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Based at The Open University, the Centre for Ageing and Biographical Studies (CABS) was established in 1995 as a centre for gerontology and biographical research.
Our world-leading research paves the way for new understandings of how to navigate our professional, civic and personal lives in an increasingly interconnected world, and the role of language and communication within it.
This group is made up of people from across The Open University who have an interest in carer research.
CYS research contributes to nationally and globally important practices, policies and debates in education, childhoods, youth and sport.
The Children's Research Centre works with children and young people to support their engagement in research.
The Children, Young People and Families research group has a focus on social research, which links to key policy and professional practice across the health and social care sector.
CCW works to build greater understandings of children and young people’s health and wellbeing – and advocate for how we can best support young people to thrive.
The Centre for Literacy and Social Justice is building systemic, collaborative capacity – within and between teachers, schools and homes – in order to address inequalities in children’s literacy experiences through research and practice.
The Centre for the Study of Global Development (CSGD) creates a unified space for multi and interdisciplinary research to reduce poverty and inequality and improve health, education, and job opportunities.
Our research covers theoretical and practice-related dimensions across end of life care and death, including reproductive and neonatal loss, bereavement and memorialisation.
Education Futures is at the forefront of research regarding contemporary and future pedagogies, informed by understandings of policy and practice within both national and international contexts.
Open University researchers conduct research in health and wellbeing across various disciplines and areas including healthcare management, ageing studies, reproductive and sexual rights, assistive technologies, patient data management, mental health and biological health sciences.
The Nursing Research Group consists of academics and practitioners from the nursing team who undertake research into nursing and related healthcare topics
Open Languages Research Group focuses on foreign and second language learning and teaching in a range of contexts.
PaL represents the strong tradition within the faculty for a socio-cultural understanding of learning. Our expertise and interest involves a variety of qualitative methods, including ethnography, participatory approaches, discourse analysis and historical investigation.
RSSH is an interdisciplinary practice and community-oriented research group working in five key areas: reproductive control, HIV/AIDS, sexuality & disability, the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender (LGBT+) people and pregnancy & childbirth.
Our research is focused on the work, training and professional development of those who support learning anywhere in the world
At the heart of the group's approach, from its beginnings in 1994, is a recognition that people with learning disabilities are experts on their own lives, and have historical knowledge, viewpoints and skills to contribute. Such an ethos is reflected in our inclusive conferences, publications, research projects and close collaborations with a variety of learning disability organisations, including advocacy groups.
The Sport Research Group is an inter-disciplinary working team of researchers investigating various areas of sport including, athletic injury, post traumatic growth, identity, embodiment, asthma, boxing, maltreatment/abuse, sports student experiences, netball, winter sports and golf. | https://wels.open.ac.uk/research/research-groups-and-centres |
High school soccer 7v7 team-by-team previews
The Saskatoon high school spring soccer 7v7 playoffs get underway on Monday. The Marion Graham Falcons boys team led the way during the regular season with a 6-0-1 league record. Two Bowlt Crescent rivals tied for the regular season lead in the girls’ standings. The Tommy Douglas Tigers and Bethlehem Stars had identical 4-0-1 records after tying 2-2 in their only meeting this year.
The StarPhoenix presents our team-by-team previews with information provided by each school’s coaches, ahead of the city championships which will be played on Monday, June 11.
Dane McMurtry – Winger, Grade 12. Strong play on the ball, using his size to his advantage. Does well to create a lot of scoring chances.
Abdul Wahab – Goal, Grade 12. Despite never playing organized soccer has proved to be a brick wall in the net.
Cody Bereza – Defensive midfield, Grade 12. Aggressive defender with a good head for the game.
Tor Na Htoo – Winger, Grade 12. Very fast and aggressive player.
Results from last year
“Last year was a rebuilding year as most of our core members had graduated. We played with a lot of heart, but didn’t manage to tally in the win column.”
Expectations for the team this year
“We will challenge a lot of teams with our aggressive high press, and quick counter attacks. Though we may finish near the bottom of the table, we have high hopes to surprise the other schools in the playoffs.”
Bethlehem Stars
Coaches: Antonio Santoro, Jason Stratychuk
Key players to watch
Jadin Hooper – Midfielder, Grade 12. Exhibits quick feet, combined with a sense of comfort under pressure and makes himself available for the ball. Pure goal scorer.
Francisco Marquez – Central defender, Grade 11. Strong on the ball, has great vision of the field and is able to distribute the ball quickly.
Results from last year
“Our team showed a lot of growth and character during league play last year and peaked at the right time during the playoffs to win the city championship.”
Expectations for the team this year
“We have a good mix of junior and senior players returning this year who are passionate and committed to win. Our goal is to compete at a high level. However, our success will be determine on how well we play as a team during the playoffs.”
Bishop Mahoney Saints
Coaches: Colin Fong and Bojan Nikolov
Key players to watch
Michael Manziuk – Midfield/Forward. He is a threat from anywhere and has incredible skill as a fourth-year player.
Enrique Lima – Midfield. Strong and skilled. This import from Brazil is strong on both sides of the ball.
Hugo Vuelta – Defence. Wins the majority of balls that come his way and anchors the defence.
Andrei Orzac – Midfield. Playing his third year he tackles hard and has a nose for the goal.
Doug Fleming – Goalie. Playing keeper for the second year Doug has shown he is not just a football player.
Carter Sirman – Forward. He’s fast and can finish. Grade 10, but plays with a ton of maturity.
Results from last year
“Last year the team lost in a close match in the semifinal to the eventual city champions. It was the team’s first loss of the year and was tough to accept with the number of veterans on the team.”
Expectations for the team this year
“The team lost six key players to graduation but have ten returning players who expect to be in every game we play this year. The goal every year is to win the city championship and this year with the guys we have, it won’t be any different.”
ED Feehan Trojans
Coaches: Thomas Soldo, Franco Soldo, Cory Regel
Key players to watch
Eric Epitas – Striker, Grade 11. Has a motor like no one else. His hustle and grit is mesmerizing. A huge part of our offence.
Austin Bevans – Grade 12, and Zach Hein – Grade 10. This duo are the maestros of creating the play on offence.
Connor Bevans – Goalie, Grade 10. Has been reliable in keeping the Trojans in close games.
Results from last year
“Last year, the Trojans fielded a young team loaded with Grade 9s. They finished the season with no wins, but learned many important lessons to become a better team moving on.”
Expectations for the team this year
“The Trojans look to improve from last season’s learning curve of inexperience. With a year under their belt, the Trojans already have two wins this season and are playing with more confidence.”
Marion Graham Falcons
Coach: Kent Drisner
Key players to watch
Aaron Lloyd – Forward, Grade 12. A talented and defensively responsible player that has a knack for scoring, he scored six goals in seven league games.
Ashton Taylor – Midfield/Forward, Grade 11. Arguably the most talented player in the league. He can do it all and at a high level.
Liam Collins – Midfield/Forward, Grade 11. Another talented player with a knack for scoring, also plays with great pace and can run for days.
Sean Holfeld – Midfield/Defence, Grade 12. Aka Rooney, team captain, a beast on defence and a force on offence. In Rooney we trust.
James Hay – Defence, Grade 12. A provincial caliber defender, solid as a rock. Plays hard and can contribute offensively.
Tyrell MacDonald – Defence, Grade 12. Tyrell has played great all year. Wins battles all over the pitch, reliable on defence and can contribute offensively.
Tyler Mathews – Defence, Grade 12. Tyler is a physical beast and was a star on the football team in the fall. He is new to soccer but has really taken to goalkeeping and his size gives him an advantage over most.
Results from last year
“After another solid regular season and trip to the city finals we lost a heart breaker to Bethlehem in extra time.”
Expectations for the team this year
“After the disappointment of the loss in last year’s finals our goal this season was to go undefeated and win the final. We went undefeated and our regular season play confirmed our goal of being city champs is realistic. Now it is time to make it a reality. We feel as though we can beat anyone we face and are looking forward to the playoffs.”
Mount Royal Mustangs
Coaches: Jeremy Burbridge, Kayvon Karimkhani
Key players to watch
Chris Aspiras – Defence, Grade 11. He is the back line leader who is always the fastest player on the field. Great acceleration, excellent ball control, and beautiful headers make him a top-tier talent.
Ali Yaqub – Midfield, Grade 12. Central attacking mid/wing. A player with excellent passing skills that looks to set up his teammates but is also capable of finishing with either his left or right foot.
Saw Lu – Wing, Grade 11. With several goals already this season, Saw Lu is a tireless runner who always controls one wing side of the field.
Anish Monger – Wing, Grade 12. With incredible speed and control, Anish is the Mustang’s leading scorer this season.
Jesse Pachapis – Defensive midfield, Grade 11. Jesse is a tough tackler with great skill on the ball.
Results from last year
“With two wins and a first round exit last year, the Mustangs are looking bigger, stronger, and faster with a much improved team. Mount Royal relied heavily on their starting seven last year, but now have the depth to bring difference-making players off of the bench.”
Expectations for the team this year
“The Mount Royal team has many strong Grade 11 players as well as senior leadership from a few key Grade 12s. The Mustangs are looking to make up for their first round exit last year and move deeper into the playoffs.”
Tommy Douglas Tigers
Coaches: Chris Mossing
Key players to watch
PrabhSIMRAN Hans – Defence, Grade 12. Captain. He played excellent last year, and helped lead the Tommy Tigers again to another top-4 finish. And has helped on offence with two goals as well.
Salim Shekh – Forward, Grade 12. Important leader of Tigers as well. After six matches has seven goals & two assists to lead the Tigers.
Seth Paley-King – Midfield, Grade 12. Helps set up offence and free kicks, and has three goals, two assists after six matches.
Anthony Hoffman-Hernandez. Has all the tools to be a great player, important skilled leader of our Tommy Douglas squad.
Four great Grade 10 players, in Brett Owens – Midfield, Alikhan Nurgozhayev – Defense. Both are returning and playing very well again this season. As well as first-time player, Forward, Muhammad Sami – Grade 10, and keeper, Pierson Marquette – Grade 10.
Results from last year & expectations this year
“The Tigers were disappointed to lose out in penalties in last year’s semifinal to Marion Graham, and hope to improve on that.”
École Canadienne Française Patriotes
(Information not available)
Girls Soccer
Bedford Road Redhawks
Coaches: Theresa Brossart, Lisa Evans and Anna Letwiniuk
Key Players to watch
Emilee Kopeck – Midfield, Grade 11. Natural leader,strong and athletic with a great left foot.
Kristen Barrie – Defence, Grade 12. Takes control of the back end of the field, good leadership, finishing off her 4th year with the team.
“The Redhawks are coming off of a very strong season last year, placing second in the city for 7 vs. 7 girls soccer. Last year’s team consisted of a very strong group of Grade 12 girls who left a large hole for this year’s team to fill.”
Expectations for the team this year
“Being a rebuilding year for the team, this has allowed many of the younger girls to step up into leadership roles, in which they have done a wonderful job so far. We have been focused on improving each week, having a great time out on the pitch and hopefully returning to the city finals.”
Bethlehem Stars
Coach: Bre Reid
Key players to watch
Hailee Nienaber – Defence, Grade 12. 4th-year captain who is willing to step up in any position and is why she is a leader of the team.
Ashleigh Gibson – Forward, Grade 11. Never backs down from a challenge and is still Bethlehem’s leading striker.
Kayla Gardiner – Midfield, Grade 10. Proving herself as an offensive force and is not afraid to take a shot from anywhere on the field.
“Our team improved significantly last year after an upsetting city final loss in 2016. New additions provided our team with more offensive opportunities to capitalize on. Bethlehem ended up leaving last season as city champions after a well played game against Bedford Road.”
Expectations for the team this year
“This year the Stars have a core group of returning players, but have added new athletes that bring a variety of skills and assets that compliment the team. The camaraderie between the players is strong this year and they work vigorously together as a unit. The goal is to become city champions once again, especially those in their Grade 12 year.”
École Canadienne Française Patriotes
Coach: Sarah Suchan
Key players to watch
Joëlle Lapierre – Defence, Grade 12. Co-Captain. Willing to play anywhere on the field and has a great big kick from the back.
Mélanie Anoré-Bolduc – Goalie, Grade 12. Co-Captain. Stepping out of her comfort zone to learn how to dive as a goalie. Has only been playing goalie for two years and has shown a lot of improvement already.
Camille Pelet – Defence, Grade 12. Quick learner and the most upbeat and happy player on the field. Best move is a pull back.
Amélie Boutin – Midfield/Striker, Grade 11. Great with her feet and a great team player.
Results from last year
“Last year we gained a new goalie so we have been working together to find our balance and dynamic playing.”
Expectations for the team this year
“This year we focused on learning how to communicate and complete our passes on the ground while moving the ball up the field. Because we have a small team of only 10 players in total, we will be losing a lot of our players next year. Regardless, our team learns quick and most importantly we try our best to stay positive both on the field and off the field no matter what the results.”
Mount Royal Mustangs
Coach: Shea Manning
Key players to watch
Hissy Subaday – Goalkeeper, Grade 9. Hissy shows great skills both in net and out on the field. She may not be big, but has lightning-fast reflexes.
Win Win Than – Defence, Grade 12. Win Win has great hustle and can anticipate the direction of the game and be where she needs to be to stop her opponent’s advancements.
Kendall Kabatoff-Mcdonald – Wing, Grade 9. Kendall has a natural ability with the ball, she gets her head up quick and keeps a calm composure in any situation.
Results from last year
“Although we did not rank high in the standings, we finished on a high note as a team. We said farewell to our fearless captain Clarice, and are fortunate to have the lingering effects of her positive attitude and tremendous effort.”
Expectations for the team this year.
“We hope only to play our best as a team, have fun, and each new day to improve upon the lessons of yesterday.”
Tommy Douglas Tigers
Coaches: Jen Taylor and Claire Fergusson
Key players to watch
Kelli Eckert – Forward/Defence, Grade 9. Her ball control and agility is top notch.
Alayna Krueger – Striker, Grade 10. Her speed and endurance make her unstoppable.
Results from last year
“We had an awesome season last year. The girls showed both great drive and sportsmanship during each game they played. We had an undefeated season and made it to semifinals, where we lost out to Bedford Road.”
Expectations for the team this year
“We have a young team with mostly Grade 9s and 10s. All our players are strong athletes and work well together. This team possesses a positive attitude as well as exceptional soccer skills. They will be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs.”
ED Feehan Trojans
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Basketball News
TORONTO — DeMar DeRozan has fans worried about his mental health once again.
The Toronto Raptors star, who features in the NBA’s mental health PSA, posted on his Instagram story “Dark days, darker nights .
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers put the Raptors to the sword for the third straight year Monday, posting a 128-93 blowout win to end Toronto’s record-breaking season with a sweep in the Eastern Conference semifinal. | |
The MacDiarmid Institute’s New Direction
The MacDiarmid Institute was founded twelve years ago around a vision of doing science collaboratively. New Zealand may not have been as big or as well-resourced as other countries, but our size and culture of openness made it an ideal place to pull multidisciplinary groups together to tackle unique science challenges. Some of the most exciting new science was emerging at the intersections of biology, physics, chemistry, engineering and maths, and we were well placed to take hold of it.
So in 2002, the experiment began. The value that the Institute has brought to New Zealand’s economy and culture over the last 12 years was confirmed this year, when its bid for another six years of funding was successful. This was a landmark in the Institute’s history. Professor Kate McGrath, Director of the MacDiarmid Institute, reflects on the process it has taken to get here. “When you’re learning how to collaborate, you can’t just jump in and do it,” she says. “First you need to learn how to think about problems in a different way, to work with people with different expertise and knowledge.” Once researchers began to trust each other and get a feeling for how to work together, research projects started to emerge that combined their strengths, and tackled harder problems that required a multidisciplinary approach. “We developed a sense of trust, community and respect,” says Kate. “The question then was, what should be done with it? What great challenge can we achieve together?” The Institute’s researchers worked collectively to decide on the new direction. “The big change for us,” Kate explains, “is that our new approach is outcomes-focused. Instead of just asking fundamental questions for the sake of science, and measuring success by the number of papers researchers produce, we’re asking those fundamental questions because we’re trying to achieve something for the world.” “When you talk to any researcher, there’s a part of them that wants to change the world,” says Kate. “That’s the part that drives us—the fire in the belly.” The new contract begins on the January 1 2015, and with it, a new research programme covering the following themes:
Functional Nanostructures With millions of years of evolution on their side, biological systems are masterpieces in nanotechnology.As techniques and capability in nanotechnology have improved, scientists have been able to witness and learn from the incredible mastery of natural systems, and to combine biology with knowledge of inorganic materials and technology.
This science programme combines the Institute’s rich knowledge and capabilities in biological systems and nanotechnology. The result will be: · New materials with bizarre juxtapositions of behaviours Imagine a living biological cell that also acts as a chemical or DNA sensor. These sensor cells could be inserted into the body to reveal how cells function in their natural environment. They could detect viruses, early signs of cancer and a host of other things—the ultimate undercover agents. · New Tools for Physical Measurement Biological systems are difficult to study—they are often extremely complex and hard to pin down. MacDiarmid Institute researchers will focus on developing new tools, like lab-on-chip technologies, to unravel the secrets of the master nanotechnologist—nature. · New Knowledge By harnessing the powerful tools and techniques of nanotechnology, researchers will learn how biological cells work and what happens when they go wrong—the key to finding cures for diseases and building new materials inspired by nature.
Materials for Energy Capture and Utilisation The immense and growing demand for clean energy ranks as one of the biggest challenges facing the planet today. This theme is all about re-thinking the way we generate, store and use energy through a range of fundamental and highly-applied projects.
“At the moment around the world we have hubs where we create, store and transfer energy,” Kate explains. “A very small number have to supply all the energy demands for a massive area around them. That’s a very static distribution system. With developments in wireless technology we can start looking at more dynamic-type distribution systems.” The MacDiarmid Institute has some of the leading expertise of photovoltaics (solar energy devices) in the world. This work will focus on understanding the fundamental physics and chemistry of photovoltaics. The ultimate outcome would be solar devices that could be used anywhere—you could wear them, have them in your phone, embed them in the windows or paint them on the walls.
Materials for High Value Technologies Almost every electronic device you own contains transistors, the basic components of computers. The more transistors on a chip, the more powerful it is, and every year this amount increases. But imagine if there was a completely new fundamental component to build devices—one that remembered information and used the magnetic properties of materials to dramatically increase the speed and functionality. That is the kind of output researchers are aiming for in this theme. Research will focus on new optical, electronic, magnetic and superconducting materials, and on new devices that use these properties. | https://macdiarmid.ac.nz/interface_article/the-macdiarmid-institutes-new-direction/ |
India’s move comes in response to Washington’s decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, which, according to media forecasts, is likely to have an impact of about $241 million on the Indian economy.
India will increase duties on 30 goods from the US in response to Washington’s move to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, New Delhi’s notification to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), cited by the ANI news agency, reads.
READ MORE: Modi’s New India Dream May Fall Victim to US-China Tariff War — Study
The country has already submitted a list of goods that are due to be hit by their duties to the WTO, according to the media. Indian Express newspaper says that tariffs on some metal goods, as well as certain agricultural products and a number of motorcycles, are likely to grow up to 50 percent.
“India wishes to clarify that suspension of concessions shall be equivalent to the amount of trade affected by the United States’ measures,” according to the notification.
According to news agency PTI, Washington’s new metal duties will have an impact of about $241 million on the Indian economy.
India added that it reserved its “right to further suspend substantially equivalent concessions and other obligations based on the trade impact resulting from the application of the measures of the US.”
Earlier, India’s minister of trade and industry, Suresh Prabhu, in an interview with Sputnik, stated that protectionism and sanctions policy negatively affect the global economy. In his opinion, such unilateral actions are detrimental to most developing countries, as they undermine the multilateral trading system and the WTO, the organization aimed at ensuring fair trade for all member countries.
Fears of a full-scale trade war were sparked after US President Donald Trump’s March decision to introduce a 25 percent tariff on imported steel and a 10 percent tariff on imported aluminum. At that time, though, a number of countries, including EU member states, Canada and Mexico, were exempted first until May 1 and then for one more month until June 1. However, on May 31, Trump signed a proclamation removing this metal tariffs exemption as of June 1. | https://seenews.net/business/india-hits-back-at-washington-over-us-metal-tariffs-reports.html |
Bridging The Gap Between The Church And The State
This article was published on The Huffington Post, here.
Last week, I had the joy and blessing to be part of a conference hosted at the World Bank in Washington DC on Religion and Sustainable Development. The conference was jointly sponsored by the World Bank and 13 other organizations as varied as governments of the UK, US, Germany and Norway, World Vision, Tearfund and McKinsey & Co. Focused on inquiry into the challenges of partnerships between government based organizations (both multilateral and bilateral) and faith based organizations, the conference’s goals were to develop solutions to these challenges as well as to forge partnerships that can work toward sustainable development.
Additionally, an underlying, fundamental element which wove through each discussion, each panel and each session was the World Bank’s primary goal of eradicating extreme poverty by 2030. In April, Pujya Swamiji (Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji) had been invited to take part in a flagship panel, hosted by Dr. Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank, at the opening of their annual spring meetings, along with one leader of each of the major world religions.
This week’s conference was open only to approximately 100 leaders, specifically invited from across the world. Its mission was to probe the challenges of partnerships between bilateral/ multilateral organizations with faith based organizations and how to overcome these challenges in the service of sustainable development and eradication of severe poverty.
World Bank President Kim’s sincerity and commitment were evident from his opening remarks. He shared (I am paraphrasing): “Eradication of extreme poverty is our ultimate and fundamental goal. Everything the Bank does now, every decision we make, is made with the greatest benefit of the poor in mind. If we have to choose between two or more options in any circumstance, the deciding factor is always which will benefit the poorest of the poor.”
I have been in many environments, many functions and many conferences where religious leaders are there merely as tokens. There is a token Christian or two, a token Muslim, a token Hindu, sometimes a token Jew and/or token Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains. Relegated to the role of providing “blessings,” the leaders seem to be called for little more than photo-ops and political correctness.
This conference was the opposite. Faith leaders and heads of faith-based organizations were the ones to whom the other leaders turned and asked, “How can we work together to help eradicate extreme poverty? How can we join hands, utilizing each of our strengths, to ensure that the Earth we pass onto our children is one that sustains life and health rather than one fraught with toxicity, drought and natural disaster?”
“Faith-based organizations have the power to shift values and change behavior.”
The speeches were deep inquiries into prejudices, biases and other challenges of bridging the gap between the public sector and faith-based organizations. Leaders of prominent financial, political and humanitarian institutions candidly examined the personal and organizational impediments to collaboration with religious groups.
By the end of the conference, friendships had been formed and bridges had been built. Creative approaches to many problems had been shared. Specific goals had been established. There is still a great deal of work to be done, both within and between all participants and all sectors. However, strong foundations have been laid, and powerful seeds have been planted in fertile soil.
Having grown up in America, I was inculcated with a passionate belief in the importance of separation between Church and State. We learned in elementary school to be grateful that we lived in a country where religion, faith and spiritual belief had no role in the functioning of our society. The only prayers allowed in school were to the flag of our nation.
The concept of “separation between Church and State” goes back to Thomas Jefferson and the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. It was put into effect in order to provide a safe ground for religious freedom. Its purpose is to ensure that “No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”
This separation was reciprocal. Jefferson wrote: “I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building another wall of separation between Church & State.”
In the 240 years since the founding of the Republic, the concept has been co-opted by much of society to ensure that the paths of politics and religion never intersect or overlap. “Separation of Church and State” has become the mantra of those who want to ensure that religion is relegated to houses of worship and that religious leaders do no more than facilitate an individual’s relationship with God.
However, a separation between governmental agencies and faith organizations serves neither sector, and certainly does not serve the poor of the planet.
Embracing the contributions of religion and religious leaders in order to achieve common goals is not incompatible with the separation of church and state. The United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals and the soon-to-be-implemented Sustainable Development Goals focus on the improvement of life on our planet for the greatest number of people. The goals are rooted in eradicating poverty, protecting the environment, improving access to education and healthcare, and ending open-defecation and the thousands of daily deaths attributed to it. These are not goals achievable only from the top-down.
“The achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals requires both the top-down implementation of infrastructure and bottom-up change in behavior and beliefs.”
For example, millions of toilets have been built by UNICEF and other organizations that are not being used. Why? For myriad reasons, varying between village and home, the people don’t want to use them. Ending open defecation is no more achievable by constructing toilets than ending illiteracy is achievable by building schools. The achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals requires both the top-down implementation of infrastructure and bottom-up change in behavior and beliefs. Faith leaders and faith based organizations are, indisputably, the best suited to help achieve this change.
When 83% of the world’s population identify as members of a faith, faith is truly the potential magic wand in our hands. Faith-based organizations have the power to shift values and change behavior. Eradication of poverty and sustainable development require people of every socio-economic status, culture, creed, color and country, to make different choices about how they live. We must change how we eat, how we shop, how we travel, how we measure “success.” We must, in Pujya Swamiji’s words, “focus more on filling our selves than on filling our shelves.” As Mahatma Gandhi famously said: “There is always enough for everyone’s need but never enough for even one man’s greed.” Ill-informed decisions, from the personal to the international, have brought our planet to the brink of destruction. We need masses of people to make changes in their lives and lifestyles. I believe the fastest and most effective way to achieve this is through faith based organizations that connect the world’s people with the guiding principles, morals and values of their lives – their own religion.
By relegating religion and faith to Friday evenings or Sunday mornings or our life after death, we are depriving ourselves of one of the greatest tools we have to save our planet.
Of course there are challenges. Religion may be co-opted by those with political or financial agendas. This is true about nearly any sector to which one looks. There are stories of doctors raping patients on the operating tables, stories of academic administrators colluding to falsify test scores, stories of lawyers swindling their clients out of life savings. This does not mean, though, that we don’t go to the doctor when we are sick. It doesn’t mean we don’t send our children to school. It doesn’t mean we fight our own legal battles singlehandedly. While we must recognize the possibility of corruption, we cannot forego the far greater potential for assistance and cooperation from faith based organizations.
While we certainly want to maintain the founding principle of separation of church and state, religious institutions can and should be welcomed as partners by political, financial and humanitarian institutions in the service of eradicating poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring a healthy and sustainable future for the world’s population. | https://sadhviji.org/bridging-the-gap-between-the-church-and-the-state/ |
2. Which of the following is not true? “Separating skill from chance is…” …equally difficult in all environments.
3. Which of the following is not true? In subsequent periods we would expect their performance to be average.
4. A company designs a training program for underperforming employees. They enroll in the program the employees who received the worst 10% of performance evaluations in a given year. They find that very few of the employees who go through the program are in the bottom 10% of performance evaluations the next year. What can they conclude about their new program? Nothing unless they can compare their performance to similar employees who did not receive the training.
5. Which of the following does not dilute the value of collecting opinions from a number of people (e.g., regarding a performance evaluation or hiring decision)? They evaluated the same materials.
9. A firm is evaluating the performance of two managers running a summer training program. One manager is in a large division with over 100 trainees, while the other is in a small division with only 15 trainees. What is one principle the firm should use in its evaluation? Expect more volatility from the small group.
10. An organization contracts with software developers to produce apps for clients. The organization is paid in part by how well the app sells in the marketplace. Historically they have evaluated their developers primarily by this same outcome measure, how well the apps sell. The organization is considering adding process measures to the performance evaluation, e.g., time to completion, quality of code, coordination with other developers, client satisfaction. Which of the following is not a reason the firm should include these process measures in employee performance evaluations? Developer performance on the process measures is likely more persistent – good or bad – than it is on the outcome measures. | http://www.insightcrunch.com/2009/08/people-draft.html |
WIDA standards, resources, and assessments came to the American School of Bombay at a time then we were seeking institutional alignment around the teaching of English, approaches that would take us to the forefront of language teaching and learning and a way to further activate our school vision. We desired a more inclusive model that fostered a collaborative and differentiated approach towards education.
Our student body is an amalgamation of diverse cultures and languages that span fifty-three citizenships and thirty-one languages. With such diversity, it is crucial that teachers have a toolbox of differentiated strategies and forms of scaffolding that do not lie exclusively with EAL teachers. All teachers guide students through the double challenge of learning English while gaining access to grade-level content. To see these goals come to fruition, the roles and responsibilities of EAL teachers have gone through many iterations; from one EAL teacher stretched across two grade-levels to that of a language coach and classroom co-teacher who co-plans on shared documents and models effective language learning strategies to mainstream teachers. Having a shared pedagogical language, inspired by WIDA resources and LADDER training, heightened the level of discourse and questioning about how teachers effectively instruct CLD students. Our work with WIDA helped us to actualize our innovative philosophy of language development, which mirrors the WIDA Essential Actions. We also believe in cultivating a strong parent-school relationship through education sessions, by inviting parents to engage in learning activities with their children, and completing Language History Forms for every EAL student so as to better understand their varied experiences with languages. Another way in which we leverage our diverse parent community is to have them bring their own languages into the classroom, thus highlighting the importance of the home language as a piece of each student's identity and as a tool to further language acquisition. Home languages are woven into the classroom culture through activities, literature, music, and in assessing EAL beginners (they complete their assessments in their home language, which we then translate and score using grade-level rubrics).
WIDA LADDER training shaped the way teachers think about collecting and analyzing data. It aided in honing our skills in using data to guide instruction, identifying trends across our student population, and setting the stage for programmatic improvements for ELLs. After three years of work by a dedicated WIDA LADDER team comprised of EAL teachers, mainstream teachers, and administrators, data-driven decision-making has become a mainstay of how to make instructional choices to support ELLs. Data inquiry cycles are now used throughout our school to ensure that decisions are steeped in evidence and remain on a continuous track to improve capacity. At this point, we will continue to climb the ladder towards improving student learning and growth for all. | https://wida.wisc.edu/memberships/isc/members/focus-school-american-school-bombay |
Tanya Sam is more than part of the Real Housewives of Atlanta cast. She has made her mark in the tech industry as director of Partnerships at TechSquare Labs, a technology startup hub and venture capital fund, and by co-founding BuiltxWomen, a business accelerator for woman entrepreneurs.
Since 2016, TechSquare Labs has invested in over 30 companies, and those companies have raised over $300 million in venture capital and generated over $100 million in revenue. Currently, Sam is working on Ascend 2020, a technology startup and small business pre-accelerator for minority who reside in Atlanta, Georgia, with her fiance Dr. Paul Judge, a technology entrepreneur and investor.
BLACK ENTERPRISE caught up with Sam to find out how she transitioned into tech after meeting the man of her dreams.
How did you go from being a registered nurse to running successful businesses in the tech industry?
My educational background was focused on the sciences. I have a BSc degree in Genetics and Cell Biology and a BScN in Nursing. I come from a very medical family. My mother and grandmother were both nurses and my father is an OB/GYN physician so this was a logical and fascinating career for me from a young age. In fact, most of my aunts and uncles were in the medical field so really it felt like the only option because I didn’t have many other representations of different career paths. My dad came to Canada from Accra, Ghana, to go to medical school in the 1960s and he always preached to us, “you need to have a career where you are the boss, doctor, lawyer, dentist, accountant.” That’s it. Actually, when I chose nursing he was absolutely disappointed.
When I graduated, I specialized in hematology/oncology and bone marrow transplant. After a few years working in Toronto, I took a job as a travel nurse and moved to New York City.
Fast forward six years and I met my now fiancé, Paul, while shopping in LA.
Paul has a PhD from Georgia Tech in Computer Science and is a serial technology entrepreneur. At the time, he had sold two cybersecurity companies, and on our 3rd date, we detoured to a coffee shop to meet another GT PhD, who became the co-founder of his third startup.
I sat beside this pair of visionary genius PhDs, eavesdropping in awe of what they were talking about. Frankly, I had zero exposure to tech and startups at this time and it was basically at the napkin stage. They founded a voice security and authentication startup that protects large volume banks and financial institutions from fraud over the phone. To date, Pindrop has screened over 500 million calls.
[Side note: Pindrop’s anti-fraud technology protects some of the largest banks, insurers, and retailers in the world and has total funding of over $100 million from venture firms including Andreessen Horowitz, Google Capital, and IVP].
Building a startup is an all hands-on-deck, all-consuming endeavor, so I just started pitching in where I could. I am not technical, but in the startup space there are a plethora of tasks required to make a company successful so I tried to learn and do as much as I could to help. From operations to branding to marketing to office design. It takes a village and the experience was akin to a real-life MBA.
This experience inspired me to start my own startup beverage company, Limitless Smart Shot. It was actually born out of working in healthcare as an RN as we have busy 12-hour days that demand us to be mentally sharp all the time. That said, we rely on coffee to keep us going so I developed a dietary supplement drink to increase focus, attention, memory, and help support healthy brain function.
How did you become Director of Partnerships at TechSquare Labs?
Working alongside a visionary serial entrepreneur like Paul Judge and then starting a company of my own, I realized that a large part of being successful is surrounding yourself with other like-minded people as well as opportunity. We built TechSquare Labs to create a startup ecosystem in Atlanta for early-stage entrepreneurs. We invest in and help build early-stage technology startups including everything from e-commerce to marketing to cybersecurity to blockchain. As the Director of Operations and Partnerships, I have a lot of freedom to create programs and I am passionate about helping minority and female founders build businesses.
TechSquare provides a space where we can foster success by providing access to resources and knowledge and foster diverse and minority tech businesses. We have invested in over 60 companies and those companies have raised over $300 million in revenue. Atlanta is the perfect hub for TechSquare because it has a very fast-paced, growing technology system that needs a helping hand.
Ascend 20/20 is a six-month pre-accelerator designed to scale and launch high-growth minority and/or female-led startups in the metro Atlanta area. Our current cohort has 30 founders building a range of businesses from on-demand babysitting services to travel logistics to music and event tech. It is a partnership between Morehouse College Entrepreneurship Center, JP Morgan Chase & Co., and TechSquare Labs.
The programs afford participants business management education on topics such as business models, customer discovery, product market fit, product development, fundraising, strategic growth plans, and more. Another key aspect is fostering access to capital relationships and customer markets that these founders may not have had direct ability to access as minorities.
BuiltxWomen is a business accelerator for female entrepreneurs that I run out of Tech Square Labs. These amazing women are founders of early-stage technology startups and we help propel them along their startup journey.
Our purpose with Ascend 20/20 and BuiltxWomen as well as with TechSquare Labs is to help businesses thrive and flourish through access to opportunities. Opportunities to things like mentorship programs, informational sessions, tech startup workshops, venture capital, and to a network of people who they would not normally have access to.
One of the things that Paul and I believe is that technology and the world of coding is the best demographic equalizer we have seen for minority communities. In the past, wealth was generally reserved for those who had access to land, steel, and lumber; things that often required generational wealth.
In April 2019, your company TechSquare Labs will be hosting Atlanta Startup Battle, a 2-day competition where startup companies compete to win $100K in funding. What can you tell us about this?
Atlanta Startup Battle is an open-entry startup competition where the best early-stage tech startups compete for a $100,000 cash investment and a year of incubation.
We narrow the field of 500+ startup companies applicants down to the top 20. Those finalists compete in a full day of battling through different modules, each led by and judged by skilled mentors. | https://www.blackenterprise.com/real-housewives-of-atlanta-mark-in-tech-industry/ |
Providing a consistent quality service to customers in any designated area at check-in, gates, transfer desk, special handling and all passengers in the FMU. The timely and efficient service provided must be in accordance with agreed standard operating procedures as well as safety and security standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and local airport authorities.
Job Responsibility of Customer Service Agent / Ground Staff
- Demonstrate excellent customer service skills; Teamwork and understanding to achieve customer satisfaction. Try as part of a dedicated team to avoid complaints and earn praise. Ensure that excellent discipline and grooming standards are displayed at all times while on duty. Always follow prescribed service standards and procedures so that passengers are handled in a friendly and efficient manner.
- All equipment used at the designated work location is in good working order and report any maintenance requirements to senior management on duty.
- Ensure that all requests and full comments are accurately updated in DMIS and that all charge notes are generated and authorized for billing. Prepare a list of pending requests from the DMIS to analyze the advance workload profile.
- Report any irregularities or lack of service to senior management on duty to enable service recovery and appropriate corrective action.
- Ensure that the handling requirements of various categories of passengers (such as unaccompanied minors; young passengers; wheelchairs; elderly and special needs passengers…) are met and special services to meet any special service needs and Facilities are provided. Customer.
- Allocated manpower (attendants; buggy operators, etc.) according to various requests received (wheelchair support; lounges) thus ensuring timely boarding of passengers and planning sufficient manpower at all times to meet service needs.
- Ensure effective communication with passengers and senior management and update when any flight or service delays are forecast.
- Gathering reports for passengers participating and irregularity of misplaced baggage or property; Regularly update the system and respond to passenger queries.
- Ensure that the baggage or baggage received for the transfer is left behind, sent to the respective stations according to the airlines and security procedures.
- Ensure that the delivery of the claimed baggage is done in accordance with the appropriate documents and airline contracts.
- Organize left luggage shop systematically and right charges apply to all left luggage bags. The collected amount is deposited in the company’s bank account and a daily sales report is prepared on a shift basis.
- Ensure that scheduled flights are opened/closed and edited according to the defined configuration and airline-specific requirements.
- Ensure flight control sheets are maintained for each flight and message regarding PNL; ADL; SOM; And LDM is processed and filed.
- Update DMIS regularly with the configuration; Booked load and actual flight load.
- Control flights (where applicable) through various DCSs by assessing revised levels for passenger fares and no race / go shows; Acceptance of employees; Upgrading and downgrading according to airline-specific requirements.
To apply for this job please visit www.emiratesgroupcareers.com. | https://dubaiairportjobs.com/job/dnata-hiring-customer-service-agent/ |
In line with the Mission, Vision and Values, our greatest commitment concerns the quality assurance and patient safety in the delivery of healthcare, aiming at excellence in services, minimizing risks and possible damages to patients. For this purpose, we identify the non-conformances and the opportunities for improvements in the work processes and, through the quality tools, we promote the identification and the corrective and preventive measures.
Our objective is to make the processes more efficient and safe, to better meet and surpass the expectations of the users when taking care with quality and safety, of their greater patrimony: their health.
Integrated Quality Center – CIQ
It is the department responsible for advising the Management on the coordination, supervision and dissemination of Quality and Patient Safety actions. For this purpose, it relies on the Quality Management Services, Quality Management of the Clinical Analyses Laboratories and Risk Management.
Director: Kátia Maria Padula
Contact Information:
(016) 3602-2182
Quality Management Service
Its objective is to contribute to the continuous improvement of hospital quality, being responsible for the coordination, follow-up and accomplishment of internal and external audits and for the implementation of necessary corrective and preventive measures. It is also responsible for the implementation and maintenance of Quality Certification and Good Practices Programs, Health Surveillance actions, Hospitalized Patient Satisfaction Survey, and training and development activities of the teams focused on Quality and Safety issues of the patient.
Director: Luciane Silva
Contac Information:
(016) 3602-2396
Laboratory Quality Management Service
By acting directly with the Clinical Analysis Laboratories, this Service has as its main objective the implementation and consolidation of the Quality Management System. For this purpose, it uses the quality tools for identification, correction and prevention of non-conformances, aiming at obtaining reliable exams with the rational use of resources.
The Clinical Analysis Laboratories of HCFMRP-USP take part in rigorous external quality control programs, both nationally and internationally, among them: Laboratory Testing Proficiency, Brazilian Society of Clinical Pathology/Laboratory Medicine (SBPC/ML), College of American Pathologists CAP) and Oneworld Accuracy.
It is also one of the Clinical Research Centers in the study on HIV-AIDS, through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which contributes to the establishment of good laboratory practices aiming at the best results in the treatment of these patients.
Director: Heloisa Bôtto Dompieri Oliveira
Contact Information:
(016) 3602-2396
Patient Safety and Risk Management Service
Promoting hospital culture focused on the patient safety is the main objective of the Risk Management Service, which is responsible for health surveillance in the areas of Pharmaceutical, Technical, Hemovigilance and also in the use of sanitizers. This work is carried out through the post-marketing surveillance of the products regulated by the Ministry of Health/ANVISA and the monitoring of events, through an internal notification system.
The HCFMRP-USP was a pioneer in establishing the Patient Safety Committee among the public institutions, which has been currently restructured as the Patient Safety Center. This group plans, develops, controls and evaluates programs and technologies in the establishment of policies and work guidelines aimed at the safety of care processes carried out at the Institution. It is also the body responsible for the Hospital Patient Safety Plan that is drawn from the World Health Organization (WHO) safety goals and the basic safety guidelines published by the Ministry of Health and ANVISA.
The Security Plan includes the risk management actions to:
– Patient Identification – This is first of the goals of the assistance security that is accomplished through a bracelet or label on the patient and, it enables health professionals to identify the patient during all their care in the Hospital.
– Hand hygiene – A fundamental principle for the prevention of hospital infections, the goal is to carry out this hygiene and health procedure by everyone in the environment to promote in a correct and constant way the hospital safety.
– Safe Surgery – In order to ensure clarification about the surgery to be submitted and the safety of the procedure, the patient and/or the person responsible is provided with information about the treatment to be performed. Only after the full understanding of what will be carried out, as well as the risks offered the Consent Term should be signed to authorize the proposed treatment.
– Safety in the prescription, use and administration of medicines – All patients should receive guidance on the drug therapy to be used in their treatment and it can only be administered by the health team.
– Prevention of injuries due to pressure and falls – during the hospitalization period, an evaluation of the risk of the patients to develop pressure injuries and falls is made so that the preventive actions are taken.
– Effective communication – Aiming for greater security in health care, training and development of teams are carried out in order to improve understanding of the messages transmitted by patients and health professionals.
Director: Andréa Cristina Soares Vendruscolo
Risk Management Service
Contact Information: | https://site.hcrp.usp.br/qualidade-e-seguranca-do-paciente/?lang=en |
BISHOP, PAUL,BERNARD (2016) Historiography in Lives: Plutarch's Use of Thucydides in the Lives of Pericles and Nicias. Masters thesis, Durham University.
|PDF - Accepted Version|
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Abstract
This dissertation argues that Plutarch’s biographical method falls within the realm of historiography, offering Plutarch’s handling of Thucydides’ History as a source for the Pericles and Nicias as test cases. The first chapter discusses the relationship between historiography and biography. History was among the influences in biographical literature’s development into a genre of its own. The genre of biography had the capacity for critical inquiry into what the individual in focus was truly like. The chapter also explores their similarities in methodology and purpose, and argues that historiography is broad enough to include biographical models of interpretation. The next chapter establishes Plutarch’s philosophical framework, examining what theories would influence his interpretation of the historical record. While taking Plutarch’s statements of separation between history and biography seriously, we can still see that his methods of interpretation are not substantially different from historiography, and he displays a rigorous critical inquiry in the Lives. The third and fourth chapters examine Plutarch’s engagement with Thucydides for the Pericles and Nicias. Where Plutarch quotes Thucydides, he preserves the main facts yet uses vocabulary and style of his own. We place particular focus, however, on Plutarch’s divergences from Thucydides, and theorize that these differences are due to Plutarch’s own historical reasoning about what happened. We argue ways in which Plutarch was making inferences and deductions from the text before him based upon his philosophical paradigms and broader knowledge of the history. Plutarch also makes deductions based upon his theory of character types, especially evident in the Nicias. His judgment of the character of every individual is formed by the historical record, and he makes further predictions of what individuals did or felt where the source is silent, drawing from his philosophical understanding of character. | http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/11538/ |
For the third time in recent years, Memorial is the only Canadian university ranked as one of the best post-secondary institutions in the world for the study of marine/ocean engineering.
'Strange and mysterious': New study confirms Newfoundland as home to world's oldest animal fossils
The island of Newfoundland is famously known as “The Rock”, but new research reveals that it is the fossils from “The Rock” that are capturing the attention of scientists worldwide.
Opening doors: Master's graduate gains practical experience as part of genetics team
Hoda Rajabi, a graduate of Memorial, played a significant role in research that is helping better diagnose people in this province with one of the world’s most prevalent forms of retinal disease.
$8.9-million catalyst: Centre for Research and Innovation celebrated by partners
Corner Brook will soon be home to a centre that will support research and development, business diversification and a stronger culture of innovation and entrepreneurship throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
Historic approval: Memorial national leader with adoption of Indigenous research policy
Memorial has a groundbreaking new Indigenous research policy. At its July 9 meeting, the Board of Regents approved the Research Impacting Indigenous Groups policy – the first of its kind known in Canadian universities.
Finding a link: PhD student part of genetics study providing hope to cancer patients
New research from the Faculty of Medicine allows women to make better decisions when it comes to preventive surgeries and screenings for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.
Well-earned results: Leading and emerging social scientists awarded more than $1 million for insightful research
Archaeological legacies in Northern Newfoundland. Educational policy-making. Representation in Ottawa. These diverse projects are just the tip of the iceberg of those receiving more than $1 million in new federal funding.
Trio elected: VPR, alumni receive national recognition for exceptional contributions
Memorial’s vice-president (research) and a pair of influential alumni are among the newest fellows elected into the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE). Dr. Neil Bose, Dr. Rehan Sadiq and Jennifer Williams are being honoured for their outstanding leadership and innovative contributions to their professions.
Updated Framework for a Phased Approach to Returning to On-Campus Research Spaces, Fieldwork and Face-to-Face Interactions with Research Participants
Memorial is proceeding to resume additional on-campus research activities, fieldwork and research involving face-to-face interactions with research participants in accordance with an updated Framework for a Phased Approach to Returning to On-Campus Research Spaces, Fieldwork and Face-to-Face Interactions with Research Participants.
Pursuit of knowledge: Next-generation researchers awarded significant federal funding
How species respond to climate change and creating population models for flatfish on the Grand Banks are some of the diverse projects led by future research leaders benefitting from more than $750,000 in scholarship and fellowship funding.
$8-million investment: Critical funding empowers researchers to take risks and make big discoveries
Memorial researchers have successfully secured more than $8 million in federal funding.
Principled partnerships: Memorial implements agreement supporting Indigenous data sovereignty
Memorial is among the first universities in Canada to create and adopt a formal research agreement that recognizes Indigenous data sovereignty.
Embracing innovation: $1-million federal investment for health-related research and discoveries
Two researchers based in the Faculty of Medicine are benefitting from a $1-million federal investment.
Drs. Michelle Ploughman and Craig Moore have been renewed as Tier 2 Canada Research Chairs (CRC), one of this country’s highest honours for research excellence. Tier 2 Chairs are five-year awards for $100,000 each year. | https://www.mun.ca/research/news.php |
JCS CSTS Dinamika has completed Flight and Design Approval Testing (FDAT) of its new Air Defense Training System with UAV targets (ADTS-UAV).
Successfully completing the FDAT phase, Dinamika was able to finalize the ADTS-UAV preliminary testing, which had taken up almost 2 years. The preliminary testing comprised two phases: the Factory Testing (FT) and Flight and Design Approval Testing (FDAT). Each of the phases included ground and flight testing activities for the entire system and its multiple components: a suite of fixed- and rotary-wing UAV targets, ground control post, payload equipment and various ground aids (service equipment, etc.). So, testing the prototype for compliance with its design specifications presented quite a complex task.
Notably, according to the FDAT results, performance characteristics of the UAV targets have been found to exceed their design specifications: maximum flight altitude by 5%, maximum speed by 10% and operational endurance by 15%.
The FDAT procedure was conducted by the engineers of Dinamika's own Flight Testing Facility with the participation of experts from RF MoD Quality Control Agency and Chkalov State Testing Center. Now that the ADTS-UAV's compliance with design specifications has been verified, the system is entering its next stage of development – state testing.Starting 2013, CSTS Dinamika has been actively working to gain expertise in unmanned aviation. Today we have created a unique capacity for conceptual design, prototyping and manufacturing of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) based on different aerodynamic configurations and potentially suitable for a variety of civil and military applications. Moreover, Dinamika enjoys an in-house Flight Testing Facility (FTF) that enables a full range of bench, ground and flight testing activities for UAVs and their components according to applicable testing programs and guidelines. | https://dinamika-avia.com/mcenter/news/?cnews_news_id=3169 |
RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/145,829, filed on Feb. 4, 2021, and entitled “SOFTWARE-DEFINED COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND DEVICE”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
BACKGROUND
The efficient transmission and reception of electromagnetic signals imposes several challenges when multiple signals, transmitters or receivers, are involved. Even though several techniques have been developed to handle some of these situations, some are inadequate or inefficient for implementation in wireless systems. Radio frequency communication is a type of wireless communication which uses antennas usually designed to transmit and receive radio waves in all directions equally (omnidirectional), or preferentially in a particular direction (directional or high-gain antennas). However, conventional antennas used in wireless communication usually lack versatility when there is a need to establish remote communications with multiple receivers or when there is a need to locate a receiver by searching a determined geographical region. These problems become exacerbated if the wireless communication device is on-board a vehicle with limited space or mobility, or quite the opposite, when the device is on-board a vehicle which may move freely but these movements would represent a huge consumption of power resources. Steerable antennas are of high interest, since these can shift the direction of the main lobe. In some cases, this shift may be achieved by using reflection by large metal surfaces which move to change the direction of the radio waves, or by physically mounting the antenna on a large rotating mechanism. However, antennas with moving parts are undesirable due to, for example the elevated maintenance costs, and in satellite applications, due to the unwanted movements which require additional power and components to be compensated and generate attitude disturbances on the satellite control system. Electronically steerable antennas present an advantageous alternative which also raises new challenges for achieving useful and efficient implementations.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The Detailed Description is set forth with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical items.
FIG. 1
shows an example of a software-defined antenna.
FIGS. 2A and 2B
illustrate examples of architectures of software-defined antennas.
FIG. 3
is a block diagram showing an example of a physical implementation of a software-defined communications system configured to apply beamforming techniques for radiofrequency (RF) signal reception/transmission.
FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C
show an example of a satellite equipped with a software-defined antenna and illustrative examples of operations.
FIG. 5
is a flow diagram showing an example overview process for transmitting/receiving electromagnetic signals from a first endpoint to one or more second endpoints by dynamically reconfiguring a software-defined communication system.
FIG. 6
is a flow diagram showing an example overview process for determining the relative position between antenna elements.
FIG. 7
is a flow diagram showing an example overview process for locating endpoints and establishing radiowave communications without knowing in advance the position, location or number of the endpoints.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Overview
Example of Software-Defined Communication System
Example for Use in Satellite Communications
Example Operations for Transmission/Reception of Signals
CONCLUSION
Embodiments include novel systems, processes and devices for implementing electronically steerable antennas (a type of software-defined communication systems) to reconfigure, control and generate beams in a dynamic and reversible manner, making it useful and more versatile for many applications. The systems, methods and devices are further designed or configured to handle the communication with multiple endpoints, in some instances sequentially or simultaneously, generally without requiring moving elements, and establishing communication links with one or more endpoints with or without knowing its location in advance.
Embodiments include a software-defined communication system for transmitting and/or receiving electromagnetic signals, such as radiofrequency (RF) signals, the system comprising a plurality of antenna elements, a plurality of analog signal processing units (ASPUs) configured to connect via antenna channels to the plurality of antenna elements, and a plurality of digital signal processing units (DSPUs) configured to connect to at least one of the plurality of ASPUs and/or to one or more DSPUs of the plurality of DSPUs. Those skilled in the art will recognize that signals as used herein, refer to electromagnetic waves used to transport information (encoded data streams) e.g. voice, data, image, signal or video information, wirelessly from one point to another. Further, the term beam as used herein refers to waveform signals encoding data/data streams transmitted/received by the antenna elements which determine the antenna's radiation pattern.
The ASPU comprises hardware configured to process analog signals transmitted and/or received by the plurality of antenna elements, and the DSPU comprises a processor, a memory and programming instructions stored on the memory and executable by the processor to perform acts including applying digital signal processing techniques to the signals transmitted and/or received by the plurality of antenna elements. The antenna elements are configured to at least one of transmit or receive signals, generally encoding data streams. Some or all the antenna elements of the system may conform one or more antenna beams in the same frequency as a result of the interactions amongst the antenna elements. Additionally, the same antenna element may handle one or more antenna beams at different frequencies. Each of the plurality of antenna elements may be any element which transmits an electromagnetic wave as a function of the electrical current present on the surface of the elements and/or receives an electromagnetic wave as a function of the electric field present within an aperture, elements which are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
The DSPUs are configured to apply digital signal processing techniques including applying at least one of phase shifts, amplitude shifts or time delays of selective magnitudes to the digital signals transmitted and/or received by the plurality of antenna elements and pre-processed by the ASPUs, to beamform the signals to produce one or more beams associated with respective directions of propagation. Rather than implementing the beamforming control of the antenna elements by introducing shifts and delays to the analog signals at the ASPUs connected to the antenna elements, the signals from each antenna element may be independently processed at the one or more DSPUs so that the digital beamforming is performed at the one or more DSPUs. The analog signals that are processed by the ASPUs and the digital signals that are processed by the DSPUs include electromagnetic signals ranging from baseband signals to RF signals. In some instances, at least one of phase shifts, amplitude shifts or time delays of selective magnitudes are applied to baseband signals encoding data streams.
By operating in this manner, the DSPUs are configured to apply shifts or delays to the digital signals to perform digital beamforming techniques to provide different beams, according to particular purposes or applications. The DSPUs may digitally adjust the relative phases or time delays of transmitted and/or received signals by the antenna elements, and generally processed by the APSUs, to provide tailored antenna beams by reinforcing the intensity of the signals in desired directions and at the same time suppressing it in undesired directions, to define antenna beams comprising particular configurations of main and side lobes. For example, a spacecraft using a software-defined communication system may search for and locate one or more endpoints within a predetermined geographical region. The DSPUs of the software-defined communication system may apply the necessary phase shifts or time delays to the digital signals, required to steer the antenna beams throughout the extent of the region in order to measure the input power of incoming antenna beams and determine the direction of arrival (DOA) of the endpoint(s). As used herein, the term endpoint refers to a RF receiver, RF transmitter, or RF transceivers in a fixed or mobile platform, such as a satellite, a radio station, a cell phone, a watercraft, an aircraft, a ground-based station, or any device capable of transmitting and/or receiving RF signals or establishing radiowave communications.
Embodiments may apply further digital signal processing techniques including, but not limited to, at least one of data or channel encoding/decoding, multiplexing/demultiplexing, compression/decompression, encryption/decryption, sampling, detection, frequency spreading/despreading, filtering, amplification, up/down conversion, demodulation/modulation, phase shifting, time delaying, equalization, distortion compensation, and so forth.
The software-defined communication system described herein provides a novel architecture by connecting each antenna element to an ASPU, and each ASPU to at least one of the plurality of DSPUs, in order to apply signal processing techniques to the transmitted and/or received signals. Additionally, the DSPUs may be also interconnected. The plurality of digital signal processing units, (DSPUs) may be connected to at least one of the plurality of ASPUs and/or to one or more of the plurality of DSPUs. Considerable advantages can be realized by applying digital signal processing techniques to the digital signals at the DSPUs since this significantly distributes the processing capabilities of the system among all the DSPUs. The DSPUs may be further designed or configured to dynamically reconfigure the waveform signals transmitted and/or received by the antenna elements by digitally processing the electromagnetic signals and feeding the antenna elements. This dynamic reconfiguration may control the direction, shape and number of beams to tailor the beams for particular purposes or needs. For example, at least one of the plurality of DSPUs may be configured to apply at least one of phase shifts, amplitude shifts, distortion compensation, or time delays to the digital signals, to adjust at least one of the gain, power, coverage angle, coverage distance or intensity of the beams, and to detect or synthesize signal polarization. This capability is convenient, for example, for communicating with multiple endpoints simultaneously. In some instances, a DSPU connected to at least one of a plurality of ASPUs may be further connected to some or all of the additional DSPUs included in the software-defined communication system. The DSPUs may be connected in such a way as to form a connection diagram or architecture that allows for intermediate digital processing and combination of digital signals, allowing more precise and faster signal processing while reducing the total incoming or outgoing bandwidth handled by other processors. The connection layout between DSPUs may present different configurations, as described in more detail elsewhere within this Detailed Description.
Embodiments may also include a central processor (CP) configured to perform some or all of the control functions associated with processing the signals transmitted and/or received by the plurality of antenna elements. The CP may be further configured to apply signal processing techniques to the signals pre-processed by one or more DSPUs. In some instances, the CP may be introduced to centralize the signal processing, but in other instances the DSPUs may have the capability of and may also apply processing techniques (same or different than the ones applied by the CP) in order to distribute the processing of the signals throughout the system. The central processor (CP) may be connected to some or all the DSPUs of the software-defined communication system.
The CP may be configured to generate waveform signals to be transmitted by the antenna elements. The signals may encode the same data so that one or multiple endpoints receive the same data, or may encode different data streams to transmit different data streams (messages) to a single or multiple number of endpoints. Additionally or alternatively, the CP may be configured to transmit the data streams to be encoded to the DSPUs, and then each DSPUs may be configured to generate the signal parameters by applying the proper signal transformations to generate waveform signals to be transmitted by the antenna elements. This configuration requires lower bandwidth between the CP and the DSPUs.
The CP may be configured to apply processing techniques to digital signals similar to the processing techniques applied by the DSPU, but with the possibility of processing the signals of one, some or all of the plurality of antenna elements after being processed (pre- or post-processed) by the DSPUs. The CP and/or DSPUs may be configured to apply processing techniques implemented by software to the signals, including filtering, amplification, up/down conversion, demodulation/modulation, equalization, distortion compensation, and/or signal polarization detection. For example, either the CP and/or the DSPUs may be configured to apply at least one of phase shifts, amplitude shifts or time delays to the signals and/or adjust at least one of the gain, power, coverage angle, coverage distance or intensity of the antenna beams.
Even though the CP and DSPUs may be capable of applying the same or similar processing techniques, the net computing demand to the CP may be reduced or minimized since the computing effort may be distributed by processing signals at the DSPUs before or after being processed by the CP, generally independently, providing more versatility and robustness to the system. For example, in reception mode the ASPUs may amplify, filter and down convert the signals received by the antenna elements connected to them, and the DSPU may subsequently convert the analog signals to digital signals and process the digital signals by applying distortion compensations, equalization, and further down conversion, to subsequently transmit the pre-processed digital signals to the CP. The CP may receive all the pre-processed digital signals from the DSPUs and may apply further processing techniques. In transmission mode, the CP may generate different digital signals and feed each DSPU connected to it. Each DSPU may further post-process the digital signals from the CP, for example by introducing a predetermined phase shift or distortion compensation by means of programming instructions, so that all DSPUs transmit the generated signals to one or more endpoints. The possibility of pre-processing and post-processing the signals by the DSPUs instead of centralizing the processing operations in a single processor provides a relevant advantage since it allows the distribution of computational efforts throughout the system and increases the computational resources required to perform digital signal processing techniques.
The CP may be also configured to execute various instructions, routines and operations to control the DSPUs connected to it. The DSPUs like the CP may be further configured to perform control functions associated with the processing of the signals transmitted and/or received by the antenna elements, may control the programming instructions, the hardware, and/or the distribution of processing tasks throughout the system. The CP and/or the DSPU may also be configured to implement synchronization mechanisms, for example synchronization signals distributed throughout the system such as clock signals that may be sequentially shared by the DSPUs of the system.
Digital signals encoding data streams may be generated and/or digitally processed by any of the CP or the DSPUs. In some instances, the CP may be configured to generate and apply digital processing techniques to one or more signals for feeding the antenna elements with signal(s) having predefined signal parameters (e.g. gain, phase, frequency, polarization). In other instances, the CP may be configured to generate one or more digital signals having predefined signal parameters and the DSPUs distributed throughout the software-defined communication system may be configured to apply digital processing techniques to the one or more signals for feeding the antenna elements in order to transmit the signal(s) through the antenna elements. Likewise, any of the CP or the DSPUs, either alone or in combination, may be configured to apply digital signal processing techniques after the signals are received by the antenna elements and processed by the ASPUs. In some instances, the signal parameters may be defined according to communication parameters determined for example by an external processor or user. For example, an earth observation satellite including a payload, which in many cases will include an imaging system designed to capture imaging data, may need to establish a communication channel with one or more endpoints, such as ground stations, space stations or other satellites, to exchange (transmit/receive) instructions or data with them. The satellite may also include an antenna or radio communication system, such as the software-defined communication system as part of its communication module to establish communications with the endpoints. In some instances, the satellite's control system may provide to the software-defined antenna (i.e. software-defined communication system) the positions of several endpoints located over a determined geographical region or defined space, as well as the data to be encoded and transmitted to the endpoints. The CP may determine the proper signal parameters such as gains, modulation, phase shifts, amplitude shifts and/or time delays and may provide the data to be encoded and the signal parameters to the DSPUs so that the DSPUs apply the signal parameters to the data to create one or more directive beams by using destructive and constructive interference in order to transmit the signals with the encoded data either simultaneously or sequentially to multiple endpoints.
The CP may be configured to define at least one of a phase shift, an amplitude shift or a time delay to be applied to the signals transmitted and/or received at each antenna element according to the relative position of the antenna elements in the software-defined communication system, and configure the DSPU to digitally apply the predefined shift or delay to the digital signals. The digital signals having the shifts or delays defined by the CP and applied by the DSPUs are converted to analog signals and are fed to each antenna element connected to the DSPU through the ASPU. In some instances, the DSPU may be configured to autonomously choose optimal signal parameters (phase shift, etc) without intervention of the CP, so that the DSPU may be configured to define at least one of a phase shift, an amplitude shift or a time delay, apply it to the digital signals, and feed the antenna element connected to the DSPU through the ASPU with analog signals.
The CP may be further configured to select groups of DSPUs, for example to provide different emphasis, equalization, time or phase shifts to the signals of each group, in order to independently control the signal parameters of different groups of antenna elements in the system. Either the CP or the DSPU may apply at least one of phase shifts, amplitude shifts, time delays, gain, power, or other signal parameters' processing, to the antenna groups, for example to steer the beam in different directions and/or to compensate for signal distortions.
The software-defined communication system may operate in transmission mode, reception mode, as a radar for example to estimate the location of a signal from an endpoint, to detect the DOA, and also in both transmission and reception modes. Generally, means for switching modes may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination thereof. In some implementations, for example in transmission mode, the modulation effort could also be distributed through the DSPUs, lowering the required bandwidth that reaches any subsequent processor such as a DSPU or a CP. In other embodiments, for example in reception mode, the demodulation may be distributed through the DSPUs, lowering the required bandwidth that reaches any subsequent processor such as a DSPU or a CP.
Generally, any transmitted or received signal is affected by noise, such as the electronic noise of all the elements of the electronic circuitry comprising the system or the external noise picked up by the circuits. In order to reduce the noise, in some embodiments, the software-defined communication system, may be further configured to apply techniques to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), for example by averaging the transmitted or received signals so that the noise decreases with the square root of the number of averaged samples, either at the CP and/or DSPUs.
In some embodiments, the software-defined communication system may further comprise a supporting structure to mechanically mount the antenna elements and/or to provide electrical connections. The antenna elements may be arbitrarily distributed over a bidimensional surface or a three-dimensional space, with or without following a regular or apparent pattern. In some implementations, the antenna elements may be arranged forming a pattern in which the separation between antenna elements may be physically determined during its assembly, or may be determined electronically by using the software-defined communication system. For example, the antenna elements may be distributed over the roof of a building or on the tiles of a house without physically determining the precise separation between antenna elements while the antenna of the software-defined communication system is being assembled. In these situations, the software-defined communication system may further include methods to determine the relative position between antenna elements, for example by using auto-calibration methods or by using sub-lambda knowledge through sampling using a predefined/characterized electromagnetic signal, as described in more detail elsewhere within this Detailed Description.
In some implementations, the antenna elements may be arranged in a N-dimensional array wherein N<3, such as a linear, bidimensional or three-dimensional array, and the array may be mounted directly on a surface of a physical structure, or a terrestrial, maritimal or aerial vehicle, for example on a building, a drone, a satellite, a ship or a car. The antenna array may also be a deployable structure that may be extended and stowed. In some instances, the antenna elements are provided as part of a phased array antenna on a moving platform including any manned or unmanned aerial, maritime or terrestrial moving platform, such as a car, a spacecraft, a satellite, a drone or a ship, usually as part of a communication system. The total size of the phased array antenna may include a single antenna array or a plurality of antenna arrays arranged in a predetermined pattern, or without following a regular or apparent pattern, to provide a scalable and modular architecture for construction of variable steerable antenna sizes, ranging from small to large-scale antennas. In some implementations, the DSPUs may be also configured to electronically establish antenna element subarrays, wherein the subarrays may be determined for example by programming instructions defining subsets of antenna elements, and/or by physically coupling/connecting together a predetermined number of DSPUs forming one or more subsets of DSPUs.
In some embodiments, part or all the components of the software-defined communication system may be manufactured in a traditional rigid or flexible printed circuit board (PCB) in a PCB manufacturing facility. For these applications, the system may further comprise a surface or base to provide mechanical support and electrical interconnection between the constituting elements.
The processes, systems, and devices described herein may be implemented in a number of ways. Example implementations are provided below with reference to the following figures to aid in illustration, although those examples are not meant to be taken in a limiting sense.
FIG. 1
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is a block diagram of a programmable steerable antenna system (i.e. software-defined communication system) usable to transmit and/or receive signals encoding data between endpoints, providing multiple stages of signal processing and the ability of managing multiple endpoints. The same configuration may be used for both transmission and reception modes. The programmable steerable antenna system may be mounted on-board an aerial, maritime or terrestrial vehicle, such as an aircraft, a spacecraft, a drone, a car, a ship, or a satellite, such as a LEO satellite, or may be on a structure on the ground, such as a building, a house or a ground station. In some embodiments, some of the components of the programmable steerable antenna system may be on a separate ground-based structure or vehicle, with such ground-based structure or vehicle in communication with the system. For example, in some implementations a central processor may be all or partially ground based or on-board an aerial vehicle. The programmable steerable antenna system allows reversible reconfigurations and versatility for a variety of applications since it does not require specialized hardware to implement beamforming techniques or other signal processing or transformations. The described configuration provides the advantageous capability of electronically processing signals at different levels in the circuit.
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The programmable steerable antenna system may include one or more processors and computer-readable media . The computer-readable media is non-transitory and may store various instructions, routines, operations, and modules that, when executed, cause the processors to perform various activities. In some implementations, the one or more processors are central processing units (CPU) or any other sort of processing unit, such as, for example, digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or others, such as, artificial intelligence and machine learning accelerators. The non-transitory computer-readable media may include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable tangible, physical media implemented in technology for storage of information, such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. System memory, removable storage, and non-removable storage are all examples of non-transitory computer-readable media. Non-transitory computer-readable storage media may include, but are not limited to, phase change memory (PRAM), static random-access memory (SRAM), dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), other types of random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory (such as NAND flash memory such as may be included in one or more nonvolatile memory cards, and including flash with both single-level and multi-level cell technologies) or other memory technology, compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other tangible, physical medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by the system or any computing device.
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In some embodiments, non-transitory computer-readable media may further store a control module that may perform some or all of the control functions associated with processing signals in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The control module is executable by the one or more processors , to control, such as through one or more input/output interfaces, the processing of the signals. The non-transitory computer-readable media may additionally store programming instructions and program modules that are loadable and executable by the one or more processors , as well as information/data generated during execution of, and/or usable in conjunction with these programs, such as image, voice, data, signal or video information, and so forth. In some implementations, the control module may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable media present in the DSPUs instead of being stored in the central non-transitory computer-readable media . Alternatively the control module may be distributed among some or all of the plurality DSPUs , including or not the central processor(s) . The functions of the control module may be executed but one or more processors present in the DSPUs instead of the central processor(s) , so that and the central processor(s) , the central computer readable media , and the control module may be removed. This optional architecture is illustrated by the broken lines of the boxes representing the one or more processors , the central computer readable media , and the control module . The programmable steerable antenna system may further comprise one or more antenna elements and one or more analog signal processing units (ASPUs) configured to connect via antenna channels to the antenna elements . The ASPUs may comprise hardware configured to process analog RF signals transmitted and/or received by the antenna elements . The programmable steerable antenna system may further comprise one or more digital signal processing units (DSPUs) . The DSPUs may be connected to at least one of the ASPUs and/or to at least one of the DSPUs, and are configured to apply digital signal processing techniques to the signals transmitted and/or received by the antenna elements processed by the ASPUs . The programmable steerable antenna system may be configured to transmit/receive signals to and from one or more endpoints, one signal at a time or simultaneously. As used herein, simultaneously means virtually within the same period of time taking into account possible delays due to implementation limitations. The DSPUs and/or the one or more processors may be configured to apply any digital transformation to the electromagnetic signals received or to be transmitted through the antenna elements , for example, 1) by digitally controlling the phase offset, amplitude weights or time delay of the signals to apply beamforming techniques for directional signal transmission or reception (e.g. an antenna beam), 2) by applying one or more digital signal transformations (digital signal processing), as described throughout the specification, to adjust the signals according to predefined communication parameters, or 3) by compensating signal distortions to improve the signal bandwidth. Examples of digital signal transformations include, but are not limited to, filtering, amplification, up/down conversion, demodulation, modulation, equalization, emphasis, distortion compensation, time delays, phase shifts, amplitude shifts to the signals, compression/decompression, encryption/decryption, or any other signal processing techniques well known in the art.
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In some implementations, the programmable steerable antenna system may be further configured to electronically determine and/or select sub-groups , and of antenna elements in order to receive or transmit signals utilizing the preselected sub-groups, or may be configured to receive or transmit signals utilizing all the antenna elements of the system.
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In some instances, the programmable steerable antenna system may be implemented using at least one of Universal Software Radio Peripherals (USRPs), software-defined radios (SDRs), or alternative types known in the art.
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illustrate examples of architectures or arrangements of the plurality of DSPUs and ASPUs comprising the software-defined antenna (i.e. software-defined communication system), providing multiple stages of signal processing and the ability of managing multiple endpoints. One of the main advantages of these architectures is that the same architecture may be used for both transmission and reception modes. It should be understood that these are non-limiting examples and different interconnection designs can be used within the scope of the present disclosure. The DSPUs may be connected to at least one of the ASPUs and/or to at least one of the plurality of DSPUs . The DSPUs may have direct or indirect connections between some or all of the DSPUs and with some or all of the ASPUs (and hence the antenna elements) in the system. shows a non-limiting example of an interconnection design that may be used. The left side of shows that the DSPU is connected to DSPUs and , and each DSPU , and is further connected to its corresponding ASPU , and . In turn, each ASPU , and is connected to its corresponding antenna element . Additionally or alternatively, as shown in the central part of , the DSPU may be connected to more than one ASPU , wherein each ASPU is connected to an antenna element . The right side of shows that the DSPU may be connected to DSPU , and the DSPUs and may be connected to their corresponding ASPUs and . In this example, the ASPUs may be connected to one antenna element whereas the ASPU may be connected to two antenna elements . As explained above, any other combinations of connections may be used. shows another example of architecture wherein DSPU is connected to DSPUs and , and in some instances is connected to the central processor . Each DSPUs and is further connected to its corresponding ASPUs and , and the ASPUs and are connected to their respective antenna element . The central part of shows an alternative or additional connection wherein the DSPUs may be connected to the central processor and to the ASPUs , and , each connected through the antenna channels to their corresponding antenna elements . The right side of shows another alternative or additional connection wherein the DSPUs may be connected to the central processor and to the DSPUs and . The ASPUs and , each connected through the antenna channels to their corresponding antenna elements are respectively connected to the DSPUs and
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As described above, in some instances some or all of the DSPUs may be connected to a central processor which may provide controlling instructions to be executed by the processors of the DSPUs . Alternatively or additionally, the DSPUs of the antenna may have a common direct or indirect connection to each other in order to generate and share controlling instructions between them without requiring a central processor . In addition, the central processor and/or the DSPUs may digitally configure subarrays , and of antenna elements , which can be operated independently, increasing the versatility of the antenna, as shown for example in .
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By providing a significant flexibility in the hardware architecture and an adaptable software configuration of the system/device, the software-defined communication systems and devices described herein do not require a specialized hardware for each signal transformation operation it performs, instead the same system or device may apply phase or time delays for beamforming the beams or other type of signal transformation using the same hardware but varying the programming instructions, so that the same architecture may be used for performing a variety of signal processing techniques. These architectures dynamically configured by software also allow to reduce the complexity of the processing operations performed by the system by distributing the processing operations among the components of the system. For example, in transmission or reception mode some or all of DSPUs may be configured to apply digital signal transformations to the electromagnetic signals so that the processing bandwidth required to perform the signal transformations is distributed among the DSPUs instead of being centralized in a single processor. In addition, some or all of DSPUs may process the signals within the range of RF signals to baseband signals, depending on the signal transformation to be applied to the signal. In some beamforming applications, some or all the DSPUs may perform some correlation measurement between the signals from other DSPUs and/or ASPUs to find the optimal time or phase shift to apply to the RF signals or baseband signals to be transmitted/received by the antenna elements, so that the signal to be transmitted/received is the result of combining all the time- or phase-shifted signals of the antenna. In some implementations, the signal to be transmitted/received may be additionally or alternatively processed by the central processing , for example by modulating/demodulating the signals.
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provides a block diagram that illustrates an example of software-defined communication system (i.e. programmable steerable antenna system) configured to apply analog or digital transformations to electromagnetic signals, including one or more of filtering, amplification, up/down conversion, demodulation, modulation, equalization, distortion, distortion compensation, phase/amplitude shifts, time delays, and beamforming techniques for RF signal reception/transmission. The system is useful for reducing the bandwidth requirements, performing spatial multiplexing, and directional beamforming. The software-defined communication system comprises a plurality of antenna elements configured to receive and/or transmit radio frequency signals from/to one or more endpoints. In some implementations the antenna elements may be arranged as a phased array antenna with N number of elements, each of the N antenna elements configured to receive and/or transmit RF signals from/to one or more endpoints. In some instances, the processors of the DSPUs and/or the central processor may implement programming instructions (computational algorithms) to use the antenna array as a whole, or may select subarrays of antenna elements . The antenna elements may be connected to at least one ASPU through an antenna channel and in some example implementations, each antenna element may be connected to one ASPU , for example N antenna elements connected to N ASPUs. In some instances, the ASPU may be implemented as an analogue RF frontend module included for example in a software defined radio (SDR). The ASPU may include all analog hardware including, but not limited to filters, amplifiers, mixers, and/or up-down converters. It should be appreciated that not all the hardware needs to be present in all embodiments, that additional hardware may be present for other purposes, and that many hardware may be present for one or many of the purposes described.
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In general, the analog signals that reach the antenna elements include weak RF signals with a certain degree of noise. In order to obtain useful information, it is desirable to amplify the signals while minimizing any noise or distortion that might be present. The ASPUs may be further configured to amplify the RF signals while minimizing noise by using an amplifier to increase the power of the signals without significantly degrading its signal-to-noise ratio. For example, when an RF signal is received by the antenna element, a low-noise amplifier (LNA) is coupled to the antenna element to boost the antenna signal to compensate for the feed line losses between the source and the antenna element. Conversely, for signal transmission a high-power amplifier (HPA) may be used. In implementations involving simultaneous transmission and reception modes of operation, the ASPUs may further include a duplexer in order to reduce or diminish any interference that the transmission signal might generate in the reception circuitry, for example if the transmission and reception frequencies are close (e.g. the beat signal is within a predetermined value).
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The ASPU may be further configured to filter unwanted noise or predetermined signal components from the RF signals and may further comprise a filter to reduce or eliminate noise and/or predetermined signal components from the signals such as frequency components of the K antenna beams transmitted/received by the antenna elements which are not within the desired band operation. The filters may be bandpass filters, low pass filters, high pass filters, band reject filters, combination of these, or any other type of filters as providing the features and benefits described.
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In some instances, the ASPU may comprise one or more local oscillators and one or more mixers , operating according to conventional up- and down-converting techniques and properly synchronized by the CP and/or the DSPUs , to transpose the signals from a determined frequency to another. For example, N or a subarray of antenna elements may receive RF signals shaping up to K antenna beams. The ASPU , after amplifying and/or filtering the RF signals, may transpose the signals from a higher RF frequency into an intermediate or baseband frequency using a downconverter. Likewise, before transmitting up to K antenna beams through the N or the subarray of antenna elements , each ASPU may use an upconverter to shift the baseband or intermediate frequency of the RF signals into a higher frequency such as S-Band, X-Band-Ka-Band, Ku-Band, V-Band. In some implementations, the DSPUs may digitally transpose the signals from a determined frequency to another or control these shifts, as described elsewhere within the Detailed Description.
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The ASPU and DSPU may be connected through an analog-to-digital converter and digital-to-analog converter and suitable interfaces to establish communications between the modules. In reception mode, the RF signals received by the antenna elements are analog signals which are converted into digital signals to be processed by the DSPUs . Correspondingly, in transmission mode, the digital signals are converted into analog signals by the ASPUs to be transmitted by the antenna elements to one or more endpoints. In some implementations, there are N antenna elements , N or a lower number of ASPUs , and M number of DSPUs , wherein M may be lower, equal or greater than the number N.
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The DSPU may include one or more processors . The processors may be the same as the processors of the programmable steerable antenna system, but in many instances are processors dedicated to the DSPU . The processors may be GPUs, DSPs, FPGAs, ASICs, AI accelerators or any combination of these, or alternative types of suitable processors. The DSPU may further include computer-readable media that stores one or more modules for controlling the ASPU hardware, for controlling the DSPUs , and for processing the signals transmitted/received by the antenna elements . The computer-readable media may be the same as the computer-readable media of the programmable steerable antenna system, but in many instances are non-transitory computer-readable media dedicated to the DSPUs . The non-transitory computer-readable media may further store firmware such as bitfile to perform or otherwise control various functions of the DSPU . The firmware may be executable by the one or more processors , to control some or all functions of the ASPUs and/or the DSPUs , to process signals and/or encoded data, to store encoded data on the non-transitory computer-readable media , and so forth. In embodiments, some or all of the functions of the modules and/or other functions of the firmware may be implemented as logic functions on the one or more processors . For example, in some embodiments, the one or more processors may include an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), digital signal processors (DSPs), graphics processing units (GPUs), tensor processing units (TPUs), a programmable logic device, such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) where the firmware is executed, or other logic circuit where the firmware , bitfile or other programming instructions/descriptions are executed to perform various functions, including various control and processing functions. Other examples of processors or components may be used with embodiments described herein and are contemplated herein as providing the features and benefits described. In addition, some or all of the processors of the DSPUs , the central processor or both, may control or configure some or all components of the ASPU by providing programming instructions to control or configure for example, the oscillator's frequency, the amplifiers gain, the filters' parameters, the selection of a predetermined number of antenna elements when there's more than one, the selection of reception and/or transmission lines, phase shifts, as well as any other configuration related to the components of the ASPUs and/or modules of the DSPUs .
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Some of the modules may include a multiplexing/demultiplexing module (e.g. frequency spreading/despreading module) , a frequency converter module , a digital compensation module , an equalization module , beamforming module , a compression/decompression module , an encryption/decryption module , a demodulation/modulation module , and interfaces. Other modules may include encoding/decoding, sampling, detection, filtering, amplification modules, and other modules for processing signals in a wide range of frequencies, for example ranging from RF to baseband frequencies. It should be appreciated that not all the modules need to be present in all embodiments, that additional modules may be present for other purposes, and that many modules may be present for one or many of the purposes described. While the disclosure describes separate modules for performing specific acts and duties, it should be appreciated that all modules have functionality for processing signals. This allows the modules to cooperate together and exchange data for optimizing the bandwidth management, among other things. The versatility of the system is also evident by the fact that the modules, which are implemented by software, may be dynamically changed according to the requirements of a particular application. For example, a satellite equipped with the system may receive RF signals from an endpoint, and knowing in advance the signal losses and/or distortions inherent to the endpoints' circuitry, the system may reconfigure its modules to implement by software a digital compensation module . In some instances, if the endpoint does not provide information about the losses and/or distortions, the system may reconfigure the modules to eliminate the digital compensation module and use the computational resources to implement other modules.
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The multiplexing/demultiplexing module may apply computational techniques to the signals, such as filtering and/or switching techniques, in order to split the digital signals into up to K beams to be further processed by other modules, or to combine the digital signals in up to K beams to be subsequently transmitted by the antenna elements of the system (usually after being processed by the DSPU and/or ASPU ). For example, in reception mode, the N antenna elements may receive up to K antenna beams and the RF signals after being amplified, filtered and downconverted by the ASPU are conveyed as intermediate frequency signals to the analog-to-digital converter to be digitized, preserving any frequency and spatially multiplexed attributes. The intermediate frequency signals may be digitized as a complex representation so that each digitized intermediate frequency signal is conveyed to the multiplexing/demultiplexing module . The multiplexing/demultiplexing module may demultiplex the digitized intermediate frequency signals into up to K complex representations of the digitized intermediate frequency signals. In transmission mode, the multiplexing/demultiplexing module may perform the opposite transformation to the signals by multiplexing the K complex representations of the digitized intermediate frequency signals already processed by other modules. In some instances, the processor or the central processor may control the multiplexing/demultiplexing module by executing firmware or other programming instructions which, among other tasks, may determine the filters' parameters, the switching to a particular beam to allow more than one endpoint to use the same frequency band (spatial multiplexing), the assignment of an endpoint to a particular beam, and so forth.
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The frequency converter module is primarily responsible for digitally applying shifts to the frequency of the digital signals in order to transpose the signals from a determined frequency to another. In some instances, the shifts to the frequencies are digitally applied to baseband signals. This is especially useful for transposing the signals into a frequency at which it is desirable to apply a determined signal processing, for example when the received signal is transposed from RF signal into a baseband signal in order to subsequently apply phase shifts, time delays, or other beamforming parameters to the signal at the baseband frequency. In some instances, the RF signals may be shifted to a higher frequency in order to apply phase shifts, time delays, or other beamforming parameters at the carrier or an intermediate frequency. In some implementations, the frequency converter module may be configured to provide control instructions to the oscillators and mixers at the ASPUs and may also provide control instructions to other DSPUs of the system. Mixers may change the frequency of the input signals by software for example through the frequency converter module , by hardware, or a combination of both. For instance, in some implementations the local oscillator may be a crystal oscillator wherein the frequency is fixed. Alternatively or additionally, instead of being determined by a fixed hardware configuration, the oscillator may comprise a stable tunable local oscillator, which may be configured by software to tune to different frequencies, in order to provide more versatility to the system. The software may be for example firmware , executed by the processors of the DSPUs , or may include programming instruction executed by the central processor .
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The digital compensation module is configured to apply digital compensation to the signals for compensating over analog artifacts associated with the ASPUs connected to the antenna elements , for example to compensate for distortions and noise introduced by LNA or HPA filters. In some implementations, the digital compensation module may be further configured to compensate for the signal losses and/or distortions inherent to the endpoints' circuitry and carried to the signals transmitted by the endpoints. This is useful for example when the losses and/or distortions of the analog circuitry of the endpoints are known or may be determined. For example, the filtering and distortion digital compensation module may be configured to perform emphasis to the received or transmitted signal(s), including pre-emphasis or de-emphasis, or to compensate for a pre-emphasis made on the other endpoint(s). As used herein, pre-emphasis refers to the process of increasing (within a frequency band) the magnitude of some (usually higher) frequencies with respect to the magnitude of other (usually lower) frequencies in order to improve the overall signal-to-noise ratio by minimizing the adverse effects of, for example, attenuation, distortion or saturation of the signal(s) in subsequent parts of the system; and de-emphasis refers to the process of decreasing, (within a band of frequencies), the magnitude of some (usually higher) frequencies with respect to the magnitude of other (usually lower) frequencies in order to improve the overall signal-to-noise ratio by minimizing the adverse effects of, for example, attenuation distortion or saturation of the signal(s) in subsequent parts of the system.
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The equalization module , is primarily responsible for compensating any group delay and phase delay between different frequency components of the signals by adjusting the signal parameters such as phases, gains, and so forth, of the different frequency components of the signals.
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The beamforming module is largely responsible for applying at least one of phase shifts, amplitude shifts, or time delays of determined magnitudes to the digitized signals in order to beamform the digitized signals to produce one or more data encoded beams associated with determined directions of propagation. For example, in reception mode the beamforming module may perform multiplications on each of its complex inputs by a weighting factor usually selected in accordance with the placement of the particular antenna element in the antenna array and the direction of the received antenna beam. In transmission mode, the data D. . . Dto be transmitted to one or more endpoints may be encoded either by the central processor and/or any of the DSPUs for example the DSPUor some or all of the N DSPUs (DSPU. . . DSPU). In some instances, the data may be encoded by converting the one or more data streams or data messages into digital baseband signals and may be conveyed through a data bus to one or more DSPUs , for example the DSPU, so that the encoded data streams may be divided into K digital complex baseband signals. The beamforming module , which in some instances may be executed by the processors of the N DSPUs (DSPU. . . DSPU), may multiply each of the digital complex baseband signals by a weighting factor taking into account the position of the antenna elements in the array and the desired direction of the antenna beam to be transmitted by the system. Even though this example illustrates the application of beamforming parameters to baseband signals it should be understood that the beamforming parameters may be applied to signals in the intermediate frequency (IF) or VHF, UHF, S-Band, X-Band-Ka-Band, Ku-Band, or V-Bands.
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The magnitude of the phase shifts, amplitude shifts, or time delays (e.g. the weighting factors) which occurs in the digital domain, may be controlled by some or all of the up to M DSPUs of the system, and/or by the central processor for example by setting the magnitude of the weighting factor according to a determined direction of the beam, so that the system may steer the antenna beams in different directions, or by describing the movement of the other endpoint and then each of the N DSPUs computes the weighing factors from the location and direction of the endpoints at a particular time. Generally, the central processor may determine which endpoint (e.g. satellite) is for each K antenna beam, and some or all of the DSPUs may determine the weighting factor that corresponds to each K antenna beam to be transmitted or received through the N antenna elements .
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Other modules for implementing conventional signal processing techniques, for example the compression/decompression module , the encryption/decryption module , and the demodulation/modulation module , as well as alternative or additional signal processing techniques such as combination/distribution of signals, may be executed by the processors of the DSPUs not directly connected to the ASPUs (e.g. DSPU). In some instances, a configuration determined by software may dynamically select the processors (e.g. among the processors of the DSPUs and/or by the central processor ) to execute the modules and the programming instructions. Alternatively or additionally, the configuration determined by software may dynamically select the modules to be executed.
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One of the main advantages of the system is the possibility of reducing or distributing the processing bandwidth handled by the system while processing the signals to perform for example beamforming techniques to steer the beams in order to establish complex communication links, including the either sequential or simultaneous communication with one or more fixed or moving endpoints. Whereas in priorly known techniques beamforming is performed by injecting (feeding) a different signal to each antenna element, making it possible to shape the wavefront and steer the beam at will, this requires a full bandwidth channel per antenna element, i.e. for N antenna elements the necessary bandwidth must be multiplied by N. In contrast, in this novel configuration it is possible to send the same or different digital un-encoded and un-modulated message to several DSPUs , so the signal is processed at each DSPU where it can be for example compensated, beamformed, multiplexed/demultiplexed, and in some instances encoded/decoded, encrypted/decrypted, compressed/decompressed, and modulated/demodulated independently, according to the communication to be established with one or more endpoints. The versatility of the system allows the algorithms executed by the processors of the DSPUs to be adapted accordingly.
According to some embodiments, the software-defined communication system described in the examples herein may be part of a stationary platform, such as a ground-based station, or may be part of a movable platform, such as a ship, a car, an aircraft, a spacecraft, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or a satellite in a Low Earth orbit (LEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) or Geostationary Orbit (GEO). In some implementations, a first endpoint has a software-defined communication system configured to transmit/receive antenna beams to/from one or more second endpoints, wherein each of these second endpoints may have any type of antenna with one or more receiving/transmitting elements. A second endpoint may be for example a ground station having a satellite dish antenna, a mobile-phone base station, or may be an antenna mounted on the ground or on a manned or unmanned aerial, maritime or terrestrial vehicle, such as cars, spacecrafts, satellites, drones or ships. In some instances, both the first and second endpoints may each have a software-defined communication system to establish communications between them.
In typical situations, after a satellite is launched on a predetermined orbit, it may need to communicate with airborne stations, base stations on the surface of the Earth, or other satellites in the same or different constellations e.g. a LEO satellite with a GEO satellite. For this reason, satellites generally comprise communication systems responsible for receiving and/or transmitting signals comprising, among other things, data such as requests for data, programming instructions, and data generated by the satellite e.g. images, the results of image analysis, scientific data, the position of the satellite, the health of the satellite or its systems, and so forth. The signals may be received by/transmitted from the ground, other satellites, or other similarly equipped devices such as manned or unmanned aerial vehicles, balloons, cars, ships, planes, and even from sensor networks. In conventional systems, an uplink/downlink transmission between a satellite and a ground station can be successfully established when the satellite passes over the ground station coverage area and both receiving and transmitting antennas are adequately positioned in order to communicate wirelessly through an unobstructed line-of-sight path at the proper direction. After the satellite passes the coverage area or when the antenna points to an inadequate direction, the uplink/downlink transmission is interrupted until the satellite passes over another ground station coverage area pointing at the proper direction. This means a limited uplink/downlink transmission determined, among other factors, by the satellite's antennas and the satellite's capacity to point the antennas to the right direction.
FIGS. 4A and 4B
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In a non-limiting example, show an example of a satellite equipped with a software-defined antenna comprising a plurality of antenna elements assembled in a bidimensional antenna array (however other configurations are also possible) and configured to communicate sequentially and/or simultaneously with ground stations (i.e. endpoints) distributed at fixed geographical locations, in order to optimize the uplink/downlink transmission. For example, the satellite may establish a communication link with ground-based station to download a certain amount of data, and given that the software-defined antenna is configured to apply beamforming techniques, the antenna may steer the antenna beam so that the transmission may start earlier (ti) and last longer (t) than with conventional systems, providing a wider range of area for the transmission. Before ending the transmission with the ground-based station , the satellite may start transmitting data to the ground-based station which is at a certain distance from the ground-based station , by applying spatial multiplexing techniques, so that during a determined period of time (e.g. Δt), the antenna may transmit simultaneously to both ground stations (endpoints) and , so that the transmission is not interrupted during a certain period of time and/or for a given range. These modes of operation are also useful in the event that the ground station receiving the data transmission changes its capacity to receive it or becomes unavailable for any reason (e.g. obstructions in the communication paths), the satellite may transmit data to other ground stations simultaneously by spatially multiplexing the antenna beams. By operating in this manner, the ground stations may act as support or alternative endpoints in case data transmission cannot be established or is discontinued with any of the ground stations. Even though the above examples illustrate a limited number of endpoints, other numbers of endpoints can be used in the system.
Additionally, instead of a ground station, the above example may apply to the communication with other endpoints which appear to be still in relation to the satellite, such as GEO satellites with respect to LEO satellites. In other instances, the relative motion between the endpoints transmitting and receiving data is small enough to account for their relative motion. Also, the communication may be established for example between a satellite and a plurality of satellites in the same or different constellations, wherein the satellite does not need to change its attitude to communicate with the other satellites because it may steer one or more beams, or it may generate beam patterns in order to communicate with a plurality of satellites simultaneously. This property makes the satellite system resilient to the dynamic topology of the connection network in a constellation of moving satellites.
FIG. 4C
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illustrates another example of operation when the antenna of the satellite is establishing communications with multiple endpoints simultaneously and/or sequentially, performing spatial multiplexing and applying digital beamforming techniques. Amplitude control, time delays, and/or phase delays may also be applied to design the beam pattern of the communication device to obtain different configurations of main lobes and side lobes and enhance the signal in one or more directions. This may be also useful for example when the endpoint moves relative to the communication device, such as when the communication device is on a moving platform, e.g. a car, a ship or an airplane. The antenna may be dynamically reconfigured by applying signal transformations at the DSPUs and/or the CP in order to adjust at least one of the number of beams, the beams' direction, the bandwidths and beam widths of each beam. For example, the satellite may communicate with the ground station and simultaneously with satellites and from the same or a different constellation, a house in a fixed location, and a moving railway wagon . To illustrate the advantage of the operation, the satellite may be broadcasting a television signal to house when it passes over a geographical area and detects live events unfolding in a particular region. The satellite may start capturing images and may communicate with satellites and to task them to capture images of that particular region without interrupting the communication with house . Simultaneously, the satellite may also establish communication with the ground station to download the captured images and may also receive from the ground station information associated with the event or a task to perform, such as recording video data of the event or tracking the moving railway wagon (which could be involved in the event) in order to establish a communication link without interrupting connections with the ground station , the satellites and , and/or the house . These modes of operations which allow tailoring the radiation patterns and the direction of the beams, may be used also for simultaneously and/or sequentially broadcasting different television signals to a plurality of houses, one television signal for each house, neighborhood or city, for transmitting and/or receiving data to/from any on-board a manned or unmanned aerial vehicle such as a other satellites within a constellation of satellites, and so forth.
One of the beneficial features of this system is that communication links with multiple endpoints can be established simultaneously without the need of rotating the entire satellite. The shape and direction of the beam may be changed without moving the satellite or, if the communication device is mounted on a structure, without moving the structure to obtain a directional beam. This is also beneficial in the case of a satellite communicating with a single endpoint while passing over the endpoint, because the satellite is free to activate other payloads and change its attitude according to the requirements of other payloads such as an optical imaging system, without interfering with the communication link. For example, a satellite may transmit data to a ground station without the need of rotating the satellite because the beam is electronically directed to the ground station, but it may rotate to capture images of a region of interest while maintaining the transmission with the ground station adjusting the shape and/or direction of the beam accordingly.
In some embodiments, the software-defined communication system may further include a self-calibrating circuitry and/or software to discover the direction of the endpoints by iteratively aiming a beam in different directions and with different gains (e.g. main lobe angle and width) effectively sweeping an entire accessible angle range, covering areas of different shapes and sizes to discover one or more endpoints. Once the desired endpoints are located, spatially selective transmission beam patterns are directed to each of the endpoints.
Many advantages of the software-defined device are foreseen in implementations concerning satellite communications. The special configuration described in the embodiments provides great versatility due to the possibility of dynamically selecting the processors for processing the signal(s) with the advantage of processing the signal(s) at the DSPUs instead of being processed only at the CP, and also due to the possibility of dynamically selecting the modules to be executed by implementing different software configurations. In addition, The possibility of using a sizable array provided in the described embodiments does not interfere with the overall weight of the satellite nor produce undesirable effects.
A typical communication link established to exchange information between a transmitter (Tx) and a receiver (Rx) generally comprises several signal processing/transformation steps usually implemented in separate blocks. Raw information (i.e. message or data) is processed to fit into a certain format and the intrinsic redundancy is removed. At some point some redundancy is added (synthetized) to help the communication device to recover from transmission errors and channel/medium imperfections at the receiver end. For the transmitter, the signal processing pipeline comprises some or all of the following: source (data) encoding, compression, encryption, channel encoding, multiplexing, modulation, frequency spreading, and physical means for accessing to the channel. On the other hand the receiver gets the physical signal and the signal processing pipeline includes some or all of the following: frequency despreading, demodulation and sampling, detection, demultiplexing, channel decoding, decryption, decompression and source (data) decoding. Typically Tx and Rx is a pair of nodes, making not relevant the bandwidth of information through all the blocks implementing the mentioned steps. In the devices and methods described in present description, in which communication channels may be established with many possible (multiple) endpoints, the bandwidth of information throughout the signal processing blocks becomes important. Part of the device's architecture and its low cost and technical feasibility are linked to the design choices and versatility provided by the devices and methods described herein, to reach each endpoint with the minimum necessary bandwidth and perform upscaling operations (eg: IF upconvert, FEC or redundancy adding steps) in terms of bandwidth locally i.e. at individual processing units (e.g. CP, ASPUs, DSPUs).
FIG. 2
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Although a few variations have been described in detail above, other modifications, additions, combinations and sub-combinations are possible. For example, the arrangements described for may be implemented by the programmable steerable antenna system , the software-defined communication system or the software-defined antenna . Any of the processes described in may be implemented by the systems , , or . The example operations exemplified in and any other variation may be executed by the systems , , or , and so forth.
FIGS. 5, 6, and 7
depict flow graphs that show example processes in accordance with various embodiments. The operations of these processes are illustrated in individual blocks and summarized with reference to those blocks. These processes are illustrated as logical flow graphs, each operation of which may represent a set of operations that can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination thereof. In the context of software, the operations represent computer-executable instructions stored on one or more computer storage media that, when executed by one or more processors, enable the one or more processors to perform the recited operations. Generally, computer-executable instructions include routines, programs, objects, modules, components, data structures, and the like that perform particular functions or implement particular abstract data types. In the context of hardware, the operations may be carried out in an integrated circuit, such as in an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), digital signal processors (DSPs), CPUs, graphical processing unit (GPU), tensor processing unit (TPU), or a software defined radio (SDR). Other examples of hardware may be used with the embodiments described herein and are contemplated herein as providing the features and benefits described. The order in which the operations are described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described operations can be combined in any order, separated into sub-operations, and/or performed in parallel to implement the process. Processes according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may include only some or all of the operations depicted in the logical flow graph. Moreover, the operations may be carried out by a single system, such as onboard a terrestrial vehicle, watercraft, spacecraft, aircraft, or ground station, or may be shared between multiple systems located with the software-defined communication system and onboard one or more vehicles or ground based systems.
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is a flow diagram showing an example overview process for transmitting/receiving electromagnetic signals from a first endpoint to one or more second endpoints by dynamically and electronically reconfiguring a software-defined communication antenna system mounted on a first endpoint to control and generate tailored beam patterns to transmit and/or receive signals to/from a plurality of second endpoints, simultaneously or not, without requiring moving elements such as a moving antenna. At , the communication parameters for data transmission/reception may be determined. The communication parameters may include at least one of the number, position and path of the one or more second endpoints, the data (message) to be transmitted to the endpoint(s), the distortion characteristics of the endpoint(s)′ analog circuitry to be compensated by the first endpoint, and so forth. The communication parameters may be determined, for example, by any of a user, an external processor, or the components of the antenna system such as the DSPUs, the ASPUs or the CP.
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At , signal parameters for data transmission/reception are determined. The signal parameters, such as gain, polarization, frequency, phase, distortion compensation, and so forth, may be determined based at least in part on the communication parameters, and/or the messages' (data) characteristics.
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At , the processing units are configured, based at least in part on the signal parameters. The configuration is performed by software, allowing a versatile, dynamic and reconfigurable configuration. Given that the processing units involved in the transmission/reception operation and the steps executed by the processing units may be configured by software, alternative configurations may be applied without requiring specialized hardware for each implementation. Furthermore, the possibility of setting configurations by software according to a desired implementation without being limited by the hardware, and the means provided for selecting the processing units to be used for each implementation, optimizes the processing capabilities of the antenna system by distributing the processing demands throughout the antenna system. This step may include the selection of all or some processing units and the selection and/or determination of processing techniques to be applied by the selected processing units. The processing units may comprise the CP, some or all the DSPUs, and some or all of the ASPUs of the antenna system. For example, the CP of the antenna system may be configured to data encode/decode, compress/decompress, and encrypt/decrypt different messages, and the DSPUs connected to the ASPUs may be configured to implement algorithms at least one of channel encoding/decoding, multiplexing/demultiplexing, pulse modulation, bandpass modulation, demodulation and sampling, detection, frequency spreading/despreading, beamforming, and so forth. In some instances, the CP instead of applying processing techniques may configure some or all of the DSPUs to apply the preselected processing techniques. In some instances, the antenna system may digitally set up subarrays of antenna elements and use the subarrays to establish the communication with the subgroups of endpoints. In another example related to reception mode, some or all the DSPUs may be configured to demodulate the RF signals received by the antenna elements such that only the demodulated signals are transmitted to a central processor. The central processor may be configured to further combine the demodulated signals by some or all of the DSPUs. One of the main advantages of operating in this manner is that the bit error rate (BER) may be reduced since each DSPU may demodulate the signals with a certain amount of BER to be subsequently reduced by combining the demodulated signals at the central processor. An additional advantage which gives versatility to the system is the possibility of distributing the bandwidth of information by selecting the processing units and the signal processing techniques to be performed by the processing units.
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At , signal processing techniques are applied to the data to be transmitted/received to/from the one or more second endpoints by the processing units configured by software at step . By implementing selected signal processing steps executing signal processing techniques in the digital domain, including beamforming and multiplexing techniques, the same or a different message (data) may be transmitted to each second endpoint located at different geographic locations/directions in some instances sequentially or simultaneously. For example, the antenna system may be configured to use the DSPUs connected to the ASPUs to determine a mathematical relationship between the desired radiation beam pattern e.g. the desired shape, intensity and number of lobes, and the wavefront. Since the mathematical expression of one is the Fourier transform of the other, given the desired radiation beam pattern, the wavefront may be calculated. After calculating the wavefront, the DSPUs connected to the ASPUs may calculate the relative delays of the individual antenna elements to generate the best possible estimation of the wavefront and apply for example phase shifts, amplitude shifts, or time delays to beamform the RF signals in order to generate the desired wavefront.
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At , RF signals are transmitted/received through the antenna elements to/from one or more endpoints. For example, in transmission mode, the processed signals encoding data are transmitted forming the desired waveforms through the antenna elements and may transmit one or more messages to one or more second endpoints with an antenna beam pattern having the desired number of beams, gains, beam widths, and multiplexing attributes. In reception mode, the antenna system may be configured to direct the beam to determine directions in order to receive the waveform signals containing data from one or more second endpoints through the antenna elements to be subsequently processed by the selected processing units, according to the antenna system configuration.
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In some embodiments, the software-defined communication system may be used to electronically determine the relative position of its antenna elements. Usually, the relative position between the antenna elements is known because the antenna elements are arranged in a well characterized structure, such as in a printed circuit board, and the relative position has been determined by physically measuring the distance between antenna elements or by fabrication methods. However, in some instances, it is desirable to determine the relative position between antenna elements without physically measuring the distance. is a flow diagram showing an example overview process for determining the relative position between antenna elements by auto-calibration methods such as by using sub-lambda knowledge through sampling using a predefined/characterized output signal (i.e. a predefined/characterized electromagnetic signal). At , a predefined output signal, such as a chirp is generated. The output signal may be generated by a CP or by one or more DSPUs. Once a predefined output signal is generated, at the predefined output signal is transmitted by one of the antenna elements to each one of all other antenna elements of the communication system. At , each antenna element receives the output signal of the transmitting antenna element and from the phase or time delays, at , each receiving antenna element can compute a distance to the transmitting antenna element. Systematically, all elements take turns to transmit the predefined output signal, while all the remaining antenna elements receive it and compute their relative distances to the antenna element transmitting the output signal. At it is determined whether each one of all antenna elements have transmitted the output signal to the remaining antenna elements. Steps , and are repeated until all antenna elements have transmitted (e.g. sequentially) the output signal to the remaining antenna elements. Finally, with all this information at a complete map of the relative position of all antenna elements is computed and the relative position of all antenna elements of the software-communication system is determined, for example, using a multidimensional scaling algorithm. In some instances, each DSPU connected to each ASPU may generate and send a chirp to all the DSPUs connected to the ASPUs of the remaining antenna elements, and the DSPUs connected to the ASPUs of the remaining antenna elements after receiving the chirp may calculate their relative position to the antenna element transmitting the chirp. The relative position between antenna elements is determined electronically by the sequential transmission and reception by each of the DSPUs connected to the ASPUs of each antenna element.
FIG. 7
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is a flow diagram showing an example overview process which may be implemented by a phased array antenna system, such as the software-defined antenna on board a first endpoint, for locating one or more second endpoints. This process is useful for example when the first endpoint does not have information in advance about the position, location and/or number of the second endpoints. In some instances, the process may be used in cases when one or more of the second endpoints are mounted on moving platforms, for example when the software-defined antenna is mounted on-board the satellite .
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At , one or more messages to be transmitted to one or more endpoints may be determined. In some instances, each message may be linked to a reference. For example, the software-defined antenna on board a first endpoint may determine several messages (D, D, . . . D) to be transmitted simultaneously, each to a different direction (φ, φ, . . . φ), in order to search for one or more second endpoints. Alternatively, the antenna may determine several messages (D, D, . . . D) and combine them to be transmitted in a single beam. Also, the antenna may determine a single message (e.g. D) to be transmitted simultaneously or sequentially to different directions (φ, φ, . . . φ) in order to search for one or more second endpoints. N and K may be any integer number and may be the same or different e.g. one message to different directions (N=1, K>1), same number of messages and directions N=K>1, or any possible combinations. In some instances, the reference may be a position and each message may be linked to a position (P, P, . . . P).
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At , the signal processing parameters may be determined in order to generate one or more searching beams. For example, the processing units (e.g. the CP or the DSPUs) of the software-defined antenna may encode one or more messages and determine phase shifts or time delays in order to generate one or more searching beams that may be electronically steered at particular directions or describing particular paths. The signal processing parameters may be determined to generate a searching beam comprising one or more messages and more than one lobe in order to transmit the searching beam simultaneously to different directions. Similarly, signal processing parameters may be determined to detect a searching beam in order to receive the searching beams. In some instances, several messages may be combined into a single searching beam to be transmitted sequentially into different directions, for example sweeping a particular area with the searching beam following a spiral path, a horizontal path, a vertical path, or different combinations of these. Additionally or alternatively, the system may be configured to iteratively aim a wider or narrower searching beam also sweeping the whole available angle range, for example implementing a binary search algorithm using different beam widths, or other divide and conquer search strategy, starting with a low gain wide lobe, and a simple set of communication parameters requiring low gain, and then dividing this lobe in two or four angle sections, to identify in which section is the second endpoint, and continue dividing the solid angle until achieving the required antenna gain for the desired more complex communication parameters.
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At , the signal processing parameters previously determined to generate the searching beam may be applied to the signals in order to transmit the searching beam. For example, some or all of the processing units (e.g. DSPUs or CP) of the software-defined antenna may apply the determined signal processing transformations which encoded the predetermined messages and beamformed the searching beams.
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At , the searching beam generated with determined attributes is transmitted by the first endpoint to locate one or more second endpoints. Depending on the type and number of messages and the signal processing parameters, the searching beam may comprise one or more messages and may be transmitted as a single beam electronically steered describing particular paths or pointing at particular direction(s), or may be transmitted as multiple simultaneous beams pointing at particular directions, and in some instances may be also steered.
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At , an endpoint may be located. For example, the software-defined antenna on board the first endpoint may transmit one or more searching beams comprising lobes pointing at directions (φ, φ, . . . φ) and messages (D, D, . . . D), each message linked to a position (P, P, . . . P). When any of the second endpoints receives a searching beam comprising one of the messages, for example the message Dlinked to the position P, the second endpoint may transmit a message (receipt message) to the antenna on board the first endpoint in response to the searching beam, such that the antenna, after receiving the receipt message from the second endpoint, may determine what message the second endpoint received and hence the position (P) of the second endpoint. Alternatively, if no endpoint is located, signal processing parameters different from the previous ones may be determined in order to generate different searching beams or alternative sweeping trajectories or strategies to steer the beam and continue searching for one or more endpoints until an endpoint is located. Once an endpoint is located, a communication link may be established and, at , RF signals may be transmitted and/or received between the first endpoint and the found one or more second endpoints.
In the descriptions above and in the claims, phrases such as “at least one of” or “one or more of” may occur followed by a conjunctive list of elements or features. The term “and/or” may also occur in a list of two or more elements or features. Unless otherwise implicitly or explicitly contradicted by the context in which it is used, such a phrase is intended to mean any of the listed elements or features individually or any of the recited elements or features in combination with any of the other recited elements or features. For example, the phrases “at least one of A and B:”, “one or more of A and B:”, and “A and/or B” are each intended to mean “A alone, B alone, or A and B together.” A similar interpretation is also intended for lists including three or more items. For example, the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C:”, “one or more of A, B, and C:” and “A, B, and/or C” are each intended to mean “A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A and B and C together.” In addition, use of the term “based on” above and in the claims is intended to mean “based at least in part on”, such that an unrecited feature or element is also permissible.
The subject matter described herein can be embodied in systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles depending on the desired configuration. Although the disclosure uses language that is specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, the invention is not limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing the subject matter described herein. The implementations set forth in the foregoing description do not represent all implementations consistent with the subject matter described herein. Instead, they are merely some examples consistent with aspects related to the described subject matter. Although a few variations have been described in detail above, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, further features and/or variations can be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, the implementations described above can be directed to various combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed features and/or combinations and sub-combinations of several further features disclosed above. In addition, the logic flows depicted in the accompanying figures and/or described herein do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other implementations may be within the scope of the following claims. | |
What does Alaska bring to your mind? Wildlife, rainforest, native culture, natural phenomena are only a few words to describe our adventure to the Great Land.
For seven days we explored Alaska’s coastline onboard a cruise line. Our voyage of the Glaciers sailed us from Anchorage to Vancouver. We traveled in the cities of Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan and admired glaciers over Glacier Bay National Park and Hubbard Glacier. We were awed by the grandeur of the landscape, the natural wonder and glaciers panorama. A MUST SEE
History and Amazing Fact
- The word Alaska drives from the Aleut word “Alyeska” meaning “great land”.
- In 1867, Russia sold Alaska to the United States for $7.2 million.
- Alaska became the 49th State in 1959. It is a really large state, as a comparison, Alaska’s area equals 4 times California or 12 times New York!
- 100,000 glaciers are covering Alaska, that represents 5% of the state.
- Wildlife is rich and various: Grizzlies, wolves, bald eagles and humpback whales. As an example, it has the largest concentration of bald eagles in the world.
- The longest salmon run in the world is on the Yukon River and its 2 000 miles up. | https://daydreamunderthestars.com/2017/10/28/alaska-the-great-land/ |
The back-and-forth discussion of patriotism versus nationalism continues at National Review Online. Editor Rich Lowry offers the latest installment. He responds to colleague Jonah Goldberg.
His discussion of this point is genuinely interesting, but it seems to me that Jonah has given away whatever categorical distinction he wanted to maintain. By his account, both nationalism and patriotism are natural to some extent or other, both are passions, and both need to be channeled in constructive directions.
So what’s the fundamental difference between the two? At the end of the day, Jonah’s definition seems to come down to patriotism is everything good and right and nationalism is (mostly) everything intolerant and dangerous. If we take this literally, patriotism is the only human passion that can never be distorted or go wrong. Patriots never become chauvinists. Patriots never, in an excess of zeal, trample on another country’s interests or honor. They never, during a time of war, clamp down on dissent. Patriots are paladins of truth and justice, and if they ever misstep they, by definition, becoming something else — nationalists, presumably.
This definition might make some theoretical sense, but it is completely disconnected from how people act, think, and feel in the real world. The French army that swept across parts of Europe after the revolution was nationalist, yes, but these troops were also fired by a sense of French exceptionalism, a devotion to certain universal ideals, and a belief that they should spread their ideals as far as possible. So they certainly seem to fulfill large parts of Jonah’s definition of patriotism — suggesting that even too much patriotism can be a bad thing. …
… If we are going to believe that this is an exceptional country, superior to all others (sign me up), we ought to realize that American nationalism is better than nationalism in other places in the world — more rational and moderate and less aggressive. This, too, is part of our cultural inheritance. I obviously take Jonah’s point that extreme nationalism is dangerous, and obviously there are many examples of European conflicts that were and are tribal in the sense that he uses it. But an American patriot ought to have a little more faith in this country’s nationalism.
Finally, let me say that I consider this country a home. I love its people, its traditions, myths and rituals, its landscape, music, and literature. I love some of these things because they are good, yes, but if I’m being honest, I also love them simply because they are ours. I know Jonah does, too, and so do most Americans. | https://www.johnlocke.org/national-review-editor-continues-the-patriotismnationalism-debate/ |
Melal Economy Group is now on the path to conquering high peaks of success and achieving its true status among the top investment companies in the country. I consider the achievement of the current situation borne by the virtuous thought and prompt mind of the valued founder and the members of the board of directors. We use our full potential to protect the shareholders' equity of the company and increase its value, and we are proud that the blessing achievement has been to put the collection on the route to serve the compatriots and vulnerable groups of the society.
We hope that with the help of The Lord, through promotion of working procedures, elimination of existing weaknesses with strategic and systemic attitudes, employing the strengths and opportunities, applying and continuing appropriate strategies, understanding the capacities of investment in the country and the provision and proper use of financial resources, we will see more dynamism and growth in the business environment and will take important steps towards the dignity of Iran.
Undoubtedly we will be able to achieve our objectives through loyalty and adherence to such values as:
• Respect and practical commitment to the laws of the country and compliance with financial and administrative transparency at all levels,
• Attraction and maintenance of expert, loyal and motivated human capital, and efforts to promote their knowledge and skills,
• Speeding up decision-making and the removal of administrative bureaucracy at managerial levels,
• Commitment to social responsibility and respect for human dignity, and
• Protecting the environment and natural resources. | https://melal-group.com/en/page/1 |
Abstract: This lesson will be the first of six lessons guiding students in constructing the abstract concepts necessary to understand adding positive and negative integers.
It is designed for adult learners (or middle school or older) who are not fluent with using numbers. In order for this to be effective in real life situations I think adding a real-life situation that applies directly to our students would be advantageous. This lesson will be on budgeting.
I love that idea. ITs current setting is in a course to prepare for our pre-algebra course so we have significant time constraints.
Might be somewhat difficult for a student with Learning Difficulties.
I love the paper forms that can be used by the student working at her own pace.
Very nice. Really liked the lessons very much. Thanks.
Standard: Recognize opposite signs of numbers as indicating locations on opposite sides of 0 on the number line; recognize that the opposite of the opposite of a number is the number itself, e.g., –(–3) = 3, and that 0 is its own opposite.
Standard: Understand a rational number as a point on the number line. Extend number line diagrams and coordinate axes familiar from previous grades to represent points on the line and in the plane with negative number coordinates.
Remix published Apr 20, 2017 by Lynne Alexander: "Integers: Introduction to the concept, with activities comparing temperatures and money. - Remix" | https://www.oercommons.org/authoring/13198-integers-introduction-to-the-concept-with-activiti?batch_start=10 |
Stores Affected BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENT. Any commercial enterprise that provides carryout bags to its customers through its employees or independent contractors associated with the business. The term includes sole proprietorships, joint ventures, partnerships, corporations, or any other legal entity whether for profit or not for profit.
Notes 1/23/2018 passed after third reading, but is on hold - will not be finalized until Feb 13.
Notes 1/20/2017 had second reading, changed some veribage and will have 3rd reading and vote at Feb 13, 2018 meeting.
Reusable Definition Reusable Carryout Bag. A carryout bag that is specifically designed and manufactured for multiple reuse, and meets the following criteria: (1) Displays in a highly visible manner on the bag exterior, language describing the bag's ability to be reused and recycled; (2) Has a handle; (3) Is constructed out of any of the following materials: (a) Cloth, other washable fabric, or other durable materials, whether woven or non-woven; or (b) Recyclable plastic, with a minimum thickness of 4.0 mils; (4) minimum lifetime capacity of 125 or more uses, carry 22 or more pounds over a distance of at least 175 feet.
Reusable Definition REUSABLE CARRYOUT BAG.�A carryout bag that is specifically designed and manufactured for multiple use, and meets the following criteria:�(a)�Displays in a highly visible manner on the bag exterior language describing the bag�s ability to be reused and recycled;�(b)�Has a handle;�(c)�Is constructed out of any of the following materials:.�Cloth, other washable fabric, or other durable materials whether woven or non-woven capable of being cleaned and disinfected;�2.�Plastic film, with a minimum thickness of four (4.0) mills and capable of being cleaned and disinfected;�(d)�Has a minimum lifetime of 125 uses, which for purposes of this definition means the capability of carrying a minimum of 22 pounds 125 times over a distance of at least 175 feet.
Reusable Definition Any bag with handles that is specifically deigned and manufactured for multiple uses, minimum lifetime capacity of 125 or more uses, carry 22 or more pounds over a distance of at least 175 feet, has a minimum volume of 15 liters, made of cloth or other machine washable fabric, Shall not contain lead, cadmium, or any other heavy metal in toxic amounts. Or made of other durable material including plastic at least 2.25 thick.
Reusable Definition Reusable carryout bag means a carryout bag that is specifically designed and manufactured for multiple reuse, and meets the following criteria: i) Displays in a highly visible manner on the bag exterior, language describing the bag's ability to be reused and recycled; ii) Is constructed out of any of the following materials: (1) Cloth, other washable fabric, or other durable materials whether woven or non-woven; (2) Recyclable plastic, with a minimum thickness of 2.25 mils; or (3) Recyclable paper.
Stores Affected Business establishment means any commercial enterprise that provides carryout bags to its customers through its employees or independent contractors associated with the business. The term includes sole proprietorships, joint ventures, partnerships, corporations, or any other legal entity whether for profit or not for profit. | http://www.baglaws.com/legislation.php?state=South_Carolina |
Mona Asuka is a classical pianist that has been stunning audiences since the age of four when she performed as a guest artist at a competition in Munich’s Residenz. She made her orchestral debut at the age of thirteen and has played with top orchestras ever since. Including the Hong Kong Philharmonic and Edo de Waart, Mozarteumorchester Salzburg and Ivor Bolton, Philharmonia Orchestra London, Dresdner Kapellsolisten, Württembergisches Kammerorchester, Münchner Symphoniker, Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie and Staatskapelle Weimar. Performances in Japan have included the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Kanazawa under Kazuki Yamada and New Japan Philharmonic at Suntory Hall. Asuka has won numerous first prizes in national and international competitions, including the Grotrian Steinweg Competition. In 2006 she received the Audience Award at the Bad Kissingen Piano Olympics, and in February 2011, the Festival Prize for artistic achievement at the Sommets Musicaux Festival in Gstaad. Her 2008 debut recital at the Ruhr Piano Festival was met with great acclaim. Asuka’s debut album Schubert & Liszt: Piano Works was released in summer 2017 on Oehms Classics. She is now releasing Mozart: Piano Works on the haenssler CLASSIC label.
“Piano Sonata in C Major, K. 545 “Facile”: I. Allegro” is the first sounds we hear on the album, and Asuka starts with authority and sonic command. Her subtle approach is heard in the playful melody. The quick melodies have character and direction. The accompanying figures are balanced. The minor section is given a slightly different touch to bring out the darker sonorities. Asuka’s flowing piano style is perfect for Mozart’s music, and her interpretation of this well-known Sonata is evidence of her deep understanding and commitment to the classics.
“Piano Sonata in A Minor, K. 310: III. Rondo – Presto” this Sonata was influenced by the fact that Mozart’s mother had just passed, and that impacted the sonorities and character of the Sonata. Asuka accepts this and builds upon this emotion. Her forceful articulation of the left-hand ostinato’s builds the ominous tone while her flawless mechanics of the sixteenth note passages dive in and out of the minor harmonies. She is not afraid to accentuate the distances of the moment, and that brings out the beauty. The middle major section is given a playful touch, and that provides a sweet breath of fresh air.
Mozart’s music has much joy, and this is an essential aspect of his compositions. However, there is also much grief intertwined between the notes. Asuka understands this and brings those moments out. The balance of elation and sadness is what makes these Sonatas intriguing. Asuka’s second album, Mozart: Piano Works, is an excellent presentation of her skills as a player and transponder of emotion. Her catalog continues to be one of intensity and beauty as we enjoy her musical explorations. | https://5fingerreview.com/mona-asuka-mozart-piano-works/ |
Waiting For Light: Jotunheimen
This is a companion post for my film "Waiting For Light: Jotunheimen".
For information about supporting my journeys, please visit ADVENTURES.
The Journey
It all started with a longing for something more. I had been growing tired of doing the same type of content over and over again. So I was looking for a bigger adventure and there is nothing bigger or more grand than mountains, and there are no bigger mountains than those in Jotunheimen here in Scandinavia. Thus I began my planning, in January 2018.
I decide upon Valdresflye as my gateway into Jotunheimen. Firstly it is a National Scenic Route in Norway. Secondly it is a good starting point for hiking into Jotunheimen National Park. I don't like making my plans solid, but I see the plan more as a recommendation and backup if I don't find anythings special of interest as I am exploring the area.
Having a general plan I started my long drive from Dalsland, Sweden all the way up to Valdresflye, Norway. The drive through Valdres all the way up to Valdresflye is amazingly beautiful. A real treat. Arriving at my planned location later than I had planned meant that I had to look for another location for the first sunset. I settled for a roadside camp looking out over Valdresflye with the mountains of Jotunheimen behind. It was truly beautiful. There was a small issue however.
First Sunset
My first sunset of the journey. Not exctly as I planned. But it worked out allright.
When I finally arrived at the location for my camp I quickly noticed that the haze would make photography a struggle. So I started wandering around looking for good elements to use as to capture the interest of the viewers. The sound of water instantly peaked my interest, I confess to having a weakness for water in my compositions. The melting of the snow created a big river flowing down towards the mountains I wanted to photograph and I knew I had found my location.
I had to wait for the sun to go below the mountains so as not to create issues with overly bright highlights in the water. As soon as the sun dipped below the horizon I made my way down to the water again with my camera. The composition I settled for was using the water as a leading line into the biggest of the mountains "Besshöe".
Mixing my shutter-speeds during the capturing of the photo meant that I could blend different shutter-speeds in Photoshop. Creating a flow that is smooth but still conveys movement and direction.
The Mountain
The day after I spent the whole morning exploring the rest of the National Scenic Road. I found lots of beautiful waterfalls which made me decide I wanted to photograph a waterfall. More specifically a waterfall that incorporated the story of the ice melting during spring creating a huge amount of flowing water.
After I had finished my exploration it was time for the main event. Hiking up the mountain and photograph the second sunset.
I arrived at the top of the mountain in good time, had to wait 7 hours before the sun started to set. I spent most of the time listening to an audio-book, looking out over the mountains thinking about life and other things. It truly is something else sitting alone atop a mountain for hours.
As the sun started to set I started to set up my composition. I knew exactly how I wanted to frame everything. Starting with the river in the bottom left part leading into the mountains at the top right part. The biggest struggle during the sunset was the anticipation of whether I would get good color in the sky or not. With the mountains blocking the horizon I just couldn't be sure. And when the mosquitoes started to come I got worried. Would every thing be for nothing.
But as soon as I started to see the color coming in the sky all worries disappeared and I knew I could endure the mosquito terror until the sunset was over. Said and done. As soon as the color started to fade I packed my things and started to hike down from the mountains. Arriving back at the car sometime in the middle of the night.
Spring's Story
With little to no rest I started the next morning, 3am. Looking again for the perfect waterfall to tell the story of the ice-melt during spring.
What I found was better than I would have hoped. A mountain in the background, lots of snow, a good looking waterfall and a little bit of green in the scene. It truly shows the story of spring in one picture in my mind. I am really satisfied with how the water starts up by the snow, which leads up to the mountain, and then the water flows through the image and envelops the whole of the bottom frame. As always with water pictures the flow of the water is really important, here I decided to go smooth with a faint hint of movement. It makes the image feel calmer and gives more room for the other elements withing the composition.
Conclusion
On a bigger scale all three of the images I created during this journey goes very well together in creating the story of Spring Flow. It was not my intention going on this trip to create a trio related pictures, but the conditions made that happen anyway and I am very satisfied with what I came away with. It was a very successful trip for me. Three images for my portfolio in one trip and a long form video for YouTube. That is really good.
Now it is time for me to start thinking about my next trip, the "Fall Color 2018" trip. All the details will be found at the JOURNEYS section of my website. If you enjoyed watching this trip and want more, then please consider supporting me through PATREON or PAYPAL. Every Dollar makes the trip just that much grander.
That's all for me this time. | https://www.jorgenfelt.com/blog/waiting-for-light-jotunheimen |
Over the period 1990-2009, energy efficiency in the household sector increased by 24% in EU-27 countries at an annual average rate of 1.4%/year, driven by the diffusion of more efficient buildings, space heating technologies and electrical appliances. Over the same period, the final energy consumption of households increased by about 8%, at an annual average rate of 0.4%. Electricity consumption grew much faster at an annual growth rate of 1.7%. During the years 2005-2009 energy efficiency increased by 5%, or 1.3%/year.
How fast energy efficiency is improving in the household sector?
The access is restricted to project partners or subscribers. The data extracted from the ODYSSEE database and used in the graphs are: the energy consumption by end uses, stock of dwellings, the average floor area, the number of large electrical appliances, the share of central heating.
Note: Influence of climate on household energy consumption per dwelling between 1990 and 2009.
ODYSSEE. Household energy efficiency by country. The Odyssee database is available at http://www.odyssee-indicators.org/. The access is restricted to project partners or subscribers.
Note: Share of energy consumption by end uses in total households consumption in percent.
Note: Based on the ratio: energy consumption by end uses divided by the number of permanently occupied dwelling.
Energy consumption at normal climate.
Note: The energy consumption of households is decomposed in different explanatory effects: change in average dwelling size, increasing number of appliances (more electrical appliances) and central heating diffusion, energy efficiency improvement (as measured from ODEX) and change in behaviour related to more confort.
ODYSSEE. Drivers of the change in average annual energy consumption per household. The Odyssee database is available at http://www.odyssee-indicators.org/. The access is restricted to project partners or subscribers.
Over the period 1990-2009, energy efficiency in the household sector increased by 24%, at an average rate of 1.4% per year (Figure 1). Part of these improvements occurred in the area of space heating due to better thermal performance of buildings encouraged by mandatory efficiency standards for new buildings, and a larger penetration of high efficiency boilers (e.g. condensing boilers). All EU countries have developed thermal regulations for new dwellings, some of them as far as the seventies. These standards require a theoretical maximum heating unit consumption for new buildings. However, the magnitude of this impact varies with the countries, depending on the number of standards upgrades, their severity and the number of new dwellings (i.e. the share of recent building in to total stock). Figure 9 shows an estimate of the impact of building standards in the unit consumption of dwelling since 1990 for a selection of countries. The introduction of new dwellings with better insulation since 1990 contributed to decrease the unit consumption per dwelling at different levels: 12% for Sweden, around 35% for France and Netherlands, 40% for Poland, 50% for Denmark and 70% for Germany. The other factors responsible for the decrease of the unit consumption should be the retrofitting of existing dwellings and the introduction of new more efficient heating appliances (namely, condensing boilers and heat pumps), as well as behavioral savings.
For the EU-27 as a whole, new dwellings built in 2009 consumed about 40% less energy than dwellings built in 1990, because of new building codes (Figure 9). For large appliances, the improvement in energy efficiency results from technical improvement driven by EU mandatory Directives on labelling and voluntary agreements with equipment manufacturers. As a result, the share of the most efficient appliances (A, A+, A++) has increased significantly: from 6% in 1997 to 94% in 2009 for refrigerators and from 3% to 95% for washing machines, for example.
Over the period 2005-2009, the average energy efficiency improvement rate at EU level was 1.3% per year. Energy efficiency progress has been lower in 2009 at EU level (0.6 %). There exist large discrepancies among countries: from few improvements for Hungary, Greece to great improvements for new members such as Slovenia, Poland and Romania with an annual average rate of energy efficiency improvement above 2% over the period 2000-2009 (Figure 7). Over the period 2005-2009 there is also an acceleration in energy efficiency progress for EU15 countries such as UK (improvement of 4%/year), France (improvement of 2.2%/year), Ireland (-2.5%/year), Germany (-1.9%/year). Differences between countries can be explained by the high energy efficiency potentials available in these countries due to outdated infrastructures (e.g. buildings, heating supply systems, etc).
Including for instance France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, Sweden.
This estimate was based on a modelling assuming for new dwellings that their unit consumption is equal to the theoretical consumption as implied by the standards. This approach overestimates the impact of building regulations as it is well known, but not well quantified , that the actual unit of new dwellings is higher than this consume more than this theoretical consumption, because of non compliance and rebound effects (the fact that in well insulated dwellings occupants tend to have a higher indoor temperature than in less insulated dwellings).
Estimation based on the relative performance of new buildings built with new regulations, based on building codes, compared to the performance of new buildings built in 1990.
Is the energy consumption in the household sector decreasing in Europe?
Between 1990 and 2009, the final household energy consumption increased by 7.5% in the EU-27, at an annual average growth rate of 0.4%. Over the same period, final household electricity consumption increased faster, at an annual growth rate of 1.7%. Over the period 2005-2009 the final energy consumption decreased by 2.6% (-0.6%/year). Between 2008 and 2009, the household energy consumption has decreased by 0.7% due to the economic crisis. On the contrary, electricity consumption continued to increase at 1.6% a year. Gas and electricity are the main energy source in the household energy consumption (39% and 25% respectively in 2009 compared to 29% and 19% in 1990). Oil follows with 15%, ahead of biomass (11%). Heat, from district heating, and coal represent 7% and 3% of the household consumption in 2009 (compared to 10% and 12% in 1990).
Space heating represented 68% of total household consumption in 2009 compared to 74% in 1990. The share of electricity for lighting and appliances increased from 10% to 15% in 2009 compared to 1990. Water heating remains stable at 12% in 2009 (Figure 3). Most of the savings in energy consumption in the household sector took place because of improvements in space heating technologies and tighter building codes (see also Figure 9 below).
To avoid yearly fluctuations due to climatic variations from one year to the other and have consistent trends, the household energy consumption should be measured at normal climate (i.e. corrected for climatic variations) (Figure 1 and 2). Between 1990 and 2009 household energy consumption per dwelling (climate corrected) decreased by 0.8%/year in the EU-27. From 2005 to 2009, the decrease in energy consumption per dwelling (-1.1%/year) was driven by increasing energy prices (4.3% per year on average, all fuels combined). n 2009 the unit consumption per dwelling (climate corrected) decreased significantly (-3%) despite a drop in energy prices (-9%): this may be due to the first reactions to the depressed economic situation in most countries (actual income reduction and further expectations. Unit consumption per dwelling has decreased in almost all EU countries from 1990 to 2009 except in 6 countries, mainly southern countries (Malta, Greece, Cyprus, Spain), Finland and Croatia (Figure 3).
What are the main drivers behind the household energy consumption in Europe?
The observed progress in energy efficiency was due to better thermal performance of buildings, more efficient large electrical appliances (cold and washing appliances) and heating systems (condensing boilers and heat pumps). However, part of this improvement was offset by increased number of electrical appliances, larger homes and the diffusion of central heating . The combined effect of these three factors was an increase in the average consumption per dwelling by around 0.4% a year each (Figure 6), offsetting 60% of the energy efficiency improvement achieved through technological innovation.
The penetration of central heating was mainly significant in the southern European countries and in Ireland. Central heating (around 85% of EU dwellings in 2009) , which includes district heating, block heating, individual boiler heating and electric heating, implies that all the rooms are well heated, as opposed to room heating, where generally a stove provides heat to the main room only. It is estimated that the replacement of single room heating by central heating increases the energy required for space heating by about 25 % on average.
Is there a relationship between renewable energy and energy efficiency?
Energy consumption for water heating represented around 12% of the household consumption in 2009. Energy consumption for water heating per dwellings tends to decrease in countries since 1990 (-1.2%/year since 2000) except for 7 countries, Slovenia, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, Cyprus, Latvia and Malta.
Solar energy is promoted in many countries to substitute conventional energies presently used to produce hot water. Solar water heaters can represent a good economical and environmental solution mainly for southern countries which benefit from a good solar irradiation. The question is how much energy savings the diffusion of solar energy will generate. The answer depends on the methodologies and conventions used. With a top-down approach, the impact of solar heating on the household energy consumption will be measured based on the energy statistics. In this case, the savings come from the fact that one kWh of solar will replace more than one kWh of conventional energy (due to the convention applied in energy statistics to solar heating, namely that there are no losses in conversion). The level of energy saved will depend depending on the type of water heaters replaced (for instance their efficiency). So looking at both energy consumption for water heating and water consumption trends in the households, one could draw some conclusions on the influence of solar heating penetration. In a bottom-up approach used in national evaluations, solar water heaters are considered as an energy saving technology and thus the saving will be much larger. One such example of a bottom up approach is the methodology applied in France.
In France there is an energy saving obligation for energy suppliers above a certain level of sales. The total volume of savings of the obligation is defined by the government. The energy suppliers falling under the regulation, have to prove a volume of savings proportional to their market share. For that purpose, they have to implement actions with their consumers to encourage energy savings investments and will receive in exchange certificates; they are also allowed to buy energy saving certificates from suppliers in excess of their obligation. To define the amount of savings (i.e. certificates) linked to a given action (e.g. promotion of solar water heaters), energy savings have been standardised for a large number of energy saving equipment and action. The savings values have been agreed upon following a process involving various stakeholders on the basis of expert opinions and survey data. The details of the calculations are not public but the value of the standardised savings by equipment and actions are published on the Ministry web site.
The life time savings are discounted with a discount rate of 4%. This results in the value of 11.56 years for the discounted lifetime for solar water heaters with a standardised life time of 15 years. The savings are presented as kWh cumac to clarify that they are cumulated and discounted. The following table gives the official for individual solar water heaters by climatic zone.
Figure 8 presents the percentage of dwelling with solar water heaters in Europe in 2009 according to the solar irradiation. Cyprus and Greece have the most important share of dwelling equipped with solar water heaters (75% for Cyprus, 35% for Greece). Austria is the benchmark for most countries with medium solar radiation (from 3% to 24% dwellings equipped). In most European countries there exist financial incentives (subsidies or soft loans) and fiscal incentives (tax credit) to encourage households to install solar water heaters in their dwellings.
This is the case for the measurement of savings linked to solar water heaters in national white certificate schemes or in the NEEAP. The savings will be in a range of 500 to 1000 kWh/m2 depending on the country.
Household energy consumption, covers all energy consumed in households for space heating, water heating, cooking and electricity. Figures are reported either aggregated or disaggregated according to the end use categories named and as a total figure or per dwelling or m2 of housing area. Climate fluctuates from one year to another. When the data is flagged as climate corrected, the data is normalized to reflect similar weather conditions.
Consumption in useful energy per degree-day corrects for difference in heating equipment efficiency (which varies according to the fuel uses) and climate.
Household CO2-emissions covers the direct CO2 emitted by fuel combustion.
Energy efficiency and energy consumption are intrinsically linked. Increased energy efficiency can lead to significant reductions in energy consumption provided that measures are in place to discourage the occurrence of rebound effects. Reducing energy consumption in the household sector as a result of energy efficiency progress and behavioural changes can lead to significant reductions in environmental pressures associated with energy production and consumption.
This Action Plan outlines a framework of policies and measures with a view to intensify the process of realising the over 20% estimated savings potential in EU annual primary energy consumption by 2020. The Plan lists a range of cost-effective measures, proposing priority actions to be initiated immediately, and others to be initiated gradually over the Plan's six-year period. Further action will subsequently be required to reach the full potential by 2020.
It outlines the need to adopt specific measures to improve energy efficiency.
Energy and transport play a large part in climate change since they are the leading sources of greenhouse gas emissions; this is why energy policy is particularly important in the European Union's sustainable development strategy. The EU is increasingly dependent on energy imported from Non-EU Member Countries, creating economic, social, political and other risks for the Union.
The EU therefore wishes to reduce its dependence and improve its security of supply by promoting other energy sources and cutting demand for energy. Consequently, it is putting the accent, above all, on improving energy efficiency and promoting renewable energy sources.
Energy consumption by end use per dwelling: final energy consumption per country / number of dwellings per country.
The Eurostat database covers all 27 EU member states plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Croatia and Turkey. Odyssee database covers EU-27 plus Norway and Croatia. Not always data is available for all countries.
All data figures: Odyssee database, Enerdata, October 2011 update; the Odyssee database covers detailed energy consumption by fuel, end-uses and their drivers for 27 EU countries, EU-27 as a whole, Norway and Croatia. Due to statistical limits, data for EU new member countries are only available (or reliable) since 1997.
Energy consumption by end uses: extrapolated from 16 EU countries (11 main EU-15 countries + Poland, Czech Rep, Estonia, Hungary and Romania) representing more than 90% of the household consumption (e.g. 94% for gas, 92% for electricity). The energy consumption for all these countries is aggregated by fuel and end-uses and a share is applied to the total consumption by fuel from Eurostat. For instance, the space heating consumption of gas is calculated as the total consumption of gas as published by Eurostat for the EU-27 multiplied by the share of space heating in the gas consumption in the sample of 16 countries. The space heating consumption for the EU-27 is then calculated as the sum of the consumption for space heating for each fuel. This method guarantees the coherence between the aggregate and disaggregated energy consumption.
Not all data is available for all countries. Availability for data on years earlier than 2008, is higher.
Odyssee data is recently updated (October 2010).
The reliability of total household energy consumption and related CO2 emissions is reliable due to trustworthy statistics underlying it. Division of the energy consumption among activities (heating / cooking etc.) is less accurate, because it is based on assumptions.
For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/energy-efficiency-and-energy-consumption-5/assessment or scan the QR code. | https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/energy-efficiency-and-energy-consumption-5/assessment |
Citation:Moon,D.C.,Moon,J.&Keagy,A.(2010)Direct and also Indirect Interactions.lifwynnfoundation.org education Knowledge3(10):50
Ecological neighborhoods are shaped by a complicated array that direct and indirect interactions. This interactions are spatially and temporally dynamic and also can be challenging to disentangle.
You are watching: What does indirect mean in science
Figure 1:A bee pollinating a flower is a classic example of a mutualism in i m sorry each partner is positively influenced by the relationship.
The punishment receives nourishment in the type of nectar and pollen, while the tree receives transport for that is pollen.
Relationships between members of an ecological ar can be classified in ~ two vast categories, straight effects and also indirect effects. The first of these, straight effects, as the name implies, encounters the direct impact of one individual on another when not mediated or transmitted v a 3rd individual. If you have ever watched a cheetah record a gazelle or a punishment pollinate a flower, then you have actually observed a direct effect in action (Figure 1). There room eight main species of direct effects which space classified by the net impact of the relationship on every individual; positive, negative, or neutral (Table 1).
Competition: vain occurs once two organisms contend for the same source (food, space, mates, etc.). Both individuals are negatively influenced by competition for the resource because either the resource is limited or, if the source is no limited, they have the right to physically interfere with rivals attempting to attain the resource.
Predation: Predation takes ar when one organism (the predator) consumes one more (the prey). Typically, carnivores, such as the cheetah follow the gazelle pointed out above, space excellent examples of predation. In the broadest sense, the hatchet predation contains all consumption of an additional organism because that nutrients, including herbivory and parasitism. However, as the latter have some distinctive characteristics, they space often considered independently of predation.
Herbivory: when a tree is consumed by an additional organism, it is thought about herbivory. Unlike predation, in which the whole organism is destroyed, plants often survive grazing by one herbivore. For this reason, herbivory is periodically referred to as plant parasitism.
Parasitism: A parasite is physiologically dependent upon its organize for nutrition. When the host is negatively affected by the loss of nutrient to the parasite, parasitism seldom leads directly to the host"s death. Unfortunately, humans are master to any variety of parasites, consisting of liver flukes, tapeworms, lice, pinworms, giardia, and many others.
Mutualism: In a mutualism, both partners benefit from the relationship. Plenty of coral reefs have actually "cleaning stations" whereby some species of fish remove parasites from other fish. The cleaner fish obtain nutrition indigenous the consumed parasites while the cleaned fish enjoy freedom from your parasites.
Commensalism: Commensalism occurs once one biology is positively affected by the relationship while the other organism is not affected, either negatively or positively, by the interaction. Livestock egrets who feed on the insects stirred increase by domesticated cattle are an instance of commensalism. Part birds have even taken benefit of the invention of the lawn mower to expand this partnership to the suburban lawn.
Amensalis: Amensalism takes location when one separation, personal, instance is negatively influenced by communication with another individual who is not affected by the relationship. Numerous molds, including Penicillium, secrete chemistry that kill bacteria in their vicinity.
Neutralism: Interactions between the two individuals are neutral in regards come both species. Some bacteria may exhibit neutralism as it has actually been reported that some types of Lactobacillus and Streptococcus deserve to coexist without affecting each other positively or negatively. However, it has actually been said that true neutralism is probably rare in lifwynnfoundation.org.
While the relationships between huge carnivores and also their food are conveniently placed in one of the category of direct effects, countless associations between two organisms or species involve multiple types of interaction, which may transition along a continuum native one category to another. Recently direct effects have actually been more accurately illustrated as an communication compass (Figure 2; Holland & DeAngelis 2009). Depending upon biotic and abiotic factors affecting the individuals, the true relationship may loss in between the collection categories, and even transition between categories over time. Because that example, a well documented mutualism is the ant-plant interaction (reviewed in Heil & McKey 2003). Plants administer domatia and/or nectar for the ants and receive protection from insect herbivores and also plant competitors in return. However, ants may also castrate the flowers and fruits of their resident plant, skewing plant source partitioning to growth rather 보다 reproduction and thereby enhancing nectaries and domatia (Yu & Pierce, 1998). If the ants end up being too aggressive in your pruning behaviors, the relationship in between the ants and plant may transition from mutualism to parasitism. As a method to "cheat the cheater," some plants have actually fought back by relocating flower manufacturing away indigenous nectaries and domatia to reduce ant visitation to fruiting areas, which ferris wheel the compass once an ext toward a mutualistic connection (Yu & Pierce 1998; Izzo & Vasconcelos 2002). | https://lifwynnfoundation.org/what-does-indirect-mean-in-science/ |
Wake Forest University is a highly competitive school and its admissions statistics make Wake Forest University one of the 50 most competitive schools for undergraduate admissions globally. Similar to the trends across all top schools, Wake Forest University acceptance rates have continued to decline over the past 8 years and will almost certainly continue to do so into the future.
The Class of 2021 was the single most challenging years to be admitted to Wake Forest University ever. For the Class of 2021, 13,000 students applied to Wake Forest University of which 3,500 students were accepted, yielding an overall acceptance rate of 26.9%. Overall applications decreased by 6.2% over last year (2020 to 2021) from 13,860 to 13,000.
For the Class of 2021, 750 students were admitted through the early admissions process. Total early applications totaled 2,000, yielding an early acceptance rate of 37.5%.
Founded in 1834, not far from the Blue Ridge Mountains in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Wake Forest University is a private research university that incorporates the kind of charismatic personal attention often found at liberal arts colleges but offers both undergraduate programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees.
Wake Forest has made one of its on-going goals to educate global leaders with innovative training in the form of liberal arts. The university’s School of Business is considered one which develops “relevant business skills and helps students to find their passion”.
Some of the most recognized Wake Forest alumni who have made an immense impact in the field of business include Charlie Ergen, co-founder and CEO of Dish Network; Zach Klein, co-founder of Vimeo; D. Wayne Calloway, Former CEO of PepsiCo ; Jabez A. Bostwick, American businessman and founding partner of Standard Oil, and a number of others.
The total enrollment at Wake Forest University is 7,591, with 1,288 of that being freshmen. Total undergraduate enrollment is 4,812 and the remaining enrollment of 2,779 makes up the graduate and professional school numbers.
Wake Forest has forty undergraduate and graduate departments that cover a variety of majors and minors. The university also has interdisciplinary programs, service-learning programs, co-curricular programs, and research opportunities.
Wake Forest University competes in eighteen Division I sports in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and offers intramural sports and outdoor trips such as kayaking on the New River, hang-gliding and sky-diving. The university has over 150 chartered student organizations in a number of categories such as Civic Engagement, Cultural & Multicultural, Fraternities, Philanthropy and Fundraising, Professional and more. | https://ivyleagueprep.com/wake-forest-university/ |
Background {#Sec1}
==========
Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder for which there is presently no cure \[[@CR1]--[@CR4]\]. This neurodegenerative disorder leads to both cognitive and physical impairments due to the degeneration of nerve cells in the brain \[[@CR3]--[@CR5]\]. Gait, which is governed by the neuromuscular system, is altered due to these impairments that often manifest as reductions in gait speed, diminished step height and length and increased stride time variability \[[@CR1], [@CR5]--[@CR7]\]. Unfortunately, as the disease progresses, these conditions intensify and significantly alter an individual's gait stability \[[@CR5], [@CR6], [@CR8]\]. Previous studies have related reduced stability in individuals with HD to an increased fall risk resulting from elevated stride time variability \[[@CR8]--[@CR10]\]. Nevertheless, a more direct relationship between temporal stride time patterns and gait stability has not, to our knowledge, been extensively explored. Therefore, this study sought to examine differences in stride time pattern stability between controls and individuals with HD using time series modeling.
Researchers traditionally employ metrics; such as, the standard deviation and coefficient of variation, to quantify gait variability in individuals with pathological conditions \[[@CR7], [@CR8], [@CR11]\]. While these techniques successfully identify the magnitude of the variability, Hausdorff et al. (1997) found that there was also an underlying temporal pattern in stride time data that has not often been accounted for in this pathological population \[[@CR7]\]. That study used Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA) to show that stride time interval patterns were less correlated in individuals with HD as compared to controls groups \[[@CR7]\]. DFA was able to identify such pattern trends by evaluating self-similarity among respective time series \[[@CR12], [@CR13]\]. Autoregressive (AR) modeling also assesses the strength of the self-similarity within a time series but additionally reveals a feature about dynamic stability \[[@CR12], [@CR13]\]. In AR modeling, a time series is dynamically stable if it is stationary \[[@CR12], [@CR13]\]. Stationary means that the time series' mean, standard deviation and autocorrelation (self-similarity) do not change over time \[[@CR12], [@CR13]\]. Therefore, dynamically stable stride time patterns will exhibit constant stride times with no growth or decrease in stride time variability and a constant repeating pattern. The AR model coefficients capture these time series dynamics and are mapped to a stationarity triangle to visually denote how close their dynamics place them to critical transition states, which are the unstable or oscillatory states \[[@CR12], [@CR13]\]. The advantage of AR modeling is that the visual nature of the stationarity triangle allows individuals to not only denote if their dynamics are stable but how close their dynamics are to becoming unstable or oscillatory in nature. Exploiting this feature of AR modeling is the expressed aim of the current investigation.
AR modeling has successfully identified respiratory rates and fatigue levels from physiological signals, isolated differences in movement strategies from force data, and evaluated postural stability and identified fall risk from gait patterns \[[@CR14]--[@CR20]\]. The latter studies highlight how constructing a time series out of more traditional biomechanical measurements and characterizing its dynamics using the AR coefficients can help identify changes in movement pattern stability that are indicative of fall risk. Increased fall risk, which is also a concern for individuals with HD, is attributed to motor control deficits that are prevalent in this population \[[@CR6], [@CR21], [@CR22]\]. These deficits cause abnormal involuntary movement (chorea) and an inability to regulate the timing of gait events; such as; stride times \[[@CR6], [@CR21]--[@CR23]\]. Since AR modeling defines the current value as function as the previous values; changes in the relationship of current and past stride times; captured by the AR model coefficients, will provide insight into stride time regulation and motor control. Furthermore, the ability of AR coefficients to denote the transition to either oscillatory dynamics, which could present as abnormal involuntary movement, or unstable dynamics that could indicate elevated fall risk, indicate how the AR coefficients can detect motor control deficits in individuals with HD via stride time patterns.
The objective of this study was to use AR modeling to evaluate differences in stride time pattern between individuals with HD and controls during walking. Stride time pattern stability was deduced from the AR model coefficients for the individuals in the respective groups. It was hypothesized that individuals with HD would exhibit altered stride time pattern stability and reside in different locations within the stationarity triangle. The ability to delineate these differences would demonstrate how AR modeling can be used as a non-invasive diagnostic tool to help monitor disease progression.
Methods {#Sec2}
=======
The data analyzed in this study was collected by researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) where they recruited participants from the Neurology Outpatient Clinic to perform a walking protocol \[[@CR7]\]. Every participant provided written consent to participate in the study in accordance with the MGH institutional review board \[[@CR7]\]. The researchers provided access to the deidentified study data on an online database (<https://www.physionet.org/physiobank/database/gaitndd/>). The data from that database was used for this analysis \[[@CR7]\].
Instrumented gait analysis {#Sec3}
--------------------------
Sixteen control (height 1.8 ± 0.1 m; mass 66.8 ± 11.1 kg; age 39.3 ± 18.5 yrs.; speed 1.4 ± 0.2 m/s) and twenty individuals with HD (height 1.8 ± 0.1 m; mass 72.1 ± 17.0 kg; age 47.7 ± 12.6 yrs.; speed 1.1 ± 0.3 m/s) performed a walking .protocol. The participants were instructed to walk at a self-selected speed along a hallway that was 77 m in length. Once at the end of the hallway, participants would turn around and walk back towards the other end. Each participant walked up and down the hallway for 5 min. The control participants were free of any neurological and physical conditions that would prevent them from participating or alter their ability to perform the walking protocol. Neurologist from the clinic assessed the individuals with HD. The severity of HD was evaluated using the total functional capacity (TFC) score from the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale. The TFC score ranges from 0 to 13 where a 0 indicates individuals with the most severe impairments, and a 13 indicates individuals with little to no impairment \[[@CR7], [@CR24]\].
Force sensitive resistors were embedded in the individual's shoes. These resistors measured the force produced during each step and was collected at 300 Hz. These resistors allowed the researchers to record gait data. From this gait data, the researchers were able to identify initial contact and toe off and these measurements allowed for the identification and extraction of stride interval data.
Time series stability analysis {#Sec4}
------------------------------
The consecutive stride times from the five-minute walking protocol were combined to form a time series for each individual (Fig. [1](#Fig1){ref-type="fig"}). The first step in the AR model analysis involved subtracting a linear trend from the stride time interval time series. Next, a second order AR model (AR(2)) was fit to the detrended time series (Eq. [1](#Equ1){ref-type=""}). $$\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$ {y}_t=\delta +{\varnothing}_1{y}_{t-1}+{\varnothing}_2{y}_{t-2}+{\varepsilon}_t $$\end{document}$$ Fig. 1Walking stride time interval patterns for an individual in the (**a**) control group and (**b**) an individual in the HD group. Each figure represents the constructed stride time interval time series, which plotted the strides as a function of stride time
Here *y*~*t*~ represents the current value, *y*~*t* − 1~ and *y*~*t* − 2~ are the values of the two previous time steps, ∅~1~ and ∅~2~ are the AR1 and AR2 coefficients, respectively, for the two previous time steps, *δ* is a model constant and *ε*~*t*~ is white noise \[[@CR12], [@CR13]\]. The order of the AR model was determined from the results of the autocorrelation function (ACF) and partial autocorrelation (PACF) function plots \[[@CR12], [@CR13]\]. The AR model coefficients indicate how strongly correlated the current value is with the previous two values and shows how well the previous states predict the current model state. Furthermore, the AR coefficients indicate if and how quickly the time series is transitioning into a nonstationary process. A time series is stationary if the mean, variance and autocorrelation behavior remain constant over time \[[@CR12], [@CR13]\]. Since the time series are constructed from stride times, the AR model coefficients represent the gait dynamics. The two coefficients obtained from the AR(2) model, AR1 and AR2, were used as the x-axis and y-axis coordinates, respectively, of the point plotted on the stationarity triangle.
The stationarity triangle is used to evaluate the behavior and stability of a time series. Any point that lies outside of the stationarity triangle indicates that the time series produces unstable dynamics \[[@CR12], [@CR13]\]. For those points that lie within the stationarity triangle, there are two possible stable dynamic outcomes. Those points that lie within the semicircle inside of the stationarity triangle produce an oscillatory response that generates stable harmonic motion \[[@CR12], [@CR13]\]. Points that lie external to the semicircle indicate a non-oscillatory response and represent stable damped motion that possesses two embedded time constants \[[@CR12], [@CR13]\]. The distance from the points to the centroid of the stationarity triangle at (0, − 1/3), which resides in the oscillatory region, is used to indicate the stability and dynamic behavior of the time series. Distances closer to the centroid indicate that the time series is stable and exhibits more oscillatory behavior and the distances further away from the centroid indicate that the time series is stable but exhibits non-oscillatory behavior. The distance metric is unitless because the AR(2) coefficients, from which the distance is calculated, are dimensionless. Ellipses are drawn around the controls and HD individuals, respectively, to further delineate the different dynamic responses between the two groups. These ellipses encircled 95% of the individuals in their respective groups. All of the aforementioned analyses were conducted using a custom MATLAB code (MATLAB R2018a, The MathWorks, Inc., Natick Massachusetts, USA).
Statistical analysis {#Sec5}
--------------------
A two-sample t-test was conducted to test the hypothesis that there were no differences in the means in mean age, height, mass, gait speed, stride time, and stability metrics - AR1, AR2 and AR stability distance -- between the controls and individuals with HD (α = 0.05). The performance of the metrics was based on model accuracy, specificity and sensitivity. All statistical analyses were conducted in Minitab (Minitab 16, Minitab Inc., State College, Pennsylvania, USA.).
Results {#Sec6}
=======
No differences in age, height, and mass were found between the controls and individuals with HD (Table [1](#Tab1){ref-type="table"}). However, the individuals with HD walked at 1.1 ± 0.3 m/s which was significantly slower (*p* = 0.04) than the controls who walked at 1.4 ± 0.2 m/s (Table [1](#Tab1){ref-type="table"}). Consequently, the individuals with HD had significantly (*p* = 0.04) longer stride times (1.2 ± 0.2 s) than the controls (1.1 ± 0.1 s) (Table [2](#Tab2){ref-type="table"}). This indicated that while the individuals with HD walked at a slower speed, they exhibited greater stride time variability than the controls as noted in the standard deviation values. Table 1Comparison of participant demographics. (Mean ± Standard Deviation)VariableControl GroupHD Group*P*-valueAge (years)39.3 ± 18.547.7 ± 12.60.17Height (m)1.8 ± 0.11.8 ± 0.10.94Mass (kg)66.8 ± 11.172.1 ± 17.00.30Speed (m/s)1.4 ± 0.21.1 ± 0.30.04\*Total Functional Capacity6.8 ± 3.9Gender (Female:Male)14:214:6\* Denotes that the means between the two groups were significantly different (α = 0.05) Table 2Comparison of stride time intervals, autoregressive modeling coefficients and distance metrics. (Mean ± Standard Deviation)VariableControl GroupHD Group*P*-valueStride Time (s)1.1 ± 0.11.2 ± 0.20.04\*AR 1 Coefficient0.4 ± 0.10.1 ± 0.2\< 0.001\*AR 2 Coefficient0.1 ± 0.10.0 ± 0.1\< 0.001\*AR Distance0.6 ± 0.10.4 ± 0.1\< 0.001\*\* Denotes that the means between the two groups were significantly different (α = 0.05)
The individuals with HD exhibited significantly different stride time pattern stability than the controls (*p* \< 0.001) based on the AR1, AR2 and the AR distance metrics (Table [2](#Tab2){ref-type="table"}). The individuals with HD exhibited more oscillatory stride time patterns than the controls, who exhibited non-oscillatory behavior, as determined by their location in the stationarity triangle (Fig. [2](#Fig2){ref-type="fig"}). The controls were significantly further away from the centroid of the triangle in both the AR1 or x-direction and AR2 or y-direction than the individuals with HD (*p* \< 0.001; *p* \< 0.001). The individuals with HD also exhibited more variability in the AR1 direction than the controls. Overall, the control individuals were located 0.6 ± 0.1 away from the centroid of the triangle and the individuals with HD were 0.4 ± 0.1 away from the centroid (*p* \< 0.001) (Table [2](#Tab2){ref-type="table"}). Eighty percent of the individuals who exhibited reduced cognitive and physical impairment resided outside of the oscillatory region while 60% of the individuals who exhibited higher cognitive and physical impairment resided inside of the oscillatory region. Fig. 2Comparison of stride time patterns for controls and individuals with HD on the AR(2) stationarity triangle. The blue circles represent the control individuals and pink squares represent the individuals with HD. The semicircle denotes the edges of the oscillatory region. The blue and pink ellipses encompass 95% of the individuals in the control group and the Huntington's group, respectively
Discussion {#Sec7}
==========
The objective of the study was to evaluate stride time pattern stability in controls and individuals with HD using AR modeling. The results supported the hypothesis as the individuals with HD exhibited significantly altered stride time pattern stability compared to the controls based on their location in the stationarity triangle. The individuals with HD resided closer to and inside of the semicircle of the stationarity triangle indicating that they exhibited more oscillatory stride time dynamics than the controls, who resided in the non-oscillatory region. This oscillatory behavior observed in the individuals with HD is consistent with previous research where they described similar oscillatory behavior in the same population as increased fluctuations and variability \[[@CR7]\]. These changes in gait behavior are characteristic of individuals with HD who exhibit impaired and jerky movements \[[@CR1], [@CR25]\]. The AR modeling technique was able to both quantify and visually delineate differences in stride time stability between the controls and individuals with HD and further determined that those individuals exhibited oscillatory stride time dynamics.
HD affects the basal ganglia in the brain which is responsible for regulating the control of voluntary movements such as walking \[[@CR25]--[@CR27]\]. In the basal ganglia, the presence of HD is denoted by increased oscillatory neuronal activity, which here was observed as oscillatory stride time pattern stability \[[@CR25], [@CR27]\]. The oscillatory motion represents an inability to voluntary control one's movements and indicates the presence of chorea or dystonia in the individual \[[@CR28], [@CR29]\]. Chorea and dystonia indicate the degeneration of nerve cells in the brain and as the disease progresses it is possible to observe an increase in oscillatory movement which more than likely would be associated with a lower TFC value \[[@CR7], [@CR24]\]. Given that individuals with HD who exhibit oscillatory gait patterns clustered near the oscillatory region of the stationarity triangle, this finding demonstrates that this diagram could be used track the progression of neurodegeneration through the 5 stages of HD. Furthermore, the fact that the majority of individuals with HD who are identified as having low physical and cognitive impairment based on the TFC scale resided outside of the oscillatory region and outside of the control region indicates that this tool is able to identify changes in motor control. Since the AR modeling coefficients were able to accurately identify and visually delineate differences in gait dynamics between the two groups supports this metric as a more quantitative and evaluative tool to monitor disease progression as it relates to gait disturbance.
Chorea and dystonia, which are responsible for involuntary, abnormal movements, have a debilitating effect on individuals with HD motor control and contributes to their difficulty in regulating the timing of gait events \[[@CR6], [@CR21]\]. Thus, analyzing stride time dynamics provides a non-invasive way to evaluate the effect of chorea and dystonia on motor control. AR modeling was an appropriate technique because its coefficients indicate the strength of the relationship between the current and previous stride times. The smaller AR coefficients magnitude in the HD group indicated reduced consistency in the temporal stride time patterns which is in line with the poor regulation of the timing of gait events that plagues this population \[[@CR21]\].
The study is not without its limitations. First, individuals with HD walked significantly slower than the controls and had significantly slower stride times, which could be assumed to influence their stride time stability. While decreased gait speed is associated with individuals with HD, it did not influence the AR model results. The AR model assessed the stride time pattern, not the mean stride time. Furthermore, the trend was removed from the time series prior to the AR modeling analysis, therefore, the AR model only evaluated how the stride times changed from step to step. Second, a few of the individuals with HD resided in the same region of the stationarity triangles as the controls. However, these individuals were found to have higher TFC scores, which indicated reduced or no cognitive and physical impairments. Third, a secondary analysis that compared those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson's to controls did not reveal the same level of discrimination as the individuals with HD did when also using AR modeling. The alternate dispersion patterns of the ALS and Parkinson's groups may indicate how motor control is altered differently amongst individuals in these groups. However, AR modeling is an established statistical technique that has been utilized to identify alternate movement patterns and motor controls in different populations \[[@CR12]--[@CR20]\].
The results of the study established how AR modeling can be used to delineate differences in stride time pattern stability between controls and those with HD. Individuals with HD exhibited altered stride time stability compared to the controls. Their altered stride time pattern was oscillatory in nature and was reflective of the oscillatory brain activity previously measured in individuals in this population. The sensitivity of this metric to detecting these changes in gait patterns suggests it could be very beneficial in helping to monitor individuals with different pathological conditions. Future work should investigate the AR model's ability to identify differences in gait patterns among groups with different pathological conditions.
Conclusions {#Sec8}
===========
The purpose of this study was to evaluate stride time pattern stability in controls and individuals with HD via AR modeling. AR modeling was able to both quantitively and visually delineate differences in gait patterns between the controls and HD. Specifically, the AR modeling was able to detect oscillatory movement patterns in those with HD. These findings indicate how AR coefficients could be used to help monitor disease progression.
AR
: Autoregressive
HD
: Huntington's disease
**Publisher's Note**
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
I would like to acknowledge Dr. JM Hausdorff, A Lertratanakul, ME Cudkowicz, AL Peterson, D Kaliton, AL Goldberger, SL Mitchell, R Firtion, CK Peng, and JY Wei for providing the data for this manuscript on PhysioNet.
HMA was responsible for the computational and statistical analyses and the writing of the work that was presented. YH was responsible for the computational and statistical analyses and the writing of the work that was presented. KDM was responsible for the organization, computational and statistical analyses and the writing of the work that was presented. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
The work in this manuscript was not funded.
The deidentified datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available in the PhysioNet Database repository, <https://www.physionet.org/physiobank/database/gaitndd/>.
The deidentified data in this study was obtained by researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). All of the participants provided written consent in accordance with Massachusetts General Hospital institutional review board and the Committee on Clinical Investigations of Beth Israel Hospital.
Not applicable.
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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Template-Driven Dense Packing of Pentagonal Molecules in Monolayer Films.
The integration of molecules with irregular shape into a long-range, dense and periodic lattice represents a unique challenge for the fabrication of engineered molecular scale architectures. The tiling of pentagonal molecules on a two-dimensional (2D) plane can be used as a proof-of-principle investigation to overcome this problem because basic geometry dictates that a 2D surface cannot be filled with a periodic arrangement of pentagons, a fundamental limitation that suggests that pentagonal molecules may not be suitable as building blocks for dense films. However, here we show that the 2D covalent organic framework (COF) known as COF-1 can direct the growth of pentagonal guest molecules as dense crystalline films at the solution/solid interface. We find that the pentagonal molecule corannulene adsorbs at two different sites on the COF-1 lattice, and that multiple molecules can adsorb into well-defined clusters patterned by the COF. Two types of these dense periodic packing motifs lead to a five-fold symmetry reduction compatible with translational symmetry, one of which gives an unprecedented high molecular density of 2.12 molecules/nm2.
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For the coconut rice (you will probably have some leftover):
- 1/2 cup brown rice
- 2/3 cup water
- 1/3 cup canned light coconut milk
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
For the red curry sauce:
- 2 tbsp red curry paste
- 1/3 cup pureed silken tofu or plain non-dairy yogurt
For the rest:
- 1 Can Raincoast Trading No Salt Added Sockeye Salmon
- 1/4 cup green onions diced,
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced cucumber
- 1/2 avocado peeled and diced into small cubes
- pea shoots and cooked shrimp to garnish
- sriracha sauce optional
Instructions
- In a small pot, cook the rice in the water and coconut milk. Place the pot over high heat for 15 minutes, then stir the rice and turn the heat to low. Cover the pot with a lid and continue cooking for another 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make the red curry sauce by blending the tofu (or yogurand curry paste in a blender until completely smooth. Transfer it to a jar or squeezable bottle.
- When the rice has finished cooking, drain any excess liquid and stir in the rice vinegar, which will help make it sticky. Set aside.
- Slice the remaining ingredients as indicated above. In a small bowl, mix together the salmon, green onions and about 3 tbsp of the red curry sauce with a fork.
- Grease a measuring cup with coconut oil or cooking spray. Layer a few cucumber slices in a spiral around the bottom of the cup.
- Next, add enough small avocado pieces to cover the cucumber layer. The cup should be about half full.
- Scoop half of the salmon mixture into the measuring cup and press it down firmly with the back of a fork or the bottom of another measuring cup.
- Finally, fill the remaining space with rice. Again, press it down firmly.
- When ready to serve, quickly flip the measuring cup over onto a plate. Tap the bottom with your hand or the back of a utensil to ensure the cucumber doesn’t get stuck, then gently lift it up.
- Repeat for the second tower.
- Garnish each with shrimp and a few pea shoots. Drizzle leftover red curry sauce on top if desired, and serve.
Notes
You may have some ingredients leftover, which can be used to make similar towers in smaller measuring cups. | https://raincoasttrading.com/recipes/wild-salmon/coconut-curry-salmon-towers/ |
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The LFG14 conference aims to promote interaction and collaboration among researchers interested in non-derivational approaches to grammar, where grammar is seen as the interaction of (perhaps violable) constraints from multiple levels of structuring, including those of syntactic categories, grammatical relations, semantics and discourse.
The leitmotif of the 2014 conference is “Language Documentation and Linguistic Theory”. It will provide a platform for the discussion of the role of linguistic theories (LFG and other generative models, e.g. HPSG and Minimalist Program (MP)) in language documentation and descriptive linguistic research. The conference will be followed by a one-day ParGram workshop, and a one-day workshop on unbounded dependencies in LFG.
Lexical Functional Grammar (LFG) is a linguistic framework developed since the 1970s (e.g. Bresnan 2001, Dalrymple 2001), which apart from being interesting from the theoretical linguistic perspective, over the years has proven instrumental in the development of computational linguistic models and Natural Language Processing tools. Further information about LFG as a syntactic theory is available at the following site:
Links: | http://lfg-conference.org/about/index.html |
**Update: The launch finally happened on Monday, June 8 at 1.30pm (EDT). Find out more here.**
NASA is planning to test fly an enormous flying saucer spacecraft over Hawaii on Monday, and if all goes to plan, it could end up taking humans to the surface of Mars by 2035.
The spacecraft is called the low-density supersonic decelerator (LDSD), and NASA is planning to take it around 32 km (20 miles) above Earth's surface before releasing it, to see if it can safely land at a speed that's safe enough for a precious cargo of astronauts. And the best part is that you can watch the whole thing below, live from the comfort of your own home.
"You get to see all the same video I do, at the same time I do," project manager Mark Adler said in a NASA press release.
This is the second test run of the LDSD. Last year's trial was a success in all ways but one - the parachute that will help slow down the spacecraft pretty much fell apart shortly after it was released. But they've now created a new supersonic parachute that they hope will be up to the task.
"This year's test is centred on how our newly-designed supersonic parachute will perform," said Adler. "We think we have a great design ready for the challenge, but the proof is in the pudding and the pudding will be made live for everyone to see.
The test flight was originally scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, between 1.30pm and 3pm EDT, blasting off from the US Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii. But due to bad weather, the release has been pushed back several times, finally to Monday, June 8 at 1.30pm EDT (3.30am on Tuesday Sydney time and 6.30pm London time). The window is open to test the spacecraft up until June 12, so if the bad weather and high winds continue, the launch will continue to get pushed back.
So what does this trial involve? First of all the spacecraft is transported 32,000 metres (120,000 feet), high up in Earth's atmosphere by a giant balloon. Its rockets then kick in and take it even higher, up to 54,800 metres (180,000 feet). At this point, a giant inflatable doughnut-shaped tube inflates around the spacecraft, puffing the structure to a larger size.
By increasing its size, the spacecraft can slow itself down from 4,184 km (2,600 miles) to around 2,414 km (1,500 miles) - twice the speed of sound, which is when the parachute launches:
This giant parachute then slows the spacecraft down further, hopefully taking it down to a graceful splash landing in the Pacific Ocean. We can only imagine that this would put on a pretty spectacular show for those who manage to get a glimpse of the LDSD falling from the sky.
For the rest of us, we can watch via the live stream below from 1.30pm EDT on Monday, June 8 (3.30am Tuesday AEST and 6.30pm BST). Right now there's a recorded conference being played, but on the launch day, that will be taken over by live commentary. Find out more updates on the time and date of the launch over at NASA, and don't forget to watch the skies. | https://www.sciencealert.com/look-up-nasa-is-going-to-be-testing-a-flying-saucer-over-hawaii |
Those who enjoy working with and supporting young Australians may take on the role of a school counsellor.
These professionals play a major part in the social, academic, and professional development of students, helping them overcome obstacles to personal or educational progress. School counsellors may also communicate with parents or teachers to discuss problematic behaviour among students and ways to rectify this.
A skilled understanding of sociology and psychology is recommended for this role, as you’ll be identifying any special needs, mental health, or social challenges among your clients. Drug and alcohol abuse may sometimes be present in troubled students; these will likely require developing rehabilitation plans to help with recovery, or connecting them to the proper support services.
You’ll also be assisting clients with their post-school employment options, helping them in their job-hunting strategies and ways to develop the appropriate career skillsets.
Since trust and open communication are key, those in the field must also have excellent relationship-building skills, and the ability to help students develop the same.
Those looking to help others through recovery of physical, social, or mental ailments may choose to pursue rehabilitation counselling.
Rehabilitation counsellors assist patients with mental or physical disabilities, offering treatment and support to help them live successful, independent lives. This process typically involves a thorough evaluation of patient needs, health, and abilities; developing the appropriate rehabilitation or treatment plan. Such strategies are often supported by the expertise of doctors, psychologists, and other professionals in healthcare.
As with school counsellors, these professionals require a high-level understanding of psychology and human behaviour. Through rehabilitation counselling, patients learn to understand their current situation, and how to adjust their attitude and expectations accordingly.
Rehabilitation counsellors work in a wide range of settings, including government agencies, schools, and private practices. They also choose from a variety of specialisations, including geriatrics, school children and military veterans.
Entering the field will commonly require a bachelor’s degree in counselling, psychology, or related field – though plenty begin their training through a VET (Vocational Education and Training) qualification.
With drug and alcohol addiction contributing to (approximately) 6,660 deaths a year, the need for corresponding health support has grown ever-more pressing.
If you wish to help others on their journey to recovery, the role of a drug and alcohol counsellor offers plenty of fulfilling challenges.
Experts in this field are responsible for the treatment and support of those struggling with drug and alcohol dependency. Much of the job involves developing the appropriate plans and strategies for bringing forth behavioural and attitude change, helping these individuals overcome their addiction. Drug and alcohol counsellors must therefore have calm, compassionate, and understanding character traits for handling clients with problematic behaviour or tendencies.
Patients are typically evaluated on their addiction type and severity before proceeding with the necessary counselling program. Their treatment is then documented and evaluated over time, with adjustments made as necessary. As such, skills in case management may be necessary to keep an accurate record of progress, along with providing regular updates to patients’ families.
Formal qualifications are often required to practice in this field, with VET courses being a common study pathway.
If you’re passionate about social dynamics and the psychological influences on relationships, you may fit the role of a family and marriage counsellor.
Family and marriage counsellors offer support to couples, families, and individuals struggling with relationship difficulties. They commonly assess the deeper, often psychological issues affecting these connections, such as substance abuse, depression, trauma, and infidelity. Mental health professionals can thus play a key role in strategizing the appropriate methods for therapy, working closely with these counsellors in assessing and analysing patient needs.
According to Psychology Today Australia, family and marriage counselling sessions begin with an assessment of both partners or all family members, followed by one-on-one sessions with each individual. Their goal is to help patients identify and understand relationship behaviours that often lead to conflict, and appropriate ways of resolving these issues.
Experts believe that involving all family members, or one’s partner, into the therapeutic process can lead to more effective solutions than dealing with parties individually.
Those working in family and marriage counselling must therefore have excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills to foster open communication among their clients. Organisational skills are also crucial in maintaining multiple client records and case files.
Recent findings from the ABS National Health Survey discovered that 4.8 million Australians (about a fifth of the population) were diagnosed with a mental or behavioural condition between 2017-2018. There is fortunately continuous national support for such individuals, with services offered through hospitals and health centres by psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and counsellors.
Mental health counsellors require a high-level knowledge of psychological health problems and the factors that influence them. Their process primarily consists of helping patients understand their existing issues, and discovering new, effective ways of approaching them. Though this commonly takes place in one-on-one settings, plenty often lead group counselling sessions, as well.
These professionals can also choose to specialise in a variety of areas; such as in mental health problems surrounding Australian youth, or those impacting current inmates – helping them understand (and remedy) the issues that prompted their criminal behaviour.
As with most counselling roles, those working in mental health will often devise the appropriate treatment plans for their patients. Case management, administrative, and organisational skills are thus essential in maintaining important documents and monitoring progress.
The field of counselling is a challenging yet rewarding career path for many passionate Australians, offering opportunities for spurring positive social change. With high employment prospects across the nation (and plenty more in the years to come), these positions allow you to uplift, guide, and support those who need it most.
Among their wide range of nationally-recognised community service courses, Upskilled offers a CHC51015 - Diploma of Counselling for those looking to get their start in the field.
Through subjects exploring therapeutic approaches to mental, social, and emotional health, students will learn appropriate methods of diagnosing and responding to a diverse range of patients.
Best of all, the course is delivered 100% online – allowing you to study while tending to other personal or work commitments. Get your foot in the door of Australia’s counselling industry, and enquire today.
Start your next course with Upskilled. Enter your details in the form below. | https://www.upskilled.edu.au/skillstalk/types-of-counselling-jobs-in-australia |
Computer systems generally require robust and reliable data storage. For example, some multiprocessor computer systems may have up to 10,000 dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs) for executing a complex task in real-time. A failure rate of one percent per day therefore could cause hundreds of consequential errors per day. Such an error rate is unacceptable for many applications
The art responded to this problem by developing memory that can be corrected during run time. One such widely used type of memory is known as “error checking and correcting memory” (“ECC memory”). Specifically, ECC memory implements algorithms that detect and correct memory errors by generating and processing specialized correction bits. For example, the well-known SECDED (single error correcting, double error detecting) algorithm generally is capable of correcting one bit errors, and detecting (but not correcting) two bit errors.
The single bit error correcting algorithms often provide sufficient results when used with “X1-type” memory chips (i.e., arrays of memory chips that each store one bit of a data word). Many current systems, however, use “X4-type” memory chips (i.e., arrays of memory chips that each store four bits of a data word). Accordingly, failure of a single X4-type memory chip can corrupt four bits of a single data word and thus, cannot be corrected by the SECDED algorithm. This deficiency is even more acute in computer systems having memory chips that store more than four bits of a data word.
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An isolated DNA molecule (I) encodes a polypeptide processing sulphotransferase activity which specifically transfers a sulphate group to the C-3 position hydroxyl group of galactose by acting on a sugar chain represented by Balbeta 1-R where Gal represents galactose; R represents a carbohydrate, lipid or glycoconjugate; and the DNA molecule consists of one of: (a) a DNA molecule comprising the sequence encoding the 423 amino acid 3'-phosphoadenosine -5'-phosphosulphate:GalCer sulphotransferase (EC 2.8.2.11) (II) from human renal cancer cell line SMKT-R3, as given in the specification; (b) a DNA molecule comprising the 1269 nucleotide sequence, as given in the specification (which encodes (II)); or (c) a DNA molecule that hybridises to (a) or (b) at a stringency of 6xSSC, 0.5% sodium dodecyl sulphate, 5xDenhardt's at 50[deg]C. Also claimed are: (1) a recombinant DNA molecule comprising (I); (2) an expression vector comprising (I); (3) a host cell transformed with (2); (4) an antisense DNA or RNA molecule complementary to (I); (5) an expression vector comprising the antisense DNA of (4); and (6) a synthetic oligonucleotide probe or primer which specifically hybridises to (I). | |
Israeli Poetry with Rachel - Shared screen with speaker view
Who can see your viewing activity?
Vicky Benedek
42:15
Israeli Opera sings it to the tune of the Beatles, ending it with Shemer's tune
Susie Rodenstein
43:34
“May it Be…”
Joann Breuer
43:41
may it be
Erit Gillman
44:25
If Only…
Susie Rodenstein
49:49
Valley of Tears
Heather Silverman
50:14
Wasn’t that the Lebanese War?
Audrey Asher
51:07
It was the Yom Kippur War -- Vally of Tears took place in Golan Heights
Susie Rodenstein
51:09
No. This is the series about the Yom Kippur War, with a heavy focus on Tel Saki.
Shirley C.
52:04
Oh wow - thanks for that - was living in Israel during that time.
Susie Rodenstein
53:46
The Israel Story Podcast has a series of 2 podcasts focusing on the events at Tel Saki during the first 2 days of the war, and a follow-up about the PTSD suffered by so many of those who survived.
Elizabeth Pressman
54:28
Dvir, what a beautiful rendition of this stouching song.
Elizabeth Pressman
55:02
touching not “stouching.”
Gail Levine-Fried
55:48
So Soulful; beautiful voice!-Gail
Dr. Dorothy Greenbaum
55:53
So moving!
Sheldon & Harriet
56:00
Your singing reflects the hope through tears.
diane allan
56:03
It was wonderful to pray with you.
Sarah Elpern
56:09
Beautiful! So moving!
Edy Parker
56:19
Very moving! Thank you!
Michal Tamuz
56:24
Beautiful interpretation! So moving! Today Rabah!
Susie Rodenstein
56:26
Dvir - Todah, Todah, for your amazing rendition of this heart-wrenching song/prayer!
Leah Golberstein
56:27
Thank you, Dvir. So special and moving
judyhurvitz
56:45
No words to express how beautiful this was
susanmiron
56:47
Just gorgeous. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Jill Lipson
56:50
So soulful
Miriam Seelig
57:11
Thank you so much very beautiful
M. Tuttle
57:29
Thank you, Dvir. Beautiful!
Wendy Liebow (she/her)
58:13
Hannah Senesh re stars?
Susie Rodenstein
01:00:50
So many lost from Beit HaShitah! //Yair Rosenblum song “Unetaneh Tokef”
Barbara Finkel
01:11:04
Cistern?
Leah Golberstein
01:13:38
Mikvaot are constructed with borot--living waters
Barbara Finkel
01:16:41
How beautiful!
Chana Dickter
01:16:55
Thank you Dvir!
Susie Rodenstein
01:17:15
Thanks for giving greater depth of understanding on the deep-felt passion of the West Bank settlers to reclaim those ancient desert mountain sites.
Mona Fishbane
01:17:29
Dvir, so beautiful!
Dr. Dorothy Greenbaum
01:17:33
Thank you !
Dr. Dorothy Greenbaum
01:17:43
Tat was Gorgeous!
Susie Rodenstein
01:17:43
Incredibly touching rendition, Dvir!!!
Jill Lipson
01:18:02
spirited and wonderful Dvir.
Dvir Spiegel
01:18:05
Thank you all I appreciate the kind word!I'm Dvir SpiegelContact info: [email protected]: https://www.facebook.com/dvir.spiegelYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCbAGhcEqoolhx9bxvr1pew
Leah
01:18:18
So beautiful, thank you!
Claudia
01:18:46
very soulful singing. Thank you
linda
01:19:10
Prayerful and heart breakingly lovely
Elisheva Edelson
01:33:06
So good to sing harmony with you!
Deborah Hollenberg
01:33:40
That made me smile! Deborah
Susie Rodenstein
01:34:48
Which congregation, if any, is blessed with Dvir’s angelic voice and spirit?
linda
01:35:37
So so wonderful. I will carry his voice inside me
Dr. Dorothy Greenbaum
01:35:42
You can feel the yearning!
Sarah Schachter
01:35:53
Thank you Dvir!!
Barbara Eisenberg
01:35:55
Today Rabah
Debbie Weber
01:36:12
Awesome and so beautiful. Thank you so much.
Deborah Hollenberg
01:36:12
From Deborah: Beautiful!
Michal Tamuz
01:36:15
Todah Rabah!
Gail Levine-Fried
01:36:18
Yoffie!-Gail
Elaine R Cohen
01:36:32
This penultimate class of the season was especially beautiful! Thank you!
Elisheva Edelson
01:38:14
Thank you Rachel!
Ida Berger
01:38:59
Thank you
Bonniekossoff
01:39:02
Thank you so much for all of your classes.Enjoy a well deserved vacation!! Looking forward to the fall classes!
Marilyn Bernstein
01:39:12
Thank you Rachel for everything you offer to a worldwide community. Todah Rabah. Marilyn
Leonie Kramer
01:40:06
Blessings on Rachel and her new pen! Thank you so much.
Barbara Goldberg
01:43:43
and everyone has a mezzuzah
Chana Dickter
01:44:58
There was a much beloved rabbi in Philadelphia who would ask folks who told him they don’t believe in G-d: Please tell me a bit about this G-d you don’t believe in
Joanne
01:50:50
In the interim before we return, a delightful concert, few talking heads NYTF Renaissance, available till Friday
Joanne
01:51:16
Nat’l Yiddish Theatre Folksbein
Gail Lipsitz
01:53:03
Very moving, Yoav
Barbara Goldberg
01:55:34
is the Hebrew Bible still taught in “elementery school?”
Susie Rodenstein
01:55:38
Todah, Yoav!
Chana Dickter
01:55:53
Todah, Yoav
Dr. Dorothy Greenbaum
01:56:43
So grateful for you Yoav!
Susie Rodenstein
01:57:20
Thanks to Rachel and all of you for this magnificent learning opportunity! L’hitraot
Fredi
01:57:32
Of course the Bible is taught 12 years in Israel! And there is matriculation
Shirley C.
01:57:51
I cry whenever I talk about that time, living in Israel and worklng for School of Engineering at TA University. The worry in those first days of the war and then relief of getting replenishments from Nixon and translating the booklets from Eng to Hebrew - oh my G-d, the responsibily
Fredi
01:57:54
In all schools
Thelma Bernstein
02:01:21
Lovely evening's learning session, Rachel. Thank you,
wendy fielding
02:01:33
thank you for sharing, lovely
Susan Spitz
02:02:17
Translated as “May It Be” on many internet sites
Chana Dickter
02:03:45
An incredible session … todah
Barbara Goldberg
02:05:46
I echo all those who expressed their appreciation for the care with which these sessions were prepared.
Nachama/Chumi Kanner
02:06:04
Incredible lesson Rachel. Thanks so much.....for all
Susan Adler
02:06:12
All of these stories from Rachel and every one of you have a new place in my heart. Thank you Rachel for creating this community.
Sarah Elpern
02:06:43
I agree. This was an amazing, moving sessions. Thank you all.
Barbara Goldberg
02:07:42
that’s why God is so present in the poetry, etc. Because ev Israeli is so familiar with Hebrew Bible. Bible not part of US education in public schools.
Joanne
02:08:10
don’t you recall how our parents reacted to Elvis and Beattles, end of civilization?
Nachama/Chumi Kanner
02:08:20
Many communities and individuals opposed the Beatles. Anything new.....
Viktoria Dorosz
02:09:46
Soviet style puritanism i know from post-war Poland - brought to Israel by many Polanim…?
Ed Grossman
02:11:16
L'hitraot... | https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/zKZ5mldguKR-Cj2IebKgCCXgnUroZaDo7wiK1gpxqQAXFslg5i6k0V1li4CCnuaB7-YDNestFtotuXnM.c48jvAW0tdkPXXq2?continueMode=true&_x_zm_rtaid=Mx3PKMgZScqqXK4iVfK_4Q.1642829778827.a1a07200f9c1c7610365aa5d45186dab&_x_zm_rhtaid=326 |
I was out walking on the local golf course where I live this week and in the distance I saw a child running from what seemed miles away at top speed. As the child got closer I realised that it was someone dribbling a ball. Of course on the fairways it was like being at Wembley on a well cared for football pitch! It was great to see a child enjoying dribbling a ball, chipping over the bunkers and swerving around the patches of heather that catch out an unwary golfer.
I stopped and watched for a few minutes marvelling at the skill it took to dribble a ball at that speed and with it not being a flat course it was dribbling up and down inclines that always make it harder to keep the ball moving close to feet. It took me back to the days when I would run home from school dribbling a ball, playing a one-two with the wall and beating a lamp post that I imagined was going to tackle me.
It is a great way to develop ball skills and what better time to be doing that when the country is in lockdown and no one is playing – well not in my neck of the woods anyway.
So I encourage my players to dribble the ball when they are in the garden or going on a walk with the family. I encourage them to dribble whenever they see space in front of them – and I don’t worry if they lose the ball. They may lose it at first but they need to be encouraged to try so that when they do dribble and get into dangerous positions in the attacking third of the pitch they will shoot or win a penalty or cut the ball back to a team mate in a better attacking position. Dribbling is a game changer, it is the winning difference on match days.
Of course practice will help any player to get better at dribbling so here are some activities to help your players:
To start with you need to focus on your players’ technique to get them comfortable with dribbling the ball. Try Dribble and shoot, which is a simple but excellent session that gives players an end product for their dribbling – a shot at goal. You can move the session on by playing Three ways to win – a fun game that has dribbling and shooting as its main themes.
Once players have got an idea of what dribbling is all about try the Dribbling game. Dribbling into the penalty area is a great way to open up a team and challenge the defenders to stop you getting past them.
There are dribbling skills activities and games at every youth age group in my Skills Curriculum. Check out the Dribbling activity for Under 7s and see if your young players can attempt the skills involved.Then play the Dribbling game for Under 7s to cement the technique in young brains.
Finally use the game Passion fruit for a competitive session that puts dribbling at the heart of winning the game – a great way to end any training night and one that gives the coach the chance to see if all the skills work. | https://www.soccercoachweekly.net/newsletters/the-dribble-how-and-why-we-coach-it/ |
Explosion reported at second gender reveal party in same state
WAUKEE, Iowa - Authorities are investigating another explosion at an Iowa gender reveal party that happened one day after a blast at a similar gathering killed a 56-year-old woman in a nearby community.
Authorities say no one was injured in the explosion Sunday in rural Waukee, a Des Moines suburb, but they are looking into unconfirmed claims that the blast broke a neighbour's windows.
Waukee Fire Capt. Tomme Tysdal says the Waukee explosion came from a commercially available gender reveal kit, unlike the homemade device that killed Pamela Kreimeyer on Saturday near Knoxville, a town 74 kilometres away.
Authorities say Kreimeyer died instantly when her family's device exploded, hitting her in the head from 14 metres away.
Gender reveal parties with attention-grabbing efforts such as explosives have become increasingly common nationally and popular on social media. | |
In a rapidly changing business landscape, leading major projects to success requires a new set of project management and leadership skills.
The way we operate is changing significantly as industry responds to rapid social, technological and cultural changes. Projects across critical industries such as infrastructure, construction, and resources can now have major impacts on wider industry dynamics, the regulatory landscape, and the environment – to name a few.
Most major projects operate in an unstructured environment and are becoming more complex in terms of technology, evolving project scope, organisational changes, and the interrelationships between stakeholders and government.
According to Michael Curtin, Director for Executive Leadership in Major Projects (ELMP) program, leaders need to adapt their skills to prepare for future project management to operate fundamentally differently.
“While some aspects of leadership, such as setting a vision, executing on strategy, and applying methodologies to manage and deliver complex projects will remain, the future leader will need to possess a new arsenal of skills.
"For instance, to lead effectively they need the ability to manage ‘grey spaces’ within projects and their stakeholders.”
He lists four leadership skills that are becoming key to delivering major projects:
Successful organisations are shifting from centralised power and decision-making structures to a distributed, shared leadership model, which involves a shift from ‘power over’ to ‘power with’. Adapting leadership practice ensures projects can be managed in this new, unstable environment.
“Modern leaders use evidence-based, contemporary methods, theories and research to understand human behaviour. They develop models and mindsets to increase their leadership reach and support project outcomes.”
With traditional project management approaches no longer fit for dealing with complex projects, project leaders must apply their experience, knowledge and skills to adapt new and innovative techniques.
The increasingly complex nature of projects requires acknowledgement and incorporation of the project’s human, contextual, and emergent elements. This includes understanding the group dynamics in high-performing teams, which enables leaders to develop strategies and tactics to increase their team’s capability and engagement.
“The most effective leadership strategies drive organisational change and prepare for the future while maintaining team performance”.
In project management, a transformational shift from an information age of interrelated systems to a knowledge area is highlighting a focus on interconnected capabilities. Multidisciplinary knowledge and skills are critical to managing internal and external stakeholders.
Leveraging established capabilities is a valuable tool to engage with a diverse set of stakeholders. Building the necessary capabilities, behaviours, and mindsets ensures the project ecosystem is engaged and motivated to achieve success.
Finally, strong leaders expand their strategic view to account for the environment they operate in. In a complex landscape, embracing and enabling for innovation, commitment and accountability sets a project up for success despite a fast-changing environment.
“We can no longer assume that projects can be fully controlled. Adapting to these uncertainties allows project leaders to adjust their strategies accordingly.
"They must find ways to understand projects as a bigger dynamic system of value and meaning for now and the future”.
The Executive Leadership in Major Projects (ELMP) program equips modern project leaders to handle the complex and dynamic workplace. Delivered virtually, it teaches the necessary skills to guide high-performing teams and handle negotiations in complex environments.
The interactive program is offered by the School of Project Management in collaboration with the John Grill Institute for Project Leadership, and is tailored to the needs of businesses and experienced professionals in project industries.
Registrations for the 2021 ELMP cohort will close on 30 June, 2021. Email [email protected] for more information, or submit your application. | https://www.sydney.edu.au/engineering/news-and-events/2021/05/28/four-leadership-skills-for-future-ready-project-delivery.html |
Appeals Court Overrules Trial Court Judgement and Orders Parties to Stick to Arbitration Clause
It is familiar in Saudi Arabia’s judiciary system that laws are applied even if a law is void of an article to be based on when pronouncing a judgement, with the Sharia rules and provisions are applied.
Since law, in the matter of arbitration, stipulates that arbitration shall be adhered to as a condition agreed upon between the parties to a dispute if one party insisted to observe such a clause in contracts, and a court shall not pronounce a judgment unless this arbitration clause is met.
That is based on the law and the Sharia rule, which states: “Muslims must fulfill the terms they agree to.”
We advise anyone, who wants to file a case, to initially review the contracts and facts of the case before submitting the case with a court because the delay in case proceedings might result in the losing party to cough up the litigation fees that he may not bear for a mistake in which he has no hand.
To make things clear to our readers, we shall give a real example to explain this case.
The attorney of the plaintiff approached the General Court in Madinah and submitted a statement of claim against the defendant in which he stated that the defendant offered him a plot of land, belonging to heirs, to a buyer (…..), and the buyer wanted to get the title of the land and signed a sales contract with his client in his capacity as one of the heirs and for being the attorney-in-fact of the heirs.
Then, his client handed over the defendant as much as SAR 470,000 (Four Hundred Seventy Thousand Saudi Riyals) in return for brokerage in selling the plot of land subject that if the sale was not done, the defendant would give the full amount of money back.
Since the buyer requested to terminate the sales agreement as he was not able to request to issue a title deed for being old, so his client and the remaining heirs agreed on the termination of the sales contract.
The attorney of the plaintiff demanded the court to force the defendant to pay back SAR 470,000 (Four Hundred Seventy Thousand Saudi Riyals) based on the agreement concluded by and between them, in addition to paying the attorney fees, which is amounted to SAR 35,000.
On asking the attorney of the defendant for a reply, he defended that the court has no qualitative jurisdiction to review such case since his client is not a broker and does not engage in brokerage.
Went on to say, the attorney of the defendant told the court that there was an agreement entered into by and between his client and the plaintiff in which agreement it contained: “In case of selling the land, the second party shall receive his agreed upon- share, which is 20%).
Further, the attorney of the defendant said, the contract that by the plaintiff attached was not the final contract, and “My client is entitled to as much as SAR 230,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Saudi Riyals) in an outstanding amount.”
The attorney of the defendant, therefore, demands that the plaintiff pays the said amount and pay compensatory damages for withholding the said amount for four years.
Further, the plaintiff failed to produce the agreement on termination of the sales contract.
Replying to the statements given by the defendant, the attorney of the plaintiff said that the defendant is engaged in brokerage and attached commercial records that pertain to the business of the defendant in real estate.
The plaintiff stuck to the acknowledgment made by the defendant that he would pay back the foregoing amount and that he revoked the agreement referred to by the attorney of the defendant.
The attorney of the defendant added in his second memorandum that he clings to the arbitration clause, and he challenged the contract produced by the attorney of the plaintiff and that his client is a partner in the land, and that the commercial registration of his client had expired and was not renewed.
The defendant attorney said that the meaning of the word subject in the phrase (the subject was not complete) is the effort wat was exerted by his client in a perfect manner, which took him three years.
On showing the matter before the bureau of experts, the Circuit Court ordered (…..…) to pay (….….) a total of SAR 470,000 (Four Hundred Seventy Thousand Saudi Riyals) for the grounds indicated in the court judgement.
Being dissatisfied with the trial Circuit Court ruling, the attorney of the defendant approached the appellate court in Madinah to appeal the verdict, however, the appeals court upheld the lower court’s ruling.
Then, the attorney of the defendant submitted a motion for reconsideration of the judgement to the appeals court, which accepted the motion and referred the case the circuit that issued the judgement to reconsider it.
A hearing was fixed on Wednesday, 26/08/1440 AH to review the case.
At that hearing, the judge asked the attorney of the plaintiff about the value of the amount that his client turned into the defendant, which he replied that asper the declaration he received SAR 470,000.
Commenting on said statement, the defendant said that as much as SAR 466,666.66 (Four Hundred Sixty Six Thousand Six Hundred Sixty Six Riyals and Sixty Six Halalah. He produced a copy of a bank transfer of said amount dated to 21/03/2013 G through Al Rajhi bank. He also produced a number of documents, in which he pleaded that there was an arbitration clause and that the contract was not a brokerage but it was a partnership.
On showing the same to the attorney of the plaintiff, he acknowledged that the bank transfer was authentic, yet as for the arbitration clause, it was pertaining to the partnership contract and not to the amount– the subject matter of the lawsuit.
Both the parties decided that they were satisfied with what they gave earlier.
In today’s hearing, the Circuit Court passed down a judgement for the following grounds.
Since the attorney of the defendant requested the reconsideration of the judgement passed by the trial circuit court, which was upheld by the appeals court in Madinah, and;
Since the appeals court in Madinah has decided to accept the motion for reconsideration pursuant to Paragraph (B) of Article No. (200) of the Law of Civil Procedure, on the grounds that the defendant had got a conclusive paper, which he failed to produce before pronouncing the judgement, which shows that the amount the court ruled is more than the amount delivered to the defendant, and;
Since the Circuit Court reviewed the judgment issued in this case as well as the motion for reconsideration submitted by the attorney of the defendant, and it was established to the court the defendant pleaded there was a clause on arbitration between the two parties when he replied to the statements of the plaintiff, and;
Since the contract signed by and between the two parties to the lawsuit stipulates in article No. (7) thereof: (In the event of any differences, God forbid, that may ensue between the two parties, such differences shall be solved in amicable manners. If they are not solved in that way, the differences shall be settled by a single arbitrator, who is agreed upon by the two parties.)
Since the Arbitration Law promulgated upon a royal decree No. (M/34), dated 25/05/1433 AH, stipulated in the Article No. (11), Paragraph (1) thereof: (A court to which a dispute is filed, and in which dispute there is an agreement on arbitration, shall dismiss the case if the defendant pleaded therewith before proceeding with any petition or pleadings in the case).
Since the contract that governs the relationship between the two parties contained an arbitration clause thereto in case of a dispute arising between the two parties, to which the attorney of the defendant clung at the entire case proceedings,
Therefore, the Circuit Court came up with the rule that it may not review such a dispute based on the grounds hereinabove indicated.
So, the Circuit ruled the following:
First: Turning away from the previous judgement, which ordered (……) to pay (……..) as much as Sar 470,000 for the grounds mentioned here above.
Second: The court may not review such case due to the existence of an arbitration clause for what is indicated in the grounds.
The appeals court then upheld the said ruling for the same grounds.
The contents of these pages are for your general information and public use only, and is subject to adjustment without prior notice. We do not provide any undertakings or guarantees of the accuracy of the contents and information covered in this document and it may contain errors and mistakes. Therefore, we explicitly disclaim any responsibility on our part that may result from any mistake or error to the maximum extent permissible under the law. Your use of the information provided in this document is at your own risk without taking any responsibility on our part. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any information available in this website does meet and comply with your specific requirements. | https://almadanilaw.com/appeals-court-overrules-trial-court-judgement-and-orders-parties-to-stick-to-arbitration-clause/ |
Jager fatally injured: wild boar attacks increase throughout germany
In the north of germany there has been another wild boar attack on humans. This time it ended even fatally. In vorpommern a 50 year old hunter was attacked and killed by a boar. "The incident shows how defensible wild boars are", explained on monday achim froitzheim, spokesman for the county of vorpommern-greifswald, who is an experienced hunter himself.
Authorities and associations therefore recommend that hunters wear protective pants and that dogs also wear protective vests. "And you should only go on the hunt in pairs", stated torsten reinwald, spokesman for the german hunting association in berlin. Trailing is about tracking down and bringing to range the wild game that has been hit.
Every year 500.000 wild boars are killed
"The wild boar is the winner of climate change and agricultural and energy policy", said reinwald. The wild boars found ideal feeding situations almost all year round. "They help themselves when the corn is drilled, then go into the canola, the grain, and then the coarse corn", said reinwald. Also beech and oak trees produced more and more fruit, which is why the animals still found enough food in the forest. Wild boars are now also found in denmark and sweden, where they were not common in the past.
Per year about 500.000 wild boars shot by hunters in germany. But this is not enough to decimate the stock decisively. In north rhine-westphalia, hunters were exempted from paying a fee for the usual parasite examination, the trichinae examination. "The right way", said reinwald.
Why could no one help the hunter?
Mecklenburg-vorpommern is the only federal state that even has a "purzel-pramie" offered: 25 euro per killed piece of wild boar. With an urgent appeal to the hunters and the premium, the agriculture minister till backhaus (SPD) from schwerin wants to significantly reduce the stock, especially out of fear of the african swine fever, which is moving ever closer from eastern europe.
Why no one was able to help the hunter in vorpommern, although eight other hunters were involved in the accident near greifswald, has yet to be determined. According to police, he had shot at the boar and went after it to kill the animal. Then the boar attacked the hunter and injured him so badly in the thigh that he fell, lost a lot of blood and got under water. A neighboring hunter is said to have rushed to the rescue. But the hunter could not be saved despite the rescue helicopter.
Aggressive wild boars attack humans
A similar case had occurred in march in lubeck. A boar was shot and retreated into the reeds of a pond. When the city hunter approached, he had also been wounded in the thigh with the tusks. Dog and hunter were able to restrain the wild boar and call the police, who shot the animal. The hunter had lost his rifle in the scuffle, but fortunately not his cell phone as well.
In october, aggressive wild boars in the district town of heide in dithmarschen made national headlines. They injured four people on their way through the city. The authorities warned many residents to stay in their buildings for safety's sake. Finally, one boar could be shot, the other wild boar escaped before it was also killed.
Deadly attack: shot wild boar attacks hunter
dramatic scenes had taken place in one bank in particular after the wedge had broken into it. Employees and customers were taken out of the building via windows and revolving ladders. | https://bilmedigingerceklervar.org/2022/04/jager-fatally-injured-wild-boar-attacks-increase.html |
The public organization Ukrainian Public Data Center stated that the electronic census of the country’s population at the end of January was made by multiplying by 0.888 digits of the State Statistics Service, the organization’s website reported.
It is specified that the experts used the file “Estimation of the existing population of Ukraine” in the calculations in the Telegram channel of the Minister Dmitry Dubilet, who conducted this census.
The experts compared the data on the gender and age of the population with the information from the State Statistics Service and noted that in each age group there is approximately the same ratio.
Then the experts recreated the application of the coefficient 0.888 to the data of the Goskomstat, generating with almost 100 percent accuracy the data published by Dubilet.
At the end of January, Dubilet presented the results of a trial census, according to which the population of Ukraine has decreased since 2001 by 11.45 million to 37 million people. | https://www.rawglobalnews.net/global-news/2020/02/05/ukrainian-authorities-convicted-of-falsification-of-census/ |
The latest reviewed version was checked on 10 April 2013. There is 1 pending change awaiting review.
The Jewish religion has many festivals (chagim, singular chag) and fasts (tzom or ta'anit). Their dates are of course determined by the Jewish calendar rather than the Gregorian one.
The Sabbath, festivals and fasts end just after the end of evening twilight. Festivals, and the fasts of Yom Kippur and Tisha B'Av, start just before sunset. Other fasts start just before morning twilight. These times must be calculated for each town's longitude and latitude. The definition of twilight may vary between different Jewish communities.
The day before the Sabbath or a festival or fast is known as Erev (literally, "evening", as in the English phrase "Christmas Eve"). Thus we have Erev Shabbat, Erev Succot, Erev Tisha B'Av, etc.
For historical reasons outside the scope of this book, some festivals that are observed for only one day in Israel are observed for two in the rest of the World by orthodox Jews. (Many non-orthodox movements have rejected this second day.) These are noted below in each case.
Rosh Chodesh is the New Month (literally, the Head of the Month). It is the first day of each month. Additionally, if the previous month has 30 days, the 30th day of the previous month is also Rosh Chodesh. Thus for example, Rosh Chodesh Sivan is always just one day since Iyar has 29 days. However, since Sivan has 30 days, 30th Sivan is the first day of Rosh Chodesh Tammuz and 1st Tammuz is the second day.
Since Cheshvan and Kislev are of variable length, Rosh Chodesh Kislev and Tevet may each last either one or two days.
Since 1st Tishri is Rosh Hashana, it is rarely given the name Rosh Chodesh Tishri, although technically it is.
The Aseret Yeme Teshuva or Ten Days of Repentance are the first ten days of Tishri. The first two days are Rosh Hashana (even in Israel) and the tenth is Yom Kippur. There are seven days between these festivals; one and only one of these must be Sabbath and this is called Shabbat Shuvah (The Sabbath of Return or Repentance).
The day after Rosh Hashana is Tzom Gedalyahu (the Fast of Gedaliah). However, if this day is Shabbat Shuvah, the fast is postponed until Sunday, to avoid fasting on the Sabbath.
Although Yom Kippur is also a fast day, it may fall on Sabbath, since it is so holy that it overrides the normal prohibition of fasting on Sabbath.
Succot or Tabernacles is also in Tishri. This is one of the festivals where the duration differs between Israel and the rest of the world.
The festival lasts eight days, from 15 to 22 Tishri inclusive. The first and last days are full festivals. The other days, called Chol Hamoed or the Intermediate Days, are semi-festivals when most types of work are permitted. Unless the first and last days are Shabbat, one of the intermediate days will be Shabbat so is called Shabbat Chol Hamoed.
The eighth day is technically a different festival, called Shemini Atzeret (the eighth day of assembly). It is largely devoted to celebrating the reading of the Torah, so is also known as Simchat Torah or Rejoicing of the Law.
The day after the festival (23 Tishri) is known as Isru Chag (the binding of the festival) and has a somewhat joyous nature.
The festival lasts nine days, from 15 to 23 Tishri inclusive. The first two and last two days are full festivals. The other days, called Chol Hamoed or the Intermediate Days, are semi-festivals when most types of work are permitted. Unless the first and eighth days are Shabbat, one of the intermediate days will be Shabbat so is called Shabbat Chol Hamoed.
The eighth and ninth days technically form a different festival, called Shemini Atzeret (the eighth day of assembly). The ninth day is devoted to celebrating the reading of the Torah, so is sually called Simchat Torah or Rejoicing of the Law, although it is the second day of Shemini Atzeret.
The day after the festival (24 Tishri) is known as Isru Chag (the binding of the festival) and has a somewhat joyous nature.
The festival starts on 25 Kislev. It lasts for eight days (even in Israel), all days being of equal importance. It is 83 days after New Year except in an abundant year when Cheshvan has an extra day; in that case it is 84 days after New Year. This means that in an abundant year, the first day of Chanukah is on the same day of the week as the first day of Rosh Hashana. In other year types, it is one weekday earlier.
In a deficient year, when Kislev has 29 days, the sixth day of Chanukah is Rosh Chodesh Tevet and the last day of the festival is 3 Tevet. In a regular or abundant year, when Kislev has 30 days, the sixth and seventh days of Chanukah are both Rosh Chodesh Tevet and the last day of the festival is 2 Tevet.
This is a fast day, generally just called Asara Betevet (which just means 10th Tevet). It is the only fast that can fall on Friday (but see Pesach); while fasting on Friday is not forbidden, it is discouraged so that you should not commence the Sabbath in a sad frame of mind.
New Year for Trees (in Hebrew, Rosh Hashana L'Ilanot) is a minor festival that falls on 15th Shevat. It is also called Tu B'Shevat, Tu representing 15 in Hebrew letters.
This celebrates the events described in the biblical Book of Esther. It is celebrated on 14th Adar (so is 30 days before Pesach). In cities that have been walled since the time of the biblical Book of Joshua (such as Jerusalem), it is celebrated on 15th Adar. Elsewhere, that day is called Shushan Purim and has a somewhat joyous character.
The day before Purim is the Fast of Esther (Ta'anit Esther). If this day is Saturday, fasting is forbidden. Normally, the fast would be postponed to Sunday; that cannot be done in this case, as Purim is a day of celebration and feasting. It could be moved back to Friday, but as noted above fasting on Friday is discouraged so the fast is moved back to Thursday 11th Adar.
In a leap year, all these days are observed in Adar Sheni. 14th and 15th Adar Rishon are called Purim Katon and Shushan Purim Katon respectively; katon means small.
Pesach is called "Passover" in English.
On the morning of Erev Pesach, it is necessary to remove all trace of leavened bread from the home; no leavened bread is allowed throughout Pesach, so the festival in a sense begins on the morning of the day before.
It is customary for first-born males to fast on that day, so it is called Ta'anit Bechorim (Fast of the Firstborn). If the first day of Pesach is a Saturday, the fast is on Friday, even though fasting on Friday is usually discouraged. If the first day of Pesach is a Sunday, the fast cannot be postponed to Monday, as that is still the festival of Pesach. It could be moved back to Friday, but since fasting on Friday is discouraged, the fast is moved back to Thursday 12th Nisan.
The first day is 15 Nisan, i.e. 163 days before the next New Year.
The festival lasts seven days, from 15 to 21 Nisan inclusive. The first and last days are full festivals. The other days, called Chol Hamoed or the Intermediate Days, are semi-festivals when most types of work are permitted. Unless the first day is Shabbat, or Sunday so the seventh day is Shabbat, one of the intermediate days will be Shabbat so is called Shabbat Chol Hamoed.
The day after the festival (22 Nisan) is known as Isru Chag (the binding of the festival) and has a somewhat joyous nature.
The festival lasts eight days, from 15 to 22 Nisan inclusive. The first two and last two days are full festivals. The other days, called Chol Hamoed or the Intermediate Days, are semi-festivals when most types of work are permitted. Unless the first and eighth days are Shabbat, or the first day is Sunday so the seventh day is Shabbat, one of the intermediate days will be Shabbat so is called Shabbat Chol Hamoed.
The day after the festival (23 Nisan) is known as Isru Chag (the binding of the festival) and has a somewhat joyous nature.
Starting on the second night of Pesach, every night is counted for seven weeks. Thus on the first night, "tonight is the first night of the Omer" is said, on the next night, "tonight is the second night of the Omer", and so on. From the seventh night, weeks and days are also counted, so on the last night, "tonight is the forty-ninth night of the Omer, making seven weeks" is said.
Parts of this period of seven weeks are times of mourning, when for example weddings should not be held. The precise dates when mourning is observed vary between communities.
Two days in the Omer have special significance. Pesach Sheni ("Second Pesach") is on 14th Iyar, exactly a month after Erev Pesach. In the days of the Temple, it was an opportunity to make the special Pesach offering for those unable to make it on the correct date. Lag B'Omer, the 33rd day of the Omer or 18th Iyar, is regarded by all communities as a happy day when laws of mourning during the Omer cease or are suspended.
In many communities, 27th Nisan is observed as Holocaust Memorial Day. If 27th Nisan falls on Friday, it is pushed back to Thursday (26th Nisan), whereas if 27th Nisan falls on Sunday, it is postponed to Monday (28th Nisan).
This is a new festival, created following the proclamation of the State of Israel in 1948. It is normally on 5th Iyar. The rules have changed slightly over the years, but are now that it is moved back to Thursday if it would be on Friday or Shabbat and postponed to Tuesday if it would be on Monday. Thus it can only fall on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Some Jews refuse to observe it because they do not regard the creation of the State of Israel as a miracle requiring a new festival. For those who do observe it, it is a joyous day that suspends Omer mourning.
The previous day, Yom HaZikaron ("Day of Remembrance"), is a day for recalling all those killed in battle, similar to Veterans' Day or Armistice Day in other countries.
This is an even newer festival, recalling the recapture of the Old City of Jerusalem from Jordanian occupation in 1967. It is on 28th Iyar.
As for Independence Day, some Jews refuse to observe it and for those who do observe it, it suspends Omer mourning.
This is observed on the day following the completion of counting the Omer. This would be the 50th day of the Omer, or 50 days after the first day of Pesach, hence the English term "Pentecost". Before the present fixed calendar, it would have been possible for this to be the 5th, 6th or 7th of Sivan (depending on whether Nisan or Iyar had 29 and 30 days). However, now that Nisan always has 30 days and Iyar has 29, Shavuot is now always on 6th Sivan. Outside Israel, it is observed for two days, 6th and 7th Sivan. As for Succot and Pesach, the day afterwards is called Isru Chag.
These fasts fall respectively on 17th Tammuz and 9th Av, so are known in Hebrew as Shiva Assar beTanmmuz and Tisha b'Av, Shiva Assar and Tisha meaining 17 and nine in Hebrew. They are 21 days or exactly three weeks apart, hence always fall on the same day of the week as each other. The period between them is known as "The Three Weeks" and is a period of mourning. Tisha b'Av is 62 days after the first day of Shavuot.
If they fall on Saturday, then to avoid fasting on Shabbat they are postponed to the next day.
It is customary to observe certain mourning practices on the day after Tisha b'Av. These are observed on the Monday if Tisha b'Av falls on Sunday and has not been postponed. However, if Tisha b'Av falls on Saturday and was postponed to Sunday, no mourning is observed on Monday.
This page was last edited on 22 July 2018, at 17:39. | https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Mathematics_of_the_Jewish_Calendar/The_main_festivals_and_fasts |
Driving and Christmas Radio
Today was largely relaxing, except for our outing to buy Christmas presents. We borrowed Dad’s car and drove to the mall to pick up some things. Now, you have to bear in mind that this is really the first time either of us has driven since moving to NYC six months ago. We’re really used to being pedestrians at this point in our life, so rather than driving from the strip mall to the main mall across the street, we decided to walk. Traffic was icky and it was less than three blocks away.
Except that Chattanooga apparently has a thing against sidewalks. There were none.
Strangely, one of the lights had a pedestrian crossing button, to get the traffic light to change color, but no crosswalk, no crossing signal, no sidewalk on either side. Just who were they expecting to hit the button? Drivers just didn’t know what to do with us. I felt far less safe walking than I did driving. I’d forgotten just how intense the car culture is after living in NYC and Portland.
Meanwhile, I’m probably not going to be online much the next couple of days, so may I offer you some old-time Christmas Radio. This includes such gems as the original cast recording of It’s a Wonderful Life. | http://maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/driving-and-christmas-radio/ |
Turkish archaeologists have recently published discoveries made underneath the ancient Armenian capital city of Ani. Receding water has revealed an opening to a comprehensive network of tunnels dug beneath the ancient city located in present day Turkish province of Kars. Once a powerful city the capital of the Armenian kingdom of the Bagratuni dynasty, Ani today stand abandoned and desolate. At its zenith Ani rivaled the likes of Constantinople, Baghdad and Cairo in size and influence. By the 11th Century Ani had grown to over one-hundred-thousand people. Renowned for its splendor and magnificence, Ani was known as “the city of 40 gates” and “the city of 1001 churches.” It would later become the battleground for various contending Empires, leading to its destruction and abandonment. Today Ani largely remains a forgotten ancient ghost town in modern day Turkey.
While speaking at the recent “International Ani-Kars Symposium,” history researcher Sezai Yazıcı said secret water channels, undiscovered monk cells, meditation rooms, huge corridors, intricate tunnels, unbelievable traps and corners that make one lose their sense of direction were just some of the unknown underground structures located at the ancient site. Over 823 underground structures have been found with a length of over 500 meters. Most of these structures were used as residences, other structures included churches, water channels, dovecotes, etc. The researchers have mapped the underground structures and passageways.
According to Yazıcı these discoveries have been inspired by George Gurdjieff‘s writings who in 1886, with his companion Pogossian, has visited the ruins of Ani and discovered some passageways with rotten furniture, pottery and a pile of parchments in monks chambers. Although Gurjieff was fluent in Armenian (being born in Armenia himself), he could not comprehend the words on these scrolls as they were written in the Old Armenian (commonly known as Grabar). Gurdjieff remained intrigued by these parchments which upon deciphering revealed a mentioning of an ancient esoteric brotherhood that sparked his imagination. Yazıcı said Gurdjieff was the first person to mention the monastery that was located under the Ani Ruins. Read his accounts -> HERE
For more information on the 5000 year old Armenian city, visit: “Ani, city of 1001 church”
Bellow some pictures taken by the researchers:
Sources: | https://www.peopleofar.com/2014/08/25/ancient-armenian-city-reveals-new-secrets/ |
The 6th Latin American edition of the Sustainable Foods Summit will take place in in S�o Paulo on 29-30th November 2022. Please contact us to get the detailed agenda.
The summit comprises four dedicated sessions...
As the food industry recovers from the pandemic, it faces fresh
challenges. There remains some disruption in raw material supply
chains, whilst inflation is raising concerns about food
security. There is also pressure for operators to reduce
environmental impacts, especially in light of pledges made at
the COP26 summit. The opening session covers these wider
sustainability issues in the food industry.
To begin, the keynote speaker highlights the key lessons from the pandemic. In light of rising food prices, an update is given on food security. What can operators do to mitigate food security risks? At the climate change summit, there was a pledge to end deforestation by 2030. What are the implications to Latin American companies? How can they ensure they have deforestation-free supply chains? Case studies will be given of a leading food retailer and delivery firm on how they are addressing their impacts. To conclude, featured speakers will debate the evolution of the sustainability agenda. What sustainability issues have become importance since the pandemic?
Food and beverage companies often look to ingredients
when creating innovative products. Apart from inspiration, food
ingredients can also provide sustainable value to products. This
session discusses the use of food ingredients to provide
sustainable value and / or innovation.
As concerns grow about food inflation, the opening speaker gives an update on ingredient prices. Some predictions are made for future price movement. The use of blockchain technology to provide transparency and traceability in supply chains is discussed. Details are given of new plant-based proteins that have applications in food and beverage products. The opportunities provided by precision fermentation, upcycling, and regenerative farming to create ingredients are discussed. To conclude, the panel will discuss the need for ingredient diversity. The growing popularity of plant-based foods is raising questions about monoculture and the small palette of plant-based proteins. What can be done to expand the range of sustainable proteins?
This session covers future trends in sustainable foods, focusing on production methods. What developments are occurring in sustainable farming methods? What are the merits of regenerative agriculture and vertical farming? How can cultured foods or cellular agriculture help meet the proteins shortfall? How can the food industry become more efficient by using ingredients from side streams? Can upcycling create new ingredients? How can consumers be encouraged to be more responsible in product purchases and consumption? How can food operators make the transition to circular systems? With the use of case studies, this session covers such issues.
Although consumer demand for sustainable foods continues to strengthen, operators are grappling with marketing issues. Low consumer awareness, distribution, and pricing are some of the obstacles facing sustainable brands. This session gives an update on the sustainable food market, focusing on organic and plant-based foods. The latest market data and trends will be presented on these sectors, including consumer insights. To conclude, the panel will discuss approaches to overcome marketing hurdles: how can operators help make sustainable foods mainstream? What is the way forward?
Please contact us to get the detailed summit agenda. | https://www.sustainablefoodssummit.com/lamerica/programme.htm |
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To activate, articulate and engage the Feminine through Mother Hearts in Living Conversation toward a culture of caring.
VISION
We envision women everywhere evolving their Mother Hearts and cocreating resonant fields, GOD*Mother fields of caring, in conversations, relationships and projects. We see these collective GOD*Mother Fields vitally contributing to the well-being of future generations.
Godmother: A woman who is influential or pioneering in a movement or organization. -Google online dictionary
GLOSSARY FOR THIS WEBSITE
The Feminine: A many-faceted relational way of Being, realized differently in women and men.
Mother Heart: The nurturing impulse of the Feminine in women.
Living Conversation: The exchange of meaningful experiences and feelings in women that activate and evolve the Mother Heart.
GOD*Mother Field: A resonant field of caring cocreated when women engage in Living Conversation from the Mother Heart.
The GOD*Mother Path: Experiencing and realizing the Feminine nature of Self, and choosing to direct that Awareness for the benefit of humanity and the Earth.
Jeanie and Bonnie
Staying light-hearted and whimsical in our seriousness
THE INVITATION: To apply our deepest wisdom to our lives and for the world
Many of us feel called to respond to the great needs of the Earth today. We take care of our families as best we can. We start and support projects and networks, small and large, local and global, with great intentions. And yet the world appears to continue on much the same trajectory, and we sense that our human family, indeed life on Earth, is threatened by humanity’s shortcomings.
Now is definitely the time for real change. Can we become models and mirrors for one another, and channel our own deepest wisdom to become the change that is needed? Can we connect and unite our quilt of projects and intentions, into a collective field of energy powerful enough to fuel a new wisdom culture?
This is the incredible opportunity before women now… to become spiritually mature and collectively powerful, using our natural capacities to shift modern civilization toward greater harmony. To do so, we must bring our unique intuitive self-knowledge forward, exchange what we know, and facilitate each other’s spiritual development.
Please join us, Bonnie Kelley and Jeanie DeRousseau, practicing godmother and anthropologist, ‘participant-observers,’ to explore and develop this unique evolutionary path for women today. Together, let us unleash our individual and collective potentials to co-create a better world for all the Earth’s children.
The GOD*Mother Path
Through the individual Mother Heart
Toward a Culture of Caring for the world
Opening to THE QUANTUM SHIFT in Daily Life
- Noticing the imbalances of human mothering and individuation
- Expanding beyond our automatic instinctual responses
- Allowing the process of awareness to balance us toward wisdom
- Trusting that men are likewise moving to shift beyond their patterning
Taking THE NATURAL FEMININE PATH of Conversation
Evolving our conversations across our many levels of relationship, along dimensions of inner awareness and outer service, as individuals and as ‘two or more’, using the compass of our unique individual perspectives on the collective inner feminine in women, the Mother Heart…
Refining our collective Mother Heart through our Living Conversations, exchanging energy and information throughout our lives and our networks as we learn to…
GODMother self
- Watching over ourselves with love and Spaciousness
- Noticing what is so, and accepting our many aspects, both human and Divine
- Following the ‘next steps’ that arise to help ourselves grow in consciousness
- Letting go of doubt, resistance, and self-conflict
GODMother one another, two or more, in deep relationship
- Being present and accepting of ‘what is’ in one another
- Listening for the Divine in each other by acknowledging the Divine within ourselves
- Witnessing the wholeness of each other’s experience
- Being mirrors for one another to accelerate greater awareness
GODMother in circle
- Tuning in to the highest possible vibration
- Co-creating a common intention to nurture the full potential of each woman and the circle
- Sharing and listening from the Mother Heart
- Noticing the new qualities emerging within the resulting resonant field
GODMother networks of circles
- Sensing and expanding into the deep patterns unfolding within and around us
- Discerning where in the shifting global fabric, life-affirming energies can be best applied
- Taking precise action steps at the appropriate level
- Staying conscious of the influence we have, both individually and collectively, on the direction of human evolution
May THE LIFE AFFIRMING DIRECTION OF THE COLLECTIVE MOTHER HEART guide us toward GOD*Mothering a truly caring world that benefits all humankind.
To step forward on the Path, each and together,
we align with a pledge of deep intention and commitment…
From my growing awareness
that I am part of a rising tide of Oneness on Earth,
women, men, children, all life and all that is here now,
I pledge, to the best of my ability,
to be a true Sister-Mirror for other women,
nurturing the Oneness within them
by noticing and reflecting their wholeness,
nurturing the Oneness within me
by committing to my own growth and evolution,
nurturing the Oneness of all creation
by aligning all that I think and do with the greater good. | https://godmotherproject.com/ |
Q:
Calculation of IRR for a $20$ yr period
Company X is considering $2$ mutually exclusive expansion plans. Plan A calls for expenditure of Rs $40$ Million on a large scale integrated plant which will provide an expected cashflow stream of Rs $6.4$ million per year for 2 years. Plan B calls for an expenditure of Rs $12$ million a somewhat less effective labour intensive plant which has an expected cash flow stream of Rs $2.72$ million per year for $20$ years. Calculate IRR for each plan.
$IRR_a: -40+ 6.4[\frac{1-(1+r)^{-20}}{r}]=0$ $(1)$
$IRR_b; -12+ 2.72[\frac{1-(1+r)^{-20}}{r}]=0$ $(2)$
I could use the newton raphson and differentiate $(1)$: $\frac{r[-20(1+r)^{-19}]-[1-(1+r)^{-20}]}{r^2}$
I tried proceeding by $x_{n+1}=x_n- \frac{f(x_n)}{f'(x_n)}$, but this is just complicating it more. I need a simpler way.
A:
There is an old but practical approach. To find $IRR_a$ you need to find $r$ such that
$$\left[\frac{1-(1+r)^{-20}}{r}\right]=\frac{40}{6.4} = 6.25$$
Get a financial table for the present value of an annuity 20 periods long, and look up what is the rate of interest close of 6.25. I find $6.259$ for $r=0.15$. Take this as an approximate answer or as the initial condition for your favorite algorithm (even the bisection method should give you the answer in very few steps).
The computation for $IRR_b$ has 2 periods in the main text and 20 in the formula. Assuming 20 is right, we have
$$\left[\frac{1-(1+r)^{-20}}{r}\right]=\frac{12}{2.72} \approx 4.412$$
which compares nicely to a value of $4.442$ for $r=0.22$.
| |
Material: Polyblend-cotton. Stretchable.(Waist not stretchable) Details: Featuring off shoulder, back zip and fully lined. Note : Please allow 20-30% discrepancy in the product color due to lighting and monitor resolution (actual may appear darker/brighter). In such cases, the variance may not be considered as a defect. There might be 1cm-2cm differences in the measurements given due to the different stretchable quality of the material and the way measurement is taken.
Measurements Measurements : (measurements are taken laid flat, x2 for circumference) Check your sizes here
SIZE XS: Length: 85cm, Bust: 36cm, Waist: 29cm, Hips: 41cm, Shoulder: 41cm Length:33.5 inches, Bust:14.5 inches, Waist:11.5 inches, Hips:16 inches, Shoulder:16 inches SIZE S: Length: 86cm, Bust: 40cm, Waist: 32cm, Hips: 45cm, Shoulder: 45cm Length:34 inches, Bust:15.5 inches, Waist:12.5 inches, Hips:17.5 inches, Shoulder:17.5 inches SIZE M: Length: 86cm, Bust: 42cm, Waist: 35cm, Hips: 46cm, Shoulder: 46cm Length:34 inches, Bust:16.5 inches, Waist:13.5 inches, Hips:18 inches, Shoulder:18 inches
SIZE L : Length: 89cm, Bust: 45cm, Waist: 37cm, Hips: 47cm, Shoulder: 48cmLength:35 inches, Bust:17.5 inches, Waist:14.5 inches, Hips:18.5 inches, Shoulder:19 inches
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All items should be hand wash with mild detergent using cold water. Do not soak. Hang dry.Wash dark colors separately and iron under low heat. | https://www.double-woot.com/diniyos-blush |
London, 1953. Classics scholar August Woodthorpe, son of a prominent American politician, has stumbled upon an extraordinary artefact: an ancient book - a chronicle - that once belonged to an infamous alchemist burned at the stake in 1646. Within the ancient text is a map - an intricate, ingeniously designed labyrinth that will lead August on a spectacular journey to three mazes secreted within France, Spain, and Germany. And at the heart of one of these mazes is hidden the elixir of eternal life. But Western Europe is still reeling from the shock of war, and if he's to survive his perilous quest, August must translate ancient codes, decipher deadly riddles, and expose a mystical secret three hundred years old - even as he outwits Spanish militants and German spies. | https://kitabay.com/products/the-map |
Among the many more experienced fishermen who “mentored” me by sharing their knowledge over the years was the late Tommy Shaw. He operated a marina on Georgia’s Little River near Leah.
First opened in 1954 by lessee Tom Reede, of Reeder-McGaughey Sporting Goods in Atlanta, Shaw and his wife, Rose Nell, were hired to operate Little River Sportsman Camp. Shaw, an expert angler (as was his wife), was employed by Reeder.
My first visit to the marina was in 1965 shortly after purchasing my first outboard boat.
Shaw’s favorite pasttime was chasing large schools of white bass, especially late in the afternoons when the fish would chase threadfin shad into the shallows of a small area Shaw called “White Bass Island.” The tiny island identified by the remains of a small tree jutting above its surface was located west of his marina above a larger island many mistakenly call it by the same name.
He’d cast small silver spoons called “Little Cleos” into the schools as they’d surface, reel the wobbling spoons back at a moderate speed and catch the heck out of them.
Shortly after the Corps of Engineers flooded the lake, Shaw hired a plane and had photos taken of the Little River area. The bird’s-eye views showed creek channels, submerged points and other areas that helped Shaw learn where the best fishing for largemouth bass was located.
“I had decided to learn as much as I could about the Little River section of the lake and the aerial photos were a big help,” he told me later.
My wife, Bea, and I wed in 1966 and some of our best times on the lake came when we followed Shaw to hot spots where acres of white bass surfaced in a never-ending pursuit of shad. I also was able to join Shaw in his ancient boat, a 16-foot runabout with windshield, to go fishing for largemouth bass as well. He was personable, knowledgeable and such fun to be with.
Later, we fished for yellow perch in the Savannah River below the dam as well as in Richard B. Russell Lake where huge perch abounded in certain areas. Shaw had become an expert perch fisherman on northeast Georgia’s Lake Burton while he was employed in Atlanta.
So esteemed by the bass fishing community was Shaw that after his death, a memorial open team bass tournament was named in his honor and continues to this day.
THURMOND LAKE
Capt. David Willard, U.S. Coast Guard-licensed, fulltime professional guide specializing in hybrids, striped bass and trophy largemouth bass. Boat phone: (706) 214-0236. (803) 637-6379 (www.crockettrocketstriperfishing.com) – Water temperatures are back up into the low 60s. The lake is slightly stained and loaded with trash. Fishing is good, but not fast and furious. Most of the fish have gone shallow and we’re pulling planer boards. Jim Campbell and his group from Atlanta enjoyed catching stripers, hybrids and some really nice largemouths, hitting all the points on the main river channel. Sammy Doolittle from Macon and his wife, Celia, had a blast catching a cooler full of stripers, hybrids and Kentucky spotted bass. I look forward to fishing getting better as more seasonable temperatures arrive.
Billy Murphy, U.S. Coast Guard-licensed guide specializing in striped bass and hybrid bass. (706) 339-4784 – Water temperatures are fluctuating from 59 to 63 degrees. The herring have not started to spawn, but that should occur at any time. That will bring the bigger stripers, hybrids and largemouths into the shallows. We’ve had a few good days between the winds and the rain. Jim Russell, 95, a fighter pilot during WW II, and his grandson, Jamie Russell, from Brunswick, Ga., had a good time catching fish. Jim caught a 5-pound striper early, then Jamie followed with a 7-pounder. We pulled planer boards and trolled for crappies. They caught 15 stripers, hybrids and slab crappies. Scott Tredwell, Kernersville, N.C.; Lloyd Turley, Brookhaven, Ga., and Rodney Fowler, Statesboro, Ga., caught 33 stripers, hybrids and crappies, with Scott netting an 8-pound striper, Rodney a 4-pound hybrid and Lloyd a 2-pound crappie. Check our photos on Facebook and our web site at www.doubletroublefishingguides.com
William Sasser’s Guide Service, (Capt. William Sasser, Capt. Bradd Sasser, Capt. Andrew Tubbs, U.S. Coast Guard-licensed, full time professional guides specializing in crappies, hybrids and striped bass). (William) (706) 589-5468, (Bradd) (706) 267-4313, (Andrew) (803) 507-5083 – Bradd Sasser: The lake level finally broke the 328-foot mark and is still inching up, with Lakes Hartwell and Russell both slightly over full pool. There are some stain and debris left over from the wind and rain. Water temperatures are in the mid 60s and spring fishing is better than ever. The hybrids and stripers are chasing blueback herring onto the shallows. The herring are on the verge of spawning. During early mornings, you can find schools of fish feeding off points and shoals 10 to 20 feet deep. After sunrise, they scatter into smaller groups and it’s time to pull out the planer boards. The evening bite at the dam has been very good with everyone catching fish, either fishing from the cables behind the dam, or from the bank below the welcome station. Next weekend’s full moon ought to bring the shellcrackers in to spawn.
Check us out on Facebook for up-to-date pictures.
Eddie Mason’s Guide Service (U.S. Coast Guard-licensed professional guide specializing in striped bass and hybrid bass). www.masonsguideservice.com. (803) 737-5395. Cell: (706) 829-0428 – Water temperature has risen to 64 degrees and the lake is clear. We took out “Preacher Ben” from Spartanburg, S.C., and four of his church members, Michael, Jason, Fred and Bill, out last Saturday. We caught 32 nice stripers and hybrids.
Be sure to check our website and Facebook for fresh updates.
Capt. Tommy Dudley, U.S. Coast Guard-licensed professional guide specializing in stripers and hybrids. (706) 833-4807 – I think the lake is at full pool and there is a lot of trash. The Corps is pulling water to where the current is strong. The lake looks great. Biggest thing I noticed the last couple of days, the downline fishing has deteriorated. I’d stop the boat, drop down the baits and the fish would disappear. The only way I am catching fish right now is pulling live herring behind planer boards in one to 10 feet of water. We’ve caught some pretty nice largemouth, too. Some shellcracker beds have been found and this week and next ought to be great.
Check out my web site: www.acestriperguide.com
MERRY LAND BRICKYARD PONDS
Check-in station, 1408 Doug Barnard Parkway, (706) 722-8263 – There are multiple ponds offering good fishing for largemouth bass, bream and shellcrackers, crappies and catfish. Our Friday evening bass tournaments continue. Entry fee is $22, with a five-bass limit (each fish must be over 12 inches in length). Dead fish weighed in draw penalties. Come by the tackle shop or call to learn more details. Here are the April 20 results: Gene Moyer and Mike Craig won with 9.92 pounds. Runners-up were Anthony Caruso and J.P. with 9.12, while third were Mike Grubbs Sr., and Jr., with 8.46 pounds. Big fish was a 4.42-pounder caught by Connor Howell.
BEAUFORT, S.C. & VICINITY
Ralph Goodison, Fripp Island, (843) 838-2530 – There is still good inshore fishing for sheepshead, black drum, whiting and big red fish, but continued high winds are blocking most boats from going out to the Gulf Stream. One party braved rough seas and caught a 105-pound wahoo. Some smaller bull dolphin and yellowtail tuna have been caught.
SAVANNAH, GA.
Miss Judy Charters, Capt. Judy Helmey, (912) 897-4921 (www.missjudycharters.com.) P.O. Box 30771, Savannah, Ga. 31410-0771 – Sustained high winds of 20 knots and stronger have kept our offshore boats inshore.
Inshore fishermen have been able to fish in protected waters and some huge spotted sea trout have been landed, one measuring close to two feet in length. | https://www.augustachronicle.com/sports/20180426/baab-one-of-my-earliest-mentors-was-fishing-ace-tommy-shaw |
A recent problem I reviewed from the Mathematics Assessment Project (MAP) caused me to refelct upon the coverage of probability in our classrooms. The website provides sample tasks and assessment tools for schools and districts as they adjust curriculums to match the Common Core. In the standards, probability begins to take center stage in grade 7:
Investigate chance processes and develop, use, and evaluate probability models.
Probability is treated like the ugly step-sister in many math courses: ignored, shoved to the side. Look at standardized testing results, including AP Statistics, and you will find that probability standards often produce weak results. The isolated fashion with which we treat probability is certainly not helping. Let’s develop strategies to not only re-think probability, but to encourage communication of ideas and develop understanding.
I have taught probability at many levels: as an 8th grade teacher, as an AP Statistics teacher (and reader) and as the author of a Prob/Stat course delivered to 9th grade students. This year, I taught my first college course in Statistics, where the problems with probability persist. The picture below is from my college Stat 1 class, which you can also see on the great site Math Mistakes, by Mike Pershan. Visit and provide your input:
Here are two activities I hope you can use in your classrooms to help fight the probability battle.
“WHICH IS MORE LIKELY” OPENER:
The Core Standards provide a framework for our students base knowledge of probability:
Understand that the probability of a chance event is a number between 0 and 1 that expresses the likelihood of the event occurring. Larger numbers indicate greater likelihood. A probability near 0 indicates an unlikely event, a probability around 1/2 indicates an event that is neither unlikely nor likely, and a probability near 1 indicates a likely event.
Before we can start diving into formulas and fractions with probability, we need students to understand, and be able to express, whether an event is likely or not likely. For simple events, like flipping a coin or drawing a card, this can be an easy discussion, but what happens when we start talking about complex events, like flipping multiple coins, tossing 2 dice, or choosing a random car from a parking lot? Download my Probability Opener, which asks students to assess events and compare their probabilities. Answers are provided. The events start off innocently enough, but soon meander into more complex tasks, where students are asked to identify the more likely outcome:
You roll the dice and move your piece in the game of Monopoly…
A: You end up on Boardwalk
B: You end up in Jail
This is also a great activity if you have a classroom clicker system, or for Poll Everywhere if cell phones are allowed.
SPINNER BINGO
This activity is an adaptation of a Spinner Bingo problem from the Mathematics Assessment Project site I mentioned at the top of the post. Visit the MAP site for not only the task, but a rubric and samples of student work.
The problem presents a scenario where students are asked to assess a spinner game, and bingo cards created for the game. Read the files given on your own, but here is a quick summary:
- 3×3 bingo cards are filled out, using non-repeating numbers from 1-16.
- Two spinners with 8 equal spaces numbered 1-8, are spun, and the sum computed.
- Players mark off their bingo cards if the sum appears on their card.
This is a nice scenario, so let’s adapt it and use it as our unit opener. Having students play a game, and develop and justify a strategy, is a great way to get started. Here is a lesson guide I have written to help you get started. Also, the site Unpractical Math provides a virtual spinner applet you can use. It’s often easier to just dive in and play, so here is a brief video demo of the game and how you can play it in your classroom:
Please let me know if you use either of these activities, and would appreciate your feedback. Thanks. | https://mathcoachblog.com/2013/03/17/we-suck-at-probability-so-what-can-we-do-about-it/ |
You know that bicycle parking at Curitiba it sounds funny? That, being used only for cars, because you can’t hold your bike?
Crankset after several requests from citizens, the city responded to one of them, Simone Days:
Who wrote that answer really believes that just put a “foot” on the bike to get to park it there. Bicycle remains a completely alien to the Curitiba City Hall (and for many others more).
But let’s look at the bright side: they are considering the installation of paraciclos in that space and, at some point, become usable. Installed the correct way, will be a pioneer in Brazil and bike rack example of innovation to the other cities of the country.
And congratulations to the school of music and fine arts of Paraná for soliciting a bicycle parking area to the city.
What to do the best solution would be to use a paraciclo model inverted U or R, not to damage the wheel or bicycle Exchange parked and make sure you don’t fall.
Is also important to protect the area with concrete blocks (the popular “Bahian brick”), to avoid that someone drop the paraciclos and bicycles parked to maneuver a car.
This information may help.
See also: | http://www.cyclingenthusiasm.com/curitiba-city-hall-responds-on-bike-rack/ |
Growing beets in open ground and in a greenhouse
Beets - one of the main crops in the field and garden. This is due to the fact that it is quite easy to grow throughout the year along with other vegetable crops. Some of the nuances of this process will help to achieve a good crop of vegetables.
Plant description
The genus of the rhizome herbaceous plant of the Amaranthaceae family of beets has more than 10 wild and 2 cultivated species. Cultivated beet leaf and ordinary (root). Everyone knows fodder, sugar and table beets are varieties of the latter species.
Table (vegetable) beets are most common
Beetroot refers to a two-year culture, although it is cultivated as a two-year plant only in the southern regions, where the root crop does not freeze in winter. The basal leaves of the plant are quite large, wide, juicy. In the first year after planting, root crops are formed, which in the ripening phase often protrude above the ground. Their pulp contains many beneficial substances. Petioles, leaves and beet pulp come in a wide variety of shades of green, red and purple.
Recently, many varieties with round and round-flat, oval, cylindrical, elongated-conical, spindle-shaped root crops have been bred.
Flowers usually appear in the 2nd year (sometimes in the 1st) in the axils of small leaves on a powerful erect stem, reaching a height of up to 1 m. White-green flower bunches are collected in complex ears. In each paniculate inflorescence, there are 2–5 inconspicuous flowers with a simple perianth. Depending on the ripening period, flowering occurs at the beginning or end of summer. And in August-September it is already possible to collect fruits in the form of compressed nuts, in each of which 3-5 seeds.
After flowering, beet stems appear on the stems, 3-5 seeds in each fused glomerulus
Application and benefits
Beetroot was used for food purposes as early as 2 millennia BC in some eastern countries. Later, this culture became indispensable in Europe. It is known that already in Kievan Rus, beets were cultivated as a root crop. Today, this vegetable has taken root in all continental latitudes.
Russia, Belarus and Ukraine are world leaders in beet-growing.
Beetroot salad is recommended for anemia, hypertension, and liver diseases.
Boiled and baked beets are well established in the diet for the treatment of scurvy, gallstone and kidney stone disease, diabetes, hypertension, anemia. A unique complex of minerals, vitamins, fiber contained in the plant helps to improve blood circulation in the brain, digestion, and strengthen the immune system. Beets are used fresh and processed for cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, it is recommended to use as a mild laxative for children and adults, an effective remedy for spastic colitis and chronic rhinitis. Shredded young leaves and root vegetables help in the treatment of skin diseases: burns, ulcers, boils.
The juice of this vegetable has a special healing power. It is especially useful for older people in the treatment of anemia, neurosis, hypertension, atherosclerosis. But it is strongly recommended not to give it to babies under the age of 6 months.
Growing beets seedlings
By planting beets with seedlings, you can get a crop a few weeks earlier. Usually only early beet varieties are grown in seedlings in order to get a vitamin vegetable to the table as early as possible. Sowing seeds is carried out 3-4 weeks before transplanting seedlings.
Growing conditions
For seeding, hybrids are selected that have a round shape of root crops and are resistant to shooting:
- Egyptian flat,
- Bordeaux 237,
- Detroit,
- Cold resistant 19.
Sprouts of these varieties have shorter roots, which contributes to better survival after a dive. Beet seedlings fully develops at a temperature of 16ºC, demanding on soil moisture, needs to be ventilated.
Planting seedlings
Soil for beet seedlings is best purchased universal. The addition of 250 ml of wood ash to 10 liters of soil mix will serve as a good fertilizer for beetroot sprouts. Prepared containers are filled with soil and compacted well, moistened, shed with an aqueous solution of the fungicides Maxim, Fitosporin (according to the instructions) to protect seedlings from the insidious “black legs” in the future.
Sown seeds in dry form or already sprouted, previously soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate and aged for several days in a soft cotton material. The second method allows you to immediately eliminate low-quality seeds that have not hatch.
Beet seeds can be sprouted before sowing
As a container for seedlings use boxes, plastic cups. If there is little seedlings and it does not take up much space on the windowsill, it is much easier to grow it in ready-made or home-made seedling cassettes, peat pots.
Beetroot seedlings use plastic containers
Seeds are laid out and covered with soil 1-2 cm, rammed with a plank, watered crops. The containers are covered with glass or plastic wrap and placed in a warm, well-lit place. Before emergence, it is desirable to maintain an air temperature of 18–20 ° С. In the future, it is reduced to 16 ° C.
The best place for seedlings after emergence is a greenhouse.
Seedling Care
Beet seedlings are watered 2 times a week, after which the soil is gently loosened with a stick to prevent crust formation. In high-quality soil, there are already all the necessary elements for the development of sprouts. For better growth, make one fertilizing with fertilizers with a mineral base: Growth, For seedlings, Vegetables or liquid fertilizers Krepysh, Sotka, Fertika (according to the instructions).
Beet seedlings are watered 2 times a week.
Pick
Each beet seed glomerulus contains from 2–7 seeds; therefore, seedlings require thinning and picking. Seedlings sown in cups, cassettes, and other spacious containers can do without picking. In the box, when the first cotyledonous leaves appear, seedlings should be thinned out. If you plan to use the removed plants further as planting material, thin out very carefully, take out the sprouts together with the ground with a special spoon, so as not to damage the roots.
Dive seedlings are watered and planted in the same soil as for sowing.
When the first cotyledon leaves appear, the beet seedlings should be thinned and dive
Transplanting
When starting to plant seedlings, take into account the temperature regime: the soil should warm up to 8–10ºC, and air - up to 16ºC. It is better to wait until the threat of spring return frosts has passed.
Try not to allow seedlings to outgrow. Its long roots are deformed and subsequently substandard root crops are obtained from them. In addition, such seedlings take root worse. The readiness indicator for planting is the presence of 3-5 real leaflets in seedlings. Seedlings are carefully removed together with the ground with a special stick. If the spine is bare, it is soaked in a mash of mullein and clay (1: 1).
Beetroot seedlings are carefully removed together with the ground with a special stick and transplanted to the garden.
The place for beets should be well lit by the sun, because in the shade the plants are extended, root crops do not develop normally. The site is prepared in advance, preferably in the fall. Dig the soil to a depth of 30 cm and fertilize it with organics (3 kg / m2), complex fertilizer (40-50 g / m2), wood ash (300 g / m2).
They start landing in the evening, choosing a cloudy day. The distance between the holes is at least 8 cm, their depth should correspond to the length of the root. Wells moisturize (250 ml of water), lay out the plants, trying not to bend the roots; sprinkle the earth, tamp the soil. Between the rows leave 25-30 cm.
By increasing the distance between plants, you can achieve large root crops, but not their quality. Root vegetables of medium size are considered more tasty, sweet and juicy.
Planted plants will not be exposed to sunburn if planted for several days with cover material.
Watering
After planting, seedlings are watered every day until the sprouts are well rooted. In the future, watering is carried out depending on climatic conditions 3-4 times per season. To leaves well washed and refreshed, it is better to do sprinkling. Experienced gardeners advise using water with the addition of table salt (1 tbsp. / 10 l) for watering, which increases the sugar accumulation of beets and protects leaves from many harmful insects.
About 1 liter of water is consumed per 1 m2. Excess moisture is more dangerous than a short drought. Try to prevent high humidity, which contributes to the development of fungi. The subsequent loosening after watering will prevent the appearance of a soil crust.
For better keeping quality and sugar content of root crops, it is recommended to stop watering a few weeks before harvesting.
Sprinkling washes and refreshes beet leaves
Top dressing
Beets are a big lover of fertile soil. But you should not overdo it with nitrogen fertilizers. They are introduced at the first stage of development in small doses. In the future, the introduction of nitrogen is undesirable, since it will accumulate as nitrates. The best fertilizer will be solutions of mullein (1:10) and bird droppings (1:20).
In order for the nutrient fluid to be absorbed into the soil, small grooves are made 5 cm from the plants. Use 10-12 liters of solution per 10 m2. When the leaves are closed on the plants, they can be fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.
After closing the leaves, the beets are fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.
Wood ash is able to fill the lack of potassium in the soil. It is scattered on beet beds (1.5 l / 10 m2) and must be watered.
In order to avoid fibrous root crops, foliar top dressing is done with an aqueous solution of boric acid (2 g / 10 l). You can saturate the vegetable with potassium using lime milk (200 g of lime / 10 l of water). Foliar top dressing allows the plant to absorb and absorb the necessary substances faster and with greater benefit, prevents overdose of fertilizers.
Growing beets in open ground
Growing beets in open ground is even a beginner's strength. Plants sown immediately in the garden grow faster and are more resistant to weather conditions.
Tested by many gardeners, the method of planting beets is along the edge of the ridge in the vicinity of tomatoes, carrots, onions and garlic.
Beetroot feels great along the edge of the garden in the vicinity of onions, garlic, carrots
Sowing beets in open ground
More often, beets are sown in spring at a soil temperature of 10 ° C. Seeds are distributed on a flat and moist surface at the rate of 2 g / m2, covered with soil by 2 cm and strongly compacted. Winter sowing (late October - early November) is more laborious: they make grooves 4 cm deep, increase the seeding rate to 3 g / m2, compact the soil tightly, and cover it with mulching material. The distance between the grooves should be at least 20 cm.
In late October - early November, beets are sown before winter
It is not necessary to soak and germinate seeds for winter sowing, as they can freeze and not sprout.
Crop Care
In order for seeds to hatch freely, row-spacings are loosened with hoes across rows. After the appearance of seedlings, the beds are weeded, watered and thinned 2 times. Delay with thinning can lead to weakening of seedlings, so they try to carry it out as soon as possible.
- The first such procedure is carried out immediately after the appearance of the first true leaflet, removing extra sprouts and leaving a 3-4 cm distance between seedlings.
- After the second thinning, the distance increases to 8–10 cm, the strongest plants remain.
Regular cultivation promotes the growth of root crops.
Regular cultivation contributes to the growth of root crops, making the soil aerial
Watering and top dressing are the same as when growing in seedlings. In mid-July, beets can be sown for the last time, but root crops will be much smaller.
Follow crop rotation rules! The best predecessors of beets are eggplant, onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, legumes and crops. It is not necessary to form beet beds in the place where beets, cabbage, potatoes and carrots grew.Recent entries In April, I process roses so that no pests encroach on my beauties
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Video: how to grow beets
Growing beets in a greenhouse
Growing beets in a greenhouse has its advantages: obtaining stable crops throughout the year, reliable protection from pests and ease of care. Experienced gardeners are advised to grow in the greenhouse special varieties adapted to greenhouse conditions. Among them are well established:
- Ataman
- Bordeaux,
- Detroit,
- Boltardi
- Burpiz Golden,
- F1-Pablo,
- Red ball
- Cold resistant.
The sequence of operations for growing seedlings in greenhouse beds:
- Take into account the temperature regime (the soil should warm up to 8-10 ° C, and the air - up to 17 ° C), make good lighting in the greenhouse.
- The fast-growing greens preceding sowing will fertilize the soil, normalize acidity. Suitable for this purpose are parsley, mustard, salads.
- Sown seeds in February-early March. The seeding rate is the same as for open ground.
- When the first true leaves appear, the seedlings are gently thinned, leaving a distance between seedlings of 8-15 cm (depending on the desired size of root crops).
- Make easy hilling of the sprouts.
- For preventive purposes, plants are watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
- In order to avoid fiberiness and rigidity of root crops, plantings are regularly watered with heated water (at least 20 ° C). Watering should be moderate so that high humidity does not contribute to the development of fungal diseases.
- The day after each watering, the soil is loosened, weeds are removed.
- The room is aired from time to time.
- Greenhouse beds are fed with wood ash (150 g / m2), and then watered.
Cucumbers and tomatoes will be excellent neighbors for beets in the greenhouse. The rows of these vegetables can be alternated. It is undesirable to plant peppers, dill, and legumes nearby.
The first vitamin treat is beet leaves, which have gained enough strength. They are pulled out as they grow, 2-3 from each bush. Excessive removal of tops weakens the development of root crops.
Fresh beetroot leaves - a good supplement for frozen vegetable mixes, salads, soups
In the middle-end of May, it is already possible to start harvesting dessert, small root crops. When yellowness appears on the lower leaves and their wilting should be harvested. Delay can lead to darting (flowering), and fruit loss is guaranteed.
More nutrients, of course, in fresh, raw beets. It can be stored in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks, and even longer in the cellar.
Diseases and Pests
Appetizing beets often become the habitat of various pathogens and insect pests. Therefore, it is so important to diagnose a disaster in time and rush to save the crop.
Corneed
Planting beets every time in the same place can lead to the accumulation of infection in the soil. In addition, the zoospores of a dangerous fungus sometimes infect seeds. Often, the spread of pathogens occurs before the development phase in sprouts of 4-5 leaves. Appearing white mold is the first sign of a root eater.
The cause of the disease are spring frosts, sharp jumps in day and night temperatures. Heavy, too moist soil is a favorable environment for the development of many species of this fungus.
For example, Fusarium appears on the root system of seedlings in the form of sickle-shaped conidia of the mycelium. Due to the defeat of Rhizoctonia, brown mycelium forms on the seedlings.
In most cases, barely hatched sprouts die before they reach the surface. Unaware of the disease, gardeners replant heavily thinned crops.
The root eater also appears on the roots of adult plants with black pycnids of the fungus Phoma betae. Affected beet plants turn yellow and die. Even after recovering from the disease, the roots of such beets acquire a non-commodity appearance, lose their sugar content.
Beetroot root grower develops quickly in heavy, moist soil.
Preventive techniques are:
- liming;
- the use of boron fertilizers;
- the use of seed dressers;
- compliance with the optimal temperature regime for sowing: soil at least 8ºC and air humidity at least 60%;
- loosening beet beds after crusting on the soil;
- mulching of crops with rotten plant residues, peat.
Fomoz
The first sign of the disease is the appearance on the lower leaves of the plant of concentric spots of brown or yellowish tint. Later, small black dots appear on the leaves. The disease is dangerous because after the death of the tops, dry rot of the core occurs, which is impossible to notice.
The disease is provoked by frequent heavy dew and prolonged drizzling rains, mists causing high humidity. The absence or deficiency of boron in the soil can also cause phomosis. A dangerous pathogen lives on the seed stems and seeds of beets, is easily tolerated by the wind.
Having discovered the disease on the leaves, the first thing to do is to add borax (3 g / m²) under the root of beets and make foliar top dressing on the leaf with an aqueous solution of boric acid 5 g / 10 l.
Leaves covered with concentric spots die due to phomosis, and dry rot develops in the heart of the root crop
Cercosporosis
Cercosporosis is a dangerous beet disease that can kill more than half of the crop. On the upper leaves, tiny light spots with a red border are found, and the lower leaves are covered with a light gray coating. Affected by cercosporiosis, the leaves dry out, and root crops quickly deteriorate, their keeping quality deteriorates.
To avoid spotting, the soil before sowing is treated with fungicides, and the seeds with Agat-25. Plants are fed with potash fertilizers.
Light spots with a red border - a sign of cercosporosis
Fusarium, brown, red rot
Fusarium spreads more often to damaged plants. Withered lower leaves, blackened base of petioles, cracks in the root crop with white contents are signs of this type of rot.
Brown rot, in turn, develops with high humidity and an excess of nitrogen in the soil. The disease is characterized by the formation of light plaque on the soil and tops of leaves. In fleshy root vegetables, internal and external black spots of necrotic tissue develop. Affected vegetables are removed without being stored.
For prophylactic purposes, foliar top dressing is done with boron, after irrigation, the soil is loosened.
Rotten root crops cannot be stored
Red rot (felt disease) is no less dangerous for beets. Volumetric brown spots appear on root crops, which become covered with sclerotia of the fungus over time. Infected fruits must be immediately separated from healthy ones to avoid further infection.
Pests
Most often, beetroot beds are annoyed by pest aggressors: common and mining flies, fleas, shield bugs, scoops and aphids. Adult individuals and their larvae damage the leaves and roots of beets. Fighting insects is much easier than fighting diseases.
If aphids are found on beets, treat the plant with infusion of onion husks
In most cases, you can do without chemicals, observing the simple rules of agricultural technology. It is necessary not to violate the requirements of crop rotation, to timely remove weeds on beet beds and nearby, in the autumn to carry out deep digging.
Having discovered insects, try to use less harmful substances first:
- having treated the tops with infusion of onion peel or wormwood, you can get rid of aphids. To prepare the infusion, take 1 kg of the dried mass, grind it and pour 10 liters of water, boil for 15 minutes, insist 3-4 hours and filter;
- wormwood branches arranged in the aisles help from aphids and shield insects;
- dusting plants with ash, tobacco dust or treating leaves with an infusion of ash scare away a flea, the larvae of which regale on the roots of the plant. The recipe for ash infusion is simple: take 1.5 tbsp. ash, mix well and insist 1 day. Processed beets strained infusion in dry weather.
Spraying with solutions of bacterial preparations Bitoxibacillin (1%) and Gomelin (0.5%) is used in the fight against different types of scoop. Strongly ridged beetroot leaves, reminiscent of lace, indicate a strong invasion of flies and shieldflies. In this case, Aktara, Karbofos, Spark insecticides are used (according to the instructions).
Prevention
Measures to control beet diseases and pests include:
- planting disease-resistant varieties;
- crop rotation compliance;
- seed treatment before sowing;
- fertilizer of soil and plants;
- timeliness of harvesting;
- implementation of agricultural activities;
- constant monitoring of landings.
Harvesting and storage
The first juicy root crops of early beet varieties are harvested in July. Late-ripening beets, which can be stored until the end of spring, are dug up in early autumn, when the leaves turn yellow and the leaves begin to dry.
For cleaning, choose a dry day. First, they dig the root crops with a pitchfork. Then, holding hands at the tops, they are pulled out of the soil. The blunt end of the knife gently removes the ground from the root, and cut off the leaves with a sharp, leaving up to 2 cm of petioles. Damaged root crops (damaged, rotten) are immediately separated. The dried beets are dried in the fresh air, and then about a week in well-ventilated rooms (sub-curtains), where the sun does not look.
Selected beets are first dried in the fresh air
Sliced spoiled and substandard root crops are immediately processed, harvesting for borsch seasoning, canned salads.
Canned beetroot salads - a great harvest for the winter
When the stalks are dried, the beets are dusted with chalk and put in storage in the cellar. Root crops are better preserved at temperatures from 0 to 2ºC, in rooms with good ventilation. In warmer places, the beets spoil, begin to “frown” and rot.
A proven method is to store root crops on supports of 15 cm or more in wooden or plastic lattice boxes 20 cm away from the wall. Rows of beets in boxes are sprinkled with sand, dry peat or sawdust from coniferous wood (3-4 cm layer).
In the sand, beets are stored much longer
Many gardeners practice storing beets in bulk on top of potatoes. Root crops are filled with moisture evaporating from potatoes and dry less.
Growing conditions in various regions
Beetroot is a heat-loving crop that reacts negatively to high humidity, low temperatures and poor lighting. Therefore, in some regions it is difficult to achieve a good harvest of this vegetable, especially for new gardeners.
For example, summer near Moscow is often rainy and does not please with excess heat, and the sun is so necessary to beets at the beginning of the growing season. But nevertheless, you can grow large root crops even in the conditions of the Moscow Region, having mastered some techniques of agricultural technology and picked up a zoned variety. First of all, you need to correctly determine the landing date. In the Moscow Region, the soil warms up to 8–10 ° C in the second half of May. At this time, sowing of early varieties is started. Later varieties can be planted only in the beginning or middle of June. If you plan to eat a vegetable immediately for food, early ripening varieties are suitable for cultivation:
- Barguzin,
- Bordeaux,
- Detroit,
- Mona
- Kestrel,
- Wintering.
Their harvest which can be harvested in July. Root crops of mid-ripening varieties for the Moscow region:
- Bona
- Mulatto,
- Incomparable
- Cylinder.
The fruits of these varieties persist until spring, more resistant to disease. It is risky to grow late beet varieties in the Moscow region, as their root crops may not ripen until the first autumn frosts.
Some summer residents use warm beds, on which they manage to grow late-ripening varieties Ataman, Torpeda, Odnorostkovaya.
The North-West and Far East zones are characterized by cold and too short summers. Residents of these regions should prefer early frost-resistant varieties with a short ripening period. Zoned varieties for Siberia:
- Bordeaux 237,
- Incomparable A-463,
- Podzimnaya A-474,
- Siberian flat,
- Cold resistant.
Given the sharp jumps in temperature, many gardeners recommend growing beets in Siberia only by seedlings, planting them in open ground no earlier than mid-June.
Beetroot is an indispensable and healthy vegetable for each of us. But you have to work hard to have a juicy vitamin product all year round. | https://draughonmiller.com/growing-beets-open-ground-and-greenhouse |
BZ6 - A tight, clean, sound copy with minor overall shelf wear plus the usual library stamps, label, & pocket on the top and bottom outside paper edges, front endpaper, & inside surface of the front board, some tape staining on the inside surface of the front & back boards & front & back endpapers from where the DJ has been taped down to the boards. The DJ shows only very minor overall shelf wear mainly in the form of sunning on the spine plus it is still in the original library mylar sleeve, usual library label on the spine. A juvenile nonfiction book about the history of the Chinese in America. Heavily illustrated with black and white photographs throughout. 120p.
Title: The Chinese in America
Categories: History: World, Children & Juvenile, Ethnic Studies, Juv History, Young Adult Nonfiction, Immigration & Emigration, Immigrant Americans,
Publisher: New York, New York, USA, Macmillan Publishing Co.: 1972
ISBN: 0027886700
ISBN 13: 9780027886702
Binding: Hard Cover
Book Condition: Good
Jacket Condition: Good
Type: Ex-Library
Size: 5.75"x8.5"
Item: 1.00 Item
Book ID: SCW03818
Keywords: Nonfiction Non-fiction Chinese American History US History United States History Juvenile Nonfiction, | https://www.bookmarcsonline.com/product/507006/The-Chinese-in-America-Sung-Betty-Lee |
Each year, NAFI recognizes and celebrates employees for the outstanding work they do in providing the highest level of innovative human and social services to individuals and families.
Lynn Bishop, Executive Director of NAFI operations in Connecticut, Rhode Island and New York, recently announced this year’s award winners. (Also see the stories on the Connecticut awards and Rhode Island honors.)
Awards of Excellence
The Award of Excellence is presented to someone who serves as an example of superior performance in their agency, having made significant accomplishments during the year. Recipients are recognized for exemplary leadership, innovation, or initiative.
Tracy Dreher – Therapeutic Foster Care, NAFI New York
Tracy is fully committed to not only the tasks of the job but to all of the youth and families she works with. She is a dedicated team member, always willing to help her peers, other managers and supervisors. Over the last year, she has been thrown into a new role ,working with managed care, with little guidance and lots of transitions. She has learned all of the moving parts of this role and made sure every youth’s needs are taken care of! It’s obvious when meeting Tracy that she is devoted to both the Foster Care team and all of NAFI NY. Please take a moment to congratulate Tracy on her achievement and thank her for her commitment and loyalty to NAFI NY!
Danielle Soule – NAFI CT/RI/NY Finance Team
Danielle joined NAFI less than a year ago and has showcased her professionalism, ability to learn, and willingness to tackle any responsibilities given to her.
Danielle approaches her workday with appreciation, focus, maturity, consideration of others, and lots of humor! On the business side of the agency, attention to detail, accuracy of work and meeting deadlines are core to our success. Danielle owns these values naturally and executes them with grace and respect. Thank you for your hard work and commitment to NAFI’s vision. You make a difference.
Thank you Danielle for being a part of our team. We are so lucky to have you.
Executive Director’s Choice Award
Each year, the agency’s Executive Director selects one individual to receive this distinguished award. It recognizes an individual who has made a significant impact on the organization based both on performance of job responsibilities as well as contributions to the overall mission, goals, and values of NAFI.
Tracey Pearson – Director of Residential Services, NAFI Rhode Island
Capable, competent, dedicated and energetic are words that come to mind and fully describe Tracey. As the Director of Residential Services in RI, Tracey has given 110% to the residential programs over the past year, filling positions and acting as the Program Director in a time of a staffing crisis. Helping with transports, doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping and so much more, she has proven to be a true leader. She has spent countless hours interviewing and helping to hire and train staff because she understands the urgency and importance of supporting our staff. She is an advocate and has worked endless hours supporting and guiding the staff and kids at all four of RI’s group homes. Bottom line: Tracey is a true inspiration to others through role modeling and having a “we’re all in this together” attitude.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion
The DEI Champion Award is presented to a NAFI employee who is actively working toward achieving a welcoming, supportive and inclusive work environment. It is intended to celebrate those who embrace the value of diversity and recognize how it helps advance the mission of NAFI.
Giselle Lopez, LYNC, NAFI Connecticut
We have found in Giselle an inspirational mentor. She has voice, volume, vibrancy and virtue. She is the embodiment of human centered connection and she inspires in us the courage to open our hearts, start the conversation, take a stand, and connect across cultures, races, religions, and genders. Giselle goes above and beyond to incorporate cultural sensitivity and respect in all of her communications. She educates colleagues about the differences in Latino cultures, language, and norms. She continuously helps to keep us grounded in our goal to be inclusive and welcoming to all races, ages, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, and religious backgrounds. Giselle has recorded PSAs in English and Spanish, and across many NAFI CT programs has translated documents and supported us with interpretation. She also participated in the Cultural Diversity Sub-Committee as part of NAFI’s strategic planning. Giselle is currently serving as the chair of a committee working to start a Latino Center in Willimantic. The focus of the committee is on supporting undocumented immigrants to connect with community and mental health services.
About NAFI NY
NAFI New York’s mission is creating diverse and innovative services for people as a multi-service agency that provides programming, consultation and individualized support services to youth and families in a variety of community-based settings.
The agency was established within the North American Family Institute in 2005 with the ground-breaking Westchester Wraparound program. From there, NAFI NY has grown to be known as a leader in community-based and therapeutic foster care programming for youth and families.
The foundation for all of our diverse services and programs are the common values and beliefs known as the Normative Community Approach. It is not a prescriptive model but rather a culmination of our basic assumptions and beliefs about working with people. It forms a framework for building community and empowering people to find their voice. | https://www.nafiny.org/news/nafi-new-york-2021-staff-awards-announced/ |
In September 2013, I asked Kole a simple question. “I wonder what would happen if I pulled out a few bricks on the old pump house out back to see the condition?”
In three seconds, I had my answer. The entire wall of bricks hit the floor. The good news? We decided to convert the original pump house/chicken house into a 500-square-foot micro cottage. It only took about 18 months, money, hysteria, sweat and more sweat. We’re still finishing. Then my mother asked me, “You’re going to live in the chicken house?” Well, not exactly, Mom.
While everyone else sat inside sipping hot chocolate in Januarys, we poured concrete in just-barely-allowable temperatures. When my nephew was on spring break, he learned the finer tips–and mysteries–of framing. I laid two tile floors and grouted them recently. We spent hot summer days salvaging bricks around town. I scoured Craig’s List for old windows and doors. Kole made all the trim.
The great thing? I now have a cottage just a stone’s throw from the big house and guests. We’ve taken a break from the interior details to build the cottage garden out back where in full sun the tomatoes and herbs can get busy growing. And if anyone tells you it’s impossible to live in 500 square feet, send them to my doorstep. Anything is possible with time, money… and delusional dreams. | http://moonhollowfarm.com/before-after-and-in-between/ |
Web Service Structure
The reputation web service consists of three main parts, that is client side, server side and the standard transmission format. Figure 1.1 shows the structure of the web service in general. Several client systems are communicating with reputation web service. Since each system has its unique DB schema, different data wrappers are needed to convert raw data into standard transmission format. And on the server side, another data wrapper is used to parse the request and generate adjacency matrices, which indicate what score each reviewer has given to each submission, and are the inputs to reputation algorithms. Finally, the reputation web service sends the results back to client systems.
Figure 1.1 The structure of the reputation web service.
Peer-Review Markup Language
Peer-Review Markup Language (PRML) is a generic schema for encapsulating the raw data into standard data transmission format. In this way, different client systems can communicate with the reputation web service without changing their database schemas.
This language defines some entities commonly used in different peer-review systems. The entities used in the reputation web service are a subset of the data defined in PRML, including clients, assignments, tasks, reviewers, reviewed entities and peer-review grade. Table 1.1 explains each entity in detail.
Table 1.1 Entities needed in reputation web service
Answer The number of points each reviewer gives to each artifact. Each peer-review record contains identifier of artifact, identifier of reviewer and peer-review grade.
PRML is a JSON-based format with compact structure, which has three parts. The first part is the information related to assignment(s) and task(s). Figure 1.2 shows the first part, assignment information, with sample data. It allows data coming from multiple assignments and appointing one task for each assignment. According to the sample data, two assignments’ second-round peer-review records will be sent to reputation web service. And maximum and minimum grades of each assignment are also mentioned to help calculate the reputation values.
Figure 1.2 First part of standard transmission format with sample data.
The second part of standard JSON format is the additional information. They can be initial Hamer reputation values, initial Lauw reputation values, expert grades or quiz scores. Data presented in Figure 1.3 is used for different reputation algorithms. For instance, expert grades are extra inputs of Hamer-expert algorithm and Lauw-expert algorithm; quiz scores are additional inputs of Quiz-based algorithm. Details of each algorithm will be stated in next chapter.
Figure 1.3 Second part of standard transmission format with sample data.
The last part is the review records. It is the most important part because each line records how many points each peer reviewer giving to certain artifact. Figure 1.4 presents the sample peer-review records.
Figure 1.4 Third part of standard transmission format with sample data.
Server Side Design
The server side uses Ruby on Rails framework and follows the MVC design pattern strictly. Each algorithm was implemented in a model file. And the controller focuses on parsing JSON request to adjacency matrices, building data structure, calling different algorithms and sending results back to client system. In reputation web service there is no need to create views because all messages will be transmitted via JSON format. In Figure 1.1, there is only one data wrapper needed for server side. It is a big advantage of reputation web service, that is using standard JSON transmission format can not only unify the interface, but also satisfy the needs of different client systems.
Client Side Design in Expertiza
Figure 1.1 also presents that each peer-review system needs one specific data wrapper. It is because database structure of each system is different. However, the data wrapper is the only thing each client system need to build. So comparing with understanding the logic of reputation algorithms and implementing them, just building a data wrapper can save lots of time and effort. Currently, one data wrapper has already been built and been embedded into Expertiza with a user interface.
Figure 1.5 Client side UI in Expertiza.
The basic user interface of the client side is presented in Figure 1.5. The instructor follows four simple steps to send the standard JSON request. The first step is to type in identifier(s) of assignment(s). These text fields only accept numerical values in order to avoid mistyping. The second assignment identifier text field is optional, which is designed for writing assignments (writing assignment 1a and 1b). Normally, in CSC 517 course, there are two writing assignments. Since they are similar to each other, I tend to merge these two assignments into one sometimes. The last text field is used to specify round number of assignment. The default round number is 2, which means to use the second-round peer-review records as inputs. This bases the reviewer’s reputation on that reviewer’s second-round reviews only.
The second step is to choose different kinds of reputation algorithms. They are Hamer’s algorithm, Lauw’s algorithm, Hamer-expert algorithm, Lauw-expert algorithm and Quiz-based algorithm. Thirdly, instructor needs to choose some additional information. It can be expert grades, initial reputation values or quiz scores. For initial reputation values, instructor can choose either from Hamer-expert algorithm or Lauw-expert algorithm. And the final step is to click the “Send request” button.
Figure 1.6 shows the results of writing assignment 1a using Hamer’s algorithm with second-round peer-review records. The table in Figure 1.6 presents the request and response information with color blending.
The results of writing assignments using Hamer-expert algorithm with expert grades are shown in Figure 1.7. The checkbox before “Add expert grades” is gray, which means it is disabled, cannot be unchecked. The reason is that when instructor chose the Hamer-expert algorithm, the data wrapper needed to add expert grades into request information by default. If instructor unchecks the “Add expert grades” for some reason, it will lead to a conflict. So in order to avoid it, some constraints have been added to this user interface. When the instructor chooses Hamer-expert algorithm or Lauw-expert algorithm, the “Add expert grades” checkbox will be checked and disabled; when instructor chooses the Quiz-based algorithm, the “Add quiz scores” will be checked and disabled and so on.
Figure 1.8 shows the results from another more complex situation. In this case, initial reputation values for Lauw’s algorithm will not be one (the default value) any more. Instead, these values came from writing assignments. This feature is designed for the third experiment, which will be explained in detail in chapter 5.
Security of Web Service
Security is also an important issue, since expert grades and peer-review grades are sensitive data and should not be revealed to unauthorized people. However, according to the design, the reputation web service sends the data in plaintext. In order to protect these sensitive data, encryption algorithms are needed.
The first solution is to use public-key cryptography. It is an asymmetric key encryption algorithm and cryptographic keys are paired. One is public key, which is disseminated widely and anyone with public key can encrypt messages. The other one is the private key, which can only be used by the keyholder to decrypt private messages [10]. By implementing this solution, client sides can use public key to encrypt the JSON data and server side can use corresponding private key to decrypt the encrypted data. However, there is a maximum message length restriction for public-key cryptography. Since it is possible that request data exceeds the maximum length restriction, another method is needed to apply to all situations.
The second solution is the combination asymmetric key encryption algorithm and symmetric key encryption algorithm, which does not have restriction mentioned above. Procedure of sending encrypted request is presented in Figure 1.9. The client side uses a newly generated symmetric key to encrypt the JSON data and then encrypts the symmetric key with the public key from the asymmetric key encryption algorithm. After that, it sends the encrypted request to the server side. Then the server side decrypts the symmetric key with the private key. Secondly, it obtains the JSON data by using the symmetric key. And sending the response back to client side is the reverse process. In practice, AES is chosen the as symmetric encryption algorithm, and RSA is chosen as the asymmetric encryption algorithm.
Figure 1.9 Procedure of sending encrypted request.
In summary, the “pluggable” reputation web service can make peer review systems access to multiple reputation algorithms and compare with each other. So there is no need to implement reputation algorithms locally. But each client system needs a specific data wrapper. The data wrapper can convert client system’s database schema into a standard JSON transmission format, which is the subset of PRML. After reputation web service receives the JSON request, it will do calculation and send the JSON response back to client system. What’s more, the reputation web service also uses cryptography to protect the sensitive data.
| |
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«Gracious Bacchus! Accept this empty jar! You will know best, what in pious worship of thee became of all the first»
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Abstract.
RNA chaperones are ubiquitous proteins that play pivotal roles in cellular RNA metabolism and RNA virus replication. Here we propose that they act by organizing complex and highly dynamic networks of RNA-RNA, RNA-protein and protein-protein interactions. How this is achieved and how their malfunction may lead to disease will be discussed through the examples of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 nucleocapsid protein (NCp7), the fragile X mental retardation protein and the prion protein.
Key words.Intrinsically unstructured proteins RNA-binding proteins RNA chaperones human immunodeficiency virus NCp7 fragile X mental retardation FMRP prion diseases
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Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF. | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00018-005-5100-9 |
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Usa state zip codes city. The table below allows users to find zip codes by state. Just select the appropriate state from the list to display all of the zip codes by state. It may take a few extra seconds to display the states that have a lot of zip codes. ZIP Codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service (USPS) since 1963. The term ZIP is an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan; it was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently and quickly (zipping along) when senders use the code in the postal address. Washington ZIP code map and Washington ZIP code list. View all zip codes in WA or use the free zip code lookup.
AREA CODES and ZIP CODE by CITY in USA. STATE: AREA CODES (Click on the number below to see city and zip code) Alabama: 334 – 256 – 251 – 205: Alaska: 907: Arizona: 480 – 520 – 602 – 623 – 928: Arkansas: 501 – 870: California: 209 – 213 – 310 – 323 – 408 – 415 – 510 – 530 – 559 – 562 – 619 – 626 – 650 – 661 – 707 – 714 – 760 – 805 – 818 – 831. Additional USPS City/State/ZIP Code Associations.. Enter an address. If found, the standardized address and ZIP+4 Code Code will be returned.. F.Y.I. ZIP is an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan.A ZIP Code is a 5-digit code that identifies a specific geographic delivery area. ISO 3166-2:US is the entry for the United States in ISO 3166-2, part of the ISO 3166 standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which defines codes for the names of the principal subdivisions (e.g., provinces or states) of all countries coded in I 3166-1.. Currently for the United States, ISO 3166-2 codes are defined for the following subdivisions:
This is a list of ZIP codes prefixes.Each cell in this table contains a three-digit ZIP code prefix, the state where that ZIP code prefix is located, and the name of the United States Postal Service (USPS) Sectional Center Facility (SCF) that serves that ZIP code prefix, which may be in a different state. Each SCF may serve more than one three-digit ZIP code prefix. The first digit of a USA ZIP code generally represents a group of U.S. states. The map of the first digit of zip codes above shows they are assigned in order from the north east to the west coast. The first 3 digits of a ZIP code determine the central mail processing facility, also called sectional center facility or "sec center", that is used to process and sort mail. City Guides; Tourist Attractions Articles; Banks; Crime; Work and Jobs; Houses, Apartments; U.S. Cemeteries; Zip Codes; Jump to a detailed profile, search site with google or try advanced search. US Zip Codes. Zip codes 01001 – 01890 Zip codes 01901 – 02816 Zip codes 02817 – 03840 Zip codes 03841.
ZIP codes for City Of Alexandria, Virginia, US. Use our interactive map, address lookup, or code list to find the correct 5-digit or 9-digit (ZIP+4) code for your postal mails destination. Cities by ZIP Code™ For more rapid delivery, please use the recommended or recognized city names whenever possible for this ZIP Code ™. Comprehensive list of the 10 poorest zip codes in the USA, based on the the median household income. POSTED 2 MONTHS AGO Most Affordable Zip Codes in USA.. A list of the top 10 zip codes to live in the state of California. POSTED 2 MONTHS AGO Fun Facts About ZIP Codes.
Find zip code by searching by city, state, or zip code . List of American Zip Codes; Zip Codes by State; Zip Codes by County; Zip Code Software; Guam ZIP Code List. Zip Codes for the State of. ZIP Codes by State; Zip Code Radius Search; Database Sample Data. ZIP Code Database Sample Data. Microsoft Access (.MDB) 136 KB. 116 KB. 160 KB. Zip codes directory by state. Click below for zip codes in that state! US Zip Code Lookup – Explore zip code map and use zip code finder to search the postal codes by state, county and city. This directory or locator gives the list of Zip Codes used in USA.
Timezone(s): Mountain (GMT -07:00) Pacific (GMT -08:00) Population: 1,567,582 (More Details)Male Population: 785,324: Female Population: 782,258: Median Age: 35 : ZIP. ZIP codes for the 50 states of the US. Use our interactive map, address lookup, or code list to find the correct 5-digit or 9-digit (ZIP+4) code for your postal mails destination. | https://fastprocessllc.co/usa-state-zip-codes-city/ |
Program Tools
Preservation
Research
The primary purpose of research into cultural landscapes is to define the values and associations that make them historically significant. Research findings provide information for management decisions and compliance with preservation law and maintenance, assist in determining appropriate treatment, and support interpretive programs. The NPS Cultural Landscapes Program follows these standards for research:
1. Identification
Section 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act requires the NPS to identify and nominate to the National Register of Historic Places all cultural resources that appear eligible, including cultural landscapes as historic districts or historic sites. Historical areas of the national park system are automatically listed in the National Register upon their establishment by law or executive order, but contributing landscape resources still must be documented for the register.
Research and preliminary field surveys are conducted to determine the existence of cultural landscapes. Identifying the significant characteristics and features of a landscape involves understanding its historic development and use, modifications over time, as well as any ethnographic values and affiliations. Based on the information gathered, a National Register nomination is prepared, including a base map and photographs.
A historical period plan of Henry Longfellow’s residential property in 1845.
a. Documentation
Documentation of cultural landscapes involves the use of primary and secondary sources, review and assessment of archeological records, and field investigations to determine the extent and condition of historic and contemporary landscape features. Maps, plans, drawings, and photographs are prepared as part of the baseline documentation.
An existing conditions site plan of the Tassi Ranch building core within Parashant National Monument.
b. Significance
Significance is determined by relating a landscape and its existing characteristics and features to its historic context. The landscape must be associated with events, activities, or developments that were important in the past, or with the lives of people who were important in the past, or with significant architectural history, landscape history, or engineering achievements, or have the potential to yield information through archeological investigation. There may be a single period or multiple periods of significance for the landscape. Historic features from the period(s) of significance and their associated materials, patterns, and relationships must be present and have integrity.
An example of a historic context study, which form the basis for evaluations of integrity. This study documents the evolution of orchards in the United States.
c. Integrity
The integrity of a cultural landscape is determined by the degree to which the landscape characteristics that define its historical significance are still present. Because some landscape characteristics (such as vegetation and use) are dynamic, integrity also depends on the extent to which the general character of the historic period is evident and the degree to which incompatible elements are reversible. It is important to consider how such changes affect the landscape as a whole and the degree to which they impact or obscure the landscape’s character and integrity. With some vernacular and ethnographic landscapes, change itself is a significant factor and must be considered in assessing integrity.
A diagram of Longmire, a rustic park
village designed and built within Mount Rainier National Park between
1926 and 1941. The shaded areas
indicate historic use areas that still
retain integrity.
d. National Register Nominations
Cultural landscapes are listed in the National Register when their significant cultural values have been documented and evaluated within appropriate thematic contexts, and physical investigation determines that they retain integrity. Cultural landscapes are classified in the National Register as historic sites or historic districts, or may be included as contributing features of larger districts.
An example of a National Register of Historic Places nomination form. This form captures the cultural landscape of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve as “Central Whidbey Island Historic District”.
e. Cultural Landscapes Inventory
The Cultural Landscapes Inventory (CLI) is a database of all cultural landscapes in which the NPS has or plans to acquire any legal interest. Its purpose is to identify cultural landscapes in the national park system and provide information on their location, historical development, characteristics and features, condition and management. The CLI assists park managers in planning, programming, and recording treatment and management decisions. Completed CLI reports are available for public viewing by searching under the "Places" category and "Spaces and Places" finding aid on this website, or by request.
An example of a Cultural Landscape Inventory (CLI). This CLI is for the historic Joseph Poffenberger Farmstead within Antietam National Battlefield.
A cultural landscape report (CLR) is the primary guide to treatment and use of a cultural landscape.
Typically interdisciplinary in nature, the CLR includes documentation, analysis, and evaluation of historical, architectural, archeological, ethnographic, horticultural, landscape architectural, engineering, and ecological data as appropriate. It analyzes the landscape's historical development, evolution, modifications, materials, construction techniques, geographical context, and use in all periods, including those deemed not significant.
Based on the analysis, it makes recommendations for treatment consistent with the landscape's significance, condition, and planned use. The scope and level of investigation vary depending on management objectives. It may focus on an entire landscape or on individual features within it. Before any decision regarding treatment of a landscape, Part 1: Site History, Existing Conditions, Analysis, and Evaluation, or a Cultural Landscape Inventory is completed. Completed CLRs are available for public viewing by searching under the "Places" category and "Spaces and Places" finding aid on this website, or by request.
An example of a Cultural Landscape Report (CLR). This CLR is for Fort Hancock within Gateway National Recreation Area.
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Bill Petro: writer and technologist.
Writes about History, Popular Culture, Tech Trends, and Travel.
Contributing writer to the books Product Management to Product Leadership: The Advanced Use Cases
and Invitation to Church History, Vol 1 & 2
History of Amazing Grace, part 2: William Wilberforce
HISTORY OF AMAZING GRACE, part 2: William Wilberforce As I mentioned in my first article on the History of Amazing Grace, this is the story of the lives of two men and that one song. In the first part, we discussed the life of the song’s author, John Newton. However, the 2007 film “Amazing Grace” is about the life of one of Newton’s protégés, William Wilberforce. Wilberforce was a man well-known to the Founding Fathers of the American Revolution. He became, in his day, not just a politician, philanthropist, and abolitionist but also a writer of such popularity at the…Read More
History of Amazing Grace, part 1
HISTORY OF AMAZING GRACE, part 1 On February 23, 1807, the British parliament passed a bill banning the nation’s slave trade. In these two articles, we’ll explore the lives of two men and one song that played a significant role in that effort. John Newton‘s devoted Christian mother dreamed that her only son would grow up to become a preacher. But he lost his mother when he was six years old, and at eleven, he followed his sea-captain father to the sea. He did not take to the discipline of the Royal Navy and deserted ship, was flogged, and eventually…Read More
History of Ash Wednesday: Where does the Ash come from?
HISTORY OF ASH WEDNESDAY In the Western church, the first day of Lent is called Ash Wednesday from the ceremonial use of ashes, as a symbol of repentance, in the service prescribed for the day. It follows Mardi Gras, also known as Shrove Tuesday, and ends with Easter 40 days later, not counting Sundays. Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Anglican denominations, Roman Catholics, and some Baptists practice it. The Eastern Church practices the Great Lent during the 40 days preceding Palm Sunday, with fasting continuing during the Holy Week of Orthodox Easter. The ash represents repentance and a reminder of death.…Read More
History of Mardi Gras: Why is it called Fat Tuesday?
HISTORY OF MARDI GRAS In French, Mardi Gras means “Fat Tuesday.” It is celebrated the day after Shrove Monday and the day before Ash Wednesday as a last “fling” before the 40 days of self-denial of Lent, which precede Easter. Lent is a word that comes from the Middle English word “lente,” which means “springtime” — so named for the season of the year in which it usually occurs. While the practice of Lent is not mentioned in the Bible, it has been a tradition in the Christian world since the mid-4th century. It seems to parallel the 40 days of fasting…Read More
History of Shrove Monday: Ahead of Mardi Gras
HISTORY OF SHROVE MONDAY The Monday before Ash Wednesday is known as Shrove Monday. The three days before Ash Wednesday are known as “Shrovetide,” starting with Quinquagesima Sunday and ending on Shrove Tuesday, a day more popularly known as Mardi Gras. Quinquagesima meant the fiftieth day before Easter, specifically the last Sunday before Ash Wednesday, marking Lent‘s beginning. Shrove is the past tense of shrive and is an Old English word meaning “to repent.” Repentance from sin was a common practice during this season. The Royal Shrovetide Football Match is typically played on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday in Ashbourne,…Read More
History of the Holidays
What is the history behind the holidays we celebrate, both sacred and secular? Many of the sacred holidays in our American “Judeo-Christian” heritage have secular associations, while many of the seemingly secular holidays actually have religious roots. This is the back story behind our popular holidays.
Popular Culture
Featuring reviews of movies, concerts, and theatre. I write movie reviews as soon as I see them, which is usually the day they come out (or before). Reviews of Star Wars and Star Trek movies, Lord of the Rings, James Bond, and Harry Potter films, rock and jazz concerts, and theatre reviews.
Tech Trends
Articles about current and future technologies and their possible implications. Discussions about Apple iPhone and Apple Watch and innovative technologies from other companies: social media, payment systems, personal data backup, etc.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A. Field of the Invention
B. Prior Art
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
NUMBER REFERENCES
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
First Embodiment
Second Embodiment
Third Embodiment
Fourth Embodiment
This invention is a reusable jug that provides pockets and an internal receptacle. The bottom of the jug provides a removable cap as well as a receptacle that can house various personal items.
Typically, reusable jugs and containers allow for cleaning by removing a top cap. The jug or container is then inverted and placed in a dishwasher or a user places brushes within the top opening of the jug to clean the interior of the jug. Also unlike the present invention, jugs within the prior art do not provide pockets attached to the exterior or provide an internal receptacle that is accessible without having to expose the drinkable contents within the jug.
There are many distinguishing factors between the present invention and other previously disclosed jug or containers. Accordingly, the reusable jug described herein is a unique and novel invention.
The present invention is a reusable jug or container that provides at least one pocket, a top cap, a large bottom cap, a small bottom cap, and an interior receptacle. While this invention is shown and described as having only one pocket, additional pockets may be provided on other areas of the jug. Additionally, more than one pocket may be provided on a side of a jug. The pockets may also be removable.
The bottom large cap and a bottom small cap are provided on the bottom of the jug. The bottom large cap threads into the reusable jug and seats against a first seal. The first seal prevents water from leaking through the bottom large cap. The bottom small cap threads into the bottom large cap. The interior receptacle also threads into the bottom large cap against a second seal to prevent water from leaking into the receptacle or out of the small cap.
The user can clean the reusable jug after use by removing the large cap. The user can also gain access to the internal receptacle by removing the small bottom cap or the large bottom cap. The internal receptacle can operate as a dry storage compartment or as an ice chamber for maintaining the contents of the jug at a cool temperature.
5
—Device
7
—Jug
10
—Jug wall
15
—Top cap
20
—Small bottom cap
25
—Large bottom cap
28
—Grips
30
—First seal
35
—Second seal
40
—Internal receptacle
43
—Threads
45
—Threaded insert
50
—Pocket
55
—Screw
5
7
25
7
7
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50
7
40
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This device is a reusable jug, which is described in four separate embodiments: The first embodiment provides a jug , large bottom cap that threads into the bottom of the jug ; the second embodiment provides a jug , large bottom cap and a plurality of pockets that attach to the side of the jug ; the third embodiment provides an internal receptacle that attaches to the bottom large cap , which is contained within the jug and a small bottom cap ; the fourth embodiment provides a jug , a large bottom cap , an internal receptacle , a small bottom cap , and a plurality of pockets . Each embodiment is described respectively below in greater detail.
7
15
25
30
15
5
15
5
The first embodiment is comprised of a jug , a top cap , a large bottom cap , and a first seal . The top cap covers a hole in the top of the device , which is typically used to drink or pour out of. While it is not shown, it is anticipated that the top cap is attached to the device even when it is not threaded onto the top opening like other reusable containers.
25
30
7
7
5
FIG. 4
The large bottom cap provides a set of male threads that mate with a set of female threads provided on the bottom of the device as shown in . A first seal is provided between the large bottom cap and the jug . The first seal helps ensure that liquid within the jug does not leak out while the device is in use.
25
25
7
28
25
25
7
25
7
The large bottom cap can be removed as the user desires for easy cleaning. The diameter of the cap is intended to be large enough for a person to fit her or his hand in the jug to clean it for later use. Grips are provided on the large cap to assist with tightening the cap onto the jug or removing the cap from the jug .
7
15
25
30
45
50
55
15
25
30
The second embodiment is comprised of a jug , a top cap , a large bottom cap , a first seal , a plurality of threaded inserts , at least one pocket , and a plurality of screws . The top cap , large bottom cap , and first seal are utilized as described in the first embodiment.
45
10
7
50
7
55
55
55
45
FIG. 5
FIG. 1
FIG. 5
In this second embodiment, the plurality of threaded inserts is placed into the wall of the jug as shown in . The at least one pocket is then attached to the side of the jug with a plurality of screws , which is shown in . Each screw of the plurality of screws are threaded into a respective threaded insert , which is also shown in .
7
15
20
25
30
35
40
40
The third embodiment is comprised of a jug , a top cap , a small bottom cap , a large bottom cap , a first seal , a second seal , and an internal receptacle . The internal receptacle can be utilized as a dry storage compartment for personal items such as keys, snacks, protein powder, tubes containing work out supplements, or liquid workout supplements as well as an ice chamber.
40
43
43
25
25
43
20
43
43
FIG. 4
FIG. 4
The internal receptacle provides a set of male threads that mate with a corresponding set of female threads placed on the large bottom cap , which is shown in . Alternatively, from the first and second embodiments, the large bottom cap has an opening that provides a second set of female threads . A small bottom cap provides a set of male threads that mate with the corresponding second set of female threads , which is also shown in .
35
43
35
25
40
20
40
25
FIG. 4
A second seal is placed at the bottom of the first set of female threads as shown in . The second seal prevents water or other liquid from leaking between the threads of the large bottom cap and the internal receptacle . The small bottom cap provides access to the internal receptacle , without having to remove the large bottom cap .
40
40
40
40
20
40
43
25
The internal receptacle could operate as an ice chamber by placing water into the receptacle and freezing the water. Accordingly, it is anticipated that the internal receptacle could have its own designated cap. In other words, it is anticipated that a third cap (not shown) can be provided. A third seal (not shown) could also be provided between the third cap and the internal receptacle , which would prevent any liquid inside the receptacle from leaking out through the small bottom cap . Once the water is frozen, the receptacle can be capped with the third cap (not shown) and threaded into the first female threads provided on the large bottom cap .
20
40
40
Alternatively, the small bottom cap could be modified to extend into the opening of the receptacle against a third seal (not shown) thereby closing the receptacle and thus preventing the potential for liquid to leak out of the receptacle.
7
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
This fourth embodiment provides features discussed in both the second embodiment and the third embodiment. Thus, the jug disclosed in the fourth embodiment is comprised of a jug , a top cap , a small bottom cap , a large bottom cap , a first seal , a second seal , an internal receptacle , at least one threaded insert , at least one pocket , and at least one screw .
50
7
40
40
This will allow a user to store personal items such as a phone or keys in a pocket on the side of the jug . This embodiment will additionally allow the user to store items in the internal receptacle or utilize the internal receptacle as an ice chamber.
While the embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, certain modifications may be made by those skilled in the art to modify the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a top isometric view of the jug, which shows the top cap and pocket that is attached to the jug with a plurality of screws.
FIG. 2
is a bottom view of the jug, which shows the bottom large cap and the bottom small cap. The interior receptacle is shown in dotted lines.
FIG. 3
is a side view of the jug, which shows the pocket secured to the side of the jug with a plurality of screws and the top cap secured to the top of the jug.
FIG. 4
FIG. 1
FIG. 4
is a cross-sectional view from , which shows the bottom large cap threaded into the bottom section of the jug, the bottom small cap threaded into the bottom large cap, and the internal receptacle threaded into the bottom large cap. additionally shows a first seal and a second seal, which help insure liquid within the jug does not leak outside through the threads of the large bottom cap. The top cap is threaded onto the top opening of the jug.
FIG. 5
FIG. 3
is a cross-sectional view from , which shows the wall of the gallon jug, the threaded insert within the wall of the jug, the pocket, and the screw that threads into the threaded insert thereby affixing the pocket to the jug. | |
intercultural relationships essayprayer to mother mary for healing of cancerPosted by on May 21st, 2021
In a culturally and racially diverse world, it is important for people to be able to live together harmoniously. Topics: Culture, Communication, Stereotype / Pages: 9 (2184 words) / Published: Jan 2nd, 2011. Jesse Tylor. Intercultural relationships are essential to our survival as a people. : The Book of Bands|Darling, Physical Therapy Clinical Performance Instruments, #e-42|APTA, Slices From a Peculiar Pie|Wayne Edward Smith able to communicate with other cultures, the world would not be able to function ef fectively. To ensure high quality of writing, the pages number is limited for short deadlines. Essay on Intercultural Communication. A Personal Reflection on Interpersonal and Intercultural Communication. and different from one another. Some of the benefits include acquiring knowledge of the world, breaking stereotypes and acquiring new skills as noted by Martin and Nakayama (p.391). It is imperative to outline the importance of sports in shaping political relations or diplomacy and also improving intercultural communication among the individuals…. With the development of social networking sites, online dating sites like eHArmony, Tinder etc., and other online communication tools, creating intercultural relationships via the internet is easier than it ever has been. 810 Words4 Pages. Continue Reading. Thank you for staying and ordering with us. However, with the advent of globalization and telecommunication components, an increased number of individuals from diverse cultures are now integrating. For example: 1. This applies perhaps in every aspect of human life- from regional and governmental treaties, internationalization of business and trade and even education at individual levels. The Advantages of an Intercultural Relationship. All the work I complete for you is guaranteed to be 100% original . We have a friendship relationship and clicked pretty well together and rather fast. A. The concept of intercultural relationships was relatively rare in the past. When conflicts occur in intercultural relations, it takes much effort from the involved parties to resolve the conflicts. When we work together we are very happy to see each other, as this is the only time we really see each other. Intercultural Relationships. Mahatma gandhi essay in hindi english why northwestern essay accepted, language and culture essay what is personal essay in english literature? Intercultural and interracial relationships spread a message of acceptance of diversity to a community. Intercultural relations capability is the degree to which people effectively adapt his/her nonverbal and verbal messages to the appropriate cultural context (Kiss 2008). Interpersonal Communication is one fundamental basis of human existence. 1. Communication between cultures is such an important aspect worldwide. This type of study augments the current research in intercultural communication, including how friendships and other relationships develop and are maintained between persons Objective: To present a comprehensive examination of an aspect of intercultural communication Use intercultural communication terminology and theory Provide compelling support (narratives, examples, facts, statistics, expert testimony and/or visuals). A person can still be associated and a part of their culture and beliefs with being exposed to another. Sample by My Essay Writer I ntercultural relationships are relations that occur between people of different cultures. thinking about communicating is guided b y some unique themes, which are related to issues, of. This reduces the prejudice and . Intercultural Communication Paper Pages: 6 (1550 words) Core Values and Intercultural Management-Nestle Pages: 11 (3201 words) Intercultural Differences Pages: 7 (1877 words) Many people question why it is important to learn Shakespeare Pages: 2 (583 words) Why Is It Important To Work To Delete Cyberbullying Essay Pages: 3 (605 words) Discuss Communication occurs between individuals who have varying degree of intimacy within each other. Intercultural Relationship Essay. View Intercultural Relationships Essay.docx from COMM 315 at Grand Canyon University. On an overall level, playing the game resulted in significant attitude change towards outgroup members. Our academic essay writers are experts Intercultural Relationships Essays at original compositions, creative writing, and literary analysis. This is where people have to be careful, and mindful of experimenting. The paper aims at analyzing the problem and coming up with strategies that can facilitate conquest over the numerous problems that might result from intercultural misunderstandings. - custom papers. As our world grows, expands and become increasingly more interconnected, the need for effective interpersonal communication . Making an employment application? for only $16.05 $11/page. It is a way of understanding their differences in order for us to learn how to respect one's individuality and promote peace in the society. Others are somewhat embarrassing, complicated, and mysterious. We as people use communication in our everyday lives. Culture is the way of life. Com 263 Intercultural Relationships Essay, Buffalo Resume Service, Professional Scholarship Essay Editor Services For Masters, Self-reflection Essay About Race 10:00 5.0 Intercultural relations has shaped the way in which people cope when change occurs , how messages are delivered across nations as well as cultures. 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PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform printing depending on the resolution by providing a fixed head in which a large number of nozzle arranged at a specified resolution are combined in a large number of rows being shifted from each other.
SOLUTION: A fixed head comprises a plurality of unit nozzles 10 each having a plurality nozzles of Y(yellow), M(magenta), C(cyan) and BK(black) arranged linearly in a row at a reference pitch of constant interval w. The unit nozzles 10 are arranged while being shifted by a specified amount P1 in the print width direction W depending on the resolution of printing and synchronized with the printing direction at the time of printing. Since printing can be performed depending on the resolution using an existing nozzle, high resolution can be dealt with quickly while reducing the manufacturing cost of head.
COPYRIGHT: (C)2000,JPO | |
Q:
SQL statement to find differences between two fields
I am trying to find the difference of 11 feet or more between two fields (Both are Double types). For example, I have a field called shape_length and another field called station_length and I want to see if there are any differences of 11 feet or more between the two, and select those differences. I think it's a simple SQL statement in the "Select By Attributes dialog in ArcGIS but I can't figure it out.
A:
In your Select by Attributes you could enter something like
abs(shape_length - station_length) > 11
which will select any feature where the difference between the two values is greater than 11. The abs is for "absolute value" so makes it a positive value for assessing against the 11.
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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional App. No. 63/251,549, filed Oct. 1, 2021, titled “Systems and Methods for Generating Visual Representations of Climate Hazard Risks,” which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
This application relates generally to climate hazard estimation, and more particularly to generating visual representations of climate hazard risks.
BACKGROUND
By many accounts, flooding is the most costly type of natural disaster. For example, 2013 Toronto floods caused over $1 billion in property damage. As climate change continues to grow in impact, it is expected that extreme weather events including flooding will increase in frequency. In many geographic locations including Ontario, Canada, pluvial flooding is the most common type of flooding event. Pluvial flooding is characterized by the inundation of the urban environment as a result of rainfall overwhelming storm water management systems. Compared to fluvial flooding (associated with watercourse or river overflows) and coastal flooding (associated with lake or ocean overflows), many territories and municipalities may be least prepared to handle pluvial flooding.
Storm driven floods along major rivers and their tributaries have resulted in loss of life and billions of dollars in damages, as well as lost productivity to thousands of homes, farms, and businesses. As climate change progresses, severe weather events that may cause devastating flooding may become more frequent. In addition to flood hazard, climate change trends can pose physical climate risks associated with other forms of extreme weather such as fire and drought.
Up-to-date, high quality flood hazard maps and maps of other climate hazards are essential for informed urban planning, climate hazard preparation, mitigation, and climate risk response efforts. In addition, up-to-date maps of risks to property due to physical climate hazards, such as risks to private sector and public sector real property, are important for similar reasons. Billions of dollars per year is spent on flood and fire claims to governmental agencies and to private insurance, which increases costs for everyone and does not solve the existing problem. Related costs for repair and often substandard insurance products sold to potential flood or fire victims amount to a negative economic cash flow that affords only limited ex post facto relief.
What is needed is technology that addresses risks of flooding and other climate hazards before the event, as opposed to measures after a climate hazard event has ravaged an area. What is needed is technology that enable users to determine which geographical regions are most likely to experience extreme weather, and which real estate assets are most at risk.
SUMMARY
What is needed is systems and methods that provide improved geographic mapping methods for flood hazard estimation and estimation of other physical climate hazards that draw from publically available data sources. What is needed is up-to-date maps of risks to property due to physical climate hazards, such as risks to private sector and public sector real properties. What is needed is high quality maps of climate hazard risks suitable for informed urban planning, hazard preparation, mitigation, and asset management.
In various embodiments, a system and method for generating visual representations of climate hazard risk identifies geographic regions associated with flood hazard risks or risks of other extreme weather events. Disclosed embodiments identify geographic regions associated with climate hazard risks using geolocation data such as geo-coordinates or postal zones. A global climate platform generates dashboards and reports providing visual representations of climate hazards and real estate assets within a selected geographic region. The global climate platform includes a climate hazard dashboard, a cloud data warehouse and a business intelligence (BI) analytics component. A climate hazard risk map may result from overlay of a map of estimated climate hazard and a map of real estate assets within the selected geographic region. Climate hazard risk dashboards and reports enable users to understand risk in different scenarios, such as projections over various time frames, physical climate hazard types, current and future time frames, and probabilities of occurrence.
In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises generating, by the computer, a first graphical user interface dashboard configured to display on a client computing device a climate hazard selection map encompassing a first geographic region; receiving, by the computer, a geo-region selection and a climate hazard parameter selection, wherein the geo-region selection defines boundary of a second geographic region within the first geographic region; and in response to receiving the geo-region selection and the climate hazard parameter selection, generating, by the computer, a second graphical user interface dashboard configured to display on the client computing device a climate hazard risk map comprising a visual representation of climate hazard risks within the second geographic region corresponding to the climate hazard parameter selection and geolocations data for a plurality of real estate assets.
In another embodiment, a system comprises a non-transitory machine-readable memory that stores a plurality of real estate asset files including geolocations data for a plurality of real estate assets, and climate hazard data; and a processor, wherein the processor in communication with the non-transitory, machine-readable memory executes a set of instructions instructing the processor to: generate a first graphical user interface dashboard configured to display on a client computing device a climate hazard selection map encompassing a first geographic region; receive a geo-region selection and a climate hazard parameter selection, wherein the geo-region selection defines boundary of a second geographic region within the first geographic region; and in response to receiving the geo-region selection and the climate hazard parameter selection, generate a second graphical user interface dashboard configured to display on the client computing device a climate hazard risk map comprising a visual representation of climate hazard risks within the second geographic region corresponding to the climate hazard parameter selection and geolocations data for a plurality of real estate assets.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure are described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures, which are schematic and are not intended to be drawn to scale. Unless indicated as representing the background art, the figures represent aspects of the disclosure.
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shows a web application architecture for a global climate platform, according to an embodiment.
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shows a backend architecture for data enrichment flow chart of geolocation data stored by a global climate platform, according to an embodiment.
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is a conceptual diagram of techniques to overlay data from a flood hazard map with data from a real estate asset map for visual representation of flood risk, according to an embodiment.
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shows visual representation of flood risk by overlaying a flood hazard map of a selected geographic region with a real estate asset map encompassing that region, according to an embodiment.
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is a view of a real estate asset map including a plurality of point locations, according to an embodiment.
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is a view of a real estate asset map including a plurality of geographic regions, according to an embodiment.
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is a view of a flood hazard selection map showing a control for selecting a geographic region for a flood hazard estimate and controls for selecting flood hazard estimation parameters, according to an embodiment.
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is a view of a flood hazard estimate map showing a flood hazard estimate based upon a geo-region selection and a climate hazard parameter selection, according to an embodiment.
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is a view of a flood hazard risk map resulting from overlay of a flood hazard estimate map with a real estate asset map in which various point locations represent geolocations of branches of a sponsoring enterprise, according to an embodiment.
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is a view of a flood hazard risk map displaying metadata from a flood hazard estimate within a real estate asset map representing geo-regions of residential mortgage assets of a sponsoring enterprise, according to an embodiment.
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is a view of summary analysis chart of flood hazard exposure of residential mortgage assets of a sponsoring enterprise, according to an embodiment.
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illustrates a method for generating visual representations of climate hazard risk, according to an embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
References will now be made to the illustrative embodiments depicted in the drawings, and specific language will be used here to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the claims or this disclosure is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and additional applications of the principles of the subject matter illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein. Other embodiments may be used and/or other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description are not meant to be limiting of the subject matter presented.
Embodiments disclosed herein apply an innovative approach to visual representation of flood hazard risks and risks of other physical climate hazards. A climate hazard risk platform employs geolocation data to determine at a very high resolution what geographical regions are most likely to experience flooding or other extreme weather. In an embodiment, the platform enables users to determine which assets are most at risk, e.g., in a portfolio of real estate assets. Users may include owners or others having an interest in real estate properties included in one or more asset portfolios.
Disclosed embodiments include a platform that encapsulates physical climate risk posed to real estate assets of interest to an enterprise. The enterprise may have a property interest, a financial interest, beneficial interest, or other in assets. Assets of interest may be included in one or more real estate asset portfolios of the enterprise. The platform can be useful to various lines of business. Assets of interest to the enterprise may include a wide range of asset types, such as office buildings, mines, farms, factories, and mortgages. Example use cases for banks and other financial institutions include sustainability strategies such as “green” pricing in mortgage lending, improving precision of a financial institution's stress testing, and risk models.
Disclosed embodiments may identify geographic regions associated with climate hazard risk using geolocation data including geo-coordinates. Disclosed embodiments may identify geographic regions associated with climate hazard risk using geolocation data that define geographic boundaries. Disclosed embodiments may identify point locations associated with climate hazard risk using geolocation data including latitude/longitude values.
Disclosed embodiments may identify geographic regions associated with flood hazard risks or risks of other extreme weather events using geolocation data including respective postal codes or collections of proximate postal codes. Such geographic regions are also herein referred to as postal zones. Disclosed embodiments may identify geographic regions associated with collections of proximate postal zones based on forward sortation area (FSA). The FSA may designate a geographical unit based on the first three characters in a Canadian postal code. All postal codes that start with the same three characters are together considered an FSA. Additionally, disclosed embodiments may identify geo-coordinates associated with centers of postal zones, and geo-coordinates defining boundaries of postal zones.
A climate hazard dashboard may display visual representations that may provide climate insights across multiple climate hazard types for any property or asset encompassed by the system. The climate hazard dashboard may generate dashboards and reports. These dashboards and reports enable users to understand risk in different scenarios, such as projections over various time frames, physical climate hazard types, current and future time frames, and probabilities of occurrence.
Disclosed embodiments include architecture for a platform that encapsulates physical climate risk across various asset portfolios. An illustrative architecture includes a cloud host system for a climate risk platform, also herein called global climate platform (“GCP”) or cloud environment. The cloud host system may be a third-party cloud. A climate engine deployed on the GCP applies geospatial modeling climate algorithms to estimate physical climate hazards associated with geographic regions. The climate engine may be a third-party application. In an embodiment, the climate engine provides an API to which GCP passes geolocation data and then receives climate hazard data for associated geographic regions or geolocations. In an example, GCP passes latitude-longitude point locations to the climate engine and receives climate hazard features for the associated point locations.
The GCP components include a cloud data warehouse. In an embodiment, the cloud data warehouse is hosted on the cloud environment and hosts large portfolio datasets. Features of the cloud data warehouse may include machine learning models for online prediction. These machine learning models may employ database queries, such as SQL queries, to retrieve and/or update data. In an embodiment, the cloud data warehouse includes in-memory analytics to perform in-place analysis.
The cloud data warehouse may include a plurality of data instances, e.g., in the form of data tables. In an example, primary data tables include branch office assets associated with branch offices of an enterprise, managed real estate associated with third party assets managed by an enterprise, and climate hazards. Data instances may include multiple instances of a given type of table, such as branch office asset tables for branch offices in U.S. and Canada, respectively. Other tables may include boundaries/coordinates/postal codes tables; e.g., tables of latitude/longitude centers of US postal codes and Canadian postal codes.
The cloud data warehouse may be enriched via offline processing jobs. In an example of data enrichment, each asset's physical location may be passed into climate engine. Data enrichment may add new tables to the cloud data warehouse. In an embodiment, data enrichment employs a cloud function to wrap around the climate engine API. For each asset, the cloud functions may receive as input an asset ID and asset geolocation data such as latitude/longitude coordinates, boundary coordinates, or postal code. Data enrichment function may employ a static geocoder dataset on the GCP to convert postal code to latitude/longitude boundary coordinates. Data enrichment may pass this data to the climate engine, possibly via multiple API calls in order to cover all scenarios, future year projections, and return periods. The function writes the results into a cloud data warehouse table for subsequent action by the Business Intelligence Analytics component.
GCP components may further include a front end, also referred to herein as a climate hazard dashboard. In an embodiment, the climate hazard dashboard incorporates interactive dashboards. Interactive dashboards may include selectable links associated with graphical user interface (GUI) objects or text elements of the dashboard. Activation of a selectable link may access a new dashboard page. Activation of a selectable link may activate a GUI control element such as a drop down list or menu.
The climate hazard dashboard integrates with the cloud data warehouse in generating visual representations of climate hazard risks. These visual representations may provide users with climate insights across multiple hazard types (flooding, wildfire, earthquake, etc.) for any property or asset encompassed by the system. For example, these visual representations may encompass a portfolio of assets of interest to a sponsoring enterprise. In an embodiment, dashboards and reports enable users to understanding risk in different scenarios, such as projections over various time frames, physical climate hazard types, current and future time frames, and probabilities of occurrence.
In an embodiment, GCP components include a business intelligence (BI) analytics component. This component acts as an intermediary between cloud data warehouse and the climate hazard dashboard. BI analytics acts on data from cloud data warehouse to perform functions such as authentication, data analytics, and construction of the climate hazard dashboard. In an embodiment, BI analytics receives data structures and business rules as inputs. In an embodiment, BI analytics includes database query builders. In an embodiment, BI analytics uses a machine learning model to construct SQL queries against a particular database. BI analytics may provide database query outputs such as query results and GUI data visualizations. In an embodiment, BI analytics component includes a dashboard tool that may be employed to build content for the climate hazard dashboard. A BI analytics dashboard tool may act upon data from cloud data warehouse data tables, including tables resulting from data enrichment, in order to build climate hazard dashboard content.
In an embodiment, the cloud based GCP communicates via a network with on-premises databases of a sponsoring enterprise. The on-premises databases store portfolio data for properties or assets to be processed by the GCP. In an example, this data includes branch operations assets, e.g., a dataset of branch offices or facilities of the enterprise, and managed real estate assets, e.g., mortgages of residential real properties. This data may include asset IDs and geolocation data for each of the assets in one or more portfolios. The on-premises databases may upload portfolio spreadsheets or data tables to the GCP to be stored by the cloud data warehouse. The system may include automated data export from the on-premises databases to the GCP, e.g., via SQL server. The system may include data enrichment functions for data received from the on-premises databases.
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shows a web application architecture for a global climate platform (GCP) . GCP includes components for estimating physical climate hazard, and for generating visual representations of climate hazard risks posed to real estate assets of interest to an enterprise. These components are hosted within a cloud environment , which may be a third party cloud. Components may include cloud data warehouse , climate engine API , BI analytics components , and front end/climate hazard dashboard .
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The GCP may be hosted on one or more computers (or servers), and the one or more computers may include or be communicatively coupled to one or more databases including databases of a sponsoring entity and third party databases. The GCP can be executed by a server, one or more server computers, authorized client computing devices, smartphones, desktop computers, laptop computers, tablet computers, PDAs, and other types of processor-controlled devices that receive, process, and/or transmit digital data. The GCP can be implemented using a single-processor system including one processor, or a multi-processor system including any number of suitable processors that may be employed to provide for parallel and/or sequential execution of one or more portions of the techniques described herein. The GCP may perform these operations as a result of central processing unit executing software instructions contained within a computer-readable medium, such as within memory. In one embodiment, the software instructions of the system are read into memory associated with the GCP from another memory location, such as from a storage device, or from another computing device via communication interface. In this embodiment, the software instructions contained within memory instruct the GCP to perform processes described below. Alternatively, hardwired circuitry may be used in place of, or in combination with, software instructions to implement the processes described herein. Thus, implementations described herein are not limited to any specific combinations of hardware circuitry and software.
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In an embodiment, cloud environment incorporates containers, packages of software that contain all of the necessary elements to run in any environment. Containers virtualize the operating system and run anywhere, from a private data center to the public cloud. In an embodiment, cloud environment may run containers that can be invoked via requests or events.
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In various embodiments, GCP extracts information from internal databases, and information from external third party information services. Databases are organized collections of data, stored in non-transitory machine-readable storage. In an embodiment, the databases may execute or may be managed by database management systems (DBMS), which may be computer software applications that interact with users, other applications, and the database itself, to capture (e.g., store data, update data) and analyze data (e.g., query data, execute data analysis algorithms). In some cases, the DBMS may execute or facilitate the definition, creation, querying, updating, and/or administration of databases. The databases may conform to a well-known structural representational model, such as relational databases, object-oriented databases, and network databases. Database management systems include MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access, Oracle, SAP, dBASE, FoxPro, IBM DB2, LibreOffice Base, and FileMaker Pro. Database management systems also include NoSQL databases, i.e., non-relational or distributed databases that encompass various categories: key-value stores, document databases, wide-column databases, and graph databases.
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In various embodiments, a cloud based GCP communicates via network with on-premises databases of a sponsoring enterprise, also called enterprise portfolio databases. The on-premises databases store portfolio data for properties or assets to be processed by the GCP. On-premises databases may upload portfolio spreadsheets or data tables to the GCP to be stored by the cloud data warehouse . The system may include automated data export from the on-premises databases to the GCP, e.g., via SQL server. The GCP may include data enrichment functions for data received from the on-premises databases.
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In an embodiment, BI analytics API may be a collection of RESTful operations , , . REST is acronym for REpresentational State Transfer. These operations enable GCP to employ various database functions in GCP applications, such as creating, reading, updating, and deleting records within a resource. BI analytics backend data instance may create a node project file Node.js via cloud run. The node project file is also herein referred to as backend data instance file or simply data instance. Backend data instance can read data from cloud data warehouse and/or climate engine API , which may be accessed via backend service account. Backend data instance can access enterprise access geolocation data from cloud data warehouse , and can access climate hazard data from climate engine API .
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BI analytics secret manager may employ key security practices for database security. REST API's may retrieve API keys to secure access between the BI analytics application and the cloud data warehouse . BI analytic dashboards creates customized visualizations for use in the GCP's front end/climate hazard dashboard . BI analytics dashboards may be customized for compatibility with front end/climate hazard dashboard .
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Front end/climate hazard dashboard creates a frontend instance based upon backend data instance , e.g., via front end web API served with node project file Node.js . The front end of GCP communicates via network with a user device . These communications are regulated by network control , which may include HTTP load balancer and authentication components. In an embodiment, user device connects to GCP via identity aware proxy (IAP) authentication .
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Networks , may employ various modes of communications such as wireless communications, wired communications, and combinations of the same. In various embodiments, GCP communications over networks , may use any of the following communication protocols, among others: TCP-IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol); UDP (User Datagram Protocol); VoIP (Voice over IP); SIP (Session Initiation Protocol); Telnet; SSH (Secure Shell protocol), CAP (Common Alerting Protocol), HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), or SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol).
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shows a data analytics backend architecture for data enrichment of geolocation data stored by GCP . In an embodiment, the data enrichment flow chart feeds a large volume of geolocations data into climate engine API , and writes climate engine API results into a cloud data warehouse database for later analysis. Data enrichment architecture may be hosted on a third party cloud . At a manual user operation or automated data export uploads a spreadsheet or data file to data storage bucket . This upload triggers a virtual machine (VM) ingress pipeline with I/O via web interface .
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A first branch of the data ingress flow chart writes a spreadsheet CSV or an exported database file, without modifications, as a new table in the cloud data warehouse .
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A second branch of the data ingress flow chart initiates a function call for each row of an ingested spreadsheet or data file to route data to cloud function point-based enrichment module . Enrichment module sends data to climate engine API with one API call for each dataset. Dataset(s) may include single API call, or multiple calls to cover multiple scenarios, projection time periods, or return periods. Climate engine API enriches point-based geolocation data with climate hazard data and returns results to cloud function point-based enrichment module . The pipeline writes the results to a climate table of cloud data warehouse .
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Data enrichment pipeline may incorporate other data enrichment functions for geolocations data. In an embodiment, pipeline converts a postal code to latitude/longitude boundary using static geocoder data stored in the system.
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Once geolocations data and enriched geolocations data have been written into tables in cloud data warehouse , these data may be analyzed and used to generate dashboards and reports. In an embodiment, the pipeline applies BI analytics dashboard to create climate hazard risk maps and charts that are embedded in enterprise-customized frontend . A user may access frontend to generate visual representations of climate hazard risk, e.g., on demand or via scheduled reports.
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In an example, a financial services enterprise fed about 400,000 geolocations of mortgages of interest to the enterprise into the pipeline of . Geolocation data included postal code data and point-based geolocation data. Ingested geolocation data was enriched using a flood hazard estimation database, then analyzed using flood risk algorithms to determine that about 7,700 mortgages were located in areas of very high flood risk.
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As shown in the conceptual diagram of , flood risk analysis may use geographic mapping techniques to overlay data from a flood hazard map with data from a real estate asset map to create visual representations of flood risk . Flood hazard map may include low flood hazard geo-regions, medium flood hazard geo-regions, and high flood hazard geo-regions. Real estate asset map may display low real estate value geo-regions, medium real estate value geo-regions, and high real estate value geo-regions. Based on mapping flood hazard geolocation data in map to real estate asset value geolocation data in map , flood risk map may include low flood risk geo-regions, medium flood risk geo-regions, and high flood risk geo-regions.
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shows mapping based risk analysis to overlay a flood hazard map of a selected geographic region with a real estate asset map encompassing that geographic region. In an embodiment, GCP may generate an overlay of flood hazard estimation data for flood hazard map with geo-location data for real estate asset map with via data inputs , to backend data instance . GCP may generate a flood hazard risk map representing an overlay of these data sets via frontend data instance . In an embodiment, the flood hazard risk map provides spatial visualization of geo-regions having relatively high probabilities of flooding. In an embodiment, the flood hazard risk map displays metadata describing flood hazard risks associated with given geographic regions or geo-locations associated with real property assets.
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shows a real property asset map including a plurality of latitude-longitude point locations . In an embodiment, point locations represent geolocations of branches of a sponsoring enterprise, such as bank branches.
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shows a real property asset map with a plurality of geographic regions . In an embodiment, geographic regions are postal zones. Geographic regions may be defined by geo-locations of boundaries . Geographic regions include visual coding representing real estate asset values. A legend includes a set of five discrete visual patterns that represent asset values ranging from highest asset value geo-regions to lowest asset value geo-regions within map . Individual visual patterns , , , , and correspond to sub-ranges of real estate asset value used in visual coding of geo-regions in the map. Legend also includes a heat map . In a heat map, a gradient of hues or intensity values may represent a range of asset values. Here, the heat map is a grayscale palette and is not used in visual coding of geo-regions in . In an embodiment, asset values represent values of residential mortgage assets within respective geo-regions. For example, geo-region may include a high residential mortgage asset value representing relatively high-value vulnerability to climate hazard risk.
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shows a flood hazard selection map including controls for selecting and generating a flood hazard estimate. Map enables a user to select a geo-region selection and a climate hazard parameter selection. Map includes a GUI control for selecting a geo-region selection, e.g., latitude and longitude boundaries of a geographic region in which a flood hazard estimate is to be generated. Controls select a climate hazard parameter selection, e.g., parameters of a flood hazard estimate to be generated. Details of controls for selecting parameters of a flood hazard estimate are described with reference to . Touch button generates a flood hazard estimate map based on the selections.
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illustrates a flood hazard estimate map generated based upon a geo-region selection and a climate hazard parameter selection. Map displays a flood hazard estimate within latitude and longitude limits of geographic region box . Controls for selecting parameters of the flood hazard estimate include a flood hazard type control to indicate type of flooding to be included in the estimate. For example, flood type control may be used to select fluvial flooding (river floods), pluvial flooding (surface water floods), or coastal flooding (associated with lake or ocean overflows). Flood probability control may be used to select probability that flood will happen over a current or future time frame. For example, a 1 in 10 year flood has a probability of happening once every 10 years. Refresh button may be used to generate a new map based on entered or updated parameters. Clear button may clear entered parameters.
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Other controls may be accessed via search tab and map versions tab . In an embodiment, map versions tab may be used to select among different versions of a map or to select among different maps within a set of maps. In various embodiments, map versions tab may access control elements such as drop down lists or menus to select one or both climate hazard estimate maps and real estate asset maps. Map versions tab may be used to select climate hazard risk maps or to customize such maps, e.g., based on overlays of climate hazard estimate maps and real estate asset maps.
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Map displays geographic areas of flood hazard within geo-region box . Map indicates flood hazard geo-regions using boundaries of increased thickness. Depth chart legend shows a visual coding scheme representing different depths of flood hazard. Legend includes a set of five discrete visual patterns that representing flood hazard depths ranging from 0 m to 2.0 m+. Individual visual patterns , , , , and correspond to sub-ranges of flood hazard depth used in visual coding of flood hazard geo-regions. Legend also includes a heat map . In a heat map, a gradient of hues or intensity values may represent different depths of flood hazard. Here, the heat map is a grayscale palette and is not used in visual coding of geo-regions in .
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Map illustrates flood hazard risk map resulting from overlay of a flood hazard estimate map with a real property asset map in which various point locations represent geolocations of branches of a sponsoring enterprise. Flood hazard risk map shows point locations of branches juxtaposed with areas of flooding hazard within selected geographic region . Map enables users to visualize branches of a sponsoring enterprise that are more vulnerable to flood hazard risk defined by selected flood hazard estimation parameters. Flood hazard risk map is an example of a climate hazard risk map providing spatial visualization of geo-regions having relatively high probability of climate hazard.
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is a representative view of a flood hazard risk map resulting from overlay of a flood hazard estimate map with a real property asset map representing geo-regions of residential mortgage assets of a sponsoring enterprise, according to an embodiment. Flood hazard risk map is an example of a map displaying metadata describing flood hazard risks associated with given geographic regions or geo-locations associated with real estate assets. Flood hazard risk map shows geo-regions corresponding to respective FSAs. Map displays number boxes representing number of residential mortgage assets exposed to flooding in each FSA. Map is interactive, enabling display of a drop down menu showing flood risk data for a selected FSA. Flood risk data menu displays an overall flood risk level of 4—very high—for a selected FSA.
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shows a chart of summary analysis of flood hazard exposure of residential real estate (RRE) mortgage assets of a sponsoring enterprise. is a columnar chart of number of mortgage assets for various levels of flood hazard risk exposure. (level 2—medium flood exposure level), (level 3—high flood exposure level), and (level 4—very high exposure level), are columns representing number of mortgages at various levels of flood exposure risk. A user can select a column to examine in further detail the column for summary of the property types exposed. Table 1150 displays data for property types exposed for level 3—high flood exposure level including column —property type exposed, and column — number of RRE assets.
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shows execution steps of a method for generating visual representations of climate hazard risk. The illustrative method shown in comprises execution steps , , , and . However, it should be appreciated that other embodiments may comprise additional or alternative execution steps, or may omit one or more steps altogether. It should also be appreciated that other embodiments may perform certain execution steps in a different order; steps may also be performed simultaneously or near-simultaneously with one another.
1202
In an embodiment of step , the computer receives input or selection of a real estate asset file including geolocations data extracted from a real estate assets portfolio database of an enterprise. An input or selected real estate asset file may further include data enrichment of the geolocations data extracted from the real estate assets portfolio database of the enterprise. In some embodiments, a user may input or select a file. In other embodiments, the computer may be configured to input or select the file, or the computer may be programmed to obtain the data from the file from a local or remote location.
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In an embodiment of step , the first graphical user interface dashboard displays a geo-region selection control that defines outer latitude and longitude boundary lines of the second geographic region. A climate hazard parameter selection may include one of a plurality of climate hazard types, and a probability that the one of the plurality of climate hazard types will happen over a selected time frame. In an embodiment in which the climate hazard risks include flood hazard risks, the climate hazard parameter selection may include one of fluvial flooding, pluvial flooding, or coastal flooding.
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In an embodiment of step , the method further includes the step, in response to receiving the geo-region selection and the climate hazard parameter selection (e.g., a manual or automatic selection), of generating a third graphical user interface dashboard configured to display on the client computing device a climate hazard estimate map. The climate hazard estimate map provides a visual representation of climate hazard within the second geographic region corresponding to the geo-region selection and the climate hazard parameter selection. At step , the climate hazard risk map may include an overlay of the climate hazard estimate map and a real estate assets map comprising a visual representation of the geolocations data for at least a portion of the plurality of real estate assets within the second geographic region.
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In an embodiment of step , the visual representation of climate hazard risks within the second geographic region includes a spatial visualization of geo-regions having relatively high probability of climate hazard. In an embodiment of step , the visual representation of climate hazard risks includes metadata describing climate hazard risks associated with given geographic regions or geo-locations within the second geographic region associated with one or more of the plurality of real estate assets.
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In various embodiments of step , the geolocations data for the plurality of real estate assets include one or more of geo-coordinates, geolocations data that define geographic boundaries, and geolocations data including latitude and longitude values. In various embodiments, the geolocations data for the plurality of real estate assets includes one or more of geolocations data associated with postal codes, geolocations data associated with collections of proximate postal zones, geo-coordinates associated with centers of postal zones, and geo-coordinates defining boundaries of postal zones.
Foregoing method descriptions and the process flow diagrams are provided merely as illustrative examples and are not intended to require or imply that the steps of the various embodiments must be performed in the order presented. The steps in the foregoing embodiments may be performed in any order. Words such as “then,” “next,” etc. are not intended to limit the order of the steps; these words are simply used to guide the reader through the description of the methods. Although process flow diagrams may describe the operations as addition, the order of the operations may be rearranged. A process may correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, and the like. When a process corresponds to a function, the process termination may correspond to a return of the function to a calling function or a main function.
The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of this disclosure or the claims.
Embodiments implemented in computer software may be implemented in software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, or any combination thereof. A code segment or machine-executable instructions may represent a procedure, a function, a subprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a software package, a class, or any combination of instructions, data structures, or program statements. A code segment may be coupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit by passing and/or receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents. Information, arguments, parameters, data, etc. may be passed, forwarded, or transmitted via any suitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, etc.
The actual software code or specialized control hardware used to implement these systems and methods is not limiting of the claimed features or this disclosure. Thus, the operation and behavior of the systems and methods were described without reference to the specific software code being understood that software and control hardware can be designed to implement the systems and methods based on the description herein.
When implemented in software, the functions may be stored as one or more instructions or code on a non-transitory computer-readable or processor-readable storage medium. The steps of a method or algorithm disclosed herein may be embodied in a processor-executable software module, which may reside on a computer-readable or processor-readable storage medium. A non-transitory computer-readable or processor-readable media includes both computer storage media and tangible storage media that facilitate transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A non-transitory processor-readable storage media may be any available media that may be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such non-transitory processor-readable media may comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage, or other magnetic storage devices, or any other tangible storage medium that may be used to store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that may be accessed by a computer or processor. Disk and disc, as used herein, include compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk, and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media. Additionally, the operations of a method or algorithm may reside as one or any combination or set of codes and/or instructions on a non-transitory processor-readable medium and/or computer-readable medium, which may be incorporated into a computer program product.
The preceding description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments described herein and variations thereof. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter disclosed herein. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the following claims and the principles and novel features disclosed herein.
While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed, other aspects and embodiments are contemplated. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims. | |
Located in southeastern Florida, Biscayne sits in the tropical and stunning waters of the Biscayne Bay. Biscayne is a water wonderland comprised of coral reefs, lush islands and clear water. Although just a short jaunt from bustling downtown Miami, Biscayne gives visitors an escape from the city and a chance to get back to nature. Take a boat ride and observe dolphins or go snorkeling in a reef. No matter what you choose, Biscayne is the perfect location for a relaxing adventure. You will soon realize these are not the flashy, developed beaches of South Beach.
Since its beginnings in 1980, Biscayne is a paradise for those enamored with crystal clear waters. Although the park is 173,000 acres, approximately 95 percent of the park is water. This isn't to say that mammals don't live here. Manatees, shrews, whales, otters and opossums all reside in the confines of Biscayne, so be sure to keep an eye out!
In order to properly explore the park, the best transportation is by boat. Kayaking are canoeing are the favorite choice for those day trippers. Biscayne harbor more than just wildlife. The waters are home to a variety of shipwrecks, with dates spanning from 1878 to 1966, that can be explored. Old tall ships that once sailed across the water with ease now sit at the bottom of an ocean landscape. The park is home to the National Park Service's only underwater archaeological trail. Scuba Divers can explore history and wildlife simultaneously.
The park features glass bottom boat trips and snorkeling for those interested in staying closer to the surface while seeing what life underwater looks like. Biscayne is home to the starting point of the third largest coral reef in the world and provides crucial habitat for a variety of marine life. 500 species of fish swim in Biscayne, mostly in the coral reef. With sea turtles, spiny lobsters, giant land crabs, stingrays, sharks and seahorses, underwater exploration is sure to be an unforgettable experience.
However, it is important to realize that planning is key for visiting Biscayne. Due to the marine location of the park, most areas are only accessible by taking a guided boat tour and certain activities will fill up fast. Camping is available in the park but located on islands only reachable by boat. Whether you bring your own, rent or take a guided tour, expect to spend a fair amount of time away from land. With only a mile of road in the park and no bridges, transportation options are limited. | http://www.ohranger.com/biscayne/news/2011/water-wonderland-biscayne-national-park |
Student: Trevor Looney, University of Oklahoma
Trevor was presented with a 2018 Slag Cement Project of the Year Award in the Category of Research. More information about the ceremony can be found here.
Presentation Slides Below:
TLooneyResearchPrese...
Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) is a relatively recent advancement in cementitious composite materials with mechanical and durability properties which far exceed those of conventional concrete. UHPC has been successfully used in a number of applications related to connection of precast concrete bridge components due to its superior bond development characteristics with steel reinforcement, ease of placement, and long-term durability compared to conventional concrete. Joints replaced or connections made using this material will have better durability, better resistance to impacts and abrasion, and will allow for a smaller quantity of material to be used while still obtaining adequate load transfer between connected components. Using UHPC allows for small, simple connections without the need for post-tensioning (when connecting precast elements) or large amounts of field-cast concrete (Graybeal 2010). Joints cast using UHPC also tend to behave more like monolithic construction than typical field-cast connections. The long-term benefits of using UHPC are evident, but commercially available proprietary mixture formulations are very expensive and mix design using local materials is much more complicated than for conventional concrete. The material characteristics, complicated mix design, and need for specialized mixing procedures require detailed specifications and quality control testing currently not included in the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) Standard Specifications (2009). For this reason, ODOT commissioned the University of Oklahoma to develop a mix design using materials easily obtained in the state of Oklahoma that can be used as an additional option for joint material in existing and newly constructed bridges. The performance of the developed mix designs were then compared the commercially available UHPC, Ductal®, which is a very effective and highly tested product.
The first step of this research project was the development of the UHPC mix designs. The UHPC mix designs developed in this study use a combination of cement and supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) with differing particle sizes to create the binder paste since the water-cementitious materials ratio (w/cm) is so low, a portion of the cementitious material is not hydrated and therefore acts as an aggregate. Two different cement types, Type I and Type III, were used from two different manufacturers. The Type I cement was produced by Ash Grove. The Type III cement was produced by Buzzi Unicem. The Class C fly ash used was produced by Headwaters Resources. The slag cement was produced by LafargeHolcim. The silica fume used in this study was undensified and was produced by Norchem. The product VCASTM 140 White Pozzolans was produced by Vitro Materials. The w/cm for each mix evaluated was set to 0.2. With such a low water content, a high-range water reducer (HRWR) was used to improve workability. The HRWR chosen for this study was Glenium 7920, produced by BASF. As with most UHPC, no coarse aggregate was used in these mix designs. The fine aggregate used in this study was masonry sand meeting ASTM C33 and provided by Metro Materials. Lastly, UHPC requires the use of steel fibers to counter the brittle behavior of the concrete. Stainless steel, Grade 430, Flex-Ten® steel fibers produced by D&C Supply Co., Inc were used in this study. The steel fiber dosage was 2% by volume.
The mix development process was conducted in steps to evaluate specific alterations to mix designs separately. In each series, the mix proportions were altered based on which material the series was evaluating. Each mix design was evaluated based on flow and compressive strength. The flow was tested using ASTM C1437, and the compressive strength was tested using cubes following ASTM C109. The initial series set a starting point by evaluating two mix designs, Q and NE, from the study conducted by Graybeal evaluating local materials in various northern regions of the United States (2013), along with a third unpublished mix design developed by Dr. Royce Floyd. The remaining mix designs were created by adjusting w/cm, the aggregate- cementitious material ratio (agg./cm), and adjusting relative proportions of the cement and SCM. Several iterations were conducted altering the amount and proportion of each cementitious material, and the Modified Andersean and Anderson particle packing model to develop mix designs (Funk and Dinger, 1994). The particle packing study showed that the chemical composition of the mix designs was the main driver behind strength development. With this knowledge, the focus shifted to looking to various proportions of cement and different supplementary cementitious materials to determine the most effective combination. The mix design process went through iterations labeled A through J, with the final mixes developed in iteration J. The three best mixes were J3, J8, and J13, with J3 and J13 containing slag cement at weight proportions of 30 and 40% of total cementitious content, respectively. Incorporation of the slag cement helped improve not only the strength of the mix designs, but also improved workability and reduced the typical “stickiness” of the mixes commonly associated with UHPC containing silica fume. The highest strength mix of the three, mix J3, contained 30% slag cement.
Once the mixes were narrowed down to three, full property characterization was conducted on each mix. The compressive strength with and without fibers was determined following a ASTM C1856, using 3 in. x 6 in. cylinders and a loading rate of 150 psi/s. The effect of heat curing on compressive strength was also determined. The modulus of rupture of 3 in. x 3 in. x 9 in. prisms with and without fibers was determined following ASTM C1609 for the fiber reinforced specimens and ASTM C78 for the unreinforced specimens. The modulus of elasticity of the mixes without fibers was determined using 4 in. x 8 in. cylinders following ASTM C1856. Lastly, abrasion tests were conducted following ASTM C944 on the developed mix designs and Ductal® subjected to heat curing. The results showed that heat curing at 180°F for 36 hours allowed for the developed UHPC mix designs to reach its 28-day compressive strength and heat curing was more effective when the concrete was reinforced with steel fibers. Mix J3 had the highest compressive strength of the whole study. The modulus of rupture was found to exceed 2000 psi for all mixes, with the two mixes containing slag cement (mixes J3 and J13) obtaining the highest strengths. The modulus of elasticity was similar for all three mix designs and compared well to equations developed based on testing of Ductal® (Russel and Graybeal, 2013). Lastly, the abrasion resistance of Ductal® was higher than the developed mix designs, but Ductal® requires that the top portion of pours be ground off, which is not required for the mixes developed.
Next, the bond strength developed between UHPC cast against a Class AA standard ODOT concrete mix design was evaluated. Concrete bond testing was conducted with Ductal® and the best performing mix design developed, mix J3. Modulus of rupture style specimens with dimensions based on ASTM C78 (6 in. x 6 in. x 20 in.) were cast for evaluating the effect of different concrete surface preparations and interface orientations on bond between UHPC and the base concrete. Twelve full-length Class AA specimens were cast, which were cut in half at angles of 90°, 60°, and 30° from the horizontal after 28 days of curing. The cut surfaces of the half specimens were then prepared using two different surface preparations, wire brushing and sandblasting. The remaining twelve specimens were cast as half-specimens to allow sugar (a natural set retarder for concrete curing) to be placed on the mold prior to casting to create an exposed aggregate surface. These were simply power washed to remove the loose paste on the exterior of the specimen. A set of exposed aggregate specimens was cast for each angle, and one set was cast with a shear key. The UHPC was cast and cured at room temperature for 28 days prior to testing. Test results showed that the bond between Ductal® and the Class AA concrete was strong enough to cause failure in the base concrete in all angles and surface preparations except for one specimen. The failure of the J3 specimens was predominantly at the interface, but the stress levels were near to the flexural strength of the base concrete in most tests except the exposed aggregate surface preparation. The exposed aggregate specimen results were much lower than the other surface preparations due to the base concrete pulling water from the UHPC due to capillary action and creating a weakened surface in the UHPC directly beside the bond interface. This was due to the base concrete being completely dry prior to placing the UHPC, which is the worst-case surface prep. The removal of water from the concrete is more of an issue with UHPC due to its substantially low w/cm.
Lastly, the UHPC mix designs were tested as a joint between two conventional concrete panels. Six 4 ft x 4 ft by 8 in. thick slab specimens were cast using a reinforcing bar arrangement based on the slab reinforcement in the SH-3 bridge over the N. Canadian River in Pottawatomie Co., Oklahoma (NBI No. 19276). The slab specimens were reinforced to allow the testing to examine development length, bond strength, and flexural capacity. Two panels were connected by a 12 in. wide UHPC joint with approximately 5 in. of each bar left exposed to provide dowels into the joint. This bar extension is based on the shorter anticipated development length of 8db (5 in. for this case) embedment recommended by FHWA for mild steel reinforcing bars (Graybeal 2014). This arrangement was intended to represent the steel that will be exposed in the field after an existing joint is sawn out to be replaced. Each joint was heat cured at approximately 180°F. Two of the composite slab joint specimens were tested in static flexure and the third was set up to be loaded cyclically for 5,000,000 cycles. All tests were conducted using an 8 ft span with neoprene bearing supports and a single point load placed immediately next to the slab joint. Slab joint testing was conducted with Ductal® and the best performing mix design developed, mix J3. Each slab specimen performed as a monolithic structure, with he failure of the static-loaded slabs caused rupture of the reinforcing bars at the interface between the UHPC and base concrete. This indicates the shortened development length is adequate to develop the full strength of the bar. Also, the J3 mix performed as well as Ductal® in this test in terms of ultimate moment capacity and overall stiffness.
References
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Please enter this 5 digit unlock code on the web page. | https://www.slagcement.org/resources/news/articleid/196/research-evaluation-of-ultra-high-performance-concrete-mix-designs-for-use-in-bridge-connections-and-repair.aspx |
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Temporary Trail and Raptor Closures Details
Click here for the trail closures. Some are M-F, some are 24/7. These impact the Bear Canyon/Fern Canyon regions primarily:
flatironsclimbing.org/tempo…
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Click herebouldercolorado.gov/osmp/cl… for the latest in raptor closures.
DescriptionFinding this route is pretty easy. Follow the directions to the Slab, then hike to the far right edge. As you look up, you'll see the 'wing-like flake' almost 400' up. The route generally follows the right side of the rock up to & past this bizarre formation. As with most Flatiron routes, there are many variations possible. For the most part pro is scarce, be creative.
P1: From the base, look for a large blocky rock jutting out of the Flatiron about 175' up and maybe 60' from the right edge. Picking your best route, aim for this area. The start seemed the 'hardest' maybe 5.4 friction. After about 40' the rock becomes more featured.
P2: Aim for the base of the 'wing-flake'. You'll cross over the gully that is the first portion of Diagonal (or at least I think it is). For some added excitement, at this gully traverse right towards the very edge. There is a cool but short crack (maybe 5.6 - easier options are available) that provides good pro & a couple fun moves. If you do this beware of rope drag. There is a small ledge just below the wing-flake that provides an adequate belay at about 175'. Note: From below it's hard to tell you're right at the base of the weird flake.
P3: Rossiter's guide says to go 'under' the wing & back to the arete, I pulled straight up to pass it on climber's left. Follow easy climbing to the end of the rope & belay.
P4: A short pitch - a cool and easy (4th class?) ramp that leads to the summit ridge. Quite a few belay options.
At this point you've got several descent options (see the route Diagonal for the full scoop). For the quickest descent, look about 75' from the (climber's) right edge of the summit for a 2 bolt anchor / rap station. One bolt is a spinner, and there is a small mess of webbing, but it works. 100' rap.
Note that this route shares quite a bit of ground with 'Diagonal' - also described in this database.
3 Comments
Thanks for the comment
Slow down, you've reached your posting limit
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Merlin Grand Junction
5.5 R
I second the very run out comment. If you start right up the slabby stuff expect 100 feet of 5.4 to 5.5 runout. After that, the climbing eases and the pro increases. The finger crack is also 5.7 even if it is only for 20 or so feet. Oct 1, 2006
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James Garnett Bellingham, WA
5.5
Fun climb, but with some provisos. First, the first pitch is very run out. I got in one good piece, and that one was almost all the way to the first belay (maybe 20'-30' shy of it). I would say that warrants an "s" rating. A question on that first pitch, too: it is clearly the hardest thing on the route unless you do the 5.6 variant---so how is it a 5.5 climb if the crux is 5.4?
Second, there are two large blocky rocks jutting out that could act as the first belay; the first one is nice, comfortable, but only slightly past 30 meters up from our start at the high point of the north side. The second, which is definitely right at the end of a 60 meter rope, is a nasty belay for which I had no decent pro other than slinging a horn., and which is just plain uncomfortable. If you want to climb all the way up to it, you should bring the #5 Camalot (but I'd recommend doing it because it makes the next belay up easier).
Third, the rappel is shorter: about 20' of our 60 meter rope was on the ground at the base when nobody was weighting the line. We were concerned about a 100' rappel with a 60 meter rope and tied rappel knots in the end, but it ended up being unnecessary.
Finally, the rap bolts themselves are right on the edge of the summit ridge, at the base of a wall leading up to the summit. The "75' from the right edge of the summit" really got me confused; just keeping heading up and looking over the edge and you'll see them.
Now, whining aside, this was indeed a fun climb. Excellent slabby goodness on the first pitch! I'm only giving it one star, because it's not spectacular and I wouldn't go back unless my partner really wanted to do it; there's closer-in slabby goodness in the Flatirons that is more appealing. | https://www.mountainproject.com/route/105756877/northeast-arete |
An IDictionary that contains the context information associated with the installation.
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The installation does not contain a ServiceProcessInstaller for the executable.
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The system could not generate a handle to the service.
Normally, you will not call the methods on ServiceInstaller within your code; they are generally called only by the install utility. The install utility automatically calls the Install method during installation. It backs out failures, if necessary, by calling Rollback on the object that generated the exception.
An application's install routine maintains information automatically about the components that were already installed, using the project installer's Installer.Context. This state information, passed into Install as the stateSaver parameter, is continuously updated as the ServiceProcessInstaller instance and each ServiceInstaller instance is installed by the utility. It is usually unnecessary for your code to modify this state information explicitly.
The ServiceProcessInstaller associated with your project installation class installs information common to all ServiceInstaller instances in the project. If this service has anything that separates it from the other services in the installation project, that service-specific information is installed by this method.
To install a service, create a project installer class that inherits from the Installer class, and set the RunInstallerAttribute attribute on the class to true. Within your project, create one ServiceProcessInstaller instance per service application, and one ServiceInstaller instance for each service in the application. Within your project installer class constructor, set the installation properties for the service using the ServiceProcessInstaller and ServiceInstaller instances, and add the instances to the Installers collection.
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It is recommended that you use the constructor for adding installer instances; however, if you need to add to the Installers collection in the Install method, be sure to perform the same additions to the collection in the Uninstall method.
For all classes deriving from the Installer class, the state of the Installers collection must be the same in the Install and Uninstall methods. However, you can avoid the maintenance of the collection across the Install and Uninstall methods if you add installer instances to the Installers collection in your custom installer class constructor.
Windows 98, Windows 2000 SP4, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Starter Edition
The .NET Framework does not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see System Requirements. | https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.serviceprocess.serviceinstaller.install(v=vs.80).aspx |
Submitted by Flossie Sellers on
Lawsuits are pending in Texas regarding whether or not non-veterinarians should be allowed to float horse's teeth.
Proposed legislation would create state-licensed "equine dental technicians" who must operate under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian, similar to licensed human dental assistants or hygienists, who operate under the supervision of a human dentist.
They would have to complete a board-approved training program, pass a jurisprudence examination, be recommended by two equine veterinarians, and meet continuing education requirements.
Equine dental technicians would be allowed to engage in the practice of equine dentistry under the immediate or direct supervision of a veterinarian. A grandfather clause would be included to allow individuals who can prove that they have been practicing at a high level of proficiency for a number of years to dispense with the educational requirement.
A task force has been working on crafting legislation on how lay practitioners could be allowed to continue work in a way that would protect the public and animals according to Chris Copeland, JD, executive director of the Texas VMA.
"We are hoping to find some sort of equitable solution to the problem. This has been going on here well over six or seven years. We would really like to find a solution that works for everyone involved, most importantly for the public and their animals. I don't think what we have today is adequately protecting the public and animals," Copeland said.
About the author
As an animal lover since childhood, Flossie was delighted when Mark, the CEO and developer of EquiMed asked her to join his team of contributors.
She enrolled in My Horse University at Michigan State and completed a number of courses in everything related to horse health, nutrition, diseases and conditions, medications, hoof and dental care, barn safety, and first aid.
Staying up-to-date on the latest developments in horse care and equine health is now a habit, and she enjoys sharing a wealth of information with horse owners everywhere.. | http://equimed.com/news/health/horse-dentistry-disputes |
City facilities are open as of August 2, 2021 for public in-person services, with the exception of fire stations that will remain closed to the public until further notice. Many city services are available online. Find more information as well as resources for businesses and residents here:
Juanita Bay Park abounds with flora and fauna and features views of Forbes Creek Wetland, Juanita Beach and Juanita Bay. Juanita Bay Park is a Green Kirkland Partnership restoration area.
The restroom building is typically open March through October. A portable toilet is available from approximately November to March. There is a small parking lot at this park.
Join Eastside Audubon for nature and bird interpretive walks.
Donating funds to a park is a wonderful way to show appreciation for Kirkland, to honor someone special, or to commemorate a milestone. Park benches and tables are the most popular items to donate, however other donations are possible as well, like those for trees or landscape, for general park maintenance, towards public art or other site amenities (i.e. water fountains), and even towards the tools and equipment needed to keep Kirkland’s parks beautiful.
Learn more about park donations
From 1932 to 1975 Juanita Bay Park was the nine-hole Juanita Golf Course. Legendary American pro Joanne Gunderson Carner learned to golf on the Juanita links. Carner, a Kirkland native, won two U.S. Women's Open and five U.S. Women's Amateur titles, earned 43 wins on the LPGA Tour and three LPGA Player of the Year Awards. Her accomplishments are memorialized in the Kirkland Plaza of Champions in Marina Park.
Use the following guides to learn more about the plants and animals found in the park:
Please note the waters surrounding Juanita Bay Park are a protected wildlife habitat area. You may not enter the Juanita Bay wildlife habitat area, whether by boat (motorized or non-motorized), raft, floatation device, or swimming per KMC 14.16.050. The boundaries of the wildlife habitat area are marked by warning signs posted on buoys. See a map of the designated wildlife area(PDF, 416KB).
2201 Market St, Kirkland 98033 View Map
2201 Market St ,
Kirkland 98033
Open sunrise to 11 PM
110.8 acres
Juanita Bay Designated Wildlife Area(PDF, 416KB)
Kirkland Park Rules
Park Guide(PDF, 24MB)
Please see the Park Guide for a list of accessible amenities at this park.
Green Kirkland Partnership
Learn about volunteer stewardship opportunities in natural areas at this park.
Volunteer Opportunities
Learn about volunteer opportunities at this park.
COVID-19 Coronavirus Information
Trash, Recycling + Compost
See how Development Services is responding to COVID-19. | https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Parks-and-Community-Services/Online-Parks-Guide/Juanita-Bay-Park?lang_update=637699474475814720 |
19:13:07 <nahamu> implementation detail question: do you guys use ZFS compression on the pools storing the objects?
19:14:58 <mcavage> yes, we do.
19:15:45 <mcavage> that's why I don't compress anything, pretty much ever -- it's performance-wise faster to just let ZFS compress than to much with gzip/bzip2.
19:16:43 <nahamu> is the billing still based on the uncompressed sizes?
19:17:40 <mcavage> yeah, it is. this is one of those "we're going to figure out what we want to do" after the data is in for a while. I.e., either we make it explicit and cheaper for *you* or just amortize it and make it cheaper for *everybody* depending on what "real world" usage comes in at after a while.
19:18:12 <nahamu> that's an interesting point.
19:18:54 <mcavage> but yes right now you would pay less if you pre-zipped.
19:18:56 <nahamu> charging everyone less per byte because your costs are lower thanks to compression does make sense.
19:19:23 <mcavage> but, you'll pay more for compute time on it, since you've got to now uncompress it on a "premium" cpu.
19:21:49 <nahamu> so for people doing bulk storage and rare access (and perhaps no compute jobs) compressing saves money, but if you're "querying" it a lot, letting ZFS handle it saves CPU time and could conceivably save money.
19:23:38 <mcavage> i think the answer is really case by case, since there's obviously a breaking point.
19:23:48 <mcavage> or tipping point, however you want to say it.
19:28:02 <nahamu> when you create a reduce job with no map step, does Manta have to mount the objects into zones to stream them off, or can it just request them from the object store system and stream them into the reduce job?
19:29:25 <nahamu> is there some trickery somewhere to get a zone with both the twitter 1GB file and your tarball?
20:22:35 <mcavage> nahamu: what do you mean?
20:22:41 <mcavage> "is there some trickery somewhere to get a zone with both the twitter 1GB file and your tarball?"
20:27:28 <nahamu> the 1GB file, having been passed in on stdin is the file that's at rest on the server where the zone gets launched and the file hyperlofs mounted in.
20:28:02 <nahamu> the other asset has to be downloaded into the zone from wherever it lives (likely "elsewhere").
20:28:17 <mcavage> assume assets always have to get "brought in"
20:28:23 <mcavage> so you want them to be "smallish"
20:29:01 <nahamu> I think I understand now.
20:29:29 <nahamu> until I found the relevant line in the docs I was confused how you'd hyperlofs in two files that could be on different servers.
20:29:44 <mcavage> assets are just pulled over.
20:30:03 <nahamu> before or after the clock starts ticking on the billing for the zone time?
20:30:25 <mcavage> I believe before, but I don't remember 100%: dap?
20:32:11 <nahamu> I did have one other question though, before I noticed the map step, it occurred to me to wonder what happens if you only added a reduce step.
20:32:37 <nahamu> would it effectively just mget all the objects and stream them into the reducer?
20:33:02 <mcavage> so mfind /... | mjob create -r ... ?
20:36:10 <dap> The assets are brought in after the clock starts ticking, I believe.
20:36:29 <mcavage> k, so i was wrong.
20:38:08 <nahamu> all the more reason to keep them small.
20:38:15 <dap> Actually, I'd like to move the asset-downloading code into the lackey. It's really intended to be sugar.
21:09:43 <bixu> Just saw a weird thing from 'mlogin' - session cleaned itself up and exited (I didn't give 'mlogin' any arguments) - is that normal?
21:10:11 <dap> bixu: That usually means there was an error. It spits out a jobid — try "mjob errors $jobid"
21:12:38 <bixu> LeftWing: You're welcome.
23:27:03 <rmustacc> IIRC, you should.
23:27:22 <bixu> rmustacc: I was seeing the command appear to hang.
23:27:23 <rmustacc> Adding a -f for the file.
23:27:38 <rmustacc> Probably expecting to read from stdin per no file specified.
23:27:45 <bixu> Haha - oops.
23:29:11 <ryancnelson> oh, you're adding that header so we'll serve it up later? your application wants a content-md5: header?
23:29:32 <bixu> ryancnelson: Maybe I'm misunderstanding what I read.
23:29:33 <mcavage> also - that md4 won't match.
23:29:53 <mcavage> but yes manta will validate for you.
23:30:07 <bixu> mcavage: Yes, that's what I want to do - ask for validation.
23:30:16 <LeftWing> Do we have a flag to do the MD5 for -f?
23:33:14 <bixu> Yes - I noticed that.
23:33:23 <mcavage> so it will retry 3x b/c md5 failure is a valid reason to retry.
23:36:30 <mcavage> sweet -- btw, is the intent to check for "manta bitrot" or just that "it changed via something else"?
23:37:02 <mcavage> you can always HEAD /$you/stor/$object and get the MD5 that corresponds.
23:37:09 <bixu> mcavage: I'm using something like mmd5 to see if I have already uploaded the file.
23:37:28 <LeftWing> You should use preconditions!
23:37:37 <bixu> LeftWing: Fork me.
23:38:33 <bixu> This is just a by-product of me finding shell script rat kings in the basement of our virtual infrastructure.
23:39:00 <mcavage> echo "[$log_date] $targetdir/$file already exists and has the same checksum as $2. Skipping..."
23:39:07 <mcavage> with mmd5 $targetdir/$file - fwiw.
23:39:15 <bixu> Yup. I'm doing that now.
23:39:17 <mcavage> unless you don't trust manta, then in which case, go ahead and do that.
23:39:39 <bixu> I'm not trusting Manta when I check to see if I should upload the file or not.
23:39:43 <bixu> But that's it.
23:39:55 <mcavage> yeah, mmd5 will be *a lot* faster.
23:40:00 <bixu> Will do that.
23:41:07 <mcavage> k, i have to cut out, hope that helped.
23:41:43 <bixu> Very much. Thanks!
23:42:04 <bixu> Another building spared my fiery wrath. | http://logs.libuv.org/manta/2013-07-23 |
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
2. Background Art
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(Embodiment 1)
(Embodiment 2)
(Embodiment 3)
(Embodiment 4)
(Embodiment 5)
(Embodiment 6)
(Embodiment 7)
(Embodiment 8)
(Embodiment 9)
(Embodiment 10)
(Embodiment 11)
(Embodiment 12)
(Embodiment 13)
(Embodiment 14)
The present invention relates to a charged-particle beam apparatus employing a charged particle beam such as an electron beam or ion beam. In particular, the invention relates to a charged particle beam apparatus suitable for obtaining high-resolution images with a minimum loss of resolution in cases where the charged particle beam is inclined with respect to a sample.
In charged particle beam apparatuses such as those represented by the scanning electron microscope, a sample is scanned with a narrowly focused beam of charged particles in order to obtain desired information from the sample (such as a sample image). In such charged particle beam apparatuses, higher resolution is continuously becoming possible in recent years, and there is a need to obtain inclined images of a sample by inclining the charged particle beam with respect to the sample. An inclined sample image can be generally obtained by tilting the sample stage. However, it is more practical to tilt the charged particle beam relative to the sample than to mechanically tilt the sample stage, from the viewpoint of preventing a field of view error at higher magnification ratios, or increasing the rate at which inclined sample images are obtained. Hence the need to tilt the charged particle beam.
55-48610 U (1980
JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2-33843 A (1990
JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2000-348658 A
JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2001-15055 A
WO 01/33603
JP Utility Model Publication (Kokai) No. 55-48610 U (1980
JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2-33843 A
1990
JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2000-348658 A
JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2001-15055 A
WO 01/33603
JP Utility Model Publication (Kokai) No. ) and ) disclose techniques for inclining a charged particle beam while maintaining the high resolution condition of the system. These techniques cause a charged particle beam to be incident on an objective lens off the axis thereof, and utilize the focusing effect (turning-back effect) of the objective lens. discloses a technique employing deflecting means in two stages for deflecting a charged particle beam in opposite directions in the focusing magnetic field of an objective lens. The technique corrects an off-axis chromatic aberration that is produced when the charged particle beam is tilted off the axis of the objective lens. discloses that deflecting means for passing the charged particle beam off the axis of an objective lens is disposed closer to an electron source than the objective lens. Chromatic aberrations (off-axis chromatic aberrations) produced off the axis of the objective lens are corrected by a Wiener filter disposed closer to the electron source than the objective lens, thus reducing the deterioration in resolution when the charged particle beam is inclined. Further, discloses a technique whereby a Wiener filter for generating a perpendicular electromagnetic field in arbitrarily chosen two-dimensional directions perpendicular to the optical axis is disposed on the optical axis closer to an electron source than an objective lens in order to correct for off-axis chromatic aberrations in arbitrary directions.
Patent Document 1: )
Patent Document 2: ()
Patent Document 3:
Patent Document 4:
Patent Document 5:
JP Kokai 2000-348658 A
JP Kokai 2000-348658
The method disclosed in , in which the charged particle beam is deflected in two stages in the magnetic field of the objective lens, has the problem that high resolution cannot be obtained when adapted to those systems in which the objective lens magnetic field is caused to leak towards the sample in order to obtain high resolution. Such systems are becoming increasingly common in recent years. The aforementioned problem is due to the fact that the distance between the magnetic poles of the objective lens and the sample has to be increased so that the two-stage deflection means can be disposed therebetween. This problem is addressed by , in which four magnetic poles for the objective lens are provided, and in which the combination of the magnetic poles can be switched depending on whether the purpose is high-resolution observation or the inclination of the charged-particle beam. In this method, however, as the number of magnetic poles is increased, axial misalignment among magnetic poles or other various problems (such as magnification error, axial misalignment, variations in scan conditions, etc.) that could be encountered when switching is performed must be solved before the method can be used in actual applications.
JP Kokai 2000-348658
Generally, when a charged particle beam is tilted using the off-axis properties of an objective lens, not only an off-axis chromatic aberration but also a coma aberration are produced. While the off-axis chromatic aberration is dominant at low acceleration voltages, the coma aberration is more of a concern at relatively high acceleration voltages. Therefore, eliminating the coma aberration is important when the acceleration voltage is relatively high. Even at lower acceleration voltages, the coma aberration becomes large if the angle of inclination of the charged particle beam is increased, making it impossible to obtain high resolution even if the off-axis chromatic aberration is corrected. Thus, in order to obtain high-resolution images in cases where the charged particle beam is inclined at large angles, the off-axis chromatic aberration and the coma aberration must both be corrected at the same time. However, there is no consideration given in to this issue, resulting in the problem of lowered resolution at high inclination angles.
JP Kokai 2001-15055 A
In the technique disclosed in , the off-axis chromatic aberration produced as a charged particle beam is incident on an objective lens off the axis thereof is corrected using a Wiener filter. However, a Wiener filter is not capable of removing the coma aberration, resulting in a decrease in resolution in cases where the charged particle beam is inclined at large angles or when the charged particle beam is inclined at relatively high acceleration voltages.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Now referring to , the aberrations produced when the charged particle beam is inclined towards a sample using the turning-back effect of an objective lens will be described. A beam 4 is deflected by a beam inclination angle control coil 51 at the object point of an objective lens 7 such that the beam is incident on the objective lens 7 off its axis. As a result, the beam 4 is inclined towards a sample 10 due to the focusing effect of the objective lens 7. In this case, as the object point as seen from the objective lens 7 is not shifted, the field of view does not move even if the beam is inclined. By correcting the shift in the field of view when the beam is inclined, the beam in principle satisfies the deflection condition depicted in .
i
i
Δ
=
⋅
⋅
⋅
+
⋅
⋅
w
i
C
si
C
si
ε
i
w
i
ʹ
w
i
ʹ
w
‾
i
ʹ
w
i
ʹ
ε
i
=
Δ
V
V
i
w
i
ʹ
:
w
‾
i
ʹ
:
w
i
ʹ
i
w
si
C
ci
C
V
i
V
The aberration of the objective lens that is produced when the object point is on the optical axis consists of spherical aberration and on-axis chromatic aberration. The aberration (Δw) produced by the objective lens can be expressed by a polynomial (1) shown below as a function of a trajectory inclination (w') on the sample. The trajectory curve is expressed as a differential equation of a trajectory function w (w=x+j·y, where j is the imaginary unit of a complex number) with respect to an optical axis z. A differential equation with respect to z will be herein indicated by a prime ("'").
wherein
Δ : Aberration on the image surface
Inclination of trajectory towards the image surface
Complex conjugate of : Spherical aberration coefficient on the image surface
: On-axis chromatic aberration coefficient on the image surface
Δ : Variations in beam energy
: Beam energy on the image surface
i
t
f
w
i
ʹ
w
t
ʹ
w
f
ʹ
=
+
w
‾
i
ʹ
w
‾
t
ʹ
w
‾
f
ʹ
=
+
In the case where the beam is inclined by the turning-back effect of the objective lens, the trajectory curve (w') towards the sample can be expressed as the sum of a trajectory curve (w') corresponding to the beam inclination angle and a trajectory curve (w') associated with the beam opening angle as follows:
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
i
t
Δ
=
⋅
⋅
(
+
)
⋅
(
+
)
+
⋅
⋅
(
+
)
w
i
C
si
C
ci
ε
i
w
t
ʹ
w
f
ʹ
+
w
t
ʹ
w
f
ʹ
w
‾
t
ʹ
w
‾
f
ʹ
w
t
ʹ
w
f
ʹ
shows the condition of the beam in a trajectory curve coordinate system (w'-coordinate system) on the sample. The horizontal axis in indicates the gradient of the trajectory in the X-direction on the image surface, while the vertical axis indicates the gradient of the trajectory in the Y-direction. As the gradient of the trajectory is indicated by a differential equation with respect to z, the description has primes, as mentioned above. The circular figure (beam region) in indicates the region of a set of trajectories of the primary beam having various gradients produced by the focusing effect of the lens. In , the center of the focusing trajectories of the beam corresponds to the beam gradient (w'), so that the circular figure is displaced from the center of the coordinate system (xi', yi') in accordance with the beam gradient. The aberration when the beam is inclined can be obtained by substituting equations (3) and (4) into equation (1) as follows:
Δ
=
⋅
+
⋅
⋅
(
+
)
w
i
C
si
C
ci
ε
i
w
f
ʹ
w
f
ʹ
w
‾
f
ʹ
w
‾
t
ʹ
w
f
ʹ
w
f
ʹ
w
t
ʹ
w
f
ʹ
w
‾
f
ʹ
w
t
ʹ
w
‾
t
ʹ
w
f
ʹ
w
t
ʹ
w
t
ʹ
w
‾
f
ʹ
w
t
ʹ
w
t
ʹ
w
‾
t
ʹ
+
+
+
+
+
2
2
w
t
ʹ
w
f
ʹ
Equation (5) can be expanded to give equation (6), in which it will be seen that Seidel aberrations (spherical aberration, coma aberration, astigmatism, field curvature aberration, and distortion) and on-axis and off-axis chromatic aberrations are produced by the beam inclination (whereby the trajectory is displaced off axis) in the system in which originally there was only an on-axis aberration.
C
si
⋅
⋅
⋅
w
f
ʹ
w
f
ʹ
w
‾
f
ʹ
C
si
⋅
w
f
ʹ
w
f
ʹ
w
f
ʹ
w
t
ʹ
w
f
ʹ
w
‾
f
ʹ
⋅
⋅
+
⋅
⋅
2
C
si
⋅
w
t
ʹ
w
t
ʹ
w
‾
f
ʹ
w
t
ʹ
w
‾
t
ʹ
w
f
ʹ
⋅
⋅
+
2
C
si
⋅
⋅
⋅
w
t
ʹ
w
t
ʹ
w
‾
t
ʹ
C
ci
ε
i
⋅
⋅
w
t
ʹ
C
ci
ε
i
⋅
⋅
w
f
ʹ
These aberrations are listed below.
t
f
i
Of the items in the above list, terms containing w' are aberrations produced by the inclination of the beam, which are coma aberration, astigmatism, field curvature aberration, distortion, and off-axis chromatic aberration. However, only those aberrations that contain the beam focusing angle (w') and the function ε of the energy width ΔV (namely, coma aberration, astigmatism, field curvature aberration, and off-axis chromatic aberration) cause a deterioration in resolution when the beam is inclined.
t
Of those aberrations that cause deterioration in resolution when the beam is inclined, astigmatism can be easily corrected by means of a conventional astigmatism correction coil. The field curvature aberration, which is a focusing error due to beam inclination, can be eliminated by correcting the focusing condition (objective lens current). Further, the distortion, which is due to the displacement of the irradiated position caused by the beam inclination, can be eliminated by correcting the irradiated position in accordance with the beam inclination. Thus, the remaining aberrations to be considered are the off-axis chromatic aberration and the coma aberration, which both increase in proportion to the angle of beam inclination (w').
The object of the invention is to provide a charged particle beam apparatus capable of eliminating the above-described off-axis chromatic aberration and coma aberration in a practical and easy manner. This will allow the beam to be inclined at large angles while preventing the lowering of resolution.
To achieve this object of the invention, the apparatus according to the invention includes at least two stages of focusing lenses including an objective lens, and deflection means for causing the beam to be incident on each of the lenses off the axis thereof. In accordance with the invention, the off-axis aberrations (off-axis chromatic aberration and/or coma aberration) produced by the lenses are made to cancel each other out, so that the sum of the off-axis aberrations produced by the lenses is zero or close to zero. The apparatus further includes means for controlling astigmatism in accordance with the beam inclination angle. This allows the astigmatism, which varies depending on the beam inclination angle, to be corrected. Preferably, the focal length of the objective lens may be controlled in accordance with the beam inclination angle. Further preferably, an irradiated position error may be corrected in accordance with the beam inclination angle.
Preferably, an aperture mechanism may be provided in place of the deflection means so that the passage of the beam can be limited. This causes the beam to be incident on the lenses effectively off the axes thereof.
In accordance with the invention, inclined observation images can be obtained with high resolution without the influences of off-axis chromatic aberration, coma aberration, or astigmatism, even when the beam is inclined by the focusing effect of the objective lens.
Fig. 1
shows an example of the scanning electron microscope according to the present invention.
Fig. 2
shows the principle of inclining the beam using the focusing effect of an objective lens.
Fig. 3
shows the distribution of trajectory gradient when the beam is inclined.
Fig. 4
shows the principle of correcting aberrations when the beam is inclined.
Fig. 5
shows the condition of the focus position of the focusing lens for simultaneously correcting the chromatic aberration and the coma aberration.
Fig. 6
shows a flowchart of the process of inclining the beam in a manner such that the chromatic aberration and the coma aberration can be corrected simultaneously.
Fig. 7
shows the structure of a focusing lens composed of four magnetic poles.
Fig. 8
shows the principle of correcting the chromatic aberration produced by the objective lens, through the effect of a plurality of lenses when the beam is inclined.
Fig. 9
shows the relationship between the current in a beam inclination angle control coil and the current in an astigmatism correction coil for correcting an astigmatism produced by the inclination of the beam.
Fig. 10
shows an example of trajectory control for correcting an aberration in the objective lens.
Fig. 11
shows an example of trajectory control for correcting an aberration in the objective lens.
Fig. 12
shows an example of trajectory control for correcting an aberration in the objective lens.
Fig. 13
shows an example of trajectory control in a case where the beam is inclined through the creation of a crossover (focusing point) of the beam between two stages of lenses.
Fig. 14
shows an example of trajectory control in a case where the beam is inclined without creating a crossover (focusing point) of the beam between two stages of lenses.
Fig. 15
shows an example of trajectory control in a case where the beam is inclined without creating a crossover (focusing point) of the beam between two stages of lenses where an aperture plate is disposed therebetween.
Fig. 16
shows an example of trajectory control in a case where a primary electron beam is inclined by the objective lens while applying a negative voltage to the sample.
Fig. 17
shows an embodiment in which a thin film sample is irradiated with a beam inclined by an objective lens to obtain a scanning transmission electron (STEM) image.
Fig. 18
shows an example of trajectory control in a case where two focusing lenses are disposed between an aperture and an objective lens.
Fig. 19
shows the overall structure of a scanning electron microscope according to another embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 20
illustrates the trajectory of a primary electron beam in detail.
Fig. 21
shows changes in correction condition k when a crossover of a second focusing lens is changed.
Fig. 22
shows changes in aperture shift amount δ when the crossover of the second focusing lens is changed.
Fig. 23
shows changes in the amount of each aberration and the final beam size when a crossover of the second focusing lens is changed.
Fig. 24
shows an embodiment in which the position of the crossover is not coincident with the position of an aligner coil.
Fig. 25
shows a flowchart of the process of inclining the beam.
The invention will be hereafter described by referring to the drawings, in which parts with similar functions are designated with similar numerals to avoid redundant explanations.
Fig. 1
shows a diagram of a scanning electron microscope as an example of the invention. A voltage is applied across a cathode 1 and a first anode 2 by a high-voltage control power supply 20 controlled by a computer 40. A primary electron beam 4 is drawn from the cathode 1 with a certain emission current. An acceleration voltage is applied across the cathode 1 and a second anode 3 by the high-voltage control power supply 20 under the control of the computer 40. The primary electron beam 4 emitted by the cathode 1 is accelerated by the acceleration voltage before arriving at a lens system in a subsequent stage. The primary electron beam 4 is then focused by a focusing lens 5 controlled by a lens control power supply 21. After unwanted regions are eliminated from the primary electron beam with an aperture plate 8, the beam is focused on a sample 10 as a minute spot by a focusing lens 6 controlled by a lens control power supply 22 and by an objective lens 7 controlled by an objective lens control power supply 23. The objective lens 7 may be of any desired type, such as an in-lens type, out-lens type, or snorkel (semi in-lens) type. Alternatively, a retarding type may be employed, whereby the primary electron beam is decelerated by applying a negative voltage to the sample. Preferably, each of the lenses may be formed by an electrostatic lens comprised of a plurality of electrodes.
The primary electron beam 4 is made to scan the sample 10 two dimensionally by a scanning coil 9 controlled by a scanning coil control power supply 24. A secondary signal 12 such as secondary electrons emitted by the sample 10 as it is irradiated with the primary electron beam proceeds above the objective lens 7 where the secondary signal is separated from primary electrons by a perpendicular electromagnetic field generator 11 for secondary signal separation. The secondary signal is then detected by a secondary signal detector 13. The signal detected by the secondary signal detector 13 is amplified by a signal amplifier 14, transferred to an image memory 25, and is then displayed on an image display device 26 as a sample image.
Deflection coils 51 are disposed in two stages at the same location as the scanning coil 9. The position of the primary electron beam 4 incident on the objective lens can be controlled two dimensionally by the deflection coils 51 under the control of an inclination control power supply 31 such that the object point of the objective lens is the point of deflection. Thus, the beam can be inclined with respect to the optical axis of the objective lens. An astigmatism correction coil 53 is disposed near the focusing lens 6 and is controlled by an astigmatism correction power supply 33 in accordance with the degree of beam inclination. Other deflection coils 52 are disposed in two stages between the focusing lens 6 and the aperture plate 8. The position of the primary electron beam 4 incident on the focusing lens 6 can be controlled two dimensionally by an aberration control power supply 32 such that the object point of the focusing lens 6 is the point of deflection. In addition to the primary electron beam position control signal for making the object point of the objective lens to be the point of deflection, a control signal can be caused to flow into the deflection coils 51 for two dimensionally controlling the position of irradiation of the sample by the primary electron beam. Thus, an irradiated position error can be corrected in accordance with the beam inclination conditions.
The sample 10 can be transported by the sample stage 15 in at least two directions (X and Y directions) in a plane perpendicular to the primary electron beam. Various instructions can be entered via an input device 42 concerning, for example, image acquisition conditions (such as scan speed and acceleration voltage), beam inclination conditions (such as the direction and angle of inclination), the output of images, and the storage of images in a storage device 41.
Fig. 1
Fig. 4
An embodiment of the present invention for correcting an off-axis chromatic aberration produced when the beam is inclined in the scanning electron microscope shown in will be described by referring to , which shows a principal portion of the microscope.
1
ε
1
=
Δ
V
V
1
The primary beam 4 is deflected by the deflection coils 52 (to be hereafter referred to as aberration control coils) such that the object point of the focusing lens 6 is the point of deflection. As a result, an aberration with the same property as that obtained when the beam is inclined can be produced by the focusing lens 6. When the beam energy at the image point (crossover point) of the focusing lens 6 is V, the parameter of the energy width corresponding to equation (2) is expressed by
f1
w
ʹ
f
1
M
a
-
1
w
f
ʹ
=
⋅
When the angular magnification of the objective lens is Ma, the focusing angle (w') of the beam at the image point of the aberration correction lens is given by
t1
t
1
s1
c1
w
ʹ
t
1
w
t
ʹ
=
⋅
k
Δ
M
M
k
M
=
⋅
⋅
+
⋅
⋅
⋅
⋅
+
⋅
⋅
⋅
⋅
w
1
C
s
1
C
c
1
ε
1
C
c
1
ε
1
M
a
-
3
w
f
ʹ
w
f
ʹ
w
‾
f
ʹ
M
a
-
2
M
a
-
1
w
t
ʹ
w
t
ʹ
w
‾
t
ʹ
+
+
+
k
w
‾
t
ʹ
w
f
ʹ
w
f
ʹ
w
t
ʹ
w
f
ʹ
w
‾
f
ʹ
+
2
2
+
w
t
ʹ
w
‾
t
ʹ
w
f
ʹ
w
t
ʹ
w
t
ʹ
w
‾
f
ʹ
k
2
w
t
ʹ
M
a
-
1
w
f
ʹ
Further, when the ratio between a beam inclination angle (for aberration correction) w' by the focusing lens 6 and a beam inclination angle w' by the objective lens 7 is expressed using k as follows,
the amount Δw of aberration produced by the focusing lens 6 that appears in the eventual focusing point is given by
where M is the optical magnification of the objective lens, C is the spherical aberration coefficient of the focusing lens 6, and C is the on-axis chromatic aberration coefficient of the focusing lens 6.
C
c
1
ε
1
C
c
1
ε
1
⋅
⋅
+
⋅
⋅
⋅
M
k
⋅
=
w
t
ʹ
0
k
=
-
C
ci
ε
i
⋅
M
⋅
⋅
C
c
1
ε
1
Thus, the beam inclination condition (condition k) of the focusing lens 6 for canceling the off-axis chromatic aberration produced by the objective lens 7 is given by equation (18) from equation (17).
Fig. 4
Although the right-side member of equation (18) has a negative sign, the value of k becomes positive because the optical magnification value M is a negative value in the configuration of . For example, when the value of equation (18) is 0.2, the beam should only be inclined by the focusing lens 6 by an angle 0.2 times the angle of inclination of the beam by the objective lens 7. As the angle of inclination of the beam by the objective lens 7 is proportional to the current flowing in the deflection coils 51 (to be hereafter referred to as a beam inclination angle control coil), it is possible to preset the relationship between the current in the beam inclination angle control coil 51 and the corresponding angle of inclination of the beam by the objective lens 7 by registering the relationship in the storage device 41. Further, as the angle of inclination of the beam by the focusing lens 6 is proportional to the current in the aberration control coil 52, it is possible to preset the relationship between the current in the aberration control coil 52 and the corresponding angle of inclination of the beam by the focusing lens 6 by registering the relationship in the storage device 41, for example. Thus, based on the preset conditions and the value of equation (18), the beam inclination angle control power supply 31 and the aberration control power supply 32 can be controlled by the computer 40 such that the proportional relationship in current between the beam inclination angle control coil 51 and the aberration control coil 52 satisfies the condition k in equation (18). If the sign of k in equation (18) becomes negative, this means that the focusing lens 6 inclines the beam in the opposite direction to the direction of inclination of the beam by the objective lens. In such a case, the polarity of the current in the aberration correction coil 52 is opposite to that in the beam inclination angle control coil 51.
+
⋅
⋅
⋅
=
M
k
C
si
C
s
1
M
a
-
2
0
k
=
-
M
a
2
⋅
C
si
M
⋅
C
s
1
The condition for canceling the coma aberration is obtained by equation (20) from equation (19).
In this case, the value of k is generally different from that in equation (18), so that, if the value of k in equation (20) is selected, equation (18) would not be satisfied, resulting in the development of a chromatic aberration as the beam is inclined. This is due to the fact that, because of the different shapes of the objective and focusing lenses, the ratio in magnitude between the chromatic aberration and the coma aberration produced when the beam is inclined by the objective lens 7 does not correspond to that between the chromatic aberration and the coma aberration produced when the beam is inclined by the focusing lens 6.
In the present embodiment, when the off-axis chromatic aberration is dominant at low acceleration voltages below 5 kV, for example, the beam inclination angle control coil 51 and the aberration control coil 52 are controlled in tandem such that the condition of equation (18) can be satisfied. On the other hand, under conditions where the acceleration voltage exceeds 5 kV, the coma aberration becomes dominant. Thus, in these conditions, the beam inclination angle control coil 51 and the aberration control coil 52 are controlled in association with one another such that the condition of equation (20) is satisfied. The boundary acceleration voltage between the chromatic aberration dominance and the coma aberration dominance is not limited to 5 kV, as the voltage depends on the spherical aberration coefficient and the on-axis chromatic aberration coefficient of the objective lens, as well as the energy width of the primary electron beam. The optimum control condition of the aberration control coil 52 is proportional to the beam inclination angle. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, appropriate conditions for specific beam inclination angles are preset, and the beam inclination angle control coil 51 and the aberration control coil 52 are controlled by determining the association condition therebetween through calculating the control condition for a given beam inclination angle.
In cases where the off-axis chromatic aberration and the coma aberration have the same degree of influence when the beam is inclined, or when the beam inclination angle is large, such as 5° or more, for example, it is necessary to correct the off-axis chromatic aberration and the coma aberration at the same time.
M
⋅
⋅
=
M
a
V
i
V
1
1
C
c
1
C
s
1
C
ci
C
si
=
⋅
M
2
In order to correct the off-axis chromatic aberration and the coma aberration at the same time, equations (18) and (20) must have the same value for k. To satisfy this condition, conditions such as the optical magnification (lateral magnification) of the objective lens must be set. These conditions are given by equation (22), which is derived from a relational expression (21) well known in electronic-optical theories.
Fig. 5
2
ci
si
cl
sl
Equation (22) can be satisfied by setting the focus position of the focusing lens 6 under certain conditions. Specifically, the value of M increases as the focus position of the focusing lens 6 is shifted towards the objective lens, and the value decreases as the focus position is moved away from the objective lens. Thus, as shown in , in which the vertical axis indicates A (=M(C/C)-(C/C)) and the horizontal axis indicates the focus position of the focusing lens 6, a focus position where A=0 can be found. This focus position is a condition that satisfies equation (22), and that focus position can be determined experimentally or by simulation.
k
=
-
C
si
ε
i
⋅
M
3
⋅
C
s
1
V
1
V
i
Using the relationship in equation (21), we derive
from equation (20), which gives the optimum control condition for the aberration control coil 52.
In the present embodiment, the excitation condition for the focusing lens 6 is set such that the relationship of equation (21) is satisfied, while the beam inclination angle control coil 51 and the aberration control coil 52 are controlled in conjunction with each other such that the relationship of equation (23) is satisfied.
Fig. 6
Now referring to a flowchart of , a control flow for simultaneously correcting the chromatic aberration and the coma aberration will be described.
Initially, a focusing position of the focusing lens 6 for realizing a value of M that allows equation (22) to be satisfied is obtained in advance by simulation or experiment, and the obtained value is registered in the storage device 41 (step 11). Then, a value of k that satisfies equation (23) is calculated in advance and registered in the storage device 41 (step 12). Preferably, the value of k may be obtained in advance by experiment or simulation.
A relationship between the angle of inclination of the beam by the objective lens 7 and the current in the beam inclination angle control coil 51 is obtained in advance by experiment or simulation and registered in the storage device 41 (step 13). A relationship between the angle of inclination of the beam by the focusing lens 6 and the current in the aberration control coil 52 is obtained in advance by experiment or simulation and is registered in the storage device 41 (step 14). Then, based on the value of k that satisfies equation (23), a relationship between the current in the beam inclination angle control coil 51 and that in the aberration control coil 52 is obtained and registered in the storage device 41 (step 15).
Then, the computer 40 sets the current for the beam inclination angle control coil 51 based on the relationship registered in step 13 and the beam inclination angle (step 16). The computer 40 further sets the current for the aberration control coil 52 corresponding to the beam inclination angle control coil 51 based on the relationship registered in step 15 (step 17).
t
t
Fig. 9
I
sx
=
×
+
×
+
×
I
sx
1
I
sx
0
-
I
sx
2
I
sx
0
-
I
sx
3
I
sx
1
I
sx
2
I
sx
0
-
-
-
I
x
I
y
I
x
0
I
y
0
I
x
I
x
0
2
I
y
I
y
0
2
I
sy
=
×
+
×
+
×
I
sy
1
I
sy
0
-
I
sy
2
I
sy
0
-
I
sy
3
I
sy
1
I
sy
2
I
sy
0
-
-
-
I
x
I
y
I
x
0
I
y
0
I
x
I
x
0
2
I
y
I
y
0
2
In Embodiment 3, the astigmatism correction coil and the objective lens current are further controlled in accordance with the beam inclination. As will be seen from equation (9), the astigmatism produced by the inclination of the beam increases in proportion to the square of the beam inclination angle (w'). The beam inclination angle (w') is proportional to the current in the beam inclination angle control coil 51. Thus, in the present embodiment, the operating conditions of the astigmatism corrector 53 for correcting astigmatism as shown in are preset by registering them in the storage device 41, for example, with respect to a plurality of predetermined conditions for the current in the beam inclination angle control coil 51. The astigmatism produced by the inclination of the beam is given as the difference between the amount of astigmatism correction (Isx0, Isy0) at zero beam inclination angle (when the current in the beam inclination angle control coil 51 is zero) and the amount of astigmatism correction at a given beam inclination angle. Thus, the astigmatism correction currents for the condition where the current for the beam inclination angle control coil 51 is (0, 0), and for predetermined current conditions (Ix0, Iy0) are preset in the storage device 41 as (Isx0, Isy0) at (Ix, Iy) = (0, 0), (Isx1, Isy1) at (Ix, Iy) = ((Ix0, 0), (Isx2, Isy2) at (Ix, Iy) = (0, Iy0), and (Isx3, Isy3) at (Ix, Iy) = (Ix0, Iy0). Based on these preset values, the computer 40 controls the current (Isx, Isy) for the astigmatism correction coil 53 in conjunction with a given current (Ix, Iy) for the beam inclination angle control coil 51 in the following manner:
Δ
Δ
Δ
=
+
I
o
I
01
I
02
I
x
I
x
0
2
I
y
I
y
0
2
By this control, the astigmatism correction coil 53 is set such that astigmatism can be automatically corrected when the beam inclination angle is controlled by setting the current for the beam inclination angle control coil 51. Further, a focusing current (objective lens current) error ΔIgo1 that occurs when the current (Ix, Iy) for the beam inclination angle control coil 51 is changed from (0, 0) to (Ix0, 0), and a focusing current error ΔIo2 that occurs when (Ix, Iy) is changed from (0, 0) to (0, Iy0) are registered in the storage device 41. Using these registered values, the computer 40 controls a focusing current correction value ΔIo with respect to a given current (Ix, Iy) for the beam inclination angle control coil 51 as follows:
By this control, the focusing error can be automatically corrected even when the beam inclination angle is controlled by setting the current for the beam inclination angle control coil 51.
Fig. 7
shows the fourth embodiment in which the focusing lens 6 is composed of two lenses. In order to produce an aberration that cancels the coma aberration produced by the objective lens due to the beam inclination in the focusing lens, which is disposed closer the electron source than the objective lens, the spherical aberration in the focusing lens must be increased. This is because, as shown by equation (23), the contribution (aberration correction amount) of the spherical aberration in the focusing lens to the final point of focus decreases in proportion to the cube of the optical magnification (M<1) of the objective lens. Therefore, it is desirable to use a focusing lens with a small magnetic pole opening size and with a small gap, so that a large spherical aberration can be obtained when the beam is inclined. However, a lens with a large spherical aberration is disadvantageous for high-resolution observation purposes. Thus, in the present embodiment, a lens 61 with a small geometric aberration, such as spherical aberration, is used in combination with a lens 62 with a large geometric aberration, so that high resolution applications and the beam inclining function can be realized simultaneously in a compatible manner.
In the present embodiment, the lens 61 (having magnetic poles with a large opening diameter) and the lens 62 (having magnetic poles with little gap with the opening diameter) with a large geometric aberration can be switched depending on purposes. Namely, the high-resolution lens 61 with a small geometric aberration is used for high-resolution observation purposes, while turning off the lens 62 with a large geometric aberration. On the other hand, the lens 62 with a large geometric aberration is used in cases where the beam is inclined, while turning off the high-resolution lens 61. The axial misalignment caused by the switching of the magnetic poles can be solved by providing the aberration control coil 63 with an additional function as an alignment coil for correcting the axial misalignment.
While in the above-described embodiment the aberration produced by the objective lens due to the beam inclination is corrected by another lens, it is also possible to use two or more lenses for correcting the aberration in the objective lens.
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
For example, the chromatic aberration produced by the objective lens upon inclination of the beam can be corrected using a plurality of lenses. Referring to , the chromatic aberration produced when the beam is inclined by the objective lens consists of X and Y components corresponding to the direction of the inclination of the beam. This aberration is produced not only in the objective lens but also in any focusing lens as long as the beam is inclined. Its magnitude, however, varies depending on the shape of the magnetic poles of the lens and/or the operating conditions (such as the focal length). Thus, in the case where the beam is inclined by a plurality of lenses, the chromatic aberration can be corrected if the (vector) sum of the chromatic aberration produced by each lens and the chromatic aberration produced by the objective lens is returned back to zero, as shown in . Accordingly, it does not matter how many lenses are used for correction; what is important is that the vector sum of the chromatic aberrations is zero. The same can be said for the coma aberration, whose direction and magnitude correspond to the inclination of the beam. Thus, the principle of correction of the chromatic aberration depicted in can be similarly applied to the correction of the coma aberration.
Figs. 10 to 18
Hereafter, other embodiments of the invention will be described by referring to , which are directed to the control of trajectory in order to make the sum of aberrations produced by a plurality of lenses including an objective lens zero when the beam is inclined by the objective lens.
Fig. 10
shows an example of trajectory control in a case where one deflector is disposed between the focusing lens 6 and the aperture 8. In this example, the aberration control coil 52 composed of deflectors disposed in two stages between the aperture 8 and the focusing lens 5 creates a condition such that the primary electron beam 4 passes through the center of the opening of the aperture 8 in an inclined manner. The trajectory of the electron beam is then controlled by a deflector 521 disposed between the aperture 8 and the focusing lens 6 such that the point of deflection of the primary electron beam 4 as seen from the focusing lens 6 is at a focus point A of the focusing lens 5. A focusing point B of the focusing lens 6 is coincident with the deflecting point of the beam inclination angle control coil 51, and the primary electron beam 4 is inclined by the operation of the beam inclination angle control coil 51 and the objective lens 7.
Fig. 11
Fig. 10
shows an example of trajectory control in a case where the deflectors cannot be disposed between the focusing lens 6 and the aperture 8. In this example, the trajectory of the primary electron beam 4 is controlled by an aberration control coil 52 composed of deflectors disposed in two stages between the focusing lens 5 and the electron source, such that the point of deflection of the primary electron beam 4 is apparently coincident with the position of the electron source. The direction of the aberration produced by the focusing lens 5 is reversed by the focusing lens 6. Accordingly, in order to cancel the aberration produced by the objective lens 7, the direction of displacement of the trajectory of the primary electron beam 4 as it passes through the focusing lens 5 (namely the direction of the aberration) is reversed with respect to that in the case of . Further, the position of a focusing point A of the focusing lens 5 is coincident with that of the deflector 521 (the point of deflection), so that the trajectory of the primary electron beam 4 is caused to be again coincident with the optical axis, using the focus point A as the point of deflection.
Fig. 12
Fig. 11
shows an example of trajectory control in a case where the aperture 8 is disposed between the focusing lens 6 and the objective lens 7. In this example, an aberration necessary for correcting the aberration produced by the objective lens when the primary electron beam 4 is inclined is produced by the focusing lens 5, as in the case of , for it is difficult to correct the aberration in the objective lens 7 using the focusing lens 6.
Fig. 13
shows an example of trajectory control in a case where the beam is inclined while correcting for aberrations in an optical system in which the beam is once focused between lenses disposed in two stages. In this example, the aperture 8 is disposed between the focusing lens 5 and the electron source. The beam is deflected by the aberration control coil 52 composed of deflectors disposed in two stages between the aperture 8 and the focusing lens 5 such that the position of the electron source is apparently at the point of deflection. The beam inclination angle control coil 51 is disposed at the point of focus of the beam by the focusing lens 5, so that the angle of inclination of the beam on the sample 10 can be controlled by the beam inclination angle control coil 51.
Fig. 14
shows an example of trajectory control in a case where the beam is inclined while correcting for aberrations in an optical system in which the beam is not focused between lenses disposed in two stages. When the beam is not focused between the lenses, the direction of aberration produced by the focusing lens 5 is not reversed. Accordingly, the direction of deflection by the beam inclination angle control coil 51 is reversed with respect to that by the aberration control coil 52 so that the aberration by the focusing lens 5 and that by the objective lens 7 can cancel each other out.
Fig. 15
Fig. 14
shows an embodiment in which the aperture 8 is disposed between the focusing lens 5 and the objective lens 7, as opposed to the optical system of (in which no crossover is crested along the optical axis). In this example, the beam inclination angle control coil 51 is disposed on either side of the aperture 8 and is operated in a manner such that the trajectory of the deflected primary electron beam 4 passes through the center of the opening of the aperture 8.
Fig. 16
shows an example of trajectory control in a case where the primary electron beam 4 is inclined by the objective lens 7 while a negative voltage (Vr) is applied to the sample 10. As the negative voltage Vr is applied to the sample, the primary electron beam 4 rapidly decelerates immediately before reaching the sample 10. Thus, the angle of inclination of the beam on the sample can be increased as compared with a case where no negative voltage is applied.
Fig. 17
shows an embodiment in which a thin film sample 10 is irradiated with the primary electron beam 4 inclined by the objective lens 7, and in which electrons 121 that passed through the sample 10 are detected. When a scanning transmission image (STEM image) of a thin film sample having a crystal structure is to be obtained, it is often necessary to cause the irradiation orientation of the primary electron beam to correspond to the crystal orientation of the sample. As the crystal orientation of a sample varies depending on how the thin film slice is cut, crystal orientation errors of the order of several to ten degrees result. Therefore, the primary electron beam is arbitrarily inclined in the present embodiment while preventing the reduction in resolution. In this way, the electron beam can be aligned with the orientation of crystal more easily than by the method whereby the sample is mechanically inclined for orientation. A deflector 54 is disposed downstream of the thin film sample 10 for aligning the transmitted electrons 121 with respect to a transmitted electron detector 131. The deflector 54 is controlled in accordance with the angle of inclination of the primary electron beam 4. Preferably, a means such as a lens or an aperture (not shown) may be disposed between the thin film sample 10 and the transmitted electron detector 131 for limiting the angle of detection of the transmitted electrons.
Fig. 18
shows an example of trajectory control in the case where two focusing lenses 6a and 6b are disposed between the aperture 8 and the objective lens 7. In this example, a focusing point of the primary electron beam 4 is located between the focusing lenses 6a and 6b. An aberration control coil 52 is disposed at the focusing point so that an aberration is produced by the focusing lens 6b. A beam inclination angle control coil 51 is disposed at the point of focus of the primary electron beam by the focusing lens 6b, so that the primary electron beam 4 can be incident on the objective lens 7 off the axis thereof and be inclined with respect to the optical axis. The aberration control coil 52 is controlled such that the aberration produced by the objective lens 7 can be cancelled by the aberration in the focusing lens 6b.
Figs. 19 to 25
Fig. 19
Fig. 1
show an embodiment in which an aperture transport mechanism is employed as the optical axis control means for controlling the incident position for a plurality of groups of lenses for focusing the charged particle beam. shows in particular the overall structure of the scanning electron microscope for measuring the size of a pattern formed on a semiconductor wafer as well as observing the shape thereof. In the following, parts different from the structure depicted in will be described.
An astigmatism correction coil 53 and an aligner coil 55 for correcting the irradiated position error produced by the operation of the astigmatism correction coil 53 are disposed at substantially the same height as a first focusing lens 5. The coils 53 and 55 are connected via power supplies 33 and 35, respectively, to a computer 40. An aperture plate 8 can be accurately transported by a drive mechanism 18 in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. The drive mechanism 18 is connected to the computer 40. An image shift coil 57 and an alignment coil 56 are disposed in two stages at the same position as the scanning coil 9 and are connected via power supplies 37 and 36, respectively, to the computer 40.
Scanning electron microscopes for observing semiconductor wafers generally employ primary electron beams of low acceleration of the order of several hundred volts from the viewpoint of preventing damage to the sample. In order to realize high resolution at low acceleration, a retarding power supply 38 is connected to apply a negative voltage to the sample 10 so that the primary electron beam 4 can be decelerated. A boosting power supply 39 is connected to apply a positive high voltage to a boosting electrode 16 so that the primary electron beam can be accelerated in a later stage, thereby reducing the chromatic aberration in the objective lens 7 and achieving high resolution.
The retarding and boosting voltages create an electromagnetic field distribution near the surface of the sample 10 whereby the secondary electrons 12 are accelerated towards a reflecting plate (converting electrode) 17. As a result, the accelerated secondary electrons 12 pass through the scanning coil 9 and collide with the reflecting plate 17, whereby they are converted into new secondary electrons 65. The converted secondary electrons 65 are detected by a secondary signal detector 13.
Fig. 20
t1
t
shows the trajectory of the primary electron beam 4 in the present embodiment. In this example, the position of a crossover 4c of the second focusing lens 6 is coincident with that of the aligner coil 56. Emitted electrons 4a drawn out of the cathode 1 have a sufficient spread as compared with the aperture size of the aperture plate 8. By shifting the aperture within the irradiated range of the emitted electrons 4a, a primary electron beam 4b off the optical axis can be selectively utilized. An inclination angle w' of the second focusing lens 6 and the amount δ of shift of the aperture are proportional to one another. Thus, an inclined image without an off-axis chromatic aberration can be obtained by controlling the beam inclination angle w' with the aligner coil 56 such that equation (18) is satisfied.
The feature of the present system, namely the aperture transport mechanism, can be realized by simply modifying the manually operated aperture such that it is operated with a computer-controlled drive mechanism. Because the primary electron beam 4b travel off the optical axis in the interval between the cathode 1 and the crossover 4c of the second focusing lens 6, the aberration coefficient of the correction lens becomes several times as large as that of only the second focusing lens. Thus, off-axis chromatic aberrations with inclination angles up to large degrees can be corrected.
Fig. 21
shows the changes in the correction condition k as the position of the crossover 4c is shifted from the second focusing lens 6 towards the objective lens 7. It is seen that, as the crossover 4c moves closer to the objective lens 7, k decreases until it reaches a point where the off-axis chromatic aberration and the coma aberration can be both corrected simultaneously so that equation (22) can be satisfied.
Fig. 22
shows the changes in the shift amount δ of the aperture 8 as the position of the crossover 4c is shifted from the second focusing lens 6 towards the objective lens 7 under the condition of equation (18) in which the off-axis chromatic aberration is corrected. It will be seen that, as the crossover 4c is brought closer to the objective lens 7, the shift amount δ decreases.
Fig. 23
shows the changes in the amount of each aberration and the final beam size (or resolution) as the position of the crossover 4c is shifted from the second focusing lens towards the objective lens under the condition of equation (18) in which the off-axis chromatic aberration is corrected. As the crossover 4c is moved towards the objective lens, the coma aberration decreases, but the diffraction aberration and the image of the electron source size (ratio of reduction of the electron source tip size by the lens) increase, whereby the optimum position of the crossover 4c is determined.
Fig. 24
shows an embodiment in which the position of the crossover 4c is not made coincident with that of the aligner coil 56, thereby giving priority to resolution. In this case, a virtual object point 4d as seen from the objective lens 7 does not coincide with the crossover 4c, resulting in a displacement of a point 4e of arrival of the beam on the sample 10 from the central axis. This shift, however, can be brought back to the central axis by controlling an image shift coil 57. Alternatively, a sample stage 15 may be moved to avoid the field of view error. In either case, the relationship concerning the beam inclination angle can be preset by registering it in the storage unit 41, for example, so that the position error can be controlled by the computer 40.
Fig. 25
shows a flowchart of the process of inclining the beam, including the step of correcting the field of view error. In S21, an observation point is reached. As a command for beam inclination is issued in S22, the shift amount of the aperture 8 and the amount of current to be supplied to the aligner coil 56 are calculated from preset values, in accordance with the required angle of beam inclination. The beam is then inclined and the aperture is shifted in S23. At the same time, a focus correction value and an astigmatism correction value are estimated from preset values in accordance with the required angle of beam inclination, and a primary correction is performed in S24. This is followed by a field of view error correction and a distortion correction in S25 in accordance with the required beam inclination angle. As the focus and-astigmatism have been roughly corrected by the primary correction in step S24, a secondary correction can be completed in S26 within a narrower range of search than that for the normal automatic focus/astigmatism correction. Thus, an image with high resolution can be obtained in S27. After the image is obtained, the beam inclination angle is brought back to zero, and the field of view error correction in step S25 is cancelled in S28.
optical axis control means for controlling the incident point of the beam (4) on at least two stages of focusing lenses (5, 6, 7) including an objective lens (7), wherein the incident position of the beam is controlled by said optical axis control means such that an off-axis chromatic aberration produced by the objective lens and that produced by other lenses cancel each other out.
[1] A charged particle beam apparatus comprising a charged particle source (1) and an optical system for focusing a beam (4) of charged particles emitted by said source and scanning a sample (10) with the focused beam, said apparatus further comprising:
optical axis control means for controlling the incident point of the beam (4) on at least two stages of focusing lenses (5, 6, 7) including an objective lens (7), wherein the incident position of the beam is controlled by said optical axis control means such that a coma aberration produced by the objective lens and that produced by other lenses cancel each other out.
[2] A charged particle beam apparatus comprising a charged particle source (1) and an optical system for focusing a beam (4) of charged particles emitted by said source and scanning a sample (10) with the focused beam, said apparatus further comprising:
optical axis control means for controlling the incident point of the beam (4) on at least two stages of focusing lenses (5, 6, 7) including an objective lens (7); and
lens control means for independently controlling a plurality of said focusing lenses (5, 6, 7) ,
[3] A charged particle beam apparatus comprising a charged particle source (1) and an optical system for focusing a beam (4) of charged particles emitted by said source and scanning a sample (10) with the focused beam, said apparatus further comprising:
wherein the focusing lenses (5, 6, 7) are controlled by the lens control means and the incident position of the beam (4) is controlled by the optical axis control means such that an off-axis chromatic aberration and a coma aberration produced by the objective lens (7) and the other lenses cancel each other out.
[4] The apparatus of any of [1] to [3], wherein
the focusing lenses (5, 6) other than the objective lens (7) include a first lens (5) and a second lens (6), the first lens having magnetic poles with a relatively large opening diameter and gap, and the second lens having magnetic poles with a relatively small opening diameter and gap, and
the first lens (5) is excited when the beam (4) is shone on the sample (10) under observation parallel to the optical axis while turning off the first lens, and the second lens (6) is excited when the beam is shone on the sample at an angle with respect to the optical axis while turning off the first lens.
[5] The apparatus of any one of [1] to [3], wherein the optical axis control means comprises an aperture (8) and a transport mechanism for moving the aperture in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis.
a deflector disposed between the source (1) and at least two stages of focusing lenses (5, 6, 7) including an objective lens (7) for deflecting the beam (4) such that the aberration created by the objective lens and that created by the other lenses cancel each other out.
[6] A charged particle beam apparatus comprising a charged particle source (1) and an optical system for focusing a beam (4) of charged particles emitted by said source and scanning a sample (10) with the focused beam, said apparatus further comprising:
an aperture mechanism transportable in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, said aperture mechanism disposed between the source (1) and at least two stages of focusing lenses (5, 6, 7) including an objective lens (7), wherein the aperture mechanism limits the passage of the beam (4) such that the aberration produced by the objective lens and that produced by the other lenses cancel each other out.
[7] A charged particle beam apparatus comprising a charged particle source (1) and an optical system for focusing a beam (4) of charged particles emitted by said source and scanning a sample (10) with the focused beam, said apparatus further comprising:
[8] The apparatus of any of [1] to [7], wherein the beam (4) is shone on the sample (10) under observation at an angle with respect to the optical axis.
[9] The apparatus of [8], further comprising astigmatism correction means controlled in accordance with the inclination angle of the beam (4).
[10] The apparatus of [8] or [9], wherein the focal length of the objective lens (7) is controlled in accordance with the inclination angle of the beam (4).
[11] The apparatus of any of [8] to [10], wherein an irradiated position error of the beam (4) on the sample (10) is corrected in accordance with the inclination angle of the beam.
[12] A method of irradiating a sample (10) with a charged particle beam (4) at an angle with respect to the optical axis, using a charged particle beam apparatus comprising a charged particle beam source (1) and at least two stages of focusing lenses (5, 6, 7) including an objective lens (7) for focusing the beam of charged particles emitted by the source and scanning the sample with the beam, wherein the beam is incident on that one of the at least two stages of focusing lenses which is closer to the source from a direction such that the aberration produced by the inclination of the beam is offset.
The following is a summary of relevant aspects of the present invention: | |
Computers are pushing out the good old typewriter, however, nobody knows the fate of thousands of typewriters which were part of the government offices till recently. Abdul Mohamin reports
Young students are busy learning typing skills on the Remington typewriter at the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Srinagar. They are happy that they are learning the trade. However, they seem to be unaware that typewriters are vanishing from the government and other offices making way for computers.
“The mechanical typewriter is dead. And as computers take over offices, several manufacturers have completely stopped its production,” says Abdul Ghani, a retired revenue department official.
However, many are still nostalgic about typewriters. Mohammad Amin Ahangar, a former mechanic with the Stationary and Office Supplies Department, says that typewriter should not vanish from offices.
Ahangar says that a total of 360 machines were in use in 1930. “With years more typewriters were used, and typing was learnt by people and many got jobs with this skill,” he says, adding that the government also introduced it as a subject in Commerce stream. Typewriting was also taught in Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and at private institutes.
Learning typewriting would give students an edge over others at the time of employment in the government sector.
“Knowing typing skills is still a must for various (mostly clerical) posts in government and there is still a great demand of typists here,” says Shabir Ahmad Bhat, an instructor at ITI. The institute runs a one-year course wherein typing and shorthand is taught.
Bhat says typists are still relevant as the government is in “dire need” of them. “Practical tests of thousand of candidates by various recruiting agencies and government departments are carried out in this institute,” he says.
However, Bhat acknowledges the fact that typewriters are making way for computers in the offices. Ahangar says that faulty typewriters in government offices were sent to the repairs section at Government Press and were returned to be used again.
“I don’t know where thousands of typewriters vanished that were in use in the government offices,” he wonders.
Ahanger now runs a typewriter repair shop at Habbakadal. He feels that typewriters can still be used as these are “cost-effective with low maintenance cost”.
As employees increasingly use computers, the mechanical chatter of typewriters has fallen silent in many offices. A court is still a place where typewriters are used to write affidavits, though computers have also taken over court complexes.
“In computers, we only have to change the name as the text format for the affidavits usually remains the same and we can deliver a printed one in seconds,” says Mohammad Sidique, who operates a DTP centre near lower court at Amira Kadal.
A few years back there were many private typewriting institutes in the Srinagar and other towns of the valley but very few are functional today.
Ahangar, who also runs a typing institute, says that a number of students has gone down drastically over the years. “The skill can be vital for operating computers as many who can work on typewriters have an advantage of good word speed on computers which has a similar key pattern,” he says.
He says that many top government officials started their career as typists. The government still employs typists, which drives some people to learn this skill.
To find a new typewriter is not only difficult but also a costly affair. A typewriter can cost up to Rs. 20,000, almost equal to that of a computer.
Deputy Director of Stationery and Office Supplies Department, Bashir Ahmad, says that since 2005 the government has not allotted any money for the purchase of typewriters.
Earlier, typewriters were in demand in different government departments and were purchased in large numbers.
“It was a stationary product and we almost purchased typewriters for more than Rs 30 lakh per year and supplied it to different departments,” says Bashir Ahmad. He says that they not only supplied the typewriters to the departments but also provided service through their mechanics. “Only few typewriters exist now for our personal use, and we have cleared the older stock,” he adds.
Ahmad now has a new computer and a printer installed in his office. He says that most of the typewriters with government departments have been junked as deadstock, and most of them auctioned. “We do not receive any requests now for any typewriter repairs,” he says. | https://kashmirlife.net/pushed-out-1520/ |
As the types of tests in Table 2 are performed on a piece of software, defects are found and removed from the software. The more defects found and removed during testing, the fewer defects encountered by the software during runtime. Defects encountered during runtime lead to failures in the software. Failures in the software produce exceptional conditions for the software to operate under. Exceptional conditions require exception handlers. So the balancing act is between defect removal during the testing stages versus defect survival during exception handling. Figure 1 shows the transformation from programmer error to exceptional condition in software requiring an exception handler.
Figure 1 Transformation from programmer error to exceptional condition in software requiring an exception handler.
Although we could favor defect survival over defect removal, the problem is that exception handling code can become so complex that it introduces defects into the software. Instead of providing a mechanism to help achieve fault tolerance, the exception handler becomes a source of failure. Choosing defect survival over defect removal reduces the software’s chances of operating properly. Extensive and thorough testing removes defects, thereby reducing the strain on the exception handlers. It’s also important to note that exception handlers don’t occur as freestanding pieces of code. They occur within the context of the overall software architecture. The journey toward fault tolerance in our software begins by recognizing the following facts:
- No amount of exception handling can rescue a flawed or inappropriate software architecture.
- The fault tolerance of a piece of software is directly related to the quality of its architecture.
- The exception handling architecture cannot replace the testing stages described in Table 2.
To make our discussion about exception handling clear and meaningful, it’s important to understand that the exception handling architecture occurs within the context of the software architecture as a whole. If the software architecture is inappropriate, incomplete, or poorly thought out, any attempt at after-the-fact exception handling is highly questionable. Further, if shortcuts have been taken during the testing stages—incomplete stress testing, integration testing, glass box testing, and so on—the exception handling code will have to be added to perpetually and will become increasingly complex, ultimately detracting from the software’s fault tolerance.
On the other hand, if the software architecture is sound and the exception handling architecture is compatible and consistent with the software architecture, a high degree of fault tolerance can be achieved. If we approach our goal of context failure resilience with an understanding of the roles that software architecture and testing play, we can move forward with determining how to take advantage of exception handling facilities in Java. Table 3 list the primary components of the Java exception handling facility.
Table 3 Primary components of the Java exception handling facility.
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Component
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Description
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try
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Keyword used to identify a block of code that the program is attempting to execute.
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catch
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Keyword used to identify handlers designed to catch exception objects.
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throw
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Keyword used to throw an object of some type when control is transferred to an exception handler coded to deal with the type of object thrown.
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finally
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A block of code that must be executed after exceptions are thrown. It’s placed at the end of an exception handler.
|
|
Exception classes
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|
Runtime exception and error families of classes. | http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=464630&seqNum=3 |
"This recipe involves placing a seafood stuffing between fish fillets and encasing the package between sheets of puff pastry. This recipe is definitely a company dish although I occasionally make it just for the family. I like to present the whole fish to guests before cutting into serving pieces, you will have earned the compliments. You could also substitute your favorite deviled crab or crab cake recipe for the filling offered here."
To make the stuffing: Melt butter or margarine in a large saucepan over a medium-low heat. Saute onion, celery, and parsley until all of the vegetables are just tender. Mix in crabmeat, shrimp, and vermouth. Season with salt, pepper and hot pepper sauce; cook until shrimp is finished cooking (it will be pink). Mix in bread crumbs, a little at a time. When the mixture holds together well, stop adding bread crumbs. Taste and add more seasoning (salt, pepper, and hot pepper sauce) if necessary. Set this mixture aside to let it cool.
Roll 1 sheet of puff pastry onto a flat surface. The puff pastry, once rolled should be about 1/3 to 1/4 inch thick and large enough for you to lay the fish on top of it and still have puff pastry on the sides. Lay one of the fish fillets on top of the puff pastry. Spread the stuffing mixture evenly over the fish fillet. Place the remaining fillet over the stuffing. Trim the pastry around the filets in roughly the shape of a fish. Save the trimmings.
Roll second sheet of puff pastry out to about 1/3 to 1/4 inch thick. Drape second sheet over stuffed fillets, making sure that there is enough of the top sheet to tuck under the bottom sheet of puff pastry. Trim the top sheet of pastry about 1/2 inch larger than the bottom sheet. Brush underside of top pastry sheet with water and tuck under bottom sheet of puff pastry pressing lightly to totally encase the fish and stuffing package. Place the sealed packet on the prepared baking sheet, and let it cool for 10 to 15 minutes.
While packet is chilling, roll out pastry scraps. From the scraps cut out fins, an eye and 'lips'. Attach cut-outs to chilled package with a little water. Use an inverted teaspoon to make indentations in puff pastry to resemble fish scales but do not puncture pastry. Chill entire package.
While the package is chilling, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
Remove the fish from the refrigerator and brush the package with the egg yolks. Measure the thickness of the package at its thickest part. Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and bake the fish for 10 extra minutes per inch of measured thickness. Test for doneness by inserting a thermometer into the package, when the temperature reaches 140 degrees F (70 degrees C) the fish is finished cooking.
Simple and delightful puff pastry dinner!
Just okay. Fillets needed seasoning and the stuffing overpowered the delicate fish. Lovely presentation however.
Not only did this recipe taste wonderful, it made a great presentation. I made it early in the day, and just popped it in the oven at dinner time. It is definatly a "keeper"!!!
Excellent dish!!! My husband and I loved it!! We didn't have any celery so we left it out. My 8yr old loved it!!!!!! Delicous. Will definitely make again and again!! | https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/19515/stuffed-fish-in-puff-pastry/ |
Only in 2013 had sufficient evidence accumulated to consider the forest elephant its own distinct species (Loxodonta cyclotis). Before this, the savannah or bush elephant and the forest elephant were considered subspecies of the inclusive taxon Loxodonta africana. Recent analysis of DNA from fossils reveals that forest elephants are more closely related to the now-extinct straight-tusked elephant (Paleoloxodon antiquus) of European forests than to any other living elephant (1, 2).
Despite their clear genetic and morphological differences, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has not yet acknowledged cyclotis as a species. It has now been fifteen years since the IUCN released a statement citing the “uncertain” taxonomy of elephants, and calling for further evidence before determining the relationships among existing elephant populations (3). This delay, which is mostly due to politics, has far-reaching consequences for elephant conservation (read more below).
The relationships among the extant (living) elephants shown above would have been controversial several years ago. It takes the scientific community a long time to debate and accept changes in the species designation of an organism, particularly mammals. Changes in bird taxonomy are often decided more efficiently because a specific organization has been vested with the authority to do so. In the mammal world there is no parallel structure.
For example, an analysis of elephant skulls collected across Africa proposed that forest elephants “deserve to be ranked as full species.” This study, done by Peter Grubb and colleagues (4), concluded that “living bush and forest African elephants are evolutionarily and ecologically distinct forms.” What the discussion lacked at the time was genetic evidence. With the appearance of elephant research that included genetic sequences, we have now learned “that little or no nuclear gene flow occurs between forest elephant and savanna elephant populations” (5). In fact, forest and savannah elephants may be as genetically distinct as mammoths (Mammuthus) and Asian elephants (Elephas maximus), which are considered to be different genera (6). More on elephant evolution below.
Evolutionary relationships of the Elephantidae as proposed from recent analysis of nuclear and ancient DNA. The two extant genera, Loxodonta and Elephas, are shown in parentheses because, if accepted, this proposed tree would require a separate genera for the two African species as well as perhaps for Asian elephants or the now extinct mammoth.
These taxonomic issues are more than an evolutionary debate within the scientific community. Classification of the species is important for the conservation of forest elephants. It might have been easier to ignore the decline of forest elephants if they were seen as populations within the African elephant species (in fact, the relatively poor data on forest elephant populations before 2013 resulted in conservation decisions by the IUCN and CITES that essentially ignored forest elephants). However, once it is acknowledged that the forest elephant is a unique species, the importance of their conservation rises greatly. The threat of biodiversity loss is increased even further because forest elephants have the highest within-species genetic diversity of all elephantid taxa (4). Hopefully, as the new taxonomic order enters mainstream scientific thinking as well as the imaginations of the public and of policymakers, it will facilitate the effort to study and conserve forest elephants.
A mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) study was published in 2012, conducted by Adam Brandt, Yasuko Ishida, Nicholas Georgiadis, and Alfred Loca (5). It proved to be the final piece of the puzzle. Previous studies had shown that evolutionary trees based on nuclear DNA samples did not match trees based on mtDNA. The mtDNA from savannah elephants showed significant overlap with mtDNA of forest elephants; the same overlap was not present in the comparison of nuclear DNA samples. In the 2012 study, Brandt and his colleagues analyzed specific genetic markers taken from different elephant lineages. The results supported the hypothesis that the aforementioned incongruence between mtDNA and nuclear DNA studies was caused by a combination of the elephant social system and differences in reproductive success between males. Females of both savannah and forest elephant species remain close to their places of origin, while males disperse. Additionally, where populations of the two species mix, male savannah elephants, because of their larger size, are reproductively more successful than forest elephant males. Incongruence between mtDNA — which is passed down only through the maternal lineage — and nuclear DNA is attributed to these differences in male reproductive success.
The evolutionary tree of proboscidea, a taxonomic group that unites all elephant lineages as well as mammoth and mastodon species, can now be constructed with higher certainty than ever before. Two distinct clades seem to have formed 6 million years ago. The first clade included the hypothetical ancestor of savanna and forest elephants. The two seem to have diverged sometime during the Miocene-Pliocene transition 5 million years ago. The second clade includes Asian elephants and the now extinct woolly mammoth. It is important to note that these two diverged from their common clade later than savanna and forest elephants diverged from theirs, making them more genetically similar than to the two species of Loxodonta. Africa has been shown to be the cradle of all elephantid species (5). Asian elephants migrated from Africa to Asia and the African savannah elephant began to dominate the expanding grasslands of East Africa. Forest elephants followed an independent evolutionary path in the dense Central African forests. Important differences between the forest and savannah habitats, in particular the abundance of grasses and relatively lower abundance of fruits and trees in the savannah, resulted in very different diets for the two species. Savannah elephants now faced large, group-hunting predators (lions and hyenas) not present in the rainforest, as well as seasonal shortages of open water, which together might explain some of the differences in the social system between savannah and forest elephants.
1. Callaway, E. 2016. Elephant history rewritten by ancient genomes. Nature News 16 September 2016.
2. Meyer, M., et al. (2017). Palaeogenomes of Eurasian straight-tusked elephants challenge the current view of elephant evolution. eLIFE 6:e25413.
3. IUCN African Elephant Specialist Group (2003). Elephant Genetics: Statement on the taxonomy of extant Loxodonta.
4. Grubb, P., et al. (2000). Living African elephants belong to two species: Loxodonta africana (Bumenbach, 1797) and Loxodonta cyclotis (Matschie, 1900). Elephant 2(4):1-4.
5. Brandt, A. L., et al. (2012). Forest elephant mitochondrial genomes reveal that elephantid evolution in Africa tracked climate transitions. Molecular Ecology 21(5):1175-1189. | http://elephantlisteningproject.org/forest-elephants/evolution/ |
A complaint to a medical board is a considerable challenge posing as much risk to a physician’s career as a malpractice case.
Most physicians spend their sleepless nights worrying about malpractice lawsuits but not medical board complaints. However, a complaint to a medical board is a considerable challenge posing as much risk to a physician’s career as a malpractice case.
Such a complaint often can be very trying and potentially damaging to one’s reputation. Some of the reasons behind medical board complaints involve a doctor’s code of ethics. Medical malpractice, misdiagnosis, failure to treat a patient and mismanaging a patient are common allegations in such complaints.
Alex Keoskey, a partner at Mandelbaum Salsburg P.C., a law firm based in Roseland, New Jersey, notes it is essential that legal counsel be retained whenever there is a threat of an adverse action against a physician from any source. “Physicians should take medical board complaints far more seriously than a medical malpractice complaint,” he says. “Physicians need to be aware of the reporting requirements enshrined in state and federal law relating to adverse actions by medical boards.”
Kevin O’Mahony, an attorney at KOMahony Law in Johns Creek, Georgia, notes disciplinary action resulting from a medical board complaint can include a reprimand, restrictions on a physician’s practice, continuing medical education or monitoring requirements, probation and license suspension or revocation. “The adverse consequences of a medical board complaint do not end there,” he says. “Physicians generally are required by contract to report disciplinary actions to their professional liability carriers, managed care plans and patients’ health insurance plans.”
Federal law also requires that discipline be reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank, which hospitals must check before granting or renewing medical staff privileges. “In most states, all public disciplinary actions taken by the medical board are required to be entered on the physician’s profile on the board’s website,” O’Mahony says. “The public board order itself can be viewed online by anyone who wishes.”
Public disciplinary actions are also reported to the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB), a national clearinghouse whose membership comprises all state medical boards across the country. The FSMB issues periodic reports to all state medical boards informing them of any public actions taken against a physician by another state’s board.
If a physician licensed in Georgia, Florida and North Carolina is the subject of a disciplinary action by the Georgia Composite Medical Board, the action will be reported to the FSMB. The FSMB will then report that action to the Florida and North Carolina medical boards, which may initiate their own investigations leading to disciplinary actions in those states as well.
Additional collateral effects of a medical board action may include loss of hospital privileges, loss of participation in preferred provider organizations, loss of enrollment with third-party payers, loss of board certifications, loss of Drug Enforcement Administration registration, and exclusion from participation in Medicare, Medicaid and other government programs.
Attorney Keith Roberts, co-chair of litigation at the Brach Eichler firm in Roseland, New Jersey, has been representing physicians with medical board complaints for almost two decades. One of the biggest reasons for complaints lately, he shares, involves physicians overprescribing opioids. Others involve crossing patient boundaries and not communicating effectively.
“Physicians need to maintain a high level of ethics and professionalism,” he says. “They need to adhere to the standard of care. Don’t assume you are up to date. Seek it out. Stay on top of respected journals and attend regional and national conferences — because things evolve.”
Avoiding complaints
Medical board complaints can be avoided by following protocol and understanding the patient’s expectations. When expectations are not met, empathy and professionalism should be applied.
There are myriad things physicians can do to avoid medical complaints, O’Mahony says, starting with properly training, supervising and utilizing support staff and allied professionals. Other musts include taking time to learn about patients’ individual characteristics; identifying their unique needs and accommodating them where possible; being courteous and respectful; being receptive and responsive to questions and complaints; minimizing delays and communicating about anticipated time frame issues as soon as possible; and ensuring proper and thorough medical recordkeeping and billing documentation.
“It’s also recommended to avoid inappropriate language in medical record and billing documentation, recognizing that any medical record or bill could later be used as evidence in a medical board or legal proceeding,” O’Mahony says.
Additionally, physicians should properly and thoroughly document informed consent, properly refer patients to other qualified health care professionals when appropriate, have a formal policy in place for identifying and resolving complaints, and apologize — without admitting liability or fault — when appropriate.
“Although a physician can take steps to identify and prevent the most common types of complaint, he or she may not be able to avoid a complaint ever being filed,” O’Mahony says. “Despite a physician’s best efforts, he or she may not be able to please all patients or all parties who could be sources of medical board complaints all the time. Even the finest physician may be the subject of a medical board complaint at some point in his or her career.”
Liana Casusi, M.D., a general physician and consultant, notes that medical board complaints and medical malpractice lawsuits stem from almost the same cause — failure to perform primary physician duties within the expected competencies. “Before practicing your medical profession, plan the dynamics thoroughly,” she says. “How do you receive a patient? How do you create and keep medical records? How do you issue prescriptions? How do you advise follow-up? And these are just a few considerations. Prepare all your record form templates and have your counsel check them for any missing information.”
Her biggest tip for avoiding complaints is to review the rules of one’s medical board and let them guide their lifestyle. “On the actual practice aspect, be thorough before arriving at a diagnosis — and, of equal importance, record everything in the chart,” Casusi says. “Check and double-check prescriptions before issuing them, to eliminate any errors. Always keep private all information about the patient unless you are legally obliged to share it.”
Some practical advice from Roberts involves becoming engaged in billing practices. “Having to ask the billing department is not an advisable position,” he says. “Physicians should know what they’re billing (and) why they’re billing it, and they should be regularly auditing medical charts on a quarterly basis to make sure they are properly documenting codes.”
Dealing with complaints
Whenever a medical board complaint is filed, a physician should consult with qualified legal counsel as soon as possible. “Most physicians are not equipped to represent and defend themselves in a medical board proceeding without the assistance of qualified legal counsel,” O’Mahony says. “The damage that can be done to a physician’s reputation and livelihood by a professional complaint far outweighs any legitimate concerns he or she may have about retaining the services of an attorney experienced in this area of the law.”
Elizabeth Greene, a partner in Mirick O’Connell’s litigation and health law groups, Westborough, Massachusetts, notes physicians should check their malpractice insurance to see whether they have coverage for legal counsel for licensing board complaints. Even if they do not have coverage, it is prudent to engage experienced board counsel.
“With the assistance of counsel, physicians are better equipped to protect their license and avoid responding emotionally or inappropriately to a complaint or investigation,” she says. “Physicians should never alter or destroy records, including when they are faced with a board complaint or investigation, and they must remember the EMR (electronic medical record) leaves a footprint of all actions—the metadata.”
If a physician receives a letter or phone call from a medical board investigator, it is crucial that they not procrastinate or ignore the notice. It is almost never advisable for a physician to meet with or be questioned by a medical board investigator without legal counsel present or on the phone. Once a lawyer has been retained, it is critical that they be promptly provided with all pertinent documents and information, as well asany known grounds for defending the allegations.
“It is important that the physician provide the attorney with all information relating to the complaint, including the good, the bad and any ‘ugly’ facts which may be relevant,” O’Mahony says. “A physician does not want his or her lawyer to be unpleasantly surprised by damaging evidence when it is too late for the attorney to consider how best to minimize or deal with its impact.”
If the medical board conducts a thorough investigation, all relevant information will almost certainly come to light. Withholding important or potentially damaging evidence from their lawyer because the physician hopes it will not come out will impair the attorney’s ability to prepare — or assist the physician in preparing — an appropriate response or defense. Therefore, physicians can best handle medical board complaints by having an experienced lawyer, upholding the code of ethics and behaving professionally.
Casusi recommends keeping all information about the complaint private. “It is actually unnecessary and dangerous for us to share information — especially through letters, SMS or online platforms — because these may be easily leaked and made into evidence in favor of the complainant,” she says. “Another tip, trivial as it seems, is to remain calm. Yes, it is human nature to react with anger, and that is valid. However, avoid impulsive acts of rage that may aggravate the condition.” Examples are badmouthing the complainant or blaming others.
Resolving a problem
Every case is different, and each case must be examined and evaluated based upon its own facts and circumstances. But a key to resolving medical board complaints successfully — or on terms as favorable as possible — starts with taking the complaint seriously from the get-go.
Roberts notes a physician should never try to take matters into their own hands and contact the complaining party to try to talk them out of it. This will almost always lead to failure and further problems down the line.
If disciplinary action is unavoidable, O’Mahony notes negotiating the most favorable or least damaging resolution possible. Fully complying with all agreed-upon or ordered terms must be accomplished. | https://www.medicaleconomics.com/view/how-to-handle-a-medical-board-complaint |
The ability to learn is not only central to most aspects of intelligent behavior, but machine learning techniques have become key components of many software systems.
For examples, machine learning techniques are used to create spam filters, to analyze customer purchase data, to understand natural language, or to detect fraudulent credit card transactions.
This course will introduce the fundamental set of techniques and algorithms that constitute machine learning as of today, ranging from classification methods like decision trees and support vector machines, over structured models like hidden Markov models, to clustering and matrix factorization methods for recommendation.
The course will not only discuss individual algorithms and methods, but also tie principles and approaches together from a theoretical perspective.
communication patterns and working set sizes for popular ML algos, and interactivity/flexibility requirements for data science
being able to parse really messy input data - the algorithm is often cake in comparison ref: human genome ;-)
the main types of learning algs, the intuition behind them, and the strengths and limitations of each in the context of REAL data.
Machine learning
Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence in the field of computer science that often uses statistical techniques to give computers the ability to 'learn' (i.e., progressively improve performance on a specific task) with data, without being explicitly programmed. The name machine learning was coined in 1959 by Arthur Samuel. Evolved from the study of pattern recognition and computational learning theory in artificial intelligence, machine learning explores the study and construction of algorithms that can learn from and make predictions on data – such algorithms overcome following strictly static program instructions by making data-driven predictions or decisions,:2 through building a model from sample inputs.
Mitchell provided a widely quoted, more formal definition of the algorithms studied in the machine learning field: 'A computer program is said to learn from experience E with respect to some class of tasks T and performance measure P if its performance at tasks in T, as measured by P, improves with experience E.' This definition of the tasks in which machine learning is concerned offers a fundamentally operational definition rather than defining the field in cognitive terms.
Machine learning tasks are typically classified into two broad categories, depending on whether there is a learning 'signal' or 'feedback' available to a learning system: Another categorization of machine learning tasks arises when one considers the desired output of a machine-learned system::3 Among other categories of machine learning problems, learning to learn learns its own inductive bias based on previous experience.
Developmental learning, elaborated for robot learning, generates its own sequences (also called curriculum) of learning situations to cumulatively acquire repertoires of novel skills through autonomous self-exploration and social interaction with human teachers and using guidance mechanisms such as active learning, maturation, motor synergies, and imitation.
Probabilistic systems were plagued by theoretical and practical problems of data acquisition and representation.:488 By 1980, expert systems had come to dominate AI, and statistics was out of favor. Work on symbolic/knowledge-based learning did continue within AI, leading to inductive logic programming, but the more statistical line of research was now outside the field of AI proper, in pattern recognition and information retrieval.:708–710;
Machine learning and data mining often employ the same methods and overlap significantly, but while machine learning focuses on prediction, based on known properties learned from the training data, data mining focuses on the discovery of (previously) unknown properties in the data (this is the analysis step of knowledge discovery in databases).
Much of the confusion between these two research communities (which do often have separate conferences and separate journals, ECML PKDD being a major exception) comes from the basic assumptions they work with: in machine learning, performance is usually evaluated with respect to the ability to reproduce known knowledge, while in knowledge discovery and data mining (KDD) the key task is the discovery of previously unknown knowledge.
Jordan, the ideas of machine learning, from methodological principles to theoretical tools, have had a long pre-history in statistics. He also suggested the term data science as a placeholder to call the overall field. Leo Breiman distinguished two statistical modelling paradigms: data model and algorithmic model, wherein 'algorithmic model' means more or less the machine learning algorithms like Random forest.
Multilinear subspace learning algorithms aim to learn low-dimensional representations directly from tensor representations for multidimensional data, without reshaping them into (high-dimensional) vectors. Deep learning algorithms discover multiple levels of representation, or a hierarchy of features, with higher-level, more abstract features defined in terms of (or generating) lower-level features.
In machine learning, genetic algorithms found some uses in the 1980s and 1990s. Conversely, machine learning techniques have been used to improve the performance of genetic and evolutionary algorithms. Rule-based machine learning is a general term for any machine learning method that identifies, learns, or evolves 'rules' to store, manipulate or apply, knowledge.
They seek to identify a set of context-dependent rules that collectively store and apply knowledge in a piecewise manner in order to make predictions. Applications for machine learning include: In 2006, the online movie company Netflix held the first 'Netflix Prize' competition to find a program to better predict user preferences and improve the accuracy on its existing Cinematch movie recommendation algorithm by at least 10%.
A joint team made up of researchers from AT&T Labs-Research in collaboration with the teams Big Chaos and Pragmatic Theory built an ensemble model to win the Grand Prize in 2009 for $1 million. Shortly after the prize was awarded, Netflix realized that viewers' ratings were not the best indicators of their viewing patterns ('everything is a recommendation') and they changed their recommendation engine accordingly. In 2010 The Wall Street Journal wrote about the firm Rebellion Research and their use of Machine Learning to predict the financial crisis.
In 2012, co-founder of Sun Microsystems Vinod Khosla predicted that 80% of medical doctors jobs would be lost in the next two decades to automated machine learning medical diagnostic software. In 2014, it has been reported that a machine learning algorithm has been applied in Art History to study fine art paintings, and that it may have revealed previously unrecognized influences between artists. Although machine learning has been very transformative in some fields, effective machine learning is difficult because finding patterns is hard and often not enough training data are available;
as a result, machine-learning programs often fail to deliver. Classification machine learning models can be validated by accuracy estimation techniques like the Holdout method, which splits the data into a training and test sets (conventionally 2/3 training set and 1/3 test set designation) and evaluates the performance of the training model on the test set.
Systems which are trained on datasets collected with biases may exhibit these biases upon use (algorithmic bias), thus digitizing cultural prejudices. For example, using job hiring data from a firm with racist hiring policies may lead to a machine learning system duplicating the bias by scoring job applicants against similarity to previous successful applicants. Responsible collection of data and documentation of algorithmic rules used by a system thus is a critical part of machine learning.
There is huge potential for machine learning in health care to provide professionals a great tool to diagnose, medicate, and even plan recovery paths for patients, but this will not happen until the personal biases mentioned previously, and these 'greed' biases are addressed. Software suites containing a variety of machine learning algorithms include the following :
Machine Learning
Supervised learning algorithms are trained using labeled examples, such as an input where the desired output is known.
The learning algorithm receives a set of inputs along with the corresponding correct outputs, and the algorithm learns by comparing its actual output with correct outputs to find errors.
Through methods like classification, regression, prediction and gradient boosting, supervised learning uses patterns to predict the values of the label on additional unlabeled data.
Popular techniques include self-organizing maps, nearest-neighbor mapping, k-means clustering and singular value decomposition.
Machine Learning
Supervised machine learning builds a model that makes predictions based on evidence in the presence of uncertainty.
A supervised learning algorithm takes a known set of input data and known responses to the data (output) and trains a model to generate reasonable predictions for the response to new data.
Common algorithms for performing classification include support vector machine (SVM), boosted and bagged decision trees, k-nearest neighbor, Naïve Bayes, discriminant analysis, logistic regression, and neural networks.
Common regression algorithms include linear model, nonlinear model, regularization, stepwise regression, boosted and bagged decision trees, neural networks, and adaptive neuro-fuzzy learning.
Model-based and Model-free Machine Learning Techniques for Diagnostic Prediction and Classification of Clinical Outcomes in Parkinson’s Disease
Table 2 shows the basic summary statistics for the three datasets and Fig. 2 illustrates correlation heatmaps of some core data features.
Although axial impairments are generally associated with cognitive impairments in PD, the lack of significant associations with overall non-motor experiences of daily living may be due to the heterogeneous (cognitive and non-cognitive) nature of this MDS UPDRS subscale.
RF feature section is based on fitting a number of decision trees where each node represents a single feature condition split the dataset into two branches according to an impurity measure (e.g., Gini impurity, information gain, entropy).
KO feature selection relies on pairing each feature with a decoy variable, which resembles its characteristics but carries no signal, and optimizes an objective function that jointly estimates model coefficients and variable selection, by minimizing a the sum of the model fidelity and a regularization penalty components.
X
˜
j) is measured by a statistic like Wj=max(Xj,
X
˜
j)×sgn(Xj−
X
˜
j), which effectively measures how much more important Xj is relative to
X
˜
j.
X
˜
j is measured by the statistic magnitude, |
W
j
|.
The columns represent seven complementary performance estimating measures: accuracy (acc), sensitivity (sens), specificity (spec), positive and negative predictive values (ppv and npv), and area under the receiver operating curve (auc).
By optimizing the RF parameters, using grant weights, setting cut off points for two classes and the number of features used for each decision tree branch split, we obtained a classification model with higher sensitivity and LOR.
Prior work by Paul, et al.42 reported accuracy about 80% using three variables, including “fall in the previous year” as an additional predictor, which may be very strongly associated with the clinical outcome of interest—whether a patient is expected to fall or not.
- On Wednesday, February 26, 2020
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Food and nutrition have a profound impact on our health and well-being, yet many of us are not aware of what foods to eat, which diets are healthy, and where our food originates. The goal of this certificate program is to provide a holistic overview of current food and nutrition issues and their impact on physical, social, emotional, and spiritual health. This certificate is designed for individuals who are working in the health care field and those who are interested in the topic.
Important Note:
This is an online class through Ed2Go
-
Class InformationCLASS #: 13253INSTRUCTOR:FEES: $169.00DATES:
12/07/2019 - 03/13/2020TIMES:
-LOCATIONS:
Online - ONLINE
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Clark College Economic and Development carefully recruits and screens our instructors in order to provide the best possible student experience. Selection is based on knowledge of the subject area as well as previous experience teaching or training.
Our local community has a wealth of highly talented individuals to share their experience and knowledge in our continuing education program. Each class is an opportunity to learn from an expert and share the experience with other community members sharing your interest to "Expand Your Potential".
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There is no supply list for this class. | https://ecd.clark.edu/classes/class.php?SKU=220113253 |
They have therefore played a major role in transmitting traditional ideas about elves in post-medieval cultures. Various articles showed that abilities and items were used via right-click on a unit and an appearing icon collar. They were round places where the grass had been flattened like a floor. In some locations it also had to be on the altar of a church for three consecutive Sundays. The idea also occurs in later traditions in Scandinavia and beyond, so it may be an early attestation of a prominent tradition. Elves, in some form or another, have made numerous appearances in the StarCraft series, usually as jokes. Other names also abound, however, such as the Sicilian Donas de fuera ('ladies from outside'), or French bonnes dames ('good ladies'). , In addition, Warcraft III adds powerful new units called heroes. Meanwhile, A Midsummer Night's Dream promoted the idea that elves were diminutive and ethereal. Despite the obvious fictionality of fantasy novels and games, scholars have found that elves in these works continue to have a subtle role in shaping the real-life identities of their audiences. World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade 2. , As in Old Norse, however, there are few characters identified as elves. Warcraft III is set several years after the events of Warcraft II, and tells the story of the Burning Legion's attempt to conquer the fictional world of Azeroth with the help of an army of the Undead, led by fallen paladin Arthas Menethil. [story 5] Arthas pursues the dreadlord Mal'Ganis to the icy continent of Northrend, where he helps his old friend Muradin Bronzebeard in finding a powerful sword called Frostmourne. , The fantasy genre in the twentieth century grew out of nineteenth-century Romanticism, in which nineteenth-century scholars such as Andrew Lang and the Grimm brothers collected fairy stories from folklore and in some cases retold them freely. , In order to protect themselves and their livestock against malevolent elves, Scandinavians could use a so-called Elf cross (Alfkors, Älvkors or Ellakors), which was carved into buildings or other objects. Additionally, each campaign features pre-rendered cinematics that show the outcome of the campaign. Gamecritics.com concluded that Blizzard had finally succeeded in fleshing out the story-line of the first two Warcraft titles, giving each side its own motivations and differences beyond cosmetics. 'Cause smiling is my favorite! However, the term Vanir is rare in Eddaic verse, very rare in Skaldic verse, and is not generally thought to appear in other Germanic languages. In The Queen of Elfland's Nourice, a woman is abducted to be a wet nurse to the elf-queen's baby, but promised that she may return home once the child is weaned. Both were considered too disturbing and turned off but these resources still exist in the game and can be turned on by manipulating the game files. Since belief in supernatural beings is so ubiquitous in human cultures, however, scholars no longer believe such explanations are valid. Medivh, in a final monologue, then states that he needed to teach the world that guardians are no longer necessary to look after Azeroth and that he is satisfied that his task is now complete. However, oral traditions about beings like elves remained prominent in Scandinavia into the early twentieth century. Whether you love elf on the shelf or hate it, you must admit this cupcake liner elf on the shelf craft is super cute! However, from the early modern period onwards, elves started to be prominent in the literature and art of educated elites. This shows how the meanings of elf had changed, and was in itself influential: the usage is echoed, for example, in the house-elf of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter stories. As in Elveskud, sometimes the everyday person is a man and the elf a woman, as also in Elvehøj (much the same story as Elveskud, but with a happy ending), Herr Magnus og Bjærgtrolden, Herr Tønne af Alsø, Herr Bøsmer i elvehjem, or the Northern British Thomas the Rhymer. In order to oppose the Burning Legion, Tyrande reawakens the sleeping Elf Druids, starting with her lover, Malfurion Stormrage, and frees his brother Illidan Stormrage from prison, against Malfurion's wishes. The map is initially hidden from view and only becomes visible through exploration. These are often called "elves" (älvor in modern Swedish, alfer in Danish, álfar in Icelandic), although the more formal translation in Danish is feer. This is not necessarily the case, however. Meanwhile, an example of an equivalent in the Slavic-speaking world is the vila (plural vile) of Serbo-Croatian (and, partly, Slovene) folklore. They inhabit natural features like mountains, forests, old trees, caves, reefs, etc., as well as personify abstract concepts and natural phenomena. This was encouraged by the idea that "elf-shot" is depicted in the Eadwine Psalter, in an image which became well known in this connection. The shift towards a more cartoonish looking world that started with Warcraft III was continued in World of Warcraft which deliberately used less realistic depictions to allow the game to be played on less powerful PCs, thus increasing the potential player-base. Additionally, a new "upkeep" system means that producing units over certain amounts will decrease the amount of gold one can earn, compelling players to focus on playing with a limited number of units to avoid penalties. [story 1] After a brief encounter with a being who is known only as "the Prophet", and, fearing that his dream was more of a vision than a nightmare, he leads his forces in an exodus from Lordaeron to the forgotten lands of Kalimdor. The clearest English example is Elveden ("elves' hill", Suffolk); other examples may be Eldon Hill ("Elves' hill", Derbyshire); and Alden Valley ("elves' valley", Lancashire). When danger threatens their woodland homes, however, elves reveal a more martial side, demonstrating skill with sword, bow, and battle strategy. Thus in the US, Canada, UK, and Ireland, the modern children's folklore of Santa Claus typically includes small, nimble, green-clad elves with pointy ears, long noses, and pointy hats, as Santa's helpers. However, where narratives are more human-centered, as in The Lord of the Rings, elves tend to sustain their role as powerful, sometimes threatening, outsiders. A strong fanbase has opened up the opportunity for sponsorship and advertising, eventually leading the genre to become a global cultural phenomenon. , With industrialisation and mass education, traditional folklore about elves waned, but as the phenomenon of popular culture emerged, elves were reimagined, in large part on the basis of Romantic literary depictions and associated medievalism. Many commentators have also (or instead) argued for conceptual overlap between elves and dwarves in Old Norse mythology, which may fit with trends in the medieval German evidence. Jakob Grimm thought whiteness implied positive moral connotations, and, noting Snorri Sturluson's ljósálfar, suggested that elves were divinities of light. Elven forges naturally spawn in Elven smithieswhich can be found in Lindon, Rivendell, Lothlórien, and the Woodland Realm. Unlike previous Blizzard titles, such as Warcraft II or StarCraft, there are no mission briefings in which plot exposition occurs and objectives are announced; rather, Warcraft III uses a system of "seamless quests". Reconstructing the early concept of an elf depends largely on texts, written by Christians, in Old and Middle English, medieval German, and Old Norse. These cutscenes show the characters using a side-view camera, zooming in to the models. It seems likely that in the German-speaking world, elves were to a significant extent conflated with dwarves (Middle High German: getwerc). Beliefs in humanlike supernatural beings are widespread in human cultures, and many such beings may be referred to as elves in English. Integrating elves into Christian cosmology without identifying them as demons. The campaign-related cinematics were especially noted, with multiple critics declaring them most impressive feats of video rendering. Certain hero abilities can boost allied units. Though the editor has received updates through game patches, it is not officially supported as a product. Here is a very fun Printable Elf Craft that you can print out and do with your kids, grandkids, and groups. See more ideas about elf crafts, christmas crafts, crafts. , The Old High German word alp is attested only in a small number of glosses. In April 2018, Blizzard integrated widescreen support for the first time, more than 15 years after the game's first release. , The ballads are characterised by sexual encounters between everyday people and humanlike beings referred to in at least some variants as elves (the same characters also appear as mermen, dwarves, and other kinds of supernatural beings). But in early modern Scotland elf-schot and other terms like elf-arrowhead are sometimes used of neolithic arrow-heads, apparently thought to have been made by elves. , Beliefs about elves have their origins before the conversion to Christianity and associated Christianization of northwest Europe. In 2018, Rock, Paper, Shotgun declared Warcraft III to be the 34th best strategy game of all time. This version already had an interface concept, however most of the interface were placeholders. The versions demonstrated at E3 2001 and ECTS 2001 already contained all the final interfaces and units. However, in 1998, Blizzard canceled Lord of the Clans for not meeting the company's quality standards. Additionally, some Night Elf units become invisible at night when not moving. , In later Old Icelandic, alfr' ("elf") and the personal name which in Common Germanic had been *Aþa(l)wulfaz both coincidentally became álfr~Álfr. In the Finnic-speaking world, the term usually thought most closely equivalent to elf is haltija (in Finnish) or haldaja (Estonian). This tradition continues into later English-language traditions too: elves continue to appear in Middle English medical texts. Areas no longer in sight range of an allied unit or building are covered with the fog of war, meaning that while the terrain remains visible, changes such as enemy troop movements and building construction are not. Thus, some dwarves that appear in German heroic poetry have been seen as relating to elves. The game does not use mission briefings like its predecessor but instead tells the story using cutscenes rendered using the game's 3D engine. , Blizzard continues to maintain WarCraft III, regarding technical issues and compatibility for newer operating systems. An example is Geoffrey Chaucer's satirical tale Sir Thopas, where the title character sets out in a quest for the "elf-queen", who dwells in the "countree of the Faerie". Global scores and standings in matchmaking games are kept on a "ladder".. , Elves appear in some place names, though it is difficult to be sure how many as a variety of other words, including personal names, can appear similar to elf. It chronicles the combined efforts of the Human Alliance, Orcish Horde, and Night Elves to stop them before they can corrupt the World Tree. [story 3] He then joins Archmage Jaina Proudmoore, who aids him in investigating a rapidly spreading plague, which kills and turns human victims into the undead. Blizzard also released the Warcraft Battle Chest, which contains Reign of Chaos bundled with The Frozen Throne in one box. These literary elves were imagined as small, impish beings, with William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream being a key development of this idea. Throughout these sources, elves are sometimes associated with the succubus-like supernatural being called the mare. , Germanic *ɑlβi-z~*ɑlβɑ-z is generally agreed to be a cognate with Latin albus ('(matt) white'), Old Irish ailbhín ('flock'); Albanian elb ('barley'); and Germanic words for 'swan' such as Modern Icelandic álpt. Elfish beings appear to have been a common characteristic within Indo-European mythologies. Correspondingly, in the early modern period, elves are described in north Germany doing the evil bidding of witches; Martin Luther believed his mother to have been afflicted in this way.
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In this post, we will look at several significant theories of sociology. These are basic ideas that anyone familiar with the field would know.
Functionalism
The functional perspective in sociology sees society as structured in a way that the parts of society are interrelated and connected. Each part or piece of society’s primary purpose is to meet people’s social and biological needs. The ideas behind this thought were developed by Herbert Spencer, who compared society to the human body. As the various body parts work together, so do the various social institutions of society.
Social institutions are the organizations in a society that meet the social needs of people. Examples of social institutions include schools, government agencies, churches, families, hospitals, etc. When these various institutions work together to benefit individuals, a state called dynamic equilibrium is met, and society is generally stable.
With the development of any society, specific laws, morals, values, etc., govern individual people’s behavior. These rules are called social facts. These rules protect society from social unrest and insecurity. For example, perhaps all countries have rules against theft and murder as allowing such behavior to go unpunished would unleash chaos.
There are times when society tries to improve the general condition of members, and these are called manifest functions. An example would be encouraging people to buy a home and providing ways to do this. Latent functions are unsolicited outcomes of manifest functions. An example would be an increase in do-it-yourself repairs as more and more people buy homes. When a social process has a negative outcome, it is called a dysfunction. One example of this would be bankruptcy, as people cannot pay for the homes they purchased.
Conflict Theory
Conflict theory is a theory proposed by Karl Marx, one of the leading proponents of Communism. Marx saw the world as a battle between social classes. This battle can be seen in the inequality in which people have access to the various social institutions of society such as schools, homes, money, jobs, etc. The people who have the most access also work nefariously to ensure others never obtain the same amount or maybe none of these resources.
Out of Marx’s ideas of conflict theory came the contribution of the Frankfurt school and their work with critical theory. Critical theory expands conflict theory to include race, religion, sexuality, gender, and essentially anything that is not a part of the majority’s values. The majority oppresses all minority positions in one way or another. This further expands into ideas developed in intersectionality and critical race theory, queer studies, and more.
The idea of conflict has had a significant impact on the average person. Few people are familiar with functionalism, but almost everyone in the West has heard of inequality and how some have more than others. In addition, Conflict Theory is not content to be a theory but encourages rectifying the inequality in society. Communism, critical theory, critical race theory, Queer Studies, Feminism, and more do not just describe society but want to change it actively.
Symbolic Interactionist Theory
Symbolic interactionist theory is focused on relationships between individuals rather than the broader society. Proponents of this perspective look for patterns in the relationships among people. Instead of looking at inequality and oppression as a conflict theorist, a symbolic interactionist looks at the relationships between activists as they challenge the system. There is an emphasis on symbols and the meaning behind them.
Constructivism is the belief that we construct reality. A term commonly associated with this is social constructs. For example, people have proposed that race, sexuality, and gender are social constructs. In other words, these ideas only exist because people say they do. Naturally, this is highly controversial, but specific ideas that used to be considered fixed are now considered fluid as people challenge existing norms.
Conclusion
These major sociological theories are used as a lens through which many experts see the world. Most of these theories do not have a direct impact on the average person. However, these views influence educators and leaders who either train the next generation or are leading the current one. | https://educationalresearchtechniques.com/2021/08/26/basic-sociological-theories/?shared=email&msg=fail |
Major-General Horatio Gordon Robley was a British army officer and artist who served in New Zealand during the New Zealand land wars in the 1860s. He was interested in ethnology and fascinated by the art of tattooing as well as being a talented illustrator. He wrote the book Maori Tattooing which was published in 1896.
After he returned to England he built up a notable collection of 35 mokomokai (Maori tattooed heads). In 1908 he offered them to the New Zealand Government for £1,000; his offer, however, was refused. Later, with the exception of five heads, the collection was purchased by the Natural History Museum, New York, for £1,250.
Moko facial tattoos were traditional in Māori culture until about the mid 19th century when their use began to disappear, although there has been something of a revival from the late 20th century. In pre-European Māori culture, they denoted high social status.
There were generally only men that had full facial moko, though high-ranked women often had moko on their lips and chins. Moko tattoos served as identifying connection between an individual and their ancestors.
When someone with moko died, often the head would be preserved. The brain and eyes were removed, with all orifices sealed with flax fiber and gum.
he head was then boiled or steamed in an oven before being smoked over an open fire and dried in the sun for several days. It was then treated with shark oil. Such preserved heads, called mokomokai, would be kept by their families in ornately-carved boxes and brought out only for sacred ceremonies.
The heads of enemy chiefs killed in battle were also preserved; these mokomokai, being considered trophies of war, would be displayed on the marae and mocked. They were important in diplomatic negotiations between warring tribes, with the return and exchange of mokomokai being an essential precondition for peace.
In the early 19th century, with the arrival of Europeans in New Zealand, tribes in contact with European sailors, traders, and settlers had access to firearms, giving them a military advantage over their neighbors. This gave rise to the Musket Wars, when other tribes became desperate to acquire firearms too, if only to defend themselves.
It was during this period of social destabilization that mokomokai became commercial trade items that could be sold as curios, artworks and as museum specimens that fetched high prices in Europe and America, and which could be bartered for firearms and ammunition.
The demand for firearms was such that tribes carried out raids on their neighbors to acquire more heads to trade for them. They also tattooed slaves and prisoners (though with meaningless motifs rather than genuine moko) in order to provide heads to order.
The peak years of the trade in mokomokai were from 1820 to 1831 (after that the demand for firearms diminished because of market saturation). | https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/robley-maori-tattooed-heads-1895/ |
Flextime (also spelled flexitime [british english], flex-time) is a flexible hours schedule that allows workers to alter workday start and finish times in contrast to traditional work arrangements that require employees to work a standard 9 am to 5 pm day, flextime typically involves a core period of the day during which employees are required to be at work (eg, between 11 am and 3. (a) percent responding a particular factor important source: upjohn institute survey on flexible staffing arrangements in the upjohn institute survey, employers who stated that they had increased their use of a particular flexible staffing arrangement relative to their regular workforce since 1990 were asked why. Abstract in this paper, we examine the job stability of workers in a wide range of flexible staffing arrangements: agency temporary, direct-hire temporary, on-call, contract company, independent. Flexible staffing a generic term used to convey the use of various nontraditional work approaches, such as contingent employment arrangements, planned staffing strategies, or flexible work arrangements. Everything you need to know about flexible staffing arrangements flexible staffing arrangement defined flexible staffing is defined as the utilization of recruiting sources and workers who are not traditional employees.
A generic term used to convey the use of various nontraditional work approaches, such as contingent employment arrangements, planned staffing strategies or flexible work arrangements. Abstract this paper reports new evidence from a survey of over 408 us employers concerning their use of temporary and on-call workers more than 90 percent of responding organizations reported reliance on these flexible staffing arrangements. Its efficiency is often closely associated with the use of flexible staffing arrangements to provide just in time labor system which is derived from the just in time inventory system where if not more or less raw material is ordered for production, then why do that with the human resource. Flexible staffing does not mean an alternative to the traditional working day of nine-to-five - that is flexible schedule according to mbaskoolcom : flexible staffing is an arrangement in an organization where the employees can be from temporary agencies, leased employees or contract workers.
Over half of singapore employers (51 percent) used temporary staffing in the last year, according to the 2017 hays asia salary guidehowever, there is a slight drop on the previous year when 54 percent of employers across singapore were engaged in flexible staffing arrangements. Advantages for employers and employees exist when the employer allows employees to work flexible scheduleswhether the flexible work schedule involves compressing work days, flexible daily hours, or telecommuting, challenges exist for the employer and the employee. Do flexible work arrangements lead to better performance working longer hours fewer days a week could be good for business, according to new research from staffing firm the creative group.
Flexible staffing arrangements (such as temporary, contract, and part-time work) enable organizations to externalize administrative control or limit the duration of employment we examine the prevalence and correlates of such arrangements using a recent large, representative survey of us establishments. Flexible work arrangements the workplace culture at stanford is one that is rooted in collaboration, continuous discourse about planned work and projects underway, and in providing stellar service to our faculty, students, patients, alumni and donors. Flexible working arrangements: guidelines for staff the flexible working arrangement principles and guidelines expressed on this website have primary application to non-represented staff staff who are represented by a bargaining unit should see their collective bargaining agreement for information about flexible working arrangements. Using flexible staffing arrangements allows an employer not only to avoid some of the cost of full-time benefits such as vacation pay and pension plans, but also to recruit in a somewhat different market.
As china's workforce reaches new levels of maturity and wealth, flexible working arrangements are an increasingly important part of hr strategies by jake parker rising office rents, increasing traffic problems, and a recent rapid decline in air quality have led [. Flexible staffing arrangements let clinplan's experienced staff manage your clinical supply chain requirements from full project management, operational oversight and support we can flex to meet peaks and troughs in your personnel requirements. Adept packaging excels in staffing contract packaging engineers to work as part of clients' packaging departments in a variety of flexible arrangements we also offer talent acquisition services for direct recruitment of packaging related roles. Just-in-time staffing (jit staffing) a loosely used term that equates flexible staffing arrangements with the concept of just-in-time inventory control or delivery of parts for a manufacturing process. Flexible staffing arrangements using two new sources of data although it is generally presumed that flexible work arrangements reduce job security, such arrangements may serve as a vehicle for obtaining a more permanent, regular position, for those desiring.
Using data from their own 1994-96 survey of human resource managers in alabama establishments, the authors investigate what determines the use of flexible staffing arrangements in core jobs and how such arrangements affect the job security provided to regular core employees. Flexible staffing is an arrangement in an organization where the employees can be from temporary agencies, leased employees or contract workers the word flexible staffing has many connotations. Flexible staffing the company would be relieved of all the temporary employees' benefits, training cost, litigation and a huge hr department to conduct payroll, recruitment, selection and termination (tax and employment laws. In flexible staffing arrangements are dissatisfied with their arrangement in the case of agency temporaries, direct-hire temporaries, and on-call workers a majority stated that they would prefer.
With so many different types of positions and staffing levels, flexible work arrangements cannot always be accommodated the university policy on flexible work provides all staff with a consistent process for requesting and reviewing alternative work schedules. Flexible staffing: productive and cost-effective work arrangements [catherine d fyock] on amazoncom free shipping on qualifying offers.
What flexible arrangements are most important to you have you found that the workday is improved by focusing on results rather than time spent in an office advertisement. Flexible resources introduced flexible staffing more than 20 years ago and we continue to champion workplace flexibility and work-life balance we are proud of our groundbreaking history, which proves that flexible work arrangements are not only good for employees, they are smart for business. A flexible staffing arrangement comes in many forms and does not have definite meaning in 2013, it has become a multi-billion dollar industry with profits of staffing industries reaching $122 billion. | http://eypaperwjms.laluzsiuna.info/flexible-staffing-arrangements.html |
Today, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner testified before the House Financial Services Committee on the Obama Administration's proposals for financial regulatory reform. Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA) introduced the hearing by insisting that "media reports" that regulatory restructuring "is dead for the year are inaccurate," and that legislative hearings on the various regulatory restructuring proposals will begin next week. Chairman Frank also addressed the ongoing concern about regulating those institutions that are "too big to fail," stating that, although there is "no magic bullet" to resolve this problem, the Committee intends to put forth legislation to "substantially diminish this problem" and implement a "mechanism" for putting the concern of the failure of nonbank financial institutions "out of everyone's misery."
Several other members of the Committee addressed the overarching "need for reform" and the additional concerns that have been brewing over the past year, as noted by Rep. Luis Gutierrez's (D-IL) suggestion for increased capital requirements for financial institutions, avoiding predatory lending and the "importance" of creating the Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA), as well as Rep. Jeb Hensarling's (R-TX) staunch suggestion to "end all taxpayer bailouts." During testimony, Secretary Geithner stated that “As some normalcy returns to our financial system and our economy, we cannot let it be cause for complacency,” and focused his remarks on two main challenges to creating a "more stable system":
- Achieving the right balance between consumer protection reform and fostering competition- There is a need for a "dedicated, consolidated consumer protection agency" to enforce "strong minimal standards" with "consequences for firms that engage in unfair consumer practices," as the existing consumer protection system "failed to protect consumers from unexpected risks" and "failed to set clear rules of the road for sustainable innovation to thrive." To achieve these objectives, a "fundamental overhaul," is necessary, including "consolidating the fragmented and scattered authorities now spread across the federal government." However, the focus should be on "smarter regulation" and creating "stronger standards," without limiting consumer choice or "stifling innovation, growth and prosperity." In response to Rep. Michael Castle's (R-DE) concern that the CFPA would be an "activist agency" that would restrict or hinder certain normal bank practices, Secretary Geithner stated that the CFPA should not exercise "too much unbridled authority," and that pursuant to the proposed legislation, the CFPA "will be structured to be independent and accountable" including being governed by a separate board of regulators.
- Moral hazard risk of "too big to fail" - The framework for supervision and regulation of large, highly leveraged and substantially interconnected financial firms is "profoundly inadequate." Addressing the threats to financial stability posed by such firms is "central to the Administration’s financial regulatory reforms." Secretary Geithner stated that first, firms cannot "reap the benefits of explicit or implicit government subsidies without very strong government oversight," and the financial system cannot function if there is an impression that firms will always "be protected" if they fail. Second, the Administration intends to impose "tougher rules" on the largest, most leveraged, and most interconnected firms, including raising capital and liquidity requirements, raising capital charges on exposures between financial firms, and comprehensively regulating the over-the-counter derivative markets. Finally, the proposed legislation would provide the government with the authority, as it has now for banks and thrifts, but not holding companies, to unwind major financial firms "that pose the biggest risk" in an orderly fashion "without taxpayers assuming the burden" and with less overall collateral damage to the system.
Secretary Geithner stated that it is "realistic" to have reform completed over the next few weeks, but that is "a choice" Congress has to make. | https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=0ec6e0db-9062-4a73-bbdf-958e6988c3cc |
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INTELLIGENCE Chapter 9
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What is Intelligence? Intelligence—the abilities to acquire new abilities and new behavior and adapt to new situations. 4 Different Theories: Spearman’s Two-factor Thurstone’s Theory of Primary Mental Abilities Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory
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Spearman’s Two-factor Theory G-factor—represents a person’s general intelligence (the ability to reason and solve problems) S-factor—represents a person’s specific mental abilities (for example, some may be better at music or be more creative)
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Thurstone’s Theory of Intelligence Believed that intelligence was made up of 8 separate factors: Visual and spatial ability Perceptual speed Numerical ability Verbal meaning Word fluency Memory Inductive and deductive reasoning Belief that one can be high in one factor and low in another, but they are still dependent on each other.
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Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences Believed in 7 kinds of intelligences: Linguistic Logical-mathematical Visual-spatial Body-kinesthetics musical-rhythmic Interpersonal feelings Intrapersonal feelings Each one is based in a different part of the brain Main difference between Gardner and Thurstone— Gardner believed intelligences were independent of one another!!
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Gardner (continued) A person can excel at one intelligence but not another. Each intelligence is an intellectual potential that can be tapped into. Critics believe that special talents (such as music) are not considered to be intelligences.
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Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory Believed different types of intelligences work together Intelligence includes three abilities: Analytic (solve problems) Creative (deal with new situations) Practical (accomplish everyday tasks)
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Emotional Intelligence There are five factors that can make one successful: Self-awareness Mood management Self-motivation Impulse control People skills
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Links Between Different Types Do parts of the brain overlap? Some psychologists have done studies to show that music overlaps with other cognitive abilities.
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Measurement of Intelligence Section 2
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Types of Tests Achievement—what you have learned Aptitude—predicts your ability to learn new skills Intelligence tests (most-widely used) Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales Wechsler Scales
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Stanford-Binet Scales First test was used in 1905 Intelligence increases with age so tests were made for different age levels Look at page 211 for diagram Tests gave a mental age score. It shows the intellectual level at which a child is functioning. Intelligence quotient—number that reflects the relationship between a child’s mental age and his or her chronological age. IQ= Mental Age/Chorological Age X 100 Thus, 100 is considered to be average.
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The Wechsler Scales More widely used than Stanford-Binet! Consists of subsets of intellectual skills. Differ from Stanford-Binet in 2 ways: --do not use the concept of mental age --measures verbal and non-verbal (SB measures just verbal) Test is used to determine learning disabilities Look at figure 9.3 on page 213
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Reliability & Validity Reliability—refers to its consistency Validity—measures what it is supposed to measure If a test is reliable, one should get about the same IQ score every time. Both Stanford-Binet and Wechsler have proved to be highly reliable. If a test is valid, it should predict how one does in school or at a vocation.
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Problems with Intelligence Tests Education and Economic Background can affect results --Scores are approximately 10-15% lower in lower-income children Motivation Culturally Biased Tests --concepts only used by certain cultures --interpreted by different cultures different ways
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Differences in Intelligences Section 3
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Statistics Approximately 50% of the population’s IQ falls between 90-110 (average being 100) Approximately 95% of the population have an IQ between 70 and 130 The other 5% are defined by psychologists as mentally handicapped or gifted.
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Mental Retardation Having an IQ score below 70 defines an individual as being mentally retarded. Mild Retardation --80% of people who are mentally-handicapped have an IQ between 50 and 70. --Able to read, do arithmetic, and hold a job Moderate --people with an IQ between 35 and 49 --can speak, feed, and dress themselves --cannot read or solve problems --Down’s syndrome
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Mental Retardation (continued) Severe Retardation --IQ between 20 and 35 --some understanding of speech --may be able to feed themselves Profound Retardation --IQ below 20 --barely communicate --depend on others completely
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Causes of Mental Retardation --Accidents resulting in brain damage --Difficulties during Childbirth --Pregnant women abusing drugs or alcohol --Pregnant women who are malnourished --Genetic disorders such as Down’s Syndrome
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Giftedness Gifted --People with an IQ higher than 130 --motivation and creativity could possibly contribute --Children who are gifted should be identified early as to receive additional enrichment to foster their intellectual growth
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What Influences Intelligence? Section 4
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Where does Intelligence come from? Most psychologists agree intelligence is both heredity and from environmental factors Genetic Influences --Kinship Studies (heritability is between 40-60%) --Adoptee Studies Environmental Influences --Parenting Styles --Preschool Programs (Head Start)
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Journal Articles
J Exp Biol (2005) 208 (2): 297–308.
Published: 15 January 2005
Abstract
SUMMARY Bird vocalizations resonate as they propagate through a relatively long trachea and radiate out from the oral cavity. Several studies have described the dynamics with which birds actively vary beak gape while singing and it has been hypothesized that birds vary beak gape as a mechanism for varying vocal tract resonances. Nevertheless, few studies have attempted to quantify the effects of beak gape on vocal tract resonances. We replaced eastern towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus L. , syringes with a small speaker and obtained recordings of frequency sweeps while rotating each subject in a horizontal plane aligned with either the maxilla or mandible. We describe vocal tract resonances as well as how sound radiates as a function of beak gape. Results are inconsistent with the hypothesis that songbirds vary beak gape as a mechanism for `tracking' fundamental frequencies in vocalizations. Instead, decreases in beak gape seem to attenuate resonances that occur between ∼4 and 7.5 kHz. We propose that songbirds vary beak gape as a mechanism for excluding and/or concentrating energy within at least two distinct sound frequency channels.
Journal Articles
J Exp Biol (2004) 207 (23): 4025–4036.
Published: 01 November 2004
Abstract
SUMMARY Ring doves vocalize with their beaks and nostrils closed, exhaling into inflatable chambers in the head and neck region. The source sound produced at the syrinx contains a fundamental frequency with prominent second and third harmonic overtones, but these harmonics are filtered out of the emitted signal. We show by cineradiography that the upper esophagus, oral and nasal cavities collect the expired air during vocalization and that the inflated esophagus becomes part of the suprasyringeal vocal tract. The level of the second and third harmonics, relative to the fundamental frequency( f 0 ), is reduced in the esophagus and emitted vocalization compared with in the trachea, although these harmonics are still considerably higher in the esophagus than in the emitted signal. When the esophagus is prevented from fully inflating, there is a pronounced increase in the level of higher harmonics in the emitted vocalization. Our data suggest that the trachea and esophagus act in series as acoustically separate compartments attenuating harmonics by different mechanisms. We hypothesize that the trachea behaves as a tube closed at the syringeal end and with a variable, restricted opening at the glottal end that lowers the tracheal first resonance to match the f 0 of the coo. The inflated esophagus may function as a Helmholtz resonator in which the elastic walls form the vibrating mass. Such a resonator could support the f 0 over a range of inflated volumes.
Journal Articles
J Exp Biol (2003) 206 (11): 1833–1843.
Published: 01 June 2003
Abstract
SUMMARY Birdsong assumes its complex and specific forms by the modulation of phonation in frequency and time domains. The organization of control mechanisms and intrinsic properties causing such modulation have been studied in songbirds but much less so in non-songbirds, the songs of which are often regarded as relatively simple. We examined mechanisms of frequency and amplitude modulation of phonation in ring doves Streptopelia risoria ,which are non-songbirds. Spontaneous coo vocalizations were recorded together with concurrent pressure patterns in two different air sacs and air flow rate in the trachea. The results show that amplitude modulation is the result of the cyclic opening and closure of a valve instead of fluctuations in driving pressure, as is the current explanation. Frequency modulation is more complex than previously recognized and consists of gradual, continuous time–frequency patterns, punctuated by instantaneous frequency jumps. Gradual frequency modulation patterns correspond to pressure variation in the interclavicular air sac but not to pressure variation in the cranial thoracic air sac or air flow rate variation in the trachea. The cause of abrupt jumps in frequency has not been identified but can be explained on the basis of intrinsic properties of the vocal organ. Air sac pressure variation as a mechanism for frequency modulation contrasts with the specialized syringeal musculature of songbirds and may explain why the fundamental frequency in non-songbird vocalizations is generally modulated within a limited frequency range. | https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/search-results?f_AllAuthors=Gabrie%CC%88l+J.+L.+Beckers |
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automated method for configuring or re-configuring and using computational and network capacity at a factory by at last one equipment. The equipment produced at a manufacturing site comprises at least one software-based application. The present invention further relates to an associated equipment and a use of such an equipment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Equipment manufacturers usually do not only produce a machine that runs completely alone. In the digitalized Industry 4.0 world, several IT (= Information Technology) and OT (= Operation Technology) components are available to operate equipment efficiently and safe. Therefore, equipment manufacturers also configure a set of software components that leverage the full capabilities of their hardware components. These software components are not anymore only a small operating system on the hardware micro controller - nowadays different software components interact and communicate with large numbers of sensors, edge and cloud services, and control components. Integrating of these application environments and services with its distinct networking and connectivity requirements are a very complex and challenging task, as common industrial networks and infrastructures usually are not designed to handle these requests.
1) Equipment manufacturers must bring their own networking and computing infrastructure, e.g. specialized modems, industrial PCs, and must configure their own infrastructure. This includes also huge efforts for integrating their network segment with the existing factory network infrastructure.
Disadvantage is: Equipment manufacturers must comply to the IT/OT requirements of all their customers, and there are many different guidelines to follow per customer. Following these very complex requirements lead to huge efforts and costs.
2) The factory owner/operator creates the required network and computing infrastructure and manually installs all required components in the infrastructure.
Disadvantage is: Equipment manufacturers cannot pre-define their connectivity and computing environments, thus leading to huge integration and validation efforts of the applications.
There exist two common approaches:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The objective of the present invention is to provide a solution for on-demand edge-network deployment at a factory for industrial equipment used at the factory.
To accomplish the objective, the present invention provides a solution according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are provided in the dependent claims.
According to one aspect, the invention discloses how user defined application environments, as an example virtual communication networks, can be configured and rolled out on a typically already existing factory's infrastructure on-demand.
Typically, OT environments have an industrial edge-cloud infrastructure and the corresponding physical communication infrastructure in place and are configurable to host different networks.
OT (Operational technology) is hardware and software that detects or causes a change, through the direct monitoring and/or control of industrial equipment, assets, processes and events. The term has become established to demonstrate the technological and functional differences between traditional IT systems and Industrial Control Systems environment, the so-called "IT in the non-carpeted areas". Examples of operational technology include for example PLCs, SCADA, DCS, and Computer Numerical Control (CNC).
Equipment manufacturers have their own hardware setup and some software components that require a special interaction/communication with other software components of the manufacturer or also components and services of other companies.
With the invention, equipment manufacturers can now define their own application environments and network definitions and deploy it into the factory owner's IT/OT infrastructure in an on-demand fashion. The proposed method is not only designed for initial deployment of equipment, it can also be used for reconfiguration of the system during runtime (e.g., a AGV (= automated transport vehicle) is assigned to another production line and needs reconfiguration of its IT/OT components) .
Simplified, the disclosed method allows, that if new components (e.g., AGVs) are deployed into an existing infrastructure (e.g., communication) of an environment (e.g., a factory), the new components come piggyback with necessary information, configuration, and components in order to establish automatically on admission all necessary functionality virtually in the existing infrastructure of the environment, where they are deployed.
The disclosed approach allows equipment manufacturer to create and deploy their own virtual infrastructure, e.g., (virtualized) networks, and virtualized applications in the target infrastructures of their customers. This significantly simplifies the commissioning and operations of equipment as a very high degree of pre-configuration and testing is possible. The level of automation for commissioning will be significantly improved not only for equipment and application but also for the communication and compute infrastructure associated. In addition, this can also significantly reduce the hardware costs of an installations as software service components which are today as a precaution deployed to different compute resources can now be deployed in controllable virtualized common edge cloud of the customers.
OT administrators can validate the planned setups and configurations to ensure compliance to their regulations. Also, pre-defined templates (e.g., for factory-wide services and external connectivity) of the manufacturers can be used, so that OT administrators can control incoming and outgoing connections. OT administrators are also able to guarantee specific network and compute SLAs to the specific suppliers and can validate in case of failures, where the source of this failure lies.
at least one software-based application is installed in the equipment at a, the industrial equipment producing manufacturing site, and
by determining the demand of deployment of computational resources and communication resources of the computational and network capacity, and
by determining the demand of deployment of a network connectivity configuration needed for the application,
the equipment is set up and configured
whereby the deployment is performed when the equipment is registered at a factory administration unit at the factory.
The invention claims an automated method for configuring or re-configuring and using computational and network capacity at a factory by at last one equipment, whereby:
Factory means and includes all kind of production facilities, e.g. manufacturing sites, assembly lines, and shop floors.
In a further embodiment the equipment is an industrial equipment, comprising at least one computational device and at least one communication device.
In a further embodiment with the network connectivity configuration different types of connectivity needed for the application in the equipment are described.
In a further embodiment of the method the network is part of an industrial edge cloud.
WO 2020/002030 A1
An edge cloud is used to decentralize (processing) power to the edges (clients/devices) of networks. Traditionally the computing power of servers is used to perform tasks such as data minimisation or to create advanced distributed systems. Within the cloud model, such 'intelligent' tasks are performed by servers so they can be transferred to other devices with less or almost no computing power. In the patent application an example of an edge cloud is disclosed.
In a further embodiment of the method the equipment is set up and configured to make the application available for deployment to the network at the factory.
In a further embodiment of the method the equipment is set up and configured to package or explicitly split different applications to software containers or virtual machines.
In a further embodiment of the method the equipment is set up and configured to define an application environment at the factory for the application.
In a further embodiment of the method the application environment comprises the requirements of the application and the results of packaging applications regarding memory space, compute requirements, and storage capacity, to optimize the deployment mechanism for placement of the equipment in the network at the factory.
at least one software-based application, installed at an industrial equipment producing, manufacturing site, and
determining the demand of deployment of computational resources and communication resources of the computational and network capacity, and
determining the demand of deployment of a network connectivity configuration needed for the application,
a set-up and configuration
whereby deployment means deployment when the equipment is registered at a factory administration unit at the factory.
The invention further claims an equipment for configuring or re-configuring and using computational and network capacity at a factory, whereby the equipment comprises:
In a further embodiment the equipment is an industrial equipment, comprising at least one computational device and at least one communication device.
In a further embodiment the industrial equipment is an autonomous guided vehicle.
The invention finally claims the use of the inventive equipment in an edge-cloud of the factory, whereby the edge-cloud is hosting the computational and network capacity for the equipment.
In a further embodiment of the use the equipment undertakes intralogistics tasks in the factory.
Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
FIG. 2
FIG. 3
FIG. 4:
FIG. 5:
shows an illustration of an industrial edge-cloud and edge-networks at a factory,
illustrates how equipment manufacturers define their own application environments, including connectivity and networking,
shows an illustration of the virtual tenant network of an equipment manufacturer deployed on the shared infrastructure at a factory edge-cloud,
shows a block diagram of the main units of the system, and
shows a flow chart of the deployment method.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Fig. 1
Typically, OT environments have an industrial edge-cloud infrastructure and the corresponding physical communication infrastructure in place and are configurable to host different networks - usually driven by the network segment owners or the purpose of the network. shows an illustration of an industrial edge-cloud and edge-networks at a factory. The arrangement comprises the physical infrastructure 1, a virtual network 2 for a production cell and an administration network 3.
FIG. 2
illustrates how equipment manufacturers 4.1 define their own application environments 5 and "local" connectivity and networking requirements 6 for the produced and deployed equipment 4. Equipment manufacturers 4.1 have their own hardware setup and some software components that require a special interaction and/or communication with other software components of the manufacturer or also components and services of other companies.
FIG. 3
With the invention, equipment 4 manufacturers can now define their own application 5 environments and network definitions 6 and deploy it into the factory owner's IT/OT infrastructure in an on-demand fashion. shows an illustration of the virtual tenant network 7 of an equipment manufacturer 4.1 deployed on the shared infrastructure at a factory edge cloud with its physical infrastructure 1 and its administration network 3.
FIG. 4
shows a block diagram of the main components of a system using one embodiment of the inventive method. In the factory infrastructure following components are foreseen.
Firstly, an industrial edge-cloud is the core of OT infrastructure and hosts virtualized applications and application environments on industrial compute equipment (industrial PCs), thus, providing computing resources close to factories (e.g., production facilities or shop floors).
The industrial edge-network is running on a shared physical communication infrastructure 1 with its compute nodes 1.1 and allows for a setup of a multi-tenancy capable networking infrastructure through virtual networks with guaranteed resource access and industry standards for security.
A factory administration module 8 is operated and maintained by factory's OT/IT administrator. It is responsible for configuration and operations of the OT infrastructure. Through the OT administration module, the administrator can validate requests (resource access, connectivity, on-demand networks, and virtualized applications) before deployment. Reconfigurations of the system are also possible during runtime.
Descriptions of available services (IP, access rules, protocol endpoints) in OT infrastructure, access managed by OT admin,
External access (e.g. to Internet),
OT-/factory-specific information of communication and control networks (e.g., proxy or default gateway),
Security rules and firewall requirements.
In an operational OT infrastructure several services already exist and are available as common infrastructure for other users as well (e.g., MQTT broker). In addition, also pre-defined connectivity rules must be followed (e.g., access restrictions, security regulations) and infrastructure specific configurations exist (e.g., default gateway). These available OT services and connectivity rules are available for the OT administrator so that these settings can easily be applied to the requests of users (e.g., modularized playbooks for Ansible). Typical content of the OT Services and connectivity descriptions are:
The following components are defined by the equipment manufacturer 4.1 supplying the equipment 4.
Internal connectivity: communication links only between the manufacturer's Software components.
External connectivity - connectivity to the outside world, Internet, or components of other stakeholders.
Services provided by the manufacturer's Software components to external networks and other stakeholders.
Services consumed by manufacturer's Software components the from external networks - these external services are either provided by the factory owner or other stakeholders.
Connectivity and Network description 6: Software components in the application 5 environment require communication. The "Connectivity and Network description 6" defines different types of connectivity needed for the manufacturer's 4.1 software components:
Packaging of applications defines how manufacturer's 4.1 applications 5 are made available for deployment to the industrial edge-cloud. Here, different applications can be bundled or explicitly split to software containers or virtual machines.
Application environments: The software components necessary to operate equipment 4 are hosted in virtual environments (e.g., Software container, virtual machines) packaged into pre-defined application environments. The description of the application environment defines the requirements of the applications and the results of the packaging regarding memory, compute requirements, and storage, so that the deployment mechanism can optimize placement of components in the industrial edge-cloud.
FIG. 5
A:
B1:
B2:
B3:
C:
D1:
D2:
E:
F1:
F2
G:
H:
I:
J:
K:
L:
M:
N:
O:
P:
Q:
R:
Definition of connectivity and network, application packages, and application environments
connectivity and network description
packaging of applications
application environment
connect to industrial network, e.g. via onboarding zone
validation and check
augment connectivity and network description with OT services and connectivity
application packages
configure and install application packages
initialize start-up of application environments for equipment
configuration of appropriate application packages and trigger set-up
setup of configures application packages
configure virtual network for equipment according to augmented connectivity and network description
create and start-up virtual tenant network(s)
set-up network configuration and trigger set-up
network configuration and set-up
configure service endpoints
create service endpoints and create virtual network
create service endpoints and connect applications to virtual network(s)
create external connectivity (optional)
create and set-up virtual network function for external connectivity (optional)
finalize start-up application environments for equipment
shows a flow chart of the use of the described method in a nutshell. The following steps between equipment manufacturer 4.1, equipment 4, factory administration module 8, edge cloud 1 and the physical industrial network are performed in the following sequence:
1. Transport Units (e.g. AGVs, AMRs, human-operated forklifts), which execute transport jobs in a specific context of the application.
2. Transport Requester (e.g. Enterprise IT systems, handhelds, automation systems like production machines), which create the demand that transport jobs are performed by the transport units.
3. Fleet management and coordination, which coordinates the assignment of transport jobs to transport units either in a centralized or decentralized, self-organizing fashion.
4. Monitoring and analytics components, which allow analysis and visualization of the intralogistics solution.
Subsequently, an embodiment of the invention is described. One example where the method would have significant business value are intralogistics solutions. A typical intralogistics solution has the following major functional components:
1. Transport Units (as well as some of the Transport Requesters) are mobile across the application environment (e.g. whole manufacturing side). Thus, a connectivity coverage across major parts of the application environment is needed.
2. Intralogistics and production are two separate applications which have specific demands on the communication network (e.g. bandwidth, latencies). Both applications, if running on the same infrastructure, should not have any unpredicted influence on the performance of each other. It is typically very difficult to guarantee this as the intralogistics and production solutions are provided by different supplier, which typically do not disclose the details of their solutions.
3. Management and monitoring components need certain compute power. Typically, the questions arise where this will be deployed in the application environment and how this additional compute resources will be maintained.
Key challenges for application of these intralogistics solutions are:
These challenges can be addressed by two approaches, either the intralogistics solution comes with its own infrastructure equipment (communication and computation) or all components are integrated into the existing application environment infrastructure. The first solution is very expensive as a lot of equipment must be purchased and operated in addition to the existing infrastructure. The second approach today has the disadvantages that an extensive alignment and definition phase for the integration is needed and typically long commissioning and testing phases are required before system can go operational.
1. A tenant network context is defined by the intralogistics solution supplier for a specific customer e.g. IntralogisticsForCustomerX
1. MQTT pub/sub with SLA y1
2. HTTP based logging with SLA y2
3. Internal DNS service
i. Internal connectivity
1. https connection for update management by supplier
2. ssh connection for remote support by supplier
3. https connection for equipment monitoring by supplier
ii. External connectivity
1. Service to send new transport jobs to the intralogistics application (REST API)
2. Service to request monitoring data from the intralogistics application (REST API)
iii. Services provided
1. Central customer error notification service (REST API)
iv. Services consumed
a. Connectivity and Network description:
i. Packaging of monitoring, analytics and coordination components as docker containers c. Application environments
1. MQTT broker with compute requirements x1
2. Dashboard web application with compute requirements x2
3. Fleet management application with compute requirements x3
4. Monitoring and analytics application with compute requirements x4
5. System update campaign manager with compute requirements x5
i. Five Docker containers to be executed in edge cloud environment
b. Packaging of applications
2. For this IntralogisticsForCustomerX setup the following things are defined as example:
3. These definitions and corresponding applications will be integrated into the equipment (e.g. AGVs) to be shipped to the intralogistics customer
4. As soon as the equipment is shipped to the customer, a first component is turned on, and a connection to the OT administration module is established and the request to instantiate the setup of the IntralogisticsForCustomerX context in the customer infrastructure is sent.
5. After the setup procedure for the first equipment component is done, all the other components can be added subsequently in an automated plug and perform fashion.
The proposed method targets to significantly improvements of the second approach, by application of network and compute virtualization. For the intralogistics application this would be applied like described in the following:
By applying the proposed mechanism commissioning into customers infrastructure can be significantly simplified. It is a plug and perform mechanism which allows automation of commissioning not only for the specific equipment and application but also for the infrastructure.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiments as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
1
1.1
1.2
2
3
4
4.1
5
6
7
8
industrial edge cloud
physical infrastructure
compute nodes
virtual network for a production cell
administration network
equipment
equipment manufacturer
application
connectivity and networking requirements of the equipment 4
virtual tenant network
factory administration module
A
B1
B2
B3
C
D1
D2
E
F1
F2
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
definition of connectivity and network, application packages, and application environments
connectivity and network description
packaging of applications
application environment
connect to industrial network, e.g. via onboarding zone
validation and check
augment connectivity and network description with OT services and connectivity
application packages
configure and install application packages
initialize start-up of application environments for equipment
configuration of appropriate application packages and trigger set-up
setup of configures application packages
configure virtual network for equipment according to augmented connectivity and network description
create and start-up virtual tenant network(s)
set-up network configuration and trigger set-up
network configuration and set-up
configure service endpoints
create service endpoints and create virtual network
create service endpoints and connect applications to virtual network(s)
create external connectivity (optional)
create and set-up virtual network function for external connectivity (optional)
finalize start-up application environments for equipment | |
Zero trust is one of the most celebrated concepts in cybersecurity right now. The basic tenet of zero trust architecture is – trust nothing, always authenticate in order to protect the network. We explore what is a zero trust security model, the benefits of adopting it, and how to implement a zero trust architecture in an organisation.
What is zero trust security model?
The zero trust security model treats all users, devices, and resources as untrustworthy, regardless of who or what they are, or whether they are connecting to a system from within the network. Each resource within the network is treated as a separate entity that must be successfully authenticated to before users can access it.
Zero trust security is in contrast to traditional security models which focus on creating a secure perimeter and implicitly trust any account within that perimeter without any need to re-validate them, which makes it difficult to track a malicious actor through the network. Furthermore, as more and more organisations undergo digital transformations and migrate their network to the cloud, the traditional concept of the perimeter has been severely challenged, making zero trust a good choice for many organisations.
In a zero trust security model, every user and device is challenged to prove they are legitimate in order to carry out any action within the perimeter, from accessing systems to removing data. Lateral movement across the network is restricted, and the zero trust model creates a more secure environment that protects against unauthorised access to sensitive data and digital assets.
The zero trust security model contains several key elements, including granular security controls, strong authentication methods, network segregation, and controls against lateral movement.
Zero trust security model principles
A zero trust security model follows the idea that no network can be trusted, including the organisation’s own network. The creator of a zero trust architecture will need to utilise these principles:
Continuously monitor and validate everyone
Zero trust security models work on the assumption that anyone could be a malicious user whether they are from within or without the network. As a result, continuous monitoring, inspection, and logging of all traffic and activities is required to keep the network safe. This continuous monitoring will enable systems to verify user identity, privileges, device identity, and security at all times.
Require authentication and authorisation throughout the network
A zero trust security model breaks the network into many segments and creates access gates between every segment and for every application or resource within it. Every user (individual, device, and infrastructure component) is treated as suspicious until it can be verified.
The zero trust security model encourages the use of multi factor authentication as it strengthens the authentication process for users to access the network and individual systems, ensuring that only authorised users can access the network in the first place.
Follow the principle of least privilege
The principle of least privilege argues that users, devices, and systems must only be given access to the data and services they require in order to do their jobs. In a zero trust network, access is only allowed on an absolutely necessary basis, and when the request to access a system can be verified.
Know what and who is allowed in the network
All policies within a zero trust architecture should be as granular as possible. As a result, organisations will need to ensure that they know every component of the network’s architecture well to identify key resources, risks to the architecture, and who the users are.
Users on the network can include individuals (usually collectively known as users), applications, and infrastructure (including routers, switches, cloud components, and suppliers). Every user must be uniquely identifiable in order to navigate a zero trust architecture.
Separate the network into microsegments
Reducing security perimeters into small zones and requiring verification to move between those zones limits lateral access throughout the network. This means that even if a malicious actor is able to access one segment, they are unable to move to a different segment, and they are denied access to sensitive information. Ultimately microsegmentation minimises the impact should a breach occur.
Restrict lateral movement across the network
In a traditional perimeter network security model there are no internal access gates, and traffic can roam freely once it is within the perimeter. This makes it difficult to detect where a malicious actor is within the network.
In the zero trust security model, attackers can’t move laterally around the network because the network is divided into segments, and there are access gates to move from one segment to another. This allows the organisation to detect where the attacker is in the network, and cut the attacker off from the rest of the network.
The benefits of a zero trust security model
The zero trust security model relies heavily on tools to implement it, and as such requires significant investment and resources to monitor and maintain the system. However, zero trust architecture ultimately creates a far more secure environment, with significant benefits for organisations.
Protection against attack
Organisations are experiencing frequent and increasingly severe cyber attacks including ransomware, supply chain attacks, and insider threats. The main components of zero trust such as strong user authentication, network segmentation, and continuous monitoring are important elements of an effective cybersecurity programme.
Reduces risk by creating smaller attack surfaces
In a zero trust architecture users are connected directly to the applications and systems they require, not the entire network. This smaller connection represents a smaller attack surface as an attacker can only access that one system and is prevented from moving laterally across the wider network.
Provides access control over cloud environments
Digital transformation and migrations to the cloud have changed how the perimeter operates, and cloud security is a sometimes uneasy alliance between cloud service providers and the organisation.
With a zero trust architecture, security policies apply directly to the user requesting access, and therefore keeps security as close as possible to the assets that are being protected. This way, assets are protected by the authentication of the user.
Secures remote working
Remote or hybrid working patterns create insecurity for organisations as employees log into the network from outside the organisation’s safe space. Zero trust security’s strong emphasis on authentication and authorisation allows organisations to extend the corporate network into remote locations, protecting the network.
Improved monitoring and alerting
The range of tools that make up a zero trust security model include tools such as SIEM systems, security orchestration automation and response systems, and network detection and response systems. These automated tools will notify organisations of any unauthorised activity, and maintain logs to aid event analysis, all of which will allow them to identify security issues quickly, and begin their incident response.
Improves user experience through single sign on
The zero trust security model encourages the use of single sign on (SSO). With SSO, users only enter credentials once, making the entire system more usable and enables users to create (and remember) only one password at a time, encouraging stronger, more secure passwords.
Enables a streamlined, holistic approach to security policy creation
In a traditional model, security policies are created for and applied to each security system and area of the network in their own silos. The overarching zero trust security model encourages a more holistic approach to security policies across the network, and enables universal policies implemented end to end across the network.
Working towards a zero trust security model
Zero trust security architecture is estimated to improve the effectiveness of an organisation’s information security programme by up to 144%. While implementing a zero trust architecture may seem like a daunting task, it is undeniable that it has significant benefits in today’s challenging environment of remote working, cloud services, and cyber attacks. | https://www.cynance.co/zero-trust-security-model/ |
# Visual merchandising
Visual Merchandising is the practice in the retail industry of optimizing the presentation of products and services to better highlight their features and benefits. The purpose of such visual merchandising is to attract, engage, and motivate the customer towards making a purchase.
Visual merchandising traditionally occurs in brick and mortar stores using a blend of lighting, color combinations, and articles of decor to stimulate an observer and generate interest.
## History
When giant 19th century dry goods establishments like Marshall Field & Co. shifted their business from wholesale to retail, the visual display of goods became necessary to attract consumers. Store windows were often used to attractively display the store's merchandise. Over time, the design aesthetic used in window displays moved indoors and became part of the overall interior store design, eventually reducing the use of display windows in many suburban malls.
In the 20th century, well-known artists such as Salvador Dalí and Andy Warhol created window displays.
In the beginning of 21st century, visual merchandising was becoming a science. Currently, visual merchandising has become a major tool of business promotion which is widely used to attract customers and increase sales.
WindowsWear is a community and database of visual merchandising from around the world.
## Contribution to retail brand strategy
Visual merchandising contributes to a brand's personality and the characteristics associated with the brand. The design of the store should reflect this as part of their retail brand strategy. This includes the in-store environment and brand communications used, such as signage and images displayed in-store. These visual elements play a part in building a retail brand and therefore they help a brand differentiate itself from its competitors, create brand loyalty, and allows for a brand to place premium pricing on their products. Part of the brand strategy used in visual merchandising is research into the brand's target market to find out what their customers' values and self-images are. This information can allow the retailer to cater the design of a store and their advertising to match their consumers.
## Methodology
### Techniques
Visual merchandising supports retail sales by creating an appealing and enticing environment for the customer that will maximize company growth and profit by educating the customer with strategic product placement that highlights and stretches the brand image. Detail is retail.
For retailers to gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace, visual merchandising is an important factor and an effective way of adding value to their brand. Visual merchandising communicates with customers through elements that stimulate their senses, such as lighting, music, aromas, and television screens. The environment in which a consumer is in can influence the purchasing decisions they make. Research shows that stores that do not communicate well with their customers, such as the retail store having a poor layout, can cause customers to incur psychic costs, and may lead to customers being deterred from shopping again as overall shopping pleasure has been reduced. The physical environment is a primary objective in communicating with customers in retail. Research from Thaler shows that consumers are more willing to pay a higher price for a product if the product is purchased in a more favourable environment. This makes customers become more accepting of the higher price, rather than if it were to be sold in an old rundown store. Customers can form an important bias of the merchandise quality based on the retail store design environment, and even factors such as employee's interpersonal skills and how they are treated.
Visual merchandising builds upon or augments the retail design of a store. It is one of the final stages in setting out a store in a way customers find attractive and appealing.
Many elements can be used by visual merchandisers in creating displays including color, lighting, space, product information, sensory inputs (such as smell, touch, and sound), as well as technologies such as digital displays and interactive installations.
Store design consists of mainly two techniques: interior and exterior displays, also known as in-store design and window design. The goal of these two techniques is to attract the attention of consumers, entice them into the store, to keep them in the store as long as possible, and influence purchasing decisions. A recent study has found that these two techniques have the greatest effect on impulse buying; therefore, they are important aspects for the retailer. In-store design and window display techniques can be used to enhance the store environment, influencing consumer behaviour and purchasing decisions. In-store design is a technique, which can be used to enhance the atmosphere of the store and the overall store environment. Having a visually appealing store design can simulate the representation of the brand and attract customers. Efficient, customer-friendly environment makes shopping easier for consumers, which encourages buying and, most importantly, reassures repeat purchasing. The window design technique is a method of communicating with customers, which uses a combination of lighting, colours, props, text, and graphic design to display goods, attract the attention of the customer, and sustain a brand image. The overall goal of the window display for the retailer is to entice the customer to enter the store and motivate purchasing.
#### Interior displays
In-store visual merchandising can be used to capture the attention of consumers while they are in the store, an essential component in the buying decision-making process. To capture the attention of the customer, the retailer must consider the customer's needs during this process. Factors that contribute to the overall in-store design include the store layout, store design, point of purchases displays, item display, assortment display, and signage. When applied successfully to a store, these factors can meet the needs of the consumer and provide a positive in-store purchasing environment.
#### Store layout
The layout of a store is a significant factor for the maintenance of a thriving business, which can help advance sales and profitability. An effective store layout encourages consumers to shop the entire store and view an extensive assortment of merchandise. The most common forms of store layouts include grid layout, racetrack layout and free form layout. Choosing a store layout depends on the type of store and the nature of the product sold. A grid layout is generally organized in a rectangular shape, which allows customers to shop quickly and maximize shop floor space, ideal for a supermarket or hardware store. A racetrack layout ensures that the consumer only follows one path when browsing the store. This is beneficial in the sense that the consumer will come into contact with every product on the shelf. However, this can irritate customers. Customers may feel that they are being forced to follow a certain path, and can be frustrating when trying to make a quick purchase. Free form layout is a suitable layout for a store that encourages browsing. This type of layout is more relaxed in its structure, which leaves the customer feeling less rushed. The entrance of the store, otherwise known as the transition zone, is an important area in the store. The term "transition zone" was first coined by retail anthropologist Paco Underhill. This is an area where all shoppers pass on entry into store, and is significant as this zone is where consumers can observe the stimuli and sense the general vibe of the store. Therefore, thoughts and representations a consumer has about the store and the brand depend on this area. When customers enter the transition zone they need time to adjust to the new environment including the lighting, the temperature and other sights and sounds. Higher profit margin items aren't recommended to be placed in that area because customers don't notice it while they are preoccupied with adjusting to the new environmental stimuli. Spatial design of a retail store is a key aspect when it comes to creating an enjoyable experience, and is also an effective way of communicating with customers. Colour can be considered one of the most important variables when it comes to ambiance in retail. (Van Rom pay, Tania-Dijkstra, Verhoeven, & van Es, 2011). Certain colours that can be considered highly arousing can encourage customers to make purchases out of impulse. Warm colors such and orange, red, and yellow give consumers a sense of excitement, but also provide a sense of anxiety and create a distraction. Recreational shoppers that enjoy a sense of excitement may prefer these high arousal colors. (Van Rompay et al.,. 2011). In general, people prefer cool colours such as green and blue and associate these colours with a sense of calmness and security. Shoppers that are more task oriented are more likely to prefer these cool colours as they bring this calming effect and are also less likely to distract them from the task at hand. The way the furniture such as shelves and racks and seating are set up is a tangible element in store design. A store layout with a higher regard for space can increase customer pleasure, and a store filled with clutter can have the opposite effect. (Van Rompay et al.,. 2011). When It comes to a simple well-spaced layout in a store, task oriented customers find this type of layout to be the most effective, as they can easily locate the items they want without the unnecessary clutter and obstacles in their way. These simple factors can encourage customers to stay in the store longer and in turn spend more. (Van Rompay et al.,. 2011).
#### Mannequins
Mannequins are used by apparel retailers to display their products in-store and in the window display. They are a tool used to show consumers what their products look like on a person. The mannequins will commonly be styled to match trends as well display the latest products available. A study found that retailers projected an ideal image to consumers with the size and proportions of the mannequins. This is used to further reinforce the characteristics of their target market. However, consumers found the size of mannequins to be unrealistic but would give a favorable response to the mannequins when they were headless. This was because the participants in the study found the faces of the mannequins unrealistic and could not relate to them. Therefore, it is important for retailers to understand the thoughts and opinions of consumers on visual stimuli such as mannequins so they can create a more desirable shopping environment for the consumers.
#### Point of purchase display
Merchandise must be visible, easy to access, and there must be a range of merchandise to choose from. Having visible merchandise is essential for retailers as consumers not only "buy what they see" but are also able to tangibly engage with the physical product. This creates an emotional connection, which can drive the customer to purchase the product. The physical positioning of the product also increases visibility. Products at eye level also get more attention. "Eye level is buy level". Considering these elements when merchandising gives the customer a sense of freedom of choice. "Less is more" is a key principle in visual merchandising. Although having a wide variety of stock and product options is important for consumers, it is also important not to overwhelm the consumer. Having too many choices can be confusing to consumers and that phenomenon is referred to as the "tyranny of choice". Arranging stock so it is not overcrowded, and limiting the amount of merchandise on the shop floor, are important aspects of merchandising. Over-crowded stores can create a sense of stress and anxiety, which does not encourage the consumer to shop the entire store.
A limited product selection can make the purchasing decision easier. In a study done at a high end supermarket in California by psychologist Shenne Iyengar and Mark Lepper, there were two tables of jam samples, one with 24 flavors and the other with 6 flavors. More shoppers were attracted to the booth with the larger selection, 60%, as opposed to 40% being attracted to the smaller selection, but the sales that resulted from that were surprising. Only 3% bought from the larger selection and 30% from the smaller suggestion.
#### Bundling
Bundling is promoting objects that work together as a set. It inspires people how to use the products in their lives and also makes complementary product suggestions. In a fashion retail store, complete outfits on a mannequin or the placement of tops beside jackets and bags by other accessories such as scarves and jewelry are an example of bundling. The store has already done work in envisioning the look the items can used to achieve. Bundling also directs attention to specific products thereby limiting the product selection presented.
#### Atmospherics
The atmospherics also have a large influence on the store environment. Atmospherics should all coordinate with each other to create a consistent ambience and positively influence the consumer's shopping experience and buying decision-making process. Visuals such as light and display are not always enough to enhance the overall ambience of the store, and retain customer attention; therefore, other elements such as music and scents can be used.
#### Light
Light can be used in many ways in retail stores, from highlighting an object or area of a store to simply illuminate the entire store. Bright light can create a sense of honesty, positivity, and can promote impulse purchasing. Lighting can also be used to highlight the store layout and urge customers to flow through the store, exposing them to more merchandise. The level of brightness in the store is a very important factor in consumer behavior and the retail environment, as rooms that have dim lighting are less arousing than more brightly lit spaces. (Areni, 1994). Lighting can influence the customer's decision making, behavior, and also the overall spatial environment as lighting and ambiance are connected. Customers become more stimulated when the lighting in the room is considered to be very bright and speeds up the pace at which customers purchase products. Markin recommended that to slow customers' shopping pace, the merchandiser should adopt a softer lighting technique which will increase the amount of time customers spend in the store. (Areni, 1994). The result of this is a possible increase in the amount of merchandise the stores customer's purchase. This shows us that the differing levels of in store lighting can directly affect the amount of time consumers spend in the store. (Areni, 1994).
The lighting inside a retail store can be used strategically to highlight products on display or to create a comfortable environment for consumers. It is an important element used (alongside music, temperature, fragrance, and layout) in retail to create an atmosphere that matches with the brand's personality. Atmosphere of a retail store is significant as it was found that the mood of a customer will affect their buying behavior. A retailer can use soft lighting to create a calm and peaceful atmosphere for the customer or bright lighting to represent a fun and vibrant feeling associated with the brand. The strategic use of light can change the mood of a consumer and affect their subconscious mind during their shopping experience within a retail store. A retail store with a soft ambiance and bright lights highlighting certain products will drive the customer towards these products and motivate them to make a purchase.
#### Music
The music played within a store can promote a brand's image, and can also aid consumers in making purchase decisions. Music that suits the style of the store and the target audience is an important factor to consider. Music with a slow tempo can cause the consumer to relax; therefore, they spend more time in the store. This leads to more contact with merchandise and increased purchasing. Having music, which is popular within the target market, can also encourage consumers to linger in the store longer. For example, a store with a teenage target market should consider playing pop music, as this is a genre that a younger audience commonly enjoys. Playing this genre will make their shopping experience more enjoyable, which can result in them staying longer in the store, exposing them to more merchandise, and influencing possible purchasing decisions.
#### Scent
Having a unique scent in a store can differentiate the brand from others. When customers smell that scent outside of the store, this will trigger their senses and remind them of that brand and its products. Scents can also trigger emotional responses for example,
Lavender, basil, cinnamon orange– relaxing, soothing, calming, and reduces anxiety Peppermint, thyme, rosemary, grapefruit, eucalyptus – enterprising, stimulating, increases arousal and productivity Ginger, chocolate, cardamom, liquorice – romance Vanilla – comforting and calming Black pepper – sexually stimulating
Distributing scents throughout the store such as vanilla, lavender, thyme, rosemary, grapefruit, and eucalyptus can be advantageous for the retailer. These scents calm, soothe, and comfort, therefore, stimulating the consumer to loiter in the store, leading to increased merchandise awareness and increased impulse purchasing.
#### Exterior displays
Exterior window displays can be used to sell product and entice customers into the store. An eye-catching, innovative window display can promote the brand image. It can be used to advertise. Windows can give consumers and by-passers understanding as to what goods are sold in store They are also an effective way of promoting fashion trends and providing useful information to the target audience.
##### Window display
Visual merchandising is a multi-sensory tool used by retailers to catch the attention of customers and attract them into a store to make a purchase. The first piece of visual merchandising customers encounter with a brand is the window display. Window displays are used as an initial attraction to bring customers into a store and are also used as a marketing tool to communicate the brand's image to the consumers as well as to distinguish itself from its competitors.
The importance of the window display is that it is a touch point consumers have with the brand. By generating interest or curiosity with the window display, a brand can leave an impression on the consumer and furthermore the consumer can figure out the quality and character of the products the brand has to offer. An appealing window display can create desire of products from that brand and therefore help with generating sales.
A study in Nottingham, England of the pharmacy and beauty retailer Boots, has found that products introduced in a window display increases the sales of those products and help with increasing the sales of products which have low sales. Overall, stores who had a window display had a positive increase in sales compared to those who did not.
##### Colour
Colour is a powerful tool in exterior displays. It can aid creativity for exterior window displays and can have a unique effect on the consumer. The use of color can create atmosphere, grab the attention of by-passers, and attract them to the store. Different colors can trigger different emotional responses. For example, blue can trigger a calm response, green and brown can promote restfulness, warm colours such as red, orange and yellow can initiate exciting, cheerful, friendly, vibrant, simulating reactions, purple can give the impression of elegance and sophistication, while grey colours can give off a depressing, dull feel. Using colors that associate with a certain product or brand representation is also a useful technique when planning window displays. For example, using neutral colors such as green and brown when promoting environmentally friendly products is favorable, as they give off an earthy, relaxing effect; therefore, the consumer perceives those products as environmentally friendly.
Colour is a significant tool used in visual merchandising. It can be used to influence the behavior of consumers and evoke different reactions. Each color can make consumers feel a different emotion, and therefore, retailers will use colors selectively to help consumers make associations about their products on display. Bright and warm colors such as red and yellow can be used to attract attention as well as excite the viewer. Cooler colors such a blue and green gives a calm and tranquil response to the viewer while purple gives the feeling of sophistication and elegance. A mixture of colors to create a contrasting background to the products on display can have a high recall rate by consumers. International retailers need to be wise on their choice of colors used in visual merchandising as colors take a different meaning in different countries. For example, red is seen as a color of luck and good fortune in many Asian countries while it represents danger and excitement in Western countries. Therefore, global retailers are not able to use one set of colors for their visual merchandising across all their stores around the world.
##### Graphics, photography and signage
The use of graphics and photography in window displays is an effective way of communicating information to the consumer. The most common form of communication in window displays is through text and signage, especially when advertising a sale or a special. This technique is commonly directed towards price-driven customers who are constantly seeking bargains. Colorful, bold text and graphics are used to grasp the attention of these consumers. Signage should communicate a short, clear message, which is consistent with the brand's marketing communications model. Visually, signage should be appealing to the eye and easy to read. One effective way of using signage in windows is using a self-adhesive vinyl cutout to the window. Small signs in the window can also be used to communicate the price of a good or the discount. Photography can be used in a window display to enhance the theme of window or reinforce the brand's advertising campaigns.
##### Lighting
Lighting is another technique which can be used to enhance window displays. Lighting can be used to highlight certain products, and create dimension and set the mood for the window display. It is a successful tool as it can not only be used to highlight product during the day, but at night also. The brightness and colours of lighting can be adjusted to suit the mood of the display. Once again, different colours trigger different emotions and therefore create different moods.
##### Seasonal displays
Adjusting window displays based on seasonal events, calendar dates, and consumerism-based holidays such as Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Father's Day can be a useful approach to encourage consumer purchasing. Choosing products that suit the season to display in the window can remind consumers to purchase gifts and provide gift ideas for the particular holiday.
##### Fashion trends
Window displays can be used to set trends. Hence window display designers must always be one step ahead of trends and predict future fashion movements. The merchandise must be able to direct these trends to the target audience, and be able to communicate them in a way the audience is able to understand. Clothing must be styled on mannequins appropriately with popular clothing to draw consumer attention to the store.
### Planogram
A floor map helps visual merchandisers to find the best place for garments, according to the color stories of clothes and footwear in the shop. It is a kind of floor plan with merchandise marked. Another valuable tool is a planogram, to determine the visual look of your store's flow.
## Forms
### Window displays
Window displays can communicate style, content, and price.
Window displays are often used by stores to entice customers into the store. Store visual merchandisers will dress the window in current season trends - often including fully dressed mannequins as well as accessories on plinths or hanging from special display equipment.
A study in 2002 (Sen et al., 2002) found that clothing retailers will have the most success enticing their customers into their store by focusing on communicating current fashion trends and styling suggesting and ensure that they have a strong store image portrayed in the window display. Sen et al.'s study was an in-depth analysis of the various factors of window displays, and its findings argue that styling and display of clothing, instead of atmospherics, play a large part in consumer behavior and purchasing.
Display windows may also be used to advertise seasonal sales or inform passers-by of other current promotions.
### Food merchandising
Restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores, etc. use visual merchandising as a tool to differentiate themselves in a saturated market. | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_merchandising |
There are approximately 542 centerline miles of County maintained roadways within the unincorporated area (2019). This is considered the County road network. Roads and highways within Ventura County consist of an interconnected network of federal and state highways, as well as county, city, and private roads. Private roads are not maintained by the County. The connections between these roadway systems play an important role in facilitating local, inter-county, and interstate travel. These roadways provide access to local and regional destinations, such as employment areas, shopping centers, schools, recreational areas, and residential communities. The County has designated a subset of roadways as the Regional Road Network comprised of state-, county- and city-maintained roadways. The Regional Road Network facilitates inter-city, regional and interregional travel shown in Figure 4-2. Ventura County defines its roadways by functional classification shown in Figure 4-3. The Federal Roadway Functional Classification system as applied to Ventura County is shown in Figure 4-4. Federal classifications are directly tied to federal funding eligibility. The highest federal priority network is the designated National Highway System (NHS). Roadways designated as part of the NHS in Ventura County, some of which are County-maintained roadways, are shown in Figure 4-5. The latter roadways are subject to performance monitoring and targets as established in the National Performance Management Rule (23 CFR Part 490).
Ventura County roadways also facilitate the movement of goods throughout the region and state. The Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) truck routes, National and Terminal Access Routes, Primary Highway Freight System, Port Hueneme Primary Highway Freight System Routes and those local county roadways designated by the County as Overweight Vehicle Corridors are shown in Figure 4-6.
Pursuant to the 2008 California Complete Streets Act (see Gov. Code, §§ 65040.2 and 65302), certain classifications of roadways should also provide adequate right-of-way to accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transportation riders. Improving the multimodal functionality of the County’s roadway network is a key priority.
Bicycle facilities are defined using the following classification scheme:
- Class I: A Class I bike path provides a completely separated right-of-way for the exclusive use of bicycles and pedestrians with crossflow by motorists minimized.
- Class II: A Class II bike lane provides a striped lane for one-way bike travel on a street or highway and is typically designated by bike lane signs and markings.
- Class III: A Class III bike route provides a shared use area with pedestrian traffic or motor vehicle traffic (i.e., paved shoulder) and is typically designated with a bike route sign.
- Class IV: A Class IV bike lane provides a separated bike lane, or “protected bike lane” with a physical barrier between the bike lane and the adjacent travel lanes, parking lanes, and sidewalks. Class IV may be one-way or two-way. Separated bike lanes can be separated from motor vehicle traffic by raised medians, concrete curbs, landscaping, on-street parking, bollards, flexible delineator posts or by a change in elevation between the bike lane and travel lane. Providing a striped buffer between the bike lane and travel lane (i.e., no physical barrier) with restricted parking can provide the same additional separation between cyclists and motor vehicles where traditional Class IV facilities are not feasible and where Class II facilities are not adequate.
In total, the County maintains 58.2 miles of bike lanes – all but 1.56 miles are located within the shared roadway right-of-way (Class II or Class III). There are currently no Class IV bike facilities in the unincorporated areas of the County. The bikeway network in Ventura County is provided in Figure 4-7. Provision of transit service is dependent on the roadway network. Transit routes serving Ventura County are shown in Figure 4-8.
Planning for roadways near areas of new discretionary development can ensure that the roadway system maintains sufficient capacity and mobility. This section describes how the County will maintain and improve the quality of the county roadways to efficiently move people and goods on the highways and roads within and through the county.
The Ventura County Transportation Department’s priorities are public safety, ensuring roads are safe for use when used with due care in a manner in which it is reasonably foreseeable that they will be used; preservation of infrastructure; and preservation and maintenance of the public’s multi-billion-dollar investment in roads, bridges, and other facilities associated with the County road system. When funds are available, the County will strive to make operational improvements to specific areas of the road system as detailed in the Public Works Capital Improvement Plan. | https://egeneralplan.vcrma.org/chapter/roadways/ |
Issue of quantum measurement is tricky. Observer in quantum mechanics can have all the relevant data about particle, like in classical mechanics, but instead must consider an entity called “wave function”, which contains all data about particle’s quantum state. Wave function consist both continuous evolution via Schrodinger wave equation and discrete “collapse” when observer takes measurement. This was shown by John von Neumann.
By the late 1930s, von Neumann dual picture of continual, reversible evolution, followed by instant, irreversible collapse, had become the orthodox view of quantum measurement – what has come to be known as “Copenhagen interpretation”. Observation changed dynamics of quantum system from predictable continuity to random jumps.
The question of cycles versus linear arrows has been at core of discussions of time for millennia. Richard Feynman and John Wheeler offered third solution, the approach which would be called “sum over histories”, that presented time as labyrinth of alternatives. This approach sees actuality as a composition of all possibilities – like blend of all potential variants.
Nature offers four types of interactions: gravitation, electromagnetism, strong and weak nuclear forces. Wheeler was interested in Compton effect (Arthur Compton). It basically means that when electron receives energy and momentum from incoming proton, then he gives away weaker proton with longer wavelength. Photons serve as exchange particles of electromagnetic interactions. Scattering process was very important for development of quantum theory. Adding particle nature of electromagnetic radiation on top of its wave nature totally changed perspective.
Electromagnetic wave forms a duo of electric and magnetic fields oscillating perpendicularly to each other at the speed of light. A “field” is a kind of landscape of a chosen property (like electrical strength). Fields that have single values at each point are called “scalar fields”. Fields with multiple values at each point – like magnitude (amount) and directions are called “vector fields”. Vector fields convey both electrical and magnetic forces. Electric fields represent the amount and directions of electric force per unit charge. Magnetism is only experienced by moving charges. Accelerating charges that started everything are electrons that are jostled up and down in antenna. Today the idea of electromagnetic fields – pulsating through space in the form of electromagnetic waves – is almost universally accepted.
In 1905 Einstein’s theory of photoelectric effect showed that the wave picture of electromagnetism couldn’t be the full story. Conveyed via photon “wave packets”, light comprises a hybrid of wave-and particle-like properties. When we differentiate between stuff of matter, called “fermions” and essence of force called “bosons”, it has to do with quantum factor called “spin”. It actually doesn’t have anything to do with rotation, but the name stays from original name coming from mistake that rotation decides about magnetic reaction of electrons, which was not true since in order to do that, rotation would need to be faster than speed of light.
In 1928 Paul Dirac combined not only space and time but also energy and momentum. In his equation he cast electrons in special terms in special wave functions called “spinors”. He also noted that for every negative charged part of his equation there should also be counterbalance part, but with positive charge. Protons wouldn’t do since they have too much mass. In 1932 Carl Anderson found particles with positive charge, called “positron”.
Following Dirac’s methods, Feynman represented signals in terms of combination of harmonic oscillators of various frequencies (vibration rates) and amplitudes (peak values). Such simple vibrating systems, akin to springs, possessed clear physical and mathematical structures and thereby offered ideal components of more complicated patterns. However, he broke with Dirac’s methods by framing the interaction between electrons as occurring directly, rather than via photons, and excluding the possibility that an electron could interact with itself. As much as he loved determinism of classical mechanics, he knew that quantum process would introduce murkiness. Heisenberg’s principle of uncertainty mandated that position and momentum could not be known exactly and simultaneously.
Before Feynman would perfect his revolutionary method of summing quantum histories, the standard way to transform classical into quantum was to replace variables, such as position and momentum with mathematical functions called “operators”. The most important operator, called “Hamiltonian”, constitutes a combination of operators representing kinetic and potential energy. The Schrodinger equation, constructed around the Hamiltonian operator, nicely shows how wave function’s transformation in space relates to its transformation in time. But for Feynman principle of action-at-a-distance, this kind of operators wouldn’t do.
Richard Feynman’s sum -over-histories proposal introduced a forking view of time at the quantum level. Any interactions between particles happens in all conceivable ways, not just one, as long as the laws of physics are obeyed. Only by tracking and including all viable paths might one achieve a complete picture of reality. Historically there have been many different models of time. For the ancient world the most prevalent was the idea of cycles. Latter one-way arrow linear time concept was introduced. One such arrow arises in thermodynamics, developed by Rudolph Clausius. It is connected with entropy. Another arrow is cosmological time. Instead of cycle or arrow, the sum-over-histories approach suggest a third distinct way of viewing time: as labyrinth of ever bifurcating possibilities. In quantum world all those possibilities need to be consider in order to grasp whole dimension of it.
Both Wheeler and Feynman have been involved with Manhattan project and they both spend quite some time on it. Feynman still needed to finish his PhD. So, it was not until 1945 and article in journal Reviews in Modern Physics where Wheeler publish an article as part of articles written in celebration of Bohr’s sixty birthday. Wheeler and Feynman’s absorber theory particles feel impact of events taking place in the future – the advanced signals generated by the absorption of their radiation. From the seeds of Wheeler and Feynman’s concept of advanced signals, an entirely novel approach was electrodynamics would sprout. Coinciding with the new approach was a revolution in thinking about time. Their scheme unshackled particle physics from fetters of times’ forward motion, allowing the past, present, and future to speak with each other.
Development in quantum physics after the second world war brought also some revelations that Feynman and Wheeler could use in order to work on their absorber theory. One such author was Hendrik Kramers. He actually believed that electrons must interact with electromagnetic field (not like authors of absorber theory), but he sought to remove fields effect from bare electrons themselves. Kramers hoped to remove infinities from quantum electrodynamics to allow for finite, reasonable calculations of the self-energy and other physical quantities. Other was Victor Weisskopf, with its calculation of “vacuum fluctuations”. Vacuum fluctuation occurs when particles spontaneously emerge from the seeming emptiness of space, persist short interval and then sink back into the void. This temporary creation of matter out of nothing is permitted under Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle as long as duration is sufficiently brief. The most important experimental presentation in conference on Shelter Island was that from Willis Lamb and his student Robert Retherford, that found existence of small but distinct energy difference of two states of hydrogen atom. The discrepancy is known as “Lamb shift”.
After presentation of experimental achievement in the field of quantum physics in Shelter Island, Feynman set out to understand how electrons interact with the quantum vacuum in a manner that alters their observed mass and charge. He dropped actions at distance and reverted to more standard concept of electrons interacting via photons. He continued to apply his sum-over-histories techniques, recasting quantum electrodynamics within the framework of his time and spacetime approach. He sketched how particles behave. This is known as “Feynman diagrams”. In next conference after Shelter Island was held in Pocono Manor Inn. In this conference two methods of explanation of quantum electrodynamics were presented. Feynman diagrams that were not really accepted and Julian Schwinger method that methodically work on reducing infinite elements and getting finite answers on constant base. He has done that by properly grouping and counting. He drew from Kramer’s concept of renormalization – redefining mass and charge to eliminate infinite terms – without adopting Kramer’s sheer dismissal of Dirac. He also used Weisskopf’s finding in role of vacuum polarization and element of “group theory”.
It was Freeman Dyson that thought about possible explanation of quantum electrodynamics that would include at that time three main lines – Schwinger, Feynman and Japanese author Tomonaga (which came independently to similar results as Schwinger).
Wheeler started to work on relativity theory and explain it in a way: “Space acts on matter, telling it how to move. In turn, matter reacts back on space, telling it how to curve.”
While greatly admiring Einstein and Bohr, the quantum physics community had largely moved on to more practical interpretation of quantum measurement. Von Neumann’s idea, cohesively expressed in his textbook, offered the best expression of what had come to be called the “Copenhagen interpretation”. When taking quantum measurement, you single out a particular physical parameter, called “observable”. Before the measurement the quantum system consists of a combination of possibilities – called superposition of states (certain amount of each position state). The instant a position measurement is taken, everything changes. The system collapses randomly down to one of the position states.
It was Hugh Everret that challenge this view of collapsing and try to replace it with universal wave function theory. Including concept of split reality and potential parallel developments theory was hard to swallow for physics. It was DeWitt that promoted idea after his Chapter Hill conference and redubbed it the “many world interpretation” (MWI).
For humans we can distinct past and future, but for particles this is not a case. Wheeler believed that the universe begun in a chaotic state: a foam of quantum fluctuation in a sea of energy fields and geometry. Within that front, time would be undefined.
Feynman during that time received Nobel Prize. He had contributed to quantum theories of electromagnetism and the weak interaction and made a valiant attempt to unraveling the mysteries of gravitation. Next on his list was strong nuclear interaction. The quantum theory of strong interaction became known as a quantum chromodynamics.
Quantum guys had strong impact in computer developments. Even John Wheeler would come to adopt an information-centered viewpoint as well, linked to quantum measurement theory. He would abandon “everything is a field” for “everything is information”.
The Internet, with its labyrinthine structure, is an emblem of science’s move toward parallelism and away from cyclicality and linearity. The natural state is for every component of a system to interact in every possible way – a jumble of choices.
As sum over histories tells us, no matter how strange our path through spacetime, there exist many others that are even more bizarre. | https://principus.si/2019/07/01/paul-halpern-the-quantum-labyrinth-how-richard-feynman-and-john-wheeler-revolutionized-time-and-reality/ |
Community interviews are an important method of initiation, of addressing and involving the population. Although conducted one-on-one, the term ‘community’ is used because the subject of these interviews is the local atmosphere, the connection between individuals and the community, the content of local identity, development plans and the capacity to act.
Purpose of activity
The community interview is mainly meant to mobilize the individual to participate actively in the life of the community and the local society.
Key terms
community interview; content of local identity; community development plans; capacity to act
Conditions
-
- personal: community developer, community cultural organizer, local community volunteers
- material: meeting/resting rooms for people conducting the interviews, computer capacity, note paper and pens, printer, A4 sheets
- financial: room rental fee (if needed)
Applied tools and methods
Interviews can be conducted not only by the community developer, but also by the ‘core staff’, an interested and involved group of volunteers from the population selected during the first round of interviews with the assumption that they will take the initiative. This is only partly because it would not possible to cope with the number of interviews otherwise, another reason is that community development should aim at applying community working methods from the very start. At this stage the community developer shall prepare this ‘core staff’ for the function and methodology of initiating and conducting interviews.
The first step in contact building is to find the individuals that the heads of the local community that they know consider to be significant local personalities and opinion leaders. The community developer requests their participation in a conversation, a so-called interview, after explaining its purpose and gaining their consent. At the end of the first interview the initiator finds out who else in the community should be contacted for an interview. This way locals will suggest more initiators, while building a community network. This local network will gradually lead to a ‘wider circle’, which will play a decisive role later in the community discussions and surveys, when further activists will be added to their numbers.
The interview will them encourage to answer three basic questions:
- What does it mean for you to live here? (What is good about living here? What is not?)
- What would you change and how?
- How could you contribute to these changes?
Our basic attitude is supportive listening and empathy. We will have to make sure to put our partner at ease during the interview, and so giving positive feedback is acceptable. In case our partner tries to establish a balance in communication by asking questions about us, we may offer as much relevant information as seems necessary. We should not try to appear different from what we are, as this would destroy our credibility.
We should try not to pry ‘everything’ out of our interviewee. Quite the contrary: we should concentrate on finding out about their relation to the community, and should not let them get distracted by talking about relationship problems. The interview is successful if the interviewee feels good afterwards and does not regret revealing information about themselves to a stranger or wonder what the interviewer wanted and how the information will be used.
At the end we may offer an opportunity for another discussion, this time in a community form (please see methodology separately below), to which we invite each interviewee. We need to explain that a community action is being launched, whose content and methods will be designed and implemented by the community members with the help of professionals, and that we find their personal involvement in the process very important. It is useful to set a time and place for this community discussion before we say goodbye.
It goes without saying that we may not divulge personal information to locals about each other after the interview. A dictaphone or a notebook are the easiest ways of recording the interview, but if these make our interviewee uncomfortable, we may do without them and take notes afterwards. The personal content of an interview should never be published, but information relevant to the project may be included later in a project summary or in an application to a tender. It is quite likely that we get to meet special personalities, representing community norms or possessing rare (local) knowledge. They may be asked to take part in an interview, or series of interviews, to talk about their life, crafts and skills, and local traditions. This local knowledge, however, is not to be recorded for a local history collection, but rather to be returned to the community where it originates from, strengthened by local publicity (filmed portraits, poetry collections, articles in the local press, yearbooks and presentation in school classes, etc.). The interviews will thus become positive sources of community identity.
Local volunteers may summarise and classify the interviews with the help of the community developer. As the content of the local identity is taking shape, a list of values and problems is drafted and we get an idea of the local community’s level of activity and range of skills (i.e. how they can contribute to development by the community).
With an appropriate number of interviews, the developer and the extended core will have information about the issues that are on local people’s minds. At this point they are still unable to prioritise the problems – nor are they supposed to, as it is the community’s task – and they are also unable to see the main directions of community activities. These will unfold during the public community discussions (see there).
Results, expected outcome
- The ‘core staff’, the group of local initiators will take shape,
- the selection of volunteers, the ‘wider circle’, begins as well, and the first network initiative emerges,
- local volunteers are enabled to conduct community interviews,
- an initial idea is beginning to form about the content of local identity, local development plans and resources, and the motivation of the interviewees.
References: | https://cskwiki.hu/en/community-interview/ |
The Editor-in-chief initially assesses the appropriateness of each submitted manuscript for publication. Manuscripts which fall outside the journal’s scope or are substandard in respects of non-merit reasons (presentation, style, technical aspects) may be declined without a review. The Editor-in-chief appoints an Editor with expertise in the relevant field, who is fully responsible for further handling the manuscript and an ultimate decision about its acceptance/rejection.
The Editor initially evaluates the quality and potential impact of the work. The primary criteria for judging the acceptability of a manuscript are its originality, scientific importance and interest to a general zoological audience. This policy permits declination of a manuscript solely on the Editor’s judgment that the studies reported are not sufficiently novel or important to merit publication in the Travaux du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle "Grigore Antipa". Manuscripts deemed unsuitable (work incomplete, inconclusive, merely confirmatory, of insufficient originality or limited interest to a general zoological audience, with scientific or methodological flaws) are returned to the author(s) without a detailed review. Manuscripts that meet editorial criteria for content and minimum quality standard are rigorously vetted by external expert reviewers recruited by the Editor.
Research articles and short communications are reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers, review papers by at least three. Authors are encouraged to suggest names of potential referees though there is no agreement that the manuscript should necessarily be sent to them; the final selection of reviewers remains a prerogative of the Editors. Editors and reviewers are requested to treat all submitted manuscripts in strict confidence. The authors’ names are revealed to the referees, but not vice versa.
• novelty and originality of the work;
• broad interest to the community of researchers;
• significance to the field, potential impact of the work, conceptual or methodological advances described;
• study design and clarity;
• substantial evidence supporting claims and conclusions;
• rigorous methodology.
If a manuscript is believed to not meet the standards of the journal or is otherwise lacking in scientific rigor or contains major deficiencies, the reviewers will attempt to provide constructive criticism to assist the authors in ultimately improving their work. If a manuscript is believed to be potentially acceptable for publication but needs to be improved, the authors are invited to reconsider it, taking into consideration all reviewer’s suggestions.
Once all reviews have been received and considered by the Editor, a decision letter to the author is drafted. There are several types of decisions possible: | https://www.travaux.ro/web/review-process |
Since becoming a therapist, the word “curiosity” has become such an important word in my vocabulary. Not only do I use it often in my work with clients to promote exploration and growth, but also in my own life as a daily practice. I make an effort to remember to be curious about my thoughts, feelings and actions, as well as that of others, and the results have been truly astounding.
Implementing more curiosity into your life isn’t always easy because we are inherently judgmental, which impedes open-mindedness. Part of the process of fostering curiosity is noticing and challenging all of the critical thoughts that arise toward yourself and others each day. But with practice and patience, you will hopefully experience the transformation that my clients and I have been experiencing due to slowing down and remembering to be more curious.
Curiosity is a skill that everyone should cultivate. Here are 5 reasons why:
1. Curious Individuals are Rarely Bored
At its core, curiosity is about exploration. When you make the conscious decision to explore both your inner world and the world around you, feelings of boredom and monotony will likely be replaced with fascination and inspiration. That isn’t to say that everything you uncover about yourself and others will be positive and motivating, but it is nevertheless an engaging journey, and it is one that doesn’t have to be taken alone.
Boredom is a choice. Instead choose curiosity. It may take some extra mental energy, but the result may be excitement, the discovery of new possibilities, adventure, surprise, and insight. A rock can be a rock, or you can choose to pick it up and discover what’s underneath it, challenge yourself and see how many times you can skip it across the water, grab it and turn it into a collection, or use it to create something new and share it with a friend. Open your mind and whenever you’re bored, ask yourself why! You have the ability to change that.
2. Cultivating Curiosity Benefits Our Social and Romantic Relationships
Strengthening your sense of curiosity can greatly change the way you interact with those around you and lead to better connection in your close social and romantic relationships. Curiosity can help you become a better listener, develop more empathy, decrease your defensiveness, and all in all become a more pleasant person to be around.
Everyone enjoys feeling validated and understood. Unfortunately, we often find ourselves in conversations and relationships where these feelings are not achieved. Why is that? To name a few, we don’t actively listen because we are too consumed by our own thoughts and feelings. We don’t empathize because we don’t have enough interest in others’ experiences and how they differ from our own. We get defensive because we care more about our own “right-ness” than the other person’s unique, and possibly challenging perspective. We don’t let ourselves be guided by curiosity.
The next time you are having a conversation with your partner, friend, family member, remind yourself to be curious and see how it impacts the discussion and your feeling of connection. Here are some ideas on how to do this:
· Don’t listen with the intent to respond or rebuke. Listen with the intent to listen.
· Put in effort to truly hear what they are telling you and try to repeat it back to them instead of interjecting your own thoughts and feelings. You will have time to share what you want to, just be patient.
· Don’t start a question with a “why,” which insinuates judgment. Begin with “I’m curious” or “I’m wondering,” to gain better understanding of their perspective. (Yes this is a therapist trick, but everyone should try it!)
· Asking clarifying questions will not only slow down your process but also theirs. You can each learn more about yourselves and one another.
3. Being Curious Prepares the Brain for Better Learning
Curiosity will actually make your brain more active and strengthen the area of your brain that deals with emotions and memory. This leads to an increased ability to learn and retain information, a better work and academic performance, and higher motivation and problem-solving capabilities.
If you’ve ever been truly interested or passionate about something, than you’ve probably experienced these benefits. It’s easier to learn and remember information when we really dedicate our attention to it. Find things that spark your curiosity and go with it! Your brain will thank you.
4. Curiosity Fosters Mindfulness and Gratitude
One of the best parts about coming from a place of curiosity is when you can escape the chaos of your own mind and start to notice different aspects in the world around you that you otherwise wouldn’t see. Often times, practicing curiosity reveals a hidden beauty and order to the world that is sometimes hard to see behind the negativity we all face at different times in our lives.
Curiosity is a central feature of mindfulness and gratitude. When we are sincerely interested in our experience, this deepens our engagement with it. This allows us to bring our attention more fully to the present moment, appreciate what we currently have and see, as well as discover new hopes and possibilities.
5. Curiosity Promotes Personal Growth
This is one of my favorite aspects of utilizing curiosity in psychotherapy. When I share mutual curiosity with my clients, amazing changes occur. In addition to everything listed above, I’ve seen increased curiosity lead to individuals:
· Rediscovering their creativity and producing beautiful pieces of art and music.
· Becoming more resilient in face of adversities.
· Gaining better self-understanding and self-worth.
· Better comfortability with uncertainty and control over anxiety.
I could go on but I think you get the picture. In addition to the relationship between a client and their therapist, I believe that curiosity is an important agent of change in psychotherapy.
Therapy can provide a safe environment where you can learn to implement these skills into your life. Call today to start your journey toward self-exploration, growth, and healing. | https://www.cylafisktherapy.com/blog-the-better-self/curiosity |
In 1933 Fritz Zwicky was studying the motion of galaxies within the Coma Cluster. He found that the motion could only be explained if there was considerably more mass present than what could be observed. Later, in the late 1970s, Vera Rubin was observing the rotational dynamics of the andromeda galaxy. She was attempting to verify theories of how such a galaxy should be spinning. Again, the motion didn’t fit the theory. Again, only having more mass there than could be observed could explain the motion. Thus, we have “dark matter”—a form of mass only observable by its gravitational effects. | https://thelabwithbradbarton.blubrry.net/archives/date/2017/09/page/2 |
St. Valentine’s Day
If I had been hit in the head with a hammer, I could not have been any more smitten. I first saw Clare across the crowded dining hall at Furman University. We were both sophomores in the middle of first semester exams. The study break set up by student government offered coffee, hot chocolate, and doughnuts.
I went for the food.
I found Clare.
I suppose you could say it was love at first sight. Knowing immediately that I wanted to go out with Clare, I called several times to ask for a date. Each time I phoned, she already had plans.
Finally, I asked, “How far ahead do I have to call in order to get a date with you?”
“Why don’t you ask me to go out the following Saturday?”
“How about Saturday after next? Would that work for you?”
“Yes,” she answered.
When we finally went out for supper and a movie, her beautiful green eyes captivated me. I suppose you could say it really was love at first sight.
Some believe that love at first sight is a myth. Recent studies by scientists have shown that a small area of the brain responds differently to that one special person. Deep within our gray matter, neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, are activated. This reaction creates a state of euphoria that corresponds to the feeling of love at first sight.
In ancient Roman mythology, Juno was identified as the goddess of love and marriage. Her feast day was celebrated on February 15. Each year the Romans conducted a three-day party called Lupercalia, which was, in essence, an early version of the “Dating Game.” Eligible young men and women, who were single but old enough to be married, gathered for the celebration, complete with plenty of food, wine, and the inevitable matchmaking.
Couples brought together during Lupercalia were often struck by love at first sight. The Romans believed that fluttering invisibly in their midst was the lesser god Cupid who fired his arrows indiscriminately. They thought that an unsuspecting subject struck by Cupid’s arrow would fall in love with the next person who came into view. I suppose it would be a little like being hit in the head with a hammer or being love struck in the Furman dining hall. Interestingly, marriages often resulted from the matchmaking of Juno’s feast.
This year Clare and I will celebrate our forty-eighth wedding anniversary. We were married on a hot, humid summer day at the Methodist Church in Leesville, South Carolina. My three brothers and Clare’s brother, Ben, were the groomsmen.
The wedding went along as we had rehearsed. I said my vows. The minister asked Clare to repeat her vows. Before she could respond, there was a loud crash!
Clare’s brother, Ben, had been sick with a fever all night. He had told no one. Standing next to a bank of candles in that very warm church, Ben fainted. His mouth hit the altar rail, knocking out a front tooth. Blood gushed everywhere. My brothers picked up his limp body and hauled him, with his arms and legs dangling, out of the sanctuary. Clare’s dad jumped from his seat and went out with his wounded son. After about five minutes, the father of the bride returned. Clare, shaken by the entire episode, spoke her vows to me.
I think that Clare had an advantage. When she repeated “for better or worse,” she at least had an inkling about what that meant.
In Rome during the time of the persecutions under Claudius, a young Christian priest named Valentine often visited those who were in prison, giving them comfort and consolation. His kindness was motivated, not by romantic love, but by deeper love. His desire as a priest was to remind those suffering that God is faithful in every circumstance. Valentine demonstrated the love of God that never fails.
The Romans arrested Valentine when they learned that he violated the law by performing marriages for Christian couples. On February 14, 269 A.D., during the Feast of Lupercalia, Valentine was martyred. He was beheaded on the altar of the goddess Juno. Later canonized by the church, he became known as St. Valentine.
Over the years the love that Clare and I share has grown into love that exceeds that first infatuation. It is a love that is deeply committed.
After nearly forty-eight years of marriage we understand what our vows meant on that summer day in a Methodist church in Leesville, South Carolina. We have had many moments of great joy as well as times of deep sorrow. Through it all we have experienced what I often include in the prayer when I officiate at a wedding: “May the love that they share as husband and wife multiply their joy and divide their sorrow.”
That is the way marriage has been for us. That is the love that we celebrate on Valentine’s Day, on our anniversary, and on every day that we have together.
St. Valentine’s Day in our culture has become a time to express romantic love with chocolate, flowers, and heart-shaped cards. I encourage people in love to continue that tradition. However, by all rights, February 14 ought also to be a time to express a much deeper love, love for all of the children of God.
One of the special joys in recent years for Clare and me has been to be with our grandchildren. We now share joy in cradling our infant grandchildren in our arms, stretching out on the floor to play with our preschoolers, sitting with a grandchild and reading a book, and picking up an old guitar to sing a song together. Is there anything that warms our hearts and stirs us to love like holding a little baby or delighting in the childlike philosophy of our little professors? For me, looking into their faces has been another experience of love at first sight.
When I am with our adult children and our grandchildren, I feel the same kind of committed love that I imagine God feels for each of us. He created us and brought us into the world, forming us in His image.
Red, yellow, black, and white, We are all precious in God’s sight.
The love of God is love at first sight. Whether we are married or not, that divine love is worth celebrating on St. Valentine’s Day.Kirk H. Neely © February 2014
Comments are closed. | https://kirkhneely.com/2014/02/09/st-valentines-day-2/ |
"Co-creating a wellbeing economy through social innovation!"
We are happy to be a partner/contributor at NESI (New Economy & Social Innovation) to be held in Malaga 24 - 26 April 2019
NESI Global Forum 2019 will focus on how to achieve our Global Goals – Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations and the Climate Change Agenda – through local action.
In this edition participants will explore how to achieve our common Global objectives (Sustainable Development Goals and climate change goals) from a local perspective and through social innovation on six tracks:
Food Sovereignty
The Future of Work
Urban & Housing
The Future of Energy
Sustainable Textiles
The Future of Finances
NESI forum is considered the ‘Davos’ of the new economy as it is the most relevant event worldwide to gather all the people and organizations involved in the development of the new economy that focus on people and planet.
The Forum will be set in the year 2030 to create a special atmosphere. Participants will be invited to DISCOVER solutions that already exist in different key sectors (food, housing-urban, sustainable fashion,energy, work and finance) during the Pre-Forum (Feb.-Mar.).
During the NESI Forum (24-26 April) they will DREAM the perfect City 2030 and will DESIGN how to move from today to that vision through collaborative action for each key sector. Finally, there will be a Call to Action so we will start to DO the change both during the Forum and the Post-Forum phase. | https://www.economiacreativa.eu/hub/news-events/nesi-global-forum-2019-co-creating-a-wellbeing-economy-through-social-innovation |
Edensor, Timothy J. and Holloway, Julian (2008) Rhythmanalysing the coach tour: the Ring of Kerry, Ireland. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 33 (4). pp. 483-501. ISSN 1475-5661Full text not available from this repository.
Abstract
This paper utilises and extends Henri Lefebvre's ideas about rhythmanalysis to explore the rhythmic qualities of taking a coach tour. The paper investigates the Ring of Kerry tour in the West of Ireland and reveals both the reproduction and disturbance, through itinerary and narratives of the coach drivers, of anticipated discourses and visual indexes of commodified Irishness. Central to the paper is the ordering of different rhythmic assemblages, which connect and disconnect in multiple ways. It is argued that the rhythmic multiplicity of coach tours involve entanglements of embodiment, affective registers, technologies and materialities. The paper reveals how the myriad tempos and rhythms of the tour take on different consistencies and intensities at different stages of the journey, and investigates the capacities of these rhythms to affect and be affected by the pulse of the spaces moved through and stopped at. In so doing, a supplemented rhythmanalysis is suggested as a productive approach for apprehending tourist spaces, practices and landscapes.
Impact and Reach
Statistics
Additional statistics for this dataset are available via IRStats2. | http://e-space.mmu.ac.uk/96209/ |
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