goals.
Ensuring the grouping, archiving and further development of all available product and procedure know
*how for the responsible products.
Initiating, ensuring and contributing towards the execution of laboratory tests in regards to the allocated laboratory, in compliance with the environment, safety, work safety and industrial hygiene regulations.
Supporting and advising allocated staff in regards to the execution and evaluation of tests, as well as ensuring the maintenance and repair of the allocated assets.
Ensuring the pre
*evaluation of tests and carrying out meaningful analyses of the substances qualitative characterizations, as well as evaluating and interpreting the results based on the pre
*evaluation.
Deriving laboratory tests in order to optimize quality and yield, as well as ensuring or documenting laboratory results in accordance with internal guidelines.
Coordinating and ensuring adequate specification tests using suitable methods, as well as evaluating the results on consistence in regards to the agreed specifications with the client / processing plant, or ordering subsequent tests.
Ensuring the production of binding laboratory operating procedures in regards to newly or further developed products as a basis for registrations or re
*registrations, as well as the determination of product data in regards to a registration in accordance with official legal requirements.
Compiling complete and meaningful lab operation procedures, calculations, material data and handover protocols, especially considering production requirements, as well as constitution notifications, and the requesting of lab trials, lab test products, trial products or trade products in the PAR database (Product Approval Requests) together with the required data sheets.
Actively supporting internal specialist departments in regards to the registration of new materials.
Determining patent situations in regards to product registrations and re
*registrations.
Documenting development projects in the PROVADA database.
Quarterly reports in regards to project advancement and compiling final project reports.
Implementing products into production by supporting test productions.
Projecting and contributing towards the process development and the development of alternatives in collaboration with the plant manager, as well as the process development department.
Contributing towards the processing of reclamations and quality problems by introducing product know
*how by means of carrying out suitable tests.
Compiling specifications for intermediates for the purpose of worldwide purchasing.
Looking at possible alternatives and testing the components, which could influence the product quality.
Permanently monitoring and evaluating the international state
*of
*the
*art technologies and process developments in the intermediates field by following and evaluating specialist literature, attending conferences and trade fairs, and by realizing any newly acquired findings in the area of responsibility.
Presenting the compiled expertise in front of internal committees, at external symposiums (for exle with customers), as well as by publications.
Acquiring and analyzing specialist information from specialist publications and patent references as part of the patent monitoring.
Applying for intellectual property rights in regards to gained research findings in the laboratory in consultation with the supervisor and in collaboration with Group Intellectual Property, as well as studying international patent situations to be taken into account when carrying out own tests. | http://jobs.divendo.in/anuncio/product-expert-intermediates-lab-401691809 |
History seems to have settled Buckminster’s Fuller’s reputation as a man ahead of his time. He inspires short, witty popular videos like YouTuber Joe Scott’s “The Man Who Saw The Future,” and the ongoing legacy of the Buckminster Fuller Institute (BFI), who note that “Fuller’s ideas and work continue to influence new generations of designers, architects, scientists and artists working to create a sustainable planet.”
Brilliant futurist though he was, Fuller might also be called the man who saw the present and the past—as much as a single individual could seemingly hold in their mind at once. He was “a man who is intensely interested in almost everything,” wrote Calvin Tomkins at The New Yorker in 1965, the year of Fuller’s 70th birthday. Fuller was as eager to pass on as much knowledge as he could collect in his long, productive career, spanning his early epiphanies in the 1920s to his final public talks in the early 80s.
“The somewhat overwhelming effect of a Fuller monologue,” wrote Tomkins, “is well known today in many parts of the world.” His lectures leapt from subject to subject, incorporating ancient and modern history, mathematics, linguistics, architecture, archaeology, philosophy, religion, and—in the example Tomkins gives—“irrefutable data on tides, prevailing winds,” and “boat design.” His discourses issue forth in wave after wave of information.
Fuller could talk at length and with authority about virtually anything—especially about himself and his own work, in his own special jargon of “unique Bucky-isms: special phrases, terminology, unusual sentence structures, etc.,” writes BFI. He may not always have been particularly humble, yet he spoke and wrote with a lack of prejudice and an open curiosity and that is the opposite of arrogance. Such is the impression we get of Fuller in the series of talks he recorded ten years after Tomkin’s New Yorker portrait.
Made in January of 1975, Buckminster Fuller: Everything I Know captured Fuller’s “entire life’s work” in 42 hours of “thinking out loud lectures [that examine] in depth all of Fuller’s major inventions and discoveries from the 1927 Dymaxion house, car and bathroom, through the Wichita House, geodesic domes, and tensegrity structures, as well as the contents of Synergetics. Autobiographical in parts, Fuller recounts his own personal history in the context of the history of science and industrialization.”
He begins, however, in his first lecture at the top, not with himself, but with his primary subject of concern: “all humanity,” a species that begins always in nakedness and ignorance and manages to figure it out “entirely by trial and error,” he says. Fuller marvels at the advances of “early Hindu and Chinese” civilizations—as he had at the Maori in Tomkin’s anecdote, who “had been among the first peoples to discover the principles of celestial navigation” and “found a way of sailing around the world… at least ten thousand years ago.”
The leap from ancient civilizations to “what is called World War I” is “just a little jump in information,” he says in his first lecture, but when Fuller comes to his own lifetime, he shows how many “little jumps” one human being could witness in a lifetime in the 20th century. “The year I was born Marconi invented the wireless,” says Fuller. “When I was 14 man did get to the North Pole, and when I was 16 he got to the South Pole.”
When Fuller was 7, “the Wright brothers suddenly flew,” he says, “and my memory is vivid enough of seven to remember that for about a year the engineering societies were trying to prove it was a hoax because it was absolutely impossible for man to do that.” What it showed young Bucky Fuller was that “impossibles are happening.” If Fuller was a visionary, he redefined the word—as a term for those with an expansive, infinitely curious vision of a possible world that already exists all around us.
See Fuller’s complete lecture series, Everything I Know, at the Internet Archive, and read edited transcripts of his talks at the Buckminster Fuller Institute.
Everything I Know will be added to our collection, 1,500 Free Online Courses from Top Universities.
Related Content: | http://www.openculture.com/2019/07/buckminster-fuller-tells-the-world-everything-he-knows-in-a-42-hour-lecture-series-1975.html |
There’s more to living with depression than having an off day or feeling blue. Depression is a mental illness that can slowly take over a person’s life. And as people live increasingly isolated lives due to the pandemic, the condition is becoming more prevalent.
One in six South Africans may be struggling with depression, according to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) therefore, it’s highly possible that you may be depressed, or know someone struggling with depression.
“Sadly, there is so much stigma surrounding depression that many people suffer in silence, unable to talk to their loved ones, let alone their doctors,” said Dr Eugene Allers, a prominent psychiatrist. “Additionally, many people with depression think their feelings are normal and can go years without seeking the help they need.
It’s important to know that depression won’t go away on its own, but it can be treated, and you can emerge from the darkness and live a fulfilled life. This is why it’s important to recognise the symptoms in yourself or others and seek professional help.
Symptoms may be subtle
Depression is not the same for everyone and symptoms can vary. If you or someone you know has had all or some of the following symptoms for longer than two weeks, then it’s time to talk to your doctor.
- Being sad or tearful. More than usual.
- Feeling hopeless, especially about the future
- Lack of interest in regular activities
- Irritable and easily upset
- Low energy
- Trouble sleeping
- Difficulty concentrating
- Thinking about death or suicide.
How you can help
The first and most important steps are to reassure them that they’re not alone, and to assist them in seeking medical help.
Educate yourself
There are credible resources that will help you understand the symptoms, causes and treatment options. The more you know, the easier it will be to overcome the misconceptions and seek out treatment. The Our Mental Health website offers a wealth of reliable information and practical lifestyle tools to help the recovery journey.
Reach out
Ask non-judgemental questions that make your loved one feel safe and accepted, this will help them to open up. “Is there anything going on you’d like to talk about?” is a good place to start. If they’re not open to talking, don’t become impatient. Always let them know you’re there for them. If you can’t talk in person, use video or text messages, or whatever works for both of you. Be supportive, and listen, without judgement.
Encourage treatment
Some people may be ashamed and wary about seeking medical help. Remind them that asking for help doesn’t mean they’re weak; it means they are strong and ready to take the next crucial step in their recovery. Assist them in finding a doctor even if you have to make the appointment and accompany them.
Help with errands
Simple tasks like doing the laundry or shopping for groceries can be overwhelming. Offer to help take the load off, or better yet, do things together. The company will be good for both of you and give you a chance to talk and understand what they’re going through.
Be patient
Recovery from depression may take time. Even after being on treatment, they’ll no doubt still have bad days. Encourage them not to give up. Recovery will get better. Be there for them, offering hope and support, and don’t get frustrated if you think recovery is taking too long.
Treatment
There is effective treatment to relieve symptoms of depression, and sometimes a combination of different treatments will be recommended, and can include,
- Medication, such as older or newer antidepressants, mood stabilizers or anti-anxiety medication.
- Talk therapy, where a psychotherapist can help find better ways to cope with problems.
- Day patient programmes that offer support and counselling to manage symptoms.
#BreakingDepression is possible
In addition to the right treatment, people with depression need reliable and consistent support from their loved ones. They’ll face challenges during recovery, but they can overcome them, heal, and become stronger, happier versions of themselves.
Remember, depression is just like Kintsugi, the Japanese art-form that involves repairing broken objects and highlighting the mended areas with gold––a powerful reminder that we can all become whole and that there is beauty in our past struggles. | https://www.destinyconnect.com/2022/07/how-to-support-someone-with-depression/ |
What We Need To Understand About Depression
Depression is not something that can be categorised easily. Here's what you need to know and how you can help people who suffers from depression.
Robin William's death recently came as a shock to many and once again highlighted the deeper need to understand depression
According to Wikipedia, depression is a situation or state where a person has a low mood and may lose interest in everyday activities
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behavior, feelings and sense of well-being. Depressed people can feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, worried, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, hurt, or restless. They may lose interest in activities that once were pleasurable, experience loss of appetite or overeating, have problems concentrating, remembering details, or making decisions, and may contemplate, attempt, or commit suicide.wikipedia.org
A key sign of depression is either depressed mood or loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. For a diagnosis of depression, these signs should be present most of the day either daily or nearly daily for at least two weeks. In addition, the depressive symptoms need to cause clinically significant distress or impairment.webmd.com
Clinical depression is more than just the "blues," being "down in the dumps," or experiencing temporary feelings of sadness we all have from time to time in our lives. It is a serious condition that affects a person's mind and body. It impacts all aspects of everyday life including eating, sleeping, working, relationships, and how a person thinks about himself/herself.allaboutdepression.com
People suffering from depression may also have trouble sleeping, eating and may feel aches and pains all over the body
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, people with depressive illnesses don't all experience the same symptoms. How severe they are, how frequent, and how long they last will vary depending on the individual and his or her particular illnesswebmd.com
Insomnia, excessive sleeping, fatigue, loss of energy, or aches, pains, or digestive problems may also be present.wikipedia.org
It is important to note that depression is NOT a sign of weakness nor a condition that can "go away"
"It took me years to even be able to acknowledge that I mattered and realize that people cared about me. There is nothing more frustrating than someone who says they are clinically depressed because they are feeling sad that day. It devalues the struggle I and so many others have endured. And to all of the incredibly ignorant people out there who think just because someone has a nice family, cushy home and pretty belongings does not mean they can't be depressed -- they lack the chemical serotonin in their brain."huffingtonpost.com
Depression isn’t an indication of personal weakness, nor is it a character flaw.aboutdepressionfacts.com
Besides that, it is also a myth that depression only affects emotional people. Depression is a real problem and can happen to anybody regardless of race, gender and status.
No two people’s depressions are the same. But his death shows once more that depression is no respecter of class, race, profession, wealth or talent.theguardian.com
Depression affects people of all ages, backgrounds and races, not just people with previous emotional troubles. Stress and trauma often contribute to depression.thehelpfulcounselor.com
There is no single cause of depression, and people develop depression for different reasons. Depression has many different triggers.
There is no single cause of depression, and people develop depression for different reasons. Depression has many different triggers.www.nhs.uk
Nobody is sure what causes depression. Experts say depression is caused by a combination of factors, such as the person's genes, their biochemical environment, personal experience and psychological factors. The Stanford School of Medicine says that genes do play a role in causing depression. By studying cases of major depression among identical twins (whose genes are 100% identical) and non-identical twins (whose genes are 50% identical) they found that heritability is a major contributory factor in the risk of developing depression.medicalnewstoday.com
Life events and changes that may precipitate depressed mood include childbirth, menopause, financial difficulties, job problems, a medical diagnosis (cancer, HIV, etc.), bullying, loss of a loved one, natural disasters, social isolation, relationship troubles, jealousy, separation, and catastrophic injury. Unequal parental treatment is also a risk factor.wikipedia.org
Drug and alcohol use can both lead to and result from depression. Many people with depression also have drug and alcohol problems. Over 500,000 Australians will experience depression and a substance use disorder at the same time, at some point in their lives.beyondblue.org.au
It is estimated that 350 million people around the world suffer from depression. In Malaysia, 9% of the population suffer from the illness.
Depression is a common illness worldwide, with an estimated 350 million people affected. Depression is different from usual mood fluctuations and short-lived emotional responses to challenges in everyday life.malaysiandigest.com
Malaysia, in her stride towards a developed nation, has also not been spared. Higher level of stressors have led to a higher incidence of depression. Records indicate that about 9% of Malaysians suffer from major depression. Similar to global data, depression is also the fourth most disabling disease in Malaysia, ranking third for women and 10th for men .thestar.com.my
There is no single cure that helps people recover from depression. However, there is a selection of effective treatments and health experts who can help people on the road to recovery.
The aim of an antidepressant is to stabilize and normalize the neurotransmitters in our brain (naturally occurring brain chemicals), such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepeniphrine. According to various studies, these neurotransmitters play a vital role in regulating mood. We know they regulate mood, but we are not exactly sure how they do it.medicalnewstoday.com
Psychotherapy. Several types of psychotherapy have been shown to be effective for
depression, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy
(IPT). Support groups offer opportunities to share frustrations and successes, referrals
to specialists and community resources, and information about what works best
when trying to recover. Research has shown that mild to moderate depression can
often be treated successfully with either medication or psychotherapy alone but that
both together are often more helpful. Severe depression appears more likely to
respond to a combination of medication and psychotherapy
When medication fails to ease the symptoms of clinical depression, there are other options to try. Brain stimulation techniques such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), for example, can be used to treat major depression that hasn't responded to standard treatments.webmd.com
Changes in lifestyle such as healthy eating, exercising and meditation can also assist in battling depression
Lifestyle strategies that may improve depressed mood include wake therapy, light therapy, eating a healthy diet, meditation, exercise, and smoking cessation.wikipedia.org
Exercise helps prevent and improve a number of health problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes and arthritis. Research on anxiety, depression and exercise shows that the psychological and physical benefits of exercise can also help reduce anxiety and improve mood.mayoclinic.org
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, know that help is available. Here are a few websites and contacts that are useful. | https://says.com/my/lifestyle/what-we-need-to-understand-about-depression |
Breaking news: PG&E to propose wave energy project
In what could be a major step forward for alternative electric power generation for the region, Pacific Gas & Electric is preparing to seek approval to study a future wave energy project located off the California coast near Vandenberg Air Force Base.
The project, which could take years to make operational, would generate as much as 100 megawatts of power, providing permanent non-fossil-fueled electricity for the base, one of the largest employers in Santa Barbara County. PG&E is expected to seek the permit from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which has been designated as the umbrella agency for wave energy project approval in the nation.
“We’ve entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Air Force to let us proceed with wave energy in that area if findings are favorable,” said PG&E spokesperson Kory Raftery. At press time, the permit application was expected to be filed on Dec. 11, and information about the project was provided to the Business Times on an embargoed basis.
During recent weeks, officials at PG&E have met with a number of local elected officials, including Santa Barbara County supervisors. They also have held preliminary meetings with environmental groups, including the Surfrider Foundation, according to people familiar with the talks. In addition, PG&E has hired SAIC and CH2Mhill, two large consulting firms, to help with technology and siting issues.
One advantage of locating the project near Vandenberg is that the Air Force base has an existing power grid that can handle a large interconnection. In addition, the base has launch facilities to allow large wave energy devices to be deployed easily into the ocean.
“Unlike other projects, if we get to that point, there would be no need to develop onshore infrastructure,” Raftery said. The 100-megawatt power generating array would be enough to supply Vandenberg and a portion of PG&E’s Santa Barbara County customer base, which includes the city of Santa Maria.
PG&E is publicizing its focus on clean energy development and recently parted ways with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce over climate change policy.
The giant utility company is already studying a wave energy power station in Humboldt Bay in Northern California and has launched a Web site, www.next100.com, to promote its initiatives.
The Tri-Counties is becoming somewhat of a hub for sustainable energy.
Also near Vandenberg, Pacific Renewable Energy Generation, a subsidiary of a Spanish wind energy firm, is moving to build Santa Barbara County’s first large wind installation. Approved by county supervisors in February, the project would build as many as 65 400-foot-tall turbines on ridgelines near the Air Force base. The turbines are expected to generate 97.5 megawatts of energy, enough to power about 40,000 homes, and the electricity will be sold to PG&E through a power purchase agreement.
A couple that owns property next to the project has sued to stop it, and a hearing in that lawsuit is scheduled for March, according to the county. But the county says Pacific Renewable plans to start its first phase construction, which could include as many as 40 turbines, in late 2010 with the first turbines coming on line in as early as late 2011.
On the Carrizo Plain in the southeast corner of San Luis Obispo County, two large commercial solar plants, proposed by solar companies First Solar and SunPower, are designed to produce a combined 800 megawatts of power.
Santa Barbara County is mulling moves to build out solar power as well.
In November, a subsidiary of Edison International, which in turn owns South Coast utility Southern California Edison, asked county officials to start a conceptual review of a proposal to build a 45-megawatt solar installation in the Cuyama Valley on land that is now used to grow carrots and potatoes.
That project would ask county officials to decide for the first time whether they’re willing to take agricultural land out of production for an energy project.
For its part, the kind of wave power generation proposed for the coast near Vandenberg has been somewhat of a holy grail for clean energy advocates for decades, and there has been some small success with using wave energy devices to power sonar buoys.
Several European countries are aggressively pursuing the technology, but it remains unclear whether large-scale power generation technology will work off either the East or West Coast of the United States.
In the case of the Humboldt Bay project, PG&E expects to identify promising technologies and let third parties take the financial risk of proving that the technology works. “We are still a ways out from putting any devices in the water,” Raftery said.
The goal of the Central Coast project, he said, is to produce reliable electric power with “no significant impact on existing coastal activities.”
With the wave energy permit application, PG&E has two large regulatory undertakings underway for the Central Coast. Earlier this year it filed with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to extend the license of its twin-reactor Diablo Canyon nuclear generating station near San Luis Obispo.
“It’s exciting that our region could set precedent for our country and the world for creating a diverse power supply,” Raftery said.
Are you a subscriber? If not, sign up today for a four-week FREE trial or subscribe and receive the 2009 Book of Lists free with your purchase. | https://www.pacbiztimes.com/2009/12/11/breaking-news-pge-to-propose-wave-energy-project/ |
Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, today delivered keynote remarks at the 8th Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate 2021 under the theme “The Post-Pandemic World.” Hosted by the Emirates Policy Center at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, the event brought together prominent strategic experts, well-known researchers, and leading world policymakers from 13-15 November to discuss international and regional dynamics in the post-COVID-19 era.
In his opening remarks, Gargash offered a message of optimism for the region’s youth, noting: “In such a difficult region and with the pandemic still raging, it is critically important that we do not get dragged into focusing our attention exclusively on the difficult issues of the day. We must always give our young people, and those from across the region, something inspiring to aim towards.”
Pointing to the UAE’s hosting of Expo 2020 Dubai and the UAE’s space program, including its successful Hope Probe Mission and announcement of the 2028 Venus exploration mission, Gargash underscored the importance of cultural and scientific progress in the UAE’s developmental journey since its founding as a nation nearly 50 years ago.
Turning to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on geostrategic priorities, Gargash highlighted the importance of building resilient supply chains, improving food security, and championing health diplomacy as an international community. His Excellency also indicated the importance of global action to address the pressing threat of climate change. Gargash noted the UAE’s efforts to enhance sustainable development and climate change mitigation, with the UAE set to host the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 28) in 2023 to mobilise international climate solutions. Moreover, He added that the UAE’s recent announcement of a target of net zero emissions by 2050 represents the first commitment of its kind in the region and among OPEC countries.
On the regional level, Gargash underscored the value of constructive engagement according to a rules-based order, remarking, “Confrontation is not the most productive path, and instead, diplomacy and enhanced communication is the best way forward. Therefore, we are working hard to build communication and bridges with all countries, including those with which we have serious disagreements.”
“This prioritization of diplomacy and communication over confrontation has also been evident in the Abraham Accords and our subsequent engagement with Israel,” Gargash stated.
“In almost half of the members of the Arab League, the institutions of the sovereign nation state are seriously challenged by internal conflicts based on sectarianism, failure of governance, and extremism, which are often made worse by external interference,” Gargash continued.
“We cannot stand by and watch these vacuums filled by malign actors. But as the region emerges exhausted from the pandemic and years of conflict, we must further enhance our diplomatic efforts to resolve these issues.
“So recent contributions by the UAE to supporting a difficult transition in Sudan – or addressing the worrying situation in Ethiopia – have been focused on using our relationships and good offices to deescalate, urge dialogue, and avoid a path of confrontation,” Gargash stated.
“Enough countries share a desire to avoid a new Cold War that diplomacy can help build a sort of moral consensus on a pragmatic vision for a reformed but mutually beneficial world order,” His Excellency continued.
Concerning the international community’s shared priorities in the post-COVID-19 period, Gargash outlined the importance of boosting collective efforts to ensure a sustainable recovery from the pandemic, supporting dialogue with the aim of resolving conflicts, promoting multilateral cooperation to combat terrorism and extremism, and championing the role of women and girls in promoting peace. | https://pressarabia.qa/dr-anwar-bin-mohammed-gargash-highlights-uae-achievements-future-vision-for-diplomacy-peacemaking-at-abu-dhabi-strategic-debate/ |
To prevent, intervene, and reduce the participation of juveniles in the activities of gangs that commit crimes.
shall include cooperation with social services, welfare, and health care programs; 2) education and social services designed to address the social and developmental needs of juveniles; 3) crisis intervention and counseling to juveniles, who are particularly at risk of gang involvement, and their families; 4) the organization of the neighborhood and community groups to work closely with parents, schools, law enforcement, and other public and private agencies in the community; 5) supporting the coordination of existing comprehensive community-based anti-gang initiatives; and 6) training and assistance to adults who have significant relationships with juveniles who are or may become members of gangs, to assist such adults in providing constructive alternatives to participating in the activities of gangs.
To facilitate coordination and cooperation among: 1) local education, juvenile justice, employment, law enforcement, and social service agencies; and 2) community-based programs with a proven record of effectively providing intervention services to juvenile gang members for the purpose of reducing the participation of juveniles in illegal gang activities.
To be eligible for an award or contract, an applicant must: (1) respond to legislative requirements contained in Section 281A and 282A of the JJDP Act, as amended as well as specific program guidelines issued by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP); (2) be consistent with the objectives and priorities of OJJDP; (3) provide for adequate program administration, evaluation and fiscal reporting; (4) demonstrate, in the overall quality of the proposal, that the program is technically sound and will achieve the required program objectives at the highest possible level; and (5) respond to clear and documentable needs.
Funds to be used to support gang violence reduction activities.
Part D funds are available under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended, to public or private nonprofit agencies, organizations or individuals. Please contact program office for additional information.
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, Sections 281 and 282, Public Law 93-415 as amended; and an act appropriating funds for the Department of Justice in the current fiscal year.
From 60 to 90 days. For statutory formula awards, see 28 C.F.R. Part 18. There are no appeal rights for rejection of a discretionary application, but for discretionary awards, see 28 C.F.R. Part 18.
Determined by the Assistant Attorney General, OJP. For statutory formula awards, see 28 C.F.R. Part 18. There are no appeal rights for rejection of a discretionary application, but for discretionary awards, see 28 C.F.R. Part 18.
Contact program office for renewal information.
Initial awards usually are made for a period of 12 to 36 months with further funding based upon the project period and grantee performance and availability of funds. Drawdowns are possible under a Letter of Credit. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: by letter of credit.
Applications are assessed according to their consistency with the policies and program priorities established by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. Specific criteria are applied that are related to the particular program areas under which projects are funded. The criteria are published in the Federal Register as part of each program announcement. Applications may undergo a competitive peer review process as outlined in the OJJDP Competition and Peer Review Policy 28 CFR Part 34. | https://www.grants-gov.net/cfda.php?CFDANumber=16.544 |
In How Are We to Live? Peter Singer suggests that people who take an ethical approach to life often escape from the trap of meaninglessness, finding a deeper satisfaction in what they are doing than people whose goals are narrower and more self-centred. He spells out what he means by an ethical approach to life, and shows that it can bring about significant and far-reaching changes to our lives.
EBook
9781742747781
February 1, 2012
RHA eBooks Adult
332 pages
Paperback
9781863304313
April 1, 1995
Arrow Australia
336 pages
Find your local bookstore at booksellers.co.nz
Sign up to our newsletter using your email.
To help us recommend your next book, tell us what you enjoy reading. | https://www.penguin.co.nz/books/how-are-we-to-live-9781742747781 |
Much of the world is still reflecting on the riots that transpired last week at the U.S. Capitol. Conversations about white supremacy, what it is, and how it manifests have intensified. In the summer of 2020, there was a renewed interest in books about white supremacy and anti-racism and a re-emergence of these types of books on the Amazon and New York Times best-seller lists. As the horrific events of racial injustice that marred 2020 lost the public’s interest, conversations about white supremacy started to wane. The insidious nature of white supremacy allows it to shapeshift often, which is part of the reason why it’s so difficult to eradicate. There are some common myths that demonstrate the public’s lack of understanding when it comes to white supremacy and how it permeates every facet of society. In an effort to close these gaps of misunderstanding, this article explores four commonly held misconceptions about white supremacy.
1. It is always intentional. The Anti-Defamation League conceptualizes white supremacy as the belief that the white race is superior to other races as well as the belief that more needs to be done to “save the white race.” A commonly held myth about white supremacy is that it is done intentionally. While this is often the case through innumerable laws and systems (e.g. redlining, American slavery, housing discrimination), we frequently uphold white supremacy in our lives without even realizing it. In the workplace, for example, company policies and practices may perpetuate white supremacy. Even our notion of professionalism is seen through a white-centered lens. A Black man for example, who decides to wear his hair in dreadlocks may be deemed unprofessional based on white standards. A corporate policy that upholds white beauty standards is just one of the plethora of ways we may unintentionally perpetuate white supremacy. As we should know by now, intention does not determine impact. Even if it is not our intention to uphold white supremacy, the impact is still the same and can be harmful and even deadly for Black Indigenous people of color (BIPOC).
2. It is only upheld by white people. Speaking of BIPOC, there is a commonly held belief that only white people uphold white supremacy. This is one of the most deceptive myths about white supremacy because it prevents BIPOC from exploring and examining the ways that they may individually sustain white supremacy. Just because you identify as a person of color doesn’t prevent you from propagating white supremacist views and ideologies. White supremacy in BIPOC communities often manifests as white adjacency: the act of aligning with whiteness and distancing yourself from your ethnic and racial identity in order to gain access and opportunities. White supremacy can also manifest as colorism, which is a persistent issue within India, Latin America, Africa and nearly every community of color. A mother who tells her daughter not to play out in the sun because her skin will get too dark is upholding white supremacy and subtly reinforcing the belief that proximity to whiteness via lighter skin makes a woman more beautiful. BIPOC can both uphold white supremacy and possess anti-black views. They are two sides of the same coin.
3. It is not common. There is this false narrative that white supremacists are these outspoken extremists; domestic terrorists that are seen protesting the removal of confederate monuments or committing horrific acts of violence and treason. These are extreme examples but white supremacy is more common than we think. By personifying white supremacists as these types of individuals, we overlook the white supremacists lurking in our workplaces, our schools, and within our communities. Nice people can also be white supremacists. Relinquish the idea that there is a prototype for white supremacy. Similarly, white supremacy knows no age. Being of a particular generation does not automatically prevent you from being a white supremacist. A frequently cited myth is that younger generations are “woke” and that white supremacy and racism are only displayed by older generations. Adopting this belief will prevent you from recognizing the white supremacy that infiltrates our everyday environment.
4. It disappears with a new leadership. White supremacy didn’t start with a particular president or leader. Removing a president or an administration doesn’t suddenly eliminate a country of its white supremacist structures and systems. Despite the fact that the United States elected its first Black president in 2008, research indicates that anti-black racism actually increased during President Obama’s tenure. Believing that white supremacy comes and goes with leadership prevents you from seeing how deep white supremacy runs in our laws, policies, systems and social mores that the collective adheres to. Changing the hearts and minds of people is fundamental and can be achieved through education, reading, and continued dialogue. It is important to note, however, that without systemic changes that address the specific inequities that have disadvantaged different groups of people within society for hundreds of years, a changed heart and mind doesn’t resolve the issue. Regardless of who is leading a country, there must be lifelong effort and action to eradicate white supremacy in every system and structure that exists. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/janicegassam/2021/01/14/4-myths-about-white-supremacy-that-allow-it-to-continue/?sh=176d23db7aac |
Reliable Nursing Papers
Log in
▼
Sign Up
+1 (347) 4349 702
[email protected]
Order Now
Total Quality Management Practices Research Paper
<![CDATA[
Total Quality Management Practices Research Paper
Total Quality Management Practices Assessment Task Total quality management (TQM) is a management approach to long-term success through customer satisfaction. The approach is dependent on all members of the organisation participating in improving processes, products, services, and the culture in which they work. Select a business enterprise within the Events industry. You are required to research and critique how a system of TQM has been introduced, developed and evaluate its success. Areas of research to consider within your chosen business enterprise: • The strategies used to manage quality within an event • The TQM approach to the management of human resources • The interpretation of quantitative and qualitative data to manage events Support your evaluation with reference to a broad range of theoretical models. Cases studies can be drawn from a range of businesses to enhance your findings. Present your findings in a briefing paper. Suggested structure: Cover page Contents page Introduction to TQM Introduction to the business enterprise Evaluation of the chosen business enterprise’s introduction and development of TQM Conclusions Appendices Bibliography It is important that your report is properly structured. Also, as this is an academic paper, you should draw on contemporary literature to support your report. It must include references and relevant literature (textbooks, journals and websites). Care should be taken when consulting websites as they are not all equally authoritative (for example Wikipedia is not peer-reviewed; therefore is not considered an academic reference website). A minimum of 5 different academic references must be cited, but a well-researched report is likely to cite many more. Criteria • Clear demonstration of rigorous research from recognized authoritative sources. Audience focused. • Demonstration of a clear understanding of the issues. Use of academic models. • Full text referencing and bibliography preferably using the Harvard citation method. • Discuss the strategies used to manage quality within an event • Evaluate how management within staffing will differ in an event • Present findings effectively through a variety of techniques • Evaluate information from a variety of sources • Analytically interpret data in quantitative and qualitative forms to manage the quality of an event. Core Texts: Oakland John S. Total Quality Management and Operational Excellence: text and cases Routledge 4th Ed Key Texts: Bank, J. The Essence of Total Quality Management, Prentice Hall, 2nd Ed. 2004 Basu, R. & Quality Beyond Six Sigma, Elsevier, 2003 Nevan Wright J. Beckford, J. Quality, Routledge, 2002 Deming W.E. Out of the Crisis, Prentice Hall, 2000 Evans J. R. Total Quality Management, South West, 2002 Dean, J. Evans J. R. Quality and Performance Excellence, Cengage Learning, 2010 Goetsch, D. Quality Management for Organisational Excellence, 7th Ed. Pearson, 2011 Hoyle D. Quality Management Essentials, Prentice Hall, 2007 Juran, J. Architect of Quality McGraw-Hill, 2004 “The Life and Contributions of Joseph M. Juran.” Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota. Available from http timemba.csom.umn.edu/Page1275.aspx. Retrieved on 12/4/07 Liker J. K. The Toyota Way: 14 Management Principles from the World’s Greatest Manufacturer, OUP, 2003 Montgomery, D. Introduction to Statistical Quality Control, John Wiley, 2004 Omacgonu, V. The Principles of TQM, 3rd Ed. CRC Press, 2007 & Ross, Joel Rother M. Toyota Kata: Managing People for Improvement, Adaptiveness and Support Results, 2009 Tanaka T. Toyota: The Global Story, 2008 Walton, Mary The Deming Management Method, Management Books, 2000 Wilkinson, A Managing with Total Quality Management, MacMillian, 2002 Journal List The following Journals are appropriate to the module and will contain further articles which you may find helpful: Bloomberg Fortune Magazine Harvard Business Review International Journal of Project Management International Journal of Quality and Reliability Ma]]>
Share this:
Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
Why Choose Our Services
100% non-plagiarized Papers
24/7 /365 Service Available
Affordable Prices
Any Paper, Urgency, and Subject
Will complete your papers in 6 hours
On time Delivery
Money-back and Privacy guarantees
Unlimited Amendments upon request
Satisfaction guarantee
© 2021
Reliable Nursing Papers
All rights reserved. | https://www.reliablenursingpapers.com/total-quality-management-practices-research-paper/ |
“Government is the only agency that can take a valuable commodity like paper, slap some ink on it, and make it totally worthless.” — Ludwig von Mises
Last weekend, I was in Miami to give a talk on “Modern Monetary Theory,” and had dinner with Bill Beach, the director of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (which puts out the Consumer Price Index and the unemployment statistics).
Men in White: Mark Skousen and Gordon Brady (right) meet with Bill Beach (center) at the International Atlantic Economic Society meetings in Miami.
Beach told me that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) now monitors 24,000 different prices. In the past year, the CPI rate has been 1.7% — less than the government target rate of 2%. Some economists are talking about the death of inflation and even lower interest rates.
Introducing a New Danger: Modern Monetary Theory
Are we headed for an Age of Deflation?
Not if the socialists are in charge! In preparation for giving a paper on “Modern Monetary Theory,” I read an entire textbook devoted to MMT.
What is Modern Monetary Theory, as advocated by Keynesian economists and some politicians such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez?
The textbook in question, “Macroeconomics,” was written by three heterodox economists, two of whom are Australians, William Mitchell and Martin Watts (both at the University of Newcastle), and L. Randall Wray (at Bard College, New York). The textbook is co-published by Macmillan International and Red Globe Press. Red indeed!
They claim that because the federal government — unlike households and businesses — has the power to tax, borrow and print money, it can run huge deficits and issue new currency without ever running out of money.
They state bluntly that a country that issues its own sovereign currency “faces no financial constraints… governments in Australia, Britain, Japan and the USA can never run out of money… for most governments, there is no default risk on government debt.”
They brazenly deny that fiscal deficits cause the crowding out of private investment, higher taxes, inflation or big government. They also scorn the need for a balanced budget rule or a “rainy day” fund.
In fact, they go out of their way to belittle anybody who speaks out against “living beyond our means”… “spending like a drunken sailor”… “welfare dependency”… “burdening our grandchildren with the public debt… or national bankruptcy… Treasury checks never bounce.”
While this is technically true, there are limits as too much printing of money can cause inflation — a lot of inflation.
Japan and the United States: Outliers?
Certainly, Germany in the 1920s and, more recently, Zimbabwe have engaged in massive hyperinflation.
But the MMT advocates point to Japan and even the United States as two countries that have borrowed trillions of dollars even as interest rates and inflation have been falling. Granted, gold bugs and conservative politicians have exaggerated the dangers of the federal debt and national bankruptcy, but the fear of inflation is real.
The United States has gotten away with huge federal deficits and easy money because the U.S. dollar is a world currency and we’ve been able to export inflation.
Do We Owe It Ourselves?
MMT proponents, such as Stepanie Kelton, an economist at Stony Brook University, say that the national debt doesn’t matter because government securities are also Treasury bonds and therefore investment assets: “We owe it ourselves.”
Libertarian economist Murray Rothbard debunked the “we owe it ourselves” argument by saying, “The crucial question is: Who is the ‘we’ and who are the ‘ourselves’?” The bondholders (who tend to be wealthy individuals and institutions) are not the same as the taxpayers (who tend to be middle class). “For we might just as well say that taxes are unimportant for the same reason,” Rothbard said.
Spend Money With Abandon on Anything?
The MMT advocates have argued that because there are no financial constraints, the government can tax, borrow and print any amount of money to guarantee anyone a job at a living wage, pay for first-class health care, a generous retirement for the elderly and first-rate infrastructure. The sky’s the limit. (How about engaging in unlimited spending on foreign wars? No problem!)
The big spenders claim that only after achieving these goals do our leaders have to worry about inflation, which they can solve through clever fiscal and monetary restraint.
This sounds too good to be true. One can see why bleeding-heart liberal politicians would find MMT attractive.
In reality, MMT is fatally flawed as it would open the flood gates of inflation.
Sebastian Edwards, of the Hoover Institution, did an in-depth study of four Latin American countries (Chile, Peru, Argentina, Venezuela) that had adopted varying aspects of MMT (financing large fiscal deficits and “job guarantee” programs through monetary expansion). He concluded, “The four experiments ended up badly, with runaway inflation, huge currency devaluations and precipitous real wage declines.”
As Nobel Prize-winning economist Robert Shiller has warned, “Though increased spending on infrastructure, education, social welfare and the environment may be wise, and rising deficits may make sense some of the time, we really cannot borrow ceaselessly without risking real harm.”
Four Countries Achieve Prosperity Without MMT
Fortunately, we don’t have to adopt MMT to achieve prosperity for all. Here are several examples of countries that have adopted “supply side” economics and prospered without running massive deficits or engaging in easy money policies.
Sweden: In 1992, Sweden suffered a real estate banking crisis, a credit crunch and a monetary crisis. In response, the government guaranteed bank deposits and ran significant deficits. After the crisis abated, Sweden’s leaders engaged in a series of reforms to reduce the size of a bloated welfare state by privatizing various government programs, converting their state pension to a defined-contribution plan, adopting school choice with regards to education, cutting corporate and other taxes and reducing the overall size of the government while maintaining its generous welfare system.
Today, Sweden has a modest budget surplus. The average real economic growth in PPP (Purchasing Power Parity) terms is nearly 3% a year. Price inflation is low. The unemployment rate is 6.7%, largely due to a generous immigration policy. Sweden’s Economic Freedom Index has risen to the nineteenth freest in the world.
Canada: From 1994-95, Canada suffered from an oversized government. This resulted in a budget deficit, a currency crisis and Moody’s decision to downgrade Canadian debt. The Liberal and Conservative parties agreed to severe budget cuts and federal layoffs, despite strong opposition by Keynesian economists. Two years later, the budget was balanced, and the Canadian dollar made a strong recovery. Then, Canada adopted a series of supply-side tax cuts.
Today, the corporate tax rate is only 15%. The size of the government has been reduced, economic growth is over 3% a year and inflation is less than 2% a year. Unemployment is relatively high at 6.7%. The budget did fall into a deficit during the 2008 financial crisis, but none of the top five banks suffered serious losses. The Canadian budget has improved since then, although the Canadian dollar is weak. Today, Canada is ahead of the United States in the Economic Freedom Index.
Singapore: Economic growth has averaged 3.5% in the past five years, inflation is less than 1% and the unemployment rate is 2%. Singapore has accumulated substantial budget surpluses ($17.9 billion over the past three years), although it will run a deficit this year. Singapore has the world’s best medical care system that is made up of a combination of health saving accounts (Medisave) and universal coverage of catastrophic illnesses. Thus, health care represents only 4.5% of Singapore’s gross domestic product (GDP). The country has a flat maximum tax rate of 22% for individuals and 17% for businesses. Singapore has a free-trade zone. Though it is not a democracy, it is ranked #2 in the Economic Freedom Index.
Chile: Since General Pinochet stepped down as dictator and Chile’s decision to adopt democracy in 1990, its economy has continued to do well. Real economic growth has been 2.2% over the past five years and inflation is at a low 2.2% a year. The unemployment rate is 7%, largely due to the slump in copper and commodity prices. After running a surplus budget in 2011-12, the deficit returned. However, it is at a manageable 2.5% of GDP. The maximum tax rate is 44% on individuals and 25% on businesses. It is the highest-rated country in Latin America in the Economic Freedom Index (#19 in the world).
These examples demonstrate that countries can achieve reasonable full employment, good economic growth and low inflation without resorting to risky MMT policies.
Of course, the MMT textbook does not mention any of the above four examples.
A Free-Market Alternative Textbook
Steve Forbes (left) holding a copy of “Economic Logic” at the presentation of the Triple Crown of Economics to Prof. Skousen.
If you want a good free-market textbook that gives you the full story of sound economic policies, try my own book, “Economic Logic”, now in its 5th edition. It is published by Capital Press/Regnery.
Steve Forbes stated, “Mark Skousen is a superb and highly original scholar. Just look at his textbook “Economic Logic,” now in its 5th edition, which demonstrates Mark’s ability to look at the whole economy, the real world and real people. This rigidity between micro- and macroeconomics is not for him. He realizes they’re all connected together. He began this book with a profit-loss income statement to demonstrate the dynamics of the real-world economy. No other textbook does that. He gets it.”
You can buy it for only $35 from www.skousenbooks.com. Or call Harold at Ensign Publishing, 1-866-254-2057.
Conclusion
There aren’t many cases where a broad range of economists from Keynesians to Austrians can agree on something. MMT is one of them. Vocal critics have included Paul Krugman, Robert Shiller, Kenneth Rogoff, Larry Summers, Jerome Powell, Steve Hanke and Robert Murphy. All have agreed that MMT is a bad, and even dangerous, policy.
It seems that MMT advocates are determined to test the validity of Adam Smith’s famous refrain, “There is a great deal of ruin in a nation.”
Let me end with this warning from the great French economist Jacques Rueff: “No religion spread as fast as the belief in full employment, and in this roundabout way, allowed governments that had exhausted their tax and borrowing resources to resort to the phony delights of monetary inflation.”
Note: If you would like my entire paper on MMT, go here.
Good investing, AEIOU,
Mark Skousen
Upcoming Conferences
My wife, Jo Ann, and I look forward to seeing many of you at the Baron Investment Conference this Friday, Oct. 25. We plan on meeting up with any subscribers at the 9:30 a.m. coffee break in the main stairwell.
Is Gold Back? Join Me for the New Orleans Investment Conference, Nov. 1-4, 2019, Hilton Riverside Hotel. With gold and silver in a new bull market, I urge you to attend the New Orleans Investment Conference, the annual gathering of gold bugs. I will be there, as he has spoken at every New Orleans conference since 1976! Speakers include Dennis Gartman, Kevin Williamson, Steve Moore, Rick Rule, Mary Anne and Pamela Aden, Doug Casey, Adrian Day and Peter Schiff. This is the granddaddy of gold bug conferences. All details can be found at neworleansconference.com/
Click here to register.
One Day Miami Investment and Latin American Conference, Nov. 8: Speakers include Rodolfo Milani, Louis Navellier, Art Hogan and myself, as well as a cohort of Latin American heroes: the blood poet of Cuba, Armando Valladares; Cuban freedom activist Rosa Maria Paya; former defense minister for Bolivia Carlos Sanchez Berzain; and exiled Cuban author Carlos Montaner. Price for this one-day event is $89 per person/$149 per couple. To register, contact Nathan at 1-855-850-3733, ext. 202. Attendance is strictly limited to 85 people. Don’t delay! | https://www.stockinvestor.com/44957/is-inflation-coming-back/ |
TECHNICAL FIELD
BACKGROUND ART
CITATION LIST
Non-Patent Literature
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
Solution to Problem
Advantageous Effects of Invention
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Example 1
Example 2
The present invention relates to a central control station, a radio base station and a radio communication method in a next-generation mobile communication system.
LTE (Long Term Evolution) and successor systems of LTE (referred to as, for example, “LTE-A (LTE-Advanced),” “FRA (Future Radio Access),” “4G,” etc.) are under study for the purpose of achieving improved communication throughput (see, for example, non-patent literature 1).
In such communication systems, studies related to inter-cell orthogonalization techniques are in progress for the purpose of achieving further improvement of system performance. In 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project), coordinated multi-point (CoMP: Coordinated Multi-Point) transmission/reception is under study as a technique for implementing inter-cell orthogonalization. In CoMP transmitting/reception, a plurality of transmitting/receiving points coordinate and carry out transmitting/receiving signal processing for one or a plurality of user terminals. To be more specific, for down link communication, simultaneous transmission by multiple cells employing pre-coding, coordinated scheduling/cooperated beam forming and so on are under study.
Non-Patent Literature 1: 3GPP TR 36.814 “Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); Further Advancements for E-UTRA Physical Layer Aspects”
As a structure to allow a plurality of transmission points to carry out CoMP transmission to a user terminal, there is a structure in which a predetermined control station controls a plurality of transmission points in a centralized manner (centralized control structure). When, in a centralized control structure, a focus is placed on reducing the volume of communication between the control station and a transmission point, control is implemented so that radio resource allocation information for scheduler control is reported from the control station to the transmission point, which has a radio resource scheduler. In this case, the transmission point carries out scheduling and MCS (Modulation and Coding Scheme)-based data modulation for the user terminals that are present in the cell formed by the subject station, based on the radio resource allocation information, channel state information (CSI) from the user terminals and so on, and communicates with the user terminals.
However, in a conventional centralized control structure for reducing the volume of communication, a transmission point knows only radio resource allocation information that pertains to the subject station, and, when a user terminal reports CSI, the transmission point is unable to decide what signals were multiplexed in the radio resource that was measured to derive the CSI. For example, it is difficult for an individual transmission point to decide on its own whether the CSI was derived by measuring radio resources where signals from the subject station alone are allocated, or derived by measuring radio resources where signals from the subject station and signals from other CoMP-coordinated cells are allocated.
If the transmission point makes the above decision wrong, the transmission point has to carry out processes based on channel states that are different from what they really are. As a result of this, the scheduling and data modulation for user terminals engaged in CoMP transmission become inadequate, and there is a threat that the system performance decreases.
The present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a central control station, a radio base station and a radio communication control method which can prevent the decrease of system performance when coordinated multi-point transmission is carried out to user terminals.
The central control station of the present invention provides a central control station that is connected with a plurality of radio base stations that carry out coordinated multi-point transmission to a user terminal, and this central control station has a reporting information generating section that generates, for each radio base station, information about radio resources allocated to other radio base stations that carry out coordinated multi-point transmission, and a reporting section that reports the information about the radio resources, generated in the reporting information generating section, to each radio base station.
According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the decrease of system performance when coordinated multi-point transmission is carried out to user terminals.
Now, an embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First, downlink CoMP transmission will be described. Downlink CoMP transmission includes coordinated scheduling/coordinated beamforming (CS/CB), and joint processing (JP). CS/CB refers to the method in which only one transmission point carries out transmission to one user terminal, and is the method to allocate radio resources in the frequency/space domain by taking into account interference from other cells and interference against other cells.
FIG. 1
FIG. 1A
FIG. 1B
Meanwhile, JP refers to the method in which multiple cells carry out transmission simultaneously by employing precoding. provide diagrams to explain coordinated multi-point transmission by way of simultaneous transmission by multiple cells, and illustrate how signals are transmitted from radio base stations (eNBs: eNodeBs) to a user terminal (UE: User Equipment). JP includes joint transmission (JT), in which transmission is carried out from a plurality of cells to one user terminal as shown in , and dynamic point selection (DPS), in which cells are selected dynamically as shown in .
Two structures are possible as structures to implement CoMP transmission/reception. The first one is the centralized control structure, in which a control station is connected with a plurality of transmission points, and this control station controls CoMP all together. The second is the autonomous distributed control structure, in which a plurality of transmission points are connected with each other and execute control separately. Here, the transmission points may be radio base stations (eNBs: eNodeBs), or may be remote radio heads (RRHs).
The structure to implement CoMP transmission in the present embodiment is the centralized control structure. In the centralized control structure, a plurality of transmission points are controlled in a control station in a centralized manner, so that it is possible to carry out radio resource control between cells in the control station all together.
FIG. 2
FIG. 2A
provide diagrams of a centralized control structure in CoMP transmission. shows a structure in which a radio base station (eNB) and a plurality of remote radio heads (RRH) carrying out CoMP transmission are connected via an optical configuration (optical fiber). CoMP in which such a high-speed and a high-capacity backhaul channel like this optical configuration is used that transmission points to carry out CoMP transmission (in this example, the RRHs) and the apparatus to carry out control (in this example, the eNB) can be seen as one and the same is also referred to as “ideal backhaul CoMP.”
In ideal backhaul CoMP, the control station can carry out baseband signal processing for a plurality of transmission points based on information such as channel state information (CSI) acquired in each transmission point, and transmit baseband signals to each transmission point directly. Optical fiber enables high-speed and high-capacity communication, makes the problems of propagation delays and communication overhead insignificant, and makes high-speed radio resource control between cells relatively easy. Consequently, optical configuration is suitable for high-speed inter-cell signal processing such as simultaneous transmission by multiple cells on the downlink.
Now, “CSI” is information about the channel states of radio links between transmission points and user terminals. Optimal scheduling in the time domain/frequency domain/space domain is executed based on CSI fed back from user terminals. Parameters to constitute CSI include PMIs (Precoding Matrix Indicators), which are associated with the amount of phase/amplitude control to be configured in the antennas of the transmitter (also referred to as “precoding matrix,” “precoding weight,” etc.) and radio link quality information (CQI: Channel Quality Indicators) for use in the adaptive modulation/demodulation and coding process (AMC: Adaptive Modulation and Coding Scheme).
Also, a structure to use the X2 interface instead of optical fiber is also under study. The X2 interface has low communication speeds compared to optical fiber, but enables cost reduction. On the other hand, from the perspective of executing dynamic communication control, the X2 interface has low speeds compared to optical fiber, and has difficulty transmitting baseband signals from the control station to the transmission points directly. Consequently, when the X2 interface is used, the transmission points are provided with radio resource schedulers, and information for scheduler control is reported from the control station, thereby coordinating between cells.
FIG. 2B
FIG. 2B
shows an example structure to connect between a control station and transmission point via the X2 interface. In , a central control station (CU: Centralized Unit) and radio base stations with schedulers are connected via the X2 interface. In this way, CoMP with a low-speed or a low-capacity backhaul channel is also referred to as “non-ideal backhaul CoMP.”
In non-ideal backhaul CoMP, information that is acquired in each transmission point such as CSI is collected in the central control station, and the central control station generates radio resource allocation information for each transmission point, and reports this information to each transmission point. Each transmission point independently controls scheduling and data modulation based on the subject station's radio resource allocation information reported from the central control station, CSI that is fed back from user terminals and so on.
Here, the radio resource allocation information refers to timing information and scheduling information related to the allocation of radio resources. The radio resource allocation information is information that indicates, for example, whether or not to place radio resources in the muted state or in the normal state, per physical resource block (PRB). Here, when the radio resource of a given PRB or subband is in the muted state in a given transmission point, this means that this transmission point does not carry out transmission using this radio resource (that is, the transmission power is made zero). On the other hand, if the radio resource is in the normal state, the transmission point transmits signals using this radio resource. Note that it is equally possible to schedule the transmission point not to transmit signals in radio resources that are indicated to be in the normal state.
As a technique to place radio resources in the muted state, there is, for example, PDSCH muting, which places given PRBs of a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) in the muted state. Also, as a method of estimating the locations of PRBs that are subject to PDSCH muting, the zero-power CSI-RS configuration can be used, whereby the radio resources where the CSI-RS (Channel State Information Reference Signal), which is a channel state measurement signal, may be placed, can be made zero power. By this means, it is possible to realize flexible channel estimation and interference estimation assuming various types of CoMP transmission.
FIG. 3
FIG. 3
1
5
1
shows a conceptual diagram of a network structure where the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment is employed. The network structure shown in includes radio base stations (eNB to eNB ) that form cells, a user terminal (UE ) that communicates with the radio base stations and a central control station that is connected with each radio base station via the X2 interface.
FIG. 3
In the network structure shown in , the central control station is connected with a core network. The central control station may be, for example, an access gateway apparatus, a radio network controller (RNC), a mobility management entity (MME) and so on, but is by no means limited to these.
FIG. 3
Note that the present embodiment is no means limited to the network structure shown in . For example, the radio base stations may be connected via the X2 interface. Also, the user terminal in the present embodiment may be either a mobile terminal apparatus or a stationary terminal apparatus.
FIG. 3
FIG. 3
1
1
1
3
5
2
4
In , UE is a UE that is subject to CoMP (CoMP UE) and is present on a cell edge of eNB . Also, in , the state of a given PRB/subband in each radio base station in a given unit time is shown, where eNB , eNB and eNB are in the normal state, and eNB and eNB are in the muted state.
FIG. 3
1
5
In , the central control station collects, from eNB to eNB , information about the UEs that are present in the cell formed by each radio base station, and measurement results such as the RSRP (Reference Signal Received Power) and so on that are reported from the UEs with respect to multiple cells, on a regular basis or at predetermined timings, via the backhaul. Then, the central control station determines the UE to be subject to CoMP by using the collected information, and reports higher layer parameters that are necessary for CoMP to each radio base station. In this case, the central control station determines whether or not to apply CoMP, and generates higher layer parameters.
On the other hand, it may also be possible that each radio base station determines whether or not to apply CoMP based on measurement results from UEs, and generate higher layer parameters. In this case, each radio base station reports signaling for requesting information about nearby radio base stations, which is required in CoMP, to the central control station, via the backhaul. The central control station reports, in response to the request signal, information about nearby radio base stations that is required in CoMP (for example, configurations related to the CSI-RSs and IMRs (interference signal power measurement resources) used in nearby radio base stations, virtual cell IDs, etc.) to the radio base station, via the backhaul.
Also, each radio base station configures higher layer parameter that are required in CoMP, in the UE. The UE feeds back CSI information for CoMP to the serving cell, and these pieces of information are collected in the central control station via the backhaul. The central control station determines each radio base station's radio resource allocation based on the CSI information and so on, and reports radio resource allocation information to each radio base station.
FIG. 3
1
1
2
3
1
1
1
3
In , eNB forming the cell accommodating UE and eNB and eNB forming cells that neighbor UE are controlled to coordinate and carry out CoMP transmission with respect to UE . The central control station generates radio resource allocation information for each of eNBs to , and reports this information. Each radio base station independently controls scheduling, data modulation and so on, based on the radio resource allocation information for the subject station reported from the central control station, CSI that is fed back from the user terminal, and so on.
1
1
3
1
3
UE , being subject to CoMP, needs to measure the channel states of the cells formed by eNB to eNB , and feed back CSI to one of the eNBs. In this case, eNB to eNB are the measurement set, and the measurement set size is three.
Note that channel states can be measured by using reference signals that are arranged in predetermined radio resources. Here, the CSI-RS, the CRS (Cell-specific Reference Signal) and so on of the LTE-A system may be used as the reference signals to use in the channel state measurements. Also, it is equally possible to report CSI-RS resources (also referred to as “SMRs” (Signal Measurement Resources)) and interference signal power measurement resources (CSI-IM (Interference Measurement) resources, also referred to as “IMRs”) to the user terminal, by applying PDSCH muting. Note that the combination of SMRs and IMRs is also referred to as “CSI process.”
Also, information about the measurement set and the measurement set size may be configured to be reported between the central control station, the radio base stations and the user terminal as appropriate. Also, the information to be fed back from the user terminal may include the reference signal received power (RSRP: Reference Signal Received Power), reference signal received quality (RSRQ: Reference Signal Received Quality) and so on.
1
1
2
3
1
1
2
3
2
1
2
3
3
1
2
3
Here, for example, a case will be considered in which UE can return the following three types of CSI (which, for ease of explanation, will be referred to as “CSI ,” “CSI ,” and “CSI ”). CSI is the CSI for use in the non-CoMP transmission state (single-cell communication), and, for example, CSI for radio resources where eNB , eNB and eNB are in the normal state. Also, CSI is the CSI (CoMP CSI) for use in the CoMP transmission, and is CSI for radio resources where eNB is in the normal state, eNB is in the muted state and eNB is in the normal state. Also, CSI is CoMP CSI for radio resources where eNB and eNB are in the normal state and eNB is in the muted state.
FIG. 3
1
3
5
2
4
1
2
1
1
2
3
1
1
3
1
In the example of , eNB , eNB and eNB are in the normal state and eNB and eNB are in the muted state, with respect to a given PRB to be allocated to UE , and CSI is the CSI UE feeds back. Nevertheless, since, in conventional systems, eNB has no information as to whether eNB and eNB are in the muted state or the in the normal state, eNB cannot properly decide which of CSI to CSI the CSI that is fed back from UE .
FIG. 2B
As described above, in a radio communication system in which non-ideal backhaul CoMP is executed (for example, see above ), given that the central control station reports, to each radio base station, only the radio resource allocation information for use for that radio base station, when CSI is fed back from a user terminal, a radio base station cannot properly decide whether signals from other cells were multiplexed in the radio resource that was measured to derive the CSI. Consequently, there is a threat that adequate scheduling and data modulation cannot be performed with respect to UEs that are subject to CoMP and the system performance decreases.
So, the present inventors have come up with the idea of allowing the central control station to report, to a radio base station, not only radio resource allocation information for use for that radio base station, but also information about radio resources allocated to other radio base stations that carry out coordinated multi-point transmission, so that, when CSI is fed back from a user terminal, the radio base station can properly decide what signals were multiplexed in the radio resource that was measured to derive the CSI. According to this structure, even in non-ideal backhaul CoMP of the centralized control structure, it is possible to reduce the decrease of system performance.
Note that the present embodiment may assume a structure to use, instead of the central control station, a radio base station having the functions of a central control station. In this case, a specific radio base station among a plurality of radio base stations may be provided with the functions of a central control station. Also, a structure may be possible in which remote radio heads (RRE: Remote Radio Equipment) having radio resource scheduling functions are used, instead of eNBs, as transmission points. Also, the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment may be applied to any CoMP transmission scheme. Also, the present embodiment is applicable not only to non-ideal backhaul CoMP, but also to ideal backhaul CoMP as well.
Now, the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment will be described in detail below. In the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment, the information about radio resources allocated to other radio base stations that carry out coordinated multi-point transmission is roughly divided into radio resource allocation information of other radio base stations (example 1), and information about the state of interference in the radio base station to which this information is reported (example 2). Each example will be described below.
In an example 1 of the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment, the central control station reports, to a radio base station, as information about radio resources allocated to neighboring radio base stations that carry out CoMP transmission, radio resource allocation information in these neighboring radio base stations, along with identification information of the cells formed by these neighboring radio base stations. According to example 1, the radio base station to which this reporting is directed can properly decide whether or not the neighboring radio base stations are transmitting signals in given radio resources, and, when CSI is fed back from a user terminal, properly decide what signals were multiplexed in the radio resource that was measured to derive the CSI.
Note that, with the present embodiment, a neighboring radio base station means another radio base station carrying out CoMP transmission. For example, when there are two radio base stations that do not carry out CoMP transmission, even if the distance between the radio base stations is short, these are not neighboring radio base stations to each other.
In example 1, in addition to the radio resource allocation information of the radio base station to which the reporting is directed, radio resource allocation information of neighboring radio base stations is also reported. For the radio resource allocation information, a bit sequence, in which every one bit represents the muted state/normal state of every physical resource block (PRB) in one radio base station may be used. Also, the length of this bit sequence is the number of PRBs to constitute the bandwidth which the radio base station uses in CoMP. The radio resource allocation information of neighboring radio base stations is associated with identification information of the cells formed by these neighboring radio base stations (for example, cell IDs), and configured so that the radio base station can decide which radio resource allocation information pertains to which neighboring radio base station.
Note that the bandwidth which the radio base station uses in CoMP may be the same as the system bandwidth or may be part of the system bandwidth. Also, the central control station can report radio resource allocation information pertaining to part of the PRBs in the bandwidth which the radio base station uses in CoMP. Also, if states to represent radio resources other than the muted state/normal state are stipulated, a bit sequence may be used in which a plurality of bits, not one bit, represent the state of each PRB. Also, example 1 may be structured so that, not only identification information of the cells formed by neighboring radio base stations, but also identification information of the cell formed by the radio base station to which the reporting is directed is reported from the central base station to the radio base station when the radio resource allocation information of this radio base station is reported.
The bit sequence to represent the above radio resource allocation information in example 1 may assume a signal format to resemble the RNTP (Relative Narrow-band Transmit Power), which is used as an interference control signal. The RNTP is the signal which a given radio base station uses to report a bit sequence showing the value “0” or “1” per PRB, depending on the downlink signal transmission power, to other radio base stations.
FIG. 4
FIG. 4
1
1
3
2
3
1
3
1
shows an example of radio resource allocation information in example 1 of the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment. In , the central control station sends reports to radio base station eNB , and bit sequences to show the muted state (represented by “0”)/normal state (represented by “1”) of three radio base station (eNB to eNB ) including neighboring radio base stations eNB and eNB on a per PRB basis are shown as an example of reporting information. Also, in this case, to indicate to which one of eNB to eNB the allocation information represented by each bit sequence pertains to, the central control station attaches identification information of the cell formed by each corresponding radio base station, and reports this to eNB .
FIG. 4
Note that the bit sequence structure is not limited to the structure shown in . For example, it may be possible to represent the muted state with “1” and represent the normal state with “0.” Also, a structure may be used in which the central control station applies data compression to each bit sequence and the radio base stations decompress the compressed bit sequences, so that the amount of information to be reported might decrease. For example, for data compression, run-length compression and/or the like may be used.
Example 1 of the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment may be further divided into three examples, depending on which radio base stations are seen as neighboring radio base stations (examples 1.1 to 1.3).
In an example 1.1 of the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment, neighboring radio base stations refer to radio base stations that may cause interference against user terminals that are present in the cell that is formed by the radio base station to which a report is transmitted. To be more specific, radio base stations that might cause interference refer to radio base stations that are subject to channel state measurements in user terminals that are present in the cell (that is, included in the measurement set).
In an example 1.2 of the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment, neighboring radio base stations refer to radio base stations where the distance from the radio base station to which a report is transmitted is equal to or shorter than a predetermined threshold, in addition to the condition of example 1.1. Note that the predetermined threshold distance is determined in the central control station. Also, it is preferable to determine the threshold depending on the load of communication. For example, when the load of communication is heavy, it is preferable to make the threshold large.
In an example 1.3 of the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment, neighboring radio base stations are radio base stations that are included in the measurement sets of two or more user terminals present in the cell formed by the radio base station to which a report is transmitted, in addition to the condition of example 1.1.
FIG. 5
FIG. 5
FIG. 5
FIG. 3
2
1
Now, a specific example of example 1 will be described below with reference to . is a diagram to show an example of a network structure where the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment is employed. In , in addition to the structure of , UE , which is subject to CoMP, is present in the cell formed by eNB .
1
1
2
3
2
1
5
2
1
1
5
1
2
1
3
1
4
The assumptions in this example will be described below. First, the measurement set of UE is eNB , eNB and eNB . Also, the measurement set of UE is eNB , eNB and eNB . Also, as for the distance between eNB and each eNB, between eNB and eNB is 20 m, between eNB and eNB is 26 m, between eNB and eNB is 31 m, and between eNB and eNB is 35 m. Also, the predetermined threshold distance is 30 m according to example 1.2. Also, cell IDs are used as cell identification information.
2
3
5
1
2
1
2
1
1
2
3
5
1
According to example 1.1, the central control station selects eNB , eNB and eNB included in the measurement set of UE or UE , as radio base stations that might cause interference against cell-edge UEs (UE and UE ) under eNB . Consequently, the central control station reports, together with the cell IDs of the four cells formed by eNB , eNB , eNB and eNB , four bit sequences to show the muted state/normal state of every physical resource block pertaining to these four radio base stations, to eNB .
2
5
1
1
2
5
1
Also, according to example 1.2, among the radio base stations that might cause interference against cell-edge UEs, the central control station selects eNB and eNB as being radio base stations within a threshold (30 m) from eNB . Consequently, along with the cell IDs of the three cells formed by eNB , eNB and eNB , the central control station reports three bit sequences to show the muted state/normal state of every physical resource block pertaining to the three radio base stations, to eNB .
2
1
2
1
2
1
Also, according to example 1.3, among radio base stations that might cause interference against cell-edge UEs, the central control station selects eNB as being a radio base station included in the measurement sets of both UE and UE . Consequently, along with the cell IDs of the two cells formed by eNB and eNB , the central control station reports two bit sequences to show the muted state/normal state of every physical resource block pertaining to the two radio base stations, to eNB .
Note that radio resource allocation information of neighboring radio base stations changes depending on the number of users that are subject to CoMP, the number of radio base stations to constitute CoMP, and so on. Consequently, it is preferable to configure the maximum number of bit sequences to constitute the radio resource allocation information of neighboring radio base stations. To be more specific, considering general cell deployment, it is preferable to make the maximum number of bit sequences “8.” Also, for the number of bit sequences, it is preferable to use “2” or “3” on a fixed basis, considering the signaling overhead, the measurement set size in user terminals and so on.
Also, although cell IDs have been described as an example of cell identification information to be associated and reported with the radio resource allocation information of neighboring radio base stations, this is by no means limiting. For example, it is possible to employ a structure to associate cell IDs and predetermined numbers with each other, share this information between the central control station and radio base stations in advance, and report these predetermined numbers, instead of cell IDs, along with radio resource allocation information. Also, the radio base station to which this report is directed can determine which neighboring radio base station the radio resource allocation information corresponds to, based on the timing the radio resource allocation information is reported from the central control station (for example, a predetermined time).
As described above, with example 1 of the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment, the central base station reports, to each radio base station, radio resource allocation information of neighboring radio base stations, along with identification information of the cells formed by these neighboring radio base stations. By this means, when CSI is fed back from a user terminal that is subject to CoMP, each radio base station can properly determine what signals were multiplexed in the radio resource that was measured to derive the CSI, with reference to the above radio resource allocation information of neighboring radio base stations, and carry out adequate scheduling and data modulation for the user terminal.
With an example 2 of the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment, the central control station reports, as information about radio resources allocated to neighboring radio base stations that carry out CoMP transmission, information about the state of interference in the radio base station per physical resource block or per subband, to a radio base station. In example 2, the radio base station to which this report is directed can properly judge whether neighboring radio base stations are transmitting signals in given radio resources, and, when CSI is fed back from a user terminal, properly judge what signals were multiplexed in the radio resource that was measured to derive the CSI.
Here, information about the state of interference in a radio base station refers to information about the interference which the radio base station receives from neighboring radio base stations. In example 2, for example, when CSI is fed back from a user terminal to the radio base station, signals from how many neighboring radio base stations among a plurality of neighboring radio base stations interfered with the radio resource that was measured to derive the CSI is learned by using the above information regarding the state of interference, and then the CSI is evaluated by making an assumption as to which specific neighboring radio base stations are causing interference. That is, with example 2, it is possible to estimate the allocation of radio resources in neighboring radio base stations according to example 1, by using information about the state of interference in a radio base station to which a report is directed.
Also, with example 2, it is not necessary to report information pertaining to neighboring radio base stations, so that it is possible to reduce the communication overhead involved in the reporting, compared to example 1. Note that example 2 can also employ a structure to report cell identification information (for example, cell IDs) to radio base stations.
In example 2, it is preferable to share the relationships between interference states and the information to report in advance between the central control station and the radio base stations. Note that these relationships can be changed as appropriate depending on the number of radio base stations to carry out CoMP transmission, the number of UEs present in the cells, the performance of the radio base stations, and so on. For example, the number of bits of information representing the state of interference in one PRB/subband may be selected from arbitrary natural numbers. Also, it is possible to update these relationships at predetermined timings by means of higher layer signaling.
Example 2 of the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment can be divided into four examples (examples 2.1 to 2.4).
With an example 2.1 of the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment, information about the state of CoMP is provided as information about the radio resources of neighboring radio base stations. As for the state of CoMP, for example, a muted state, a non-CoMP transmission state, a CoMP transmission state 1, a CoMP transmission state 2 and so on are stipulated in advance, and information to indicate which CoMP state applies is generated per PRB/subband. A radio base station to which a report is directed identifies the above states as follows, with respect to each PRB/subband. First, if the muted state is shown, the radio base station recognizes that no user terminal is scheduled in the corresponding PRBs/subbands. Also, in the non-CoMP transmission state, the radio base station recognizes that signals are transmitted from the subject station alone. In the CoMP transmission state 1, the radio base station recognizes that one neighboring radio base station is muted while the subject station transmits signals. In the CoMP transmission state 2, the radio base station recognizes that two neighboring radio base stations are muted while the subject station transmits signals. However, the CoMP states shown here are by no means limiting, and it is equally possible to stipulate and use other CoMP states as well.
FIG. 6
FIG. 6
shows an example of the information about radio resources in example 2.1 of the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment. In , the muted state is represented by “00,” the CoMP transmission state 1 is represented by “01,” the CoMP transmission state 2 is represented by “10,” and the non-CoMP transmission state is represented by “11,” and a bit sequence to include these pieces of information is illustrated.
In an example 2.2 of the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment, the information about the radio resources of neighboring radio base stations is information about the CSI process. Also, in example 2.2, a CSI process refers to the combination of a CSI-RS resource (SMR) and a CSI-IM resource (IMR), as mentioned earlier.
To help understand example 2.2, the configuration of the CSI process will be briefly described. Here, description will be given assuming that there are two transmission points (TP #1 and TP #2) in CoMP transmission. First, a radio resource where only the signal of TP #1 is allocated will be referred to as SMR #1. Also, a radio resource where the signals of both TP #1 and TP #2 are allocated will be referred to as SMR #2. Also, a radio resource where only the signal of TP #2 is allocated will be referred to as IMR #1. Also, a radio resource where no signal of TP #1 or TP #2 is allocated will be referred to as IMR #2. In this case, as CSI processes, for example, it is possible to make the combination of SMR #1 and IMR #1 CSI process #1, the combination of SMR #1 and IMR #2 CSI process #2, and the combination of SMR #2 and IMR #2 CSI process #3. By changing between and scheduling the CSI processes in a UE, the UE can measure a plurality of types of desired signal received power and interference signal received power.
Now, in example 2.2, for example, a muted state, a CSI process state 1, a CSI process state 2 and so on are stipulated in advance, and information to indicate which CSI process applies is generated per PRB/subband, as information about the CSI process. For example, when CSI process state 1 is reported, a radio base station can recognize that above-noted CSI process #1 is used in a given PRB/subband.
1
1
2
In an example 2.3 of the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment, information about the radio resources of neighboring radio base stations is information about the interference measurement resource pattern. For interference measurement resource patterns, allocation patterns of IMR radio resources such as those described above can be used, whereupon for example, as such patterns, an interference measurement resource pattern 1, an interference measurement resource pattern 2 and so on are stipulated in advance, and information to indicate which interference measurement resource pattern applies is generated per PRB/subband. For example, when the interference measurement resource pattern 1 is reported, a radio base station can recognize that the interference signal power in a cell apart from eNB is measured in a given PRB/subband. Also, for example, when the interference measurement resource pattern 2 is reported, the radio base station can recognize that the interference signal power in a cell apart from eNB and eNB is measured in a given PRB/subband.
FIG. 7
FIG. 7
shows an example of information about radio resources in an example 2.3 of the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment. In , the muted state is represented by “00,” the interference measurement resource pattern 1 is represented by “01,” and the interference measurement resource pattern 2 is represented by “10,” a bit sequence to include these pieces of information is illustrated.
In an example 2.4 of the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment, information about the radio resources of neighboring radio base stations is information about the zero-power CSI-RS pattern. As for the zero-power CSI-RS pattern, a zero-power CSI-RS pattern 1, a zero-power CSI-RS pattern 2 and so on are stipulated in advance based on CSI-RS allocation information and the zero-power CSI-RS configuration, and information to indicate which zero-power CSI-RS pattern applies is generated per PRB/subband. For example, when the zero-power CSI-RS pattern 1 is reported, a radio base station can recognize that a given PRB/subband is a radio resource where the CSI-RS is muted by above-noted IMR #1.
FIG. 8
FIG. 8
FIG. 8
FIG. 5
3
1
A specific example of example 2 will be described with reference to . is a diagram to show an example of a network structure in which the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment is employed. In , in addition to the structure of , a UE , which is subject to non-CoMP, is present in the cell (near the center of the cell) formed by eNB .
FIG. 8
1
1
2
3
2
1
5
2
1
1
4
1
1
2
3
2
1
2
3
3
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
2
2
3
1
4
5
2
The assumptions in will be described below. First, the measurement set of UE is eNB , eNB and eNB . Also, the measurement set of UE is eNB , eNB and eNB . Also, UE can return the following four types of CSI (CSI to CSI ). CSI is the CSI for use in the non-CoMP transmission state (single-cell communication), and, for example, the CSI for radio resources where eNB , eNB and eNB are in the normal state. Also, CSI is the CoMP CSI for radio resources where eNB is in the normal state, eNB is in the muted state and eNB is in the normal state. Also, CSI is the CoMP CSI for radio resources where eNB and eNB are in the normal state and eNB is in the muted state. Also, CSI is the CoMP CSI for radio resources where eNB is in the normal state and eNB and eNB are in the muted state. Also, UE can return four types of CSI (CSIa to CSId). CSIa to CSId replace eNB and eNB in the above description of CSI to CSI with eNB and eNB , respectively.
1
FIG. 6
The process which eNB , having received reporting information, performs upon receiving CSI feedback from a user terminal will be described below. First, the case of example 2.1 will be described assuming the four patterns shown in .
1
1
In this case, in a PRB corresponding to the muted state (“00”), there is likely to be interference against nearby cells of eNB , and therefore eNB schedules no radio resource with respect to this PRB.
1
1
2
1
1
2
3
1
2
1
2
Also, when deciding that CSI to correspond to a PRB having been transmitted in the CoMP transmission state 1 (“01”) has been received, eNB first decides which of the CSIs fed back from UE or UE will be used. When the result of this decision is UE , eNB contemplates carrying out scheduling and data modulation assuming both CSI and CSI , and carries out scheduling and data modulation for UE using the more preferable one. Also, when the result of this decision is UE , eNB contemplates CSIb and CSIc, and carries out scheduling and data modulation for UE using the more preferable one.
1
1
2
1
4
1
4
2
2
Also, when deciding that CSI to correspond to a PRB having been transmitted in the CoMP transmission state 2 (“10”) has been received, eNB first decides which of the CSIs fed back from UE or UE will be used. If the result of this decision is UE , this obviously leads to CSI , so that the scheduling and data modulation for UE are performed based on CSI . Also, if the result of this decision is UE , this obviously leads to CSId, so that the scheduling and data modulation for UE are performed based on CSId.
1
1
2
3
1
1
1
1
2
2
3
3
Also, when deciding that CSI to correspond to a PRB having been transmitted in the non-CoMP transmission state (“11”) has been received, eNB first decides which of the CSIs fed back from UE , UE and UE will be used. If the result of this decision is UE , this obviously leads to CSI , so that the scheduling and data modulation for UE are performed based on CSI . Also, if the result of this decision is UE , this obviously leads to CSIa, so that the scheduling and data modulation for UE are performed based on CSIa. Also, if the result of this decision is UE , the scheduling and data modulation for UE are performed based on this CSI.
FIG. 7
Next, the case of example 2.3 will be described assuming the three patterns shown in .
1
In this case, eNB works in the same way as in above example 2.1, based on PRBs corresponding to the muted state (“00”).
1
1
2
3
1
1
1
1
2
2
3
3
Also, when deciding that CSI to correspond to a PRB having been transmitted in the interference measurement resource pattern 1 (“01”) has been received, eNB first decides which of the CSIs fed back from UE , UE and UE will be used. If the result of this decision is UE , this obviously leads to CSI , so that the scheduling and data modulation for UE are performed based on CSI . Also, if the result of this decision is UE , this obviously leads to CSIa, so that the scheduling and data modulation for UE are performed based on CSIa. Also, if the result of this decision is UE , the scheduling and data modulation for UE are performed based on this CSI.
1
1
2
1
2
1
2
2
2
Also, when deciding that CSI to correspond to a PRB having been transmitted in the interference measurement resource pattern 2 (“10”) has been received, eNB first decides which of the CSIs fed back from UE and UE will be used. If the result of this decision is UE , this obviously leads to CSI , so that the scheduling and data modulation for UE are performed based on CSI . Also, if the result of this decision is UE , this obviously leads to CSIc, so that the scheduling and data modulation for UE are performed based on CSIc.
As described above, with example 2 of the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment, the central base station reports, to each radio base station, information about the state of interference in that radio base station. By this means, when CSI is fed back from a user terminals that is subject to CoMP, each radio base station can properly judge what signals were multiplexed in the radio resource that was measured to derive the CSI, based on the information about the state of interference, and carry out appropriate scheduling and data modulation for the user terminal.
(Variation)
In examples 1 and 2, the information about the radio resources allocated to neighboring radio base stations may be structured to contain only information that corresponds to physical resource blocks showing the normal state in the radio base station to which this information is reported. As clear from the above-described examples, CSI that is based on PRBs corresponding to the muted state need not be taken into account, so that, when the radio base station is in the muted state, information about the neighboring radio base stations is not necessary. Consequently, when many of the radio resources of the radio base station to which the information is reported are in the muted state, it is possible to reduce the volume of communication involved in the reporting by applying this variation.
FIG. 9
FIG. 9
FIG. 9
FIG. 9
1
This structure will be described with reference to . is a diagram to show an example of information about radio resources in a variation based on example 2.1 of the radio communication control method according to the embodiment. In , two bit sequences are illustrated. The left bit sequence is a bit sequence in which every one bit shows the muted state/normal state of every PRB in eNB , to which information is reported, and may be provided in the same format as the radio resource allocation information according to example 1. The right sequence provides information to represent the CoMP states shown in example 2.1. A structure is shown here in which a row that shows the muted state in the left sequence contains no information in the right sequence. Note that “-” in indicates that no information is contained.
(Structure of Radio Communication System)
FIG. 10
Now, a structure of a radio communication system according to the present embodiment will be described below. In this radio communication system, at least one of the above-described radio communication control methods (example 1 and example 2) is employed. A schematic structure of the radio communication system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to .
FIG. 10
FIG. 10
10
is a diagram to show an overall structure of the radio communication system according to the present embodiment. Note that the radio communication system shown in is a system to incorporate, for example, the LTE system, the LTE-A system, IMT-advanced, 4G, FRA (Future Radio Access) and so on.
FIG. 10
FIG. 10
FIG. 10
10
100
200
200
200
300
100
400
200
200
300
a
b
As shown in , the radio communication system includes a central control station , radio base stations (and ) and a user terminal . Also, the central control station is connected to a core network . Note that the structure of the radio communication system according to the present embodiment is by no means limited to the structure shown in . For example, the radio base stations may be connected via the X2 interface. Also, the number of radio base stations and user terminals is by no means limited to the example shown in .
100
200
200
100
200
100
200
100
The central control station is connected with a plurality of radio base stations , and, performs CoMP control for a plurality of radio base stations all together, in a centralized control structure. The central control station may be, for example, an access gateway apparatus, a radio network controller (RNC), a mobility management entity (MME) and so on, but is by no means limited to these. Also, if a radio base station has the functions of the central control station , it is possible to use this radio base station instead of the central control station .
200
300
100
200
300
200
300
100
300
The radio base stations communicates with the serving user terminal in accordance with control information that is reported from the central control station . The radio base stations have scheduling functions, and can allocate signals for the user terminal to given radio resources. Also, the radio base stations can execute CoMP transmission, with other radio base stations that form neighboring cells, with respect to the serving user terminal . Also, scheduling, data modulation and so on are performed based on radio resource allocation information that is reported from the central control station and CSI that is fed back from the user terminal .
200
200
200
With the radio base stations in the present embodiment, how big the coverage areas of the cells formed is not an issue. For example, a radio base station may be a radio base station (macro base station) to form a cell having a relatively wide coverage (macro cell). Also, a radio base station may be a radio base station (small base station) to form a cell having a local coverage (small cell). Note that a macro base station may be referred to as a “MeNB (Macro eNodeB),” a “transmission point,” an “eNodeB (eNB),” and so on. Also, a small base station may be referred to as an “SeNB (Small eNodeB),” an “RRH (Remote Radio Head),” a “pico base station,” a “femto base station,” a “home eNodeB,” a “transmission point,” an “eNodeB (eNB),” and so on.
300
200
300
300
300
The user terminal is a terminal to support various communication methods such as LTE, LTE-A, FRA and so on, and is capable of communicating with the radio base stations on its own. Also, the user terminal has functions which a normal user terminal should have. For example, the user terminal has a transmitting/receiving antenna, an amplifying section, a transmitting/receiving section, a baseband signal processing section, an application section and so on. Note that the user terminal may not only be a mobile communication terminal, but may also be a stationary communication terminal as well.
100
200
FIGS. 11 and 12
Now, the structures of the central control station and the radio base stations according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to .
FIG. 11
FIG. 11
100
is a block diagram to show an example structure of the central control station according to the present embodiment. Note that, although shows part of the structure, the central control station has configurations that are required in the centralized control structure for CoMP transmission, without shortage.
100
110
120
130
140
The central control station has an information collecting section , a CoMP managing section , a reporting information generating section and a reporting section .
110
200
120
The information collecting section collects CoMP-related information from each radio base station , and outputs the resulting information to the CoMP managing section . For example, information such as the cell IDs of the cells formed by the radio base stations, the number of user terminals that serve under the radio base stations, CSI that is fed back from user terminals and so on are collected. Note that information that is not directly related to CoMP may be collected as well.
120
110
200
200
The CoMP managing section manages the CoMP state of each radio base station based on the information input from the information collecting section . For example, for a plurality of radio base stations , whether or not to apply CoMP is determined taking into account the channel states with respect to the serving user terminals, the cell areas and so on. Also, the radio resources for use of each radio base stations are allocated.
130
131
132
120
200
130
140
The reporting information generating section includes a radio resource allocation information generating section and an interference state information generating section . Based on the radio resources allocated by the CoMP managing section for use for each radio base stations , the reporting information generating section generates information about radio resources allocated to neighboring radio base stations, with respect to each radio base station, and outputs the generated information to the reporting section .
120
200
131
140
Based on the radio resources determined in the CoMP managing section to be provided for use for each radio base station , the radio resource allocation information generating section generates radio resource allocation information, and outputs this to the reporting section . For the radio resource allocation information, for example, a bit sequence to represent the muted state/normal state of each physical resource block (PRB) with one bit can be used.
131
140
120
Also, in example 1 of the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment, the radio resource allocation information generating section attaches identification information (for example, cell IDs) of the cells formed by neighboring radio base stations of the radio base station to which the above information is reported, and outputs radio resource allocation information of these neighboring radio base stations to the reporting section . Note that the cell identification information can be acquired from the CoMP managing section .
131
Here, the information that is generated varies depending on which of the radio base stations that might cause interference against the radio base station to which the information is reported are seen as neighboring radio base stations. The radio resource allocation information generating section can see radio base stations that are subject to channel state measurements (that is, included in the measurement set) in user terminals that are present in the cell of the radio base station to which the information is reported, and generate radio resource allocation information of these neighboring radio base stations (example 1.1).
131
120
120
Also, in addition to the condition of example 1.1, the radio resource allocation information generating section can see radio base stations where the distance from the radio base station to which the information is reported is equal to or shorter than a predetermined threshold as neighboring radio base stations, and generate radio resource allocation information of these neighboring radio base stations (example 1.2). Information about the distance between the radio base stations is held in the CoMP managing section . Note that this threshold distance may be determined in the CoMP managing section based on environment factors such as the load of communication.
131
Also, in addition to the condition of example 1.1, the radio resource allocation information generating section can see radio base stations that are included in the measurement sets of two or more user terminals present in the cell formed by the radio base station to which information is reported as neighboring radio base stations, and generate radio resource allocation information of these neighboring radio base station (example 1.3).
120
200
132
200
Based on the radio resources determined in the CoMP managing section for use by each radio base station , the interference state information generating section generates information about the state of interference in each radio base station . For the information about the state of interference, information about the state of CoMP (example 2.1), information about the CSI process (example 2.2), information about the interference measurement resource pattern (example 2.3), or information about the zero-power CSI-RS pattern (example 2.4) can be used.
200
132
Note that, when information to report to the radio base stations is generated ad reported in accordance with example 1 alone, it is possible to employ a structure which includes no interference state information generating section .
130
140
131
140
When information about radio resources allocated to neighboring radio base stations with respect to a given radio base station is received as input from the reporting information generating section , the reporting section reports this information to the radio base station. When radio resource allocation information that is directed to a given radio base station is received as input from the radio resource allocation information generating section , the reporting section attaches identification information of the cells formed by neighboring radio base stations of that radio base station, and these pieces of information to the radio base station.
FIG. 12
FIG. 12
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
is a block diagram to show an example structure of a radio base station according to the present embodiment. As shown in , the radio base station according to the present embodiment has a plurality of transmitting/receiving antennas , amplifying sections , transmitting/receiving sections , a baseband signal processing section , a call processing section and a communication path interface .
200
300
100
204
206
User data to be transmitted from the radio base station to a user terminal on the downlink is input from central control station to the baseband signal processing section , via transmission path interface .
204
203
203
In the baseband signal processing section , the user data that is input is subjected to a PDCP (Packet Data Convergence Protocol) layer process, division and coupling of user data, RLC (Radio Link Control) layer transmission processes such as an RLC retransmission control transmission process, MAC (Medium Access Control) retransmission control (for example, an HARQ (Hybrid ARQ) transmission process, scheduling, transport format selection, channel coding, a DFT (Discrete Fourier Transform) process, an IFFT (Inverse Fast Fourier Transform) process, a precoding process and so on, and the result is forwarded to each transmitting/receiving section . Furthermore, downlink control signals are also subjected to transmission processes such as channel coding and an inverse fast Fourier transform, and the result is forwarded to each transmitting/receiving section .
203
204
202
201
201
Each transmitting/receiving section converts the downlink signals, pre-coded and output from the baseband signal processing section on a per antenna basis, into a radio frequency band. The amplifying sections amplify the radio frequency signals having been subjected to frequency conversion, and transmit the resulting signals via a plurality of transmitting/receiving antennas , to a plurality of user terminals, while applying space division multiplexing. Note that transmitting/receiving antennas are preferably formed with multiple antennas for MIMO (Multi Input Multi Output) communication, but can be formed with one antenna as well.
201
202
203
204
On the other hand, as for uplink signals, radio frequency signals that are received in the transmitting/receiving antennas are each amplified in the amplifying sections , converted into baseband signals through frequency conversion in each transmitting/receiving section , and input into the baseband signal processing section .
204
206
205
In the baseband signal processing section , user data that is included in the baseband signals that are input is subjected to an FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) process, an IDFT (Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform) process, error correction decoding, a MAC retransmission control receiving process, and RLC layer and PDCP layer receiving processes, and the result is forwarded to the central control station via the transmission path interface . The call processing section performs call processing such as setting up and releasing communication channels, manages the state of the base station and manages the radio resources.
204
100
300
Also, the baseband section has an acquisition section. The acquisition section acquires information about radio resources allocated to neighboring radio base stations, from the central control station . Also, the acquisition section acquires channel state information from the user terminal .
204
Also, the baseband section has a decision section. The decision section decides, based on the information about radio resources allocated to neighboring radio base stations acquired in the acquisition section, whether or not the user terminal received interference from these neighboring radio base station when the user terminal measured the channel state information that was acquired in the acquisition section.
204
300
300
100
Also, based on the above decision, the baseband signal processing section determines what signals were multiplexed in the radio resource which the user terminal measured to derive the CSI that was fed back. Then, radio resource scheduling and data modulation for the user terminal is performed based on the radio resource allocation information reported form the central control station and the above CSI.
110
120
130
140
200
100
200
100
200
Note that it is also possible to employ a structure in which the information collecting section , the CoMP managing section , the reporting information generating section and the reporting section are provided in a radio base station , not the central control station . In this case, this radio base station , instead of the central control station , can control the allocation of radio resources to each radio base station , and generate and report information about radio resources allocated to neighboring radio base stations.
As described above, with the radio communication system according to the present embodiment, the central base station reports radio resource allocation information of neighboring radio base stations, along with identification information of the cells formed by these neighboring radio base stations (example 1), to each radio base station, or reports information about the state of interference in that radio base station (example 2). By this means, when CSI is fed back from a user terminal that is subject to CoMP, each radio base station can properly judge what signals were multiplexed in the radio resource that was measured to derive the CSI, and carry out appropriate scheduling and data modulation for the user terminal.
Now, although the present invention has been described in detail, it should be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the present invention is by no means limited to the embodiment described herein. The present invention can be implemented with various corrections and in various modifications, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention defined by the recitations of claims. Consequently, the description herein is only provided for the purpose of illustrating examples, and should by no means be construed to limit the present invention in any way.
The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-227412, filed on Oct. 31, 2013, including the specification, drawings and abstract, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
provide diagrams to explain coordinated multi-point transmission by way of simultaneous transmission by multiple cells;
FIG. 2
provide diagrams to explain a centralized control structure in coordinated multi-point transmission;
FIG. 3
is a conceptual diagram of a network structure where a radio communication control method according to the present embodiment is employed;
FIG. 4
is diagram to show an example of radio resource allocation information in an example 1 of the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment;
FIG. 5
is a diagram to show an example of a network structure in which the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment is employed;
FIG. 6
is a diagram to show an example of information about radio resources allocated to neighboring radio base stations in an example 2.1 of the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment;
FIG. 7
is a diagram to show an example of information about radio resources allocated to neighboring radio base stations in an example 2.3 of the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment;
FIG. 8
is a diagram to show an example of a network structure in which the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment is employed;
FIG. 9
is a diagram to show an example of information about radio resources allocated to neighboring radio base stations in a variation based on example 2.1 of the radio communication control method according to the present embodiment;
FIG. 10
is a diagram to show an overall structure of a radio communication system according to the present embodiment;
FIG. 11
is a block diagram to show an example structure of a central control station according to the present embodiment; and
FIG. 12
is a block diagram to show an example structure of a radio base station according to the present embodiment. | |
The present invention refers to the vegetable treatment suitable to increase the nutritional value for better preserving human or animal health, and/or for reducing the anti-nutritional factors for human being and/or for animals.
Particularly it is object of the present invention a composition for increasing vegetable nutritional quality by increasing the selenium and vanadium content mainly, and/or iodine, and/or zinc, and/or C vitamin, and/or for decreasing the nitrates and glyco alkaloids content in vegetables, particularly horticultural crops, also from full field, such as potato, tomato, carrot, broccolis, fennel, cauliflower, artichoke, radish, eggplant, pepper, onion, garlic, beet, lettuce, succory, chicory, of fruit crops such as apple tree, pear tree, apricot tree, cherry, nectarine, peach tree, actinide, plum tree, vine, oil industrial crops such as soy, colza, sunflower, or sugar crops such as sugar beet or sugar cane, cereal crops such as wheat, barley, corn, sorghum, oat, rice, officinal plants and spice such as red pepper, pepper, rosemary and fodder plant both rotated and permanent.
It is known, in fact, that the foods, mostly the vegetables, have nutrients having energetic and constitutional functions, and further functional properties to the regulation of the biochemical processes and such that the corrected addition in the diet of these latter is recommended for the promotion of good health.
The LARN publications (Levels of Assumption Recommended of energy and Nourishing for the Italian population, edition 1996) suggest a daily assumption of selenium equal to 50 micrograms.
It is known, in fact, that the selenium is necessary to promote the good health and particularly to reduce the risk of degenerative diseases such as some tumoral forms or cardio-circulatory apparatus diseases. The selenium, in association with other chemical species such as especially the vitamin E, seems to reduce the concentration of free radicals, in vitro and in vivo, being the free radicals, especially the hydroxide and superoxide radicals, the cause, according to the most accredited biochemical hypotheses, of the tumor arise and the cellular membrane degeneration, with consequent cell aging phenomenon of the cells and coronary disease arising.
On the other hand the selenium is distributed in very different manner in the foods, since it is present, in fact, in high concentration in the fishes and in the shellfishes (0,15-1,4 µg/g), medium in the cereals (0,10-0,35 µg/g), lower in the cheeses and in the meats (0,05-0,13 g/g), very low in the vegetables (0,001-0,020 µg/g), in fruit (0,002-0,018 µg/g) and in the fats (0,002-0,010 µg/g). The greater bio-assimilability of the selenium forms in the vegetables makes desirable an increase of said element in the vegetables, particularly it is very interesting a small amount increase in foods consumed diffusely and in high quantity.
For the VANADIUM it is documented the need of its addition into the food with inaccurate measure (LARK-SINU, edition 1996: undefined). The element operates in the bone and teeth mineralizzation and in the catecholamines and lipids metabolism for the feedback control of the biosynthesis of the cholesterol at the HMGCoA reductase level. For a possible interaction with the cholesterol metabolism, the nutritionist's interest for the element is in strong growth. Information about the main sources of vanadium for the diet is limited and the integrating alimentary products including this element are totally absent.
The IODINE is essential for the man as constituent of the hormonal complex of the thyroid, which almost totally subtracts the element from blood and elaborates it toward intermediary stages up to the tyroxine formation: the lack of iodine conditions the tyroxine biosynthesis. The ingested iodine is completely absorbed, while the iodine in organically bond form is absorbed more slowly. The human requirement is 150 micrograms per day (LARN-SINU, edition 1996) for both sexes with an increase of 25 micrograms per day for the pregnant women and of 50 micrograms per day for the nursing women. The iodine lack is very diffused in the world and particularly in Italy, especially in the distant zones from the sea (Alto Adige, Piemonte, Valle d'Aosta, some areas of the Campania): in the whole national territory there is however a mean daily addition lower than the suggested levels. The simplest method to face such lacks is the use of salt, but the use of enriched salt does not reach the value of 3%, while for an effectiveness preventive treatment the use should reach at least the 2/3 of the global kitchen-salt use.
The richest food of iodine is the fish, while in the other foods the iodine content varies according to the ground types and the interventions for agriculture and for industry. By way of example (LARN-SINU, edition 1996) the iodine content (stated in 100 grams) is 2-5 micrograms in fruit, vegetable, cereals, milk and meat, and 50-100 micrograms in fish.
Globally, the iodine amount introduced with milk, meat, cereals and vegetables is higher than the iodine amount introduced with fish, which is consumed with small frequency. For this reason, even a small element increase, but in foods consumed diffusedly and in high amount, would be very interesting.
The ZINC is a structural and functional component. The element is essential for the bone and the muscle formation and, when lacking, can become a nourishing limiting such synthesis. The zinc participates in the catalytic action of the carboxypeptidase and the carbonic anhydrase, it is constituent of the alcoholic dehydrogenase, the DNA and RNA polymerase, the alkaline phosphatase, the lactic dehydrogenase and the superoxide dismutase. It plays, together with iodine and selenium, an important function in the metabolism of the thyroid hormones. Maintaining the configuration of some non enzymatic proteins such as the DNA transcription factors, the tymulin and the insuline (the diabetic's pancreas contains an amount of this element lower than the standard), the zinc is important for the maturation of the immune system cells deriving from the thyme. The zinc plays an antioxidant activity, preventing the lipidic peroxidation and reducing the formation of free radicals. The zinc administration causes temporary improvements in some leukemia forms, increases the gustative-organoleptic perception which is reduced in the elderly peoples. Recent studies shown that zinc, together with selenium, is important to prevent the flu disorders strengthening the immune system. A regular zinc addition with the feeding is necessary since there are not any specific zinc reserves. States of zinc lack are reported in some geographical areas characterized by malnutrition or following some illnesses (enteropathic acrodermatitis, Crohn' disease, sickle cell anemia). The main alimentary sources are the meat, the eggs, the fish, the milk, the dairy products and the cereals. The average absorption is 10-40% and the bioavailability is higher in the foods of animal origin, since the foods of vegetable origin contain component, such as the fitatis and the fiber, that make more difficult the intestinal absorption of the element. The average zinc requirement is calculated in 10 mg in the males and 7 mg in the females per day, with an increase of 5 mg per day during the nursing (LARN-SINU, 1996). The zinc concentration increase, by means of special enrichments, in some vegetable species, especially in those having a low content of phytic acid and fiber, could be a good system to maintain a good level of assumption of the element especially in population portions at risk, such as the vegetarian and the vegans (integral vegetarians). Furthermore, the use of zinc sulfate seems to increase, according to what observed on the potato, the vitamin C content of some vegetable species.
The MOLYBDENUM belongs to the enzyme flavoproteic liver xantine oxidase and others, such as the aldehyde oxidase and the nitrate reductase, and is therefore essential for the human organisms (LARN-SINU, 1996: undefined; RDA - Recommended Daily Allowance: 0,15-0,50 mg per day). The molybdenum administration to the plants is interesting since different studies show that in the potato the concentration of the glycoalkaloids and nitrates, known anti-nutritional factors, is reduced and the vitamin C content is increased.
Methods have been already proposed for the increase of the selenium in some vegetable, by means of the ground manuring, but not by means of leaf manuring to parts of plant, fruits, tubers, roots and bulbs of several fruit and vegetable species or industrial crops and never in association with the vanadium, for which there are not, on the other hand, examples of enrichment for vegetables food use. The molybdenum administration via leaf to the potato for reducing the nitrates and glycoalkaloids content has already been observed, but there are not other known cases of molybdenum administration to other vegetable species in order to get an equivalent result. The iodine administration to the plants for increasing in these latter the element content has not been proposed for several vegetable species. The zinc administration is instead known in agriculture, being the zinc an element of the vegetable nutrition, but its administration in a balanced way, carried out for obtaining edible products with a zinc dietary content, is not known. It is not known the joined administration via leaf to vegetables of selenium and vanadium with iodine, molybdenum and zinc for improving the overall nutritional quality of the products, for the man or for the animals. Particularly the administration to a vegetable has not been ever proposed, so that the vegetable assimilates them and transfers them to the edible parts, of mineral or however microelements in varying and combined proportions, defined according to the particular food and according to the subject which will consume the food, in such a way to answer to particular and defined nutritional requirements or even to have specific functionalities in promoting the good health. The application is considered extended also to the forages for breeding animals: it is in fact opportune to provide a secondary enrichment of the meats, the milk and the dairy product, the eggs etcetera.
To fully achieve said finality it is opportune to use liquid solutions of the aforesaid element salts with which to sprinkle the leaves, the roots or plant portions.
Said procedure, in fact, allows to use reduced quantity of the minerals and microelements above mentioned, being this administration method to vegetables much more efficient than the ground administration method, for instance by means of solid or liquid fertilizers. Consequently it is a cheaper method to achieve the purpose above described. At the same time it is a method less dangerous for the environment, since it is associated, in fact, with an high vegetable absorption, a low dispersion in the environment, in the stratum and superficial waters and in the grounds.
Furthermore, it is a method that allows an efficient result control of the enrichment of the vegetable, or of its edible part, and the possibility to plan said enrichment in such a way to answer specific nutritional requirements of specific population parts or particular breeding animals.
The main object of the present invention is to propose a chemical composition suitable to increase the content of selenium and vanadium and/or iodine, and/or zinc, and/or vitamin C and/or to decrease the glycoalkaloids and nitrates content in vegetable, particularly in horticultural crops also of full field, in fruit crops, in industrial crops, in cereals, in officinal and spice plants and fodder plant both rotated and permanent.
Further purpose is to propose a chemical composition having a simple and economic realization, an easy use and a low environmental impact.
The composition object of the present invention is made of an aqueous solution of selenium salts, with a selenium content per liter ranging from 0,005 milligrams to 20 grams, and of vanadium salts, with a vanadium content per liter of solution included between 0,0005 milligrams and 3 grams, and/or iodine salts, with a iodine content per liter of solution ranging from 0,005 milligrams to 20 grams, and/or of molybdenum salts having a molybdenum content per liter of solution ranging from 0,005 milligrams to 20 grams, and/or zinc salts with a content of zinc per liter of solution ranging from 0,005 milligrams to 20 grams.
The selenium salts are essentially selenite and selenate salts of: sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, barium, copper and ammonium and zinc.
The vanadium salts are essentially constituted by metavanadates and vanadates of sodium, potassium, and ammonium.
The iodine salts are essentially constituted by iodides and iodates of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, barium, copper and ammonium.
The molybdenum salts are essentially constituted by molybdates of sodium, potassium and ammonium.
The zinc salts are essentially constituted by zinc sulfate, acetate, chloride, perchlorate, nitrate, stearate, sulfur and oxide.
The aqueous solution can contain liquid components acting on the cellular membrane of the plants, such as essentially organic solvents in ratio from 0,005% to 25 % of the liquid phase, for making easier the adsorption of the selenium by the leaf apparatus or the roots in hydroponic solution or the fruits or the tubers or the bulbs or other parts of plants. Said solvents singularly include or in their mixtures: the dimethylsulfoxide, the glycols of the type ethylenic, polyethylenic, hexilenic, butyl, 1-2 propylenglycoles, the ethers of glycols and polyglycols with methyl alcohol, ethylic, propylic, butyl and the other glycols up to a molecular weight of 20.000, the polyglycols and the polyoxyethylenglycols 20.000 ppm each.
surface-active agents, which consequently support the wettability with the composition of the aerial part or the other vegetable parts and they reduce the interface tension of the composition and the vegetable tissue;
and/or biopolymers, which consequently regulate or delay the aforesaid elements transfer to the vegetable and modify the solution viscosity;
and/or chelating agents, which consequently make available for a longer time the aforesaid elements for the plants;
and/or amino acids, polyamino acids and polyamines, which bond the contained element in the composition and help the transport of said element inside the vegetable tissue;
and/or polyvinyl alcohol.
The aqueous solution can further contain components suitable for the ionic bond of the aforesaid elements since they have functional groups that can interact with weak bonds with anions such as selenites and selenates, vanadate and metavanadate, iodides and iodates, molybdates or cations such as the zinc. The functional groups are in particular hydroxyl, carboxyl, carbonyl, amines, sulphidryls, phenols and are often fit to form a bond between the aforesaid ions and the vegetable tissue to which they are equally similar. Said components constitute a quite wide class but that can be essentially reported as following:
Said components such as surface-actives, biopolymers, chelating agents and amino acids can be presents at the same time in the composition object of the invention.
The surface-active agents, singularly or mixed, are of anionic type, such as the alkyl benzene sulfonate, or of cationic type, such as the alkyl ammonium salts, or of non ionic type, such as TRITON, for instance TRITON X-100 and X-20 of the Union Carbide Chemicals and Plastics & Co. Inc., TWEEN, of the Atlas Chem. Ind. Inc., sucroesters, polyoxyethylenglycols, polyoxyethyleneters, alkylarylesters, alkyl phenol etoxylates, with concentrations weight/volume included between 0,001% and 0,30% of the liquid phase.
The biopolymers include singularly or mixed the followings component: alginates, ethers of the cellulose, carboxylmethylcellulose, carrageenan, agar, xanthans, lignin and the by-products of lignin, pectic acids, humic acids, fulvic acids with concentrations ranging from 0,001% to 0,50 %.
The chelating agents, singularly or mixed, include besides the mentioned humic substances, EDTA (ethylenediaminetetracetic acid) and its salts, EDDHA (ethylenediaminedihydroxyphenylacetic acid) and its salts, citric acid, oxalic acid, succinic acid, gluconic acid, glyoxylic acid, tartaric acid in concentrations per liter variable between 0,05 milligrams and 50 grams.
The amino acids can be used pure or like hydrolysates of proteins or scleroproteins in concentrations varying from 0,005 milligrams to 20 grams of amino acids per liter of solution.
Polyvinyl alcohol, as polymer, can be found in concentration weight/volume of the composition included between 0,01% and 2%.
The aqueous solution, finally, can be administered to the vegetable in association or not with fertilizers commonly used that have synergic action, essential, preceding or following the element to be administered to the plant. Said fertilizers are typically urea and nitrogen salts such as ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulphate, salts of phosphorus and potassium.
The water of said composition is distilled, or deionized or drinking.
The preparation is sprayed at temperatures ranging from 4 to 40°C such as little drops having diameter less than one millimeter, preferably 0,05 mms, possibly on the hypogeous or epigean apparatus of the plants, particularly on the leaves, for a content of selenium in grams per hectare up to 500 grams and vanadium up to 600 grams for hectare, iodine up to 1 kilogram for hectare, molybdenum up to 1 kilogram for hectare, zinc up to 5 kilograms for hectare, and a pH ranging from 5 and 9. In alternative the roots or other parts of plant can be dipped in solutions having a selenium concentration per liter of solution up to 10 grams and a vanadium concentration per liter of solution up to 3 grams, and/or a iodine concentration per liter of solution up to 20 grams, and/or a molybdenum concentration per liter of solution up to 20 grams, and/or a zinc concentration per liter of solution up to 20 grams, at temperatures ranging from 4 to 40°C and a pH between 5 and 9.
The spraying or however the administration to the vegetables of this composition is repeated even more times during the vegetative cycle.
Further details will be described in the description of some preferred examples of practice realization of the composition for the treatment of the vegetables according to the present invention, examples that in the following are shown by way of example not limitative.
Sodium selenite and ammonium molybdate are applied to extensive potato and onion crops, in aqueous solution or in aqueous solution containing a mixture of humic acids and fulvic acid in concentration of 0,15%. The solutions, containing 25, 125 or 1250 milligrams of selenium per liter and 81 milligrams of molybdenum per liter, are sprayed on the leaves in such volumes (400 liters per hectare) to guarantee the administration, respectively of 10, 50 or 500 grams of selenium and 32,4 grams of molybdenum per hectare, to each kind of horticultural crop and for each formulation.
After the use, increasing the selenium concentration of the sprayed solutions, a concentration increase of the element is achieved both in the potatoes and in the onions. The solutions in pure water with 25, 125 or 1250 grams of selenium for hectare cause selenium increases in the potatoes respectively equal to 5, 7 and 40 times the concentration found in the sample (not treated with selenium) and in the onions respectively equal to 12, 18 and 50 times the concentration found in the sample. If the solutions containing humic acids and fulvic acid are used, the selenium accumulation in the potatoes and onions is respectively 1,5 times and 1,3 times in comparison to the accumulation obtained with pure water for all the selenium concentrations. The nitrates concentration in potatoes and onions is lower in all the cases compared with the untreated sample. The obtained products were recommended in vegetarian diets, poor of selenium and more at risk for the nitrates, contained in high quantity in the vegetables.
Three fruit crops, apple tree, peach tree and vine, have been treated with aqueous solutions containing 50 milligrams of iodine and 10 or 100 or 1000 milligrams of zinc, respectively in form of sodium iodide and zinc sulfate, and containing or not the 0,5% of dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO). The solutions have been sprayed on the leaves, in such volumes to allow a total administration per hectare of 30 grams of iodine and 6, or 60, or 600 grams of zinc.
The fruits, at the harvest, had concentrations of iodine, zinc and vitamin higher than the untreated sample. In the apple trees, after spraying the aqueous solutions, fruits are obtained with iodine content triple in comparison with the sample and with zinc content equal to 4, 15 and 40 times of the sample; the vitamin C content was slightly higher than the sample, in case of administration of 6 or 60 grams of zinc per hectare, about 1,5 times in case of administration of 600 grams of zinc for hectare. In the peach trees, fruits are obtained with iodine content double in comparison to the sample and with zinc content equal to 3, 7 and 32 times the sample; the vitamin C content was slightly higher than the sample in case of administration of 6 or 60 grams of zinc per hectare, about 1,8 times in case of administration of 600 grams of zinc for hectare. In the vines, grapes are obtained with iodine content quadruples in comparison to the sample and with zinc content equal to 8, 20 and 54 times the sample; the vitamin C content was slightly higher to the sample in case of administration of 6 or 60 or 600 grams of zinc per hectare. Also using the solutions containing dimethylsulfoxide iodine and vitamin C contents are achieved comparable with the contents obtained using the aqueous solutions without DMSO, and zinc content in the fruits about 1,4 times higher in all the crops and for all the typologies of administration. Said fruits were suggested in distant areas from the sea and characterized by populations risking thyroid dysfunctions.
10 or 50 grams of selenium per hectare, in form of solutions of sodium selenite or sodium selenate dissolved in pure water (with concentrations of 20 and 100 milligrams of selenium per liter), or in water containing also lignin ammonium sulfonate at 0,50 %, or in water containing also TWEEN 80 at 0,02 %, are applied on the leaves of three oleiferous crops, soy, sunflower and colza.
After the use, increasing the selenium concentration of the sprayed solutions, a concentration increase of the element is achieved in all the crops. The solutions in pure water with 10 and 50 grams of selenium per hectare cause a selenium increases in the soy respectively equal to 5 and 15 times for sodium selenite and equal to 6 and 18 times for sodium selenate in comparison with the reference value, in the sunflower respectively equal to 8 and 19 times for sodium selenite and equal to 10 and 21 times for sodium selenate in comparison with the reference value, in the colza respectively equal to 7 and 16 times for sodium selenite and equal to 9 and 17 times for sodium selenate in comparison with the reference value. If the solutions containing lignin ammonium sulphonate are used, the selenium accumulation is double in comparison with the accumulation achieved with pure water for all the concentrations and the selenium forms. If the solutions containing TWEEN 80 are used, the selenium accumulation does not differ from the accumulation achieved with pure water for all the selenium concentrations.
20 grams of selenium per hectare and 10 or 100 or 500 grams of iodine, respectively in form of solutions of potassium selenite and potassium iodide, dissolved in pure water (with concentrations of 40 milligrams of selenium per liter and 20 or 200 or 1000 milligrams of iodine) or in water also containing hydrolysates of scleroproteins at 0,15%, or in water also containing EDTA at 3 %, are applied to the leaves of three cereal crops, tender wheat, hard wheat and barley.
After the use, an increase of the selenium and iodine concentration is achieved both in the straw and in the grains. The solutions in pure water cause in the grains selenium increase equal to 5 times and iodine increase equal to 5 and 25 and 50 times the reference value, while in the straw respectively equal to 8 times for the selenium and 12 and 22 and 58 times for the iodine with respect to the reference value. If the solutions containing EDTA are used, the selenium accumulation in the grains and in the straw is respectively 2 times and 1,5 times in comparison to the accumulation obtained with pure water, the iodine accumulation respectively equal to 1,3 and 1,2 for all the tested concentrations. If the solutions containing amino acids are used, the selenium and iodine accumulations in the grains and in the straw are equal to the accumulation achieved with the aqueous solutions.
The straw is used for feeding milk animals and so obtaining milk having an higher selenium and iodine content.
Medicago sativa
Oat sativa
Vicia spp
-
Pisum arvense
Sodium selenite and sodium metavanadate, in aqueous solution or in aqueous solution containing alkyl naphthalene sodium sulphonate in concentration of 0,1%, are applied to two fodder crops, a field of lucerne () and a grass oligophyte meadow oat () - vetch (.) pea (). The solutions, containing 25 milligrams of selenium and 15 or 150 or 1500 milligrams of vanadium per liter, are sprayed on the leaves in such volumes to guarantee the administration of 10 grams of selenium and 6 or 60 or 600 grams of vanadium per hectare to each kind of forages and for each formulation.
In the first three harvest of lucerne, forages are obtained with selenium and vanadium concentrations higher than the sample concentrations and for this latter increasing with the increase of the sodium metavanadate amount in the formulations; the last two mowings provide forages with selenium and vanadium concentrations equal to the sample concentrations. The solutions in pure water allow to achieve at the first mowing selenium concentrations in the fresh forage respectively equal to 7 times and vanadium concentrations equal to 8, 14 and 20 times the sample concentrations, at the second mowing equal to 4 times for the selenium and 3, 5 and 8 times for the vanadium, at third mowing equal to 3 times for the selenium and 2, 3 and 5 times for the vanadium. The solutions containing also alkyl naphthalene sodium sulphonate allow obtaining selenium and vanadium concentrations in the forage always higher in comparison to the aqueous solutions only.
The forage coming from the grass oligophyte meadow has selenium and vanadium concentrations higher than the sample. The solutions in pure water allow to achieve selenium concentrations in the fresh forage equal to 7 times and vanadium concentrations equal to 5, 12 and 18 times higher than the sample concentrations, the solutions containing also alkyl naphthalene sodium sulphonate allow obtaining selenium concentrations in the fresh forage equal to 9 times and vanadium concentrations equal to 10, 15 and 25 times higher than the sample concentrations.
The forages are used for feeding milk animals and so obtaining milk having a higher selenium and vanadium content.
Tomato seedlings are cultivated in hydroponics solutions respectively containing 0,05 milligrams of selenium and 0,5 or 5 or 50 milligrams of iodine per liter in form of potassium selenate and potassium iodide. After four weeks the plants are planted in greenhouse in ground of middle mixture and subject to a classical manuring.
From these plants are obtained tomatoes with a selenium and iodine content higher than the content of sample plants raised in hydroponics solution too, but without the addition of the aforesaid salts. Said concentrations are 2 times higher than the sample concentration for the selenium and respectively 1,5, 4 and 6 times higher than the sample concentration for the iodine in correspondence of the three tested concentrations of potassium iodide.
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Example 5
Example 6 | |
Background
==========
Nontraumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is an ischemic disease that causes progression of femoral head collapse and destruction of the hip joint. It occasionally requires surgical treatment \[[@b1-medscimonit-26-e921327]\]. Although the precise pathologic mechanism remains unclear, systemic steroid therapy and high habitual alcohol intake are well-known causes of ONFH \[[@b2-medscimonit-26-e921327]\]. Therefore, nontraumatic ONFH has been conventionally subclassified as steroid-associated, alcohol-associated, or idiopathic.
Epidemiologic surveys on nontraumatic ONFH have been conducted in several countries based on this subclassification system. In Japan, a nationwide epidemiologic survey reported that the most common causative factor was systemic steroid therapy (51%), followed by habitual alcohol intake (31%) \[[@b3-medscimonit-26-e921327]\]. By contrast, habitual alcohol intake was the most common causative factor in Taiwan, China, and Korea \[[@b4-medscimonit-26-e921327]--[@b6-medscimonit-26-e921327]\]. In addition, several studies have found differences in pathology between steroid-associated and non-steroid-associated ONFH \[[@b7-medscimonit-26-e921327],[@b8-medscimonit-26-e921327]\]. Thus, subclassification of ONFH by potential causative factor is considered to be clinically important.
Subclassification of nontraumatic ONFH by potential causative factor has been mainly based on patient self-report during a medical interview at the time of diagnosis. However, patient self-report based on their recall of alcohol intake and history of prescribed medications is sometimes inaccurate. In addition, patient responses are also influenced by question format, type, and context \[[@b9-medscimonit-26-e921327]\]. There have been no reports regarding the reproducibility of ONFH subclassification results.
In this study, we compared the distribution of ONFH subclassifications based on a questionnaire with specific questions about alcohol and steroid use versus a conventional medical interview.
Material and Methods
====================
Patients
--------
This study was approved by our Institutional Review Board. All study participants provided the necessary consent. Between February 2011 and March 2015, there were 412 patients with nontraumatic ONFH who visited our hospital for regular follow-up and agreed to participate in this study. All patients met the diagnostic criteria for nontraumatic ONFH proposed by the Research Committee on Idiopathic Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head in Japan \[[@b10-medscimonit-26-e921327]\]. Twelve patients were excluded because of insufficient information on their history of systemic steroid therapy or habitual alcohol intake obtained from medical records at the time of diagnosis. Consequently, 400 patients with nontraumatic ONFH (155 females and 245 males; mean age, 51.8±13.9 years; range, 16 to 86 years) were included in this study. No patients with dementia or a history of hospitalization for alcoholism were included.
Methods to evaluate ONFH subclassifications
-------------------------------------------
The first evaluation was based on information regarding alcohol consumption and steroid use in the outpatient medical records as documented by the attending physician at the time of diagnosis. The second evaluation was conducted during an interview using a specific questionnaire sheet ([Figure 1](#f1-medscimonit-26-e921327){ref-type="fig"}) performed on a different day by another orthopedic surgeon. Questions concerning habitual alcohol intake focused on the following: usual frequency of alcohol intake, age when the patient started drinking, age or period when the patient drank the most, amount of daily alcoholic intake, and types of alcoholic beverages consumed (beer, wine, Japanese *sake*, *shochu* \[Japanese spirits made from sweet potato, wheat, or rice\], or whiskey). Questions concerning steroid use consisted of the following: age at the time of initial steroid therapy, total duration of steroid therapy, history of pulse steroid therapy, underlying illness that necessitated steroid therapy, history of hospitalization, and other relevant medical history.
Definition of the presence or absence of each causative factor and subclassification into 4 groups
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Patients who had received systemic steroid therapy were deemed to have a history of systemic steroid therapy, according to a nationwide epidemiologic study of ONFH \[[@b3-medscimonit-26-e921327]\]. Presence of habitual alcohol intake was defined as ethanol intake \>320 g (400 mL) of ethanol per week at the time of diagnosis or during peak intake \[[@b11-medscimonit-26-e921327]\]. Weekly ethanol intake was calculated based on the alcohol content of each beverage. Next, patients were classified into 4 groups: steroid-associated (history of systemic steroid therapy and no history of habitual alcohol intake), alcohol-associated (history of habitual alcohol intake and no history of systemic steroid therapy), steroid/alcohol-associated (history of systemic steroid therapy and habitual alcohol intake), and idiopathic (no history of systemic steroid therapy and habitual alcohol intake). The proportion of patients in these 4 subgroups based on the conventional interview and specific questionnaire sheet was compared.
Statistical analysis
--------------------
McNemar's test was used to evaluate the change in the proportion of patients with a history of steroid therapy, habitual alcohol intake, or both between the 2 evaluations. *P*\<0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. Statistical analyses were performed using JMP software, version 13 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA).
Results
=======
The proportion of patients with a history of systemic steroid therapy and habitual alcohol intake based on the first evaluation using conventional interviews was 57.3% (n=229) and 35.0 % (n=140), respectively. Based on the second evaluation using a specific questionnaire sheet, the proportion of patients with a history of systemic steroid therapy increased by 4.0%, from 57.3% (n=229) to 61.3% (n=245). The proportion of patients with a history of habitual alcohol intake increased by 14.3%, from 35.0% (n=140) to 49.3% (n=197). Both increases were statistically significant ([Table 1](#t1-medscimonit-26-e921327){ref-type="table"}).
Regarding the 4 subclassification groups, the proportion of patients with steroid/alcohol-associated ONFH increased from 2.5% (n=10) to 17.8% (n=71). The proportion in the other 3 subgroups decreased: steroid-associated ONFH, from 54.8% (n=219) to 43.5% (n=174); alcohol-associated ONFH, from 32.5% (n=130) to 31.5% (n=126); and idiopathic ONFH from 10.2% (n=41) to 7.2% (n=29) ([Figure 2](#f2-medscimonit-26-e921327){ref-type="fig"}). Ninety-six patients (24.0%) were classified into a different subgroup after the use of the specific questionnaire sheet.
Discussion
==========
This is the first study to evaluate the proportion of patients with ONFH by history of systemic steroid therapy and habitual alcohol intake using 2 different interview methods. The use of a specific questionnaire sheet identified more patients with ONFH who had a history of habitual alcohol intake (14.3% increase) and systemic steroid therapy (4.0% increase). The proportion of steroid/alcohol-associated ONFH increased by 15.3%, along with a decrease in the proportion of patients in the other subgroups. There are several possible reasons for these changes. One possibility is patient underreporting of alcohol consumption due to decreased recall during conventional interviews. Previous reports have shown that the actual amount of alcohol intake generally exceeds the amount that individuals report \[[@b12-medscimonit-26-e921327],[@b13-medscimonit-26-e921327]\]. Another reason might be that the attending orthopedist omitted questions about habitual alcohol intake when there is a clear history of steroid use because there is a common recognition in Japan that steroid use is an overwhelmingly stronger risk factor for ONFH than alcohol intake \[[@b14-medscimonit-26-e921327]\]. Such patients would have been classified as having steroid-associated ONFH instead of steroid/alcohol-associated ONFH at the time of diagnosis.
A more detailed questionnaire has been introduced to obtain precise patient information \[[@b15-medscimonit-26-e921327]\]. Incorporating questions about alcohol intake in a general diet questionnaire may neutralize the negative feelings toward reporting alcohol consumption and increase the number of cues that can enhance recall \[[@b16-medscimonit-26-e921327]--[@b18-medscimonit-26-e921327]\]. Several studies on recall of prescription drugs have assessed recall integrity using different questionnaire formats \[[@b19-medscimonit-26-e921327]--[@b21-medscimonit-26-e921327]\]. In those studies, recall sensitivity was higher with indication-oriented questions versus open-ended questions \[[@b19-medscimonit-26-e921327]--[@b21-medscimonit-26-e921327]\]. In addition, recall accuracy differed by drug type; steroid therapy was reported to have high agreement with the medical record \[[@b22-medscimonit-26-e921327]\]. Since the questionnaire sheet in our study used indication-oriented questions and the drug in question was a steroid, it is reasonable that the difference in the proportion of patients who reported steroid use between the 2 evaluation methods was small.
Evaluating potential causative factors for nontraumatic ONFH is important when considering its pathologic features. Several studies have demonstrated differences in pathologic features by causative factor. Chernetsky et al. \[[@b8-medscimonit-26-e921327]\] reported that steroid-associated ONFH is associated with a more rapid repair reaction than non-steroid-associated ONFH. Similarly, Hastings and MacNab \[[@b7-medscimonit-26-e921327]\] reported more rapid progression of the pathologic lesion in steroid-associated ONFH. In addition, a previous study showed differences in molecular structure based on ONFH etiology \[[@b23-medscimonit-26-e921327]\]. Therefore, subclassification of ONFH by potential causative factor is considered to be a clinically important task for identifying the characteristics of ONFH.
Study limitations include the retrospective cross-sectional design without standardization of the timing of the second evaluation. The first evaluation was performed before the second evaluation was planned and was not standardized because each attending physician asked about the patient's medical history based on his or her usual clinical practice. Second, the questionnaire sheet was originally created at our institution, so its generalizability could not be shown in this study. However, since this questionnaire sheet was able to identify more patients with habitual alcohol intake and history of steroid therapy than conventional evaluations, this questionnaire sheet can be considered effective. Lastly, a clear definition of steroid-associated ONFH has not yet been established. It has been recently proposed that information about steroid dose and duration should be included in the definition of steroid-associated ONFH \[[@b24-medscimonit-26-e921327]\]; however, even small doses of steroids have been demonstrated to cause ONFH \[[@b25-medscimonit-26-e921327]\]. Therefore, it is desirable to develop a more effective questionnaire sheet that aligns with a standard definition of steroid-associated ONFH.
Conclusions
===========
Our results suggest that the use of a specific questionnaire sheet can affect the distribution of ONFH subclassifications compared with conventional medical history interviews. Introduction of a specific questionnaire sheet for evaluating patients with nontraumatic ONFH may allow for more detailed self-reporting regarding potential causative factors, especially habitual alcohol intake.
**Conflict of interest**
None.
**Source of support:** This work was supported in part by a grant-in-aid in Scientific Research (16K10906) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
{#f1-medscimonit-26-e921327}
{#f2-medscimonit-26-e921327}
######
Changes in the proportion of patients with a history of systemic steroid therapy or habitual alcohol intake in the first evaluation (conventional medical interview) versus second evaluation (specific questionnaire sheet).
History of Proportion *P* value
-------------------------- ------------ ----------- -------------
Systemic steroid therapy 57.3% 61.3% \<0.001^\*^
Habitual alcohol intake 35.0% 49.3% \<0.001^\*^
[^1]: Study Design
[^2]: Data Collection
[^3]: Statistical Analysis
[^4]: Data Interpretation
[^5]: Manuscript Preparation
[^6]: Literature Search
[^7]: Funds Collection
| |
Each year, Chicago’s Japanese American community comes together to remember President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s signing of the Executive Order 9066, which led to the incarceration of some 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. This program serves as a reminder of the fragility of civil liberties in times of crisis and the importance of remaining vigilant in protecting the rights and freedoms of all.
Included with Museum admission
Day of Remembrance is sponsored by the Chicago Japanese American Council, the Chicago Japanese American Historical Society, the Japanese American Citizen League–Chicago Chapter, the Japanese American Service Committee, and the Japanese Mutual Aid Society of Chicago. | https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/day-remembrance/ |
(PhysOrg.com) -- Most everyone has heard of the circadian rhythm or the internal clock that people have that tells them when to do things, such as go to sleep. In fact, researchers have actually located where this “clock” resides in the human brain. It’s in the suprachiasmatic nuclei, a pair of distinct groups of cells located in the hypothalamus. So, that would seem the end of it right, except it’s not; new research by a group in Spain has found that individual stem cells in skin have their own circadian clock of sorts that tells the skin when to do certain thing, like regenerate. The team led by Peggy Janich and Salvador Aznar Benitah, has published the results of their study in Nature.
Janich, Benitah, et al, knew that mice grew new skin cells mostly at night, but weren’t sure how exactly that came about. To find out they studied a protein produced in the skin called Per1, which they suspected had clock-like abilities and that it impacted the expression of signaling proteins which tell other cells when to start doing their thing - such as growing new cells. To see what it was doing they linked the Per1 cell with another protein that goes fluorescent when exposed to certain environmental factors. This allowed them to see when the Per1 cells were active or dormant. In watching the cells they found they oscillated over regular 24 time period. They also found that the amount of brightness shown by the fluorescent protein correlated directly with the amount of signaling protein expressed.
Furthermore, the group found that the Per1 cells appear to be regulated, at least in part, by the main body clock in the brain. This they found out by removing a clock protein called Bmal1 from the test mice. In its absence, the Per1 cells failed to adhere to their circadian rhythm.
The researchers note that the skin in particular is more sensitive to external stimuli than many other body parts, due to its external nature. Thus, nature has had to allow for constant adjustment to keep it functioning properly. In this case, it appears the skin stem cells need to do different things during different times of the day. In the morning for example, new skin cells grown overnight need to replace those that have died. And the reason new skin cells grow at night is because that is when they are least susceptible to UV rays that can cause skin cancer.
Unfortunately, the authors note, it’s not quite as simple as all that because sometimes cells that are supposed to be timed by Bmal1 proteins seem to ignore them, and other times seem to act independently, thus leading to the conclusion that there are more factors at work in the timing of cell replication than just the circadian rhythm. Thus, as always, more research into how skin stem cells are regulated will need to be done to find out why this happens and what can be done about it in the situations where they lead to cancers.
Explore further Hormones tied to elderly sleep problems
More information: The circadian molecular clock creates epidermal stem cell heterogeneity, Nature (2011) The circadian molecular clock creates epidermal stem cell heterogeneity,(2011) doi:10.1038/nature10649 Abstract
Murine epidermal stem cells undergo alternate cycles of dormancy and activation, fuelling tissue renewal. However, only a subset of stem cells becomes active during each round of morphogenesis, indicating that stem cells coexist in heterogeneous responsive states. Using a circadian-clock reporter-mouse model, here we show that the dormant hair-follicle stem cell niche contains coexisting populations of cells at opposite phases of the clock, which are differentially predisposed to respond to homeostatic cues. The core clock protein Bmal1 modulates the expression of stem cell regulatory genes in an oscillatory manner, to create populations that are either predisposed, or less prone, to activation. Disrupting this clock equilibrium, through deletion of Bmal1 (also known as Arntl) or Per1/2, resulted in a progressive accumulation or depletion of dormant stem cells, respectively. Stem cell arrhythmia also led to premature epidermal ageing, and a reduction in the development of squamous tumours. Our results indicate that the circadian clock fine-tunes the temporal behaviour of epidermal stem cells, and that its perturbation affects homeostasis and the predisposition to tumorigenesis. Journal information: Nature
© 2011 PhysOrg.com
| |
Exchange of ideas between designers. Paolo D’Arrigo explains how, thanks to new furnishings and exquisite finishes, this room is acquiring a dominant role in home design. While Romano Adolini underlines that changes in aesthetics and layouts are not necessarily supported by the necessary ergonomic analysis.
The bathroom is the room which has evolved the most, not only in the home but also in public and Ho.Re.Ca locations. Its transformations have involved not only its finishes and furnishings, but above all the way the space itself is conceived. In this evolution, ceramic materials have acquired new forms and fresh developments can be envisaged. We ask designers who have been designing bathrooms for years to tell us about the imminent scenarios.
Paolo D’Arrigo
“The most obvious transformation has been in the architectural sense. It is as if design paradigms had beenturned inside out: the bathroom has emerged as one of the most fascinating places for designers, and it is becoming more and more visible and integrated in the furnishing project. What’s more, the trend that combines or hybridises the bathroom with other rooms in the home has encouraged the production of new systems, like the large glass enclosures that separate spaces physically but not visually. This transformation is universal, not market-specific, because its origins are in culture and not in style. I find it fascinating how points of interchange like bathrooms have evolved from mere utility areas into rooms where the frantic pace of life can be calmed, stimulating emotional regeneration through the use of natural materials and finishes, combined with technological systems and utilities that are more and more effective in delivering comfort and hygiene.
Ceramic tiles are enjoying a major expansion, but they are also restricted if they are only limited to the reproduction of natural materials like wood and stone. To overcome the possible saturation of the market, I believe more emphasis should be placed on investigation of this material’s own intrinsic language.”
Romano Adolini
9“Since the ‘90s, the bathroom has been transformed from a self-contained service room into a multi-purpose space with new stylistic lines, materials and finishes. Unfortunately there has been less development in the study of the ergonomics, system design and, at least in the West, technology of sanitary fixtures, due to a strict regulatory framework and a vision which is still excessively traditionalist. Quality results have been achieved in both the private and the public sectors, such as the washrooms of some airports or cultural buildings, but the hotel sector, especially in the luxury category, is the area where we have seen the greatest spatial evolution and theextremes of functional concepts, with all physical separation between the bathroom and bedroom almost eliminated. | https://www.marazzigroup.com/blog/bathroom-acquires-central-role/ |
Decor selections for table tops and/or shelves in the room.
-
Shopping List with set up instructions for all the items selected.
NOT INCLUDED
-
Furniture Layout
-
Wall Art Selections
-
Paint Selections
-
Photorealistic Renders
*Renders can be purchased in addition to this package without the furniture selections
to see what the space may look like.
HOW DOES IT WORK
1. Complete the Design Questionnaire and select the options you want to purchase.
2. Upon submission of the questionnaire a ‘Welcome Packet’ will be sent to you via email.
This packet includes the invoice, contract, and measurement guide. After completion (and
submission) of the ‘Welcome Packet’ the fun part begins.
3. Please include dimensions of furniture or other items such as wall décor that you want to use
in the space and pictures of it, if applicable.
4. The decor selections and set up instructions will be put together in a clear presentation PDF
format.
TIMELINE
1-2 weeks. | https://www.allimdesign.com/decor-table-shelf |
A family of eight, including one elderly man, a mother and father, and five children, sustained various levels of injuries in a motor vehicle accident which required secure medical transport from their location in Ma’rib in eastern Yemen. Three family members – the mother, who incurred a rib fracture, and two children, who experienced pelvic and femur fractures – were nonambulatory. WorldAware quickly responded to the request for assistance by initiating and successfully executing plans for secure medical transport, which included ground transportation and armed security personnel.
Within nine hours, the family was moved via four armed security vehicles and two ambulances through extremely hazardous mountain terrain and hostile territory to a better equipped hospital in the capital city of Sana’a, 200km to the west, by WorldAware Protective Service Detail.
Solution
After receiving the call for assistance on at 9:59pm EST on September 4, 2013, the Incident Management Team (IMT) was stood up at Command Center in Annapolis MD, which conducted detailed mission planning, including tapping into local resources who had knowledge of the terrain, travel routes, local tribal customs, and security environment.
By 3:30pm Yemen time on September 5, 2013, WorldAware Protective Service Detail had established direct communications and face-to-face contact with the injured party, and they quickly realized they would not receive suitable medical care at the Ma’rib City General Hospital. Making the call to move the family through rough mountainous terrain and into Sana’a required safeguarding the transportation convoy. However, with road closures, approaching evening hours and infighting between local factions and host nation security forces in Ma’rib, WorldAware’s Protective Service Detail decided to hold position in Ma’rib until daylight and infighting subsided, and sheltered in place with armed security personnel protecting the ambulances.
WorldAware Protective Service Detail knew that negotiating safe passage into Sana’a would not be possible without the buy-in of Tribal Elders, who could ‘approve’ the convoy’s trek through ‘badland territory’ prone to anti-government warlord activity and U.S. drone strikes. Possessing the requisite cultural competency and linguistic skills required to understand and navigate the customs and traditions of this ancient tribal culture, WorldAware Protective Service Detail conducted liaison with local warlords, explaining that the ambulances did not represent a Yemeni government operation in any way - but rather, carried an injured, innocent family. Gaining the trust of the Tribal Elders was a crucial step in the successful execution of the mission. They, then, agreed to provide a tribal elder support to guarantee safe passage to the capital city.
As morning broke, the convoy, which included the local tribal Chieftain to accompany the lead security vehicle, two ambulances to transport three non-ambulatory patients, and armed close protection personnel in the lead, two center and back-up vehicle, headed out for Sana’a. Technology was stunted amidst the dense mountains, causing cell phone function to be intermittent.
Nonetheless, daily safety check-in protocols were established and the family was manually tracked by measuring how much distance they had covered every time they called in.
Over 200km and nine hours later on September 6, 2013, WorldAware Protective Service Detail arrived at its destination, successfully securing safe travel and transportation of WorldAware’s client to a better equipped and more suitable care hospital in Sana’a.
WorldAware’s ability to rapidly respond and deliver exceptional results in a highly volatile area was outstanding. With their on the ground knowledge of the territory and local customs, we were able to support our services with secure transport. Kip Gibbs VP of Global Operations Assist America
Value
Command Control Communication and Intelligence (C3I) Services, directed from Command Center in Annapolis, MD, provided rapid on-the-ground assistance, concise intelligence, and client-decision support. WorldAware’s Global Operations demonstrated its full scope of capabilities by monitoring threats, and providing medical evacuation to support security requirements in a very hostile and challenging environment.
WorldAware’s heavily armed, highly skilled and vetted Protective Service Detail on the ground possessed both the cultural competency, as well as, tactical proficiency to move the ambulances out of Ma’rib and into Sana’s without becoming the victim of dangerous crossfire. Additionally, the wounded members of the family received medical care through the dangerous ride in mountainous terrain, thereby ensuring that their existing injuries did not worsen. The immense value for the client included the potential saving of lives, reputation and costs. Without WorldAware’s expertise and full operational management of the client’s request for assistance, the welfare of the family could have been further jeopardized.
WorldAware solutions enable organizations to operate globally with confidence by helping them prepare, monitor and respond to threats that could impact operational performance. Contact usfor more information at [email protected]. | https://www.worldaware.com/resources/case-study/case-study-yemen-security-evacuation |
Self-Injurious Behavior Inhibiting System
- This article was considered for deletion at Wikipedia on September 4 2015. This is a backup of Wikipedia:Self-Injurious_Behavior_Inhibiting_System. All of its AfDs can be found at Wikipedia:Special:PrefixIndex/Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/Self-Injurious_Behavior_Inhibiting_System, the first at Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/Self-Injurious_Behavior_Inhibiting_System.
Template:Cleanup The Self-Injurious Behavior Inhibiting System (SIBIS) is an apparatus used as a treatment method to stop or lessen self-harm. Invented by Dr. Robert E. Fischell, Glen H. Fountain, and Charles M. Blackburn in 1984, the device uses an electric shock as an aversive stimulus, offering a potential solution to self-injurious behavior.
Contents
Components
There are two models of SIBIS. The simpler model consists of an electrode and a radio transmitter wrapped around the arm or leg using Velcro. When a child administers a blow to the head, the SIBIS device is used to effectively recognize the self-injurious behavior and to eventually extinguish it. This is possible because the SIBIS device is composed of two wirelessly connected parts: the "sensor module" and the "stimulus module". The impact monitor serves to both detect an impact to the head and to protect the head from the damage that the impact could potentially incur. The sensor module is placed on either the body part receiving the impact (such as the head) or on the body part delivering the impact (such as the arm or knee). Wherever it is placed, the sensor module senses the impact of the blow and sends out an electrical signal. This electrical signal triggers the stimulus module, allowing for the aversive stimulation, the shock, to be delivered.
Specifications
SIBIS is designed to swiftly reduce the rate of SIB via an aversive stimulus through a positive punishment contingency. Only 5 cm × 3 cm × 1 cm in size, the stimulus module delivers an 85 V electrical shock at 3.5 mA of current to the subject each time the patient strikes his or her head sufficiently hard enough to register on the velocity impact detector. The delivered shock is designed not to be very painful, but rather an uncomfortable response to the SIB. The impact detector of the apparatus can be adjusted, allowing for the reduction of punishment over time and the eventual dismissal of the apparatus from the child's punishment schedule.
Benefits of SIBIS
In numerous cases, SIBIS has drastically reduced the occurrence of self-injurious behavior in under a week; in some cases, self-injury has been reduced within the first day of the trial. Researchers can attribute this success to the SIBIS device's two main strengths:
- SIBIS allows for the delivery of the aversive stimulus immediately following the self-injurious behavior, thus eliminating any third variable that might come into play, and
- SIBIS prevents a child from utilizing escapism and relieving himself or herself of the aversive task he or she is faced with.
Thomas R. Linscheid and colleagues have demonstrated an example of the efficacy of SIBIS. A multiple baseline study of five individuals with severe SIB was conducted in which the dependent variable was hits per minute and the independent variable was the SIBIS unit. The results showed that shortly after the implementation of SIBIS, self-injury dropped drastically in all five subjects. An effect worth noting was that during the baseline of the study, patients gestured for the return of SIBIS; the patients were more calm and relaxed once the unit was returned.
Ethical debate
The utilization of SIBIS is controversial, thus making it the center of ethical debates. Dr. Brian A. Iwata refers to SIBIS as a “default technology." More specifically, Dr. Iwata states that default technology is a last resort to behavior modification after all other methods have been exhausted. Moreover, it is strongly advised that SIBIS should only be used after a full functional analysis of the problem behavior has been completed.
Though the American Psychological Association and the National Association of School Psychologists have attempted to direct school psychologists in the administration of behavioral treatment, the use of SIBIS has proven to be a very controversial topic in the public school system. Those that oppose the SIBIS device as a form of treatment in a school setting claim the shock delivered to the subject qualifies as corporal punishment. However, researchers claim that aversive therapy adheres to a systematic treatment plan that is carefully constructed to diminish the dangerous, and sometimes even life-threatening, actions exhibited by children with self-injurious behavior. The researchers claim that corporal punishment, unlike an aversive stimulus treatment plan, uses the administration of pain as a "disciplinary action" in order to punish an unwanted behavior.
Schools in some states, such as Michigan, have found SIBIS to be lawful and have allowed its use within the classroom setting. Three stipulations are met, however:
- The participant, or the participant's parents, must be fully aware as to what he or she is consenting and the implications it may incur.
- The participant, or the participant's parents, must be competent and capable of making decisions regarding his or her health.
- The participant, or the participant's parents, must voluntarily consent to the treatment method without coercion or intimidation.
See also
- Aversives as part of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
- Operant conditioning
- Judge Rotenberg Educational Center
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/4440160/description.html
- ↑ Kix, Paul (July 2008). "The Shocking Truth". Boston Magazine. http://www.bostonmagazine.com/2008/06/the-shocking-truth/. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Linscheid, T.R., Iwata, B.A., Ricketts, R.W., Williams, D.E., & Griffin, J.C. (1990). Clinical evaluation of the self-injurious behavior inhibiting system (SIBIS). Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 23, 53–78. Template:Doi Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "Linscheid" defined multiple times with different content
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Salvy, S., Mulick, J., Butter, E., Bartlett, R.K., & Linscheid, T.R. (2004). Contingent electric shock (SIBIS) and a conditioned punisher eliminate severe head banging in a preschool child. Behavioral Interventions, 19, 59–72. Template:Doi
- ↑ Linscheid, T.R., & Reichenbach, H. (2002). Multiple factors in the long-term effectiveness of contingent electric shock treatment for self-injurious behavior: A case example. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 23, 161–177.
- ↑ Iwata, Brian A. (1988). The development and adoption of controversial default technologies. The Behavior Analyst/MABA, 11.2, 149-157. | https://deletionpedia.org/en/Self-Injurious_Behavior_Inhibiting_System |
The year 2022 was marked by a sharp inflationary surge in the United States and the euro zone. At the end of October, the inflation rate hit 7.7% over one year in the US, 10.6% in the euro zone and 7.1% in France, i.e. between 5 and 8 points above the inflation targets of the US Federal Reserve (Fed) and the European Central Bank (ECB). In response, the two central banks significantly tightened monetary policy. The Fed raised its key interest rate from 0% in March 2022 to 4% in November 2022. While the ECB’s key rate hike has been more measured for the moment, long-term rates on public debt in European countries have risen sharply, gaining between 250 and 300 basis points in one year in France and Germany, and even more in euro zone countries where the risk on public debt is perceived as higher. This increase is close to what is anticipated for short-term rates in 2023. The OFCE thus forecasts that the ECB’s key rate will reach 3% in the third quarter of 2023.
It is not easy to estimate the impact this tightening will have on economic activity. There is a very rich literature on the transmission of a monetary shock to the rest of the economy, using methods that, while conceptually similar or even equivalent, in practice lead to a wide variety of results. We are particularly interested here in the impact of a rate shock using macroeconometric models of the French economy. For this overview, we chose three models: the Mésange model co-developed by the French Treasury Dept and the INSEE statistics agency (see Bardaji et al., 2017), the FR BDF model of the Banque de France (see Lemoine et al., 2019, and Aldama and Ouvrard, 2020, for the notebook on variants), along with the OFCE e-mod model used in Heyer and Timbeau (2006).
What is a macroeconometric model?
Macroeconometric models are the oldest class of macroeconomic models. They combine accounting relationships (or equations) with estimated behavioural equations in order to make predictions about an economy’s response to shocks. The major macroeconomic variables (wages, prices, household consumption, investment, employment) are expressed in the form of error correction equations. In the long run, these converge towards a certain target, which is determined by economic theory. Thus household consumption expenditure will converge on a certain fraction of household disposable income in the long term. In contrast, short-term behaviour is left much freer in order to achieve a good forecasting performance. The interest rate is essentially a long-term factor. The impact of a rate shock is limited initially and becomes more important as the gap between the variables and their long-term targets closes.
The Mésange model
We consider the variant published in Bardaji et al. (2017). The results are summarised in Table 1. A monetary shock of 100 basis points (or 1%) results in a fall in GDP of 0.2% after one year, 0.8% after three years and 3% in the long run. This decline is due in particular to a sharp drop in investment: -2.7% after 3 years (-3.4% for the GFCF of non-financial companies) and -5.5% in the long term, but all components of aggregate demand are hit, including exports, which fall by 3.3% in the long haul. Surprisingly, monetary tightening is reflected in higher prices in the Mésange model. Value-added market prices rise by 0.1% after one year, 0.8% after three years and more than 6% over a longer period! This price increase makes the economy less competitive, hence the fall in exports. Two transmission channels are at work. The first is the direct negative impact of higher interest rates on business investment. In the Mésange model, the demand for capital and therefore investment depends in the long run on the cost of capital. The intuition is in line with standard microeconomic theory: companies choose the combination of capital and labour that maximises their profit. A rise in the cost of capital leads firms to substitute labour for capital and pushes down investment. The user cost of capital is composed of the depreciation of capital, the long-term interest rate on government debt and the terms of the risk premium between government bonds and corporate loans, while the long-term elasticity of investment to this user cost is estimated to be 0.44. Assuming a 10% capital depreciation rate, initial nominal rates at 0, and ignoring any risk premia, a 1% increase in the interest rate translates in the long run into a 5% decrease in investment. The second, much less intuitive channel plays a key role in this variant and explains in particular the response of prices and exports. An increase in the cost of capital means higher production costs for business. Firms pass on these higher costs in their selling prices, leading to higher inflation and lower competitiveness. Portier, Beaudry and Hou (2022) recently explored this positive impact of a rise in interest rates on prices via the cost of capital channel. Note that this effect is difficult to detect using more agnostic empirical methods (unrestricted VAR models, local projections). While these sometimes show positive effects in terms of how a rise in rates impacts prices, the effect is usually either insignificant or clearly negative over longer time horizons (see for example Miranda-Agrippino and Ricco, 2021).
The FR-BDF model
Compared to Mésange, one of the important features of the FR BDF model is the way it treats agents’ expectations. This specificity explains why two interest rates intervene in the dynamics of the model. The short-term interest rate, determined by the European Central Bank, affects agents’ expectations, while the long-term interest rate on public bonds affects the long-term demand for production factors. The long-term elasticity of investment to the cost of capital is 0.5, which is slightly higher than in Mésange. The FR BDF model does not incorporate systematic relationships between long and short rates. To generate the effect of a rate shock in the model, it is therefore necessary to add two distinct analytical variants, the first simulating the impact of a permanent rise in the short-term rate, the second the impact of a rise in the long-term rate. These two variants are available in Aldama and Ouvrard (2020). The effects of a rate shock are much weaker than in Mésange. After 3 years, real GDP decreases by 0.3%, against 0.9% in Mésange. This is due in particular to a much smaller reduction in GFCF (-1.9% compared to -3.4% after 3 years in Mésange). The effects on prices are more in line with the usual Keynesian intuition, with a 0.2% fall in the GDP deflator after 3 years. The resulting improvement in competitiveness leads to an increase in exports of 0.2% after 3 years (compared to a 0.2% decrease in Mésange). There are two main reasons for these differences. First, the transmission channel of the cost of capital to prices is neutralised in the FR BDF model. While value-added prices are determined by the cost of production factors and a constant markup, as in Mésange, the cost of the capital factor that enters the price equation is not the user cost of capital but the marginal return to capital. Second, investment reacts much less strongly in the short term to the growth in value added in FR-BDF and is characterised by greater inertia. The negative investment shock therefore spreads more slowly.
The e-mod model
The impact of a rate shock in the version of the e-mod model developed by Heyer and Timbeau (2006) is closer to the results of FR BDF than to Mésange. However, the economic mechanism is different. The interest rate shock is transmitted via a fall in asset prices, particularly property prices, which leads to a reduction in consumption via a wealth effect. After 3 years, real GDP falls by 0.4%, a fall that is driven by the reduction in household spending (consumption and investment) (-0.6%) and, to a lesser extent, in business investment (-1.2%). As in FR-BDF, the rate shock negatively impacts prices. The GDP and household consumption deflators fall by 0.1%.
What does this overview tell us?
The main transmission channel of a rate shock in macroeconometric models involves the user cost of capital and business and household investment. The magnitude of this negative effect on investment depends on the long-run elasticity of the demand for capital to its user cost. These models estimate this elasticity econometrically. While criticisms can be made of the estimation methods, the value ultimately adopted (on the order of 0.5) seems plausible relative to other estimation methods (for example, a meta-study by Gechert et al., 2022, estimates it at 0.3) and implies moderate substitutability between production factors. It is also possible that the rate shock impacts household consumption via wealth effects, even if this channel remains controversial. In addition to these primary effects on aggregate demand, there are multiplier and accelerator effects that also vary between the models, adding to the uncertainty. We find the channel of production costs, which has a certain importance in the dynamics of the Mésange model, implausible. This leads us to retain in this paper the results of Aldama and Ouvrard (2020) and Heyer and Timbeau (2006).
The impact of monetary tightening on economic activity will depend not only on the response of the economy to a generic shock but also on the size of the current shock. In the October 2022 OFCE forecast, the one-year interest rate hike is projected to be 300 basis points, but this hike cannot be used as is. First, this rise is not coming as a complete surprise. Interest rates fell to very low levels during the Covid-19 crisis, and normalisation was expected to start by 2022, albeit at a very gradual pace. Second, this is a rise in the nominal rate. The relevant interest rate for the transmission channels of monetary policy as they appear in macroeconometric models is the real rate. This would not pose a problem if the rate hike were a pure monetary policy shock, i.e. if the central bankers had decided overnight to raise rates without any reason. But the rise that we are experiencing is a response to an inflationary shock, a shock that is affecting real interest rates independently of any changes in the nominal rate. The solution adopted by the OFCE in its October 2022 forecasts was to retain the change in the real rate using certain measures of inflation expectations. This leads to a rate shock of around 2%.
On the basis of the two variants that we have chosen, a rate shock of around 2% could, all else being equal, cause French GDP to fall between 0.6% and 0.8% by 2024/2025. The impact on prices would be negative but modest, between 0.3% and 0.4%. This estimate obviously remains very uncertain. As explained in the previous paragraph, calculating the magnitude of the shock itself requires making major assumptions. The models used are estimated with limited information and therefore have potentially broad confidence intervals. More generally, the validity of this estimate of the effects of a rate shock is contingent on the validity of the models used.
Bibliography
Aldama P. and J.-F. Ouvrard, 2020, “Variantes analytiques du modèle de prévision et simulation de la Banque de France pour la France” [Analytical variants of the Banque de France forecasting and simulation model for France], Document de travail Banque de France, no. 750.
Bardadji J., B. Campagne, M. Khder, Q. Lafféter and O. Simon, 2017, “Le modèle macroéconométrique Mésange : réestimation et nouveautés” [The Mesange macroeconometric model: Re-estimation and innovations], Document de travail INSEE.
Beaudry P., S. Hou and F. Portier, 2020, “Monetary policy when the Philips Curve is quite flat”, CEPR discussion paper.
Gechert S., T. Havranek, Z. Irsova and D. Kolcunova, 2022, “Measuring capital-labor substitution: The importance of method choices and publication bias”, Review of Economic Dynamics, no. 45, pp. 55-82.
Heyer E. and X. Timbeau, 2006, “Immobilier et politique monétaire” [Real estate and monetary policy], Revue de l’OFCE, no. 96, pp. 115-151.
Miranda-Agrippino S. and G. Ricco, 2021, “The transmission of monetary policy shocks”, American Economic Journal : Macroeconomics, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 74-107.
OFCE, E. Heyer and X. Timbeau (dirs.), 2022, “Perspectives 2022-2023 pour l’économie mondiale et la zone euro”, [2022-2023 Forecast for the Global Economy and the Euro Zone], Revue de l’OFCE, no. 178.
See Table 2 in Appendix 1 of the OFCE forecast in the section Tour du monde de la situation conjoncturelle, [Overview of the economic situation], OFCE Forecasting and Analysis Department, under the direction of E. Heyer and X. Timbeau.
These figures are obtained by dividing the results presented in Heyer and Timbeau (2006) by two, as the authors simulated an interest rate rise of 200 bps. As the e-mod model is not completely linear, the results are an approximation.
See Box 2 in Perspectives 2022-2023 pour l’économie mondiale et la zone euro, [2022-2023 Forecast for the Global Economy and the Euro Zone], E. Heyer and X.Timbeau (dirs.). | https://www.ofce.sciences-po.fr/blog/how-do-rising-interest-rates-impact-french-economic-growth-an-overview-of-macroeconometric-models/ |
Federal cybersecurity efforts must extend beyond core infrastructure to include visibility and governance across clouds, users and devices. Stay ahead of changing security needs with a multilayered, software-defined approach to government cybersecurity that maximizes visibility, context, and control of interactions between users, apps and data.Read the Solution Overview
Strengthen cybersecurity posture across data centers, cloud, applications and endpoints with zero-trust security that prevents threats from moving laterally within agency environments.
Simulate real-world threats and malicious code, while isolated from enterprise production networks and acquire the skills to conduct defensive operations to protect critical systems and offensive attacks against enemy targets.Learn More
Polaris Alpha develops specialized applications for the Intelligence and Defense communities, and leverages VMware NSX for micro-segmentation and policy-driven automation to protect sensitive data, and streamline network management and governance as part of its overall data center modernization initiative.
Ensure you have the agility to meet dynamic mission requirements.Learn More
Get the latest news and trends and discover best practices for embracing digital technologies in government.
Contact us to discuss your digital government initiatives and learn how we can help you take the next step toward complete digital transformation.
Do you have the in-house resources you need to help you deploy transformative solutions? If not, we can help. | https://www.vmware.com/au/solutions/industry/government/federal-government-it-solutions/government-cybersecurity.html |
Q:
Is 'set phrase' a set phrase?
Some words or phrases have 'special' meaning beyond the combination of constituent parts.
For example:
'White House' is the white house where the US president lives.
'black board' is where you draw on with chalk at school [actually more recently a green board and in the past 20 years a 'white board' (which is white)].
Negative examples (phrases or constructions that are not examples of the concept):
'quasi-' anything: (I find) is -not- a 'special thing' for me, it is not a new word with a meaning all its own, 'quasi' is just a productive modifier that doesn't mean anything more than itself and the new word it makes can be judged simply as 'almost like an X'
colors usually (with some example exceptions above) don't make anything 'new' - a 'red door' is just a door colored red. If it took on some cultural connection, then it might need an additional dictionary specification for that term 'red door'.
I'm not talking about the figurative (non-literal, metaphorical) uses of such terms, but certainly metaphor ("White House' as the seat of American government), and idiom ('raining cats and dogs') are examples of the idea 'a set phrase'. When a neologism or coinage becomes an accepted item.
For example, if you look at a list of words that begin with the prefix 'quasi-', almost entirely, these words are not special or used ever again, or if they're used again it is simply out of logical need of the construction. They don't describe a recognizably repeatable 'thing'.
What I'm looking for is the appropriate way to designate a locution that is more than the sum of its parts.
I've been using the bland term 'set phrase' to call this phenomenon. It itself is not particularly evocative of the 'noncompositional' aspect of some phrases.
Is set phrase the best way to name this phenomenon? or is there another?
A:
Another common term is "idiom", though it has several interrelated meanings. Linguists and lexicographers have some more specific terms too, including "lexical item" and "listeme".
Thinking about it now (and I've thought about it several times before) I might describe a set phrase as "something between an idiom and a collocation":
An idiom having set parts with a meaning not related to those parts: red herring = false clue, kick the bucket = die.
A collocation being a group of words with a high statistical rate of occurring together, but not necessarily having any special meaning: "knife and fork", "cross the road".
A set phrase might have a literal "sum of parts" meaning or an unrelated meaning, but unlike a collocation, a set phrase always refers to a certain specific concept though it doesn't have to be as fixed as an idiom.
For your particular examples, I would say that set phrase is often a good term for those which consist of multiple words, but for those you listed which are single words, one of the other terms suggested would be better.
It's worth noting that the Wikipedia entry for "set phrase" has been struggling for years, suggesting it's not a fully accepted term or not a well defined concept.
The current entry on Wiktionary does seem to be doing well though, and looks pretty sensible to me.
To answer the title of your wording, "I would say yes set phrase is a set phrase, but it might not be universally accepted as one."
Disclaimer: I believe I created the initial Wikipedia entry some years ago, and I've almost certainly contributed to the Wiktionary entry over the years as well.
A:
A set phrase, a fixed expression, an idiomatic expression: all these would seem excellent terms to describe what you mean. They all imply that the phrase means more than the sum of its parts, as one would ordinarily expect, and is often found in this exact form. These terms serve their purpose quite well; I doubt whether anything better exists.
| |
Q:
Best JPEG Image compression quality
I'm encoding a bitmapData to JPG. What is a good compression rate that brings out a smaller file size without losing the overall image quality? (I'm looking for a solution that work for any image)
A:
So, I'm try to answer your question in the most theoretical way possible, and explain why its difficult, if not possible, to recommend a single compression rate that will work great in all cases.
The first thing you have to have at least a vague understanding of the difference between lossy and lossless compression.
Lossy vs Lossless
Lossless compression is a compression algorithm that takes a set of data, transforms it into a another set of data that is smaller. Reversing process should produce the exact same set of data as the pre-compressed data. Lossy compression, on the other hand, does not.
With lossy compress, the algorithm is allowed to throw away information that it deems unnecessary for the reconstruction of the original message, but doesn't not guarantee the reconstruction of the exact same message.
Let's look at a hypothetical example to drive home the point. Let us say I have come up with an algorithmic way to compress English text. I have a lossess codec called A and a lossy codec called B. Lets say I wanted to compress the following phrase:
Bob has gone to the store for milk.
Running the phrase through codec A and then decompressing it, I would get:
Bob has gone to the store for milk.
However, running the same message through codec B with a compression rate of 10, I might get the following phrase back out:
Bob went to store for milk.
Notice that the result isn't the same, but is pretty close. The integretiy of the message remains intact, but it isn't the same informat that I put into the system.
Now lets, run the source message through codec B with a compression rate of 5. This time I might get the following when I try to decode the compressed message:
Bob went to store for food.
Notice that even more information is missing, but the implied intent of the message is still present. However I have no idea, what kind of food bob went to the store for.
Finally, lets run the source message through codec B with a compression rate of 1. This time I might this back:
Bob isn't here.
This time the algorithm has decided that where Bob has gone isn't important, only that Bob isn't in the current location. The core intent of original message is still preserved, but the rest of the context has been lost.
The same theory applies to images. JPEG compression works by the algorithm throwing away data it doesn't think it necessary to reconstruct the image.
So how to JPEG actually work?
The process by which JPEG actual does it work is full of complicated math, but on a higher level its pretty easy to understand. It works by breaking down the image into small 8x8 pixel chunks. Then it transforms those pixels from a collection of pixels into a collection of math formulas (DCT-II if you are interested), then by analyzing those formulas to see which ones it can omit based on the compression rate given.
There is a great visual example of the math involved over at wikipedia on the article for DCT.
Notice how it builds up the image of the letter "A" by mixing together a collection of simple patterned blocks (generated from cosine).
Now, you'll notice – if you watch that image close enough – there are a bunch of coefficients that are very close to zero, stuff like +0.006 and +0.021. And you'll notice, if you look close, their impact on the resulting image on the left is fairly minimal. The most simplistic explanation is this: JPEG compression works by throwing these away small values, effectively not counting them. So when it re-constructing the image, by reversing the process (iDCT/DCT-III), it does not add or subtract these subtle changes to the block. It only stores/uses the ones that have the most effect on the final block.
The lower the compression rate, the more of these it tries to throw away. The higher the compression rate, the more it tries to keep.
Now there is a lot more subtle math that goes on during this phase, but that's the best simple example.
What does this all mean?!
This means that what information the compressor tries to get rid of, is directly dependent on the image that you are trying to compress. Some images will be more compressible without showing visual artifacts than others, simply due to the structure of the blocks and the information they contain.
Also consider that the effect of compression is depends on who is looking at it. I have worked with images a lot (both in college and professionally) and spent a lot of time studying the underlying compression mechanics of JPEG/MPEG, so its pretty easy for me to spot compression artifacts because I know what I'm looking for. But those same artifacts might not be picked up by a less than discerning eye. (Just like some people cannot listen to MP3 compressed files, because they can literally hear the compression algorithm at work)
So your mileage may vary, depending on what you are trying to do and the images that you are trying to compress. If you had a good understanding of the underlying mathematics then you might be able to predict what would give you the best bang for the buck in terms of compression ratio, based on the image that you are trying to compress. But most of the time, it's simply a product of experimentation.
TL;DR
A compression rate between 60% and 80% is usually provides a decent reduction in size, without introducing too many noticeable visual artifacts.
| |
Sarah Elena Müller & Orakle Ngoy: Switching roles to understand each other’s realities
Swiss musician Sarah Elena Müller and Congolese slammer Orakle Ngoy met at the international PUNCH Agathe Project in Münster (DE). The two musicians were inspired by each other’s stage performance and set about developing plans to work together to exchange and reflect on the concerns of women in the DRC and Switzerland and develop a live set and further formats, that evolve around their common interests.
Now, following their research trips in DRC and Switzerland, the artists share reflections, learnings and insights from their time working together and experiences in each other’s contexts.
Shared politics, different contexts
At the end of 2019, Bernese musician Sarah Elena Müller spent 3 weeks in Kinshasa, DRC with local rapper Orakle Ngoy. This was immediately followed by the two artists spending another 3 weeks working and performing together in Bern, Switzerland in February 2020. In addition to providing opportunity for Sarah Elena and Orakle to collaborate and create music together around shared points of interest, the research trips allowed the two artists to gain an understanding of each other’s context and reflect on how their own lived reality colours their ideas and experiences of the social politics that they explore in their work. Likewise, the alternate locations of Kinshasa and Bern gave each artist an interesting switch of roles and responsibilities providing insight and understanding into each other’s artistic, social and private realities.
Sarah Elena: Orakle and I certainly got to know each other’s reasons for being in music, writing and activism better. A lot of time in Kinshasa is spent waiting for things, people, electricity, getting better, taxis, money or a call. So we talked a lot about writers and artists that impress us. About feminism and racism here and there, about ‘white’ beats and rhumba, about musical conventions and on how a non-conventional, female voice in rap still needs to impose herself without showing any weakness or doubts. It was interesting to realize that the discourse on vulnerability in the feminist circles I know, is suddenly not compatible with reality anymore, when circumstances and infrastructure are not stable, or can’t be taken for granted. The same can be said about electronic music approaches, about defining your artistic profile with the help of a social and technical structure, that allows one to start a career on a different level of privilege, without ever having to reflect it.
Orakle: We discovered that each of us having lived similar realities in our lives, quickly brought us together and this allowed for rapid growth in our creation and collaboration. My experience of Swiss daily life, lived realities and the artistic scene has had a huge impact on my work and aroused my curiosity.
Tangential learnings
In Kinshasa, as in many places in the region, complex social codes exist along lines of class, family hierarchy and social status. For Western European artists, being present and participating within these social systems is neither neutral nor simple.
Sarah Elena: I’ve specifically learned that working in culture in Kinshasa is linked to strict social codes, since supporting one another is not just a meaningless phrase but crucial to surviving. This also means respecting the chains of delegation and responsibilities, even if there are simpler or faster ways of dealing with information and getting things done. It took me a while to understand how to behave and interact with people without intercepting their usual flow. For me as a Swiss-bred artist, I am accustomed to working independently, quickly and with self-reliable exchange of information. In Kinshasa, this often led to me short cutting between actors of cultural life, which to a social system that is built only on the bonds and dependencies between its individuals, was interpreted as a lack of respect. This was sometimes difficult to deal with, nevertheless it was absolutely crucial to better understand how this context works and how the artists and activists move around in it. To me it was a great learning experience on how the Western idea of efficiency and flawlessness have a pretty ambivalent impact on social security systems and relationships, which are rather based on trust and togetherness, than on the common security of state and law.
Mosquito nets and questions
During the Bern/Switzerland part of the research trip, the artists invited Swiss video engineer Fabian Hirter to develop abstract visual material to accompany their performances from the video footage Sarah Elena had gathered in Kinshasa. The concept was to have one element of the visuals in response to Sarah’s sounds and another interpret the voice of Orakle. During this process a mosquito net joined the crew; an ubiquitous object in Kinshasa and recurring motif in the video material. For the artists, the net became an ironic metaphor for Sarah Elena’s western gaze in Kinshasa: obscured by this net, but also desperately seeking shelter from a sensory overload.
Language played an interesting barrier for the two artists, particularly in Switzerland where they became a two-person island relaying and interpreting all interactions, spaces and exchanges. In response to recurring questions or misunderstandings, the artists found they had developed their own abstracted version of French with shortened sounds and chopped off syllables, which in itself became an odd mixture of running gag and frustration. They decided to use this language of highly potentiated incomprehension as the basis for a new track titled “ES-KE?”, in which they redirect their questions back at the audience, claiming their hybrid language and in so doing illustrating the power dynamics implicit in language.
This intensive series of research trips follows on from the artists’ first meeting at the International Punch Agathe Project in Münster where they established points of common artistic and feminist activism interest. During their time together in Kinshasa and Bern, Sarah Elena and Orakle developed and performed new musical collaborations under their stage name Orakle Ngoy feat. DJ Natur_E. They’re already exploring future opportunities to continue their collaboration. | https://johannesburg.prohelvetia.org/en/2020/12/30/sarah-elena-muller-orakle-ngoy-switching-roles-to-understand-each-others-realities/ |
Fundamental to the generation of 3D audio is the HRTF processing of acoustical signals. Unfortunately, given the high dimensionality of HRTFs, incorporating them into dynamic/interactive virtual environment and gaming applications is computationally very demanding. This greatly limits the performance of such applications that incorporate real-time 3D audio. This paper examines the application of data reduction models to HRTFs. In particular, the locally linear Isomap, Locally Linear Embedding (LLE), and the globally linear Principal Components Analysis (PCA) dimensionality reduction tools are applied to the MIT HRTF dataset. Our motivation is to project the inherently highdimensional space inherent in HRTF measurements onto a lower dimensionality such that they can be incorporated into interactive virtual environments and gaming applications. Categories and Subject Descriptors I.3.7 [Computer Graphics]: Three-Dimensional Graphics and Realism--Virtual reality General Terms Human Factor...
Bill Kapralos, Nathan Mekuz
Real-time Traffic
ACMACE 2007
|
Dimensionality
|
Dimensionality Reduction
|
Human Computer Interaction
|
Principal Components Analysis
|
claim paper
Related Content
»
Dimensionality reduced HRTFs a comparative study
»
Using Petri Nets to specify collaborative three dimensional interaction
»
Augmentation techniques for efficient exploration in headmounted display environments
»
Using VRML in construction industry applications
»
Realtime techniques for 3D flow visualization
»
Real Time Animation of Virtual Humans A Tradeoff Between Naturalness and Control
»
Tangible interfaces for realtime 3D virtual environments
»
Creating a Live Broadcast from a Virtual Environment
»
Interactive control of avatars animated with human motion data
more »
Post Info
More Details (n/a)
Added
12 Aug 2010
Updated
12 Aug 2010
Type
Conference
Year
2007
Where
ACMACE
Authors
Bill Kapralos, Nathan Mekuz
Comments
(0)
Researcher Info
Human Computer Interaction Study Group
Computer Vision
Join Our Newsletter
receive notifications of our new tools
Explore & Download
Proceedings Preprints
Top 5 Ranked Papers
Publications
Books
Software
Tutorials
Presentations
Lectures Notes
Datasets
Explore Subject Areas
Life Sciences
Algorithms
Applied Computing
Artificial Intelligence
Augmented Reality
Automated Reasoning
Bioinformatics
Biomedical Imaging
Biomedical Simulation
Biometrics
Business
Chemistry
Cognitive Science
Combinatorics
Communications
Computational Biology
Computational Geometry
Computational Linguistics
Computer Animation
Computer Architecture
Computer Graphics
Computer Networks
Computer Science
Computer Vision
Control Systems
Cryptology
Data Mining
Database
Digital Library
Discrete Geometry
Distributed And Parallel Computing
Document Analysis
ECommerce
Economy
Education
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Electronic Publishing
Embedded Systems
Emerging Technology
Finance
Forensic Engineering
Formal Methods
FPGA
Fuzzy Logic
Game Theory
GIS
Graph Theory
Hardware
Healthcare
Human Computer Interaction
Image Analysis
Image Processing
Information Technology
Intelligent Agents
Internet Technology
Knowledge Management
Languages
Latex
Logical Reasoning
Machine Learning
Management
Mathematics
Medical Imaging
Modeling and Simulation
Multimedia
Music
Natural Language Processing
Neural Networks
Numerical Methods
Operating System
Operations Research
Optimization
Pattern Recognition
Physics
Programming Languages
Remote Sensing
Robotics
Security Privacy
Sensor Networks
Signal Processing
Social Networks
Social Sciences
Software Engineering
Solid Modeling
System Software
Theoretical Computer Science
User Interface
VHDL
Virtual Reality
Virtualization
Visual Languages
Visualization
VLSI
Wireless Networks
Productivity Tools
International On-screen Keyboard
Graphical Social Symbols
OCR Text Recognition
CSS3 Style Generator
Web Page to PDF
Web Page to Image
PDF Split
PDF Merge
Latex Equation Editor
Sci2ools
Document Tools
PDF to Text
PDF to Postscript
PDF to Thumbnails
Excel to PDF
Word to PDF
Postscript to PDF
PowerPoint to PDF
Latex to Word
Repair Corrupted PDF
Image Tools
JPG to PS
JPG to PDF
Extract Images from PDF
Image Converter
Sciweavers
About
Community
Report Bug
Request Feature
Cookies
Contact
Copyright © 2009-2011 Sciweavers LLC. All rights reserved. | http://www.sciweavers.org/publications/application-dimensionality-reduction-techniques-hrtfs-interactive-virtual-environments |
Pain in Gums? Here’s why!
Maintaining Oral health is necessary to minimize the chances of heart-related problems. People who exhibit symptoms such as inflammation and pain should visit a dentist in Lahore. The dentist will perform suitable tests to specify the cause and treat it accordingly. It will help the individual recover smoothly without additional physical health-related complications.
The common causes of gum pain include:
- Inappropriate way of Brushing and Flossing Teeth: Maintaining a routine of brushing and flossing every day is essential for oral health; however, people who aggressively brush with hard bristles can affect the gums. Therefore, one must use a brush with soft bristles to protect gums and enamel.
- Are you Exhibiting Symptoms of Gum Disease? People who notice redness, swelling, and the bleeding should visit a dentist. The symptoms correlate with gingivitis or periodontitis due to poor oral hygiene. The person exhibiting symptoms of gum disease should monitor their oral health and visit a dentist to avoid complications such as tooth loss.
- Mouth Ulcers: Canker sores can cause extreme pain and difficulty swallowing food. A bacterial or viral infection can be the reason for mouth ulcers.
- Excessive Use of Tobacco: People who smoke cigarettes are prone to suffer from multiple physical health problems such as gum disease or mouth cancer. Therefore, individuals who smoke must comprehend the impact of tobacco on their overall health and eradicate it from their lifestyle.
- Allergic Reaction: Individuals may suffer from discomfort, ache, and redness due to an allergic reaction to the products. If the symptoms persist, it is best to change their products to reduce pain and discomfort.
- Food Allergies: People may notice redness and swelling in the gums after consuming a certain food item. An allergic reaction to the food can provoke gum bleeding.
- Consuming Hot Food Can Cause Burns: Hot food can burn the gums, and the person suffers from pain and discomfort. Burns and aggressive brushing can worsen the condition. It takes ten days for the gums to heal on their own; however, it is best to consume fluids and moderate-temperature food to avoid further complications.
- Hormonal Imbalance: Hormonal changes in women during menstruation, pregnancy, and puberty can cause swelling and sensitivity. It gets better on their own; however, if the person does not notice a change in the symptoms, they must confer with their doctor.
- Infection: An infection to the roots of the teeth can cause an abscess, which requires surgical treatment. In severe cases, people with tooth abscesses have to undergo a root canal procedure to prevent further damage to the gums.
- Nutrient Deficiency: Vitamin deficiencies can cause gum soreness. Adults and children must monitor their diet and include vitamin B and C to enhance their oral health and void complications.
- Cancer: Oral cancer can cause the person to suffer from bleeding, soreness, and ulcers that do not heal after fourteen days. Patients suffering from unbearable pain, dental abscess, and swelling should not delay their visit to the dentist. The symptoms may point to a serious illness, which requires immediate medical attention to avoid further damage to physical health.
- Fitting Issues of Dentures: Individuals who wear dentures should make should that there is no issue with the fittings. The poor fitting can irritate and lead to gum disease. People may suffer from unbearable pain while using dentures and partials; therefore, it is necessary to talk to the dentist to reduce the pain and swelling.
Individuals suffering from symptoms of oral cancer and gum disease should instantly seek professional assistance from the best dentist in Karachi. The dentist will guide effective treatment options and related complications. The timely treatment will help the patient get better without further complications. | https://timebusinessnews.com/pain-in-gums-heres-why/ |
Knowledge Technology got a paper accepted at the AAAI Fall Symposium 2020.
Title: Integrating Intrinsic and Extrinsic Explainability: The Relevance of Understanding Neural Networks for Human-Robot Interaction
Authors: Tom Weber, Stefan Wermter
Abstract: Explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) can help foster trust in and acceptance of intelligent and autonomous systems. Moreover, understanding the motivation for an agent's behavior results in better and more successful collaborations between robots and humans. However, not only can humans benefit from a robot's explanation but the robot itself can also benefit from explanations given to him. Currently, most attention is paid to explaining deep neural networks and black-box models. However, a lot of these approaches are not applicable to humanoid robots. Therefore, in this position paper, current problems with adapting XAI methods to explainable neurorobotics are described. Furthermore, NICO, an open-source humanoid robot platform, is introduced and how the interaction of intrinsic explanations by the robot itself and extrinsic explanations provided by the environment enable efficient robotic behavior.
The preprint of the paper can be found here. Proceedings of the symposium are available here. | https://www.inf.uni-hamburg.de/en/inst/ab/wtm/about/news/accepted-paper-aaai-fall-symposium-2020.html |
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
0001 This invention claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/005,403, titled Shape Memory Alloy Temperature Sensor, incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
0002 This invention relates to temperature sensors, specifically shape memory alloy temperature sensors that provide persistent indication once their temperature reaches, exceeds or goes below a critical value.
0003 Exposure to temperatures above or below a critical temperature can damage many important materials. Food products such as frozen dairy products and frozen meats can spoil when exposed to thawing temperatures for even a short time. Products that need to be kept cool but unfrozen, such as pharmaceutical drugs, vaccines, and serums can spoil if frozen temporarily and then warmed up to normal but cool temperatures. Frozen medical products such as blood and certain pharmaceuticals can be unsafe once exposed to thawing or other high temperatures, even if the temperature later returns to a safe value. Low temperatures can also compromise important properties of some rubber and rubber-like materials. The damage is often unseen, and can persist even if the temperature returns to an acceptable level. This situation can arise in transportation, where a frozen product temporarily experiences high temperatures due to improper handling or cooling equipment malfunction or a cooled product temporarily experiences a freezing temperature due to improper handling or cooling equipment malfunction.
0004 Many conventional temperature sensors do not provide a persistent record of temporary temperature deviations. Conventional temperature sensors, such as common thermometers, indicate the current temperature only. They provide a continuous indication of the current temperature of the material. They do not provide a permanent indication of out-of-range temperatures without additional permanent recording apparatus. Accordingly, there is a need for sensors that provide a persistent record of temporary out-of-range temperatures.
f
f
s
f
0005 Shape memory alloys (SMAs) have properties that can be useful in developing the needed sensors. An SMA can be trained to have a certain shape in its Austenitic state or at temperatures above the SMA's Austenitic finish temperature A. The SMA moves in a certain fashion to a second shape, its Martensitic state, which is a softer state for the material, when the temperature drops below the Austenitic finish temperature Aand eventually reaches below the Martensite start temperature M. The SMA will not return to the Martensite shape without additional external force even if the temperature subsequently falls below the Austenitic temperature A. SMAs are used in a variety of applications, such as those described in Design and Modeling of a Novel Fibrous SMA Actuator, Proc. SPIE Smart Materials and Structures Conference, vol. 2190, pp. 730-738 (1994), and A Phenomenological Description of Thermodynamical Behavior of Shape Memory Alloys, Transactions of the ASME, J. Appl. Mech., vol. 112, pp. 158-163 (1990). SMAs have been suggested for use in persistent temperature indicators. See Shahinpoor, U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,607, incorporated herein by reference. The sensors suggested by the U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,607, however, can require that the apparatus be kept below the threshold temperature during assembly and storage. This requirement can complicate manufacture and handling. There is a need for temperature indicators that can be manufactured, stored, and handled at arbitrary temperatures, then enabled to provide a persistent record of temporary temperature deviations.
0006 The present invention can provide a freeze indicator or an indicator of lower critical temperatures reached from higher temperatures. The present invention comprises a sensing element mounted with a body. The sensing element comprises a portion made with a shape memory alloy stressed by a resilient body such as a spring or an elastic flap. The sensing element mounts with the body, fixedly at a first end. At the second end, the sensing element mounts with a forcing element, which in turn mounts with the body. The forcing element exerts a force on the sensing element tending to elongate the shape memory alloy element once the freezing temperature or the lower critical temperature is reached. The force exerted is more than that required to elongate the shape memory alloy element when it is in its softened Martensitic state at the lower critical temperature, but less than that required to elongate the shape memory alloy element when it is in its contracted state. The sensing element, in one embodiment, mounts with the body in a unidirectional restraining relationship, where the restraining relationship allows the sensing element to elongate responsive to the forcing element, but, once a sufficient motion has occurred, substantially prevents shortening of the sensing element by means of one-way stops or locking mechanisms.
0007 In operation, the apparatus can be assembled at temperatures above the critical temperature of the shape memory alloy element, causing the sensing element to be at a length less than that required to engage the restraining relationship. As long as the apparatus does not experience temperatures below the critical temperature, the shape memory alloy element will overcome the forcing element and the sensing element will not engage the restraining element. If the temperature drops below the critical temperature, then the shape memory alloy element will soften, allowing the forcing element to move the sensing element into the restraining relationship. Subsequent temperature elevation above the critical temperature will not return the sensing element to the original configuration, since the restraining element now prevents contraction of the shape memory alloy element by means of one-way stops. By making the positioning of the sensing element within the restraining relationship perceptible, the apparatus provides a persistent indication of even transitory temperature excursions into the region where the shape memory alloy element is in its softened state.
0008 The present invention also comprises a variety of body, shape memory alloy element, sensing element, forcing element, and restraining element configurations.
0009 Advantages and novel features will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following description or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
0010 The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
1
a,b
0011 FIGS. () is an illustration of an apparatus according to the present invention.
2
a,b
0012 FIGS. () is an illustration of an apparatus according to the present invention.
3
a,b
0013 FIGS. () is an illustration of an apparatus according to the present invention.
4
a,b
0014 FIGS. () is an illustration of an apparatus according to the present invention.
5
a,b
0015 FIGS. () is an illustration of an apparatus according to the present invention.
6
a,b
0016 FIGS. () is an illustration of an apparatus according to the present invention.
7
a,b,c
0017 FIGS. () is an illustration of an apparatus according to the present invention.
0018FIG. 8 is an illustration of an apparatus according to the present invention.
9
a,b,c
0019 FIGS. () is an illustration of an apparatus according to the present invention.
10
a,b,c
0020 FIGS. () is an illustration of an apparatus according to the present invention.
0021FIG. 11 is an illustration of an apparatus according to the present invention.
12
a,b,c
0022 FIGS. () is an illustration of an apparatus according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
0023 The present invention comprises a sensing element mounted with a body. The sensing element comprises a portion made with a shape memory alloy. The sensing element mounts with the body, fixedly at a first end. At the second end, the sensing element mounts with a forcing element, which in turn mounts with the body. The sensing element exerts a force to resilient forcing element if the temperature is above the critical temperature. On the other hand the forcing element exerts a force on the sensing element tending to elongate the shape memory alloy element if the temperature is below or equal to the lower critical temperature (freezing temperature). The force exerted is more than that required to elongate the shape memory alloy element when it is in its softened Martensitic state, but less than that required to elongate the shape memory alloy element when it is in its contracted Austenitic state. The sensing element mounts with the body in either a unidirectional or rotatory restraining relationship, where the restraining relationship allows the sensing element to elongate responsive to the forcing element, but, once a sufficient motion has occurred, substantially prevents shortening of the sensing element by means of built in one-way no-return stops.
0024 In operation, the apparatus can be assembled at temperatures above the critical temperature of the shape memory alloy element, causing the sensing element to be at a length less than that required to engage the restraining relationship. As long as the apparatus does not experience temperatures below the critical temperature, the shape memory alloy element will overcome the forcing element and the sensing element will not engage the restraining element. If the temperature drops below the critical temperature, then the shape memory alloy element will soften, allowing the forcing element to move the sensing element into the restraining relationship. Subsequent temperature elevation above the critical temperature will not return the sensing element to the original configuration, since the restraining element now prevents contraction of the shape memory alloy element. By making the positioning of the sensing element within the restraining relationship perceptible, the apparatus provides a persistent indication of even transitory temperature excursions into the region where the shape memory alloy element is in its softened state.
0025 The present invention also comprises a variety of body, shape memory alloy element, sensing element, forcing element, and restraining element configurations.
0026 Example Embodiment
1
6
1
2
1
3
1
2
0027 FIGS. - are schematic illustrations of various states of an example embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus generally comprises a body , a sensing element mounted with the body , and a forcing or resilient element mounted with the body and the sensing element . Additional elements, and their interaction to achieve the desired functionality, are described below.
1
1
2
2
3
4
5
1
6
2
a
b
a
0028 FIGS. () and () are the side view and the top view of a needle version of an apparatus according to the present invention suitable for persistent indication of low temperature events. Sensing element is made at least in part with and SMA. In FIG. 1() the SMA wire is its Austenitic contracted state and pulls the resilient element (e.g., a spring) open and tensioned. A first indicator , for example a green circle, will be visible through a window in the body , since an obscuring indicator is pulled out of an obscuring relationship by the contracted SMA element .
2
2
1
2
3
4
5
1
7
1
7
8
a
b
a,b
0029 FIGS. () and () are a close up side view and a top view of the example embodiment shown in FIGS. (). The SMA element is its Austenitic contracted state and pulls the resilient body open and tensioned. A first indicator such as a green surface will be visible through a window in the body . Locking mechanism , mounted with the body , is configured such that it allows motion of the obscuring indicator and an associated carrier .
3
3
1
2
2
3
2
6
6
4
5
4
6
a
b
a,b
0030 FIGS. () and () are an isometric view and a close up isometric view of the example embodiment shown in FIGS. (), with the apparatus at a temperature just below the Austenite finish temperature of the SMA wire . The SMA wire begins to soften as it approaches its soft Martensitic state at lower temperature from its Austenitic contracted state. The resilient body stretches the SMA wire and pulls the obscuring indicator , e.g., a red circle, to a position where the obscuring indicator partially covers the first indicator . The window in the body will show part of each indicator ,.
a
b
a,b
a
b
a
b
4
5
5
6
6
2
3
2
6
4
7
8
6
4
5
0031FIG. 4() and () are a side view and a top view of the example embodiment shown in FIG. 1(), with the apparatus at a temperature below the critical lower or freezing temperature at which the SMA wire is in its soft Martensite state. FIGS. () and () are a close up side view and a top view of the apparatus in the same temperature condition. FIGS. () and () are an isometric view and a close up isometric view of the apparatus in the same temperature condition. The SMA wire softens as it reaches its soft Martensitic state at lower temperature from its Austenitic contracted state and the resilient body stretches the SMA wire and pulls the obscuring indicator to completely cover the first indicator . The locking mechanism, comprising flaps , engage carrier of the obscuring indicator , preventing it from moving to reveal the first indicator even if the temperature goes back up to normal from the lower critical or freezing temperature. The indicator will consequently show, for example, a persistent red circle through the indicator window if the apparatus ever experiences a temperature below the critical temperature, even if the temperature subsequently rises above the critical temperature. Various implementations of the restraining relationship are suitable for use with the present invention. For example, a pin can engage a slot or depression at the appropriate position. As another example, sawtooth or ratchet structures can allow motion in only a single direction. Other variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
0032 Example Embodiment
7
9
11
12
11
13
11
12
0033 FIGS. - are schematic illustrations of an example embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus generally comprises a body , a sensing element mounted with the body , and a forcing or resilient element mounted with the body and the sensing element . Additional elements, and their interaction to achieve the desired functionality, are described below.
7
7
7
12
12
13
14
14
15
16
15
16
11
19
18
17
15
17
a
b
c
0034 FIGS. (), () and () comprise a front view, top view, and side view of the flat square embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention. Sensing element comprises at least a portion made with an SMA wire. In the figure, the SMA wire is its Austenitic contracted state and pulls the resilient body open and tensioned. The apparatus accordingly will show a first indicator , for example a green circle , through an indicator window . The SMA wire prevents a second indicator , for example a red circle, from moving to where it would obscure the first indicator . The second indicator mounts with an element that is pivotably mounted with the body . The pivotable mounting can comprise a pivoting plug , with a stepped keyway that engages a no-return stop to prevent the second indicator from returning to the position shown in the figure once it has moved to a position obscuring the first indicator and also engaging the no-return stops .
12
13
16
14
15
0035FIG. 8 depicts an isometric version of the example embodiment shown in FIG. 7. The SMA wire is its Austenitic contracted state and pulls the resilient body open and tensioned. The figure shows a pivoting plug, no-return stops, and stepped keyway. The desired functionality can also be achieved with other restraining relationship mountings. For example, the second indicator or corresponding element can be configured to engage the first indicator or the window by, as an example, fitting into a recess or over a protrusion thereon. Keys, plugs, latches, and bendable legs (as in the previous example embodiment) can also be used in various combinations to accomplish the desired restraining relationship when the second indicator moves to the appropriate position.
9
9
9
7
8
12
12
13
16
14
17
19
18
15
a
b
c
0036 FIGS. (), () and () are the front view, top view and the side view of the example embodiment of FIGS. -, shown at a temperature below the critical lower or freezing temperature at which the SMA wire is in its soft Martensite state. The SMA wire softens as it reaches its soft Martensitic state at lower temperature from its Austenitic contracted state and the flap spring or the resilient body stretches the SMA wire and rotates the second indicator (e.g., red circle) to completely cover the first indicator (e.g., green circle). The one-way no-return stopsflaps on the pivoting plug engages the edges of the second indicator's associated element to prevent it from moving responsive to subsequent contraction of the SMA wire if the temperature goes back up to normal from the lower critical or freezing temperature. The apparatus can show a persistent red circle through its indicator window indicating that the apparatus has experienced the lower critical temperature.
0037 Example Embodiment
10
12
21
22
21
23
21
22
0038 FIGS. - are schematic illustrations of various states on an example embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus generally comprises a body , a sensing element mounted with the body , and a forcing or resilient element mounted with the body and the sensing element . Additional elements, and their interaction to achieve the desired functionality, are described below.
10
10
10
22
22
22
23
24
25
26
22
24
26
21
27
29
28
a
b
c
0039 FIGS. (), () and () comprise a front view, top view, and side view of an example embodiment of the present invention at temperatures above the critical (freeze or lower) temperature. FIG. 11 depicts an isometric view of the same example embodiment. Sensing element comprises an SMA wire . The SMA wire is its Austenitic contracted state and rotates the resilient body or the spring open and tensioned. Thus the apparatus will show a first indicator (e.g., a green circle) through an indicator window while a second indicator (e.g., a red circle) is prevented by the contracted SMA wire from obscuring the first indicator . The second indicator mounts with the body with a pivotable mounting comprising one-way no-return stops on the pivoting plug with a step keyway , similar to that discussed in the previous embodiment.
12
12
12
21
22
22
23
26
24
27
29
28
25
a
b
c
0040 FIGS. (), () and () are the front view, top view and the side view of the circular flat version of the freeze (or lower critical temperature) indicator at temperatures below the critical lower or freezing temperature at which the SMA wire is its soft Martensite state. Thus the SMA wire softens as it reaches its soft Martensitic state at lower temperature from its Austenitic contracted state and the flap spring or the resilient body stretches the SMA wire and rotate the red circle assembly to completely cover the green circle assembly . The one-way no-return stops (flaps on the pivoting plug engages the edges of the indicator to prevent it from contraction of the SMA wire if the temperature goes back up to normal from the lower critical or freezing temperature. Thus the indicator will show a persistent red circle through its indicator window indicating that the package has experienced the lower critical temperature.
0041 Materials
f
0042 The present invention can sense a wide range of temperatures when made with appropriate SMAs. Those skilled in the art know of many suitable SMAs, including AgCd, AuCd, CuAlNi, CuSn, InTi, NiAl, NiTi, FeMnSi, CuZn-A, CuAlNi, alloys thereof, and shape memory polymers such as polyurethanes. These materials typically possess Austenitic temperatures from 200 C. to 110 C. The addition of excess nickel, iron, chromium, and copper to the equiatomic alloy is common to adjust its physical properties (including its Austenitic finish temperature A). These materials exhibit a rather abrupt solid phase shape change, due to solid phase transformation between the Martensite and the Austenite state, when they experience temperatures above or below such transformation temperatures.
0043 The particular sizes and equipment discussed above are cited merely to illustrate particular embodiments of the invention. It is contemplated that the use of the invention may involve components having different sizes and characteristics. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto. | |
As one wild year comes to a close, it’s time to look forward to the upcoming new year. For many, that means looking for New Year's resolution ideas and setting new goals. It’s great to make resolutions; they’re a way for us to look forward to the New Year with optimism that is active, rather than passive. It’s a proclamation of how you want the New Year to be better and how you’re going to do it.
For business leaders, making New Year’s resolutions can significantly impact their success. Here are 2019 resolutions from the executive leaders at ITA Group.
Shared Goals to Improve Roles
To achieve our full potential, it will come down to activating the passion of all our employee owners. Achieving success is a journey, not a destination. And in a rapidly changing world, where that business environment is hyper-competitive, living in a constant state of continuous improvement is not only necessary to grow—it’s mission critical.
As we enter 2019, I have decided to make my New Year’s resolution about activating the power and passion of the entire ITA Group team. Achieving this goal requires focus on the following five areas that, when embraced by the entire team, will ensure the year ahead will be filled with magic and greater success.
- Be a Life-Long Learner—Think continuous improvement of the mind, body and spirit. We must always be striving to improve our individual and teams’ talents and skills.
- Attitude—Always control how you react and respond to adversity. Those that embrace adversity, and think of stress as a challenge will thrive!
- Create Value—Every team member must focus on helping others achieve their goals—be the ultimate team player. This will bring work-life purpose.
- Be Resilient—The ability to adapt, learn and modify will create personal and professional growth. It’s important to respect the past, but stay focused on the future.
- Move Faster—No matter the goals, start working on them today. So many people don’t become the people they want to be because they fail to act. Act now!
Lastly, it’s not what you take out of life that matters—it’s what you put in it. May the New Year bring you many blessings, and may you ignite the passion within!
—Tom Mahoney, Chairman & CEO
Leading My Team to Meritocracy
I believe the world and business is moving, albeit slowly, to true meritocracy. The efficient market theory states that distributed information equalizes markets. And the speed of information distribution has increased exponentially on our lifetime and will continue to increase. For businesses and people, this means your value is well known to others.
While a meritocracy can be a bit of a bumpy road (lots of voices = lots of opinions = lots of data to dissect), I truly believe it does help us stay on the cutting edge and bring to light the best ideas. It also helps us keep team members engaged and fosters genuine leadership.
In 2019, I choose to focus on the opportunity to climb higher in the meritocracy of life. And I choose to take team members to the top with me. Rising to the top of this meritocracy is only possible to those that that are willing to put in the work. I am proud to have lived a life of honor and respect. This is my ticket to entry to the future meritocracy. I will ascend further through diversity, inclusion, listening, research, honesty and love. Together these ingredients will provide a vision and environment that others will want to be a part of. From there, the meritocracy and speed of information distribution will do the rest for us. Bottom line: Be a good—no, be a GREAT person and the world will reward you.
—Rob Danna, Senior Vice President – Sales & Marketing
Empower Our People
My New Year’s resolution is intensify my focus on developing leaders that are lifelong learners, positive in adversity, resilient to the constant state of change, focus on bringing value, communicating with a purpose and are nimble in meeting the needs of our customers.
In addition, I am personally committed to ensuring that our new technology aids in providing open and transparent communication, connecting team members’ role to business growth, empowering and supporting those team members, and providing solutions that anticipate market needs, drive innovation, support timely delivery and maximize client value.
We will win as a business with and through our people!
—Jason Katcher, Vice President & CIO
Be Present in the Moment
Reflecting on the past year, I’ve come to realize I need to do a better job at being present in the moment—both at home and in the office. There is so much coming at us on a daily basis—emails, calls, texts, tweets, snaps, pushes, alerts (and those are just from your phone!)—that it is easy to get in the routine of simply checking things off the list instead of slowing down and being very intentional with what we do.
I plan to put the phone down more, eliminate unnecessary distractions and be present with those around me. I also want to carve out more time to read—both the material that helps me be a better leader for my team as well as the stories that keeps me turning pages well past 2:00 a.m. With three kids at home this can be challenging, but it is important to take a few minutes a day to reflect and learn something new!
—Sarah Haines, CIS, Vice President – Event Management
Changing Your Perspective Changes Your Experience
I’m focused on purposefully increasing the number of books that I read beyond the 50+ I read per year today. I’ll also be choosing to be more open to examining the different thoughts, theories, ideas and perspectives of others. In times of conflict or disagreement with someone else, I will be seeking to recognize it as an opportunity to gather more perspective as there are many to a given situation.
—Carrie Valster, Vice President – Client Services
Embrace Opportunities to Learn, Experience and Share
As a Leader, my New Year’s Resolutions are to focus in three areas that enable fast learning and can be easily incorporated into my daily routine. The speed of change is incredible so creating intentional opportunities to learn and experience new topics, perspectives and directions helps me evolve. That’s why I’m concentrating on opportunities that allow for me to LEARN, EXPERIENCE and SHARE.
LEARN
Whether it be new certifications or conferences, I am going to take the time schedule learning into my year. I have a long list of recommendations from books (Mapping Experiences: A Complete Guide to Creating Value Through Journeys; Blueprints and Diagrams by Jim Kalbach; Reality-Based Leadership by Cy Wakeman; Extraordinary Influence by Tim Irwin; Fusion by Denise Lee Yohn) and blogs (Design Sponge; Seth’s Blog; Simon Sinek) to podcasts (Tim Ferriss; The Minimalists; Change Agent; Worklife with Adam Grant) that I’m looking forward to begin crossing off.
EXPERIENCE
I also believe this is an incredible time to get out and experience the world around us. There's no substitute for first-hand experience and I plan on saying “Yes”: “Yes” to new and diverse concerts and comedy shows; “Yes” to new and unique travel destinations and museums; “Yes” to lecture series and new relationships; and “Yes” to continuous learning on how we can best experience and support one another in our communities.
SHARE
We can all improve when we share our resources and experiences whether it’s as simple as a new app that simplifies activities or an epiphany while tackling a challenge on-site. I want to continue to inspire and empower my team to know they can win without compromising who they are at their core. | https://www.itagroup.com/insights/new-year%E2%80%99s-resolutions-ita-group-leaders-share-their-goals |
The Creativity Ability Hub is bringing art workshops for all abilities to Bundaberg with two new workshops being added to the schedule, set to take place in January and March.
Jacqueline Read runs the workshops and for the past three-and-a-half years said her activities in the visual art sector had been focused on supporting people with disabilities.
She holds one-on-one sessions to engage people in visual art activities in her home studio and within the community.
Jacqueline said she was hoping to be able to offer a more comprehensive series of all-abilities art workshops in 2023.
“I am hoping to spread the word about two all-abilities visual art workshop series which will be held over four weeks at Coronation Hall, Bundaberg,” she said.
“Each series will consist of four-weekly workshops, covering the basics of one medium each week: drawing, acrylic painting, watercolour and mix-media.”
With art activities recognised as being beneficial to everyone, Jacqueline said she hoped the workshops would provide a chance for people of all abilities to take part.
“The benefits of visual art activities socially, mentally, physically and psychologically is widely recognised including within the disability sector,” she said
“This is a pilot series intended to be affordable and accessible to people with disabilities.
“Each series is offered for a nominal fee thanks to support from a Bundaberg Regional Council’s Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) grant and in-kind contribution from the event organiser and artist.
“The workshops are designed to allow people to bring their support person with them and to explore their creative abilities and engage with likeminded people in a fully supported environment.”
Jacqueline Read is a practicing visual artist, illustrator and writer who has exhibited along with well-known local artist Adrienne Williams in the Landscapes exhibition held in BRAG’s Gallery 1 in 2012.
She is the illustrator of the children’s book, My Big Bear Story, 2014, produced by Creative Regions and her own picture book manuscript, Beep Beep and Mischief.
Find out more about the sessions here or on the website.
The Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Bundaberg Regional Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland. | https://www.bundabergnow.com/2022/11/08/local-all-abilities-art-workshops-to-begin/ |
These pretty country villas with pools, two in total, are located near the seaside town of Umag. Even though each villa has its own pool, the villas are offered together as they provide ideal accommodation for two families or a group travelling together due to the fact that they share the same grounds. They also provide guests with an ideal base from which to explore this part of Croatia as well as Western Slovenia.
The first villa sits to the left of the driveaway as you enter. To the left of this first villa sits the outdoor pool area with BBQ. The house is entered via a covered terrace which contains a pleasant outdoor eating area. Guests enter directly into the pretty open plan kitchen / diner / lounge area. A door from here leads to a twin bedroom with downstairs toilet. A spiral staircase in the lounge leads up to a double bedroom and separate family bathroom. The second villa is accessed a little further along the main driveaway and to the left of this villa sits the outdoor pool. Guests enter a hallway where to the right is a door leading into a pretty country kitchen. Steps lead up to the lounge/dining area which is furnished with period pieces in a colourful setting. Also on this floor is the family bathroom with roll top bath and two sinks. The second floor contains one double room and a twin room.
Places of interest within the area include the Medieval hill top towns of Motovun and Groznjan as well as the seaside towns of Porec, Rovinj and Vrsar. A little further afield, the Brijuni islands, the Roman amphitheatre in Pula and a day trip to Venice are all recommended excursions that are available from this region.WATCH THE VIDEOWATCH 360° PANORAMA
Suitable for:
- Family / Friends
Location
- Distance to beach7 km
- Nearest airportPula (nearest). Zagreb, Rijeka ,Trieste and Ljubljana other possibilities
- Distance to airportPula 80km
- Nearest townUmag
- Distance to town7 km
- -
- -
- Details on nearest shopsVillage grocery shop in Kranzeti
- Distance to nearest shops1 km
- Distance to nearest restaurant7 kms away in Umag
- Read more
-
Facilities:
General
- Sleeps in bedrooms: 8
- Sleeps total (includes sleeping capacity on sofa/extra beds): 8
- Minimum stay: 7 nights for mid June-early September, 3 nights for all other dates.
- Arrival days: Saturday for mid June-early September, any day for all other dates.
- Check-in: 15:00 - 19:00
- Check-out: 10:00
- Built: 1920
- Last renovated: 2004
Amenities
- Area: Villa: 160m2
- Pools: There are 2 pools
- Frequency of linen/towel change: Once a week
- Car park: Space for 2 cars
- House pets allowed (on request)
- Garden
- Sun deck
- Smoking
- Parking
- Children
- Fans provided
- Cot/crib (available on request)
- Pool size: 6.0m x 3.5m and 6.0m x 3.0m
- Pool private to the property
- Fire place
Appliances
- Stove
- Dishwasher
- TV
- Oven
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Stereo
- Freezer
- Toaster
- Washing machine
- BBQ
- Satellite TV
- DVD player
- Telephone
Rooms
- Furniture in terrace/balcony/garden: Sun loungers
- Kitchen
- Dining room
- Kitchen table
- Lounge/living room
Bedroom details
- Number of double bedrooms: 2
- Total number of bedrooms: 4
- Number of twin bedrooms: 2
Bathroom details
- All bathrooms have toilets
- Number of bathrooms with bathtub: 2
- Total number of bathrooms: 2
Staff on site /available
- Caretaker
Information on Location
- Distance to beach: 7 km
- Driving time to nearest beach: 10 minutes
- Nearest airport: Pula (nearest). Zagreb, Rijeka ,Trieste and Ljubljana other possibilities
- Distance to airport: Pula 80km
- Nearest town: Umag
- Distance to town: 7 km
- Details on nearest shops: Village grocery shop in Kranzeti
- Distance to nearest shops: 1 km
- Distance to nearest restaurant: 7 kms away in Umag
- Distance from the sea: 7 km
- Distance from the center: 7 km
- Car recommended
- In countryside
Charges
Price includes
- Electricity
- Gas
- Water
- Provision of linen/towels
- Cot linen
- Internet
Separate charges
- Clients arriving between 9pm – 11pm will be charged Euros 40 late arrival fee payable locally.Arrivals after 11pm will not be accepted
- Pets: €10/pet/day, max. 3 pets
Security deposit
- The following must be produced on arrival: €400
Pricing & availability:Price bandsProperty per night
01 May - 29 May£ 214.00 29 May - 19 June£ 241.00 19 June - 26 June£ 278.00 26 June - 10 July£ 332.00 10 July - 21 Aug.£ 405.00 21 Aug. - 28 Aug.£ 332.00 28 Aug. - 04 Sept.£ 278.00 04 Sept. - 18 Sept.£ 241.00 18 Sept. - 03 Oct.£ 223.00Prices are in UK Pounds (£)
*Rental prices do not include Residence Tax: £ 0.92 (per person per night)
Pricing and booking information
Pricing Information
Pricing is calculated per property per night in GBP Sterling. Many destinations also require tourist tax to be paid. Tourist tax starts from approximately £1 per adult per night, and £0.50 per night per child aged 12-17 at time of travel. If tourist tax is applicable to the destination you are travelling to, this will be shown in the booking process. For tourist tax payable at time of booking, the cost will be added to your subtotal. For tourist tax payable locally, the cost will be shown at time of booking and on documentation.
All bookings subject to booking fee.
Booking Information
A 30% deposit is required at time of booking. Full balance is due 10 weeks prior to arrival.
If booking within 10 weeks of arrival, the full cost of the villa must be paid at the time of booking.
Certain properties require varying payments for bookings. If payments required vary from those above, these conditions will be displayed below or advised at time of booking.
Holding an Option on a villa
Please Contact Us should you wish to place an option on a property for 24 hours whilst you book your flights and/or make other arrangements.
Payment Information
For online bookings, payment can be made by credit or debit card. Corporate credit card payments may incur a surcharge at time of booking. There is no surcharge for personal credit or debit card payments. All major currencies are accepted when paying online by credit card.
Payment by bank transfer (In sterling or Euros), UK online banking or cheque in Euros or sterling can be accepted. Please Contact Us if you wish to make a payment in this way.Our full terms and conditions can be read here: | https://www.croatianvillas.com/accommodation/istrian-villas-rent-is030/ |
India is a place where you can find nature’s beauty in South, beautiful deserts in West, hilly areas in North, magnificent touch of nature in East. It’s a land of rich cultural heritage also. Though today the country is democratic it saw the many rulers and emperors who ruined the country and also many rulers and emperors who built many historical monuments which are now the pride of India. This land is picturesque that is such beauty in every nook and corner. So, we are giving you to names of some places of the country that talk of the various cultures of India.
So, here’s have a look at the Historical Pride Of India:
#1 Mysore palace
The beautiful palace has a golden palanquin that hosts royal weddings and attracts tourists throughout the year.
#2 Red Fort
Mughal ruler Shah Jahan built this monument and from where Jawaharlal Nehru hoisted the tricolor flag in the fort after Independence.
#3 Hawa Mahal
Pink City Jaipur’s monument looks like a beehive. It has 953 windows and also known as the ‘palace of wheels’.
#4 Charminar
It’s a mosque and was constructed in 1591. By the archaeological survey of India, this monument was listed as the ‘architectural treasure’.
#5 Lotus temple
This Delhi’s monument has won many architectural awards for its magnificent structure. This has 27 marble in the form of petals of the lotus flower.
#6 Taj Mahal
The pride of India and one of the wonders of the world was built by great Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in remembrance of his beloved wife Mumtaz which took 16 years to be built.
#7 Humayun’s tomb
The Humayun’s tomb was the inspiration for Taj. It was built by the wife of Humayun in the 15th century.
#8 Khajuraho temple
Madhya Pradesh’s monument is basically a temple with Kamasutra sculptures on the walls of the temple. It is well known for the erotic nature sculptures.
#9 Hampi
Hampi has the remains of many temples and palaces that remain beautiful even till today as it was captured by many Muslim invaders ruining the city from destruction.
#10 The Golden Temple, Amritsar
The Golden temple is the most scared gurudwara for all Sikhs.
#11 Ajanta and Ellora Caves
These caves are carved into hillside rock in the middle of nowhere in Maharashtra. It’s a notable mix of Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain religions.
The splendid beauty and the historical importance of these monuments will surely attract you. So, pack your bags and head to these monuments. | https://scrolltoday.com/these-places-are-the-historical-pride-of-india/ |
Okay, it’s the holiday season and often this causes great chaos and imbalance, since a ‘normal routine’ gets a bit jumbled with holiday gatherings, and lots of rushing about to get things done.
As I was reflecting I realized that one of the most calming periods I can remember in recent years was during the period where I was doing daily mandalas. There was something so purging and calming during those months where my daily practice involved centering with art before I stepped into the busyness of the days.
So I invite you to join me on a delicious journey back to self. I will be making mandalas daily, and although it may not be possible to create your daily mandala, I invite you to join me on Mondays as we celebrate ‘Monday Mandalas’.
Please share your mandala links, your artwork, and your centering rituals as we move joyously into a season of centered celebration!
Are you unconsciously pushing clients away from working with you?
I bet you are reading the title to this article and thinking, “no way”, however you may be doing, and thinking, some things that may actually be pushing your clients away from working with you. Read this short article and see if you’re unconsciously pushing away your clients and how you can put the welcome mat out on your practice!
So how do you know if you are pushing your clients away? Here are some signals to look for.
1. You don’t have systems in place.
You may be thinking ‘systems’? What’s a system, and why the heck would I need one? If you don’t have systems in place you’ll be spending so much time and energy on doing things again (and again), you may feel exhausted and overwhelmed when a new client comes along.
How do you know if this is problem for your business? Ask yourself if you would feel overwhelmed and stressed out if your business were to double? If the answer is yes, then it’s likely you’re pushing clients away.
Systems are ways to repeat a series of actions to achieve a specific result. As a creative pioneer, I hesitated creating systems because I thought I would be bored! What I realized instead is that a system acts like a bookend and allows the flexibility and freedom to play within the structure.
So here are areas you can create systems for your business. Create systems for follow-up, for client conversations, for your intake process, after networking and speaking events. Once you do so you’ll have a repeatable system that takes the guess work out of what to do or say, and you’ll be able to focus your energies elsewhere.
2. When the phone rings you get nervous.
Yes, a bit of nerves may be common, but if you’re feeling anxiety about taking on new clients this may be a sign that something else is going on. Take a minute and check-in to see what’s underneath the nerves. Do you feel like taking on another client is too much, do you feel concerned you don’t know enough to help this person, are you worried about being overwhelmed with more paperwork and filing insurance for your clients?
When you identify what your anxiety is about there is an opportunity to make changes. If you’re not sure about the underlying feeling, take 15-minutes and write words or draw images of what you’re feeling. You get clear quickly, so you can shift your energies to welcoming new clients.
3. You’re really busy with lots of things, but they are not activities that put you in conversations with potential clients.
Is your office activities and business a distraction from connecting with clients? If so, then you are likely to take on more projects and stay really busy doing and redoing things (and checking and rechecking your emails). Instead, shift the focus and put your efforts and energies on connecting with and engaging in conversations with your potential clients and referral resources. The cool thing is once you create systems (see #1) then, you’ll have the exact process to connect and follow-up with your potential clients.
4. You terminate with clients before they are ready.
My therapist friend and I had a great conversation the other night about the length of working with clients. She spoke candidly about having clients she worked with for years, and how early on in her career she would feel compelled to move clients out of her practice. Now she realizes that clients continue to come to sessions (year after year) because they value having someone fully present listening to them. She realized it was her ‘stuff’ that wanted to move people out of her therapy office.
So how do you respond to termination? Even if you work in a short-term or a program model, do you provide the option for maintenance sessions or follow-up check-ins? If not, you may be missing out on an area to further support your clients and you may be unconsciously pushing your clients away. | https://thecreativityqueen.com/2010/11 |
Privacy
Your privacy is important to RespectYourMan.org. This privacy statement provides information about the personal information that RespectYourMan.org collects, and the ways in which RespectYourMan.org uses that personal information.
Credit
This document was created using a Contractology template available at http://www.freenetlaw.com.
Personal information collection
RespectYourMan.org may collect and use the following kinds of personal information:
• information about your use of this website;
• information that you provide using for the purpose of registering with the website;;
• any other information that you send to RespectYourMan.org.
Using personal information
Where RespectYourMan.org discloses your personal information to its agents or sub-contractors for these purposes, the agent or sub-contractor in question will be obligated to use that personal information in accordance with the terms of this privacy statement.
In addition to the disclosures reasonably necessary for the purposes identified elsewhere above, RespectYourMan.org may disclose your personal information to the extent that it is required to do so by law, in connection with any legal proceedings or prospective legal proceedings, and in order to establish, exercise or defend its legal rights.
Updating this statement
RespectYourMan.org may update this privacy policy by posting a new version on this website.
You should check this page occasionally to ensure you are familiar with any changes.
Other websites
This website contains links to other websites.
RespectYourMan.org is not responsible for the privacy policies or practices of any third party.
Contact RespectYourMan.org
If you have any questions about this privacy policy or RespectYourMan.org’s treatment of your personal information, please do so by visiting the contact page
| |
Questions tagged [resources]
For questions seeking resources to assist learning Korean.
36 questions
2
votes
1answer
29 views
Good resources to study colloquial speech
I am have been studying for awhile and am trying to become more natural in my writing and speaking. After speaking and texting to a few native Korean speakers they have commented my style is very &...
1
vote
1answer
36 views
Books a self learner should use?
I've been trying to choose what book I should use as a self learner. I have three books in mind now - Sejong Korean, Master Korean and Korean Grammar In Use. Which book would be better to learn from? ...
1
vote
3answers
125 views
What books or reliable websites list commonly used Sino-Korean vocabulary in 2021?
My boss is curious how much Modern Korean he can recognize from his fluency in Cantonese and Mandarin. He plans to start by learning solely Hanja, obviously to take advantage of his fluent Cantonese ...
1
vote
3answers
165 views
Korean textbook with a more serious tone
I'm new to language learning, and was wondering whether anyone has recommendations for a textbook for beginner-ish level Korean that is more substantive. Something that isn't just disjointed ...
0
votes
1answer
84 views
What Korean reader software aimed at learning pronunciation is available?
What I have in mind is something that highlights Hangul characters, and reads the highlighted characters aloud (possibly at a user-chosen speed, or possibly only when the user clicks on the syllable ...
1
vote
1answer
109 views
What app do you prefer for flashcard use, pre-made?
There are plenty of Topik and flashcard apps but I'm being picky. I want decks of smaller sizes that cover most of the TOPIK books. I specifically want an app that keeps track of the flashcards I don'...
0
votes
0answers
88 views
Do any books exist in Korean Hangul online for free?
Do there exist any Korean etexts online, such as Samguk Yusa, in plain text format (i.e. not in PDF)? I saw this but I can't tell what is the actual underlying text, it's all intermingled with Chinese....
2
votes
2answers
102 views
Does a unified North & South Korean dictionary really not exist?
I came across this tweet from VICE News researchers are making a dictionary for a Korea that doesn’t exist yet which has the tag: North and South Korea Are Butting Heads Creating a Unified ...
5
votes
1answer
276 views
Do Korean share more vocabulary with Chinese or Japanese?
I wonder which of Chinese and Japanese Korean share more vocabulary with. I investigated it but it seems that the estimated percentage of shared vocabulary varies so much. For example according to the ...
1
vote
0answers
87 views
What are some language exchange phrases?
What are some good resources for learning phrases for a language exchange? Where should I start?
0
votes
1answer
155 views
Korean Subway help please!
I have an urgent question about the subway route From green line, I want to transfer at Sindorim station. From there I want to go to Guil. Now I know the subway travels from Sindorim and then Guro, ...
4
votes
2answers
177 views
Grammars of Korean and Japanese
It is well known that the grammars of Korean and Japanese are very similar. So learning one from the other to an extent amounts to learning vocabulary (e.g. particles) rather than grammar proper. Are ...
6
votes
2answers
218 views
Reference request: Chinese root of Korean
I have been a user of StackExchange for more than a year, but am a new user of Korean Language SE. If my post does not meet the requirements of this site, please kindly offer me an opportunity to edit ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
Anyone know some sites that have a korean short stories?
I'm hunting for some sites that has korean short stories. I'm trying to find them coz' I want vocabularies and construction I am an intermediate learner but can't find find some sites with such short ...
6
votes
1answer
554 views
News sites in simple Korean
could you recommend me some news sites that are written in simple Korean? I tried to search a lot even sites for children but they are still too complex for me. Each sentence in newspaper is ofen ...
2
votes
1answer
93 views
How to learn how to make sentence
I'm begginner at Korean, I know some vocabulary, how to introduce myself, and some verb but I feel really hard to make a correct sentence in Korean. All support I find only teach vocabulary, and ...
4
votes
1answer
327 views
How do you tell if a verb is irregular? What are the best dictionaries for things like this?
I didn't start learning too long ago so I don't know what a lot of the best Korean resources are. I've just been learning about irregulars, but it hasn't told me how to find out what the exceptions ...
3
votes
1answer
7k views
Online Resources for Korean Spelling and Grammar Check
What are your recommendations for tools that can help save time and headache when checking your Korean spelling, vocabulary, grammar, etc? I believe a well made utility can be productive in getting ...
5
votes
2answers
226 views
Complete end-to-end reference guide
I was wondering if there is a website for learning Korean similar to the following sites made for learning Japanese: IMABI and Learn Japanese: Tae Kim's Guide to Learning Japanese. They are both a ...
1
vote
2answers
75 views
Websites or software showing pronunciation guide of a phrase or sentence
I am wondering if there is any website to show the pronunciation as below. 어떻습니까 --> [어 떠 씀 니 까] 좋슴니다 --> [조 씀 니 다] 따뜻합니다 --> [따 뜨 탐 니 다] With single word, there are some excellent ...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
Korean dictionary (online or offline) showing the pronunciation
Do you know any dictionary of Korean showing the pronunciation of each word like the example below? That would be a great resource. 까맣다 [까ː마타] Another question: is there any equivalent version of ...
8
votes
3answers
4k views
Looking for a Korean Thesaurus
Are there any online thesauruses available for Korean, where I can search for synonyms (유의어) of a given word? After searching online, I found hints that there might be one on Naver 국어사전, but couldn'...
8
votes
6answers
2k views
What is a good online resource or app (Android,PC) to start learning Korean from the very beginning?
I am looking for resources to learn Korean. There is no big reason as to why I want to learn Korean. I read some manhwas and did a bit of tae kwon do for a while. The culture seemed interesting and ...
3
votes
1answer
68 views
Is there any keyboard in iOS or macOS that pops up a list of predictions and checks spelling?
I see it incredibly hard to type in Korean sentences precisely. Especially, I could not differentiate any words from its sound - for example, when I tried to express "I lived in Seoul", I'm going to ...
4
votes
1answer
279 views
Is there a Korean version of Google Ngrams?
https://books.google.com/ngrams allows you to look at the frequency of usage of a term over time, or compare multiple terms. Is there any similar thing for Korean words?
5
votes
1answer
1k views
Korean hangul with voiced, unvoiced and aspirated or not aspirated
Does anyone know where can I find Korean alphabet which tells if a vowel or consonant is voiced or unvoiced, aspirated or not? Thanks.
10
votes
4answers
5k views
Easy Korean Poems for Beginners
I just wonder if anyone could help me find few poems in Korean that are not too hard for a beginner like me. I believe it could help me improving my vocabulary and grammar usage. (I've been learning ...
2
votes
3answers
142 views
Ideas for interesting Twitter feeds and similar resources to follow for learning Korean?
Just now I stumbled across https://twitter.com/Engkr_bot - it seems to regularly tweet a word or phrase in English and Korean. This seems a great way to drip-feed a bit of Korean learning into busy ...
7
votes
2answers
6k views
Does howtostudykorean.com really do what it says?
Background How to study Korean. Hmm... I'm interested in learning Korean... I know how to read it... Maybe I'll click on that... 99.9999% of Korean grammar and 9000+ Korean words?! Whoah! That ...
10
votes
6answers
2k views
Books for learning Korean grammar in detail
I have just started learning Korean for about one month. Now I would like to study Korean grammar in detail. Could anyone recommend some books that analyze Korean grammar thoroughly? Maybe books ...
6
votes
1answer
723 views
Besides endic.naver.com, any other good Korean-to-English dictionary site for (hangul) super-newbie learners?
Wiktionary is great for super-newbie learners of Hangul. For example, see this question re: 기계 (gigye) : 기계 (gigye) ==> 機械, 器械, 奇計 (what else?) What's another good Korean-to-English dictionary ...
9
votes
8answers
5k views
What is a good digital Korean-English dictionary?
Printed Korean dictionaries are often a bit out-dated in their language and impractical to take with you. Do you know any good dictionaries for Korean-English / English-Korean? May be either online ...
8
votes
3answers
26k views
What are the best sources to study for TOPIK?
I am going to take TOPIK II exam in a few months, but I'm not sure which books are good to study. I found out these books. Are they familiar to anyone here? What are good and quick books or online ...
8
votes
9answers
2k views
Websites and internet resources for learning Korean
I am a native Korean, and I am trying to help and communicate with other people here. I'm also learning other languages and have my own list of websites teaching them. So I wonder which websites you ...
10
votes
9answers
488 views
Wiki: List of songs that are useful for learning Korean
Please add one song per answer, including A link to the song A link to the lyrics Reasons why you think it is a good song to learn from
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Where can I find some jokes in Korean online?
Is there any website that lists some Korean jokes? It may be a funny short story or funny one liners or anything written entirely in Korean, and should be understandable to a native speaker. ... | https://korean.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/resources |
Octopath Traveler’s Post-Game Dungeon Doesn’t Save the Game From its Core Problems (Spoilers)
Spoiler alert: We’re going to spoil some major story beats in some of the chapters 4s of Octopath Traveler in this article.
One major point of concern in most of the reviews we’ve seen in Octopath Traveler so far, including our own, was the lack of character interactions within the party and a unifying story that connects everyone together. For the most part, the eight stories are standalone, and they work well as separate storylines. However, after we discovered the existence of a post-game dungeon, we were excited by the prospect of seeing more of the story and how the game brings everyone together in one epic finale. The results are mixed.
Before we continue, I should make it clear that while the stories are mostly separate, there are lore connections and recurrent themes that you’ll notice as you play through them. The most obvious one is the Gate of Finis, which acts as a barrier between our mortal world and the 13th Dark God Galdera. Another character who gets name-dropped in a couple of the stories is Graham Crossford, who is revealed to be the apothecary who saved Alfyn as a child and is also the author of Tressa’s journal. These are all very cool connections, but while the stories do enjoy dropping hints about Galdera and the Gate, it’s still important to note that every story wraps up neatly and conclusively. Octopath Traveler’s post-game dungeon should thus be seen as a cool post-game bonus, but clearing it isn’t necessary for full enjoyment of the game.
Now, as for the dungeon itself, lore enthusiasts will quickly recognize the new area name: Ruins of Hornburg. Hornburg is where the Gate of Finis is supposedly located, and if the heavy name-dropping of the Gate in the stories is anything to go by, you can safely assume that we’re going to prevent Galdera himself from being summoned into the world. The eight characters then embark on a quest to stop the ritual and take down Galdera once and for all.
Once inside the dungeon, you’re then tasked with fighting eight story bosses all over again before you get to face the final boss. If you die, you’ll have to reset and do everything again, and there are no checkpoints even before the final boss – whether this is a good design decision is an argument for another day. After beating each boss, you’re then rewarded with a lore dump that offers more insight into how the NPCs you met along the way are connected to this huge conspiracy and re-summoning of Galdera. To give you a taste of what the connections are like, Graham Crossford turns into Redeye, which was the beast H’aanit was tasked with hunting. Primrose’s father was murdered by an organization that was aiding Mattias from Ophilia’s story in creating the black flame to open the Gate.
These are all really cool connections, but somehow, they still feel flimsy at best, and even forced in a few stories – Primrose, H’aanit, and Alfyn’s in particular. What’s even worse is that the game doesn’t provide a convincing explanation as to why these characters would suddenly want to get together and save the world from this overwhelmingly oppressive evil force. Some characters, like Cyrus, Ophilia, and Olberic who have a strong sense of justice and righteousness, certainly have reason to step up. But other characters like Therion and Tressa hardly seem like the type to just decide to go on a dangerous journey after wrapping up their personal stories.
This brings us back to Octopath Traveler’s biggest flaw: the lack of character interactions. With the implementation of the post-game dungeon and the quests leading up to it, the game could’ve fostered a sense of unity by at least having the characters remarking on the events that were unfolding before their eyes. Olberic, despite being the patriotic knight who loves his homeland, has nothing to say when we enter Hornburg and revisit the place where he witnessed Erhardt striking down his king. Cyrus, the knowledge-seeking scholar, has nothing to say about witnessing the opening of the Gate even as it’s happening in front of him. Ophilia, too, has nothing to say when she finds out that Mattias was the one who poisoned her father in his plan to use Lianna in creating the black flame.
Now, don’t get me wrong. The final superboss you get to face in the dungeon is an incredible and colossal challenge. It pushes your skills to the limit, and forces you to make use of every tool at your disposal. Just when you think you know the game’s combat system in and out after pouring in 70 hours, the superboss calls your skill into question, and finally getting to beat it feels immensely satisfying. But once that adrenaline rush wears off, I was left feeling a little empty. The quest ends with a nice shot of your characters standing together (who still don’t have anything to say, by the way), along with a few sweet words about adventure, and then you’re on your way again. No comments from anyone about how you apparently just saved the whole damn world from a Dark God that was going to consume everything.
At the end of the day, this dungeon is a cool bonus for lore fiends who want to learn more about the game’s history, and for those who want a proper gameplay challenge. But for everyone else, it’s worth noting that Octopath Traveler is still primarily an anthology or a collection of eight personal stories, and you won’t be missing out on a lot by not completing this dungeon. | https://twinfinite.net/2018/07/octopath-traveler-post-game-dungeon-doesnt-save-game-core-problems/ |
The health of your horse is reflected in their feet,
The morning will be spent looking into the anatomy and function of the equine foot. The focus will be on recognising and achieving healthy feet. We will also look into common foot problems and how to deal with them.
We will be discussing what defines a healthy horse, which leads into Equine Ethology. Ethology is the study of animals in their natural environment, who are free to express the behaviour and physicality that evolution has prepared them for. It gives us a blueprint for normal and this is the most powerful tool we have for understanding their bodies and behaviours. We can then apply this understanding to provide them with a life of quality.
The afternoon is focused on simplifying the complexities relating to foot health, paying particular attention to the role of obesity and the associated metabolic/endocrine disorders. It will enable you to recognise the early warning signs of potential problems and give positive ideas and solutions on how to deal with them.
Questions welcome throughout the day.
This workshop does not take a barefoot v shod stance. The goal is to provide high quality and practical information that owners and care givers can implement into equine lives.
A Whole Horse Approach to Hoofcare
Day 1
09.00 – 11.30
Basic hoof anatomy and function:
Recognising healthy hooves
Common problems affecting hoof health:
and how to deal with them
Equine Ethology:
Defining a Healthy Horse
11.30-12.30
Lunch
12.30-14.00
Laminitis:
What it is, how it happens and what to do
Metabolic/Endocrine disorders:
Early recognition, simplifying the complexities and solutions
14.00-15.30
Diet:
the key to healthy horses
Environment & lifestyle: | https://touching-wild.blog/2022/03/02/knepp-hoofacre-workshop-and-lower-leg-dissection/ |
Liu Lili received her Ph.D. degree from Nanyang Technological University, and her Master of Computer Science degree from Shanghai University. Before joining NUS, she worked as a Senior Research Scientist at Singapore Polytechnic and as a scientist in the Institute of High-Performance Computing, A*STAR. Her technical knowledge and experience lies in various areas, including Machine Learning, Computer Vision and Multi-Modal Learning. Her research interests are in the areas of deep learning, computer vision, multi-modal learning, text analysis and quantitative research.
RESEARCH AREAS
Artificial Intelligence
- Computer Vision
Database
- Social Media Analysis
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Machine learning
Computer Vision
Multi-modal Learning
RESEARCH PROJECTS
RESEARCH GROUPS
TEACHING INNOVATIONS
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
- Liu, Lili, et al. "Transfer learning on convolutional activation feature as applied to a building quality assessment robot." International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems 14.3 (2017): 1729881417712620.
- Liu, Lili, et al. "AI-facilitated coating corrosion assessment system for productivity enhancement." 2018 13th IEEE Conference on Industrial Electronics and Applications (ICIEA). IEEE, 2018.
- Luo, Zhiqiang, et al. "“Left Arm Up!” Interactive Yoga Training in Virtual Environment." 2011 IEEE virtual reality conference. IEEE, 2011.
- Liu, Lili, et al. "Interactive robots as social partner for communication care." 2014 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA). IEEE, 2014.
- Liu, Lili, et al. "Automated construction quality assessment: A review." 2015 10th International Symposium on Mechatronics and its Applications (ISMA). IEEE, 2015.
- Liu, Lili, et al. "CNN-based automatic coating inspection system." Advances in Science, Technology and Engineering Systems Journal 3.12 (2018): 469-478.
- Liu, Lili, et al. "An integrated coating inspection system for marine and offshore corrosion management." 2018 15th International Conference on Control, Automation, Robotics and Vision (ICARCV). IEEE, 2018.
- Liu, Lili, et al. "Deep learning for Coating Condition Assessment with Active perception." Proceedings of the 2019 3rd High Performance Computing and Cluster Technologies Conference. 2019.
- Lili, Liu, et al. "AI-Based Behavioral Competency Assessment Tool to Enhance Navigational Safety." 2021 International Conference on Electrical, Computer, Communications and Mechatronics Engineering (ICECCME). IEEE, 2021. | https://www.comp.nus.edu.sg/disa/bio/liull/ |
Welcome! We’d love to hear from you! If you have a specific question about your account, please select “Contact Support” in the right sidebar.
-
navigation not as intuitive as it could be
Been exploring the site. I can't figure out how i got to the secret lab page from the main page!71 votesunder review · Sarah Dopp responded
Thanks for letting us know! The link to your secret lab is one of the icons under the SuperBetter logo in the upper-left side of the screen (the other icon is Power Packs). Hope this helps, and we’ll look into possibly making this clearer.
-
Randomize Reminder Alarms
Studies have shown people are more prone to respond to reminders if they aren't routine, if they have a random element to them. Offering a timeframe during which users might be reminded or a number of days ("remind me about every 3 days" would trigger reminders with an average of 3 days, maybe on the 3rd, 6th, 7th, 10th, and 15th day after) would be more effective.30 votes
Thanks for the suggestion! We’ll definitely consider it as we improve our notification system. If you can share a link to the specific research you mentioned that would be great. Thanks!
-
I don't have an audio card in my computer so I haven't watched any of the video
Would it be possible for the text to be made available?1 vote
There should be a “read the transcript” link near most of the videos – let me know which ones don’t have it!
- Don't see your idea? | https://feedback.superbetter.com/forums/119811-superbetter-feedback/filters/top?category_id=37051&status_id=447422 |
Introducing Behavior-Driven Development in an Agile Team
Almost one year ago a new distributed and remote agile team was created at DefinedCrowd with the purpose to tacked existent business needs by creating a new microservice. At the beginning the team defined which business case would be solved, how the system architecture should be and how it guarantees the software quality at each delivery to the newly created service.
During the first stage of software development, it is crucial to understand if the service is being built in the right way, and, of course, if it is the right thing being built. The team, therefore, should have a shared understanding about feature requirements. But how would we work collaboratively to discuss the requirements and write the testing scenarios which represent the actual system behavior? To achieve this, the team proposed applying and using the Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) technique in their work process.
What Does Behavior-Driven Development Mean?
Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) is a development process which encourages team collaboration and better communication, focusing on the business problems that need to be solved, getting faster feedback and live documentation to meet system behavior. (Amodeo, 2015)
The keyword is conversation. The conversation before development is the trigger for the team to have a shared understanding of what is the purpose of the new user story and/or if it is necessary to refactor existent code. To clarify the acceptance criteria, the team is invited to illustrate the criteria with some concrete examples. This means writing the scenarios that represent the behavior of the system.
To drive this conversation, it is followed the Gherkin syntax (Figure 1) as the common communication language. Gherkin is technology agnostic, human readable, structured, and keyword based. It provides excellent documentation by transcribing the expected behavior of the system, which can be read and easily understood by all team members and stakeholders. Furthermore, the scenarios written out can be turned into automated tests in the future, which contribute to the creation of living documentation that reflects the true state of the project. Having a single place to keep all this information saves a lot of time that would otherwise be wasted trying to keep documents, tests, and code synchronized.
Gherkin syntax example
Feature: Get user information As a Project Manager I want to search by user Id So that I can get the user information Scenario: Validate the information for a specific user Given The Project Manager has access to the service And An user is created When The Project Manager requests the information of a specific user Then The service returns the response 'OK' And The service returns the user details | name | phone | address | | User A | +351 999999999 | Portugal |
This is a practical example of documentation on getting a user information feature. The scenario expresses what to expect from the microservice when the project manager wants to get more information about a specific user. The ‘Given’ statement represents the necessary preconditions to run the test. The ‘When’ represents the action that will be taken. Finally, the ‘Then’ expresses the actual behavior when the action, ‘When’, is taken.
Proposed Steps to Use BDD In A Team’s Process
In theory, BDD and Gherkin seems to have a lot of potential. However, to understand if the ideas behind these two concepts are true, it is necessary to try out in a real case scenario by incorporating it in the team’s agile process. Currently, the team’s agile process includes the following activities (Figure 2):
The proposal is to define the scenarios during refinement ceremonies by using BDD. Therefore, the development process will not change, but will be enhanced with the inclusion of test scenario definitions.
During the Technical Refinement (Figure 3) the team (QA and Devs) has the first contact with User Story requirements. Additionally, to analyze how it would be implemented, the test strategy is also discussed.
When developing a microservice, the testing strategy is focused on two different test levels: unit tests and component tests. For unit test level, the team identifies which individual methods should be covered and the desired coverage percentage. On the other hand, the goal of the component tests is to validate if all microservice pieces are well integrated and working as expected. So, the testing strategy definition for component tests is focused on expressing the functional behaviors by using BDD to define the happy path scenario(s), as shows the example in Gherkin syntax example.
In the next stage, at the Refinement session, where the happy path is already defined, the team starts to write other scenarios (happy or unhappy paths) covering all the acceptance criteria. This is the moment when the test discovery starts to take shape (Figure 4).
After discussing the scenarios, the team agrees that the user story is ready to be implemented.
BDD as a Test-Driven-Conversation
The first outcome of introducing BDD in the team’s process was to engage all the team members in defining the testing strategy for a user story. At the same time, it helped everyone to understand what should be developed or delivered, which ultimately resulted in more effective refinement sessions.
From the first test case written in Gherkin, the way the test was specified as an example, sparked the team’s imagination to see other scenarios that were not considered. Consequently, test and functionality discovery were augmented because it was easy to create variations of previous scenarios.
Nowadays, the team has more than ten features written using the BDD approach. When it is necessary to add an increment to an already existing feature, the amount of work that the team needs to do to automate the increment is noted, which helps to estimate the automation effort. Figure 5 shows the steps already implemented, in white, and the steps that should be implemented, in purple, which helped us to understand the cost of automating this new scenario.
One of the greatest benefits that this process of written BDD scenarios brought to the team was the possibility to visualize how the system behaves before it has been built and to rethink the technical implementation. To give an example, during the scenario definition for a specific feature, the team realized that to perform that action, the service would need to keep extra information that was not considered during the technical discussion. As a result, development and automating test work were readjusted by adding one more precondition.
Challenges of Using BDD
The challenge starts when the team is writing the first scenario. The process of using the Gherkin syntax properly and take advantage of Examples and Scenario Outlines usage, involves a steep learning curve. If someone in the workgroup has knowledge and experience on how to use BDD, it is helpful to have a session with the whole team beforehand to explain what it is, how to use Gherkin syntax, and what is hoped to be achieved with this approach.
Team members decoupling themselves from the specific details of the technical design during the process of writing scenarios for backend component tests is not easy. Although the scenarios are a representation of the actual behavior of the system, it is difficult to avoid some technical words when the system under test in an API.
As the number of features and scenarios increase, it is necessary to refactor the Given/When/Then sentences from time-to-time to maintain the consistency of fluidness and naturalness across all scenarios. To achieve this, we must define guidelines like writing the steps in the third person and as a subject-predicated action phrase.
Key Takeaways
Making use of BDD as a communication tool, the team was able to make more use of Devs, QA, PO and stakeholders inputs. Collaboration and conversion are crucial to achieving success when adopting BDD.
From this experiment, the Refinement session was the best place to introduce this conversation since it is in this phase when the team discovers the feature requirements and what they should be building. Our proposal is to drive this conversation making use of Gherkin syntax and expressing the feature requirements in a common language that can be read and easily understood by all team members.
Besides improving the shared understanding of what should be delivered, the written scenarios bring two more benefits: they serve as live documentation and can be reused when the team automates the tests.
One of the greatest benefits of using this approach is team collaboration in scenario discovery. It facilitates the identification of technical/feature/quality gaps in the system and provides a valuable opportunity to rethink the technical implementation at an early stage.
As with any other tool, it has a steep learning curve that be increase according with the team’s member experience using this methodology. If the team is not familiar with Gherkin syntax, the first Refinement Sessions could be longer. So, it is suggested that, from the adoption phase, to keep the number of User Stories lower. It is helpful if any team member with experience using BDD, and it should be the driver to kick-off this initiative by writing the happy path scenarios before refinement discussions.
Even with the increasing number of challenges that the adoption of BDD brought to the team, it also gave a lot of great value to every team member professional careers and an increasing sense of quality to the overall result of the deliveries. | https://www.defined.ai/tech-posts/introducing-behavior-driven-development-in-an-agile-team/ |
Which standard operating procedure in a preparative chromatography lab is more efficient: routinely running generic full-range gradients to purify mixtures, or taking the extra time and trouble to develop focused gradient methods? The answer may depend, in general or on a case-by-case basis, on how long it takes to develop the method, the purification run time, the quantity of sample and solvent consumed, and your output quality requirements (level of purity, yield).
Simple full-range (0 to 100%) gradients require minimal time to develop and are useful for mixtures with a wide range of structures. To improve resolution the analyst may extend the run time to 'flatten' the gradient. The benefit of not having to develop a more detailed method, however, is substantially offset by the longer run time and added solvent required to achieve resolution between compounds.
Consider as well that in many prep LC applications the goal is not to resolve multiple compounds, but instead to separate one target alone, as quickly as possible, and with the highest practical purity and yield. Optimizing a prep LC method for single-target purification takes additional effort, which is often justified by faster purification, reduced solvent consumption, and higher productivity based on the ability to load more compound per run.
When comparing the pros and cons of generic vs. focused gradients, it helps to envision the changing behavior of a compound during a 0% to 100% gradient. Once the injected sample has adsorbed onto the stationary phase, and before the target compound has fully eluted, it will be in one of three states (below) in which k* represents the retention factor under specific gradient conditions.
These three pre-elution states each correspond to a specific %B zone within the gradient. There is a fourth zone post-elution where the process continues to run while the compound is already off the column.
From a purification standpoint, the simplest case would one in which all non-target compounds are completely retained while the target is fully eluted. The reverse occurs when the target compound is retained on the column, while the impurities fully elute. The target is then eluted using a second strong solvent, that is, a 'catch and release' purification.
The most difficult, by contrast, would involve two or more compounds having weak retention in the same %B range, in which case they will easily co-elute unless an optimized gradient is employed.
Generic gradients are relatively inefficient as compared to focused gradients. In a generic method, the most effective segment of the 0-100% gradient range is the 5-15 %B portion in which the
k* value for the target compound is between 1 and 10, with the compound actively migrating down the column. In a generic gradient, therefore, 85% to 95% of the run is wasted because the compound is a) still sitting at the head of the column and not moving at all; or b) moving with the solvent front and having no further interaction with the stationary phase; or c) already eluted and collected into your test tube.
Focused gradients on the other hand are faster and less wasteful. The bright idea behind the focused gradient approach is to simply increase the time the target spends in conditions where
k* is between 1 and 10 (the most productive separation zone), while decreasing the time spent in all other %B zones where it is either being fully retained or traveling at the solvent front. Once the optimum %B range for a target compound is identified, such as by a scouting run or other means, refining the prep LC method to focus primarily on that zone produces significantly faster separations with better resolution between closely eluting compounds.
Assuming focused gradients are better in every important way—speed, accuracy, economy, and even environmentally greener through reduced solvent consumption, what should be done to promote wider adoption of the technology? At Teledyne ISCO we believe this can be achieved by removing the most significant hurdle to adoption, the time and expertise needed to develop focused gradient methods. This has long been the focus of our technical support and product development efforts. For example, there are several calculation methods users can employ to arrive at an optimized prep LC method based on minimal data about the target compound's properties or behavior. Algorithms such as Accelerated Retention Window (ARW), Time on Target (ToT), and First Time Right Time are very well summarized in my colleague Jack Silver's article published in ACS Combinatorial Science.
Then in 2019, to make the process even faster and easier by avoiding all manual calculations, and building further upon the work of Jack Silver, we released our automated Focused Gradient Generator tool within the PeakTrak software on the ACCQPrep HP150 system. This tool allows a user to perform a scouting run on the HP150, select the peak of interest, and have PeakTrak respond instantly with an optimized focused gradient. And it automatically scales methods to larger prep columns of the same chemistry. With the improved resolution of the optimized method, higher loads can then be injected for further runs on the same prep column.
So what could be easier? Well, what if the scouting run did not have to involve a prep column, and did not have to be run on the HP150? Can we take the retention time from a scouting run performed on an analytical U/HPLC system, enter it into the ACCQPrep, and have PeakTrak automatically generate an optimized focused gradient? Yes, with a little extra software development, and our updated PeakTrak software version 4.2.68 or later now provides this capability.
In order to use this feature, the analytical system must be calibrated (correlated) to the ACCQPrep using a standard test mix and the instructions in Technical Note 52 . Note that calibration parameters are different for HPLC vs. UHPLC systems, and that analytical and prep columns require matching stationary phases, and the runs should use the same mobile phase and modifiers.
Once the calibration is complete, PeakTrak will automatically scale the prep method for any column size you select from the screen. This works even if you are using non-RediSep® columns, in which case an additional simple step (included in TN52) is required to calibrate the prep column.
Once an analytical system is calibrated to the ACCQPrep, focused gradients for prep methods are generated just by entering the retention time from the analytical run into the ACCQPrep.
Optimized purifications are more accessible than ever, now that there is such an easy way to derive focused gradients from your analytical system or the ACCQPrep. Should any other reason remain for not using optimized methods more often in your prep lab, just send me an email and we will solve it. And please use the Submit Feedback button as well to let us know your thoughts, questions, or comments, which we consider vital to our ongoing product development efforts.
References:
1. Overview of Analytical-to-Preparative Liquid Chromatography Method Development,
Silver, J. ACS Combinatorial Science 2019 21 (9), 609-613
DOI: 10.1021/acscombsci.8b00187
2. Recorded webinar: Analytical to Prep Focused Gradient Generators and How to Use Them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHM5MrGSbPU
3. Teledyne ISCO Software and Firmware Updates
https://www.teledyneisco.com/en-us/chromatography/chromatography-software-firmware
4. Technical Note 52: Faster Method Development by Calibration of Analytical LC to ACCQPrep Systems
Teledyne ISCO Chromatography Technical Notes
Josh Lovell ([email protected]) is an applications specialist at Teledyne ISCO responsible for helping customers solve challenging problems in analytical, flash, and preparatory chromatography applications.
About Teledyne ISCO - Chromatography
The Teledyne ISCO Chromatography product line includes instruments and accessories for the purification of organic compounds in normal-phase and reversed-phase separations, and for bio-purification of proteins, peptides, and other biopolymers. For more articles from Teledyne ISCO, please visit our blog.
Chromatography
Water and Wastewater
Pumps
RepsNet Login © 2021 Teledyne ISCO
Teledyne ISCO products are manufactured in an ISO9001:2015 certified facility. | https://www.teledyneisco.com/en-us/chromatography/blog/rapidly-create-focused-gradient-methods |
Scaffolding made for aesthetic purposes to enhance the Genoa Boat Show, leading trade fair in the city. A first MP structure of 250 m. has been designed to cover the curved facade of the pavilion of the fair. A further selfsupporting structure of 100 linear meters was then connected to continue the “wave” form of the overall project. Considering the structure height of 11 meters the overall facade was of about 2500 m². | http://pilosio.com/case-history/entertainment/genoa-boat-show/ |
Lynne Plambeck | Warming Climate and Our Water
Get breaking news and local stories in your inbox!
We all know that a warming climate will affect our water supply. Some areas of the country are predicted to see increased flooding from hurricanes and other storms, while climate models show the West, particularly California, will be getting dryer.
This will especially affect the water supply in California and here locally in the SCV, where we have long depended on water from the melting Sierra snowpack to get us through our hot, dry summers. For almost a hundred years we have relied on a water cycle that creates a massive annual snowpack in the mountains, larger than anything any reservoir could store, and then melts slowly over the spring and summer. This water is delivered to Southern California through the State Water Project aqueduct and provides about half the water for the Santa Clarita Valley.
But in 2015, there was no snowpack. Pictures of Water Resources personnel tramping through a brown meadow in the middle of winter were ominous. The recent six-year drought in California was the worst in decades and harder to address because of California’s population growth, and it will not be the last. Climate scientists predict the almost total loss of the Sierra snowpack within 25 years.
For many years SCOPE (Santa Clarita Organization for Planning and the Environment) has promoted preservation of floodplains and leaving the Santa Clara River and its tributaries in a natural state so that recharge of our local groundwater would continue to occur. We have also urged the use of permeable pavement and other means of making sure storm water can seep back into the ground to recharge our groundwater basins, in spite of all the new hard surfaces from development.
Addressing climate change issues like these is hard and can seem overwhelming, so I am always impressed with members of the public who take their time to speak up in the hope it will make a difference. This is exactly what happened a few months ago when our local water agency held a two-day strategic planning workshop with key staff and board members to develop goals and policies for the agency’s work plans. Two members of the Citizen’s Climate Lobby took their Friday night to attend the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency meeting to ask that climate change issues be addressed in the Strategic Plan.
Their attendance made a difference. When the plan was recently released (https://yourscvwater.com/strategic-plan/), climate change and suggestions to address its impacts to our local water supplies were specifically called out in the plan. I am not sure that would have happened without the urging of members of the public on a Friday night.
With the help of conscientious public advocates and in the face of climate change-related water supply reductions, everyone is beginning to understand the serious crisis we are facing. From the passage of Measure W last year, which placed a property tax on impervious surfaces to be used for recharge projects, to water conservation practices in our outdoor landscaping, it is obvious that both the public and our agencies understand the urgency of preparing for change in the face of a warming climate.
Lynne Plambeck is president of Santa Clarita Organization for Planning and the Environment. | |
Duff v. Lee
In October 2017, the Arizona Supreme Court adopted a pilot program in the Pima County Superior Court called the Fast Trial and Alternative Resolution Program (“FASTAR”) by administrative order. This program effectively eliminated compulsory arbitration under A.R.S. section 12-133 by lowering the monetary limit to the threshold of the superior court’s original jurisdiction in the local court’s rules, and plaintiffs with claims valued between that threshold and $50,000 could instead choose between a fast trial or binding alternative dispute resolution without right of appeal or de novo trial (which would remain available to the defendant). Consistent with the pilot program, the Pima County Superior Court’s presiding judge filed a petition for a local rule change in October, 2017 to conform Pima County’s local rules to the Administrative Order. The Supreme Court granted the petition.
Plaintiff Claudia Duff filed a complaint in May 2018, and certified the amount in controversy was less than $50,000. Plaintiff’s case was subject to compulsory arbitration rather than FASTAR because the local rule change was not yet effective. Plaintiff also filed an objection restating this argument and arguing that FASTAR unconstitutionally denied her substantive rights to arbitration, trial de novo, and direct appeal. The responding judge overruled the objection and determined Plaintiff was not entitled to a section 12-133 arbitration, and that her constitutional rights were not violated because she could opt for a fast trial instead of alternative dispute resolution. Plaintiff filed a petition for special action and the Court of Appeals accepted jurisdiction.
The Court of Appeals affirmed. The Court first determined that while A.R.S. section 12-133 provides a substantive right to appeal, it does not provide a substantive right to arbitration and was essentially procedural, as was the lowering of the jurisdictional limit and the implementation of FASTAR. A rule prevails over a procedural statute in the event of conflict. The Court held that since A.R.S. section 12-133 mandated an arbitration program, lowering the jurisdiction limit by rule so as to eliminate compulsory arbitration was such a conflict, but the change was procedural and within the Supreme Court’s authority. The Court also rejected Plaintiff’s argument that FASTAR was not effective until the local rule change was approved despite the administrative order’s earlier effective date and identical lowering of the jurisdictional threshold for arbitration. The Supreme Court, unlike lower courts, can issue rule changes by administrative order, and thus, the administrative order’s effective date was the operative one.
Gibson v. Theut
A minor who participated in the killing of his father was sued for wrongful death by his paternal grandparents. The probate commissioner appointed a guardian ad litem and an attorney to the minor in connection with the wrongful death lawsuit. The paternal grandparents obtained a $50,010,000 default judgment against the co-defendants and tendered a $5,000,000 offer of judgment. The minor was not informed, pleaded guilty to second degree murder of his father and his paternal grandparents filed and obtained summary judgment and sanctions against the minor for failure to obtain a more favorable judgment than the lapsed offer of judgment. The minor then asserted negligence claims against the guardian ad litem and his attorney, claiming they failed to properly defend against the wrongful death lawsuit, and against the county and state for failing to ascertain whether the guardian ad litem and his attorney were properly qualified prior to placing them on a list of pre-qualified attorneys. The superior court granted all of the defendants’ motions to dismiss, holding that the guardian ad litem and attorney had absolute judicial immunity and the vicarious liability and negligence claims against the state were likewise barred.
On appeal, the Court of Appeals reversed in part, affirmed in part, and remanded to the superior court. Addressing the guardian ad litem’s judicial immunity defense, the Court of Appeals held the guardian ad litem could not assert judicial immunity because he was not performing a court function, but rather acting as an active participant in the litigation. Turning to the attorney, addressing an issue of first impression, the Court of Appeals reversed the superior court, finding an attorney representing a minor in litigation is not shielded from malpractice. The Court of Appeals also concluded that the attorney, like the guardian ad litem, was not judicially immune from claims of malpractice because his function was that of an advocate and not a judicial officer. Finally, addressing the claims against the county and state, the Court of Appeals concluded the minor’s vicarious liability claims were barred as a matter of law because the government had no right to supervise or direct the guardian ad litem or attorney. The Court of Appeals held the minor may have stated a claim for negligent hiring in alleging that the guardian ad litem and attorney were not sufficiently qualified to handle a complex civil case.
Pitts v. Indus. Comm’n of Arizona
The Arizona Court of Appeals recently held that a worker’s compensation claim for PTSD is timely if the claim is filed within one year of diagnosis and there is no evidence that a diagnosis could have been made earlier.
A police officer engaged in a gunfight in May, 2013. Afterward, he had problems such as difficulty sleeping, anxiety, and social withdrawal. The problems worsened over time. In December of 2015, he visited a primary care doctor to get sleep medication, and the doctor noted “[p]robable PTSD.” In January 2016, the officer saw a trauma psychologist who diagnosed PTSD. In October 2016, the officer filed a workers’ compensation claim. An administrative law judge (“ALJ”) held a hearing, considered testimony from the officer and his fiancée, and found the claim untimely under A.R.S. section 23-1061(A).
On special action review, the Court of Appeals set aside the ALJ’s finding for lack of evidence. Under A.R.S. section 23-1061(A), a workers’ compensation claim must be filed within one year of “when the injury becomes manifest or when the claimant knows or in the exercise of reasonable diligence should know that the claimant has sustained a compensable injury.” A party asserting untimeliness must raise the issue as an affirmative defense and bears the burden of production.
Here, the parties asserting untimeliness (the employer and the insurance carrier) failed to submit evidence demonstrating the officer’s injury became “manifest” or that he should have known he sustained a “compensable injury” one year before he filed his claim. PTSD is difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are varied and often delayed. The only formal diagnosis in this case was made in the same year the claim was filed. The record does not show that, before that diagnosis, the officer’s symptoms had progressed to the point that a diagnosis would have been possible. Expert testimony is generally required to make such a showing, and no experts testified here. | https://www.tysonmendes.com/arizona-case-law-updates/ |
An ex vivo laboratory study to determine the static frictional resistance of a variable ligation orthodontic bracket system.
To determine the effects of static frictional resistance on varying the ligation technique in a Delta Force bracket system (Ortho Organizers Ltd, Hampton, UK) and using increasing degrees of bracket/archwire angulation to simulate binding. An ex vivo laboratory investigation using the Instron Universal Testing Machine (Instron Ltd, High Wycombe, UK) to generate sliding forces on an archwire through the Delta Force bracket. The system was lubricated with Saliva Orthana artificial saliva (Nycomed Ltd, Buckinghamshire, UK). Biomaterials Laboratory, Eastman Dental Institute, London, UK. Ninety Delta Force brackets were tested against 0.018-inch stainless steel wire. Three modes of ligation were tested with three different angulations: 0, 5 and 10 degrees to simulate increasing levels of binding. The average static frictional resistance went from 0.20 N, at 0 degrees angulation and minimum ligation, to 2.37 N with 10 degrees angulation and maximum ligation. Results revealed that the ligation pattern was found to be highly statistically significant (P<0.001) in influencing frictional force. The binding angle showed a trend of increasing frictional force with increasing bracket/archwire angulation. Repeatability testing showed no evidence of bias (P=0.171). These results suggest that the Delta Force variable ligation system does in fact enable friction to be varied, which may have implications in clinical application.
| |
Dear Journal,
Today I went and did something a little bit, well, crazy. For a long while now I had been toying back and forth with the idea of taking this plunge, I think I may have even discussed it in passing in prior entries, but I never seemed to get myself to take that final step. Maybe I was afraid of the consequence of the action. After all, by doing what I did today I may find myself swept away into a life I had forgotten I could live. I’ve heard the side effects of my actions could be as serious as creating parallel worlds in my head, full of new scenery, people, and events different from my own. It could almost be classified as multiple personalities – dangerous for others but blissful for me. If you haven’t guessed by now, the forbidden deed I dared do was purchase not one, but two books. For shame.
You may ask, “Katlyn, why would you do such a thing? What would cause you to dive head first into such a crazy lifestyle? Reading is a dangerous thing to do.” Well, it’s funny that you ask these questions because it was actually a loss, or rather multiple losses, that pushed me to my decision to jump back into the land of story-telling. Two weeks ago was one of the roughest weeks I’ve had since moving home. I know I’ve mentioned some hardships with my health and adjusting to home life, but nothing hits quite as hard as losing things in your life, big or small.
In a matter of a week I made the difficult decision to end a relationship, lost a family friend I’ve known since I was a child, learned that I would soon be losing one of my closest friends as they will be moving across the country, and lost the opportunity to see a dear friend I haven’t seen in ages. Now, while some of these losses are very minor, others hit me quite hard. To cope I found myself attempting to bury my pain in fake relationships. My laptop, my work computers, my iPod, and my phone all became my best friends. I locked myself away with them searching tirelessly for music, videos, and games, anything that would occupy my time and fill a void.
After a few days of this relentless search to shut out the world around me, I realized that I was only creating more losses for myself. I was becoming a zombie to the electronic world that surrounds me. Sure, my job and some of my favorite pastimes are heavily based on technology, but why in the world should they become my entire life? My ridiculous obsession with being connected was causing me to not only lose sleep, but valuable time I needed for myself.
That’s why I bought the books. One of my favorite things to do before I entered college was to dive into a book before bed each night. Not only did it calm my mind and help me forget about the day’s events, it gave me inspiration and hope and another outlet to channel my feelings. What I realized over these past couple of weeks is that life really is short, things change quickly, and I won’t always be happy with how things go. I love my friends and family, I have wonderful relationships with both, but sometimes I lack a proper relationship with myself. Technology doesn’t give me that, if anything it was pulling me farther and farther away from myself. Sure, it will forever have a place in my life, but what I need to do to grow in myself and grow past my losses is go back to my roots. To go back to what always used to be such a big part of me and brought me so much joy. To once again find my happy little world and live merrily in it, if only for a half hour each night. I needed my books.
Now I have two. | https://www.ripon.edu/2013/05/15/lee-6/ |
This disclosure relates to a desalination apparatus and a process that can be used to remove sulfur dioxide and other environmentally hazardous contaminants from a gaseous waste stream while at the same time providing a source of purified water and providing a means to dispose of contaminated water.
Metal smelting operations generally produce a large amount of byproduct gases during the conversion of the metal ore into a metal. For example, in the smelting of aluminum from alumina, byproduct gases that comprise carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulfur dioxide are produced at the rate of about 500,000 to about 1,800,000 cubic feet per minute depending upon the size of the plant. These byproduct gases are generally released into the atmosphere at temperatures of about 80 to about 100° C.
Sulfur dioxide is an environmentally hazardous contaminant that facilitates the production of acid rain. It is therefore desirable to remove sulfur dioxide from the byproduct gases that are released into the atmosphere.
In addition, the discharge of water that has been contaminated through contact with various parts of the process in smelting plants may pose an environmental hazard. It is therefore desirable to concentrate contaminants in such waters to as high a level as possible, thus limiting the amount of water that needs to be disposed of or processed further.
| |
1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the present invention relate to flux control systems and, more particularly, to flux control systems for use in motion control applications. Aspects of the present invention also relate to the control of electric machines, such as switched reluctance machines, permanent magnet machines and hybrids thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
In many electromagnetic systems, the transfer of energy from one component of the system to another is critical to proper operation of the system. In many electromagnetic systems, this transfer of energy is accomplished by appropriately energizing one component of the system to establish a magnetic flux that interacts with another component of the system to transfer energy from the energized component to the other component. Despite the fact that the energy transfer is accomplished by the flux, in known electromagnetic systems the flux of the system is not directly controlled. Instead, the current and/or voltage applied to the energized member is controlled and, based on assumed relationships between current, voltage and flux, it is assumed that the control of the current and/or voltage based on the assumed relationships will produce the appropriate flux. Control of current and/or voltage is typically implemented, at least in part, because the prior art has not provided an efficient, low-cost, and easily implemented system for directly controlling flux in an electromagnetic system.
One drawback of current and/or voltage control systems as described above is that the relationships between current, voltage and flux are not easily represented mathematically and vary in a non-linear manner depending on a variety of variables. For example, the particular characteristics of each piece of magnetic material in a system will result in voltage, current and flux relationships that vary from one system to another and, even within a given system, from one section of the system to another. Because of these differing voltage, current and flux relationships, it is difficult to accurately and properly control the currents and/or voltages to produce the desired flux and, thus, the desired energy transfer. As such, the prior art is limited in its ability to provide an electromagnetic system in which flux is directly controlled.
The lack of an appropriate flux control system in the prior art is particularly noticeable in electromagnetic systems where it is desired to finally control the force exerted by one component of the system on another component of the system. In such systems, the actual force produced by the system is related to the flux established by the energized component of the system. As described above, however, because the prior art cannot directly and finely control flux, it cannot, therefore, finely control the force produced by such systems. The inability of the prior art to finely control the forces established in an electromagnetic system is particularly acute in applications where the movement of at least one component of the system must be precisely controlled.
The typical switched reluctance machine comprises a rotor defining rotor poles, a stator defining stator poles, and a set of windings arranged in relation to the stator poles to define one or more phases. In a reluctance machine, energization of one or more phase windings sets up a magnetic flux in the associated stator poles, urging the rotor into a position of minimum reluctance. Timing the sequential energization of the windings according to rotor position induces rotor movement. Switched reluctance machines are well known. More detail is provided in the paper xe2x80x98The Characteristics, Design and Applications of Switched Reluctance Motors and Drivesxe2x80x99 by Stephenson and Blake, presented at the PCIM ""93 Conference and Exhibition at Nurnberg, Germany, Jun. 21-24, 1993, which is incorporated herein by reference. As is well known in the art, these machines can be operated as motors or generators simply by altering the timing of the application of the excitation to the phase windings.
As explained in the Stephenson and Blake paper, the method of torque production in a switched reluctance machine is quite different from that in conventional machines, e.g. induction or synchronous machines, which are operated by rotating waves of magneto-motive force (mmf) and in which the torque is produced by the interaction of a magnetic field with a current flowing in a conductor. Such machines are known as xe2x80x98electromagneticxe2x80x99 machines and encompass, e.g., so-called brushless DC machines in which the current is in stator coils and the field is produced by permanent magnets on the rotor. These machines require the use of permanent magnets.
By contrast, switched reluctance machines are purely xe2x80x98magneticxe2x80x99 machines, where the torque is produced solely by the magnetic field as the reluctance of the magnetic circuit changes. It follows that the methods of controlling the two types of machine are typically quite different, since the control is related to the method of torque production. In general, the control methods used for conventional, sinusoidally fed machines have been considered quite inappropriate for switched reluctance machines.
FIG. 1 shows a typical switched reluctance machine in cross section. In this example, the stator 10 has six stator poles 12, and the rotor 14 has four rotor poles 16. Each stator pole carries a coil 18. The coils on diametrically opposite poles are connected in series to provide three phase windings. Only one phase winding is shown, for clarity. The control of the switched reluctance machine can be achieved in a variety of ways. The machine could be controlled in an open-loop fashion, i.e. as commonly used for stepping motors. In this regime, the phase windings in the machine are sent pulses in turn and it is assumed that the rotor lines up with each pair of stator poles in turn, i.e. the position of minimum reluctance for that phase which is excited. Of course, because the system is open-loop, there are no means of knowing if the rotor has moved or not. To remove this uncertainty, it is conventional to use a rotor position detection scheme of some sort which provides a signal representative of rotor position. The excitation can then be applied as a function of the position. Such machines are often referred to as xe2x80x9crotor position switched machinesxe2x80x9d.
Since current in the windings is relatively easy to measure, closed-loop current control is commonly accomplished by monitoring and controlling the energizing current in the windings. However, the desired output of the machine is usually torque, position or speed, and current has a highly non-linear relationship to all of these. The result is that current control techniques generally have inaccuracies in the output, such as torque ripple, position error or speed error.
A typical switched reluctance drive is shown in FIG. 2. In this example, the machine 36 corresponds to that shown in FIG. 1. The three phase windings A, B and C are switched onto a d.c. supply V by a set of power electronic switches 48. The moments at which the switches operate are determined by the controller 38, which may be implemented either in hardware or in the software of a microcontroller or digital signal processor. The firing signals are sent to the switches via a data bus 46. Closed loop current feedback is provided by sensing the phase currents by one or more current sensors 44 and feeding back signals proportional to phase current. The control algorithms often include a proportional (P), proportional-plus-integral (P+I), time optimal, feedback linearized, proportional/integral/derivative (PID) function, or one of many others as is well understood in the art. It is also common for an outer control loop of position or speed to be provided by feeding back a rotor position signal from a position detector 40.
In operation, a current demand iD on line 42 is provided to the controller and this regulates the current in the windings, according to the particular control scheme adopted, to produce the desired output from the machine. Those skilled in the art will be familiar with the many variations of current controllers that exist, each of which has its own merits, but all of them suffer from the problems of non-linearity between the controlled variable and the machine output described above.
In the paper xe2x80x98Torque Control of Switched Reluctance Drivesxe2x80x99 by P. G. Barrass and B. C. Mecrow, ICEM""96 Proceedings, International Conference on Electrical Machines, Sep. 10-12, 1996, Vigo, Spain, Vol 1, pp 254-259, incorporated herein by reference, there is a proposal to provide a torque control by reference to flux linkage reference waveforms using a look-up table that stores fixed values of flux ramps for co-ordinates of supply voltage, phase current and rotor position. The flux values and co-ordinates are specific to a particular motor. At any instant the prestored values of flux and torque are chosen from measurements of phase current and the stored machine data. There is a fixed relationship between the monitored variables and the values of the flux waveforms in the look-up table that are used to produce an output for a given motor.
According to aspects of the invention, a flux control system includes a flux controller, adapted to receive a flux command as an input and to provide a phase coil energization signal as an output, an electromagnetic system adapted to receive the phase coil energization signal, the electromagnetic system comprising at least one phase coil, and a flux observer adapted to provide a feedback signal to the flux controller, the feedback signal corresponding to flux in the electromagnetic system, wherein the phase coil energization signal provided by the flux controller energizes the electromagnetic system such that flux in the electromagnetic system follows the flux command. The electromagnetic system can include an electromagnetic actuator. The electromagnetic system can include a plurality of phase coils, and the energization signal is in the form of an energization vector that includes separate energization signals for each of the phase coils. The electromagnetic system also can include a single phase coil. The flux observer can include a Hall-effect probe, such as a thin-film Hall-effect device. The flux observer also can include a Gauss meter.
According to additional aspects of the invention, an electrical machine includes a rotor, a stator operably coupled with the rotor, at least one phase winding operably coupled with the rotor and stator and arranged to establish flux in a magnetic circuit in the machine, and a flux observer adapted to produce a signal indicative of flux-causing voltage across the at least one phase winding. The flux observer can include a Hall-effect device. The flux observer is arranged in a flux path of the machine. The flux observer is operable to produce the signal as a voltage or current directly proportional to the flux. The machine is a brushless electrical machine, according to aspects of the invention, the rotor is an unmagnetized rotor, and the stator is an unmagnetized stator. The observer can include a search coil arranged in relation to the magnetic circuit to produce the signal indicative of the flux-causing voltage. The machine is a switched reluctance machine, according to aspects of the invention.
According to additional aspects of the invention, an electrical drive system includes an electrical machine having a rotor, a stator and at least one phase winding arranged to establish flux in a magnetic circuit in the machine, an observer adapted to produce a feedback signal proportional to flux-causing voltage across the or each phase winding, and a flux controller having an input signal representing demanded output of the machine, which controller is responsive to the input signal and the feedback signal to produce control signals for actuating at least one switch to control the flux in the at least one phase winding. The observer includes a transducer operably coupled with the or each phase winding, includes a search coil, is part of a flux estimator adapted to produce a flux signal proportional to flux in the or each phase winding from the feedback signal, and/or is operably coupled with a voltage model of the machine for producing the feedback signal. The estimator includes a current model of the machine arranged to receive signals representing phase current and rotor position and is operable to produce a flux estimate for the or each phase winding therefrom. The estimator includes at least one comparator for producing a current model error signal from the flux estimate and the feedback signal.
The observer is operably coupled with a voltage model of the machine for producing the feedback signal, according to aspects of the invention, and further includes at least one adder for summing output of the voltage model and differentiated output of the current model to produce the feedback signal. The estimator includes a current model controller arranged to apply a control law function to output of the current model, the current model controller having a response to machine speed such that a current model output signal is increasingly attenuated with increasing machine speed above a predetermined machine speed. The observer is operably coupled with a voltage model of the machine for producing the feedback signal, and the system is adapted to cause output of the current model to dominate output of the voltage model at relatively low machine speeds, and to cause output of the voltage model to dominate output of the current model at relatively high machine speeds. The electrical machine is a switched reluctance machine, according to aspects of the invention.
According to additional aspects of the invention, a method of controlling an electrical machine having a rotor, a stator and at least one phase winding includes arranging a transducer in a magnetic circuit of the machine to produce a flux signal indicative of the flux in the at least one phase winding, producing an input signal representing a demanded output of the machine, and controlling energization of the at least one phase winding in response to the input signal and the flux signal. The electrical machine is a switched reluctance machine, according to aspects of the invention.
These and other aspects and advantages according to the invention will be apparent upon reading the remainder of this application.
| |
The present invention relates to a torque gauge, and more particularly to a gauge using magnetoelastic properties of materials for sensing torque particularly experienced by the mechanical hand of a robot.
It is well known that various magnetic properties of magnetic materials changed due to applied stress. In particular, the permeability of the magnetic material tends to increase due to tensile stress and tends to decrease due to compressive stress. Thus, stress can be measured taking advantage of ferromagnetic substances exhibiting this property.
Electrical signals can be converted into a mechanical displacement or the reverse, using the magnetostrictive effect by placing a magnetostrictive material in a magnetic field, i.e., a change in the physical dimensions of the magnetostrictive material causes a change in the magnetic state of the magnetostrictive material. This is called the Villari effect.
In general, a good magnetostrictive material has high electrical resistivity, low magnetic anisotropy, large magnetization, and large isotropic magnetostriction. All crystalline materials have some magnetic anisotropy as well as magnetostriction which is not perfectly isotropic. The largest room temperature magnetostrictive strains are exhibited by rare earth-iron intermetallic compounds. However, these and similar alloys also have the problem that the magnetostrictive effect is very anistrophic with large strains occurring along the (III) direction and very small ones along the (I00) direction. To produce a large magnetostrictive effect in such an alloy with very low applied magnetic fields requires using either a single crystal or a highly texture polycrystalline sample. Generally, alloys which do not contain rare earth elements have much smaller magnetostrictive strains and must employ special combinations of rare earths to reduce magnetic and isotrophy.
Amorphous magnetic alloys inherently have low isotrophy and thus are well suited for such an application. Amorphous magnetic alloys can be prepared by several methods, among the easiest are coevaporation or sputtering onto cold substrates. Usually some method involving rapid quenching of the melt is necessary.
Towards this end, amphorous ribbons recently developed are particularly applicable to exhibit the Villari effect. The permeability of the material to be measured varies in dependence on the strain of the material to be measured. Accordingly, the variation of the permeability of the material to be measured can be detected as the variation of magnetic flux density upon application of a magnetic field to the material to be measured. The magnetic material can be made from a magnetic material which is manufactured by quenching from a liquid phase and then formed as a thin sheet. The materials magnetically exhibit ferromagnetism and have a high level of magnetic saturation, high permeability of greater than 10.sup.3 and a low level of coercive force, less than 1.0 (Oe) while mechanically exhibit a high break strength, excellent resiliency and stability, and have small changes of magnetic characteristic under temperature variations.
With an applied magnetic field, the change in permeability in a magnetic layer on the surface is sensed by one or more pick-up coils located adjacent to the magnetic material. The inductance of the coil is directly proportional to the permeability of the core, the square of the radius of the coil, and inversely proportional to the length of the coil. Thus, for a given pick-up coil, the inductance of the coil is directly proportional to the permeability of the core material located within the coil. Since the permeability of a magnetic material chosen is directly proportional to the stress applied to the material, the inductance of a coil surrounding a magnetic material is directly proportional to the stress applied to the magnetic material coil. The inductance of the pick-up coils is determined by means of an electronic processor coupled to the coils. This structure provides for the sensing of small amounts of torque in a small and rugged configuration.
There is a increasing need for work to be done by automation. With robots being used in increasing numbers for assembly line work and in hazardous working environments such as with explosives, radioactive materials, and chemical processes, it is necessary for the robot to be provided with tactile sensing.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a torque measuring apparatus which is very sensitive to small amounts of torque and for that measuring apparatus to be providable in a small and rugged configuration which can be utilized in the hand of a robot.
| |
Expository writing investigates an idea or argument for the purpose of informing or persuading readers.
What is an expository essay and how is it related to interpretations?
An expository essay is a piece of academic writing aimed to provide explanations of various things.
After reading the article, the student may either go on working on the expository essay alone or ask professional academic writers with Masters and the Ph D degrees to help! It is the first thing to discuss before moving to the part with examples, essay outline, structure, topics, and valuable tips from experts.
Expository essay definition: An expository essay is a separate type of academic writing aimed to make the students observe an idea, assess collected evidence, expound on the chosen topic’s title, and offer a strong argument regarding that opinion in a clear, concise manner.
If you have a right to select expository essay topics, do not miss your chance to stand out from the rest of the candidates by being unique and witty.
Once you choose the idea, start developing an essay outline.Do not think the audience knows who Johnny Depp is.Begin with defining this person’s origins, age, status, career, achievements, appearance, and other things to draw a full picture of what your object/subject is.Example: “Johnny Depp is an American actor, producer, and musician.He is best known for his acting in such movies as “The Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Sleepy Hollow,” “Charlie & the Chocolate Factory,” “From Hell,” “Sweeney Todd,” and “Alice in Wonderland.” That would be enough to make the reader understand who the popular figure is.Teachers use this instrument to analyze the student’s skills in different formats of tests & examinations.Say, your goal is to describe the way Johnny Depp’s appearance has changed over time.According to the Purdue Online Writing Lab, a good thesis statement is clear, specific and arguable.As you read through an expository piece, see if you can identify a single sentence that sums up its main point and put the main idea into your own words.Grossmont College English instructor Marilyn Ivanovici also suggests considering where the thesis appears.While most authors reveal it near the beginning, others will state the general content and direction, then gradually move toward a more specific statement.
Comments Elements Of A Good Expository Essay
-
How to Add Narrative and Descriptive Elements to Expository Writing.
Aug 4, 2016. Effective writing, though, in any style calls for using the best support for a. Writers often use expository essays to report on an idea they.…
-
What Is an Expository Essay? - 11trees Guide
What Are the Elements of an Expository Essay. If you don't have much experience with essay writing, this is a good method to start with, since it's basic and.…
-
Expository Essays Types, Characteristics & Examples - Video.
A great descriptive essay will be loaded with details. This type of expository essay describes something. The objective of this essay is to paint a picture of.…
-
How to Write an Effective Expository Essay. Easy Steps at KingEssays©
Find out how to write an Expository Essay with good examples and samples, right. main elements such task needs to contain to be able to deliver great results.…
-
What is Expository Writing? - Definition & Examples - Video & Lesson.
Aug 20, 2015. Expository Essays Types, Characteristics & Examples. you in identifying and understanding the major components of expository writing.…
-
Expository Essays - Humanities Libertexts
Jun 5, 2019. An expository essay allows the writer the opportunity to explain his or her ideas about. What are the key elements on which you would focus. details, explanations, and maybe even facts if you have a really good memory.…
-
What is an Expository Essay? Ultimate Guide - On College Life and.
Jul 9, 2019. An expository essay is a type of academic writing where you investigate. What makes a great leader and why not everyone can be the one. Just write a sentence for each element of your essay to save time and ease the.…
-
Chapter 4. What Are You Writing, to Whom, and How? – Writing for. | https://gazel174.ru/elements-of-a-good-expository-essay-8777.html |
The testo 885 and testo 890 thermal imagers have one of the best temperature measuring accuracies in their instrument class. This means they are ideally suited for tasks in research and development which require the utmost precision.
Testo guarantees a measuring accuracy of ±2°C or ±2% for the testo 885 and testo 890 thermal imagers. These values do not just apply to one or two individual reference points, but to the whole thermal image and every individual measuring value. Furthermore, the temperature measuring accuracy is also guaranteed over the entire ambient/operating temperature from -15°C to +50°C. Why is that the case?
The sensor is the heart of every thermal imager. It comprises a matrix with very small infrared-sensitive pixels which convert the incident electromagnetic radiation of the measurement object into an electronic signal. The entirety of the pixel signals create a digital image. The digital image shows the surface temperature of the object and depicts this as a false colour image in the camera. The process involves every individual pixel getting a temperature value by scaling and the selected palette a defined colour in the false colour image. The speed of a thermal imager depends on the time required to create an individual image. The testo 885 and testo 890 thermal imagers have an image refresh rate of up to 33 Hz.
The detector of a Testo thermal imager can measure electromagnetic radiation in an atmospheric window between 7.5 and 14 µm. The ambient temperature (300 K) has the highest radiation intensity at a wavelength of 9.89 µm (Planck's radiation spectrum). A Testo thermal imager's detector is therefore designed to have the highest sensitivity at the 9.89 µm wavelength.
Would you like to find out more about the performance of thermal imagers from Testo? Then request the other 3 tech sheets straight away too.
It only takes a minute to log in and you will get comprehensive information about the following technologies: | https://www.testo.com/en-ZA/applications/thermography-research-development-techsheet |
Germany’s natural beauty, its spectacular landscapes, historical sites, and robust cuisine make the country a prime choice for family vacations.
Here are five amazing places to visit in such a country so rich in diverse attraction and culture.
Cologne (Köln) is a beautiful, pedestrian-friendly city on the Rhine River in Germany with a skyline boasting the famous Cologne Cathedral as its distinguishing feature.
Germany is a beautiful country, rich with diverse attractions, culture and history. This nation boasts some unique attractions ranging from astonishing rivers to magnificent historical buildings and castles. Here are five of the… Read more
With a history of over 2000 years, Cologne or Köln as it is called in Germany, is now ranked as one of the must-see places in Germany.
The Rhineland region offers some exceptional Christmas markets. Dusseldorf, (Köln), Aachen and Bonn are four of the best in the region. | https://militaryingermany.com/tag/koln |
Perhaps of all world religions, and certainly of all branches of Christianity, the institution of Roman Catholicism is the one on which the most social reflection has historically focused. And for good reason: as the largest single religious institution in the world, the Catholic Church affects nearly everyone, whether Catholic or not. In The Church, Pilgrim of Centuries, Catholic philosopher Thomas Molnar adds to this body of reflection with a rather bleak examination of the present state and future promise of Catholicism as a social institution.
Molnar is well known as a consistent critic of the modern political project. In this volume, he applies his doubts about modernity in general—specifically democracy and liberalism—to an analysis of the problems of the Catholic Church, especially in America. From the outset, Molnar leaves no doubt about where he stands: the church is in big trouble, and there is little hope that it can escape the present morass to regain the glory of a rich and profound history. “Today . . . the church is battered,” he says, “not unlike some ex-great powers which, although on the victorious side of the war . . . are now exhausted, without a former energy, self-assurance, and the dynamism of expansion.”
Molnar is also clear that the beginning of the institutional malaise of the Catholic Church can be precisely dated: 1965, the end of the Second Vatican Council. “What followed 1965 was not peace after a healthy and cleansing storm, but a landscape of devastation.” Since then, he thinks, the Catholic Church has become more and more like the mainline Protestant churches—bereft of its spiritual energy and moral integrity—and is therefore, again like mainline Protestantism, losing its role as a framer and guardian of public morality.
Implicit in Molnar’s analysis of what has led to this decline is a two-stage process of democratization. First, the onset of modern liberal democracy moved the church from the center of moral discourse to the periphery. Modern civil society—a direct result of the invention of the separate client state—has led to the “reduction of the role of the church . . . from being the traditional spiritual guide of national communities . . . to the status of an interest group within a society.” Rather than being the moral compass by which political society directs itself, the church in a liberal democracy has become one of many interest groups competing for the same space in the public square. The church has no more natural role in public moral discourse than the National Organization for Women, ACT-UP or the United Steel Workers. The state itself, thinks Molnar, “assumes the role of ‘church,’ or at least adheres to an ideology which for all intents and purposes has become a substitute religion.”
The second stage is the process by which the church has tried to dress itself in the proper democratic garb in order to maintain some voice in public discourse. The church has seen fit to prove its liberal and democratic credentials so that it be allowed to have a voice in a liberal and democratic society. “The liberal program,” Molnar explains, “now nearly universal in the Western world, has an agenda for the church different from its traditional role and mission.” Modern civil society has a triple ideology, he continues: “The adjusting institution is expected to become democratic in mentality and structure; pluralist in its acceptance of other institutions, groups, and movements as equals; and ecumenical in its reformulation of its vocation.” Liberal democratic civil society demands that an institution meet these criteria, or it need not apply for a place in the public square.
But by making these adjustments in order to avoid marginalization, the church actually contributes to its further marginalization, and possibly, thinks Molnar, its eventual political irrelevance. The first mistake was for the church even to accept the terms of liberal democracy as the politicus receptus for the modern world. The second was to embrace these terms for its own ecclesial polity. By becoming more and more democratic (and allegedly more attractive to a democratic society), the church gives up more and more of its natural authority as a moral guide for this same society. The church relativizes (and “relevantizes”) itself into irrelevance.
Molnar’s book centers on two options advocated by various voices within the church, neither of which is acceptable. Option A is a deliberate and explicit continuation of the democratization that has already taken place implicitly. This is a program in which the church not only concedes that it must find a way to exist in a liberal democratic regime, but actually becomes an apologist for the regime. Option A, rather than finding ways for the church to combat the corrosive elements of modern civil society, contributes to them by giving them theological sanction. In this view, democracy is not the worst regime except for every other; it is rather the result of divine providence, God’s own plan for civil society. Whether advocates of Option A intend it or not, Molnar contends, this course will inevitably lead only to further intolerance on the part of pluralist democracies toward those institutions that are not pluralist and democratic, as a healthy Catholic Church cannot be.
Option B, according to Molnar, “is accommodation with socialism and the left.” This is the option of liberation theology, which thinks that “religion and socialism remain linked.” Molnar does not see the recent collapse of Marxist regimes around the world as invalidating Option B for those committed to it. “In fact,” he explains, “as enthusiasm for the Marxist solution is waning world-wide, they may be the rearguard Marxists, and as such may be as fanaticized and intolerant as the Marxist vanguard used to be.” As with Option A, Option B is a result of the church replacing its true vision with one supplied by the political and civil culture. “The consequence is practically the same; the church’s exclusion from the political realm.”
Molnar’s criticism of modern civil society and the church’s reaction to it is always illuminating and at times profound:
Since liberalism is basically nominalistic, it denies the genuine ensembles, corporations, institutions, states, nations, and churches. Thus there is no philosophical contradiction when liberal society turns into its opposite, the egalitarian society, where no authority but only brutal force may prevail.
Further, Molnar seems to be on target when he warns of the difficulty of living in liberal political culture and not being affected by “liberal ideology.”
What happened between the middle of the last century and the middle of this one is that liberalism has become a social orthodoxy and the entire apparatus of modern society has come to be seen as the embodiment of an unquestioned truth, a cultural final word concerning the individual and the public weal.
This liberal ideology, he continues, “acts as a dissolver of the religious worldview and practice.” Liberalism “with its indirect and multiple pressures . . . instills religious indifference in the population.” And he warns Catholics who would embrace liberal democracy with enthusiasm; “The church cannot become ‘liberal’ and dissolve authority, institutions, structures, and discipline. Their absence or even weakness threatens the souls Christ entrusted to the church.”
Now, no one can deny that as the church accommodates itself to liberal culture it is always in danger of losing its true freedom—the freedom “to set forth the Gospel’s teaching, guard its integrity, and thereby protect the faith of the people of God” (Instruction on the Ecclesial Vocation of the Theologian). But on at least one major point, some of Molnar’s conclusions are a bit problematic. He is careful to note that it is unthinkable that the church should somehow become extinct, but he makes statements that might suggest that he is denying Christ’s promise to the church that the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. Talk of the church becoming “irrelevant” sounds too much like the church finally succumbing completely to the weight of modernity. There is much to make a Catholic weary as he surveys the American landscape, but the promise remains, and it is one that should offer us hope. The promise of Christ is that the church will always he the protector of orthodoxy—despite the many voices of dissent that are heard within it. As long as this is true, the church will not be irrelevant to the one question that has disturbed mankind throughout history, and the question to which the church has the only relevant answer: how must I be saved?
Nor is it even correct to say that the church is irrelevant in public moral debate, Molnar’s main concern. The fact that abortion is even a moral question some eighteen years after Roe V. Wade must be attributed to the strong, consistent voice of the church’s magisterium. And who really thinks that such issues as school-dispensed contraception, pornography, and sexual “liberty” would be the hot issues they are were it not for the highly structured and organized voice of the Catholic Church?
In this connection, Molnar takes issue with Richard John Neuhaus, to whom he attributes the notion that this era is the “Catholic moment,” that the Catholic Church is beginning a new formation of public morality in America. Molnar says that this is patently false, and were this actually Neuhaus’ position, he would be correct. But this happens not to be Neuhaus’ position, at least as put forward in The Catholic Moment, where he, too, expresses some of Molnar’s pessimism. Indeed, Neuhaus’ critique of the church in liberal and democratic society is usually as insightful and occasionally even as alarmed as Molnar’s. Neuhaus’ “Catholic moment” is highly qualified, and he acknowledges that the moment may be missed.
Molnar’s political insight is keen, but Neuhaus’ ecclesiology is better. The latter stands consciously on the promise that Christ gave His church, and it looks for the church’s continued march through history as the mystical body of Christ. Because of the kind of institution the Catholic Church is, it just might—unlike all other institutions—be the instrumentality for the creation of a rigorous public and political morality. Its rich history of moral and political thought, its highly developed institutional structure, its sheer size, and the zeal of many of its adherents make the Catholic Church (pace Mr. Lincoln) “the world’s last best hope.” This does not mean, says Neuhaus, that it necessarily will make a sweeping change in the moral practices of Americans, but no other institution can even be considered a candidate. Molnar thinks it impossible that even the Catholic Church can pull this off, and on this point he goes too far.
Regardless of how gloomy the picture looks from an orthodox Catholic perspective, the church has always weathered every storm and will continue to do so. It may not have the political relevance Molnar would like to see, and that is to be mourned. But the teaching of Christ and the Apostles is not primarily concerned with that kind of relevance. As Tom Bethell wrote recently in the Wall Street Journal, we might see a smaller church in years ahead, but if that happens we will certainly see one that is more sure of itself and its mission”to protect the gospel of Christ. One wishes that the entire tone of Molnar’s book would have been more consistent with the last paragraph of his Introduction:
Optimism is not in order, for we do not even know whether we have reached the low point of this revolution. It seems, however, that faith and orthodoxy possess a resilience that Utopia-fuelled radicalism lacks. It also seems that sacred history obstinately accompanies profane history and comes to its rescue.
The Church, Pilgrim of Centuries is a worthy assessment of why, at least at the present, this truth is difficult to see.
Kenneth Craycraft is a research associate at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C. | https://www.firstthings.com/article/1991/06/not-the-catholic-moment |
The varied forms of Leonard Bernstein’s musical creativity have been recognized and enjoyed by millions. These lectures, Mr. Bernstein’s most recent venture in musical explication, will make fascinating reading as well. Virgil Thomson says of the lectures: “Nobody anywhere presents this material so warmly, so sincerely, so skillfully. As musical mind-openers they are first class; as pedagogy they are matchless.”
Mr. Bernstein considers music ranging from Hindu ragas through Mozart and Ravel, to Copland, suggesting a worldwide, innate musical grammar. Folk music, pop songs, symphonies, modal, tonal, atonal, well-tempered and ill-tempered works all find a place in these discussions. Each, Mr. Bernstein suggests, has roots in a universal language central to all artistic creation. Using certain linguistic analogies, he explores the ways in which this language developed and can be understood as an aesthetic surface. Drawing on his insights as a master composer and conductor, Mr. Bernstein also explores what music means below the surface: the symbols and metaphors which exist in every musical piece, of whatever sort. And, finally, Mr. Bernstein analyzes twentieth century crises in the music of Schoenberg and Stravinsky, finding even here a transformation of all that has gone before, as part of the poetry of expression, through its roots in the earth of human experience.
These talks, written and delivered when Leonard Bernstein was Charles Eliot Norton Professor of Poetry at Harvard University, are the newest of the author’s literary achievements. In addition to a distinguished career as conductor, pianist, and composer, Mr. Bernstein is the recipient of many television Emmys for the scripts of his Young People’s Concerts, Omnibus programs, and others, and is the author of The Infinite Variety of Music and The Joy of Music, for which he received the Christopher Award. | https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674920019 |
Your shortlisted jobs will appear here. To view your shortlist:
Login Or
Register
Company: MICHAEL PAGE TECHNOLOGY
Job Type: Permanent
Salary: 55000.00 - 65000.00 Annual
Are you a Digital Lead who has a proven background in eCommerce and looking for your next challenge?
Client Details
Join this global organisation based in Gloucestershire as they look to recruit a Digital Lead - eCommerce, to support them on their 3 year Digital Transformation Programme.
This business is committed to achieving a diverse and inclusive working environment and welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.
We are also open to receiving applications from candidates who require alternative working patterns.
Description
Digital Lead - eCommerce
The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in developing the digital capabilities of this global business. They will also manage the day-to-day management of the eCommerce platform (Oracle Commerce Cloud).
Responsibilities will include:
Profile
Digital Lead - eCommerce
The ideal candidate will have experience in the following: | https://www.jobswipe.net/exit/?jobHash=17842739CD1E26215B8A07B715A87354 |
Navigation
Shutter Island - Review
Review by Jack Foley
product
IndieLondon Rating: 4 out of 5
MARTIN Scorsese’s fourth collaboration with Leonardo DiCaprio is arguably their most challenging yet given that it serves as much as a twisting psychological thriller as it does an homage to some of the director’s greatest cinematic influences.
Part missing person thriller, part mind-bending paranoia pic and part horror movie, Shutter Island does require a lot of patience at times from viewers, but given the filmmaking talent behind it, the payoff is typically great.
Based on the acclaimed novel by Dennis Lehane, the film picks up in 1954 as US Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) travels to an offshore island for the criminally insane with his new partner, Chuck (Mark Ruffalo) to investigate the disappearance of a murdress from her cell.
Daniels, however, has another motive for being assigned to the case, and hopes to be able to confront another of the island’s patients, an arsonist, over his belief that he was complicit in the death of his wife.
Once there, however, nothing is quite what it seems and Daniels soon begins to suspect that the island’s chief psychologists (Sir Ben Kingsley and Max von Sydow) may be involved in unethical experiments being overseen by their own government.
Attempting to make sense of it all, Daniels increasingly finds his own sanity at risk, particularly given that flashbacks to his past reveal a torrid World War II experience during the liberation of a Concentration Camp, and the complexities of the tragedy surrounding the fate of his wife and kids.
Given the numerous strands that make up the story, it’s little wonder that Shutter Island takes some following: it’s as complex as they come, and its ultimate truth is played extremely close to its chest. That said, even once the revelations come, Scorsese has added a little ambiguity that makes repeat viewings a worthwhile venture.
It’s just one sign that the director is having some fun. Others come in the form of the innumerable references to other movies, whether it’s the likes of Sam Fuller’s Shock Corridor or the noirish elements of Jacques Tourneur’s Out Of The Past, or even Alfred Hitchcock’s The Wrong Man.
Scorsese has such a grasp of cinema history that watching Shutter Island can sometimes feel like a subtle guide to the classics you may have missed, such is the attention to detail and the cleverness of the tipping of the hat.
But there’s also the sleight of hand ethical dilemmas he visited in movies such as Cape Fear, or the fractured mental states of past characters from movies such as Taxi Driver to consider too…
And as such, he also gives his actors plenty to work with, especially DiCaprio’s central character who looks and plays increasingly more tortured the longer the film lasts.
DiCaprio continues to grow with each film as a performer and here juggles all that Scorsese and Lehane can throw at him, appearing at times sympathetic, dogged, ruthless and broken. It’s a masterful performance matched by the quality of the supporting cast surrounding him, whether that’s Sir Ben Kingsley’s psychologist or Mark Ruffalo’s charismatic partner, or even minor roles from the likes of Michelle Williams, Emily Mortimer and Elias Koteas.
It’s a tribute to Scorsese, meanwhile, that even approaching two and a half hours, very few frames feel wasted… even though some might feel that way once you’re in the midst of Teddy’s torment.
Come the clever finale, however, there’s an overriding urge to revisit Shutter Island to piece together what you may have missed – another sign of a good filmmaker excelling at his craft.
That’s not to say Scorsese doesn’t push his luck at times, for there will be many cinema-goers who find the film impenetrable, indulgent and overlong. But for true connoisseurs of cinema’s past, and for fans of the still flourishing Scorsese-DiCaprio partnership, this is a challenging but still satisfying masterclass in direction and performance.
| |
Forgot password?
Log in
New to BookLikes?
Sign up!
Wrong email address or username
« Back
Send
New to BookLikes?
Sign up!
Log in with Facebook
or
Wrong email address or username
Canada
France
Germany
Italy
Poland
Spain
UK
USA
Afghanistan
Aland Islands
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antarctica
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Bouvet Island
Brazil
British Indian Ocean Territory
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Christmas Island
Cocos (keeling) Islands
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Congo, the democratic republic of the
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Falkland Islands (malvinas)
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
French Guiana
French Polynesia
French southern territories
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea-bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Heard island and mcdonald islands
Holy see (vatican city state)
Honduras
Hong kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran, islamic republic of
Iraq
Ireland
Isle of man
Israel
Jamaica
Japan
Jersey
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Korea, democratic people's republic of
Korea, republic of
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Lao people's democratic republic
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libyan arab jamahiriya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao
Macedonia, the former yugoslav republic of
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia, federated states of
Moldova, republic of
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
Netherlands antilles
New caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Niue
Norfolk island
Northern mariana islands
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Palestinian territory, occupied
Panama
Papua new guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn
Portugal
Puerto rico
Qatar
Romania
Russian federation
Rwanda
Saint barth
Saint helena
Saint kitts and nevis
Saint lucia
Saint martin
Saint pierre and miquelon
Saint vincent and the grenadines
Samoa
San marino
Sao tome and principe
Saudi arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon islands
Somalia
South africa
South georgia and the south sandwich islands
Sri lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Svalbard and jan mayen
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Syrian arab republic
Taiwan, province of china
Tajikistan
Tanzania, united republic of
Thailand
Timor-leste
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks and caicos islands
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United arab emirates
United states minor outlying islands
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Vietnam
Virgin islands, british
Virgin islands, u.s.
Wallis and Futuna
Western Sahara
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Other country
Sign up
Already on BookLikes?
Log in!
Incorrect verification code
Please, check your email, the code to access your BookLikes blog was sent to you already.
Enter code:
« Back
Send
Log in
Sign up
Sisters in Sanity
by:
Gayle Forman
(author)
3.64
70
Format:
hardcover
ISBN:
9780060887476 (0060887478)
Publish date:
September 1st 2007
Publisher:
Harper Teen
Pages no:
304
Edition language:
English
Category:
Young Adult
,
Realistic Fiction
,
Romance
,
Drama
,
Coming Of Age
,
Contemporary
,
Sociology
,
Music
,
Mental Health
,
Mental Illness
,
Abuse
,
Young Adult Contemporary
Bookstores:
Community Reviews
Paper Toxic
rated it
7 years ago
http://papertoxic.booklikes.com
Paper Toxic
4.0
Sisters in Sanity
text
Sisters in Sanity
WARNING: This book generally contains and depicts scenes which tug heartstrings and well your eyes so much that it typically itches and you just can't stop staring at the ceiling, contemplating about the memorable characters that have to say goodbye upon ending the book, the massive emotions that sa...
See review
Lose Time Reading
rated it
7 years ago
http://losetimereading.booklikes.com
Lose Time Reading
3.0
text
I was really excited to start reading Sisters in Sanity; I felt like I was the only person on the planet who hadn’t read any of Gayle Forman’s books so I couldn’t wait to dive into this one and see what I was missing out on.I had a really hard time connecting with the main characters of Sisters in S...
See review
What Danielle Did Next
rated it
7 years ago
http://Danielle.booklikes.com
What Danielle Did Next
3.0
Sisters in Sanity
text
Sisters in Sanity
Read more reviews at What Danielle Did Next Gayle Forman has been on my TBR list for a loooong time so I jumped at the chance at participating in a readalong of her books. I had zero expecations going into Sisters in Sanity but I was pleasantly surpised at how readable and compelling this book was a...
See review
Paper Riot
rated it
7 years ago
http://paperiot.booklikes.com
Paper Riot
3.0
Sisters in Sanity
text
Sisters in Sanity
Loved the ending!
See review
Mommy's Reading Break
rated it
7 years ago
http://mrso822.booklikes.com
Mommy's Reading Break
4.0
text
I had never even heard of Sisters in Sanity, but when I signed up for the Gayle Forman Read-Along at Book Addict’s Guide, I decided to go along for the whole thing. Since Sisters in Sanity was the first book up, I decided to give it a chance.Sisters in Sanity starts out with Brit complaining about a...
See review
see community reviews
Other editions (8)
Books by
Gayle Forman
On shelves
see more
Share this Book
Tweet
http://bl.cm/1t8qLmR
Copyright © 2020 BookLikes
Press
About
Terms of Services
Contact Us
Blog
FAQ
Patronaty medialne
BookLikes for Authors
Partners panel
Team
Themes Docs
API
Blogs
Need help?
. | http://booklikes.com/sisters-in-sanity-gayle-forman/book,1552242 |
Cross-departmental workshop composed of students, postdocs, and faculty with shared interest in basic principles and emerging discoveries in Cancer Biology. The goals of the meetings and this wiki:
- Establish a challenging and interactive cross-departmental focus group that will advance understanding of our individual projects and encourage collaborations.
- Provide students and postdocs with training and interactions with faculty interested in Cancer Biology and emerging therapeutics
These meetings are now expanded to include a Translational Cancer Research Group Meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to:
- Serve to foster a Knight translational research incubator for projects and teams leading to multi-investigator cancer program/SPORE funding including the Solid tumors and Hematologic Malignancies programs and the Systems Biology group.
- Meetings will include thematic research and clinical research talks with collaborative and developmental potential and Brainstorming Sessions.
Knight Research Group Activities
Want to join us? All are invited!
- To get on the listserve:
- go to the following web site:
- http://mailman.ohsu.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/oncres
- follow the instructions for subscribing
- We meet in Mac Hall 2201
- Fridays 9:00-10:15 AM - see schedule below
- Breakfast provided by the Knight! | https://openwetware.org/wiki/?title=OHSU_Knight_Cancer_Institute_Research_Groups:OCI_Research_Group_Meetings&direction=next&oldid=668659 |
Aether (᾿Αιθήρ) is the ancient-Greek god of the high atmosphere, containing the air breathed by the gods, in contrast to the ordinary, lower level air breathed by the mortals. Aether is the light and his sister and wife Hemera is the day. Above Aether is the heavenly sphere of Ouranos. Aether is one of the Protogenoi the first-born gods representing the five Greek elements (Earth, Fire, Water, Lower Air, and Upper Air).
According to Hesiod, Aether was the son of Erebus (darkness) and Nyx (night). Aether and Hemera had the following children: | http://ec.citizendium.org/wiki/Aether_(god) |
Neuroimaging offers a powerful means to assess the trajectory of brain degeneration in a variety of disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here we describe how multi-modal imaging can be used to study the changing brain during the different stages of AD. We integrate findings from a range of studies using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), functional MRI (fMRI) and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI). Neuroimaging reveals how risk genes for degenerative disorders affect the brain, including several recently discovered genetic variants that may disrupt brain connectivity. We review some recent neuroimaging studies of genetic polymorphisms associated with increased risk for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD). Some genetic variants that increase risk for drug addiction may overlap with those associated with degenerative brain disorders. These common associations offer new insight into mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration and addictive behaviors, and may offer new leads for treating them before severe and irreversible neurological symptoms appear. | https://scholars.mssm.edu/en/publications/neuroimaging-and-genetic-risk-for-alzheimers-disease-and-addictio-2 |
The invention provides a marine environment and ship movement monitoring and forecasting system and a monitoring and forecasting method. A marine environment monitoring module provides wind wave datainformation of the marine environment; A ship movement monitoring module provides ship movement data information acquired by the ship movement monitoring system; the ship movement forecasting module forecasts ship movement response in tens of minutes in the future according to collected sea wave monitoring data and ship movement monitoring data information through a wave numerical forecasting model, a ship dynamic response model, a time sequence analysis method and an artificial intelligence method, and a basis is provided for offshore operation decision making. The marine communication satellite module receives the forecast data transmitted by the system and stores the information; the shipborne terminal module is connected with the marine communication satellite module and receives monitoring and forecasting data information stored by a marine communication satellite. According to the invention, the problem that forecast data cannot be transmitted due to the fact that a network cannot cover in the prior art can be effectively solved, and remote ship movement forecast can be realized. | |
Matt on Collaboration
We sat down with Matt Girling to ask him about his thoughts and experiences on the OutsiderXchangeS project. Exploring how it may have changed his work and how he collaborates.
How did you approach collaboration within the project and what difficulties did you discover, how did you overcome them and also what successes have you discovered in collaboration?
I started out in a way that, looking back on it now, seemed naïve. Even before we came to the first studio session I had big bundle of ideas that seemed to me, likely to result in interesting and exciting collaborations. Most of these ideas involved me inviting other artist to participate in what I was doing; I had the door to my art practice open and beckoned people in to try it out. On the whole, this approach fell pretty flat. Other artists were interested but understandably were more interested in getting on with there own work. At that early stage I wasn’t comfortable attempting to influence what anybody else was working on. It felt rude to break somebodies’ busy concentration and try and make a difference to artwork that in most cases doesn’t need to be changed at all.
So I decided to do the same and just get on with my own practice. Just doing the what I would have been doing regardless of the context of the residency. I was mainly drawing. I sit next to Lesley in the studio, He also draws a lot too, and generally with the same kind of equipment to me; he’s the only person I know with a bigger trail of dried out black fine liners in their wake than me. Working so closely in parallel with another artist with a similar process to mine has defiantly affected the way I make drawings in two ways, I have become more interested in making drawings that tell stories. I have adopted a more dogmatic determination to keep going without becoming distracted. The way Leslie is able to concentrate has made me pull my socks up and really get on with it.
After that initial handful of sessions collaborations started to form organically; small at first, using an action figure belonging to Leslie for a bit of animation or giving Barry an alternative kind of paper to do his writing on. Ever since I have just let stuff happen without planning ahead, often working with different artists from week to week. More recently I have been working a lot with David, we have been making some experimental animations using green screen, (or “the ghost town effect” a term coined by David because he had seen it used in the music video by the specials.) we still don’t really know what it is we are doing but we are both just enjoying process for the time being. Looking forward towards the end of the residency I plan to amass all the small chunks of collaborative video work made and into a kind of visual soup. But that might change.
Will the way you work in collaboration change now moving forward – was there a particular way you approached collaboration before? How has the OutsiderXchangeS project changed your art work?
I haven’t collaborated on many art projects in the past so I can’t be sure. I’m fairly sure it has in some way affected the way I will work both collaboratively and on my own in the future.
How has it been working with artists who have a learning disability? Is there a difference? If so what is that?
The difference in the way any two people perceive the world is massive, with the learning disabled artist working on Outsiderxchanges that difference in perception is multiplied wildly. This has made the whole experience insightful, confusing, hilarious in equal measures.
If there was one thing you felt proud the most about the OutsiderXchangeS project what is that? – this could be a piece of work, a collaboration, the environment…
I wouldn’t say I have felt proud for any one piece of work but I was very happy with the reaction the project received at the open studio we held in May. I think people were able to see that this project is about mutual growth, which is important. I am looking forward to pulling all the loose ends together to make something that I am proud of in the coming months.
April – Quotes and Images
The last few weeks the OutsiderXchangeS studio has been a hive of great activity.
Collaboration between all artists has started and individual artists have started to experiment even more.
Below are some images and quotes from the OutsiderXchangeS artists from the past couple of weeks.
Sarah used different clays for her architectural 3D sketches- and Juliet sketched her in the process. Sarah has continued to experiment with different types of clay to construct her buildings.
Rosanne: “I’ve been recording Barry reading some of his wording. We’ve also been working with Horace to position records from history as well as collecting imagery for our AV collaboration”
Matt decided to gift Barry a calligraphy note pad to which Barry said “WRRIGHTING IN THIS BOOK IS DIFFERRENNT. IT MADE ME HAPPY”
Horace has also added a selection of Polaroid’s he took of his old school to his map drawing- “it brings back memories” he told the fellow artists.
Lesley bought in a chimpanzee figure to show Matt and has decided, “I might paint on the tarzan picture” which Lesley has been working on for the past few weeks.” When asked about his painting Lesley said “I used to watch Tarzan as a child in the 1970’s, on Granada TV, and it has always been a favourite of mine. So I’m really enjoying painting this. It makes me feel good.”
David has really enjoyed having a studio space for himself. “It feels a lot better to have my own space to experiement with my work. It has helped me realise sometimes I’ve got to reinvent myself’
We’ll be capturing the thoughts and progress of all artists every week and you can keep a track on the work and collaborations on this blog and on our Twitter page. Give us a follow on @oxchanges
OutsiderXchangeS Collaboration Begins
Last Wednesday (16 March) we brought all of our Manchester based artists together for the first time at their artist studio in Chorlton.
Joining Barry, Sarah, Leslie, David and Horace we have the dynamic Sophie Lee, Rosanne Robertson, Matt Girling and Juliet Davis.
As well as our lead artists Tanya Raabe-Webber and James Pollitt who will be helping to facilitate the collaboration between all artists.
Entering a new artist space can be an exciting time and for some of the artists the first time they have had an artist space to call their own. Horace in particular appeared to thrive in the space saying “This is my space and I am going to do some great work.” Matt, who is an experienced artist, this is also the first time he has had a space to experiment with his work adding “having this space gives me the space and the sense of calm to really experiment with my work.”
The first morning in the space all of the artists settled in their own space and then during the day sat and chatted about their own work with each other. One of the first steps in collaboration is being comfortable in their studio and space and then learning more about each other. Through these conversations inspirations of collaboration will happen and hopefully we will see some amazing work produced individually, together and inspired by each other.
By the second week in the artist studio all artists appeared inspired by artist Matt’s figurine stop motion work which he had set out in the centre of the studio. Leslie and Matt decided to experiment on an animation connected to Leslie’s interest in Tarzen and David decided to take his previous exploration in DNA structures further by looking at some of Matt’s figurines of dinosaurs. Horace started sharing his interviews and music influences with Rosanne and who knows what might come from that. It will be exciting to find out. Sarah continued to experiment with different media and inspired by the recent fire at Wythenshawe Hall has started to build part of the structures of the hall in clay as well as the coat of arms of the Tatton family (who originally owned the Hall). These are just some of the early collaborations happening across the studio and it will be exciting to see where they go on the OutsiderXchangeS journey of collaboration.
2016 Jan – Feb Workshops – Reflections from Glen
2016 Jan – Feb Workshops – Reflections from Glen
As the new year of 2016 commenced our Venture Arts artists returned to their workshop space in Hulme. Every Wednesday our five artists – Barry, Sarah, Lesley, David and Horace – have the space and time to explore ‘their art’. Tanya and James – our lead artists and facilitators of the sessions – oversee and suggest different techniques, media and ways forward with their work. I pop in to the sessions at least once a day to explore what the artists are working on and to see how their work develops from week to week. Having this unique insight into their artistic journey I feel very privileged. It’s not often you get to see an artist grow week after week and I get the chance to see five artists grow into their work and their work become so individual.
This way of working for most of the artists can be quite new for them. Within Venture Arts a lot of the artwork produced is workshop led. So the finished product and the content of the artwork is very individual and of a very high quality the starting point of their work doesn’t necessarily come directly from the artist.
With OutsiderXchangeS the work produced comes truly from the artist, with no time pressures or group pressures. Because of that we are seeing our five artists starting to produce work of an even higher quality than they have in the past.
Over the past two months we have engaged with artists across the North of England all of whom had shown an interest in collaborating on the OutsiderXchangeS project. We now have 5 artists who are joining us on that journey in Manchester in our dedicated artist studios in Chorlton and one artist who will be collaborating in Newcastle in our tandem project with BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art. All artists will be coming together to start collaborating by the end of March till August, and we will introduce you to each of them in the coming weeks.
But looking at some of the work already produced by our Venture Arts based artists the artwork that will be produced in the next few months, through collaboration (that collaboration facilitated by Tanya and James), should be really exciting. I know personally I can’t wait to see what’s produced and I’ll be keeping you up to date here with their progress.
From next week I’ll be posting updates on how each Venture Arts based artist has developed their work in the past four months. But in the gallery below you can see a few examples of the artists work.
Coming up soon:
Artist Profiles
Full artists studio collaboration updates
Newcastle Updates
and more…
Tanya Raabe-Webber – Workshop Reflections
As lead artist on Venture Arts OutsiderXchanges studio project my initial first thoughts were about finding inclusive ways of connecting with the artists as practitioners in their own right. To explore their themes and artistic practices with them that is driven by learning disability art and cultural identity. This has proven to be a natural road to follow. All of the artists, as you can see from the blog posts so far, are developing their own ideas, exploring materials and developing there own unique techniques. This seems to have grown very quickly and organically in a very short time.
Our staring point was about exploring our identities as people, as artists and the relationship we had with the new space. Everyone soon claimed their space in the studio and set about making and thinking about their own art.
The studio really does feel like a hub of artistic thought and ideas beginning to flow, artist centered and artist led. Our studio practice is very much like embedded in the culture and practice of a supported studio. We have James Pollitt from Venture Arts, an art tutor who has a great foundation and background knowledge into the artists past work, working practices and communication. James directly facilitates the artists in their arts practices as and when they need it. Glen is our photographer, blogger and has been named Grip the Runner Man in case we need a hand in the studio and I have Jackie Cooley who is my personal artist assistant and she supports me to access my working arts practices when collaborating with the other artists.
As the artists are now working on their own individual ideas I am able to begin to stand back and reflect on how I might develop collaborations between the artists, myself and the non disabled artists that will be joining us later this year.
With each artist I’m very interested in exploring verbal and non-verbal collaborative processes to develop new work of my own that explores learning disability art aesthetic, cultural identity and inclusive practice.
I have just begun to do this with Horace. With Horace I’ve began to explore our shared experiences of childhood memories of school and childhood. Horace recalls experiences he’s had in an almost per formative way, taking on the physicality and characterisations of the people he speaks about, asking questions that he already has the answers to, whilst expecting you to know the correct answer. His recollections have an almost docudrama feel to them. When Horace is interviewing you it’s like you are the first to have been asked these questions. Making you, the interviewee, and feel very important. For me Horace’s stories are extremely lucid, totally reflective of a disability cultural identity and very real and for me our collaboration will inform a series of paintings about illustrating these types of memories whilst in the studio. We worked together on some pictorial ideas for this, which we filmed.
And this was just for starters so I’m really looking forward to seeing what happens next.
Tanya Raabe-Webber Lead Artist
Don’t forget you can join the artists on their journey by applying to be a collaborator on the project.
We are looking for 4 interested artist to join our Manchester based artists over a five month period and in return they will be given a free artists space for the duration of the workshops and we are also looking for one artist to collaborate with a learning disabled artist based at Baltic 39.
More details can be found here: OutsiderXchangeS Collaboration.
OutsiderXchangeS Artists Workshop 4
The OutsiderXchangeS project is already a month old. During the past month our five artists – Barry, Sarah, David, Horace and Lesley – have been hugely focused on developing their own individual art form and skills.
- Barry has taken his narrative story style and begun to pass this onto acetate
- Horace has begun to experiment with video and storytelling
- Sarah is developing the designs – inspired by Bronte country – for a piece of clothing
- Lesley is exploring his illustrations and how to turn them into animations
- and David has taken his fascination of the sky to another level utilising different media and abstract painting.
The OutsiderXchangeS artists will now take a short break for the festive period but will return on the 5th January to continue their artistic explorations.
Don’t forget you can join the artists on their journey by applying to be a collaborator on the project.
We are looking for 4 interested artist to join our Manchester based artists over a five month period and in return they will be given a free artists space for the duration of the workshops and we are also looking for one artist to collaborate with a learning disabled artist based at Baltic 39.
More details can be found here: OutsiderXchangeS Collaboration.
OutsiderXchangeS Artist Workshop 3
Want to join our artists? Want to be involved in a collaborative process? Want to be involved in a ground breaking project? An artist based in Manchester and Newcastle areas and want a free art studio space for 5 months? Find out how you can be involved by visiting: Artist Submission.
The deadline is 8th January.
OutsiderXchangeS Artist Workshop 2
The second week of the OutsiderXchangeS project and our artists: Lesley, Sarah, Barry, David and Horace continued to experiment with their artistic explorations which included the local community, superheroes, space exploration, Bronte country and stories.
Horace experimenting with paper cutting.
David exploring with pastels and space.
Sarah experimenting with pencil and Bronte country.
Lesley exploring pencil and pen drawing using superheroes and figurines as inspiration.
Barry exploring text art and a story about working with old Coronation Street stars and a trip to Wales.
Want to join our artists? Want to be involved in a collaborative process? Want to be involved in a ground breaking project? An artist based in Manchester and Newcastle areas and want a free art studio space for 5 months? Find out how you can be involved by visiting: Artist Submission.
The deadline is 8th January.
ARTIST CALLOUT: OUTSIDERXCHANGES MANCHESTER / NEWCASTLE GATESHEAD
Venture Arts are seeking expressions of interest from visual artists who would like to be considered to engage with the OutsiderXchangeS project.
OutsiderXchangeS is an exciting, experimental, collaborative visual arts project that will bring together learning disabled and non-learning disabled artists to develop shared ideas and new contemporary work.
Venture Arts is working in partnership with BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead, Castlefield Gallery, Manchester and the Contemporary Visual Arts Network (CVAN) to deliver OutsiderXchanges.
Lead organisation Venture Arts are now seeking expressions of interest from visual artists who would like to be considered to engage with the OutsiderXchangeS project.
OutsiderXchangeS came about to develop the talents and profile of learning-disabled artists and also to investigate the potential to make new, interesting, challenging work through visual artist ideas exchange and real collaboration.
Venture Arts are looking for 5 artists to work alongside 5 learning disabled artists to develop ideas, share practice and, through collaboration, develop contemporary art. The partnership is particularly keen that this initiative creates an opportunity for both learning disabled and non-learning disabled artists to share an interactive workspace, for their own work and the potential for collaborations.
Acclaimed disability artist Tanya Raabe-Webber will work with all the artists involved focusing on assisting in the collaborative process with all artists, as well as developing her own work throughout the project. The intention of the project is that the work will be shown on a number of platforms so we are particularly interested in hearing from artists who use a range of media in their work.
All successful artists will receive £1000 artist bursary and given a free studio space for five months (February – July 2016) coming together for 1-2 day(s) per week to share their studio with a learning disabled artist involved in the project. The bursary is intended for artists to use in the production of their own work.
The project and art created will be showcased by Venture Arts, Castlefield Gallery and BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, following the residencies in Autumn 2016.
WHAT VENTURE ARTS ARE LOOKING FOR:
The work will be made in Manchester and in Newcastle Gateshead so we are looking for 4 Manchester based artists and 1 Newcastle Gateshead based artist. Manchester based artists will work from a central studio location in Manchester and the Newcastle Gateshead based artist will be at BALTIC 39, Newcastle.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Please e-mail your expression of interest to [email protected]
Deadline: 08 January 2016 Interviews: W.C. 18 January 2016
Please include the following in your expression of interest:
- Brief outline stating your interest in being involved in this artist exchange.
- Brief outline of initial ideas of how you would interpret and approach the project.
- Examples of recent work/links to websites containing examples of previous work
- Your CV
FURTHER INFORMATION
Contact Amanda Sutton for any further inquiries you have regarding the project or the application process.
E-mail [email protected]
Tel: 0161 232 1223
Venture Arts
43 Old Birley Street
Manchester, M15 5RF
* In the interest of better communication, the partnership led by Venture Arts, with Castlefield Gallery and BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead would like to further clarify the OutsiderXchangeS project.
The partnership planned this project to be a professional development opportunity for both learning disabled and non-learning disabled artists.
For learning disabled artists this is an opportunity to work alongside other artists, one or two days per week when they will use the shared studio as a drop in studio. Learning disabled artists will not be based there at other times. For other artists, this will be an opportunity to interact with learning disabled artists. The open call is intended to attract artists who want to learn from learning disabled artists and the exciting field of learning disability visual art practice.
The selected artists will have their own free studio space for 5 months, which will be adjacent to or adjoining the shared studio space. The studios will be at Baltic 39, Newcastle and project spaces run by Castlefield Gallery in Manchester. Artists will not be expected to lead or run workshops, or support learning disabled artists. That is the expertise and responsibility of Venture Arts. The idea is to create a platform for collaboration to take place between artists. We envisage that all artists involved in the project will be inspired by each others practice in creating work. The £1,000 bursary is to support artists in their own practice.
The partnership is led by Venture Arts, who has been working in visual arts with learning disabled people since 1985. Venture Arts is a small charitable organisation that works from Manchester with learning disabled artists. | https://outsiderxchanges.com/tag/studio/ |
The May 23-26 European Parliament elections are fast approaching, and in the run up to these critical elections, many questions have been raised over security, foreign election interference and the role of technology in the process. Canada’s cyber security agency recently found that half of all developed countries holding elections in 2018 reported some form of cyber threat to their democratic processes, a threefold increase since 2015.
Such threats have created concerns around the targeting of digital components of elections, as detailed in previous Microsoft blogs. As a result, some governments have scaled back the use of technology in their election systems, even though many of the high-profile digital attacks have focused on the spread of disinformation on social media rather than targeting the actual election infrastructure.
Governments can respond to election-related cyber threats in a way that embraces technology and creates a system which commands public trust. Estonia implemented the EU’s first country-wide internet voting (i-voting) system in 2005. Two years later, a denial-of-service cyberattack targeted both private and public sector websites. It happened after a Soviet-era statue was relocated, and hit media outlets, banks and government bodies. Estonians could not use cash machines or online banking. Newspapers and broadcasters were unable to reach their audiences.
The scare could have prompted Estonia to roll back on its electronic innovations, but instead it chose to, apply lessons learned, lean into technology, opting for good cybersecurity and technological advancement as the best defense.
Estonia’s i-voting system is attracting hundreds of foreign delegations coming to Tallinn to see it in practice. The Estonian government is showcasing the system as a model for other governments on how online voting can be done. Estonia also demonstrated leadership by co-chairing the group that prepared the Compendium on the Cybersecurity of Election technology that set baseline for the European Commission’s package on Securing Free and Fair European Elections.
Tarvi Martens, Chairman of the Estonian Electronic Voting Committee, spoke to Microsoft about the benefits of their system, challenges for the future, and advice to other EU countries. The analysis and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the interviewee.
When and why did Estonia introduce internet voting?
The government began the legislative process in 2001 and introduced the new voting system in 2005. By 2002, Estonia had also introduced an ID card system and by 2005 almost 80% of the electorate had this ID card. At the time, Estonians were saying they did everything with their computer – their banking, taxes, signing documents – and asked: “why not voting?”
Could you talk us through the process of casting a vote online?
The process is actually pretty simple. The voter goes to the elections webpage and downloads an application to cast their vote. Next, the voter identifies his or herself using their ID card inserted into smart card reader or their mobile phone. Once the voter is authenticated with a PIN code it would say “welcome, here is your candidate list.” The voter can then cast their vote for their preferred candidate. The whole process takes around 40 seconds – unless you take more time to decide which candidate to vote for!
How is the internet voting process secured?
Securing the internet voting process is similar to the way we secure other high importance information systems such as banking and critical infrastructure. The trick is to guarantee the secrecy of the votes.
To do this, the ballots are immediately encrypted on the computer when you vote, and they are decrypted centrally by the election commission only once they are anonymized. There is no tag of who voted how, so that’s how we can maintain secrecy and privacy. Our system is like using a double envelope system for a ballot, where we can only count – or decrypt – anonymous votes.
The voter can also check whether his or her vote has arrived at the election commission server properly using a secondary device. After the voter casts their vote online, they can then use an application on their smartphone to scan a QR code from the computer. The QR code enables your device to communicate to the state election servers to show the voter how he or she voted without compromising the privacy of the vote cast.
Finally, there are additional mechanisms to preserve the integrity of the electronic ballot box. Votes are registered with a third party –an accredited trust service provider who issues a timestamp. These timestamps, collected from the trust service provider logs, are later compared with the electronic ballot box to make sure they coincide. That ensures that the administrator of the electronic ballot box cannot delete votes at random or produce extra votes.
What about people’s sense of the integrity of the election? Do people feel safe in Estonia voting on the internet?
Trust in the system is rising continuously. Before this year we had three elections with around 31% of people voting on the internet. During the last elections in March we had a significant increase to 44% of voters using the online system. That is the highest proportion yet of people using i-voting in Estonia.
The further away a voter lives, the more likely they are to vote from home. Also, if you are between the ages of 25 and 45, you are more likely to vote online because young people are more familiar with technology.
Who benefits most from an i-voting system?
There is a correlation between i-voting and how far a voter lives from a polling station. The further away a voter lives, the more likely they are to vote from home. Also, if you are between the ages of 25 and 45, you are more likely to vote online because young people are more familiar with technology. I-voting is also helpful for people with disabilities. While Estonia has long supported making the voting process accessible for people with disabilities through paper-based voting from home, they can now also vote online. And of course, i-voting is pretty much the only option for people travelling or residing out of the country for a longer period.
What about cost? Is an i-voting system cheaper than a paper voting system?
Initially, there are additional costs. For example, as we introduced this additional voting method, we still had to maintain the paper-based voting infrastructure. But once it is set up, it is significantly cheaper. After the fourth election using i-voting, we calculated the costs and found out that the electronic vote is about half the price of a paper vote.
Is the i-voting process easier to manage?
Yes, because it is centralized. We can do things very fast and conveniently.
Have many government delegations come to Estonia to learn about your system?
There is a map of the world in our office, and we have put a pin in every country which has sent a delegation to visit. It’s hard to find a country without a pin in it! During the last election in March, we had over 100 foreign officials visiting Estonia from 30 countries around the world.
Among these government delegations, what are the most common concerns about online voting?
We see a general fear of the unknown. It takes two things to introduce internet voting in a country: First, a kind of ID card or mobile ID – an electronic identity infrastructure.
Second, it takes political will. Politicians are most interested in getting re-elected. They don’t want to mess with the electoral system and the average politician doesn’t know much about the internet and security, so they would say, “let’s not mess with that.” So, it takes courage to start the process.
What advice would you give other EU countries regarding the adoption of technology?
You just have to make a start, at least at a research level. Introducing a new voting method is a wide, society-embracing topic and might take long time. Just have in mind that at some point internet voting will be inevitable.
Has there been interference or targeting of the online platforms in Estonia?
The elections have never been targeted specifically. The cyberattack of 2007 thankfully happened two months after the elections. That attack was regarded as the first countrywide cyberattack targeting all the sectors, both private sector and public sector. But I think our information security was high and we handled it well. There was one and a half days of disturbance and then it was contained.
What did you learn from that experience?
It was a very good exercise. Now we can teach others how to defend against those kinds of attacks. Those attacks and our ability to counter them led to the opening of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Estonia which has been one of the preeminent organizations leading the world’s discussions on the application of international law in cyberspace.
Are there any more technological innovations that you’re planning to implement in future elections?
There have been discussions about introducing voting on mobile devices, but we currently use the mobile device to verify the computer-based vote. If we move to voting from mobile devices, what do we use as second device for verification of the correct behavior of the mobile device? That’s the main challenge that we are thinking through right now. We are analyzing this, and after the European Parliament elections we will systematically research this issue. Overall, I would say that so far, we are proud of what we have achieved. | https://blogs.microsoft.com/eupolicy/2019/05/10/electronic-voting-estonia/?_lrsc=3271e58d-f628-4c68-b2d3- |
Peptide-based communication system enables Escherichia coli to Bacillus megaterium interspecies signaling.
The use of mixtures of microorganisms, or microbial consortia, has the potential to improve the productivity and efficiency of increasingly complex bioprocesses. However, the use of microbial consortia has been limited by our ability to control and coordinate the behaviors of microorganisms in synthetic communities. Synthetic biologists have previously engineered cell-cell communication systems that employ machinery from bacterial quorum-sensing (QS) networks to enable population-level control of gene expression. However, additional communication systems, such as those that enable communication between different species of bacteria, are needed to enable the use of diverse species in microbial consortia for bioprocessing. Here, we use the agr QS system from Staphylococcus aureus to generate an orthogonal synthetic communication system between Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Bacillus megaterium that is based on the production and recognition of autoinducing peptides (AIPs). We describe the construction and characterization of two types of B. megaterium "receiver" cells, capable of AIP-dependent gene expression in response to AIPs that differ by a single amino acid. Further, we observed interspecies communication when these receiver cells were co-cultured with AIP-producing E. coli. We show that the two AIP-based systems exhibit differences in sensitivity and specificity that may be advantageous in tuning communication-dependent networks in synthetic consortia. These peptide-based communication systems will enable the coordination of gene expression, metabolic pathways and growth between diverse microbial species, and represent a key step towards the use of microbial consortia in bioprocessing and biomanufacturing.
| |
distribution maps for this species and its colour forms separately.
Results: The results suggested the most suitable
areas of distribution of P.
rhadamanthus, both for species as a whole and also for the
colour forms. A jackknife test showed that the precipitation of coldest
quarter and herbaceous vegetation were the most important environmental
variables affecting the distribution of P. rhadamanthus. After analyzing
the climatic preferences, this species seems to be related mainly to
the tropical savanna climate, subtropical highland variety of the
oceanic climate and humid subtropical climate. An analysis of
environmental variables also showed that this species prefers areas
with herbaceous vegetation, with a small participation of trees, which
is probably caused by food preferences of its victims.
Conclusions: P. rhadamanthus so far was only
known that it occurs in widely understood tropical Africa. On the base
of the museum data on the occurrence of the species and ecological
niche modelling methods we provided new and valuable information of the
potentially suitable habitat, the possible range of distribution of the
species and its climatic preferences.
Key words: Africa; Ecological niche
modelling; Habitat suitability; Maximum entropy; Species distribution. | https://zoolstud.sinica.edu.tw/Journals/53/53-08.html |
Sigma-Lamaque is a past producing mine. Integra Mining plans to restart mining operations at the Lamaque deposit, with plans to process ore at the Sigma mill. A Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) on the project was published in April 2017. Mine life is estimated at 10 years with two years pre-production. Most of the necessary infrastructure is already in place and hence, pre-production capex of C$175 million is required.
What's included
This report contains
Table of contents
- Key facts
-
Summary and key issues
- Summary
- Key issues
- Location maps
- Geology
-
Operations
- Mining
- Processing
- Costs
- Timeline
Tables and charts
This report includes 2 images and tables including:
Images
- Detailed map
Tables
- Key facts: Table 1
You may be interested in
Tilden iron ore mine
United iron ore mine
Minorca iron ore mine
Questions about this report? | https://www.woodmac.com/reports/metals-sigma-lamaque-gold-mine-project-29517148/ |
We present a sequential Bayesian method for dynamic estimation and prediction of local mean (shadow) powers from instantaneous signal powers in composite fading-shadowing wireless communication channels. We adopt a Nakagami-m fading model for the instantaneous signal powers and a first-order autoregressive [AR(1)] model for the shadow process in decibels. The proposed dynamic method approximates predictive shadow-power densities using a Gaussian distribution. We also derive Crame/spl acute/r-Rao bounds (CRBs) for stationary lognormal shadow powers and develop methods for estimating the AR model parameters. Numerical simulations demonstrate the performance of the proposed methods.
This is a manuscript of an article from IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing 53 (2005): 2942, doi:10.1109/TSP.2005.850380. Posted with permission.
Dogandžić, Aleksandar and Zhang, Benhong, "Dynamic shadow-power estimation for wireless communications" (2005). Electrical and Computer Engineering Publications. 134. | https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ece_pubs/134/ |
ANGELS IN AMERICA's Nathan Lane Wins 2018 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Nathan Lane has won the 2018 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play for ANGELS IN AMERICA.
Lane most recently appeared as Roy Cohn in the National Theater production in London. He last appeared on Broadway in the hit revival of The Front Page for which he was nominated for Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards. On Broadway he's been seen in It's Only a Play; The Nance (Tony and Drama Desk nominations, Outer Critics Circle Award and the Drama League Distinguished Performance Award); The Addams Family (Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations); Waiting for Godot (Outer Critics Circle nomination); November; Butley; The Odd Couple; The Frogs; The Producers (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Olivier awards); The Man Who Came to Dinner; A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle awards); Love! Valour! Compassion! (Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards); Laughter on the 23rd Floor; Guys And Dolls (Tony nomination, Drama Desk And Outer Critics Circle awards); On Borrowed Time; Some Americans Abroad; Wind In The Willows; Merlin; Present Laughter (Drama Desk nomination); Hickey in The Iceman Cometh at BAM (Monte Cristo Award From The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center).
His recent TV appearances include "American Crime Story: The People vs. OJ Simpson" as F. Lee Bailey, and recurring roles on "Modern Family" and "The Good Wife." He has received six Primetime Emmy nominations, two Daytime Emmy Awards and the People's Choice Award.
He has appeared in more than 35 films including The Birdcage (Golden Globe nomination, Screen Actors Guild and American Comedy awards); Ironweed; Frankie and Johnny; Mousehunt; Jeffrey; The Lion King; Stuart Little; Nicholas Nickleby (National Board Of Review Ensemble Award); The Producers (Golden Globe nomination); Swing Vote; Mirror, Mirror; Carrie Pilby; No Pay, Nudity; and The Vanishing of Sidney Hall. In 2006 he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in 2008 he was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.
A quarter-century after stunning the theater world, one of the greatest theatrical journeys of our time returns to Broadway in an acclaimed new production from the National Theatre. As politically incendiary as any play in the American canon, Angels in America also manages to be, at turns, hilariously irreverent and heartbreakingly humane. It is also astonishingly relevant, speaking every bit as urgently to our anxious times as it did when it first premiered.
Tackling Reaganism, McCarthyism, immigration, religion, climate change, and AIDS against the backdrop of New York City in the mid-1980's, no contemporary drama has succeeded so indisputably with so ambitious a scope. | https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/ANGELS-IN-AMERICAs-Nathan-Lane-Wins-2018-Tony-Award-for-Best-Performance-by-an-Actor-in-a-Featured-Role-in-a-Play-20180610 |
G20 follow up- crypto regulations and FAFT Recomendations
The recently concluded G20 summit was concluded by signing a joint declaration between all the participated countries, the declaration highlighted the importance of necessary reforms to place the digitalization of global economy at check. All the countries that participated in the summit placed their individual economic policies aside and abided to form a regulatory structure.
All the participated finance ministers, central bank governors and leaders of the countries pressed on the fact that international trade and investment are important engines of growth, productivity, innovation, job creation, and development They added that, in the face of global economic challenges, this is our moment to take action to address structural growth impediments, rebuild buffers, reduce excessive global imbalances, and mitigate risks
An agreement has been reached at the G20 summit and the regulations that are to be implemented will be in line with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Official declaration, section 25 reads,
We will regulate crypto-assets for anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism in line with FATF standards and we will consider other responses as needed
It remains to be seen how these regulatory measures will be implemented because cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin, were originally designed to make borderless transactions earier..
Cryptocurrencies
A derivative of digital currencies, Bitcoin can be called as the original coin. It was the first of its kind and was introduced in the year 2009. Cryptocurrencies can be used to buy or sell items from people and companies who accept them as payment, but they do not exist as a physical currency.
There are two major ways to earn Bitcoins: mining and trading/exchanging. Mining involves solving complex problems that can ear the user a reward. It is estimated that there are totally 21 million Bitcoins out there and only 4 million are still left to mine. A record of each transaction will be stored in a decentralized system called as blockchain.it is a public ledger connected by 256-bit encrypted codes. This ensures the safety of the system.
Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
The recently released regulation by FATF stated that virtual assets are totally different from the fiat currencies and are to be treated as assets only not currencies.
All the governments (G20) before formulating the framework required for regulating cryptocurrency should comply with the standards provided by FATF. This will help the authorities to track down any illegal activities also monitoring the entire operating will become an easy task. Governments also should have a fail-safe system that can be implemented at the time of emergency. Crypto regulations can be a risky process and if a step is misplaced then the chances of reaching a perfect regulation will be destroyed. | https://www.civilblockchain.com/g20-follow-up-crypto-regulations-and-faft-recomendations/ |
The invention discloses a personalized costume design mode, which comprises the following steps: designing a plurality of costume templates, and symmetrically dividing the costume templates into N (N> 2) part costume sections; forming a combined database according to the N (N > 2) part clothing sections; adding a size input unit and a section fixing unit, and fixing the section fixing unit through a zipper or a pin buckle or a button; adding a user login item, the user entering a combined database, and autonomously selecting different part clothing sections to be freely fixed and spliced; adding a user design item, and freely fixing and splicing the part clothing sections designed by the user; conducting actual tailoring and fixed splicing, and manufacturing personalized clothes. According to the method, the clothes formed by freely combining the N (N > 2) part clothes sections are designed, the fixing mode is conducted in a zipper or pin-button or button mode, the personalized clothes design requirements of different users can be met, and any part clothes section can be replaced at will. | |
Brinjal Vegetable Recipe
Mothers continuously try to introduce new and fresh vegetables to their kids. They should add the goodness of brinjal for kids’ meal plans. Preparing Brinjal vegetable for babies is easy and delicious that will appeal to the taste buds of small kids and toddlers. Full of nutrients, brinjal vegetables is suitable for their health and you can prepare it in no time. Being a popular vegetarian dish, with a few alterations, you can serve it to the whole family, and they will surely enjoy their meal too.
Cooking Time
|Type||Time (hh:mm:ss)|
|Preparation Time||00:10:00|
|Cook Time||00:17:00|
|Total Time||00:27:00|
Cooking Method
Gas Stove
Type of Meal
Vegetarian
Suitable For
Suitable for babies older than 12 months old
Meal Schedule
Lunch or dinner
Recipe Type
Main Dish
Ingredients
|Ingredients||Quantity / Volume|
|Brinjal||1 medium size|
|Potato||1 small size|
|Cumin seeds||½ tsp|
|Onion||1 small size|
|Cooking Oil||1 tsp|
|Ginger Garlic Paste||1 tsp|
|Turmeric powder`||¼ tsp|
|Coriander seeds||1 tbsp|
|Fennel Seeds||1 tbsp|
|Coriander (for garnishing)||2 tbsp|
|Salt||To taste|
Instructions
Preparation of brinjal vegetable is uncomplicated. Follow our step by step directions on how to make brinjal vegetable.
- Take the coriander and fennels seeds and roast it on a low flame. Once done, coarsely grind the seeds.
- Heat the oil in a pan, preferably non-stick one, and add cumin seeds.
- The seeds will start to crackle. Now add finely chopped onions.
- Saute the onions on a low flame for 4-5 minutes.
- Now add chopped potato, along with salt and ¼ cup of water.
- On a medium flame, let it cook for 4-5 minutes, keep stirring occasionally.
- Add the ginger-garlic paste now.
- Chop the brinjals and add to the pan along with 2 tbsp water.
- Mix it well and cover the pan.
- On a medium flame, let it cook for 7-8 minutes.
- Stir occasionally and ensure all ingredients get appropriately prepared.
- It’s time to add turmeric powder, coriander, and fennel seeds powder.
- Mix it well and cover the pan. Let it cook for another 2 minutes on medium flame while you stir the preparation 3-4 times.
- Serve it lukewarm and garnish it with finely chopped coriander.
Recipe Tips
Furthermore, we suggest you follow a few tips before and during the preparation of the simple brinjal vegetable recipe for the little one at home.
- Wash all the vegetables thoroughly with water to remove any traces of chemicals.
- Chop the brinjal, potato, and onions a little smaller in size such that the portions are easy for your toddler to chew and eat.
- While roasting the coriander and cumin seeds, ensure that you do not overdo it.
- Instead of the cooking oil, you can also use desi ghee or olive oil.
- While cooking, mix the vegetables properly to have uniform cooking.
- Also, do not forget to stir the preparation as suggested.
Nutrition Information (Per 100 Grams)
|Nutrient||Value|
|Energy||112 Cal|
|Protein||1.4 g|
|Carbohydrates||9.4 g|
|Fibre||4.4 g|
|Fat||7.7 g|
|Cholesterol||0 mg|
|Vitamin A||119.7 mcg|
|Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)||0.1 mg|
|Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)||0.1 mg|
|Vitamin B3 (Niacin)||0.9 mg|
|Vitamin C||13.2 mg|
|Vitamin E||0.2 mg|
|Folic Acid (Vitamin B9)||26.2 mcg|
|Calcium||20.7 mg|
|Iron||0.4 mg|
|Magnesium||18.8 mg|
|Phosphorus||46.3 mg|
|Sodium||5 mg|
|Potassium||201.9 mg|
|Zinc||0.3 mg|
Health Benefits
Make it part of your child’s meal plan to avail the benefits of home-made brinjal vegetable baby food recipes.
- Brinjals have fibre; it helps maintain bowel regularity in your child.
- The calcium content of the vegetable promotes healthy bones and teeth.
- Vitamin A in brinjal makes the immune system strong and supports the overall growth of your child.
- Nutrients like phosphorous help in the growth, maintenance, and repair of tissues and cells.
- Brinjal is a good source of carbohydrates too. It provides energy for your child all day long.
Buying Guide
- Prefer buying organic products, be it vegetables or masalas.
- Prepare ginger-garlic paste on your own, instead of going for the packed ones.
- Avoid buying brinjals that are discoloured or have a scar on the outer surface. It indicates that the flesh inside is decaying.
- Brinjal is a delicate vegetable, use the whole portion when cut. Do not put it into the refrigerator.
Brinjal vegetable is a nutrient powerhouse. Inculcating the right dietary habits at an early age will make your toddler grow into healthy adults. This brinjal recipe is going to win hearts. | https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/brinjal-vegetable-recipe-babies-toddler/ |
Several members of our highly successful Marcellus Shale Project have encouraged Core Lab to initiate a similar project in the Utica Shale. The Utica Shale is an upper Ordovician-aged, calcareous, black shale that extends across the Appalachian Plateau from New York and Quebec, Canada, south to Tennessee. It therefore, underlies the Marcellus and extends farther west providing another shale reservoir target in Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The Utica Shale produces oil in Ohio and gas in the deeper portions of the basin to the east. In the near term, most activity is expected to be in the liquids-rich portion of the play in Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
Several companies are embarking on an evaluation of the Utica Shale and are planning pilot wells with the acquisition of cores. The Utica Shale has very different reservoir properties than the Marcellus and should be challenging in terms of reservoir characterization, predicting producibility potential, estimating ultimate recovery, and optimizing fracture stimulation techniques. Many companies either do not have or have limited rock property data that are crucial for understanding this reservoir. Therefore, in order to properly evaluate and explore this resource, appropriate types of rock property data need to be measured and integrated with log data, stimulation techniques, and production test information. These integrated data sets and case histories will provide operators with the critical parameters to optimize their exploitation of the Utica Shale and reduce finding and development costs.
The Integrated Reservoir Solutions Division of Core Laboratories is proposing to interested companies participation in a multi-company, geo-engineering study of the Utica Shale. This project consists of the characterization and evaluation of numerous conventional cores, rotary sidewall cores, and drill cutting samples taken from multiple wells targeting the Utica Shale. Specifically, this prospective shale section will be analyzed for geological, petrophysical, geomechanical, geochemical, and production properties. These data will be integrated with well logs, stimulation designs, and production test information. This large and searchable database will provide operators with valuable information not only on their own wells within these shale sections, but also on other operator's wells. The project will be focused on evaluating numerous Utica Shale wells in the Appalachian region.
Geologically characterize the cored shales in terms of depositional facies, environment of deposition, and rock types.
Characterize and classify the shales in terms of lithology, mineralogy, clay content, clay types, and pore structure including macro- and micro-fractures.
Measure the various petrophysical properties such as porosity, permeability, grain density, and saturations (i.e. water saturation, gas saturation, mobile oil saturation, gas-filled porosity and bound water).
Measure and characterize the organic content of the shales in terms of total organic content (TOC), Rock Eval pyrolysis, and maturity.
Determine the gas desorption associated with kerogen and adsorption isotherm for gas storage capacity as a function of reservoir pressure (where appropriate).
Core-log calibration of open-hole logs for the development of petrophysical models to determine Utica Shale properties.
Integrate the core data with well logs, fracture stimulation techniques, and production test results to aid companies in their evaluation and exploitation of Utica reservoirs.
Provide a regional assessment of the Utica Shale to aid in exploration and exploitation.
Provide operators with a searchable database for Utica Shale properties that can be used as analogs to aid in the appraisal and exploitation of "unknown or newly discovered" Utica Shale reservoirs. | https://corelab.com/irs/studies/utica-shale-study |
Many health care disciplines use evidence-based decision making to improve patient care and system performance. While the amount and quality of emergency medical services (EMS) research in Canada has increased over the past two decades, there has not been a unified national plan to enable research, ensure efficient use of research resources, guide funding decisions and build capacity in EMS research. Other countries have used research agendas to identify barriers and opportunities in EMS research and define national research priorities. The objective of this project is to develop a national EMS research agenda for Canada that will: 1) explore what barriers to EMS research currently exist, 2) identify current strengths and opportunities that may be of benefit to advancing EMS research, 3) make recommendations to overcome barriers and capitalize on opportunities, and 4) identify national EMS research priorities.
Methods/Design
Paramedics, educators, EMS managers, medical directors, researchers and other key stakeholders from across Canada will be purposefully recruited to participate in this mixed methods study, which consists of three phases: 1) qualitative interviews with a selection of the study participants, who will be asked about their experience and opinions about the four study objectives, 2) a facilitated roundtable discussion, in which all participants will explore and discuss the study objectives, and 3) an online Delphi consensus survey, in which all participants will be asked to score the importance of each topic discovered during the interviews and roundtable as they relate to the study objectives. Results will be analyzed to determine the level of consensus achieved for each topic.
Discussion
A mixed methods approach will be used to address the four study objectives. We anticipate that the keys to success will be: 1) ensuring a representative sample of EMS stakeholders, 2) fostering an open and collaborative roundtable discussion, and 3) adhering to a predefined approach to measure consensus on each topic. Steps have been taken in the methodology to address each of these a priori concerns.
Background
Evidence-based medicine is the "...conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions...". The practice of evidence-based medicine combines individual and organizational experience and expertise with the best available evidence to guide clinical care and system design. The challenge for many health disciplines, including emergency medical services (EMS), is the scarcity of research from which best evidence can be derived [2, 3].
EMS has traditionally focused on emergency response to the sick and injured in the prehospital environment, and inter-facility transport. The last three decades have seen considerable expansion of the scope of practice of EMS personnel and the sophistication of EMS operations. EMS systems and paramedics are now seen as integral parts of the health care system, with their roles expanding to include not only emergency response and transport, but injury prevention and control, community health, public education, and emergency preparedness . This expansion has occurred, for the most part, independent of any formal measurement and evaluation of outcome.
A foundation of research is required to support an evidence-based approach to prehospital care. While progress has been made in developing this foundation, EMS research is still in its infancy. The further development of Canadian EMS research has been identified by key stakeholders as a priority .
The research enterprise in EMS, like other health disciplines, is fraught with barriers and opportunities [4, 5]. Other countries have recognized the value in systematically identifying barriers to, opportunities in, and priorities for EMS research. Both Australia and the United States have created research agendas in an effort to coordinate and focus resources to improve the EMS research enterprise. In 2002, a national two-day convention was held in Australia which included stakeholders such as ambulance authorities, universities, the professional college and others. They worked in large and small group sessions to identify research priorities, ways to encourage research, and the roles different organizations have in research projects . In the same year, the United States National EMS Research Agenda, developed through multidisciplinary discussions and iterative expert writing and reviews, was published . This seminal document identified five key barriers to the progress of research, and made recommendations to overcome each. The US agenda lead to the creation of a National EMS Research Strategic Plan, which identified priority areas for EMS research .
While the EMS systems of Australia and the United States share some commonalities with Canada, such as paramedic-based EMS systems, there are also many significant differences, such as how practitioners are trained, funding mechanisms both for practice and for research, and infrastructure. Research barriers, opportunities, and priorities may not be generalizable from these countries to Canada due to the unique constellation of factors that have a profound impact on the provision of EMS services and the research enterprise, and the time that has lapsed since the Australian and US agendas were published. To that end, we have undertaken the development of an EMS research agenda for Canada. Here we report our methodology with the intent that it may serve as an important starting point for other countries that are attempting to define their research agenda and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their research enterprise.
Methods/Design
To ensure that the Canadian National EMS Research Agenda is produced using an evidence- based approach that reflects the diversity of EMS systems in Canada, a three-phase mixed methods study has been designed. The project will consist of: 1) qualitative baseline interviews, 2) a facilitated roundtable discussion among key informants, and 3) a Delphi consensus survey. The results of each phase will inform subsequent phases.
Stakeholders
Potential participants will be emailed an invitation letter and participant response form. Of those participants who return the participant response form, a sub-sample will be contacted by email, specifically recruiting them to participate in the qualitative baseline interviews. All participants will be invited to participate in the roundtable discussion in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada on June 8th, 2011 and in the Delphi consensus survey, which will be conducted after the results of the roundtable discussion are available.
Ethics
Research ethics board approval was received for the qualitative interviews from St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto ON Canada (11-011c), and for the roundtable session and consensus survey from the Capital District Health Authority, Halifax NS Canada (CDHA-RS/2011-248).
For the telephone qualitative baseline interviews, informed consent will be verbally obtained by the interviewer (KD). For the roundtable discussion and consensus survey, participants will complete a written informed consent procedure prior to the roundtable discussion.
Phase 1: QUALITATIVE BASELINE STUDY
Objective
The purpose of this phase is to gain a baseline understanding of the perspective of key stakeholders with regard to the landscape of EMS research in Canada in order to provide a framework for the roundtable discussion. Areas of interest include: the barriers and opportunities in EMS research; recommendations for enhancing the research enterprise; and topic areas within EMS research believed to be a high priority.
Design
A qualitative key informant interview study will be conducted, using one-on-one semi-structured telephone interviews with a sub-sample of the invited participants.
Ideally, the total sample will consist of 3-4 members of each key group, and invited organizations, for a total of ~ 20 participants. There will also be an attempt to have as diverse a representation from all provinces, EMS system types and professional types (e.g., paramedics, physicians, managers, researchers, etc.) as possible.
The sub-sample of invited participants will be sent an email which explains the qualitative study and includes a letter of information and invitation to participate. The lead investigator of the qualitative study (KD) will obtain verbal consent and conduct the interviews with those who volunteer. The purposeful sampling technique will be complemented with snowball sampling by asking interviewees to identify individuals who they feel should be added to the sample.
An interview guide will be developed, based on the information from the literature and the areas of interest for the study. All interviews will be conducted by telephone for consistency, and the interviewer will use the study guide along with additional probing questions to facilitate the interviews. Interviews will be audio recorded for verbatim transcription and analysis and the interviewer will take supplemental field notes during the conversation. Data collection will be considered complete once saturation is reached; that is, when little new information is expected to be learned from further interviews .
Data Analysis
Two investigators (KD and BB) will conduct the qualitative data analysis using a constant comparative method . Analysis will begin with both investigators reading through transcripts as they are completed, in order to gain an understanding of the issues discussed and to develop a preliminary categorization scheme. Categories will be added to the scheme as new transcripts are reviewed. Each transcript will then be read a second time, and participant statements will be coded according to the categories using NVivo qualitative analysis software (QSR, Doncaster Victoria Australia). The two investigators will compare their independent analyses for the first four transcripts, and will discuss differences in coding and if new categories should be added. After all transcripts are coded, the two investigators will review the coding scheme to identify key emergent themes and begin to interpret how the data relates to these key issues and the Research Agenda objectives. The investigators will also note if any relationships exist between participant location, position or involvement in research and the key themes identified.
A summary of the results of the analysis will be shared with all interviewees to engage them in any clarifications required to ensure the summary document accurately includes their input to the study . The final summary document will then be presented to the study team as a guide for the organization of the roundtable discussion.
Phase 2: ROUNDTABLE SESSION
Objectives
The purpose of the roundtable key informant discussion is to gather a purposeful sample of key stakeholders (the participants) from across Canada to discuss the four study objectives: to further identify and discuss barriers and opportunities for Canadian EMS research, make recommendations for the future, and identify research priorities.
Design
Participants will be provided with preliminary results from the baseline qualitative study prior to the roundtable session. An in depth review of the findings will also be presented at the session. In addition, a US EMS researcher will present information on his experiences as a member of the team that set the US EMS Research Agenda (LB) .
Participants will be purposefully placed into small groups. Each group will contain a mix of participants from different participant categories, with careful attention paid to creating groups that are geographically diverse. A facilitator will be assigned to each table, and will lead the small groups by encouraging participants to openly discuss their thoughts on each study objective. Small group facilitators will move discussions forward by using probing questions to explore topics identified by the participants. Small group facilitators will meet with the professional facilitator prior to the roundtable session to ensure that an appropriate and consistent approach is taken to the small group facilitation. The professional facilitator and two group facilitators will also circulate amongst the small groups during the session to listen to the conversations and ensure a uniform approach is being taken by all small group facilitators.
Data Collection
Each participant will complete the written informed consent procedure, a disclosure of conflict of interest form and a short demographic questionnaire, for the purpose of accurately reporting sample characteristics.
For each of the four objectives, participants will break into their assigned small groups. All small groups will be provided with flipcharts, where they will record topics discussed related to each objective. In addition, every participant will be provided worksheets for each study objective, in which they can list all topics they feel are important for each objective. These worksheets will be collected. After the completion of each small group session, the large group will re-convene and share topics and items that emerged during small group discussion. An investigator will record all topics reported verbally.
Data Compilation
After the completion of the roundtable, two investigators (JJ & RB) will review all the recorded information from the day, and will organize the topics into the four project objectives. Duplicate items in a category will be removed. Original participant wording will be maintained as much as possible, for use in the subsequent Delphi consensus survey .
Phase 3: DELPHI CONSENSUS SURVEY
Objective
The purpose of the Delphi consensus survey is to identify, using participant consensus, the most important topics in each of the four study objectives.
Design
Delphi studies are frequently used in healthcare and other industries to achieve consensus among a group of experts on a particular topic. This is accomplished through anonymous iterative surveys in which participants are asked to score items [12, 14].
Within four weeks of the roundtable session, participants will be emailed a link to an online survey site. Each survey round will be open for five working days. In the first round, topics identified in the literature synthesis, qualitative interviews and roundtable session will be listed for each study objective (barriers, opportunities, recommendations and priorities). An additional text box will be provided for respondents to enter any further topics, thoughts or elaborations they have. Participants will score each topic on a Likert scale (1 = not important, 2 = not very important, 3 = possibly important, 4 = important, 5 = extremely important).
In the second and third rounds, the mean scores for each topic and the participant's own score will be available for review (i.e., each participant will see their own score for each topic and all participants will see the group mean scores for each topic). Participants will be able to re-score each topic, or keep the score they assigned in the previous round. As consensus is reached on the 'importance' (or lack thereof) of individual topics, they will be removed from the Delphi survey. In the second and third rounds, participants may enter new topics into a free text box. The survey will be re-sent to a maximum of four rounds, to avoid sample fatigue.
Research Agenda participants will follow the Delphi technique to achieve consensus on the most important topics or items for each Research Agenda objective based on information gathered during the interviews and roundtable discussions.
Data Analysis
Data from each round of the Delphi survey will be downloaded from the Opinio survey tool (Objectplanet, Oslo, Norway) into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet (Redwood, CA, USA), in which descriptive analysis of panel characteristics, categorization of free text, and analysis (mean scores and level of consensus) of each topic in each round will be conducted.
In Delphi surveys, it is essential to define consensus a priori . For each topic (within each study objective) we will consider consensus to be achieved for the most important items if 80% of the participants scored the theme as 4 ('important') or 5 ('extremely important'). These topics will be removed from the list in subsequent rounds. In a similar fashion, consensus for the least important topics will be considered achieved if 80% or more of the participants score any topic a 1 ('not important') or a 2 ('not very important'). For each round, analysis for consensus will be conducted for the entire panel, and also for participant stratifications of the panel (e.g., paramedics, physicians, EMS managers, etc.).
Response rates for each round will be reported, as well as descriptive statistics of the participant demographics.
Integration of Findings
To achieve the objectives of the Canadian National EMS Research Agenda a mixed methods approach will be used. This approach of collecting both qualitative and quantitative data to answer one research question is growing in popularity among researchers and funding agencies . An essential component of mixed methods studies is effective integration of data; otherwise the project is essentially two independent studies of the same topic . In this project, each phase of the study will inform the next stage, and the results will be integrated using triangulation, a process that contributes to the validity of the results . During the design phase of this study, the study team established that the topic must be explored qualitatively, to learn more of the barriers and opportunities to Canadian EMS research - a previously unstudied topic. The qualitative data will be analyzed, and the results will then inform the roundtable discussion. The topics discussed during the roundtable will be entered into the quantitative Delphi consensus survey, which will then be analyzed. Data from all phases of the study will then be triangulated by two investigators (JJ and KD) . The triangulation will consist of the following steps, performed independently by each researcher: sorting (reviewing the results and identifying prevalent themes in both the qualitative interviews and the consensus survey), convergence coding (was there full agreement, partial agreement, silence (i.e., one set of results addresses a theme, but it does not appear in the other set of results), or dissonance between each set of results), and comparison of triangulation findings between each researcher . The final step of the triangulation protocol is providing feedback of the triangulation results to the study team. Through this process, convergent themes that appear to be important in both sets of results, silent themes and dissonant themes are identified. This information will allow the investigators to gain a greater understanding of the results and the research topic.
The final report will include the results of the qualitative findings from the baseline interviews, quantitative results from the roundtable and Delphi consensus survey, and the results of the triangulation exercise. The integration of these results will form the Canadian EMS Research Agenda.
Knowledge Translation Plan
Dissemination Strategies
A multi-faceted dissemination plan targeted at stakeholders will be executed at the completion of the Agenda project. The primary means of conveying the results of the study will be through publication of peer-reviewed manuscripts in journals that appeal to the target scientific and provider audience. Second, submissions will be made to prominent EMS trade journals targeting front-line paramedics, medical directors and EMS operators. Third, presentations at regional, provincial, and national EMS conferences will be used to communicate the results to attendees. Lastly, key organizations will be notified of the results and asked to convey them to their members through free electronic media and posting of the results on their free-access websites. As well the research agenda will be circulated to potential granting agencies, foundations, industrial and academic partners and follow up meetings with these constituents will enable full discussion and identify opportunities to lobby for change, influence priority and new funding initiatives.
Once the Agenda has been widely disseminated in Canada, it is expected it will serve as a guide for EMS stakeholders to implement a local and national strategy to address barriers to research and to maximize on existing and future opportunities. It may be used to inform budget planning and grant allocation and human resources for research, and to lobby for change in the way funding is directed in existing funding agencies. The implementation strategy is likely to include efforts to develop and protect researchers to conduct studies on questions found to be important, and will ignite collaboration across the country, which will allow for studies with sample sizes sufficient to answer vital questions.
Potential Challenges in Knowledge Translation
Once this study is complete, and results are disseminated through the mediums described above, we anticipate challenges in the following components of the knowledge translation action cycle: adaptation to the local context, monitoring knowledge use, and evaluating the outcomes of using the knowledge. EMS systems in Canada have had variable research experiences, ranging from no exposure to studies to being involved with the conduction of randomized controlled trials. Because of this variability, the implementation of the Canadian EMS Research Agenda will need to be adapted to individual services and settings. Local research stakeholders will need to review the Agenda and determine which barriers, opportunities, recommendations and research priorities make the most sense to adopt. The extent of implementation of the agenda will be determined through surveys and networking events, which will provide opportunities to capitalize on funding and partnership opportunities to conduct research. The ultimate goal of the Agenda is to improve patient care and EMS system delivery through the creation and use of meaningful and high quality EMS research. Possible benchmarks include grant funding acquired, publications, clinical outcomes (such as changes in survival), cost savings, and the number of EMS systems actively involved in research.
Discussion
In this comprehensive mixed methods study, we anticipate the keys to success will be: 1) ensuring a representative sample of EMS stakeholders, 2) fostering an open and collaborative roundtable discussion, and 3) adhering to a predefined approach to measure consensus on each topic. Steps have been taken in the methodology to address each of these a priori concerns.
The findings of this study will provide leaders in EMS administration, regulation, medical direction, academia, clinical practice, government funding agencies, foundations and industrial partners with critical evidence to further strengthen Canadian EMS research.
Abbreviations
- EMS:
-
emergency medical services
Declarations
Acknowledgements
The Canadian National EMS Research Agenda is a project of the EMS Chiefs of Canada (EMSCC) research committee, and the study team would like to gratefully acknowledge the support and funding received from the EMSCC, the Paramedic Association of Canada (PAC), and from the EMSCC 2011 St. John's NL conference organizing committee, where the roundtable discussion will be hosted. The study is funded by the following granting agencies: The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant KPE-112496), the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation (Research Enterprise Development Initiatives Catalyst Award PSO-REDI-2010-7142), the Canadian Police Research Centre, and the Calgary EMS Foundation. The research was conducted at the Dalhousie University Division of EMS and the Rescu, Keenan Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto. The authors would like to acknowledge Tim Ruggles, Dalhousie University Health Sciences Librarian for his help with our literature search on EMS research agendas.
Authors’ Affiliations
References
- Sackett DL, Rosenberg WM, Gray JA, Haynes RB, Richardson WS: Evidence-based medicine: What it is and what it isn't [editorial]. BMJ. 1996, 312: 71-2. 10.1136/bmj.312.7023.71.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
- Callaham M: Quantifying the scanty science of prehospital emergency care. Ann Emerg Med. 1997, 30 (6): 791-6. 10.1016/S0196-0644(97)70050-7.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Emergency Medical Services Chiefs of Canada: The future of EMS in Canada: Defining the New Road Ahead. [http://www.emscc.ca/docs/EMS-Strategy-Document.pdf]
- Sayre MR, White LJ, Brown LH, McHenry SD: National EMS research agenda. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2002, 6: s1-s43. 10.3109/10903120209102674.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Bigham BL, Jensen JL, Blanchard IE: Uncharted waters: Paramedic researchers struggle to navigate rough seas. CMAJ e-letters. 2010Google Scholar
- Tippett V, Clark M, Woods S, Fitzgerald G: Towards a national research agenda for the ambulance and pre-hospital sector in Australia. J Emerg Prehosp Health Care. 2003, 1 (1-2):
- Sayre MR, White LJ, Brown LH, McHenry SD: The national EMS research strategic plan. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2005, 9 (3): 255-66. 10.1080/10903120590962238.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Glaser BG, Strauss AL: The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. 1967, Chicago, IL: AldineGoogle Scholar
- Boeije H: A purposeful approach to the constant comparative method in the analysis of qualitative interviews. Qual & Quant. 2002, 36: 391-409. 10.1023/A:1020909529486.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Lincoln YS, Guba EG: Naturalistic inquiry. 1985, Newbury Park, CA: SageGoogle Scholar
- Bigham BL, Bull E, Morrison M, Burgess R, Maher J, Brooks SC, Morrison LJ: Patient safety in emergency medical services: Executive summary and recommendations from the Niagara summit. CJEM. 2011, 13 (1): 13-8.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- Goodman CM: The Delphi technique: A critique. J Adv Nurs. 1987, 12: 729-34. 10.1111/j.1365-2648.1987.tb01376.x.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Hasson F, Keeney S, McKenna H: Research guidelines for the Delphi survey technique. J Adv Nurs. 2000, 32 (4): 1008-15.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- Fink A, Kosecoff J, Chassin M, Brook RH: Consensus methods: Characteristics and guidelines for use. Am J Public Health. 1984, 74 (9): 979-83. 10.2105/AJPH.74.9.979.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
- Clark VLP: The adoption and practice of mixed methods: U.S. trends in federally funded health-related research. Qual Inquiry. 2010, 16 (6): 428-40. 10.1177/1077800410364609.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- O'Cathain A, Murphy E, Nicholl J, O'Cathain A: RESEARCH METHODS & REPORTING: Three techniques for integrating data in mixed methods studies. BMJ. 2010, 341 (7783): 1147-50.Google Scholar
- Farmer T, Robinson K, Elliott SJ, Eyles J: Developing and implementing a triangulation protocol for qualitative health research. Qual Health Res. 2006, 16 (3): 377-94. 10.1177/1049732305285708.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Graham ID, Logan J, Harrison MB, Straus SE, Tetroe J, Caswell W, Robinson N: Lost in Knowledge Translation: Time for a Map?. J Cont Ed Health Prof. 2006, 26: 13-24. 10.1002/chp.47.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-227X/11/15/prepub
Pre-publication history
Copyright
This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. | http://bmcemergmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-227X-11-15 |
Mar 7, 2019The FSMA Produce Safety Rule: An inspection preview
Food safety inspections on produce farms are beginning this month, but there are still questions as to what the first round of Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule inspections will look like. The fact that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be regulating farms for the first time is concerning for many produce farmers who have never interacted with FDA before on a regular basis. Adding to the anxiety for some producers, is the fact that this will be the first time in history that they willhave to deal with regular inspections on their farm.
In order to help producers prepare, FDA has provided a preview of what a produce farm inspection might look like. Using the information provided by FDA and our own additional resources, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) details in this post what produce farmers might expect from the upcoming inspections, and provides some best practice tips for getting through the process as painlessly as possible.
What types of inspections might occur?
There are several different types of inspections that might occur under the new FSMA regulations. Firstly, there will be a routine inspection for all farms covered under the Produce Safety Rule to ensure that they are in compliance. Routine inspections begin this year; in some states, inspections for larger farms will begin this month. For small farms (farms with a three year average of annual produce sales between $250,000-$500,000), routine inspections begin in Spring 2020.
There are also other reasons an FDA official or state regulator might show up on a farm. An unannounced inspection may be conducted if:
- There are “past issues” the farm has not corrected
- There is a need to follow-up on any corrections recommended during a routine inspection
- If a farm fails to respond to an inspector’s call to schedule a routine inspection within five business days
- If there is a complaint, recall, or foodborne outbreak investigation linked to a farm
If a farm operation is conducting any processing or manufacturing activities that fall within the scope of the Preventive Controls Rule for Human Food, a separate inspection will most likely occur. NSAC’s resource Understanding FDA’s FSMA Rule for Food Facilities describes what type of farm activities might fall under the regulatory purview of the Preventive Controls Rule for Human Food.
Who conducts a routine inspection?
FDA has agreed to allow state partners, like a State Department of Agriculture, to conduct inspections for FDA. In 44 states, a local state agency inspector, most likely from the State’s Department of Agriculture, will inspect the farm. In six states (Oregon, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, and the District of Columbia and all U.S. territories) FDA will conduct the inspections.
A significant number of produce farmers in the U.S. will most likely never interact with an FDA inspector. For more information on the states’ role in Produce Safety Rule inspections, read NSAC’s blog on the topic.
Setting up a routine inspection
Before anything happens on the farm, an inspector will conduct a pre-inspection call to first determine whether the farm even falls under the Produce Safety Rule, and second to coordinate scheduling. Farmers should be prepared to answer a number of pre-inspection questions, including any questions about an exemption from the Produce Safety Rule.
To determine whether or not your operation is exempt from the Produce Safety Rule, start by walking through NSAC’s Produce Safety Rule section of the Am I Affected by the New Food Safety Rules flowchart. Farms that are exempt from all or parts of the Produce Safety Rule must provide records proving their exemption to the inspector. For additional information, please review FDA’s Regulatory Guidance document. Resources are also available through NSAC member NCAT via their ATTRA hotline (1-800-346-9140) and email. ([email protected]).
If a farm is not exempt from the Produce Safety Rule, the inspection will be scheduled within five days of the initial pre-inspection phone call.
Farmers should inform the inspector during the pre-inspection phone call about any biosecurity practices the inspector is expected to follow, and any other safety protocols (for example, a visitors policy to prevent the contamination of produce).
What does a routine inspection look like?
On the day of an inspection, the inspector must first describe the type of inspection (for-cause, routine, etc.) that will take place and show their identification. Once the inspection begins, the farmer and any other individuals invited by the farmer to attend the inspection may be present (e.g., any person in charge of food safety on the farm, a food safety consultant, an attorney).
There are several things an inspector will most likely observe around the farm to ensure compliance with the Produce Safety Rule. For more information on the requirements produce farms must comply with, check out NSAC’s Understanding FDA’s FSMA Rule for Produce Farms publication.
The inspector will then fill out FDA’s new Form 4056 (NOTE: this pdf form cannot be viewed in a browser and must be downloaded to view). The inspector will check one of two boxes under the “Reportable Observations Made During the Inspection” section on the form. If the inspector checks the first box, then the inspector did not observe any conditions to be reported; in other words, there were no violations to report. If this is the case, the remainder of the document will not be filled out.
If the inspector checks the second box, that means that observed reportable conditions were present. Each violation will then be listed under the appropriate section of the rule on the form. The inspector will also note if a corrective action was taken under the appropriate section on the form.
If the inspector finds an issue or condition that will lead to the contamination of covered produce, the inspector will discuss with the farmer a plan for correcting the issue(s). There might be some actions the inspector recommends the farm take immediately to correct any violations.
If the farm corrects all of the inspector’s reported conditions, and no contaminated produce is made available for sale to consumers, then it is highly unlikely a regulatory response will occur. Different regulatory responses might occur if a farm is unable to sufficiently address the issue or violation, including but not limited to: a stop sale order to prevent any further sales of the farm’s produce; a fine; a seizure of the farm’s produce; a mandatory recall.
At the end of the inspection, the inspector will leave the completed Form 4056 with the farmer.
Key takeaways from FDA’s inspectiondocuments
Answer your phone!
Designate someone to check the farm’s frequently used phone numbers and voicemail if the main operators are away. If the farm fails to respond to an inspection inquiry within five days, an inspector will most likely show up unannounced on the farm. The inspector might follow up with a letter in the mail or an email to the farm’s business address, or if known, the farm owner’s personal email address. Designate someone to check these as well if the main operators are on vacation, ill, or away for some other reason.
There is a new inspection form
FDA’s Form 4056 Produce Farm Inspection Observations is specific to the Produce Safety Rule. NSAC applauds FDA and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture’s (NASDA) efforts to create a new form for the Produce Safety Rule. The form used for inspections of food facilities, Form 483, would not have been adaptable or practical for farm inspections.
Address violations while the Inspector is present, if possible
An inspector may not return for an unannounced inspection or issue any regulatory response if the violation is immediately corrected during the routine inspection.
What about agricultural water?
While FDA’s new Form 4056 currently notes the water testing requirements and records, the agricultural water compliance dates are not for a few more years. Farmers should pay attention in future years to when an inspector might begin to enforce these sections of the Produce Safety Rule.
Questions remain
There are still several unanswered questions about how inspections will be conducted. With both states and FDA conducting inspections, one big question is how inspections, compliance, and regulatory action might differ depending on states’ laws and regulations.
Compliance and enforcement actions might also differ based on whether the state or FDA is the enforcing authority. In the states where the State Department of Agriculture conducts the inspection and the state has adopted (at a minimum) the authority to enforce the federal produce safety rule requirements, that state will decide what enforcement action to take in the event of a violation. If the state has not adopted authority to enforce the Produce Safety Rule, the State Department of Agriculture will inform FDA of the violation and FDA will determine the appropriate enforcement action.
In some states, such as Arizona, a violation of the Produce Safety Rule can result in a fine, re-inspection, stop sale order, and seizure and embargo of contaminated produce. It is not clear, however, what enforcement and compliance actions will be taken in every state. The FDA and the states should include in their inspection factsheets additional details on what types of violations might trigger certain types of regulatory responses. Farmers should have adequate notice about what type of action might occur if an inspector finds an alleged violation during a routine inspection.
Additional questions and areas of concern
Are there different rules or requirements depending on varying state laws and regulations?
In some states, farms are encouraged to register or fill out a survey to determine whether or not the farm is exempt or covered by the produce safety rule. FDA does not, however, require farms to register.
No clear process exists for issuing complaints against an inspector or appealing an adverse decision
The process will most likely differ depending on whether the decision was made by a state inspector or the FDA. FDA has stated that all FDA inspector issues can be directed to either Joann Givens, Program Director, Offices of Human and Animal Food Operations, at 301-796-7761, or Glenn Bass, Senior Advisor, Human and Animal Food Program, at 240-402-4894.
Is the information collected from an inspection protected from public disclosure?
The general public may or may not be able to access certain information about a farm’s inspection depending on the laws governing the enforcement authority. It’s currently unclear whether or not the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) will require FDA to disclose certain inspections documents. As for the states, it will most likely vary depending on state law, but some states have already passed laws stating that the public will not be able to access certain inspection records.
How will the states and FDA inspect qualified exempt farms?
It is unclear how these inspections will play out practically, and also if exempt and qualified exempt farms should show an inspector their records proving their exemption (or any other required records). FDA has stated that they are considering on-farm record reviews for qualified exempt farms, while states will follow their own protocols for qualified exempt farms. NSAC encourages FDA and the states to provide exempt and qualified exempt farmers with clarity about when and how these records will be inspected. There is also a lack of clarity around what an inspector will observe if they show up on a qualified exempt farm. NSAC urges FDA and the states to confirm that only required records will be observed on a qualified exempt farm.
What actions beyond those observed at a routine inspection could lead to an unannounced inspection?
Several unclear definitions could be cause for concern regarding this question. For example, what qualifies as a “complaint” that would lead to an unannounced inspection? What “past issues” might lead to an unannounced inspection? We urge FDA and the states to provide additional details regarding what could lead to unannounced inspections.
How long are inspections expected to last, and will they vary by operation size?
Once inspectors have a clear idea of an estimated amount of time for an inspection, they should provide that estimate to the farmer who is about to undergo an inspection. This will allow farmers to prepare for the amount of time an inspection will take and ensure daily operations are not interrupted.
Additional information
NSAC hopes to address several of the above questions with FDA in the future, and will provide additional information on the Produce Safety Rule and inspections as it is available.
NASDA’s inspection protocol documents and inspection training video for state inspectors are expected be released soon; these will be an important resource as NASDA collaborated with FDA on the forms and inspection documents that FDA recently released. In the future, additional inspection protocol resources from NASDA may also become available. FDA released a new resource earlier this year, a video on “Produce Inspections for Regulators”.
Lastly, several Produce Industry Coalition partners – including NSAC, United Fresh, the Produce Marketing Association, Western Growers, and the Canadian Produce Marketing Association – developed an FDA webinar series on the Produce Safety Rule Guidance Document and Produce Safety Rule Inspections. Those resources will be available at www.pma.com.
This post is not legal advice. For specific information on how a Produce Safety Rule Inspection might impact your operation, please contact an attorney.
– National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service staff performing a GAP audit; voluntary, third-party services that verify that farms are following food safety practices and recommendations from the FDA. Photo: Iowa Food Hub. | https://vegetablegrowersnews.com/news/the-fsma-produce-safety-rule-an-inspection-preview/ |
Welcome to World History!
This year, we will study World History from the Paleolithic Era to the fall of the Roman Empire. Students will be exposed to the social, political, religious, intellectual, technological, and economic (SPRITE) events which influenced the development of human kind and civilizations. Students will also explore the relationship between cause and effect in historical events and will have the opportunity to analyze those fundamental ideas and events which occurred during Ancient Historical times.
The only item needed for class this year will be a single subject spiral notebook WITH 3 hole punches (1 per quarter...4 total for the year). This spiral will fit into the 3-ring binder that Liberty will be providing to all students this year!
I am looking forward to a great year! | https://www.marionschools.net/Page/70242 |
Premier Andrew Furey announced over $35 million in funding for projects connected to the offshore oil industry Tuesday. NDP Interim Leader Jim Dinn says funding should instead be used to attract green industries to the business and support the training of workers.
Social Sharing
Jim Dinn is interim leader for the provincial NDP. He says the province needs to come up with a robust transition plan away from oil and gas. (Patrick Butler/CBC)
Over $35-million in funding will go toward 26 projects connected to the offshore oil and gas industry, Premier Andrew Furey announced at a press conference Tuesday.
But the timing of the announcement, a short 10 days after the end of COP26, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, is problematic, according to provincial NDP Interim Leader Jim Dinn.
"Either the premier is remarkably tone-deaf or he has an enormous sense of irony," said Dinn.
Dinn says that even though Furey's announcement referenced the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy that will need to happen, there is no robust transition plan in place.
"What we have yet to hear is this government commit to a transition. A just transition plan that's going to protect our workers, is going to protect our economy, that's going to protect the environment, that's going to put Newfoundland in a place where it can reap the benefits of a green economy," said Dinn.
The fund was created to support workers in the sector, but also to lower emissions.
Premier Andrew Furey announced over $35 million in funding for 26 projects connected to the offshore industry Tuesday. He says while the world is transitioning to renewable energy sources, provincial fossil fuel will be a valuable good. (Ted Dillon/CBC)
Oil with a low carbon footprint from the province, says Furey, is the solution for the global transition period to renewable energy.
"As I said to people, to one person in particular in [COP26], 'How are you getting home?' All the planes in the world are still powered by petroleum products. We need to make sure that we are using our product," Furey said.
"We have an incredible product that is incredibly valued because of its low carbon footprint. It's not landlocked and…we can deliver that to the world right now during this transition over time."
Furey attended COP26 with a sales pitch for provincial oil and gas. Meanwhile, climate change advocates say that no oil can be clean or ethical.
The funded projects announced Tuesday are expected to create or maintain a total of 230 jobs in the province.
With almost $4.8-million of funding awarded, Pangeo Subsea Inc. received the biggest sum to develop technology that improves information-gathering during drilling operations.
The Fisheries and Marine Institute at Memorial University received more than $1.3-million to support the Subsea Centre of Excellence Development — and provide training for more environmental safety, so as to avoid oil spills, for example.
These are businesses that just can't turn on a dime- Andrew Furey
Furey says the funding was necessary to save the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"You can't forget how troubled people were at the time, how anxious companies were, how the global pandemic impacted the commodity price. Look, these are businesses that just can't turn on a dime," said Furey.
Dinn argues that oil companies are in a better position to face a transition to renewable energy sources than the province.
"The premier made note…that these companies, they 'can't turn on a dime'. The fact is they're already ahead of Newfoundland and Labrador," said Dinn.
"We gave a huge amount of money to oil companies last year under the assumption that as a result of COVID, they were struggling…Yet, this year they're doing well, thank you very much, and we're still handing out the money to companies whose profits are up. They've done very well. I think they've done a pretty good job of getting a deal and in many ways are still using our workers as ransom."
COP26 ended on Oct. 13, after about two weeks of negotiations. Furey attended COP26 with a sales pitch for provincial oil and gas. (Yves Herman/Reuters)
While Furey says that the funded projects will lower offshore greenhouse gas emissions through digitalisation, Dinn thinks the province should focus on the big picture.
The province, says Dinn, needs to use the potential of mineral resources that are needed for electric vehicles, but also invest in training workers for the renewable energy sector.
"How do we attract industries that are green industries that are at the cutting edge to this province? We've done a very good job of attracting oil companies here. Then should we not…think bigger instead of just picking around the edges," said Dinn.
"Oil production is not stopping today, but if the premier is acknowledging that we've got 10 years left, my God…our next priority is to come up with the plan."
Comments
To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted.
By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time. | |
Setting up a Just Transition Commission which will advise ministers on the development of ‘a carbon-neutral economy that is fair for all’ appears to be a bold move by the Scottish Government. Initiatives or commissions in other countries have so far been restricted to just transition of specific sectors or locations like the coal industry in Spain or Tar Sands in Canada. The Scottish Government is also setting up a Scottish National Investment Bank which may well include Just Transition or at least investment in low carbon infrastructure in its remit. In addition, the option of a publicly-owned energy company is being considered. These three initiatives are the core things which the Just Transition Partnership has been pushing for. So are we on the verge of a successful transformation to a carbon-neutral economy that is fair to all in Scotland? So far, welcome though they are, these are all words, not deeds.
Meanwhile in its Climate Change Bill, the Scottish Government has resisted calls to set a target date to achieve net-zero emissions. And its actions in supporting the continuing development of oil and gas extraction point in the opposite direction. SNP MPs appear to be supporting the introduction of Transferable Tax Histories, the latest Treasury wheeze to deliver public subsidy to underpin the continuing profitability extraction and further exploration. ‘Maximising Economic Recovery’, the policy framework established after the report of the Wood Commission in response to job losses in the North Sea, appears to be about financial support to private enterprise rather than workers’ jobs and conditions, which continue to be under attack.
How will the Just Transition Commission negotiate these contradictions? The announcement of its remit and some of its members without the participation of unions or any of the leading environmental groups raised some eyebrows though that may have been just an initial hiccup in the process and there have been assurances given that union representatives will be included.
The Just Transition Partnership, set up by Friends of the Earth Scotland and STUC in 2016, has made it clear that radical changes in objectives and methods of economic development and industrial policy are necessary. While built on longstanding dialogue about climate change and policy engagement of some unions, the impulse for the partnership was losing 60,000 North Sea jobs as the oil price plummeted in 2015-2016.
In face of further such jobs losses, and further deindustrialisation, the partnership focused initially on creating new jobs which can provide continued employment for those affected by decline in fossil fuel industries and provide similarly good or better wages and conditions in order to avoid the unjust transition when coal mining was shutdown. Some of these new jobs will be offshore (wind, wave, tidal, decommissioning) and others in the economic transformation needed to go low-carbon onshore (such as transport and energy efficiency).
The partnership has facilitated unions having a voice in the debate about climate change, seen originally as an environmental issue; and environmental organisations having increased purchase on economic and industrial issues. Working through the practical issues in joint papers combining these two perspectives, often for government consultations, identified:
• The need for action for reasons of climate change and economic justice are urgent.
• Market-based solutions have failed, publicly-driven solution are necessary, rooted in the extension of public control over economic outcomes.
• This will require public, municipal and community ownership of key parts of the energy systems so that it is reliable and effective and anchors development benefits in Scotland and to localities within it.
• Plans at national, sectoral and regional levels will not only generate well-paid jobs, with better employment conditions, but also deliver social benefits, which will be core to popular support and political positioning of this transformation as an opportunity not just a cost.
• The participation of the workers most effected, through unions as well as relevant communities, should be central aim.
This approach to economic development will give certainty and confidence for the large-scale investment programmes which are urgently required. Transformation of finance is needed for transformation of energy and industrial infrastructure, for which a powerful National Investment Bank will be at the core. Just Transition has to be central to its remit and to a revised Economic Strategy which ensures the commitment of the development agencies and moves government support away from fossil fuels. Any support to the energy sectors should be to deliver the just transition and employers should be required to negotiate just transition agreements with government and unions.
The biggest failure in terms of justice will be if the transition does not happen or is too slow. There has to be as much emphasis on ‘transition’ as there is on ‘just’; the transition won’t happen unless it is just because it will require a popular movement supporting it. If the Just Transition Commission follows through on its remit logically and without fear or favour to the powers that be, it will understand this and will be able to build on the policy framework developed by STUC, Friends of the Earth Scotland and other members in the Just Transition Partnership. We hope it does; and whether within or without the Commission, the Partnership will continue to develop support from across the political spectrum for these vital ideas. | https://www.scottishleftreview.scot/partnership-for-progress/ |
I’ve come across an unbelievable story published by life.time.com, thought I might be not the only who didn’t know about this miracle. On September 12, 1940, in southwestern France, two schoolboys and their dog Robot excitedly chased a hare down a hole in the ground beside a downed tree. The boys began to dig, widening the hole, removing rocks, until they were able to follow their hound down — and found themselves not just in another world, but another time. In the cool dark beneath the known world, the boys discovered “Versailles of prehistory” — a vast series of caves, known today as Lascaux, covered with wall paintings close to 20,000 years old.
In 1947, LIFE magazine’s Ralph Morse went to Lascaux, becoming the first professional photographer to document the breathtaking paintings. Morse shared his memories of that time and place with LIFE.com, recalling what it was like to encounter the strikingly lifelike, gorgeous handwork of a long-vanished people: the Cro-Magnon.
“One day we get a message from New York about some cave that people have been talking about. We do a little research, and find out that even though the cave was discovered a few years before, no one’s ever photographed the paintings. In fact, hardly anyone has ever been down there, except some guys who climb around in caves for fun. We know that the first thing we need is a generator to power our lights, but getting a generator anywhere after the war was almost impossible. We had to have people in London ship one over. Once it arrived, we were ready to go.
“The first sight of those paintings was simply unbelievable,” Morse said. “I was amazed at how the colors held up after thousands and thousands of years — like they were just painted the day before. Most people don’t realize how huge some of the paintings are. There are pictures of animals there that are ten, fifteen feet long, and more.”
The Cro-Magnon, in French “Abri de Cro-Magnon”, were evidently extremely intelligent and had a highly developed sense of beauty. The Cro-Magnon might well have inhabited the region for tens of thousands of years. Were the images at Lascaux painted by Cro-Magnon artists across scores of generations? Were they painted by hunters paying tribute to their prey? By shamans hoping to harness the brute power of the natural world? Theories abound; but in truth, no one knows.
“We were the first to haul in professional gear and bring those spectacular paintings to life. This little French town — they simply didn’t have the money, the equipment, the capability to do anything like this after the war. So we did it — and they helped out, because they were as excited as we were to really see what was down there.”
“Cro-Magnon man’s apparatus included engraving and scraping tools, a stone or bone palette and probably brushes made of bundled split reeds. He ground colored earth for his rich reds and yellows, used charred bone or soot black for his dark shading and made green from manganese oxide. These colors were mixed with fatty oils. For permanence, the finest pigments of civilized Europe have never rivaled these crude materials.”
Lascaux Art from vanished people
In 1948, a year after Morse’s pioneering photographic work, Lascaux was opened to the public. But in 1963, the cave was closed after 15 short years when experts determined that carbon dioxide from the breath of thousands of visitors, as well as spores and other post-Ice Age contaminants tramped in from above ground, were damaging the paintings. Today, only a handful of people are allowed inside Lascaux for a few days each year to monitor damage (a mysterious, encroaching mold is the latest culprit) while they work to keep the magnificent paintings adorning the walls from going the way of their creators, and vanishing entirely.
Lascaux cave art center announced a competition among architects to create a secure museum in the caves. The winners became the U.S. Bureau of Casson Mann and Norwegians of Snohetta. Responsibilities between architects distributed as follows: while the Casson Mann team is engaged in external and internal views of the museum, Snohetta cares about the conditions for the safety of the exhibits. You will get a discreet, yet functional exterior, while the interior is truly amazing. Especially impressive the specific “cuts” in the ceiling of the cave, which allow sunlight to pass preventing moisture, and not destroying the structure of the picture.
In addition, the exhibition area inside Lascaux includes a cafe, reception and information center. Experts report that the cave of Lascaux will be re-opened to visitors in 2015, and its attendance will increase to 400,000 people a year. | https://viola.bz/lascaux-art-from-vanished-people/ |
A popular international nongovernmental organization, Amnesty International (also known as AI or Amnesty) aims to conduct studies that are helpful to avoid cases related to the violations of human rights. This association also desires to assist people whose rights were desecrated. Some of the services that the organization offers are lobbying, research as well as direct-appeal campaigns. To know when was Amnesty International created, let us explore and learn the events that have been essential to the formation of this association. It is also helpful to take a look at some relevant information about the campaigns launched by AI.
When was Amnesty International created? Lawyer Peter Benenson established this organization in July 1961 in London, England. According to Benenson, his desire to form this nongovernmental association was inspired by the imprisonment of two Portuguese students because they had a toast to freedom. The lawyer asked help from Eric Baker who was known for providing financial grants to the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Baker and Benenson wrote an article entitled The Forgotten Prisoners, which was published by The Observer, a famous periodical in the 1960s.
The article dealt with violations made by governments to some of the sections of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The publication of the article triggered the launch of the Appeal for Amnesty, 1961, a world campaign to stop human rights violations. To formalize the world campaign, the people behind it led by Benenson and Baker, created Amnesty International.
The worldwide presence of the organization continued until the latter part of the 1960s. In the 1970s, Al was led by some famous personalities including Martin Ennals and Sean MacBride. At this time, the services of the group were focused on fair trials as well as disagreements to the use of terror to prisoners. To help victims, the organization introduced the movement Abolition for Torture. The membership of the association increased to 200,000 before the decade ended.
In the 1980s, Amnesty International continued its operations and campaigns to end the use of torture equipment and devices to prisoners. To become more popular and to get the support of various countries, the organization held the Human Rights Now! Tour in 1998. The association’s international presence was felt in the 1990s and 2000s. One of the most recent campaigns and activities of Al is the mobile donating campaign that initiated limits on world arms trade. Lastly, this group became popular when it opposed and criticized the Iraq War in 2008. | https://www.whenguide.com/when-was-amnesty-international-created.html |
43% female UNOs face obstacles while taking action against graft: TIB
Around 48.5% of obstacles came from influential people and local politicians
TBS Report
04 November, 2021, 02:05 pm
Last modified: 04 November, 2021, 09:24 pm
Photo: Collected.
Some 43.5% of 45 female upazila nirbahi officers in the country have faced various obstacles while taking action against corruption, finds a research by the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
The obstacles include pressure from local influential people and politicians, false allegations, and non-cooperation from law enforcement agencies and the district administrations, according to the report.
While conducting drives against corruption, 45.5% of them were pressured through false allegations while around half of the obstacles came from local influential people and politicians.
"We refused to lease out a government jalmahal to a bidder as the documents he had submitted were not compliant with the government rules. Then, he tried to create pressure by making false allegations against me in different places," said a female UNO while interviewed under the research entitled "Role of Women Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNO) in Establishing Good Governance at the Local Level: Challenges and Way Forward''.
Findings of the research, conducted from June 2020 to March this year, were published in a virtual press conference on Thursday.
As of June last year, 149 out of 485 upazilas in the country had female UNOs. Even though the TIB sent a set of questions to all of the 149 female UNOs for the survey, only 45 responded.
The research found that 78.3% of the female UNOs faced challenges while performing their duty. Most of the challenges were posed by upazila chairmen, local journalists, local MPs, law enforcement agencies, politicians, DCs, ADCs, and local populace.
They faced challenges when they tried to perform their secretariat work under upazila parishad. In performing such duties, around 34.30% of them were pressured to get involved in irregularities in distributing relief goods, while 31.4% were pressured to justify the rationality of various expenditures, 28.6% to approve fake bills, and 25.70% to commit irregularities in purchasing-related works.
Nonetheless, 89.1% of the female UNOs could take action against corruption, which include encouraging the victims to lodge complaints against corruption, punishing corrupt individuals, and complaining against the corrupt to the Anti-Corruption Commission, according to the report.
TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, "That one-third of the country's UNOs are women is an example of women empowerment. But the challenges they face are overshadowing this achievement."
"The situation indicates that society and administration are still discriminatory to women, not gender sensitive," he said.
The research also finds that 40.5% of female UNOs did not get cooperation from upazila chairmen. However, they also faced different types of unethical pressure and sexual harassment.
"Someone deliberately pushed me from behind while going to inspect development work along with the chairman and the minister. Then I said I would not go to such work if I was not provided with security," a female UNO told the researchers.
Other challenges
Meanwhile, 91% of the women UNOs faced various challenges in dealing with the coronavirus situation, which include a lack of necessary budget, corruption in distribution of social security materials, a lack of assistance from offices concerned, and corruption in procurement of medical safety equipment.
In addition, 98% of them faced a variety of challenges, including pressure to commit irregularities in distributing relief materials, in addressing natural disasters.
Besides, they had to face the challenge of coordinating various government works. Those include the additional complexity of coordination between different departments, a lack of timely cooperation from law enforcement agencies and the district administration.
The TIB also put forward a list of recommendations to develop the working environment of women UNOs.
The recommendations are: organising training programmes involving public representatives and government officials to address negative attitudes towards women UNOs, keeping gender sensitivity as an indicator in the annual confidential report (ACR) of government officials, rewarding women UNOs at the district level for to recognise their activities against corruption, providing legal assistance and security in the event of an attack or conspiracy.
Comments
While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments. | |
Cozac is a psychiatric drug used for the treatment of mood disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic attacks, eating disorder etc. Taking Cozac capsules, unpleasant symptoms like fear, anxiety, harmful thoughts, compulsive actions are fade away. Cozac is not for use in patients under 8 years of age. Cozac comprises an active ingredient Cozac, an antidepressant belonging to a class selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (second-generation antidepressants).
Other names for this medication:
Fluoxetine, Cozac, Flunil, Oxactin, Prozac,
Similar Products:
Virostatic, Pasetocin, Cycline, Omecip, Darbazine, Alboz, Cleocin, Erythromycin, Gramaxin, Altiva, Aciclostad, Symbal, Tegretol, Oxytrol, Dapoxetin, Oriphex, Lisovyr, Acyrax, Spectrem, Fluconazole, Ziprax, Xylar, Biotrim, Dacin, Talopam, Motival, Biotine, Medoflucon, Trileptal, Circuvit, Taxim, Etambutol, Seroxat, | https://svenskepiller.com/cozac.html |
Hallmarks of Good Assessment
Alternatives to high-stakes, standardized tests are being implemented across the country. While the alternatives vary in focus and scope, they generally share the following principles:
- Support improved learning. The assessment is designed to provide feedback that helps students improve their learning.
- Help teachers teach better. Good assessment provides an array of information that teachers can use to improve their teaching practices and help ensure student learning.
- Are integrated with the curriculum and instruction. Assessment works best when it flows naturally from, and is part of, student work — i.e., a science experiment that becomes part of the student portfolio.
- Are classroom based. Most of the information for the assessment is based on classroom work done by students over a period of time.
- Use a variety of measures. Good assessment does not rely on a single yardstick but compiles data based on both individual students’ learning plus schoolwide data such as attendance and graduation rates.
- Involve educators, parents, and the broader community. Improved success for students relies on a positive collaboration among the various forces necessary for school reform to work.
- Don’t straight-jacket the curriculum. Good assessment procedures provide for flexibility and don’t dominate the curriculum. | https://rethinkingschools.org/articles/hallmarks-of-good-assessment/ |
An Egyptologist has revealed a ‘long-kept truth’ about Tutankhamun’s riches.
AN EGYPTIAN archaeologist has revealed a “long-standing secret” of Tutankhamun’s wealth, revealing an extraordinary insight into how the ancient civilisation was governed 3,000 years ago.
The 18th Dynasty king, known lovingly as King Tut, is possibly the most recognized name in ancient Egypt. Experts believe the “Boy King’s” father was Pharaoh Akhenaten, whose mummy was discovered in tomb KV55 – across the road in the Valley of the Kings – when he inherited the kingdom at the age of eight. Some have speculated that Tutankhamun’s mother was Nefertiti, Akhenaten’s Great Royal Wife, and that the two reigned together during one of Egypt’s wealthiest times.
During Odyssey’s “The Valley Of Kings: The Egyptian Golden Age,” Egyptologist Professor Joann Fletcher explained how specialists are still learning more.
“His wealth was the most renowned archaeological find of all time, uncovered by Howard Carter in 1922,” she continued.
“Tutankhamun’s mask is the essence of ancient Egypt, so well-known, yet so many of his riches conceal a long-hidden mystery.
“I’ve come to the Griffith Institute at Oxford University to look at the most detailed details of his interment.
“These are the original negatives shot by Howard Carter’s photographer at every stage of the 10-year excavation, captured on exquisite glass slides.
“Because this is the linen shroud, they reveal Tutankhamun’s burial in a way that is rarely seen.”
Prof. Fletcher received a firsthand look at the photographs depicting the condition of his tomb and sarcophagi when they were discovered 100 years ago.
“It appears that the embalmers have just finished, and the family has laid their wreaths and floral tributes before the lid was put on,” she stated.
“Wow, what a privilege to witness this in black and white.
“Despite his reputed wealth, Tutankhamun was a relatively inconsequential pharaoh in life, but his early demise after only a decade as ruler provided Karnak’s priests with the opportunity to annihilate Akhenaten, Nefertiti, and the Amarna period features.
“These incredible photographs of his buried treasure show how they did it.”
However, while studying a depiction of his famed golden throne, where he is represented with his wife Ankhesenamun, Prof Fletcher said how research revealed that “all is not as it seems.”
“Look at the back of the queen’s head where her wig was initially, it’s been slightly chopped down.”Brinkwire Summary News,” she continued. | https://en.brinkwire.com/news/an-egyptologist-has-revealed-a-long-kept-truth-about-tutankhamuns-riches/ |
Global warming and its disastrous consequences are now truly with us since the second part of 2019. At the moment a change in the weather has given parts of the country a respite from the raging fires, some of which are still burning or smoldering, waiting for another warm spell to flare up. The danger zones include the Australian Capital Territory, from where these lines are written. To date 18.6 million hectares(186,000 square kilometers) were burnt, including native forests, native animals, homesteads and towns, and 24 people died. The firestorms betray harbingers of a planetary future, or a lack of such,under ever rising temperatures and extreme weather events inherent in fossil fuel driven global warming.
Global heating
As the atmospheric concentration of the well-mixed greenhouse gases rise (CO2>411.76 ppm;CH4>1870.5 ppb; N2O>333 ppb plus trace greenhouse gases) land temperatures soar (NASA global sea-land mean of1.05C since 1880). According to Berkeley Earth global land temperatures have increased by 1.5C over the past 250 years and mean Arctic temperatures have risen by 2.5C to 3.0C between 1900 and 2017.According to NASA:
- “Extreme heatwaves will become widespread at 1.5 degrees Celsius warming. Most land regions will see more hot days, especially in the tropics.
- At 1.5C about 14 percent of Earth’s population will be exposed to severe heatwaves at least once every five years, while at 2 degrees Celsius warming that number jumps to 37 percent”
- “Risks from forest fires, extreme weather events and invasive species are higher at 2 degrees warming than at 1.5 degrees warming”
- “Ocean warming, acidification and more intense storms will cause coral reefs to decline by 70 to 90 percent at 1.5 degrees Celsius warming, becoming all but non-existent at 2 degrees warming.”
Figure 1. The distribution of global fires. NASA.
However, bar the transient masking effects of sulphur aerosols, which according to estimates by Hansen et al. (2011) induce more than 1.0C of cooling, global temperatures have already reached near 2.0C. As aerosols are not homogeneously distributed, in some parts of the world temperatures have already soared to such levels. Thus the degree to which aerosols cool the earth, which depends on aerosol particle size range, has been grossly underestimated.
The rate of global warming, at ~2 to 3 ppm year and ~1.5C in about one century, faster by an order of magnitude then geological climate catastrophe such as the PETM and the KT impact, has taken scientists by surprise, requiring a change from the term climate change to climatecalamity.
The Australian firestorms
In Australia mean temperatures have risen by 1.5C between 1910 and 2019 (Figure 2), as a combination of global warming and the ENSO conditions, as reported by the Bureau of Meteorology.
“The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) has returned to neutral after one of the strongest positive IOD events to impact Australia in recent history … the IOD’s legacy of widespread warm and dry conditions during the second half of 2019 primed the Australian landscape for bushfire weather and heatwaves this summer. In the Pacific Ocean, although indicators of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) are neutral, the tropical ocean near and to the west of the Date Line remains warmer than average, potentially drawing some moisture away from Australia.”
Figure 2. (A) Australian temperatures; (B) severe fire weather; (C) drought; (D) driest year.Bureau of Meteorology.
The prolonged drought (Figure 1 C, D),low fuel moisture, high temperatures (Figure 2A) and warm winds emanating from the inland have rendered large parts of the Australian continent tinder dry, creating severe fire weather (Figure 2B) subject to ignition by lightning and human factors. Fires on a large scale create their own weather (Figure 4). Observations of major conflagrations, including the 2003 Canberra fires, indicate fires can form atmospheric plumes which can migrate and as hot plumes radiating toward the ground (Figure 4C).
The underlying factor for rising temperatures and increasingly severe droughts in Australia is the polar-ward shift in climate zones(Figure 3) as the Earth warms, estimated as approximately56-111 km per decade, where dry hot subtropical zones encroach into temperate zones, as is also the case in South Africa and the Sahara.
Figure 3. Drying parts of southern Australia, including Western Australia, South Australia and parts of the eastern States, accompanied with increasing bushfires. The blue dots represent more precipitation and the red dots lesser precipitation. The vertical purple lines represent risk of desertification and the purple rings climate change hot spots.
Figure 4. The Australian bushfires (A) A bushfire rages in Mount Adrah, Australia.(B) Australia fire storm; (C) fire tornado, Kangaroo Island
Figure 5 (A) Smoke emanating from the southeastern Australian fires; (B) smoke from the pyro-cumulonimbus clouds of the Australian fires drifting across the Pacific Ocean. The fire clouds have lofted smoke to unusual heights in the atmosphere. The CALIPSO satellite observed smoke soaring between 15 to 19 kilometers on January 6, 2020—high enough to reach the stratosphere.NASA.
Smoke signals emanating from the Australian fires are now circling around the globe (Figure 5) signaling awarning of the future state of Earth should Homo sapiens, so called, not wake up to the consequences of its actions.
(Dr) Andrew Glikson, Earth and climate scientist, Australian National University
By analogy to the requirementfor a patient’s body temperature to be measuredbefore andnot after aspirin has been taken. | https://countercurrents.org/2020/01/global-warming-and-the-australian-fire-storms/ |
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
BACKGROUND
Technical Field
Background Art
SUMMARY
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
First Embodiment
Second Embodiment
Other Embodiments
The present application is a continuation application of International Application No. PCT/JP2018/016177, filed Apr. 19, 2018, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-85496, filed Apr. 24, 2017. The contents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
The present disclosure relates to an object detection device.
An ultrasonic sensor sends a probe wave, which is an ultrasonic wave, externally from the vehicle and receives a reception wave including a reflected wave of the probe wave and transmits a signal in accordance with the reception wave to the ECU.
One aspect of the present disclosure is an object detection device provided with a function of detecting a distance from an object, the device including: a transceiver section that transmits an ultrasonic wave and receives an ultrasonic wave including a reflected wave of the transmitted ultrasonic wave, and outputs a signal in accordance with a wavelength of the received ultrasonic wave; a frequency control section that changes a frequency of the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the transceiver section to a plurality of frequencies different from a driving frequency used to detect the distance from the object; and a fault determination section that determines whether a fault occurs in the function of detecting the distance from the object due to a value of an environment temperature or a wavelength of the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the transceiver section, based on a value of the signal outputted from the transceiver section when the transceiver section transmits the ultrasonic wave at a selected one of the frequencies different from the driving frequency.
Conventionally, object detection devices provided with ultrasonic sensors and electronic control units (ECUs) are used for vehicles. Such an ultrasonic sensor sends a probe wave, which is an ultrasonic wave, externally from the vehicle and receives a reception wave including a reflected wave of the probe wave and transmits a signal in accordance with the reception wave to the ECU. The ECU then senses the approach of an obstacle from an output signal of the ultrasonic sensor to notify a driver and control brakes.
To prevent false notifications and malfunctions in such an object detection device, it is assumed that an object detection device must to be provided with a function to detect faults occurring in itself.
[PTL 1] JP 2013-104689 A
For example, PTL 1 proposes a method of determining whether a fault occurs in an ultrasonic sensor based on whether, when driving an oscillator at one frequency different from the resonance frequency of the oscillator, a wave receiving signal is detected within a detection gate time.
Examples of a cause of a fault in the object detection device include a bubble in a microphone configuring the ultrasonic sensor. Such a bubble in the microphone may cause amplification of the sound pressure of the ultrasonic waves propagating inside the microphone due to resonance and may result in a change in reverberation characteristics.
Such resonance occurs, for example, in the case that the diameter of the bubble coincides with the half wavelength of the ultrasonic wave. The wavelength of the ultrasonic wave is determined by the frequency of the ultrasonic wave and the temperature of the environment. Accordingly, even if a bubble is produced in the microphone, resonance occurs only at a specific temperature as long as the ultrasonic wave has a constant wavelength. When the frequency of the ultrasonic wave to detect a fault is defined as one specific frequency as described in PTL 1, resonance often does not occur even when a bubble is present in the microphone, resulting in low detectability of faults.
In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide an object detection device with high detectability of faults.
According to the configuration of the present disclosure, the frequency control section changes the frequency of the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the transceiver section to a plurality of frequencies different from the frequency of the ultrasonic wave used to detect the distance from the object. Accordingly, the detectability of faults is high compared with the case where the frequency of the ultrasonic wave used to detect a fault is limited to one specific value.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the drawings. In the respective embodiments below, parts identical or equivalent to each other are described with identical signs.
FIG. 1
10
20
30
40
The first embodiment is described. An object detection device in the present embodiment is an ultrasonic sonar device and is provided with a function of detecting the presence of an object around a vehicle, a distance from the object, and the like. As illustrated in , the object detection device includes an ultrasonic sensor , a temperature sensor , an ECU , and a notification section .
10
10
The ultrasonic sensor is arranged facing an outer surface of the vehicle and is configured to send a probe wave, which is an ultrasonic wave, toward the outside of the vehicle and receive a reception wave including a reflected wave of the probe wave, to output a signal in accordance with a waveform of the reception wave. The ultrasonic sensor is equivalent to a transceiver section.
FIG. 1
FIG. 2
10
11
12
11
13
14
15
As illustrated in , the ultrasonic sensor includes a microphone and a control section . As illustrated in , the microphone is provided with a piezoelectric element , a case made of aluminum, and a silicon resin .
14
13
14
13
14
14
15
13
15
The case is configured with a cylindrical frame. The piezoelectric element is arranged inside the case , and the piezoelectric element is adhered to an axial end of the case . A space inside the case is filled with the silicone resin , and the piezoelectric element is covered with the silicone resin .
14
13
12
12
13
12
Wiring, not shown, is formed inside the case , and via the wiring, the piezoelectric element is connected to the control section . An alternating voltage is applied from the control section to two electrodes provided in the piezoelectric element , causing deformation of a piezoelectric film and transmission of ultrasonic waves. The control section receives a potential difference caused between the two electrodes when the piezoelectric film is deformed due to the received ultrasonic waves.
12
13
30
13
30
12
30
13
12
13
12
30
d
d
d
The control section is connected to the piezoelectric element and the ECU and changes the frequency of the alternating voltage to be applied to the piezoelectric element based on a signal from the ECU . The control section sends a signal, to the ECU , in accordance with the potential difference between the two electrodes provided in the piezoelectric element . Specifically, in the control section , a band pass filter (BPF), not shown, is arranged to pass a signal in a predetermined frequency band and interrupt signals in other frequency bands different from the predetermined frequency band. The BPF has a center frequency varying in accordance with a driving frequency fdescribed later. The signal outputted by the piezoelectric element is processed by the BPF provided in the control section and then is inputted to the ECU . In the present embodiment, as described later, the driving frequency fis assumed to be 60 kHz and the center frequency of the BPF is assumed to be 60 kHz, i.e. the same as the driving frequency f.
20
10
10
20
30
30
20
The temperature sensor detects the temperature of the environment where the ultrasonic sensor is placed and outputs a signal in accordance with the temperature, and is arranged near the ultrasonic sensor . The temperature sensor is connected to the ECU by a controller area network (CAN) communication bus or the like, and the ECU performs a fault detection process and object detection process described later based on the signal outputted by the temperature sensor .
30
The ECU is configured with a known microcomputer provided with a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an I/O unit, and the like, and executes process, such as various arithmetic processing, in accordance with a program stored in the ROM and the like. The ROM and the RAM are non-transitory tangible storage media.
40
30
40
The notification section notifies a driver of the presence of an object at a short distance and the like in accordance with the signal from the ECU . The notification section is configured with, for example, a monitor, a beeper, and the like.
12
11
30
12
11
11
12
30
30
11
In the object detection device thus configured, an alternating voltage is applied from the control section to the microphone based on the signal transmitted from the ECU to the control section , causing an ultrasonic wave transmitted from the microphone . The microphone outputs a signal in accordance with the received ultrasonic wave, and the signal is transmitted via the control section to the ECU . The ECU then measures a distance from the object based on time between transmission and reception of the ultrasonic wave by the microphone , and based on the result of measurement, determines whether there is an object within a short distance.
FIG. 3
FIG. 3
FIG. 5
11
Such operation is described with reference to . In the graphs in and described later, the ordinate represents the amplitude of the output signal from the microphone .
FIG. 3
30
12
11
11
1
As illustrated in , after the signal is transmitted from the ECU to the control section , when the microphone sends an ultrasonic wave at time point t, a state where the output signal of the microphone has a large amplitude continues for a while due to reverberation, but the reverberation decreases with time and the output signal amplitude decreases.
th1
th1
th1
2
2
3
1
3
To distinguish the output signal due to reverberation from the output signal due to the reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave reflected by the object, an object at a short distance is not detected when the value of the output signal is greater than a predetermined threshold Aand until predetermined time passes after the value of the output signal becomes less than the threshold A. Specifically, a time point when the value of the output signal becomes less than the threshold Ais defined as tand a time point when a certain period of time has passed after time point tis defined as t, and an object within a short distance is not detected between time point tand time point t.
2
th2
3
4
th2
4
4
1
1
4
11
30
40
FIG. 3
When there is no fault in the function of detecting the distance from the object, the output signal is attenuated even after time point tand becomes smaller than a predetermined threshold Auntil time point t. If there is no object within a short distance, the output signal continues to be attenuated until time point t. In contrast, if there is an object, the microphone receives the ultrasonic wave reflected by the object, and as indicated by a dash dotted line in , a signal having an amplitude greater than the threshold Ais outputted at a time point before time point t. The object within a short distance is thus detected, and the ECU sends a signal indicating the presence of the object within a short distance to the notification section . Time point tis defined as a time point when a certain period of time has passed after time point t, and the time between time point tand time point tis set in accordance with a distance to detect an object and the like.
th1
The object detection device thus distinguishes the output signal due to the reverberation from the output signal due to the reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave reflected by the object, by providing the threshold Afor the output signal and providing the time during which an object within a short distance is not to be detected.
FIG. 4
11
15
However, as illustrated in for example, if a bubble is formed in the microphone during the process of forming the silicon resin , reverberation characteristics may be changed due to resonance and a fault sometimes occurs in the function of detecting the distance from the object.
FIG. 4
13
14
13
14
13
Specifically, as indicated by arrows in , when the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the piezoelectric element reaches a bubble through the case , resonance occurs in the case where, for example, the diameter of the bubble coincides with the half wavelength of the ultrasonic wave, and the sound pressure of the ultrasonic wave is greatly amplified. The ultrasonic wave with the amplified sound pressure then returns to the piezoelectric element through the case , causing a large deformation of the piezoelectric element .
FIG. 5
13
th1
3
As illustrated in , the output signal due to such deformation of the piezoelectric element repeats large increases and decreases of the amplitude. Accordingly, even after the state where the value of the output signal becomes less than the threshold Acontinues for a predetermined period of time and passes time point t, the output signal sometimes becomes greater again and there is a risk of causing a detection error.
30
40
30
40
11
To avoid a false notification due to such a fault, the ECU performs a fault detection process to detect the wavelength of the ultrasonic wave when the fault occurs. In the object detection process to transmit a signal in accordance with the distance from the object to the notification section , the ECU then stops transmitting of the signal to the notification section when determining that the wavelength of the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the microphone coincides with the wavelength of the ultrasonic wave in the occurrence of the fault.
FIG. 6
FIG. 6
FIG. 6
30
Such fault detection process and object detection process are described with reference to the drawings. First, the fault detection process is described referring to . The ECU starts the fault detection process illustrated in when, for example, the ignition switch of a vehicle is turned on. In addition, when the object detection process is set to be performed only while, for example, driving at less than 40 km/s, the fault detection process may be performed while driving at 40 km/s or more when the object detection process is not performed. The fault detection process illustrated in may be used for inspection of the object detection device before product shipment.
FIG. 6
30
101
102
30
102
MAX
As illustrated in , the ECU starts the fault detection process to set i=1 at step S and the process proceeds to step S, and the ECU determines whether i is greater than a predetermined value iat step S.
30
102
103
30
10
30
12
13
MAX
s
s
If the ECU determines at step S that i is not greater than i, the process proceeds to step S and the ECU drives the ultrasonic sensor at a frequency f[i]. In other words, the ECU transmits a signal to the control section to apply an alternating voltage at the frequency f[i] between the two electrodes of the piezoelectric element .
d
s
d
d
MAX
d
d
10
103
30
10
When the driving frequency to detect the distance from the object is defined as f, the frequency f[i] of the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the ultrasonic sensor at step S is within a predetermined frequency range including the driving frequency fand is defined as a frequency different from the driving frequency f. In addition, iis defined as an integer of 2 or more. In the predetermined frequency range including the driving frequency f, the ECU changes the frequency of the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the ultrasonic sensor to a plurality of frequencies different from the driving frequency f.
10
30
102
103
d
s
s
s
In the present embodiment, considering the range of wavelength changes due to the temperature, the range of changing the frequency of the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the ultrasonic sensor is defined as ½ time or more and 3 times or less the driving frequency f, and the frequency f[i] is defined to increase with an increase in i. Specifically, the range of the frequency f[i] is defined as 30 kHz or more and 180 kHz or less. Alternatively, the frequency f[i] may be defined to decrease with an increase in i. The ECU functions as a frequency control section by executing steps S and S.
30
10
10
10
s
s
s
The ECU calculates a wavelength λ[i] based on an environment temperature T and the value of an output signal of the ultrasonic sensor when the ultrasonic sensor receives a reflected wave of an ultrasonic wave transmitted by the ultrasonic sensor at the frequency f[i]. The wavelength λ[i] is the wavelength of an ultrasonic wave when a fault occurs in the function of detecting the distance from the object.
103
104
30
10
30
10
30
104
Specifically, on the step proceeds from step S to step S and the ECU acquires the output signal of the ultrasonic sensor . The ECU then determines whether the value of the output signal is a value in a predetermined range, and if the value of the output signal is a value out of the predetermined range, determines that a fault occurs in the function of detecting the distance from the object based on the environment temperature or the wavelength of the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the ultrasonic sensor . The ECU functions as a fault determination section by executing step S.
30
11
13
th1
s
FIGS. 3 and 5
In this step, the ECU determines whether the value of the output signal of the microphone becomes a predetermined threshold or more after a predetermined period of time has passed from application of an alternating voltage to the piezoelectric element , and if the value of the output signal is a predetermined threshold or more, determines that a fault occurs in the function of detecting the distance from the object. As the threshold, for example, a threshold to distinguish the output signal due to the reverberation from the output signal due to the reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave reflected by the object, in other words, the threshold Aillustrated in may be used. The threshold may vary with the frequency f[i].
30
10
104
105
102
If the ECU determines that the value of the output signal of the ultrasonic sensor is not the predetermined threshold or more at step S, the process proceeds to step S and i is incremented by 1, and then the process returns to step S.
30
10
104
106
20
107
Meanwhile, if the ECU determines that the value of the output signal of the ultrasonic sensor is the predetermined threshold or more at step S, the process proceeds to step S and the environment temperature T is acquired based on the signal from the temperature sensor and then the process proceeds to step S.
107
30
106
105
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
At step S, the ECU calculates a wavelength λ[i] (m) based on the frequency f[i] (Hz) and the environment temperature T (° C.) acquired at step S. Specifically, where the velocity of sound is defined as v(m/s), λ[i]=v/f[i] and v=0.6T+331.5 and thus λ[i]=(0.6T+331.5)/f[i]. Then, the fault occurring in the function of detecting the distance from the object at the wavelength λ[i] is stored and the process proceeds to step S.
MAX
s
102
108
30
If it is determined that i is greater than iat step S, the process proceeds to step S, and the ECU determines whether there is any wavelength λ[i] stored as the wavelength at which the fault occurs.
s
108
109
30
If it is determined that there is no wavelength λ[i] stored as the wavelength at which the fault occurs at step S, the process proceeds to step S, and the ECU determines that there is no fault occurred in the function of detecting the distance from the object and terminates the fault detection process.
s
108
110
30
In contrast, if it is determined that there is a wavelength λ[i] stored as the wavelength at which the fault occurs at step S, the process proceeds to step S, and the ECU determines that there is a fault occurred in the function of detecting the distance from the object and terminates the fault detection process.
FIG. 7
FIG. 7
30
30
13
201
s
d
s
s
s
d
s
s
Referring to , the object detection process will now be described. As illustrated in , when the ECU starts the object detection process, the ECU calculates a temperature T[i] at which a fault occurs while an alternating voltage at the frequency fis applied to the piezoelectric element , based on the wavelength λ[i] at step S. Specifically, on the basis of λ[i]=(0.6T[i]+331.5)/f, the temperature T[i] is calculated for all λ[i] stored as the wavelengths at which the fault occurs.
202
30
20
201
202
30
s
s
At step S, the ECU then acquires the environment temperature T based on the output signal of the temperature sensor and determines whether any of the temperatures T[i] calculated at step S coincides with the environment temperature T. If it is determined that any of the temperatures T[i] coincides with the environment temperature T at step S, the ECU terminates the object detection process.
s
202
203
30
In contrast, if it is determined that no temperatures T[i] coincide with the environment temperature T at step S, in other words, no fault occurs in the function of detecting the distance from the object, the process proceeds to step S and the ECU calculates the distance from the object.
30
12
11
11
12
30
11
12
11
12
d
Specifically, the ECU transmits a signal to the control section to cause the microphone to transmit an ultrasonic wave at the frequency fand acquires a signal based on the waveform of the ultrasonic wave received by the microphone from the control section . The ECU then calculates the distance from the object, based on the time between transmission and reception of the ultrasonic wave by the microphone , specifically, the time from transmitting a signal to the control section until inputting the output signal of the microphone by the reflected wave via the control section .
203
204
30
203
30
204
The process proceeds from step S to step S, where the ECU determines whether the distance calculated at step S is a predetermined threshold or less. The ECU functions as a distance determination section by executing step S.
204
30
205
If it is determined that the distance from the object is not the predetermined threshold or less at step S, the ECU terminates the object detection process. If it is determined that the distance from the object is the predetermined threshold or less, the process proceeds to step S.
205
30
40
At step S, the ECU transmits a signal indicating that the distance from the object is the predetermined threshold or less to the notification section to terminates the object detection process.
30
11
11
30
40
30
11
s
s
s
d
s
d
d
d
In such a manner, in the fault detection process, the ECU calculates and stores the wavelength λ[i] at which the fault occurs, based on the environment temperature T and the output of the microphone when a reflected wave of an ultrasonic wave transmitted at the frequency f[i] by the microphone is received. In the object detection process, if there is an object within a short distance, the ECU then outputs a signal indicating the presence of the object within a short distance to the notification section . If T=T[i] in other words, λ=λ[i], the ECU stops outputting the signal indicating the presence of the object within a short distance. It should be noted that λis a wavelength of the probe wave transmitted by the microphone , and λ=(0.6T+331.5)/f.
FIG. 5
11
202
40
3
s
In such a manner, it is possible to reduce detection errors and false notifications due to a value of the wavelength. For example, in a situation as illustrated in where abnormal reverberation occurs due to a bubble and the like and the output signal of the microphone has a large amplitude after time point t, it is determined made that T=T[i] at step S. The object detection process is then terminated without transmitting a signal indicating the presence of an object within a short distance to the notification section .
In the present embodiment, the frequency of the ultrasonic wave to detect a fault is further changed to a plurality of values, and thus the detectability of faults is high compared with the case that the frequency to detect a fault is limited to one specific value. In such a manner, it is possible to further reduce detection errors and false notifications for an object within a short distance.
11
Where the wavelength of the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the microphone is defined as λ and the diameter of the bubble is defined as d, the sound pressure of the ultrasonic wave is greatly amplified by the resonance particularly when d=λ/2. However, where m is defined as an integer of 3 or more and n is defined as a natural number, the sound pressure also has a possibility of being greatly amplified when d=λ/m and d=n×λ.
d
s
d
s
s
s
d
s
s
s
201
To cope with this situation, when λ=λ[i]/n or λ=n×λ[i] in the object detection process, the notification of the presence of the object within a short distance may be stopped. In other words, the temperature T[i] for (0.6T[i]+331.5)/f=λ[i]/n, n×λ[i] may be calculated at step S to stop the notification of the presence of the object within a short distance if the temperature T[i] coincides with the environment temperature T.
s
The second embodiment is described. In the present embodiment, the process when the temperature T[i] coincides with the environment temperature T in the first embodiment is changed. The rest remains same as the first embodiment and thus a description is given only of the differences from the first embodiment.
30
d
s
d
s
In the present embodiment, the ECU changes the driving frequency fto a value different from the original value when T=T[i], in other words, λ=λ[i].
FIG. 8
s
d
d
s
202
206
30
206
203
30
40
Specifically, as illustrated in , if it is determined that T=T[i] at step S, the process proceeds to step S, and the ECU changes the driving frequency fto a different value from the original value to establish λ≠λ[i]. Occurrence of a fault in the function of detecting the distance from the object caused by the wavelength is thus suppressed. The process then proceeds from step S to step S, and the ECU transmits a signal to the notification section in accordance with the distance from the object.
d
d
In the present embodiment where the driving frequency fis changed in such a manner, it is possible to perform detection and notification of an object within a short distance even at a temperature where a fault occurs at the original driving frequency f.
d
s
d
s
d
s
s
d
s
s
s
d
202
When λ=λ[i]/n or λ=n×λ[i], the driving frequency fmay be changed to a value different from the original value. In other words, the temperature T[i] for (0.6T+331.5)/f=λ[i]/n, n×λ[i] is calculated at step S, and if the temperature T[i] coincides with the environment temperature T, the driving frequency fmay be changed to a value different from the original value.
It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above and may be changed appropriately. In each embodiment above, the components in the embodiment naturally do not have to be essential unless particularly specified as essential and obviously considered as essential from the principles. In addition, in each embodiment above, when numerical values are referred to, such as the numbers, values, amounts, and ranges of the components in the embodiment and the like, they are not limited to the specific numbers unless particularly specified as essential and obviously limited to the specific numbers in principle. Also, in each embodiment above, when the shapes, positional relationships, and the like of the components and the like are described, they are not limited to those described unless particularly specified as essential and obviously limited to the specific shapes, positional relationships, and the like in principle.
s
s
s
d
For example, in the fault detection process, the diameter d of the bubble may be calculated instead of the wavelength λ[i] from the environment temperature T and the frequency f[i], and in the object detection process the temperature T[i] may be calculated from the diameter d and the driving frequency f.
11
The present disclosure may be applied to the case that a fault occurs due to a cause other than a bubble. For example, a fault due to a value of the wavelength of an ultrasonic wave sometimes occurs, in the case such as of extraneous matter being attached to the outside of the microphone and the like. In such a case, application of the present disclosure allows calculation of the wavelength at which the fault occurs.
10
30
30
10
20
10
12
30
Although a single ultrasonic sensor is used as a transmission and reception section in the first embodiment, a transmission section to transmit an ultrasonic wave and a reception section to receive an ultrasonic wave may be provided separately. Although the ECU is used as the frequency control section, the fault determination section, and the distance determination section in the first embodiment, the frequency control section, the fault determination section, and the distance determination section may be arranged separately. The ECU may be included in the ultrasonic sensor . The temperature sensor may be included in the ultrasonic sensor . The control section may perform some of the process performed by the ECU to function as the frequency control section, the fault determination section, and/or the distance determination section.
FIG. 9
203
204
201
202
205
s
d
s
In the object detection process, as illustrated in , whether a fault occurs in the function of detecting the distance from the object may be determined only if determination is made that there is an object within a short distance. In other words, steps S and S may be performed after starting the object detection process, and steps S and S may be performed if the distance from the object is the predetermined threshold or less, and step S may be performed if the temperature T[i] does not coincide with the environment temperature T and λ≠λ.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a diagram illustrating the general configuration of an object detection device according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2
FIG. 1
is a cross-sectional view of a microphone in .
FIG. 3
is a graph illustrating output of a normal microphone.
FIG. 4
is a cross-sectional view of a microphone in which a bubble is formed.
FIG. 5
is a graph illustrating output of the microphone in which a bubble is formed.
FIG. 6
is a flow chart illustrating a fault detection process in the first embodiment.
FIG. 7
is a flow chart illustrating an object detection process in the first embodiment.
FIG. 8
is a flow chart illustrating an object detection process in a second embodiment.
FIG. 9
is a flow chart illustrating an object detection process in another embodiment. | |
CAS-Croucher Joint Labs
The CAS-Croucher Funding Scheme for Joint Laboratories is the outcome of an agreement between The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Croucher Foundati...
Further visuo-auditory integration investigation
Encoding and retrieval of artificial visuo-auditory memory traces in the auditory cortex of the brain needs the entorhinal cortex, and a special chemical.
Professor HE Ju-fang
A collaborative study by Professor He Ju-fang at the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Professor He Shi-gang at the Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has demonstrated that artificial visuo-auditory memory traces can be established in rat auditory cortex and that their encoding and retrieval requires the entorhinal cortex. This is part of the brain that is believed to be associated with memory.
Using a classical conditioning protocol, the researchers produced an association between cortical electrical stimulation and a visual stimulus. After conditioning, they examined the resultant memory traces both physiologically (in terms of the response of auditory cortical neurons to the visual stimulus) and behaviourally (in terms of cue-induced freezing and cue-guided reward retrieval behaviour).
Encoding of a new artificial visuo-auditory memory trace in auditory cortex was achieved easily under normal conditions but was blocked bilaterally by unilateral, temporary inactivation of the entorhinal cortex. Retrieval of an established artificial visuo-auditory memory in the neocortex was also affected by unilateral entorhinal cortex inactivation, albeit to a lesser extent. This suggests that retrieval of this associative memory depends on the hippocampal system, at least during the early stages of memory consolidation.
Patients with damage to the medial temporal lobe have great difficulty forming new long-term declarative memories. The researchers found that cortical projection neurons in the perirhinal/entorhinal cortices were mostly cholecystokinin (CCK) immunopositive. Chlolecystokinin is a neuropeptide, which is also known as the memory writing chemical by scientists. It's function is to switch on the memory-writing part of the brain called the neocortex.
CCK applied to the auditory cortex of anaesthetised rats enabled their neurons to respond to a previously ineffective tone stimulus or to a light stimulus after the tone/light had been paired with the best-frequency tone/noise-burst stimulus.
According to Jufang He, without the neuropeptide, images that are perceived cannot be stored. "Without that chemical," Jufang said, "probably you will see the picture and when you turn a few minutes later, it's all gone. Nothing remains in the brain."
In-vivo intracellular recordings in the auditory cortex showed that synaptic strength was potentiated after 2-trials that paired presynaptic and postsynaptic co-activities in the presence of CCK. An application of a CCK receptor antagonist in the auditory cortex prevented the formation of the visuo-auditory associative memory by classical conditioning, which is otherwise easily formed in behaving rats. Jufang He and colleagues concluded that the hippocampal system exerts its influence on cortical neuroplasticity through the action of CCK.
Information and memories are stored in the brain following synaptic modifications between neurons. Long-term potentiation (LTP), which is widely accepted as a cellular process that supports learning, can only be induced after either continuous high-frequency stimulation or repetitive multi-trial stimulation of neural input.
However, memories can be established after a single trial. Here, the teams have successfully produced a potentiation in the glutamate-activated current/potential after a single-trial pairing of glutamate puff-application and firing of the recorded neuron in the presence of cholecystokinin (CCK).
They proposed a model describing the role of CCK in potentiating synaptic strength where CCK represents a switch producing the change. When the switch is turned on, a single pairing of glutamate release, equivalent to presynaptic neurotransmitter release, with a postsynaptic action potential produces synaptic potentiation.
The results further suggest that synaptic strength can be potentiated through changes in postsynaptic receptors without altering presynaptic components.
Now that the neuropeptide has been identified, the next step is to find smaller molecules that will mimic the memory-writing peptide. "This has enormous implications for addressing memory problems," Jufang said. | https://projects.croucher.org.hk/cas-croucher-joint-laboratories/further-visuo-auditory-integration-investigation |
The White House’s science advisors have proposed an AI “Bill of Rights” to restrict the extent of artificial intelligence (AI) damages in a first-of-its-kind initiative. On Friday, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy started a new fact-finding mission focused on facial recognition software and other biometric technologies that are used to identify people as well as gauge their mental and emotional states. This bill is said to be mirroring the United States Bill of Rights adopted in 1791.
The development of artificial intelligence has been accompanied by an increase in evidence of algorithmic prejudice. Algorithms trained on real-world data sets mimic the bias inherent in the human decisions they are attempting to replace. Women have been passed over for positions as computer programmers, and black patients have been prosecuted for crimes they did not commit. In other words, artificial intelligence technologies rely on data sets that are frequently skewed in ways that duplicate and magnify existing social prejudices.
Eric Lander, President Biden’s chief science adviser, and Alondra Nelson, the deputy director for science and society, warned of the dangers presented by technology such as face recognition, automatic translators, and medical diagnosis algorithms. The two also raised concerns about the security and privacy dangers posed by internet-connected gadgets, such as smart speakers and webcams.
They also wrote an opinion piece for Wired magazine about the need for new safeguards against faulty and harmful AI that can discriminate against people unfairly or violate their privacy. According to their article, although the first aim is to “enumerate the rights,” they also hope to persuade the federal contractors to refuse to purchase technology and software that “fails to respect these rights.” Another alternative is to make it necessary for government contractors using such technology to adhere to this “bill of rights,” and to enact new rules to fill in any gaps.
This isn’t the first time the Biden administration has expressed worry about AI’s potential for harm, but it is one of the clearest moves toward taking action.
Algorithms have become so powerful in recent years as a result of breakthroughs in computer science that their developers have pitched them as resources that may help humans make choices more effectively and impartially. However, the notion that algorithms are impartial is a myth; they still reflect human prejudices. And, as they grow more common, we must establish clear guidelines for what they can and must not — be permitted to accomplish.
While the COVID-19 pandemic triggered urgency to develop and use artificial intelligence technologies, it also highlighted the need to tackle deep-rooted bias to ensure transparency, explainability, and fairness.
Read More: China releases Guidelines on AI ethics, focusing on User data control
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy has issued a “public call for information” for AI specialists and others who employ AI technology. They’re also encouraging anyone who wants to weigh in on the issue to send an email to [email protected].
The Software Trade Association, which is supported by corporations like IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, and Salesforce, applauded the White House’s decision. But it has also demanded that companies do their own risk assessments of AI products and explain how they would minimize such risks.
For now, the United States Bill of Rights, a 230-year-old text with 652 words, is still the topic of heated discussion, according to the report’s summary.
Their European counterparts have already taken a few steps to curb potentially dangerous AI uses. The European Parliament has passed legislation prohibiting mass surveillance and predictive policing.
Meanwhile, the UK government has proposed the idea of repealing or diluting Article 22 of the GDPR laws, which gives individuals the right to have AI judgments reviewed by a person. The UK Government released a consultation document on ideas to overhaul the UK’s data protection framework on September 10, 2021. The deadline for responding to the consultation is November 19, 2021.
Article 22 lays forth the right to a human review of automated decisions, including profiling, such as whether or not to provide a loan or a job.
Revocation or amendment of Article 22 would very certainly have a negative impact on algorithmic prejudice, disproportionately affecting minorities. Removing the right to review might hinder innovation rather than help it, leading to more algorithmic disparities and a loss of public trust in AI. | https://analyticsdrift.com/white-house-advisors-propose-bill-of-rights-to-limit-the-misuse-of-ai/ |
Thank you to NETGALLEY and SARAH JIO for allowing me to read and review. This is fourth novel written by Sarah Jio, I have enjoyed them all, especially Blackberry Winter. I like the way the author introduces the reader to her characters, you grow to care about them and what happens to them. The story goes from past to present, present to past.
The story starts with the future, Kailey is engaged to marry Ryan, she has a job she loves, she feels that she has finally moved on from her painful past, that life is good for her, then she runs into a homeless man, and who that homeless man turns out to be will turn her world upside down.
in love, the attraction is strong and life changing. Cade is everything Kailey wants in a man, he is dedicated to music and to Kailey. Then one day, they argue and he disappears, ten years later, with her life in control, she realizes he is in big trouble. She feels that she has to help him, she cannot let him go. But if she helps Cade, will she lose Ryan, who is so good for her. Follow her story to see what she decides to do.
remind you of that time. It is full of sadness, some mystery, music, much happiness, forgiveness, new beginnings, but most of all, love, and we all know love is everything.
Famous painting by Andrew Wyeth.. | https://christine-happybooklover.net/2017/02/27/review-for-always/ |
Upon finding my seat in Mainline’s intimate theatre and taking in the set, I felt as though I had found myself inside the mind of the artist. Loose sheet music covered the floor and musical measures were broken up along the back wall.
The chaos of the mess created a familiar image, that of the mad and messy creative. This was contrasted sharply by the order that the sheet music represented.
The pre-show music was played by a live solo violinist, Violette Kay, who bounced between various sheets on the floor and played them as she saw fit. Kay was the source of all the music in the show, as well as Adoration’s playwright.
In Adoration, two former violin students reconnect after the suicide of their mentor, Konstantin Treplev. Though what was unexpected of this play was how little of the content actually covers Konstantin’s death or discusses suicide at all.
It felt as though the focus was instead shifted on why the students cared he was gone, how the music made up their lives and what could one use as a barometer for success or failure. This is not to say that Konstantin’s death was trivialized, but simply that the music that composed his life was of a much greater importance, as one could clearly see the ripples of influence in the lives of those around him.
Skyler Clark and Nils Svensson-Carell both excelled as the young prodigal students trapped in a real world. Vanessa Ashley-Schmoelz and Nick Fontaine contrasted each other perfectly, as two instructors with differing approaches and priorities.
Adoration wrestled with the costs and benefits of bringing passion into the professional sphere, showing both the sublime love and purpose these artists felt as well as their despair and doubt.
Refreshingly real and not overtly cynical, the characters of Adoration held one common thread over all of their quirks and difficulties, and that was the idea that music must be lived up to, and not brought down.
Imagine 16 musicians each performing their own unique compositions until at the very end, everyone comes together to sing the last song in a beautiful mesh of sound. Les FrancoFolies de Montréal festival transformed that imagination into a reality.
Les FrancoFolies ended their 29th edition with the LOUVE Project at the Bell Stage in the Quartier des Spectacles. The project consisted of the gathering of 16 Montreal-based women musicians performing onstage, exposing the audience to a variety of musical genres including pop, rock and techno under the musical direction of Ariane Moffatt.
As part of the official program for Montreal’s 375th anniversary, each of these musicians performed a one hour set, giving the audience a taste of their own musical compositions.
Before the LOUVE project took to the stage, local musician Philippe Brach played his own hour long set at the Ford stage on Ste. Catherine St. Since being discovered by the Radio-Canada team in 2015, Brach stirred up a pot of engaging melodies including some slow ballads, energetic rhythms and a touch of random yelling in his pieces.
The piece that the audience was most engaged with was called “Bonne journée.” Brach sang while clapping along continuously.
This piece got everyone in the crowd to sing an entire song by heart without any musical instruments to help back up the melody, clapping along to the beat that Brach created.
Brach ended his set with a soft continuous ballad called “Crystel,” a song about being in an unhealthy relationship.The melody for this song included a slow shuffling drum beat, lightly incorporating the snare drum and the tomtom accompanied by the mellow strum from an acoustic guitar.
After his performance ended, the LOUVE project invaded the Bell stage. Among these musicians were Ariane Moffatt, Marie-Pierre Arthur and Salomé Leclerc. One by one, they all emerged onto the stage and began their set with a song called “Les filles,” which began with a soft piano melody on the synthesizer.
As the song progressed, the background vocalists gradually increased their volume until the electric guitar created a loud distortion appearance, followed by the repetitive beat coming from the snare drum and Amylie Boisclair’s soft voice.
The song that gave a great punchy rock feeling to this whole collaborative performance was “Motel 1755” by The Hay Babies. The dynamic fast-paced drum beat paired with the loud repetitive chord progressions from two electric guitars and one acoustic guitar made for a fun and aggressive tune, which ultimately blew the audience away.
The Hay Babies really engaged themselves in this piece, having each band mate show off their rock and roll capabilities by having their guitar tones elevated to the maximum. Each chord that was strummed delivered an electric vibe to the audience, energizing them for the upcoming performance.
The final song of the performance for LOUVE was “Tout arrive” by Les Soeurs Boulay, made up of the sisters Stéphanie and Mélanie Boulay. This tune captured the essence of the formation since each of the 16 musicians collaborated in this final song, delivering the message to celebrate the greatness of music. Each musical note created a relationship between the artist and the crowd.
This song was a great way to end the show since its quiet ballad allowed the audience to hear the background vocals and the guitars without any electric instruments to overlap the soft sounds. Limiting the song to just two acoustic guitars and background vocals kept the piece simple, ending the show with a light touch.
Ending the performance with this group of musicians captured the whole idea of the performance since it was specifically designed to celebrate the 375th anniversary of Montreal and also the 29th anniversary of Les FrancoFolies de Montréal. This powerful collaborative show not only created a special moment in the history of Les FrancoFolies, but for the city as well in terms of music.
The 29th edition of Les FrancoFolies de Montréal ended on a beautiful melodic note thanks in large part to the performances in the LOUVE Project. No doubt that the organizing team must have already begun their preparations for next year’s edition of this musically charged festival.
Johanna Nutter’s one woman show OSCAR Girl Gone Wilde. Courtesy Johanna Nutter.
Montreal company Creature/creature’s latest piece OSCAR Girl Gone Wilde certainly filled its seats. The one woman showing starring Johanna Nutter is a 45-minute ride through a simple, personal, and thoroughly enjoyable retelling of three Oscar Wilde fairy tales.
Before the play begins, the intimacy of the show is recognizable. The room is set up into a semicircle of chairs squished closely together. Pre-show chatter feels public, and immediately it becomes obvious that this show will be a group experience.
As the play begins, Nutter enters in darkness, grabs herself a beer from the fridge and enjoys singing along and dancing to some loud music over the radio. As the audience starts to feel relaxed—recognizing a wind down from a long, hot day at work—Nutter launches into the topic of her childhood love of Oscar Wilde’s stories. Her joy in the tragedy and beauty of them is what brings the play into a gracefully simple bare bones performance of these three tales.
It is in the presentation of these stories that OSCAR finds its greatest strength. The play works so well because it is entirely reliant and focused on the root of theatre—storytelling. The passion and love for these stories is entirely apparent as Nutter transforms the small space into a world of giants and talking statues with nothing but her performance and a few basic props.
The play’s one weak point is subtle. Transitions between stories feel awkwardly long, though moments of them may produce laughs and be enjoyable in and of themselves—Nutter breaking to go to the bathroom as she begins one story got a particularly strong reaction from the audience. Still, these in-between pauses break the flow of the show that the storytelling creates.
The good news is that the show returns to the Wilde stories and wastes little time immersing the audience in them. A touching, live phone call to bring in a special guest to help Nutter through the final story wraps the play up on a sweet and sentimental note.
Despite minor problems, OSCAR Girl Gone Wilde remains a strong and entertaining play. No one should be surprised if it finds its way off of the Fringe Festival and into a theatre company’s season in little time.
Musicians who overuse the distortion effect to create a loudness in their music are usually the ones who want to make sure that their melody travels and stays in the hearts of their audiences. Montreal-based musician Bernhari manages to pull this off.
This past Saturday, Bernahri performed at the L’Astral concert hall for Les FrancoFolies de Montréal festival. For this performance, he and his backup musicians turned up the volume on their instruments, transmitting waves of electric melodies to their audience.
Opening for Bernhari was a group named Fishbach. For the first time in North America, this France-based band fuses different musical genres such as rock and pop to purposely re-create a 1980’s sound.
Drum pads and a bass with a clean electric guitar tone were fused together to create a continuous thumping beat, giving the sound a small dose of rock. At the same time, the use of synthesizers provided fuzzy tones.
Fishbach began with a song called “Tu vas vibrer” that began with a mysterious echoing sound on the synthesizers followed by the humming noises from the background vocalists.
The electronic drum pad slowly worked its way in to create a slow-paced rhythmic pattern. Once the tempo reached its climax, the electric bass created a continuous thumping sound that changed the melody into a funky beat.
The song ended with the clean tone from a Fender Stratocaster, strumming a fast and loud repetitive chord progression.
Another piece that this opening band performed was “Night Bird (Petit Monstre).” The loud sound of the electric bass was the heart of this track; it constructed the foundational beat that other instruments followed to complete the melody.
The song began with the echoing sound of feedback from the electric guitar, followed by a heavy repetitive beat from the bass drum on the drum pad and the thumping sound from the electric bass.
The tempo of the song changes to a fast-paced melody, ending with the echo-y feedback effect from the electric guitar that was heard at the beginning of the song.
After Fishbach’s performance, Bernhari and his accompanying musicians emerged onto the stage. The group began their set with the song called “Bouquet final”, which started off with the synthesizers creating looping effect out of several musical notes. The synths were quickly joined by the joyful sound of the piano keys.
The beat began all at once with a repetitive distortion melody on the electric guitar, followed by the loud picking of the bass, the depth sound from the acoustic drum set and Bernhari’s soft mellow voice.
As all the instruments slowly quieted down towards the end of the song, the tempo changed and turned into a funky fast-paced beat, repeatedly hitting the snares and the cymbals.
Another song that Bernhari played was “Aime moi.” This song incorporated several transitions, which made it interesting to follow the melody since each rhythmical pattern was different. The transitions opened the audience’s musical horizons allowing them to discover all the impossible rhythms that can be worked into one single song.
The piece began with Bernhari’s soft voice as he played a gentle melodic key on the synthesizers. This was accompanied by a stomping drum beat that paired easily with the bass, followed by the electric guitar repeatedly strumming a muted chord.
The rhythm changes to a fast-paced beat, wherein the drummer continuously hit the snare, cymbals and hi-hat cymbal as fast as possible.
The electric guitar takes on a heavy solo with the distortion effect giving the audience a chance to rock out, followed by a fast-paced thumping noise from the bass to end the melody with a touch of rock.
The band concluded their set by replaying their song, “Bouquet final.” Each of the parts remained the same until the end when the band decided to take a different approach by uplifting the melody to a funky and rock-like drum beat that transformed into a free for all instrumental jam.
The heavy distortion on the electric guitar solo allowed the audience to absorb the hard rock melodies. The electric bass was picked as fast as possible and the fuzziness tone offered from the synthesizers and the loudness from the drums invited the other instruments to raise their volumes.
The loudness coming from each instrument intensified the track to the point where you’d think that one of the musicians may have busted their volume components.
The dynamical energy from each of the band members created a loud melody that would stay in the hearts of the audience for a long time.
Bernhari put on an energetic and electrifying performance and the loudness that came from each of their instruments amazed the audience. The dynamic energy from each of the band members created a loud melody that will stay in the audience’s hearts for a long time. | https://thelinknewspaper.ca/blogs/fringeblog |
A day on Earth is now shorter than 24 hours. Here's why
Earth is rotating on its axis faster than it has in a half-century -- implying that each day on the planet is now shorter than 24 hours. Is this the first time that the planet is spinning faster or has it happened before. Read onto know.
Earth is spinning slightly faster than it has in a half century. (Image: AP)
Time is flying quicker this year as Earth is spinning around faster than it has in a half-century. This means each day on the blue planet is now shorter than 24 hours, owing to the increase in the speed of earth's rotation over the last 5 decades.
Making this startling revelation, scientists said that the earth's rotation is faster than normal due to which the length of a day is currently "ever-so-slightly" shorter than the normal 24 hours, Daily Mail reported.
2021 TO BE SHORTER THAN 2020?
The year 2020 included 28 shortest days since 1960 and 2021 is predicted to be even shorter.
According to Time and Date, on average, with respect to the Sun, Earth rotates once every 86,400 seconds, which equals 24 hours, or one mean solar day.
A report in the Live Science said, "The 28 fastest days on record (since 1960) all occurred in 2020, with Earth completing its revolutions around its axis milliseconds quicker than average."
Atomic clocks found that Earth has taken slightly less than 24 hours (86,400 seconds) to complete one rotation for the past 50 years.
According to the Daily mail report, Earth recorded the shortest day (since records began) on July 19, 2020 -- when the day was 1.4602 milliseconds shorter than 24 hours.
Before 2020, the shortest day occurred in 2005. However, this record has been broken 28 times in the last 12 months.
HOW WE KNOW THAT EARTH IS SPEEDING UP
The International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) officially measures the length of a day.
To determine the actual length of a day, scientists at the IERS "determine the exact speed of the Earth's rotation by measuring the precise moments a fixed star passes a certain location in the sky each day. This measurement is expressed as Universal Time (UT1), a type of solar time".
This UT1 is then compared to the International Atomic Time (TAI) -- a highly precise time scale that combines the output of some 200 atomic clocks maintained in laboratories around the world.
The length of a day is the revealed by the deviation of UT1 from TAI over 24 hours.
A NEGATIVE LEAP?
According to reports, if the Earth's rotation gets out of sync with the "super-steady beat" of atomic clocks, a positive or negative leap second can be used to bring them back into alignment.
This has prompted scientists to call for the addition of a 'negative leap second', sparking a debate whether there's a need to subtract a second from time to account for the change, and bring the precise passing of time back into line with the rotation of the Earth, the report said.
WHAT IS A LEAP SECOND?
Leap seconds refer to adjustment of time, similar to leap years.
The NIST describes a leap second as a second that is added to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) in order to keep it synchronized with astronomical time.
UTC is an atomic time scale, based on the performance of atomic clocks that are more stable than the Earth's rotational rate.
Astronomical time (UT1), or mean solar time, is based on the rotation of Earth, which is irregular.
HOW OFTEN A LEAP SECOND HAS BEEN ADDED OR SUBSTRACTED?
While the addition of a 'negative leap second' has never been done before, a total of 27 'leap seconds' have been added since the 1970s. This was done because Earth has taken slightly longer than 24 hours to complete a rotation over a decade. But since last year, the planet has been taking slightly less time, the report added.
Since 1972, scientists have added leap seconds about every year-and-a-half, on average, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
The last addition came in 2016, when on New Year's Eve at 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds, an extra "leap second" was added.
WHEN DO LEAP SECONDS OCCUR?
Leap seconds have always occurred at the end of December or the end of June.
So far, there have only been positive leap seconds. There might be a provision for negative leap seconds if it becomes necessary due to changes in Earth's rotation.
PROS AND CONS
According to the NIST, leap seconds are useful for making sure that astronomical observations are synced with clock time, however, they can be a hassle for some data-logging applications and telecommunications infrastructure, Live Science reported.
According to the report, several scientists at the International Telecommunication Union suggested to let the gap between the astronomical and the atomic time widen until a "leap hour" is needed, which would minimize disruption to telecommunications. | |
TROUBLESHOOTING PACKAGE INSTALLATION
Description: Microsoft Windows Installer Service is an installation and configuration service included in Windows. It allows you to add, modify, and remove applications provided as Windows Installer (*.msi) packages. Note, this service is set to Manual by default, and only starts when needed (On-Demand).
Scoping the Issue: There are a number of steps to carry out that will help to more clearly define the nature of the issue:
- If you have not done so already, re-try the package installation while logged on as an account that is a member of the local Administrators group
- Attempt to install a different .MSI package (or two). This will help to narrow down whether the problem is package-specific
- Confirm that no services are stuck in the “Starting” state.
- Launch the Services Applet (services.msc)
- Sort the Column header labeled “Status”
- Scroll through the list – the entries should say “Started” or be blank. If any are not, make a note of the service name and the status
- Check the Event logs for any Errors or Warnings. You should note any events with the Source of MsiInstaller.
Data Gathering: In all instances, collecting either MPS Reports with the General, Internet and Networking, Business Networks and Server Components diagnostics, or a Performance-oriented MSDT manifest must be done. Additional data required may include the following:
- Use Process Monitor to gather a log while trying to install the package
- Capture a verbose MSI log that we can use to troubleshoot the issue:
- Open a command prompt (on Windows Vista and later operating systems, run an Elevated command prompt)
- Change directories to the location of the package that we are troubleshooting
- Run the following command: msiexec /I <name of package>.msi /L*v c:\<directory to save log file>\msilog.log – this will create a log file for that specific installation attempt
- You may elect to enable verbose logging for all MSI activities. See Microsoft KB Article 223300 for more information on configuring MSI Logging
- We’ll also need to identify what version of the Windows Installer running on your machine. To capture this information, click on Start, Run and then run MSIEXEC.EXE. This will bring up the Windows Installer information box (shown below). The version number is on the first line:
Troubleshooting / Resolution: There are several steps that you can take:
- Review the Event Logs for errors, and address where possible
- Review the Process Monitor logs – if there are “Access Denied” errors, you may have an issue with permissions. Before resetting or altering permissions, contact Microsoft Product Support for assistance as unintended consequences may occur if you alter permissions incorrectly
- For package installations that require network resources, ensure that the system / accounts you are working on are able to access the required locations
Additional Resources: | https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/askperf/2009/06/07/msi-troubleshooting-package-installation/ |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.