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Nomenclature for factors of the HLA system--1977.
A Nomenclature Committee composed of geneticists and immunologists, including specialists in tissue typing, has met after each of the Histocompatibility Testing Workshops beginning with the 3rd Workshop in 1967. The Committee met again, in part under the auspices of the World Health Organisation and for report to the International Union of Immunological Societies, after the 7th Workshop in Oxford in September 1977, with the aim of updating the nomenclature for specificities of the HLA-A, B, C and D loci and establishing a nomenclature for the new specificities identified by serological techniques on B lymphocytes.
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Markets have continued to be volatile over the last few months, however unemployment rates are continuing to fall globally and we are experiencing synchronised growth across most economies.
Fear of trade wars between the US and China is causing tension in the markets globally. Inflation is also a concern, with many investors wary of the potential for tariffs to quickly impact inflation figures and trigger unwanted economic policy responses.
In the US, the Federal Reserve increased rates again in September 2018, adding more downward pressure to the Australian Dollar. There is a high likelihood of the Fed increasing again by the end of this year. Even though mega cap stocks such as Facebook and Twitter missed expectations and their share prices have fallen, other tech stocks such as Apple and Amazon are leading the way on earnings growth.
Business optimism is weakening in the Eurozone due to trade and political uncertainty. The Bank of England also raised rates for the first time in 10 years, which is a sign of strength but also raises the concern of rate hikes being too high too soon.
The emerging markets sector has fallen significantly over 2018, mainly due to a stronger US Dollar and the impact on debt servicing (notably in Argentina and Turkey). In addition, weaker commodity prices have affected a number of emerging market economies.
Closer to home, the ASX 200 is getting some momentum with our unemployment rate continuing to fall. Property prices are continuing to decline in the major cities, with tighter bank lending conditions playing a major part. Potential declines in the Australian dollar could prove to be a boost for exports moving forward.
Economic Outlook
Following a reasonable period of global growth, we remain cautiously optimistic about the opportunities ahead. The factors that contributed to growth in recent times look set to continue, namely continued global growth, low inflation (excluding the US), and supportive monetary policy.
Volatility looks set to continue also, driven by trade and geopolitical concerns, inflation risks, and the possibility of higher interest rates restricting growth. The likelihood of global recession remains low, interest rates are generally favourable, and earnings growth in most economies looks positive.
|Economic indicators: Current at 28 September 2018||1 year % excluding dividends|
|Australia: ASX 200||9.5%|
|Japan: Topix||8.4%|
|China: CSI 300||-10.0%|
|UK: FTSE 100||2.6%|
|US: S&P 500||16.1%|
|Australia: Current at 28 September 2018|
|AUD/USD||0.72|
|Official interest rates||1.50%|
|Aus 10-year bond yield||2.67%|
AGS Financial Group Pty Ltd, ABN 70 093 990 946, trading as AGS Financial Group, are authorised representatives of AMP Financial Planning Pty Limited ABN 89 051 208 327 (Australian Financial Services Licence No. 232706). Any advice on this page is general in nature and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Accordingly, you should consider the product disclosure statement for any product and your own objectives, financial situation and needs before acting on this information and before acquiring a financial product. You can obtain a copy by contacting us on 02 9966 8188.
Financial planning, corporate benefits and mortgage services are provided by AGS Financial Group Pty Ltd ABN 70 093 990 946, an Authorised Representative of AMP Financial Planning Pty Limited ABN 89 051 208 327 (AMPFP), AFS Licence No 232706. Accounting, taxation, and business advisory services are provided by AGS Accounting Pty Ltd ABN 12 166 728 696. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation. | http://www.agsfinancialgroup.com.au/investment-update-%E2%80%93-october-2018 |
How is preparing for retirement different for women?
Retirement Planning Challenges Only Women Face
Women must approach retirement planning differently than men. While there are always exceptions to the rule, statistics show that women both live longer and make less money than men. These two truths simply require looking at long term planning carefully and preparing in a way that will help to strengthen a woman’s financial future for when she is ready to retire.
A new study released in 2018 by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research asserts that women earn 49 cents to the typical men’s dollar. This is much less than the 79 cents that had been widely reported. Regardless as to which of these figures is most accurate, over the course of a career, that gap in earnings is significant. The same study states that 43% of today’s women workers had at least one year with no earnings, and according to Money Magazine, overall women work an average of 12 years less than men. This leads to less in Social Security and pension benefits, along with loss of time to take advantage of compounded interest and potential employer contribution matches to their retirement plans.
While one may plan to work until age 70, there are factors not always within our control, such as our health or physical ability, that can influence that possibility. Under-employment and downsizing are equally troubling for both men and women, however, the overall impact to a woman’s retirement resources can be greater.
To further underscore a woman’s need to plan differently, her retirement is likely to be more expensive in health care costs. Medical science is keeping us alive longer. Statistically, a 65-year-old woman will live to age 86, and 45% have a chance of living to 90. According to Fidelity Investments’ 16th annual retiree health care cost estimate, as a result of women’s longer life expectancy, they can plan to pay $147,000 as opposed to men’s $133,000.
As inflation eats away at one’s buying power, there is the very real possibility of running out of funds in retirement if careful planning has not taken place in advance. Social security is not enough. The average benefit for women age 65 and older is $14,000 per year. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, 16.4% of singles 65 and older live below the poverty line, compared with 5.0% of married individuals in the same age group. Women must be especially cautious to take proper measures now so that they give themselves as much financial security as possible for their future.
What Women Want in Retirement Planning
Women want to know that their future is as secure as possible and that these unique financial challenges they face in retirement can be addressed. What can be done now to prepare?
- Saving is very important. Create a plan to consistently set aside money that is earmarked for retirement.
- Investing for the future. The stage of her career a woman is in, along with financial and other factors will contribute to determining risk tolerance. A financial planner can use this information to help create an investment plan that is designed for her individual needs.
- Tax planning. Take advantage of any appropriate tax benefits that may be available.
- Prepare for the unexpected. Review all insurance policies to determine if coverage levels are appropriate or need to be adjusted. Insurance is a way to manage risk as insurance coverage is to protect from potential large unexpected expenses.
- Educate yourself. The more you know about your own financial future, and the factors that affect it, the better prepared you’ll be to deal with any unforeseen circumstances.
- Work with a financial advisor. A financial advisor can help put all of the pieces together to ensure you stay on track for a successful retirement.
While for some of us it may seem that there is still plenty of time to think about retirement, it is never too early to plan. It can be surprising to learn that women face additional challenges to the ones faced by men in preparing for that time but educating yourself about the facts and making wise choices can lead to a more comfortable future. | https://frischfinancial.com/blog/retirement-planning-for-women/ |
Which Hunt? presents visceral new work in which Diane Victor grapples with South Africa’s gender-based violence epidemic and considers the complex social structures that underpin patriarchal power relations worldwide.
Victor does not claim to speak for all victims of the history of violence against women. She makes the point that the phenomenon is not new, but rather that ongoing scourge is currently being paid much greater attention. In this exhibition, Victor examines the pervasive effects of blame culture in society alongside depictions of women who have been made to bear responsibility for the abuse inflicted on them.
Deploying Victor-esque (dark) humour and characterisations drawn from real life, the artist considers universal traditions of violence against women, from the history of witch-hunts in Europe and America, to ‘corrective rape’ in South Africa today.
A drawing, titled Punching Judy, is inspired by the puppet show ‘Punch and Judy’ in which gender-based violence is trivialised. For Victor, the show is laced with a ‘horrifying absurdity’ as ‘children are encouraged to laugh at a baby being battered and a woman beaten to death.’ She seeks to expose these everyday narratives for instilling feelings of guilt and shame in men as well as women.
In her practice, Victor is renowned for boldly confronting taboo subjects and for rendering her subjects in affecting detail with masterful, mark-making across various mediums. This exhibition features etchings and lithographs, which were made during residencies in America and France last year, as well as large-scale drawings, smoke on glass and drawings made with candle smoke and ash as well as other burned materials.
Last year, Victor did three international residencies: the Helen Frankenthaler Print Residency at the Connecticut Centre for Contemporary Print (USA), Fondation Blachere Creating Residency (France) and the Cill Rialaig Residency Project (Ireland). Recent awards include the international print prize at the 2013 Guanlan International Print Biennale (China) and the Krakow Print Triennial award (2006). Her work recently featured on FUIR Exposition en Fondation Blachère Centre d’Art: Ten Artists Interrogate Exile in France.
Victor has exhibited widely in South Africa and internationally at MoMA (New York), the National Museum of Contemporary Art (Oslo) and at Yale University Art Gallery. Her work is held in collections, such as MoMA NYC, the Victoria and Albert Museum London, the Johannesburg Art Gallery, Wits Art Museum, Durban Art Gallery, Pretoria Art Museum, Iziko SA National Gallery in Cape Town and the SASOL Collection. Victor has lectured in Fine Arts at Tshwane University of Technology, the University of the Witwatersrand, Rhodes University and the University of Pretoria where she currently teaches printmaking and drawing.
Diane Victor (b. 1964 in Witbank, South Africa) has established herself as a major figure in the South African and International art communities and is renowned for her expert printmaking and draughtsmanship. Victor positions herself within the South African art scene through her bold confrontations with difficult and at times taboo subject matter. Her large scale drawings and etchings demonstrate a command of mark-making, which she uses to render her subjects in affecting detail. At times, her work seems to pose challenges to social and political life in contemporary South Africa, considering issues of corruption, violence and an unequal power distribution.
Having received her BA Fine Arts Degree from the University of the Witwatersrand, with a major in Printmaking, and graduating with distinction – Victor has gone on to win various prestige awards including the Sasol New Signatures Award in 1987. In 1988, Victor became the youngest recipient of the prestigious Volkskas Atelier Award which granted her a ten-month stay at the Cité Internationale des Artes in Paris, France. Over this period, Victor was able to work collaboratively with other experienced printmakers and to observe and reflect on a society very different from her own.
Victor has exhibited at numerous venues around South Africa and internationally, some of which include the UNISA Gallery, Fried Contemporary, MoMA New York, Faulconer Gallery, The Highpoint Center for printmaking, The Gus Fisher Gallery, National Museum of Contemporary Art Oslo, Yale University Art Gallery, The Contemporary Museum Honolulu, and Australia and Adelaide Central Gallery. Victor’s work is part of a number of important collections, including Sasol, Pretoria Art Museum, Johannesburg Art Gallery, Durban Art Museum and Santam.
Since 1990, Victor has been a lecturer, teaching Fine Art, at various South African institutions including the University of Pretoria, Tshwane University of Technology, Open Window Academy, the University of the Witwatersrand, Rhodes University and the University of Johannesburg.
Victor lives and works in Johannesburg, South Africa. At present, she is a senior Fine Art lecturer at the University of Pretoria’s Department of Visual Art. | http://goodman-gallery.com/exhibitions/925 |
These earrings are inspired by the window design in the Currier Museum of Art’s Zimmerman House, a masterful Usonian house, designed by famed American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. These earrings are based on the design for concrete block windows which run horizontally across the house’s façade. The block itself is a graceful exercise in proportional relationships, measuring two feet by two feet with a one-foot by one-foot central glass pane.
Frank Lloyd Wright was born in Richland Center, Wisconsin in 1867, and Taliesin, Wright's home, studio and country estate, is located in the hilly Driftless Region of southwestern Wisconsin near Spring Green. Wright's “Prairie style” became the basis of 20th-century residential design in the United States, and his furniture, art, and writing was crucial to twentieth-century architectural development and has a profound influence on the decorative arts to this day.
Details: | https://shop.wisconsinhistory.org/frank-lloyd-wright-window-design-earrings |
Contemporary warm-climate architecture tends to welcome the outdoors, with living spaces that transcend the boundaries between inside and out. However, in the early 20th century this was a novel concept, and California owes these roots to Austrian architect Rudolph Schindler and his innovative Schindler House.
The Californian weather was an eye-opener for Schindler, who was born in Vienna (where he studied under architect Adolph Loos) and moved to Chicago in 1914. After working with pioneering architect Frank Lloyd Wright, he moved to Los Angeles in 1922 to launch his own practice. Schindler revelled in the outdoor lifestyle that the climate permitted and, inspired by a camping holiday in Yosemite National Park, decided to create his own studio and home.
The house was radical in construction, with its flat roof and palette of concrete, wood, glass and canvas. Even more daring was its layout: designed for two families to share, much like a campsite, the Schindler House is actually two interlinked L-shaped apartments. Each living quarter contains a studio and is connected by an area that acts as a communal kitchen and laundry space. In keeping with the campsite theme, meals were eaten outdoors and the families slept in rooftop ‘sleeping baskets’ – redwood four-poster canopies, protected from the rain by canvas sides. The 232-square-metre home sits on a vast plot of almost 1,858 square metres, and living areas are delineated by hedges and different garden levels.
Schindler lived in the house until his death in 1953, with the second apartment home to creative friends and later his estranged wife, Pauline. He designed more than 400 other projects, many of which are now considered modernist landmarks, but the Schindler House stands out. As the first home to respond to the LA climate, it became the prototype for a distinctly Californian style.
For information on visiting the house, go to makcenter.org
This article first appeared in June 2019 issue of Elle Decoration
Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox. | https://www.elledecoration.co.uk/houses/a28469874/schindler-house-la-the-modernist-marvel-rudolph-schindler/ |
With the miniaturization of the electrical components and the advance in aerospace technology, new methods of spatial propulsion have been developed. This thesis project is focused on solar radiation pressure modelling, solar sail kinematics and dynamics and attitude determination and control. Solar sailing is based on the same principle as any conventional propulsion system, Newton's third law. However, solar sails gain momentum from Sunlight photons and thus can provide continuous acceleration. The momentum carried by photons is small and for that reason solar sails must have a large area and be extremely light. Since conventional actuators are not suitable for attitude control in solar sailing, specific methods based on Reflectivity Control Devices (RCDs) have been discussed. | https://upcommons.upc.edu/handle/2117/110164 |
Duke University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic is focused on the safety of staff, faculty, students, health care providers, and the public we serve. The Office for Institutional Equity will follow Duke COVID-19 guidelines for all in-person meetings, workshops, and events. Communication concerning masking and if activities will be held in-person or virtually will be made in advance and changes will be communicated as soon as possible. Please visit the Duke Coronavirus Response webpage for more information.
Jump to a section:
Affirmative Action Plans | Equitable Hiring and Promotion Practices | Data Analytics | Leadership Support
Equal Opportunity Statement
The Duke Equal Employment Opportunity Statement applies to both Duke University and Duke Health and is maintained and reviewed by Duke’s Office for Institutional Equity. This statement, or a link to it, must be incorporated in all job postings and job advertisements. Last reviewed: 7/30/2019.
Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.
Our Role
The Equitable Hiring and Affirmative Action Group in the Office for Institutional Equity is responsible for:
- Preparing Duke's Affirmative Action Plans (AAPs) and Equal Employment Opportunity reports (EEOs);
- Implementing Duke’s policies on Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action related to pay discrimination and prejudicial promotion practices, including performing investigations;
- Conducting federally mandated and internal EEO data analytics;
- Providing consultation services, education, and training;
- Serving as liaison between Duke and governmental agencies in areas of contract compliance, reporting, and regulatory matters.
Affirmative Action Plans
Each year, the Office for Institutional Equity develops Affirmative Action Plans (AAPs) not only in accordance with federal regulations, but also to serve as management tools when assessing the efficacy of DEI initiatives as well as hiring and promotion practices. These Plans include those policies, practices, and procedures that reinforce and ensure our commitment to equal employment opportunity. In addition, these Plans describe Duke’s faculty and staff populations, population trends, and workforce analytics.
The process for developing the Plans allows us to engage in self-analysis and discover any barriers to equal employment opportunity at Duke and to encourage the advancement of diverse hiring and promotion practices. The Plans also serves as a guide in monitoring progress and developing operational processes to enhance equal opportunity in all sectors of employment at Duke.
Annual Affirmative Action Plans are available through Duke Box. Please know that the Plan documents are confidential and are available only to designated managers and senior administrators. The following plans are available for review:
Duke University - Executive Order 11246 Plan
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Duke University Affirmative Action Plan
Duke Health - Executive Order 11246 Plans
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Duke Health Administration Affirmative Action Plan
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Duke University Hospital Affirmative Action Plan
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Duke Regional Hospital Affirmative Action Plan
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Duke Raleigh Hospital Affirmative Action Plan
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Patient Revenue Management Organization Affirmative Action Plan
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Clinical Laboratories Affirmative Action Plan
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Duke Primary Care Affirmative Action Plan
VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act Plans
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Duke University & Duke Health Affirmative Action Plan for Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities
The following are extracts from the 2019 Plans:
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Duke AAP for Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities – 2019
The full versions of these publications are available for review by contacting Duke’s Office for Institutional Equity.
Equitable Hiring and Promotion Practices
Consultation, Education, and Training
Part of promoting a culture of inclusion and awareness at Duke includes assuring that stakeholders have a valuable and reliable resource for resolving questions related to equal opportunity, affirmative action, and regulatory compliance. We provide consultation, education, and training across Duke that can be customized to specific situations that exist within particular entities. In addition, based on findings outlined within our annual Affirmative Action Plans as well as regular internal analytics, we proactively work to close any potential barriers to equal opportunity and to help departments understand how the AAP can be a useful tool to support diversity in their hiring and promotion practices.
Federal and State Compliance, Reporting, and Regulatory Affairs
The Office for Institutional Equity is responsible for maintaining compliance with Federal and State equal opportunity and affirmative action laws. In addition, OIE manages regular reporting to these agencies and serves as Duke’s liaison for regulatory matters.
Data Analytics
The Office for Institutional Equity maintains and regularly assesses data related to Duke’s employee populations, transactions, application process, and other activity. In addition, OIE tracks labor market demographics to help guide outreach and recruitment. While some of this information is used to produce our annual Affirmative Action Plans and for regular compliance reporting, our main goal is to transform demographic and transactional data into meaningful insights that drive Duke’s equity and diversity initiatives.
Throughout the year, OIE works to develop and update metrics, monitor trends, and deliver reports and presentations that outline general, departmental, and Duke-related trends in composition as well as best practices. In an effort to assess relevant data to instruct DEI plans, OIE can work with departmental leadership and provide aggregate data that will be instrumental in the creation and implementation of such initiatives. As such, OIE will provide and analyze relevant aggregate data with administrators and leadership of official Duke entities with a legitimate need to know. Though personally identifiable information will not be shared, we will review pertinent thematic data that can inform initiatives.
For those who are interested in such resources, please review the Data Usage Toolkit, submit this form, and the Office will promptly respond.
Mailing Lists
OIE is continually working to connect community members to beneficial resources and information. Though individual names of group members will remain appropriately confidential, we will coordinate with campus leadership to circulate information to particular employee affinity groups and resource networks. For additional information, please review Duke OIT’s Group Email Policy.
Leadership Support
Duke University and Duke Health are committed to affirmative action and fair employment. In our classrooms, clinics, laboratories, offices, and other workplaces, we believe in giving all employees the opportunity to succeed. Our commitment to principles of fairness and respect for all creates a climate that is safe, inclusive, and welcoming for all. We believe in the free and open exchange of ideas and understand that our differences are a source of strength that help foster new advances in education, research and patient care.
Each year we prepare and maintain an affirmative action program in accordance with federal regulations. The process of completing this plan gives us an opportunity to review our institutional policies and shine light onto areas where we have room for improvement in strengthening our commitments.
Since the adoption of Duke's first affirmative action program in 1970, we have made great progress toward making our community diverse and inclusive. However, there is still work to be done. We ask you to carefully review the documents released as part of this year's program, giving particular attention to issues that affect your area of responsibility. Please share the plan with your staff and encourage them to use the information as a tool to develop strategies for addressing equity issues. Our commitment to fostering a workplace in which all members are respected and valued is a fundamental principle of this university's mission, and to realize its full benefit, we all must make it our own personal commitment as well. | https://oie.duke.edu/aap-equitable-hiring-promotion-practices-data-evaluation |
The Pycnometer is used for determination of specific gravity of soil particles of both fine grained and coarse grained soils. The determinination of specific gravity of soil will help in the calculation of void ratio, degree of saturation and other different soil properties.
Contents:
Specific Gravity of Soil By Pycnometer Method
Equipment for Specific Gravity Test of SoilThe major measuring equipment in this test is Pycnometer. This is a glass jar of 1 litre capacity that is fitted at its top by a conical cap made of brass. It has a screw type cover as shown in figure-1. There is a small hole at its apex of 6mm diameter. The leakage is prevented by having a washer between the cap and the jar. While closing the jar, it is screwed till the mark so that the volume of the pycnometer will remain constant throughout the calculation. Mentioned below are the equipment and apparatus required to conduct the test for specific gravity of soil by pycnometer method.
- Pycnometer of about 1 litre capacity
- Weighing balance, with an accuracy of 1g.
- Glass rod
- Vacuum pump
- Oven
Procedure for Specific Gravity of Soil by Pycnometer Method1. Clean and dry the Pycnometer. Tightly screw its cap. Take its mass (M1) to the nearest of 0.1 g. 2. Mark the cap and Pycnometer with a vertical line parallel to the axis of the Pycnometer to ensure that the cap is screwed to the same mark each time. 3. Unscrew the cap and place about 200 g of oven dried soil in the Pycnometer. Screw the cap. Determine the mass (M2). 4. Unscrew the cap and add sufficient amount of de-aired water to the Pycnometer so as to cover the soil. Screw on the cap. 5. Shake well the contents. Connect the Pycnometer to a vacuum pump to remove the entrapped air, for about 20 minutes for fine-grained soils and about 10 minutes for coarse-grained soils. 6. Disconnect the vacuum pump. Fill the Pycnometer with water, about three-fourths full. Reapply the vacuum for about 5min till air bubbles stop appearing on the surface of the water. 7. Fill the Pycnometer with water completely upto the mark. Dry it from outside. Take its mass (M3). 8. Record the temperature of contents. 9. Empty the Pycnometer. Clean it and wipe it dry. 10. Fill the Pycnometer with water only. Screw on the cap upto the mark. Wipe it dry. Take its mass (M4).
Observations and Calculations for Specific Gravity of SoilThe specific gravity of soil is determined using the relation:
|Sl. No.||Observations an Calculations||Determination No.|
|1||2||3|
|Observation|
|1||Pycnometer No.|
|2||Room Temperature|
|3||Mass of empty Pycnometer (M1)|
|4||Mass of Pycnometer and dry soil (M2)|
|5||Mass of Pycnometer, soil and water (M3)|
|6||Mass of Pycnometer and water (M4)|
|Calculations|
|7||M2 – M1|
|8||M3 – M4|
|9||Calculate G using formula|
Results of Pycnometer TestSpecific gravity of soil at ___0C = _____. Unless specified, the specific gravity values of the soil will be reported at 27-degree Celsius. The specific gravity of soil particles will come within the range of 2.65 and 2.85. If the soils consist of porous and organic materials, a specific gravity value of less than 2 will be obtained. A specific gravity value greater than 3 will be shown by soils that have heavy substances.
Precautions
- The soil sample to be tested for specific gravity must be completely free from lumps. If present, they have to be broken down into the original form.
- Two main reasons for error in the calculation are weighing inaccuracies and the presence of entrapped air. Entrapped air have to be eliminated completely before testing the sample. The weighing balance has to be checked before conducting the test.
- The soil sample taken for testing have to be completely oven dried. | https://theconstructor.org/geotechnical/specific-gravity-soil-pycnometer-procedure-calculations/2677/?amp=1 |
Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction combined with music therapy on pain, anxiety, and sleep quality in patients with osteosarcoma.
To evaluate the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) combined with music therapy (MT) on clinical symptoms in patients with osteosarcoma. Patients diagnosed with osteosarcoma were assessed for eligibility. A total of 101 patients were ultimately randomized into the intervention and control groups. Both groups received routine care. Eight sessions of MBSR and MT psychotherapy were conducted in the intervention group, while the control group received no psychological intervention. Patients were assessed regarding pain, anxiety, and sleep quality at two distinct stages: before and after the intervention. There were no significant differences in sociodemographic and clinical parameters between the intervention and control groups at baseline. The intervention program significantly alleviated psychological and physiological complications in patients with osteosarcoma. Specifically, the study revealed that 8 weeks of the combined MBSR/MT intervention effectively reduced pain and anxiety scores and improved the quality of sleep in patients. MBSR combined with MT significantly alleviated clinical symptoms, and could be considered a new, effective psychotherapeutic intervention for patients with osteosarcoma.
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Last Wednesday, immediately prior to attending an event on media diets, we presented a week’s compilation of our own media diets. The day’s scheduled events were rather meta with regards to conscious information consumption, and this turned out to be, in many ways, a theme of my diet.
Not counting this assignment, other meta media experiences included:
- Watching The Matrix with a comedic audio track overlay
- A Twitter feed following over 1,600 people and organizations, many of them political operatives operating in and around the day’s headlines
- Watching Saturday Night Live lampoon the week’s news
- A substantial period of time attending classes on particpatory news and social television habits
As you can see in the chart above, I aggregated the elements of my media diet into five categories (left to right):
Traditional news consisted of news websites and print magazine subscriptions:
Relaxation and entertainment included reading blogs, listening to music during workouts, and watching streaming TV shows on Hulu:
Creative production included writing, notetaking, creating graphics, and giving a presentation:
Focused learning included conducting research, learning to code, watching tutorials, and listening to lectures:
Social intelligence included Twitter, Gmail, Facebook, instant messaging, and extended face-to-face conversations:
Lean-Forward Information Consumer
I’ve long been an early adopter and devoted Lifehacker reader. I install and try out most of the programs, plugins, apps, and web services that cross my path. I’ve chosen lean-forward interaction over lean-back entertainment since I’ve had access to a modem. As a result, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how to strike a balance between the potential of digital media and the warmth and history of analog media. And yet there were still a number of surprises gained from obsessively tracking my habits for a week.
Protect Time to Create
Arguably the most disruptive feature of participatory media is that it asks us to write information as well as read it. If consuming media is like consuming food, the metaphor extends to suggest that we consider the creation of media to be a form of exercise. Writing, coding, filming, and otherwise producing original content requires us to flex our creative muscles in a different way, similar to the shift between passively learning a field and actively teaching it to another person.
I was pleased to see how much time I spent actively creating content over the course of the week. My first semester at the Media Lab made it quite clear that it was possible to spend most of one’s time attending really interesting panels and classes, and reading an endless supply of academic literature, organizational reports, and course readings, all at the expense of producing any original work oneself. The limits imposed by time regularly force a decision between the immediate benefits of listening to someone much smarter than myself, and the longer-term journey to build my own skills and enunciate my own thoughts. I credit my group’s encouragement (and occasional mandate) to blog frequently.
Status Update as Atomic Unit of News?
Melissa Mayer of Google defended Google News’s aggregation of content by pointing out that the article has become the atomic unit of the news. Looking over my RescueTime reports, it became clear that sitting down with even an article or full blog post has become a somewhat rare experience during the week. Most of my dedicated news-reading time came during the weekend, like other leisure activities. The many interesting links Twitter tempts me with throughout my work day are bookmarked with a ReadItLater extension, and then automagically whisked away to wait for me on my Kindle, thanks to a recipe over at ifttt.
This is not to say that I am not aware of the news during the week. I spend most of my days actively plugged into what’s happening, but this information comes to me via Twitter, Facebook, and status messages on Gchat. It’s been written elsewhere, but the combination of real news and social intelligence is a killer combination, one that routinely crowns Twitter my most-consulted news medium. And, if awareness of the top Google Trends is an indication, these sources effectively keep me informed.
Absolute Time vs. Interrupted Time
For the value it provides as a social utility, Facebook really doesn’t take up much of my time each day (only 8-10 minutes a day, spread out over more visits than I’d like to admit). That said, it was clear in my diary that tracking with tools like RescueTime won’t measure the true distraction of applications like Twitter and Facebook, or the time spent on my phone. The total amount of time spent on these social networks is relatively low, but quick consultations ensure they influence large blocks of time throughout the day.
One way Twitter influences my day more than the accumulated minutes suggest is in its role as provider of clickworthy links. Both RescueTime and my browser history show a large sample of quick hit webpages where I spend under a minute. This is common behavior for users across the web, but I was a bit surprised at just how many pages (over 2,400) I navigated through in a week.
Conversation as Information Medium
Ethan hinted that, if we took our media diet tracking far enough, we might begin to consider conversations as a form of media. I decided to go with it, because despite the success of social media platforms, we still receive much of our intelligence in regular conversations with other human beings. I already knew, thanks to Fitbit, that weekends are much healthier for me, as I walk and sleep more. Tracking my media diet showed me that weekends are also healthier for my social soul, as I spent much more time in face-to-face conversations.
Lastly, my email inbox was an interesting source of information. A small army of Gmail filters protects my actual inbox, but I still pick up a fair amount of news about political and social campaigns from a wide range of newsletters and listservs. As a result, I currently receive over 14 times more email than I send.
Bar chart color scheme by The Cooler shared under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA license. Icons by The Noun Project shared under Creative Commons BY 3.0 license. | https://partnews.mit.edu/2012/02/21/what-goes-into-comes-out-of-my-brain/ |
John Green is an absolute wordsmith, using his incredible prose and insanely creative mind to toy with the heartstrings of readers everywhere. Known for his critically acclaimed books like Looking for Alaska, The Fault in Our Stars, Paper Towns, and his latest, Turtles All the Way Down, Green brought us heart-warming tales filled with love, loss, and everything in between.
He is one of the most popular YA authors, having delivered to young readers some of the most relatable teenage characters in literature, along with moving stories that many readers take comfort in.
While his novels are indeed comforting, entertaining, and all-in-all masterpieces, they also happen to feature some of the most heartbreaking lines ever written. Featuring my two favorite works written by John Green, here are seven lines that broke our hearts (and put them back together). | https://bookstr.com/article/7-john-green-quotes-that-broke-our-hearts-and-put-them-back-together/ |
The Marketplace Fairness Act failed to secure Congressional approval again last year, but was reintroduced in the Senate in March. This week, a different version surfaced in the House. Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz introduced the Remote Transactions Parity Act of 2015 on Monday.
WE R HERE issued a statement against the act, saying it offers an inadequate and evaporating small business exemption that discriminates against platform sellers, and saying it “empowers tax collectors to roam the Internet for money.”
Retail groups including the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) issued statements showing their support for the bill. The NRF said the bill would “eliminate the online sales tax collection loophole, which distorts competition, the free market and unfairly favors online sellers at the disadvantage and expense of local communities, merchants and small business owners and their employees.”
RILA said the legislation would “end special treatment for online-only retailers and give states the authority to require all retailers that sell products in their state to collect the same sales tax.”
A blog opposed to such legislation, Marketplace Fairness Coalition – A rebuttal, says the new bill has added protections for Certified Solutions Providers. It also noted that the Legislative Director for Rep. Chaffetz left the legislator to join one such software firm, Taxometry:
So the guy who drove/wrote the new remote sales tax bill for Congress jumped to the private sector to a pending Certified Solutions Provider (CSP) firm that would profit greatly if the bill was passed. He just started in May and the new bill is being introduced in June. What kismet!
And it’s only a coincidence that there is a lot of new language in the RTPA bill, compared to the Marketplace Fairness Act, that seems designed to explicitly help or protect these sales tax CSPs. It’s almost like CSPs wrote it. Hmmm.
We’re awaiting for a copy of the bill from Rep. Chaffetz’s office, a staffer told EcommerceBytes on Monday afternoon it hadn’t been numbered as of yet.
Update: Rep. Chaffetz’s office has not yet responded to our inquiry, but it issued a press release with more information. The bill is H.R. 2775, the Remote Transactions Parity Act (RTPA). It called out certain provisions of the bill including the following:
RTPA includes significant audit protections for small businesses – and, except in the case of intentional misrepresentation or fraud, exempts businesses under $5 million in gross receipts from remote state audits entirely.
Additionally, this legislation also exempts more small businesses from collection requirements in the first year – while the MFA only exempted businesses under $1 million in sales, the RTPA in the first year exempts small business under $10 million, phasing to $5 million in the second year and $1 million in the third.
Finally, the RTPA calls for states to give remote sellers the software needed to collect and remit the taxes due. It also requires states to pay for set-up, installation, and maintenance costs on the software.
The full statement is available on the representative’s website, and it includes links to the full text of the bill and a list of the bill’s supporters.
Meanwhile, eBay provided EcommerceBytes with the following statement on the proposed legislation on Monday evening:
The Remote Transaction Parity Act, like the Marketplace Fairness Act, discriminates against small businesses that operate online by holding them to an entirely different and more complicated tax scheme, relative to brick and mortar stores. Just like the MFA, the bill enables states to impose their sales tax rules on small businesses outside of their borders, threatening their success with multiple audits and litigation. We will continue to work with lawmakers to advance polices that ensure small businesses – regardless of their business model – can use the Internet to grow and create jobs. | https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2015/06/16/new-bill-require-online-sellers-collect-sales-tax/ |
Trying to navigate a relationship with a narcissist can be a difficult feat. While narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is rare, affecting less than 1% of the general population, most people demonstrate narcissistic tendencies over time.
Narcissistic Traits
Narcissism is marked by many traits including a lack of empathy, grandiose thoughts and behaviors, entitlement, and a strong need for validation. These traits make healthy communication and negotiation a challenge, which can lead to frustration and eventually ruin relationships. One of the major characteristics of a narcissistic negotiator is the tendency for them to overestimate the power of their position and underestimate the power of yours. This can lead to continued misunderstanding and escalation in conflict.
Admiration Vs. Rivalry
Both admiration and rivalry can play a part in how narcissists interact. Both of these traits contribute to the maintenance of a grandiose self-image. It has been shown that narcissistic traits are great for building relationships in the short-term, but are disastrous in the long-term.
A research project in 2017 found was conducted to look at the admiration behaviour vs. rivalry behaviour in narcissists. This admiration was defined as the promotion of positivity in the person's self-view. Rivalry was the tendency to protect their self-image by being negative towards others. They found that it was tendency towards needing admiration that was what helped narcissists build relationships in the short-term. However, it was the tendency towards rivalry that cause relationships to break-apart over the long-term.
It is likely that this dynamic also occurs in negotiating. In the short-term relationships can flourish, but it would be expected that negotiations would also elicit strong rivalry tendencies that could produce negative acrimonious interactions. This fluctuation between these two sides could also be disorienting for the participants and observers.
What Should You Do?
When dealing with someone who tends to show narcissistic characteristics, it is important to make sure you are able to protect your self-esteem and your feelings. If you have a relationship with someone with NPD or with someone who often shows narcissistic traits, here are a few communication tips to keep in mind:
Practice Self-Control
While you can neither control nor change the actions and thought patterns of someone who behaves narcissistically, remember that you are in control of your own actions and feelings. If you feel a conversation is leading to an unproductive argument or spiraling out of control, take a step back and think about how you can stay in control of the situation. Do your best to prevent frustration on your end from negatively influencing the way you communicate with the other person. Avoid building a negative case against them in your mind or lashing out in anger by taking control of your own thoughts and actions.
Avoid Unhealthy Conversation
You might be tempted to feel negatively about yourself when communicating with a narcissist. A narcissist might display little to no empathy for your feelings or try to blame you for a conflict. While it is frustrating to solve an issue with someone who refuses to take responsibility for his or her own actions, it is important for you to remember the big picture: you are in charge of your feelings, and you do not have to give this person power over your sense of self.
When negotiating with a narcissist begins to seem one-sided or the other person stops listening and is no longer interested in a healthy dialogue, you can stop the discussion. Communicate your feelings with the other person and express that you would prefer to continue the discussion at a later time when he or she is ready to listen to and respect your feelings. Even though a narcissist might feel entitled to your time, energy, and praise, they are just one person, and you do not have to give them every single thing they want just because they demand it from you. You do not have to sacrifice your self-esteem and energy to communicate with a narcissist.
Become Aware of Narcissistic Tendencies
As you spend time with a person with NPD or narcissistic tendencies, be sure to make note of the character traits they exhibit that might lead to unhealthy communication between the two of you. By becoming aware of these traits, you know when to stop a potentially unproductive conversation or disagreement. This will also give you a starting place for learning how to develop strategies to deal with these behaviors effectively. If you cannot avoid dealing with a narcissist on a regular basis, you should practice self-care by preparing yourself to handle the different character strengths that they might misuse.
Separate the Behavior from the Person
A trademark characteristic of narcissists is the need to be validated. Effective communication will not happen if you label the other individual based on their actions. When you become aware of their narcissistic behaviors and you want to communicate your feelings, you need to make sure you separate these behaviors from the person. Use “I” statements to express your feelings instead of placing blame that might make them feel attacked or invalidated. For instance, instead of saying, “You’re selfish, and you only care about yourself” you could say, “I do not feel cared for when you do this.” Doing this provides the space for the other person to listen and change, and it will help them pinpoint an area where they need to improve.
For helpful strategies that can make it easier for you to identify narcissistic behaviors that you demonstrate or that are exhibited by somebody close to you, visit www.oakvillewellnesscenter.com.
References
Leahy, R. (2014). Impediments and strategies in negotiating: A cognitive therapy model. Handbook of International Negotiating.
Wurst, S. N., Gerlach, T. M., Dufner, M., et al. (2017). Narcissism and romantic relationships: The differential impact of narcissistic admiration and rivalry. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 112(2), 280-306.
10/11/2018 10:51:04 am
Awesome and interesting article. Great things you've always shared with us.
Reply
10/15/2018 10:26:24 am
interesting and Awesome Post article.
Reply
Leave a Reply. | https://www.drsyrasderksen.com/blog/how-to-negotiate-with-a-narcissist |
In the united states, where the 1984 national organ transplantation act prohibits compensation for organ donating, there are only about 20,000 kidneys every year for the approximately 80,000. 1930's, popularized in the united states in the 1960's, and has subsequently throughout our analysis we highlight areas of potential ambiguity and another area of controversy revolves around how much organ transplantation considerations weighed upon the committee's deliberations while. An analysis of the ethical and legal aspects in the dead donor rule 1,197 words a philosophical analysis of the controversy of organ transplantation in the united states 2,348 words 5 pages the popularity and negative impact of organ selling around the world.
According to the american transplant foundation, 123,000 people in the united states are on the waiting list to receive an organ every 12 minutes a new name is added to the list and an average of 21 persons per day die due to a lack of organ availability. Controversies in the determination of death the president's council on bioethics washington, dc january 2009 chapter one: introduction in the late twentieth century, as a response to certain advances in critical care medicine, a new standard for determining death became accepted in both the medical and legal communities in the united states and many other parts of the world. He is a member of the ethics committee and the vascular composite allograft committee of the united network for organ sharing, the national body responsible for procuring organs and regulating all transplant in the united states. Organ markets and disrespectful demands first published on february 28, 2018 ethical implications of united states immigration policy (or lack thereof) first published on december 9, 2014 doi: philosophy and psychotherapy a review of robert woolfork’s the cure of souls first published on november 21, 2014.
Thirty years ago this week, president reagan signed the national organ transplant act (nota), which established the federal legal framework for the procurement, donation and transplantation of. 'organ shortage is a work of the highest standard, providing erudite, considered, and thought-provoking contributions systematic increases in organ donation: the united states experience pp 195-212 by alexandra on standards of quality and safety of human organs intended for transplantation and of the commission action plan on organ. Organ donation basic issues providing optimal opportunities for organ transplantation • in the united states, about 108,000 people are on the waiting list, although about a third of those patients are inactive and could not receive a donated organ wait times and success rates for organs differ. There is a shortage of organs in the united states, the waitlist for kidneys alone is around 100,000 – enough for some to propose a regulated market o rgan transplantation saves lives. Terminally ill patients in the united states have four medical options for controlling the time and manner of their death three of these are legally available to certain clinically qualified patients.
The ethics of organ tourism: role morality and organ transplantation marcus p adams - 2017 - journal of medicine and philosophy 42 (6):670-689 details organ tourism occurs when individuals in countries with existing organ transplant procedures, such as the united states, are unable to procure an organ by using those transplant procedures in. Results for 'organ donation' (try it on scholar) 1000+ found order: in the united states, organ transplantation is a very complex area, because the human body evokes various beliefs, symbols, sentiments, and emotions as well as various rituals and social practices. Analysis of the united network for organ sharing database comparing renal allografts and patient survival in combined liver-kidney transplantation with the contralateral allografts in kidney alone or kidney-pancreas transplantation1.
In the united states, hospice care is provided only in designated facilities true organ transplantation costs are borne by the recipient or his insurance plan. This report analyzes the worldwide markets for organ and tissue transplantation in volume terms (number of procedures) the global and regional markets (except the us) are analyzed by the following product segments: heart, kidney, liver, pancreas, and lung, and corneal transplantation. A philosophical analysis of the controversy of organ transplantation in the united states pages 9 words 2,348 view full essay more essays like this: united states, donate an organ, organ transplantation, organ transplants not sure what i'd do without @kibin - alfredo alvarez, student @ miami university.
Analysis reveals ambiguities at both the beginning and end of life this paper contrasts the biological and definition is that “obsolete criteria for the definition of death can lead to controversy in obtaining organs for transplantation” (ad hoc committee of the harvard medical school 1968, 1) regarding brain death in the united. Up until june 2014, organ procurement and transplantation network (optn) and united network for organ sharing (unos) policy dictated that lungs for children under the age of 12 be strictly allocated in the us on a first-come, first-served basis, unlike lungs for adults and children over 12, which are allocated by an algorithm (lung allocation. An assessment of brain death as a means of procuring transplantable organs d scott henderson, phd (abd) model statue to standardize death in the united states over the next 20 years, all states adopted, committee’s mission was to “advance the cause of organ transplantation. Ethics of organ transplantation center for bioethics february 2004 2 3 table of contents medical issues waiting pool for an organ from a cadaver by their transplant center the united network for organ sharing ( unos ) maintains the list for the national waiting pool united states history7.
Because the committee’s mandate calls for primary attention to ways to increase the rates of organ donation from deceased donors, this report will not provide a detailed discussion of the scientific, clinical, and ethical issues involved in organ donation by living donors. There is usually a waiting period of about 130 days for a liver transplant in the united states a spokesperson for the united network for organ sharing located in richmond, virginia, stated that there had been no favoritism in this case. The donation of human organs first published fri oct 28, 2011 substantive revision mon oct 3, 2016 organ transplantation raises difficult ethical questions about people’s claims to determine what happens to their bodies before and after death. Community in the united states has been unable to conduct empirical research on the actual (non- 30 hypothetical) effects that financial incentives may have on deceased or living donation.
2018. | http://iepapernivw.alisher.info/a-philosophical-analysis-of-the-controversy-of-organ-transplantation-in-the-united-states.html |
The air we breathe is a carrier of pollution, as it contains huge amounts of particles, some of which are particularly damaging to the airways. If the respiratory apparatus did not have mechanisms to remove and neutralise them, our lungs would be invaded by them and would become victims of a perennial state of inflammation.
The main defence system, localised in the bronchi, guarantees the elimination of gases, vapours, smoke and particles, through mucociliary clearance and coughing.
Mucus is a viscous substance secreted by the mucous glands and the goblet cells located between the cells that line the bronchi, which lubricates and protects the mucous membranes.
Cilia are filiform elements on the mucous membrane of the airways which favour the outwards elimination of mucus. The movement of the set of cilia can be compared to that of a wind-swept field of wheat.
Coughing is a physiological mechanism involving a deep breath in, followed by the closure of the glottis, with an increase in intrathoracic pressure, and by the glottis suddenly opening and air being ejected.
General measures
To prevent a cold from manifesting, it is recommended that hygiene measures be accompanied by maintaining a correct lifestyle.
Below, we will mention some things to do to prevent colds.
- Wash your hands often and well, for at least 40 seconds, with soap and water or with alcohol solutions.
- Avoid close contact with people who exhibit symptoms of a cold (coughing, sneezing) and also avoid unnecessary physical contact.
- Do not touch your eyes, nose and mouth with your hands.
- Cover the mouth and nose with a tissue or with your elbow when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissues in the bin. Wash your hands immediately after.
- Do not take antivirals or antibiotics unless they have been prescribed by a doctor.
- Clean surfaces with chlorine- or alcohol-based disinfectants.
- The use of a mask helps to limit the spread of germs, but it must complement other respiratory and hand hygiene measures.
- Avoid large meals, reduce calorie intake, avoid meats that are raw or cooked rare, unwashed fruits and vegetables. Opt for fruits and vegetables that are very rich in vitamins. Avoid non-bottled beverages.
- Exercise on a regular basis. Try to sleep an additional hour to promote the defensive response of melatonin and ensure that you are protected from free radicals.
Medicinal plants
In Herbal Medicine, certain natural remedies help increase the defences naturally, to prevent seasonal ailments.
Acerola
Only the red fruit of this woody plant typical of tropical forests is used, which is as large as a cherry, also known by its common name ‘West Indian cherry’. This fruit is very rich in vitamin C (25% of its weight), vitamin A and B6, so it is used mainly for the prevention of cold-related disorders.
Astragalus (Milk vetch)
It is one of the most important plants in Traditional Chinese Medicine, used mainly in conditions characterised by deficiencies in the body’s natural defences. The active ingredients contained in the root have been proven to increase defences, especially at the level of the airways.
These properties are mainly due to the plant’s particular polysaccharides, astraglucans, which effectively increase the number and function of macrophages, the class of white cells that is tasked with attacking and neutralising extraneous particles and microorganisms. Other components of astragalus, such as saponins, increase cellular activity, to reinforce defences.
Echinacea
A herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family, from North America. Native American tribes have used it for centuries to treat wounds, snake and insect bites, and to counter respiratory conditions that were frequent in the harsh winters.
Echinacea also reinforces the defence system of children. Biochemical research has made it possible to identify the three groups of substances that act together in support of the immune system. They include:
- alkamides, which activate defence cells;
- phenol compounds that act against germs;
- a group of polysaccharides that stimulate the production of substances that aid defences.
Propolis
Propolis is an aromatic resinous substance, usually of a bright brown colour with shades ranging from yellow to black, that the older, more skilled worker bees make in spring from the buds of certain trees and the bark of Conifers.
Due to its properties that repair, stimulate defences and, most importantly, act as antioxidants, propolis is used in herbal medicine to prevent or treat seasonal ailments and to restore the integrity of the mucosas and of the immune system, acting on ‘access doors’ against potential aggressors that threaten its safety.
Elderberry
A shrub of the Caprifoliaceae (honeysuckle) family, of which the flowering tops and the fruits are used. The main components include: tannins, mucilage and flavonoids. It is used in the treatment of ailments caused by colds.
Uncaria
A South American plant of the Rubiaceae family, of which the stem bark and the roots are used. It is also known as uña de gato [cat’s claw] due to the hook-like thorns with which it attaches itself to trees. The main active ingredients include alkaloids that act as defenders and protectors.
Papaya
A plant that is used as a food supplement, made from fresh fruit grown on select farms and fermented for a long time at low temperatures, with yeast. The preparation revitalises and helps neutralise free radicals and increase the body’s defences.
Specchiasol preparations
To promote the body’s natural defences and strengthen the immune system without collateral effects, Specchiasol offers various formulations of food supplements for the defences, which meet various needs: Immunepid Junior and Immunepid Adults.
Immunepid Junior, made with Acerola (rich in vitamin C, Propolis E.P.I.D., Echinacea, tyndallised Probiotics and Zinc), indicated to increase defences in children and adolescents. It is recommended to take one sachet a day, in the morning, for cycles of 20 days per month.
Immunepid Adults, made with Elderberry, Astragalus, Propolis E.P.I.D. tyndallised Probiotics, vitamin D, indicated for preventive use to promote the normal defence mechanisms in adults. It is recommended to take one sachet a day, in the morning, for cycles of 20 days per month. | https://specchiasol.it/en/how-to-strengthen-the-immune-system-with-natural-remedies/ |
Articles about tax laws, tax law changes, tax deductions, and more. Learn about the laws and deductions that affect you and your business, and gain some insights into how to plan, and save some money at tax time.
Disclaimer: Fundbox and its affiliates do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction. Please consult a tax professional for information about tax laws and how they apply to your business.
When Should You Consider Incorporating Your Small Business?
Can You Get a Business Loan with a Tax Lien? | https://fundbox.com/blog/category/taxes/ |
If they made a movie about early mining towns, Georgetown could be the star. The active Historic Georgetown, Inc. sees that it stays that way, and the Georgetown-Silver Plume National Historic Landmark District recalls the days of the silver boom in this area, located just 45 minutes west of Denver.
Once the third-largest town in Colorado, Georgetown is now home to slightly more than 1,000 residents. But on weekends, its capacity overflows with visitors who want to shop, sightsee, have lunch or spend the night at a Victorian bed-and-breakfast inn.
You'll find artifacts from the era preserved at the Hotel de Paris, now a museum, and see how the well-to-do lived at the historic Hamill House Museum. The Georgetown Loop Railroad is a major attraction here, and takes visitors on a round-trip narrow-gauge steam train ride from Georgetown to nearby Silver Plume and back, with an optional stop for a tour of the Lebanon Silver Mine.
Hungry travelers have several one-of-a-kind Georgetown restaurants to choose from, including Lucha Cantina, which serves comforting Mexican and American fare in a historic (and famously haunted) building, and Dusty Rose Tea Room, which offers traditional afternoon tea and a small lunch menu. Save room for a cinnamon roll or brownie from Georgetown Cake Shoppe and a tasty latte from cozy coffee house Kaffehuset.
Near town is the breathtaking Guanella Pass Scenic Byway, which at its 11,600-foot summit might leave you breathless. If wildlife watching is your passion, stop at the Georgetown Wildlife Viewing Area for a glimpse of one of the hundreds of bighorn sheep living in the area. | https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/georgetown |
Stents are devices that are inserted into a vessel or passage to keep the lumen open and prevent closure due to a stricture, external compression, or internal obstruction. In particular, stents are commonly used to keep blood vessels open in the coronary arteries and they are frequently inserted into the ureters to maintain drainage from the kidneys, the bile duct for pancreatic cancer or cholangiocarcinoma or the esophagus for strictures or cancer. Nonvascular stenting involves a range of anatomical lumens and various therapeutic approaches, however, accuracy of installation is universally important.
In order to serve its desired function, the stent must be delivered precisely and oriented correctly. In order to facilitate the delivery of stents, medical device companies began to design deployment apparatuses that allow physicians to deploy stents more precisely. Unfortunately, guidance of the stent has substantially remained a function of physician skill resulting from substantial practice. This fact has become particularly evident with the advent of radially expanding stents. If after full deployment of the stent, the physician discovers the stent has been implanted incorrectly, there is no conventional way of correcting the error short of removing the stent. In particular, as a rule of thumb, once the exterior catheter, of conventional delivery devices, has been refracted beyond 60%, it generally cannot be realigned with respect to the stent. As a result, physicians must be sure of their stent placement prior to deploying the stent beyond the 60% point. We will refer to this 60% point throughout the application as the critical deployment point.
Conventional stent delivery devices, however, do not have any safety mechanism to prevent excessive deployment of a misaligned stent. In fact, conventional delivery devices require the physician to estimate extent of deployment, which results in either overly conservative or excessive deployment—both of which leads to stent misplacement.
An additional limitation of conventional stent delivery devices is the distal tip of conventional stent delivery devices are not adequately designed to (1) facilitate the clearance of obstructed lumen, or (2) facilitate the removal of the delivery device once the stent is radially expanded. In particular, most distal tips are not configured to comfortably guide the delivery device through a diseased or occluded lumen so that the stent can be delivered in the most beneficial location. Moreover, once the stent is radially expanded conventional designs rely exclusively on dimensional mismatching to ensure proper removal of the delivery device. In the event the stent does not adequately expand to preset dimensions, a conventional delivery device would be stuck in the patient until some invasive procedure is performed to remove it and the defective stent.
Therefore, there remains an existing need for a stent deployment apparatuses that has a safety mechanism to prevent excessive deployment of a misaligned stent. Preferably it would be desirable if the safety mechanism had a physical and/or audible indication means to inform the physician when she has reached maximum reversible deployment. As an additional safety feature, there is an existing need for a distal tip designed to allow for the removal of the deployment apparatus even if the stent does not radially expand to its preset expansion diameter. An existing need also exists for a stent deployment apparatus that has a distal tip adequately configured to navigate through diseased and/or occluded lumens so that the stent can be delivered to this target area.
There also remains an existing, need for a stent deployment apparatus that increases physician control during stent deployment. Moreover, there exists a need for a stent deployment apparatus that allows for the insertion of an optical scope to facilitate stent delivery.
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The continuous delivery of glucose to the brain is critically important to the maintenance of normal metabolic function. However, elucidation of the hormonal regulation of in vivo cerebral glucose metabolism in humans has been limited by the lack of direct, noninvasive methods with which to measure brain glucose. In this study, we sought to directly examine the effect of insulin on glucose concentrations and rates of glucose transport/metabolism in human brain using 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 4 Tesla. Seven subjects participated in paired hyperglycemic (16.3 ± 0.3 mmol/1) clamp studies performed with and without insulin. Brain glucose remained constant throughout (5.3 ± 0.3 μmol/g wet wt when serum insulin = 16 ± 7 pmol/1 vs. 5.5 ± 0.3 μmol/g wet wt when serum insulin = 668 ± 81 pmol/1, P = NS). Glucose concentrations in gray matter-rich occipital cortex and white matter-rich periventricular tissue were then simultaneously measured in clamps, where plasma glucose ranged from 4.4 to 24.5 mmol/1 and insulin was infused at 0.5 mU · kg-1 · min-1. The relationship between plasma and brain glucose was linear in both regions. Reversible Michaelis-Menten kinetics fit these data best, and no differences were found in the kinetic constants calculated for each region. These data support the hypothesis that the majority of cerebral glucose uptake/metabolism is an insulin-independent process in humans. | https://experts.umn.edu/en/publications/the-effect-of-insulin-on-in-vivo-cerebral-glucose-concentrations- |
The Boston Terrier Rescue of Greater Houston (also known as BTRGH) is a 501(c)(3)non-profit corporation focusing primarily on the rescue, rehabilitation, and permanent rehoming of abandoned, neglected, abused and surrendered Boston Terriers.
The group is comprised of a group of volunteers who tirelessly donate their time and talents to the mission of rescuing Boston Terriers from Texas, Louisiana and sometimes Mississippi.
Goals
Our goal is to reduce the number of homeless, neglected and abused animals – an overwhelming problem in our country – and place them into responsible, loving forever homes.
What We Do
We accept Boston Terriers into our program from Texas and adjacent states, many of whom have been found as strays, are injured or abused, or are just no longer wanted by their owners.
We have intake requirements for owner surrendered and stray dogs; however, we do not refuse any Boston Terrier because of his/her age or medical condition. All dogs who come into our care are thoroughly examined by our veterinarians, treated for any illnesses or injuries (most commonly heartworms and broken bones); spayed/neutered; administered all vaccinations; dewormed; bathed; and immediately placed on flea and heartworm preventative. Once they have been treated and receive a clean bill of health, they are ready for their new home.
If you are interested in adopting any of our wonderful Bostons, please complete an application from our adoptions page. Thank you for your support of Boston Terrier Rescue! | https://houstonbostonrescue.org/about/ |
The European Commission is consulting until early August on the 17 recommendations of its High Level Forum (HLF) on Capital Markets Union (CMU). The recommendations (PDF 3.1 MB) are wide-ranging, and several are of direct relevance or interest to asset managers and fund managers.
The three overarching themes of the report are promoting simplicity, enabling competition and creating an equity culture. The 17 recommendations are grouped into four clusters, one of which is removing obstacles to cross-border investment. The suggested timelines for achieving the recommendations are mostly during the next two years.
Given that Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen has made the completion of CMU one of her key objectives, we can expect the Commission to seek to progress all 17 of the recommendations, although some will be more difficult to deliver than others. It is important that the asset management industry engages fully in the ongoing discussions.
On a separate note, the Commission has published a revised notice (PDF 356 KB) on the implications of the end of the transition period for UCITS, AIFs and MiFID portfolio managers. The notice does not contain new news, but it underlines the need for firms on both sides of the new EU-UK border to ensure they are prepared and seek to minimise disruption for portfolio management clients and fund investors.
The HLF report delivers the clear message that the EU needs CMU more than ever and that it is now “vital and extremely urgent” that it is accomplished. Many businesses require substantial equity funding, which bank lending alone cannot deliver. The structural changes imposed by Brexit could exacerbate the weaknesses of the EU financial structures and national capital markets are generally too small to attract global investors. Fully functioning, integrated capital markets are needed.
The report picks up three themes that have come to the fore for regulated firms and regulators: use of technology/digitalisation, sustainable finance and cross-border activity. We discuss these themes in the first paper of our new publication series, Financial Services: regulating the new reality.
The HLF states that mastering and leading digitalisation will help drive significant efficiency gains in EU financial markets and that only sustainability can ensure prosperity in the long run. CMU is needed to deliver the EU's New Green Deal and to enable the EU to compete globally.
The HLF proposes a set of measures to:
The proposals are grouped into four clusters: the financing of business, market infrastructure, individual investors’ engagement and obstacles to cross-border investment.
Create a European Single Access Point for company data (phases: mid- 2021, Q2 2023, 2025 and 2028)
Review of ELTIFs and tax incentives (by end-2020)
Review of Solvency II and IASB work (mid-2021)
Implementation of Basel 3 and (end-2020)
Review of Securitisation framework (mid- to end-2021)
Alleviation of listing rules (end-2020 and end-2021)
Legal certainty on crypto/digital assets (end-2020 and end-2021)
Review of certain rules for Central Securities Depositaries (CSD & CSDR) (mid-2021)
Review of Shareholder Rights Directive II (end-2023)
Provision and use of cloud services (end-2020)
Pension dashboard, pension tracking system and auto-enrolment (end-2021 and end-2022)
Financial literacy and engagement (2022-2024)
Review of MiFID II, IDD and PRIIP KID regarding disclosures & financial advice; creation of a kitemark for financial advice; study of the role of inducements for the adequacy of advice (2020-2022)
Regulatory framework for Open Finance (end-2021)
Standardised system for WHT relief at source (mid-2022)
Harmonisation of central elements in insolvency law (early-2022)
Strengthened governance, powers and toolkit of ESMA and EIOPA (mid- 2021)
Of special note for asset managers and investment funds are the recommendations: to undertake a targeted review of the ELTIF framework and the introduction of tax incentives; a targeted review of the Shareholder Rights Directive II; and (grouped as one recommendation):
The recommendations to standardise contractual terms for the provision and use of cloud services by EU financial operators (with new rules to enable firms and supervisors to monitor and contain risks) and to introduce a standardised system for withholding tax relief at source will have important operational implications for asset managers.
On the investment front, the recommendations to review the securitisation framework and create legal certainty about treatment of crypto-digital assets will be relevant for some investment strategies. And measures to foster the pensions market and financial literacy and consumer engagement should lead to a widening of opportunities for firms in the retail investor market. | https://home.kpmg/xx/en/home/insights/2020/07/what-next-for-cross-border-investment.html |
Q:
increase image's width until its original one, inside a responsive DIV container
I have a <div> container which takes 80% of the screen (responsive page).
Inside this <div> I want to display an image which is 400 x 400 (pixels).
My goal:
The screen width increases: The <div>'s width will increase. The image's width will increase at maximum to 400px.
The screen width decreases: The <div>'s width will decrease. The image's width will start to decrease when the screen's width is less than 400px.
This is my JS Bin.
Any idea?
A:
You could simply set heigth and width to 100% on your img:
.wrapper {
width: 90%;
height: 400px;
border: 1px solid blue;
}
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width">
<title>JS Bin</title>
</head>
<body>
<div class="wrapper">
<img src= "https://s14.postimg.org/4nu4hmvyp/8222.jpg" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; max-width: 400px;">
</div>
</body>
</html>
| |
Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School principal Tracy Downing notified parents, guardians, families and members of the Brighton community that third through eighth grade students will attend school in person for standardized state testing starting April 6.
In an email sent March 30, Downing wrote, “A person’s character is defined, in part, by their ability to face adversity and challenges and overcome them. This school year, as we maneuvered through a global pandemic, we certainly faced many challenges. However, we overcame them with grit, determination, and a spirit unique to our community.”
In the reopening, known as Phase II, students will take the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA), Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) Science and End of Course (EOC) testing by appointment beginning April 6.
Parents and guardians will receive each student’s testing schedule from their homeroom teachers. Students typically test from four to seven days, but this year when a student is not at school for testing, he or she will attend PECS’ distance learning instruction.
Students will be required to wear masks at school. PECS will supply one for those who don’t bring a mask. Students will be seated at desks equipped with Plexiglas barriers and will be socially distanced from one another during testing.
PECS will provide transportation to and from school for testing, but drop off and pick up of students will also be allowed during specific times.
Parents or guardians must conduct a screening of the child for Covid-19-like symptoms or a fever exceeding 100.4. If either of these are present, the student may not attend school. Downing suggests parents or guardians should contact their health care provider for further advice.
Downing is not sure how long Phase II will last, but she will announce additional phased reopening plans as they are scheduled.
“As family members, students, faculty and staff, and as a community, we have shown how adaptable and resilient we are during this unprecedented time in our lives and in our history. As we move through the phases of our ‘Phased Reopening Plan,’ we will be sure to keep you up to date and fully informed,” Downing wrote. | https://seminoletribune.org/pecs-announces-in-person-testing-schedule/ |
---
abstract: 'We study the question of the existence of left-invariant Sasaki contact structures on the seven-dimensional nilpotent Lie groups. It is shown that the only Lie group allowing Sasaki structure with a positive definite metric tensor is the Heisenberg group. We find a complete list of the 22 classes of seven-dimensional nilpotent Lie groups which admit pseudo-Sasaki structure. We also present a list of 25 classes of seven-dimensional nilpotent Lie groups admitting a $K$-contact structure, but not the pseudo-Sasaki structure. All the contact structures considered are central extensions of six-dimensional nilpotent symplectic Lie groups and are established formulas that connect the geometrical characteristics of the six-dimensional nilpotent almost pseudo-Kähler Lie groups and seven-dimensional nilpotent contact Lie groups. It is known that for the six-dimensional nilpotent pseudo-Kähler Lie groups the Ricci tensor is always zero. Unlike the pseudo-Kählerian case, it is shown that on contact seven-dimensional algebras the Ricci tensor is nonzero even in directions of the contact distribution.'
---
****
N. K. Smolentsev
Invariant pseudo-Sasakian and $K$-contact structures on
seven-dimensional nilpotent Lie groups
Introduction {#Introduction}
============
A left-invariant *Kähler* structure on a Lie group $H$ is a triple $(h,\omega,J)$, consisting of a left-invariant Riemannian metric $h$, a left-invariant symplectic form $\omega$ and an orthogonal left-invariant complex structure $J$, where $h(X,Y) = \omega(X,JY)$ for any left-invariant vector fields $X$ and $Y$ on $H$. Therefore, such a structure on the group $H$ can be defined as a pair $(\omega, J)$, where $\omega$ is the symplectic form, and $J$ is a complex structure compatible with $\omega$, i.e., such that $\omega(JX,JY) =\omega(X,Y)$. If $\omega(X,JX) > 0$, $\forall X \neq 0$, it becomes a Kähler metric, and if the positivity condition is not met, then $h(X,Y) = \omega(X,JY)$ is a pseudo-Riemannian metric. Then, $(h, \omega, J)$ is called the *pseudo-Kähler structure* on the Lie group $H$. The left-invariance of these objects implies that the (pseudo) Kähler structure $(h,\omega,J)$ can be defined by the values of the $\omega$, $J$ and $h$ on the Lie algebra ${{\mathfrak h}}$ of the Lie group $H$. Then, the $({{\mathfrak h}}, \omega, J, h)$ is called a *pseudo-Kähler Lie algebra*. Conversely, if $({{\mathfrak h}}, J, h)$ is a Lie algebra endowed with a complex structure $J$, orthogonal with respect to the pseudo-Riemannian metric $h$, then the equality $\omega(X,Y) = h(JX,Y)$ determines the (fundamental) two-form $\omega$, which is closed if and only if the $J$ is parallel [@KN].
Classification of the six-dimensional real nilpotent Lie algebras admitting invariant complex structures and estimation of the dimensions of moduli spaces of such structures is obtained in [@Sal-1]. In article [@Goze-Khakim-Med], classification is obtained of symplectic structures on six-dimensional nilpotent Lie algebras. The condition of existence of left-invariant positive definite Kähler metric on the Lie group $H$ imposes strong restrictions on the structure of its Lie algebra ${{\mathfrak h}}$. For example, Benson and Gordon have shown [@BG] that this Lie algebra cannot be nilpotent except in the abelian case. The nilpotent Lie groups and nilmanifolds (except tora) do not allow the left-invariant Kähler metrics, however, such manifolds may exist as a pseudo-left-invariant Kähler metric. The article in [@CFU2] provides a complete list of the six-dimensional nilpotent Lie algebras admitting pseudo-Kähler structures. A more complete study of the properties of the curvature of pseudo-Kähler structures is carried out in [@Smolen-11].
The analogues of symplectic structures in an odd case are contact structures [@Blair]. It is known [@Goze-Khakim-Med] that the contact Lie algebra ${{\mathfrak g}}$ is a central extension of symplectic Lie algebras $({{\mathfrak h}},\omega)$ with the help of a non-degenerate cocycle $\omega$. In this case, a contact Lie algebra ${{\mathfrak g}}$ admits Sasakian structure only if the Lie algebra $({{\mathfrak h}},\omega)$ admits a Kähler metric. Therefore, the question of the existence of Sasakian structures on the seven-dimensional nilpotent contact Lie algebra ${{\mathfrak g}}$ is reduced to the question of the existence of Kähler structures on six-dimensional nilpotent symplectic Lie algebras ${{\mathfrak h}}= {{\mathfrak g}}/Z({{\mathfrak g}})$, where $Z({{\mathfrak g}})$ is the center of contact Lie algebra ${{\mathfrak g}}$. The classification of seven-dimensional nilpotent contact Lie algebras is obtained in [@Kutsak]. The authors of [@Cappelletti-14] found examples of $K$-contact but not Sasakian structures on the seven-dimensional nilpotent contact Lie algebras. Just as in the even-dimensional nilpotent case, there are topological obstructions to the existence of Sasakian structures on nilpotent Lie algebra, based on the strong Lefschetz theorem for contact manifolds [@Cappelletti-13].
In this paper, we show that on seven-dimensional nilpotent Lie algebras the invariant contact Sasakian structures exist only in the case of the Heisenberg algebra, and pseudo-Sasakian (i.e., having a pseudo-Riemannian metric tensor) there are only 22 classes of central extensions of six-dimensional pseudo Kähler nilpotent Lie algebras. This article provides a comprehensive list of such pseudo-Sasakian structures and their curvature properties are investigated. We also obtain the list of 25 classes of seven-dimensional nilpotent contact Lie algebras that allow $K$-contact structure, but do not allow pseudo-Sasakian structures.
Preliminaries {#Preface}
=============
The basic concepts of contact manifolds and contact Lie algebra are summarized here.
Contact manifolds {#Cont-Manif}
-----------------
In this section, we recall some basic definitions and properties in contact Riemannian geometry. For further details we refer the reader to the monographs in [@Blair]. Let $M$ be a smooth manifold of dimension $2n+1$. A 1-form $\eta $ on $M$ is called a *contact form* if $\eta \wedge (d\eta)^n \ne 0$ is a volume form. Then the pair $(M,\eta)$ is called a (strict) *contact manifold*. In any contact manifold one proves the existence of a unique vector field $\xi$, called the *Reeb vector field*, satisfying the properties $\eta(\xi) =1$ and $d\eta(\xi,X) =0$ for all vector fields $X$ on $M$.
The contact form $\eta$ on $M$ determines the distribution of $D =\{X \in TM\, |\, \eta(X) = 0\}$ of dimension $2n$, which is called the *contact distribution*. It is easy to see that $L_\xi\eta = 0$. If $M$ is a contact manifold with a contact form $\eta$, then the *contact metric structure* is called the quadruple $(\eta, \xi, \phi, g)$, where $\xi$ is the Reeb field, $g$ is the Riemannian metric on $M$ and $\phi$ is the affinor on $M$, and for which there are the following properties [@Blair]:
1. $\phi^2 = -I +\eta\otimes \xi$;
2. $d\eta(X,Y) = g(X,\phi Y)$;
3. $g(\phi X,\phi Y) = g(X,Y) -\eta(X)\eta(Y)$,
where $I$ is the identity endomorphism of the tangent bundle. The Riemannian metric $g$ is called the contact metric structure *associated* with the contact structure $\eta$. From the third property it follows immediately that the associated metric $g$ for the contact structure $\eta$ is completely determined by the affinor $\phi$: $g(X,Y) =d\eta(\phi X,Y) + \eta(X)\eta(Y)$.
The contact metric manifold whose Reeb vector field $\xi$ is Killing, $L_\xi g =0$, is called *$K$-contact* [@Blair]. This last property is equivalent to the condition $L_\xi \phi =0$. Recall from [@Blair] that an *almost contact* structure on a manifold $M$ is a triple $(\eta, \xi, \phi)$, where $\eta$ is a 1-form, $\xi$ is a vector field and $\phi$ is an affinor on $M$ with properties: $\eta(\xi) =1$ and $\phi^2 = -I +\eta\otimes \xi$.
Suppose that $M$ is an almost contact manifold. Consider the direct product $M\times {\mathbb{R}}$. A vector field on $M\times {\mathbb{R}}$ is represented in the form $(X, f{d}/{dt})$, where $X$ is the tangent vector to $M$, $t$ is the coordinate on ${\mathbb{R}}$ and $f$ is a function of class $C^\infty$ on $M\times {\mathbb{R}}$. We define an almost complex structure $J$ on the direct product $M\times {\mathbb{R}}$ as follows [@Blair]: $J(X, f\,d/dt) = (\phi X - f\xi, \eta(X)\,d/dt)$.
An almost contact structure $(\eta, \xi, \phi)$ is called *normal* if the almost complex structure $J$ is integrable. A four tensor $N^{(1)}$, $N^{(2)}$, $N^{(3)}$ and $N^{(4)}$ is defined [@Blair] on an almost contact manifold $M$ by the following expressions: $$N^{(1)}(X,Y) = [\phi,\phi](X,Y) +d\eta(X,Y)\xi, \quad N^{(2)}(X,Y) =(L_{\phi X} \eta)(Y) -(L_{\phi Y} \eta)(X),$$ $$N^{(3)}(X,Y) = (L_\xi \phi)X, \quad N^{(4)}(X,Y) = (L_\xi \eta)(X).$$
An almost contact structure $(\eta, \xi, \phi)$ is a normal, if these tensors vanish. However, it can be shown from the vanishing tensor $N^{(1)}$ that the remaining tensors $N^{(2)}$, $N^{(3)}$ and $N^{(4)}$ also vanish. Therefore, the condition of normality is only the following: $N^{(1)}(X,Y) = [\phi,\phi](X,Y) +d\eta(X,Y)\xi =0$. Thus, a *Sasaki manifold* is a normal contact metric manifold.
\[Pseudo-Sasac\] A pseudo-Riemannian contact metric structure $(\eta, \xi, \phi, g)$ is called a $K$-contact, if the vector field $\xi$ is a Killing vector field. A pseudo-Riemannian contact metric structure $(\eta, \xi, \phi, g)$ is called pseudo-Sasakian if $N^{(1)}(X,Y) = 0$.
**Remark.** In this paper, we assume that the exterior product and exterior differential is determined without a normalizing factor. Then, in particular, $dx\wedge dy = dx\otimes dy -dy\otimes dx$ and $d\eta (X,Y) = X\eta(Y) -Y\eta(X) -\eta([X,Y])$. We also assume that the curvature tensor $R$ is defined by the formula: $R(X,Y)Z = \nabla_X \nabla_Y Z -\nabla_Y \nabla_X Z -\nabla_{[X,Y]} Z$. The Ricci tensor $Ric$ is defined as a contraction of the curvature tensor in the first and the fourth (top) indices: $Ric_{ij}= R_{kij}^k$. In [@Blair] Blair shows a different formula for the tensor $N^{(1)}$: $N^{(1)}(X,Y) = [\phi,\phi](X,Y) + 2d\eta (X,Y)\xi$. In [@Blair], a different formula is used for the exterior derivative $d_0\eta(X,Y) = \frac 12 (X\eta(Y) -Y\eta(X) -\eta([X,Y]))$, which corresponds to the selection of wedge product 1-forms as $dx\wedge dy = \frac 12(dx\otimes dy -dy\otimes dx)$. This is evident then in determining the associated metrics $g(X,Y) = d\eta (\phi X,Y) +\eta(X)\eta(Y)$. In our case, the associated Riemannian metric $g$ will be different along the contact distribution $D$ from of the associated Riemannian metric $g_0$ adopted in [@Blair]: if $X,Y \in D$, then $g(X,Y) =2g_0(X,Y)$. It further appears that the formula $\nabla_X \xi = -\phi X$ in our case looks like: $\nabla_X \xi = -\frac 12 \phi X$. In addition in [@Blair], the sectional curvature for the $K$-contact metric manifold in the direction of the 2-plane, containing $\xi$, is equal to 1 (p. 113, Theor. 7.2), and in our case, the sectional curvature is equal to $\frac 14$. Consequently this changes the formula for the Ricci curvature, $Ric(\xi, \xi) = n/2$.
When a manifold is taken Lie group $G$, it is natural to consider the left-invariant contact structure. In this case, the contact form $\eta$, Reeb vector field $\xi$, affinor $\phi$ and associated metric $g$ are defined by its values in the unit $e$, that is, on the Lie algebra ${{\mathfrak g}}$. We will call the ${{\mathfrak g}}$ a *contact Lie algebra* if it is defined in a contact form $\eta\in {{\mathfrak g}}^*$ and the vector $\xi\in {{\mathfrak g}}$, such that $\eta \wedge (d\eta)^n \ne 0$, $\eta(\xi)=1$ and $d\eta(\xi,X)=0$. Note that $d\eta(x,y)=-\eta([x,y])$. In a similar sense, it is considered a *contact metric* Lie algebra, *symplectic* Lie algebra, *pseudo-Kähler* Lie algebra, *(pseudo) Sasakian* Lie algebra, etc.
Let $\nabla$ be the Levi-Civita connection corresponding to the (pseudo) Riemannian metric $g$. It is determined from the six-membered formula [@KN], which for the left-invariant vector fields $X,Y,Z$ on the Lie group takes the form: $2g(\nabla_X Y,Z) = g([X,Y],Z) +g([Z,X],Y) +g(X,[Z,Y])$. Recall also that if $R(X,Y)Z$ is the curvature tensor, then the Ricci tensor $Ric(X,Y)$ for the pseudo-Riemannian metric g is defined by the formula: $$Ric(X,Y) = \sum_{i=1}^{2n+1} \varepsilon_i g(R(e_i,Y)Z, e_i),$$ where $\{e_i\}$ is a orthonormal frame on ${{\mathfrak g}}$ and $\varepsilon_i =g(e_i, e_i)$.
Contact structures on central extensions {#Cont-Alg-Lie}
----------------------------------------
Contact Lie algebra can be obtained as a result of the *central expansion* of the symplectic Lie algebra ${{\mathfrak h}}$. Recall this procedure. If there is a symplectic Lie algebra $({{\mathfrak h}},\omega)$, the central extension ${{\mathfrak g}}= {{\mathfrak h}}\times_\omega{\mathbb{R}}$ is a Lie algebra in which the Lie brackets are defined as follows: $[X, \xi]_{{{\mathfrak g}}} = 0$, $[X, Y]_{{{\mathfrak g}}} = [X, Y]_{{{\mathfrak h}}} +\omega(X, Y)\xi$ for any $X,Y \in {{\mathfrak h}}$, where $\xi = d/dt$ is the unit vector in ${\mathbb{R}}$.
On the Lie algebra ${{\mathfrak g}}= {{\mathfrak h}}\times_\omega {\mathbb{R}}$ contact form given by the form $\eta = \xi^*$, and $\xi = d/dt$ is the Reeb field. If $x = X + \lambda\xi$ and $y = Y + \mu\xi$, where $X,Y \in {{\mathfrak h}}$, $\lambda, \mu \in {\mathbb{R}}$, then: $d\eta (x,y) = -\eta([x, y]) = -\xi^*([X,Y]_{{{\mathfrak h}}}+\omega(X,Y)\xi) = -\omega(X,Y)$.
As is known, the isomorphism classes of the central extensions of the Lie algebra ${{\mathfrak h}}$ are in one-to-one correspondence with the elements of $H^2({{\mathfrak h}},{\mathbb{R}})$. Non-degenerate elements of $H^2({{\mathfrak h}},{\mathbb{R}})$ (the symplectic Lie algebra) define the contact structures on ${{\mathfrak h}}\times_\omega{\mathbb{R}}$.
To define the affinor $\phi$ on ${{\mathfrak g}}={{\mathfrak h}}\times_\omega{\mathbb{R}}$ we can use an almost complex structure $J$ on ${{\mathfrak h}}$ as follows: if $x =X +\lambda\xi$, where $X\in {{\mathfrak h}}$, then $\phi(x) = JX$. If this almost complex structure $J$ on ${{\mathfrak h}}$ is also compatible with the $\omega$, that is, it has the property of $\omega(JX,JY) =\omega(X,Y)$, we will get the contact (pseudo) metric structure $(\eta, \xi, \phi, g)$ on ${{\mathfrak g}}={{\mathfrak h}}\times_\omega{\mathbb{R}}$, where $g(X,Y) = d\eta(\phi X,Y) + \eta(X)\eta(Y)$. Let $h(X,Y) = \omega(X,JY)$ be a associated (pseudo) Riemannian metric on the symplectic Lie algebra $({{\mathfrak h}},\omega)$. Then for $x =X +\lambda\xi$ and $y = Y +\mu\xi$, we have: $$g(x,y) = -\omega(JX,Y) + \lambda\mu = h(X,Y) +\lambda\mu.$$ As is known [@KN], an almost complex structure $J$ is *integrable* (complex), if the Nijenhuis tensor vanishes,
$$N_J(X,Y) = [JX,JY] -[X,Y] -J[X,JY] -J[JX,Y]=0.$$ An analogue of the Nijenhuis tensor of the almost complex structure in the case of any tensor field $T$ of type (1,1) is the Nijenhuis torsion [@Blair]: $$[T,T](X,Y) =T^2[X,Y] +[TX,TY] -T[X,TY] -T[TX,Y].$$
\[Prop-1-K-Cont\] A central extension ${{\mathfrak g}}={{\mathfrak h}}\times_\omega{\mathbb{R}}$ of almost pseudo-Kähler Lie algebra ${{\mathfrak h}}$ is $K$-contact Lie algebra.
As is well known [@Blair], a contact manifold is called $K$-contact if $L_\xi\phi =0$. For left-invariant fields of the form $x =X +\lambda\xi$ and $y = Y +\mu\xi$ where $X,Y\in {{\mathfrak h}}$, we have: $$g((L_\xi\phi)x,y) = g(L_\xi(\phi\, x) -\phi(L_\xi x),y) = 0,$$ because the $L_\xi x = [\xi, X +\lambda\xi] = 0$ and $L_\xi (\phi\, x) =0$. Therefore $L_\xi\phi =0$.
\[Prop-2\] Let $({{\mathfrak h}},\omega,J)$ be a almost (pseudo) Kähler Lie algebra ${{\mathfrak h}}$ and $(\eta, \xi, \phi, g)$ be the corresponding contact metric structure on the central extension of ${{\mathfrak g}}={{\mathfrak h}}\times_\omega{\mathbb{R}}$. Then the Nijenhuis torsion $[\phi,\phi]$ on ${{\mathfrak g}}$ is expressed in terms of the Nijenhuis tensor $N_J$ almost complex structure $J$ on ${{\mathfrak h}}$ as: $$[\phi,\phi](x,y) = N_J(X,Y) -d\eta (x,y)\xi,$$ where $x =X +\lambda\xi$, $y = Y +\mu\xi$ and $X,Y \in{{\mathfrak h}}$.
Direct calculations: $$\begin{gathered}
[\phi,\phi](x,y) = [\phi,\phi](X +\lambda\xi, Y +\mu\xi) =\\
= \phi^2[X +\lambda\xi, Y +\mu\xi] + [\phi(X +\lambda\xi), \phi(Y +\mu\xi)] -\phi[X +\lambda\xi, \phi(Y +\mu\xi)] - \phi[\phi(X +\lambda\xi), Y +\mu\xi] =\\
= \phi^2([X, Y]_{{{\mathfrak h}}}) +[J(X), J(Y)] -\phi[X +\lambda\xi, J(Y)] -\phi[J(X), Y +\mu\xi] = \\
= -[X, Y]_{{{\mathfrak h}}} +[J(X),J(Y)]_{{{\mathfrak h}}} +\omega(JX, JY)\xi -\phi[X,J(Y)] -\phi[J(X),Y] = \\
= -[X, Y]_{{{\mathfrak h}}} + [J(X), J(Y)]_{{{\mathfrak h}}} + \omega(X, Y)\xi -\phi([X, J(Y)]_{{{\mathfrak h}}} +\omega(X, JY)\xi) -\phi([J(X), Y]_{{{\mathfrak h}}} +\omega(JX, Y)\xi ) = \\
= -[X, Y]_{{{\mathfrak h}}} + [J(X), J(Y)]_{{{\mathfrak h}}} + \omega(X, Y)\xi -J([X, J(Y)]_{{{\mathfrak h}}}) -J([J(X), Y]_{{{\mathfrak h}}}) = \\
= N_J(X,Y) + \omega(X, Y)\xi = N_J(X,Y) -d\eta(x,y)\xi.\end{gathered}$$
\[Cor-1\] The tensor $N^{(1)}(x,y)$ of the contact metric structure $(\eta, \xi, \phi, g)$ on the central expansion ${{\mathfrak g}}={{\mathfrak h}}\times_\omega{\mathbb{R}}$ expressed in terms of the Nijenhuis tensor $N_J$ of almost complex structure $J$ on h using the formula: $$N^{(1)}(x,y) = N_J(X,Y),$$ where $x =X +\lambda\xi$, $y = Y +\mu\xi$ and $X,Y \in {{\mathfrak h}}$.
$N^{(1)}(x,y) = [\phi,\phi](x,y) + d\eta(x,y)\xi = N_J(X,Y) -d\eta(x,y)\xi +d\eta(x,y)\xi = N_J(X,Y)$.
\[Cor-2\] Contact metric structure $(\eta, \xi, \phi, g)$ on the central expansion ${{\mathfrak g}}={{\mathfrak h}}\times_\omega{\mathbb{R}}$ is (pseudo) Sasakian if and only if the symplectic algebra $({{\mathfrak h}},\omega,J)$ is a (pseudo) Kähler.
As mentioned in the introduction, left-invariant Kähler (i.e. positive-definite) structures do not exist on nilpotent Lie groups other than the torus [@BG]. However, the pseudo-Kähler structure of these Lie groups may exist and in [@CFU2] a complete list of these is given. For each Lie algebra on the list in [@CFU2] an example is selected of a nilpotent complex structure, and the agreed symplectic forms are found for this. It is more correct to rely on the classification list produced by Goze, Khakimdjanov and Medina [@Goze-Khakim-Med], which lists all symplectic six-dimensional Lie algebras and shows that every nilpotent Lie algebra symplecto-isomorphic is on this list. From this point of view, the author in [@Smolen-11] studied the above Lie algebra with the symplectic structure from the list [@Goze-Khakim-Med] and found all compatible complex structures. Explicit expressions of complex structures were obtained and the curvature properties of the corresponding pseudo-Riemannian metrics investigated. It was found that there are multi-parameter familyies of complex structures. However, they all share a number of common properties: the associated pseudo Kähler metric is Ricci-flat, the Riemann tensor has zero pseudo-norm, and the Riemann tensor has a few nonzero components, which depend only on two or, at most, three parameters. Recall also that [@Sal-1] presents a classification of the six-dimensional real nilpotent Lie algebras admitting an invariant complex structure and an estimation of the dimension of the moduli spaces of such structures is given.
**Example**\
Consider the Lie algebra ${{\mathfrak h}}_{14}$ with commutation relations $[e_1,e_2] = e_4$, $[e_2,e_3] = e_6$, $[e_2,e_4] = e_5$ and symplectic form $\omega = -e^1\wedge e^6 +e^2\wedge e^5 +e^3\wedge e^4$. In [@Smolen-11] it is shown that there is a six-parametric family of pseudo-Kähler metrics on ${{\mathfrak h}}_{14}$, each of which is defined by the operator of the complex structure of the form: $$J = \left(\begin{array}{cccccc}
\psi_{11} & \psi_{12} & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\
-\frac{\psi_{11}^2+1}{\psi_{12}} & -\psi_{11} & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\
\frac{\psi_{42}(\psi_{11}^2+1) -2\psi_{41}\psi_{12}\psi_{11}}{\psi_{12}^2} & -\psi_{41} & -\psi_{11} & -\frac{\psi_{11}^2+1}{\psi_{12}} & 0 & 0 \\
\psi_{41} & \psi_{42} & \psi_{12} & \psi_{11} & 0 & 0 \\
\psi_{51} & J_{52} & \psi_{42} & \psi_{41} & \psi_{11} & \psi_{12}\\
\psi_{61} & -\psi_{51} & -\psi_{41} & \frac{\psi_{42}(\psi_{11}^2+1)-
2\psi_{41}\psi_{12}\psi_{11}}{\psi_{12}^2} & -\frac{\psi_{11}^2+1}{\psi_{12}}& -\psi_{11} \\
\end{array}\right),$$ where $J_{52}= \frac{-2\psi_{11}\psi_{12}(\psi_{42}\psi_{41} -\psi_{12}\psi_{51}) +\psi_{42}^2(\psi_{11}^2 +1) +\psi_{12}^2(\psi_{41}^2 +\psi_{12}\psi_{61})}{(\psi_{11}^2+1)\psi_{12}}$ and $\psi_{12} \ne 0$. The corresponding pseudo-Riemannian metric is easily obtained in the form $h(X,Y) = \omega(X,JY)$. The curvature tensor is zero for all values of the parameters $\psi_{ij}$.
Contact Lie algebras {#Results}
====================
In this section, we will determine when the seven-dimensional nilpotent Lie algebra there are Sasakian and pseudo-Sasakian structure and expresses explicitly the properties of contact structures on a central expansion ${{\mathfrak g}}={{\mathfrak h}}\times_\omega{\mathbb{R}}$ through the corresponding properties of the symplectic Lie algebra $({{\mathfrak h}},\omega)$.
\[Th-1\] The only seven-dimensional nilpotent Lie algebra admitting a positive definite Sasakian structure is the Heisenberg algebra. A seven-dimensional nilpotent Lie algebra admits pseudo-Sasakian structure if and only if it is one of the algebras on the following list:
[|l|l|]{} ${{\mathfrak g}}_{21,1}$ &
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] = e_4, [e_1,e_4] = e_6, [e_2,e_3] = e_6 $,
$[e_1,e_6] = e_7, [e_2,e_5] = e_7, [e_3,e_4] = -e_7$
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^5 - e^3\wedge e^4)$
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{21,2}$ &
----------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] = e_4$, $[e_1,e_4] = e_6$, $[e_2,e_3] = e_6$,
$[e_1,e_6] = -e_7$, $[e_2,e_5] = -e_7$, $[e_3,e_4] =e_7$
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^5 -e^3\wedge e^4$
----------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{14,1}$ &
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_4, [e_2,e_3] =e_6, [e_2,e_4] =e_5$,
$[e_1,e_6] = -e_7, [e_2,e_5] = e_7, [e_3,e_4] = e_7$
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(-e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^5 + e^3\wedge e^4)$
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{13,1}$ &
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_4, [e_1,e_3] =e_5, [e_1,e_4] =e_6, [e_2,e_3] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_6] = e_7, [e_2,e_5] = \lambda e_7, [e_3,e_4] = (\lambda -1)e_7$
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^6 + \lambda e^2\wedge e^5 + (\lambda -1) e^3\wedge e^4)$
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{13,2}$ &
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_4, [e_1,e_3] =e_5, [e_1,e_4] =e_6, [e_2,e_3] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_6] = e_7, [e_2,e_4] = e_7, [e_2,e_5] = \frac 12 e_7, [e_3,e_4] = -\frac 12 e_7$
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^4 + \frac 12 e^2\wedge e^5 -\frac 12 e^3\wedge e^4)$
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{15,1}$ &
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_4, [e_1,e_4] =e_6, [e_2,e_3] =e_5$,
$[e_1,e_5] = -e_7, [e_1,e_6] = e_7, [e_2,e_5] = e_7, [e_3,e_4] = e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(-e^1\wedge e^5 + e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^5 + e^3\wedge e^4)$
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{15,2}$ &
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_4, [e_1,e_3] =e_6, [e_2,e_4] =e_5$,
$[e_1,e_5] = e_7, [e_1,e_6] = -e_7, [e_2,e_5] = -e_7, [e_3,e_4] = -e_7$
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -e^1\wedge e^5 + e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^5 + e^3\wedge e^4$
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{11,1}$ &
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_4, [e_1,e_4] =e_5, [e_2,e_3] =e_6, [e_2,e_4] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_6] = e_7, [e_2,e_5] = e_7, [e_3,e_4] = -e_7, [e_2,e_6] = \lambda e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^5 - e^3\wedge e^4 +\lambda e^2\wedge e^6)$
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{11,2}$ &
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_4, [e_1,e_4] =e_5, [e_2,e_3] =e_6, [e_2,e_4] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_6] = -e_7, [e_2,e_5] = -e_7, [e_3,e_4] = e_7, [e_2,e_6] = -\lambda e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^5 - e^3\wedge e^4 + \lambda e^2\wedge e^6$
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{10,1}$ &
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_4, [e_1,e_4] =e_5, [e_1,e_3] =e_6, [e_2,e_4] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_6] = e_7, [e_2,e_5] = e_7, [e_3,e_4] = -e_7, [e_2,e_6] = -e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^5 -e^3\wedge e^4 -e^2\wedge e^6)$
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{10,2}$ &
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_4, [e_1,e_4] =e_5, [e_1,e_3] =e_6, [e_2,e_4] =e_6,$
$[e_1,e_6] = -e_7, [e_2,e_5] = -e_7, [e_3,e_4] = e_7, [e_2,e_6] = e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^5 -e^3\wedge e^4 -e^2\wedge e^6$
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{12}$ &
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_4, [e_1,e_4] =e_5, [e_1,e_3] =e_6, [e_2,e_3] = -e_5, [e_2,e_4] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_5] = \lambda e_7, [e_2,e_6] = e_7, [e_3,e_4] = (\lambda +1)e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(\lambda e^1\wedge e^5 + e^2\wedge e^6 +(\lambda +1) e^3\wedge e^4)$
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{24,1}$ &
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_4] =e_6, [e_2,e_3] =e_5$,
$[e_1,e_6] = e_7, [e_2,e_5] = e_7, [e_3,e_4] = e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^5 + e^3\wedge e^4)$
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{24,2}$ &
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_4] =e_6, [e_2,e_3] =e_5$,
$[e_1,e_6] = -e_7, [e_2,e_5] = -e_7, [e_3,e_4] = -e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^5 + e^3\wedge e^4$
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{17}$ &
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_3] =e_5, [e_1,e_4] =e_6, [e_2,e_3] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_6] = e_7, [e_2,e_5] = e_7, [e_3,e_4] = e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^5 + e^3\wedge e^4)$
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{16,1}$ &
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_5, [e_1,e_3] =e_6, [e_2,e_4] =e_6, [e_3,e_4] = -e_5$,
$[e_1,e_6] = e_7, [e_2,e_3] = e_7, [e_4,e_5] = -e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^3 - e^4\wedge e^5)$
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{16,2}$ &
------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_5, [e_1,e_3] =e_6, [e_2,e_4] =e_6, [e_3,e_4] = -e_5$,
$[e_1,e_6] = e_7, [e_2,e_3] = -e_7, [e_4,e_5] = e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^6 -e^2\wedge e^3 +e^4\wedge e^5)$
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{18,1}$ &
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_4, [e_1,e_3] =e_5, [e_2,e_3] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_6] = e_7, [e_2,e_5] = \lambda e_7, [e_3,e_4] = (\lambda -1)e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^6 + \lambda e^2\wedge e^5 + (\lambda -1) e^3\wedge e^4)$
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{18,2}$ &
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_4, [e_1,e_3] =e_5, [e_2,e_3] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_5] = e_7, [e_1,e_6] = \lambda e_7, [e_2,e_5] = -\lambda e_7, [e_2,e_6] = e_7, [e_3,e_4] = -2\lambda e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^5 + \lambda e^1\wedge e^6 -\lambda e^2\wedge e^5 + e^2\wedge e^6 -2\lambda e^3\wedge e^4)$
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{18,3}$ &
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_4, [e_1,e_3] =e_5, [e_2,e_3] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_6] = -e_7, [e_2,e_5] = e_7, [e_3,e_4] = 2e_7, [e_3,e_5] = e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(-e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^5 + 2e^3\wedge e^4 + e^3\wedge e^5)$
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{23,1}$ &
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_5, [e_1,e_3] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_4] = e_7, [e_2,e_6] = e_7, [e_3,e_5] = -e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^4 + e^2\wedge e^6 - e^3\wedge e^5)$
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{25}$ &
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_6] = e_7, [e_2,e_5] = e_7, [e_3,e_4] = e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^5 + e^3\wedge e^4)$
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
It is well known that the Heisenberg algebra ${{\mathfrak h}}_{2n+1}$ is a central extension of the symplectic abelian Lie algebra, which admits the Kähler metric. Therefore, ${{\mathfrak h}}_{2n+1}$ admits Sasaki structure. According to Corollary 2 of the previous section, pseudo-Sasakian structures are central extensions of pseudo-Kähler Lie algebra $({{\mathfrak h}},\omega,J)$. The authors of [@CFU2] found all six-dimensional nilpotent Lie algebras which admit pseudo-Kähler structure. In [@Goze-Khakim-Med], the classification of symplectic six-dimensional nilpotent Lie algebras up to symplecto-isomorphisms is obtained. The author of [@Smolen-11] found all the symplectic Lie algebras on the listing by Goze, Khakimdjanov and Medina which admit compatible complex structures, i.e., which are pseudo-Kähler. The Lie algebras of the list of the theorem are a central extension of the pseudo-Kähler Lie algebras found in [@Smolen-11], based on the classification by Goze, Khakimdjanov and Medina. The indices of the Lie algebras correspond to their numbers in the classification list [@Goze-Khakim-Med], and their order corresponds to their properties specified in [@Smolen-11].
Since the contact metric structure $(\eta, \xi, \phi, g)$ is a central extension ${{\mathfrak g}}={{\mathfrak h}}\times_\omega{\mathbb{R}}$ of almost pseudo-Kähler structures on ${{\mathfrak h}}$, then it is clear that a seven-dimensional nilpotent Lie algebra cannot be (pseudo) Sasakian when the symplectic algebra $({{\mathfrak h}},\omega,J)$ is not (pseudo) Kähler, i.e., does not admit a compatible integrable almost complex structure $J$. Since the complete list of the six-dimensional nilpotent symplectic Lie algebras admitting compatible complex structure $J$ is given in [@CFU2], then the remaining 12 classes of symplectic six-dimensional nilpotent Lie algebras listed in [@Goze-Khakim-Med] do not admit Sasaki structures even with the pseudo-metric. In addition, many of the Lie algebras in [@CFU2] can have several non-isomorphic symplectic structures [@Goze-Khakim-Med]. Moreover, some symplectic forms of the same Lie algebra allow compatible complex structures, while others do not. The central extensions of the last Lie algebras also do not admit pseudo-Sasakian structures. Therefore, we have the following theorem in which the central extensions of symplectic Lie algebras are listed first which do not allow complex structures in general, and then the central extension of symplectic Lie algebras is specified, which may have complex structures but which do not allow the compatible complex structures of the considered symplectic form.
\[Th-2\] The following nilpotent Lie algebras admit $K$-contact structure, but do not admit Sasaki structures even with pseudo-Riemannian metric:
[|l|l|]{}
${{\mathfrak g}}_{1}$ &
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] = e_3, [e_1,e_3] =e_4, [e_1,e_4] =e_5, [e_1,e_5] =e_6, [e_2,e_3] =e_5, [e_2,e_4] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_6] = e_7, [e_2,e_5] = (1-\lambda) e_7, [e_3,e_4] = \lambda e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^6 + (1-\lambda)e^2\wedge e^5 + \lambda e^3\wedge e^4)$
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{2}$ &
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] = e_3, [e_1,e_3] =e_4, [e_1,e_4] =e_5, [e_1,e_5] =e_6, [e_2,e_3] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_6] = \lambda e_7, [e_2,e_4] = \lambda e_7, [e_3,e_4] = \lambda e_7, [e_2,e_5] = -\lambda e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -\lambda (e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^4 + e^3\wedge e^4 - e^2\wedge e^5)$
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{3}$ &
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] = e_3, [e_1,e_3] =e_4, [e_1,e_4] =e_5, [e_1,e_5] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_6] = e_7, [e_2,e_5] = -e_7, [e_3,e_4] = e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^6 -e^2\wedge e^5 + e^3\wedge e^4)$
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{4}$ &
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] = e_3, [e_1,e_3] =e_4, [e_1,e_4] =e_6, [e_2,e_3] =e_5, [e_2,e_5] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_4] = \lambda_1e_7, [e_1,e_5] = \lambda_2e_7, [e_1,e_6] = \lambda_2e_7, [e_2,e_4] = \lambda_2e_7, [e_3,e_5] = \lambda_2e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -\lambda_1e^1\wedge e^4 - \lambda_2(e^1\wedge e^5 + e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^4 + e^3\wedge e^5)$
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{5,1}$ &
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] = e_3, [e_1,e_3] =e_4, [e_1,e_4] = -e_6, [e_2,e_3] =e_5, [e_2,e_5] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_4] = \lambda_1e_7, [e_1,e_5] = \lambda_2e_7, [e_1,e_6] = \lambda_2e_7, [e_2,e_4] = \lambda_2e_7, [e_3,e_5] = \lambda_2e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -\lambda_1 e^1\wedge e^4 -\lambda_2(e^1\wedge e^5 + e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^4 + e^3\wedge e^5)$
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{5,2}$ &
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] = e_3, [e_1,e_3] =e_4, [e_1,e_4] = -e_6, [e_2,e_3] =e_5, [e_2,e_5] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_6] = \lambda e_7, [e_1,e_5] = -2\lambda e_7, [e_2,e_4] = -2\lambda e_7, [e_2,e_6] = \lambda e_7, [e_3,e_4] = \lambda e_7$,
$[e_3,e_5] = \lambda e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -\lambda (e^1\wedge e^6 -2e^1\wedge e^5 -2e^2\wedge e^4 + e^2\wedge e^6 + e^3\wedge e^4 + e^3\wedge e^5)$
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{5,3}$ &
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] = e_3, [e_1,e_3] =e_4, [e_1,e_4] = -e6, [e_2,e_3] =e_5, [e_2,e_5] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_4] = \lambda e_7, [e_1,e_5] = -\lambda e_7, [e_1,e_6] = \lambda e_7, [e_2,e_4] = -\lambda e_7$,
$[e_2,e_5] = \lambda e_7, [e_2,e_6] = \lambda e_7, [e_3,e_4] = \lambda e_7, [e_3,e_5] = \lambda e_7$, $\eta = e^7$,
$d\eta = -\lambda (e^1\wedge e^4 -e^1\wedge e^5 + e^1\wedge e^6 -e^2\wedge e^4 + e^2\wedge e^5 + e^2\wedge e^6 + e^3\wedge e^4 + e^3\wedge e^5)$
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{5,4}$ &
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] = e_3, [e_1,e_3] =e_4, [e_1,e_4] = -e_6, [e_2,e_3] =e_5, [e_2,e_5] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_4] = 2\lambda e_7, [e_1,e_6] = \lambda e_7, [e_2,e_5] = 2\lambda e_7, [e_2,e_6] = \lambda e_7, [e_3,e_4] = \lambda e_7, [e_3,e_5] = \lambda e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -\lambda (2e_1\wedge e_4 + e^1\wedge e^6 + 2e^2\wedge e^5 + e^2\wedge e^6 + e^3\wedge e^4 + e^3\wedge e^5)$
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{6,1}$ &
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] = e_3, [e_1,e_3] =e_4, [e_1,e_4] =e_5, [e_2,e_3] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_6] = e_7, [e_2,e_4] = e_7, [e_2,e_5] = e_7, [e_3,e_4] = -e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^4 + e^2\wedge e^5 -e^3\wedge e^4)$
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{7,1}$ &
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_4, [e_1,e_4] =e_5, [e_1,e_5] =e_6, [e_2,e_3] =e_6, [e_2,e_4] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_3] = \lambda e_7, [e_2,e_6] = \lambda e_7, [e_4,e_5] = -\lambda e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -\lambda (e^1\wedge e^3 + e^2\wedge e^6 -e^4\wedge e^5)$
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{7,2}$ &
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_4, [e_1,e_4] =e_5, [e_1,e_5] =e_6, [e_2,e_3] =e_6, [e_2,e_4] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_6] = e_7, [e_2,e_5] = e_7, [e_3,e_4] = -e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^5 -e^3\wedge e^4)$
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{7,3}$ &
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_4, [e_1,e_4] =e_5, [e_1,e_5] =e_6, [e_2,e_3] =e_6, [e_2,e_4] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_6] = -e_7, [e_2,e_5] = -e_7, [e_3,e_4] = e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^5 - e^3\wedge e^4$
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{8}$ &
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_3] =e_4, [e_1,e_4] =e_5, [e_1,e_5] =e_6, [e_2,e_3] =e_5, [e_2,e_4] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_6] = e_7, [e_2,e_5] = e_7, [e_3,e_4] = -e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^5 -e^3\wedge e^4)$
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{9}$ &
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_4, [e_1,e_4] =e_5, [e_1,e_5] =e_6, [e_2,e_3] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_3] = \lambda e_7, [e_2,e_6] = \lambda e_7, [e_4,e_5] = -\lambda e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -\lambda (e^1\wedge e^3 + e^2\wedge e^6 -e^4\wedge e^5)$
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{19}$ &
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_4, [e_1,e_4] =e_5, [e_1,e_5] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_3] = e_7, [e_2,e_6] = e_7, [e_4,e_5] = -e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^3 + e^2\wedge e^6 -e^4\wedge e^5)$
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{20}$ &
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] = e_3, [e_1,e_3] =e_4, [e_1,e_4] =e_5, [e_2,e_3] =e_5$,
$[e_1,e_6] = e_7, [e_2,e_5] = e_7, [e_3,e_4] = -e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^5 -e^3\wedge e^4)$
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{22}$ &
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_5, [e_1,e_5] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_6] = e_7, [e_2,e_5] = e_7, [e_3,e_4] = e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^5 + e^3\wedge e^4)$
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{14,2}$ &
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_4, [e_2,e_3] =e_6, [e_2,e_4] =e_5$,
$[e_1,e_4] = -e_7, [e_2,e_5] = e_7, [e_3,e_6] = e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(-e^1\wedge e^4 + e^2\wedge e^5 + e^3\wedge e^6)$
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{14,3}$ &
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_4, [e_2,e_3] =e_6, [e_2,e_4] =e_5$,
$[e_1,e_4] = e_7, [e_2,e_5] = e_7, [e_3,e_6] = e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^4 + e^2\wedge e^5 + e^3\wedge e^6)$
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{21,3}$ &
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_4, [e_1,e_4] =e_6, [e_2,e_3] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_6] = e_7, [e_2,e_4] = e_7, [e_3,e_4] = -e_7, [e_3,e_5] = -e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^6 +e^2\wedge e^4 -e^3\wedge e^4 -e^3\wedge e^5)$
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{13,3}$ &
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_4, [e_1,e_3] =e_5, [e_1,e_4] =e_6, [e_2,e_3] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_6] = e_7, [e_2,e_4] = \lambda e_7, [e_2,e_5] = e_7, [e_3,e_5] = e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^6 + \lambda e^2\wedge e^4 + e^2\wedge e^5 + e^3\wedge e^5)$
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{15,3}$ &
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_4, [e_1,e_4] =e_6, [e_2,e_3] =e_5$,
$[e_1,e_6] = e_7, [e_2,e_4] = e_7, [e_3,e_5] = e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^4 + e^3\wedge e^5)$
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{23,2}$ &
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_5, [e_1,e_3] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_6] = e_7, [e_2,e_5] = e_7, [e_3,e_4] = e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^5 + e^3\wedge e^4)$
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
${{\mathfrak g}}_{23,3}$ &
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
$[e_1,e_2] =e_5, [e_1,e_3] =e_6$,
$[e_1,e_4] = e_7, [e_2,e_6] = e_7, [e_3,e_5] = e_7$,
$\eta = e^7$, $d\eta = -(e^1\wedge e^4 + e^2\wedge e^6 + e^3\wedge e^5)$
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
\
Covariant derivatives and curvature {#Formuly}
-----------------------------------
In [@Smolen-11] it is shown that the pseudo-Kähler structure on a six-dimensional nilpotent Lie algebra has a zero Ricci tensor. However, for Sasaki structures the Ricci tensor is non-zero, even if such a structure is obtained from a pseudo-Kähler Lie algebra by central extension. Therefore, in this section we establish the formulas, the binding properties of the curvature of almost pseudo-Kähler Lie algebras and the contact structures obtained by central extensions.
\[Lem-Covar\] Let $(\omega, J, h)$ be a almost (pseudo) Kähler structure on the Lie algebra ${{\mathfrak h}}$ and $(\eta, \xi, \phi, g) $ be the corresponding contact metric structure on the central extension ${{\mathfrak g}}={{\mathfrak h}}\times_\omega{\mathbb{R}}$. Then the covariant derivative $\nabla$ on ${{\mathfrak g}}$ expressed in terms of the covariant derivative [D]{} on ${{\mathfrak h}}$, symplectic form $\omega$ and almost complex structure $J$ on ${{\mathfrak h}}$ are as follows: $$\nabla_X Y = {\rm D}_XY + \frac 12 \omega(X,Y)\xi,$$ $$\nabla_X \xi = \nabla_\xi X = -\frac 12 JX \mbox{ è } \nabla_\xi \xi = 0.$$ where $X,Y \in {{\mathfrak h}}$.
Direct calculations using a six-membered formula [@KN], which is for the left-invariant vector fields $X,Y,Z$ on the Lie group takes the form: $2g(\nabla_XY,Z) = g([X,Y],Z) +g([Z,X],Y) +g(X,[Z,Y])$. Take two left-invariant vector fields of the form $x = X + \lambda\xi$ and $y = Y + \mu\xi$, where $X,Y \in {{\mathfrak h}}$. Then, using the formula $[X, Y]_{{{\mathfrak g}}} = [X,Y]_{{{\mathfrak h}}} +\omega(X, Y)\xi$, $[X,\xi]_{{{\mathfrak g}}} =0$ and orthogonality ${{\mathfrak h}}$ to $\xi$, we obtain for $X,Y \in {{\mathfrak h}}$: $$2g(\nabla_XY,Z) = h([X,Y]_{{{\mathfrak h}}},Z) +h([Z, X]_{{{\mathfrak h}}},Y) +h(X,[Z,Y]_{{{\mathfrak h}}}) = 2h({\rm D}_XY,Z),$$ $$2g(\nabla_XY,\xi) = g([X,Y]_{{{\mathfrak g}}}, \xi) + g[\xi, X]_{{{\mathfrak g}}},Y) + g(X,[\xi,Y]_{{{\mathfrak g}}}) = \omega(X,Y).$$ Consequently, $\nabla_X Y = {\rm D}_XY + \frac 12 \omega(X, Y)\xi$. Further, considering $h(X,Y) = \omega(X, JY)$: $$\begin{gathered}
2g(\nabla_X \xi,Z) = g([X,\xi]_{{{\mathfrak g}}},Z) +g[Z,X]_{{{\mathfrak g}}},\xi) +g(X,[Z,\xi]_{{{\mathfrak g}}}) =\omega(Z,X) = \\
=-\omega(Z,JJX) = -h(Z,JX) = -g(JX, Z),\end{gathered}$$ $$2g(\nabla_X \xi,\xi) = g([X,\xi]_{{{\mathfrak g}}},\xi) +g[\xi, X]_{{{\mathfrak g}}},\xi) +g(X,[\xi,\xi]_{{{\mathfrak g}}}) =0.$$ Therefore, $\nabla_X \xi =-\frac 12 JX \in {{\mathfrak h}}$. Similarly, we obtain: $\nabla_\xi X =-\frac 12 JX$.
\[Th-3-Riem\] Let $(\omega, J, h)$ be a almost (pseudo) Kähler structure on the Lie algebra ${{\mathfrak h}}$ and $(\eta, \xi, \phi, g)$ be the corresponding contact metric structure on the central extension ${{\mathfrak g}}={{\mathfrak h}}\times_\omega{\mathbb{R}}$. Then the curvature tensor $R$ of ${{\mathfrak g}}$ expressed in terms of the curvature tensor $R_{{{\mathfrak h}}}$ of ${{\mathfrak h}}$, symplectic form $\omega$ and almost complex structure $J$ on ${{\mathfrak h}}$ are given by the formulas: $$R(X,Y)Z = R_{{{\mathfrak h}}}(X,Y)Z -\frac 12 ({\rm D}_Z\omega)(X,Y) \xi -\frac 14 (\omega(Y, Z) JX - \omega(X, Z) JY ) + \frac 12 \omega(X, Y)JZ,$$ $$R(X,Y)\xi = -\frac 12 (({\rm D}_X J)Y -({\rm D}_Y J)X),$$ $$R(X, \xi)Z = -\frac 12 ({\rm D}_XJ)Z -\frac 14 g(X, Z)\xi, \qquad R(X, \xi) \xi = \frac 14 X,$$ where $X,Y \in {{\mathfrak h}}$.
This consists of direct calculation using the formula $R(X,Y)Z = \nabla_X \nabla_YZ -\nabla_Y\nabla_XZ - \nabla_{[X,Y]}Z$ using formulas for covariant derivatives obtained in Lemma \[Lem-Covar\]. For example, let us take first the left-invariant vector field of the form $X,Y,Z \in {{\mathfrak h}}$. Then, using the formula $[X,Y]_{{{\mathfrak g}}} =[X,Y]_{{{\mathfrak h}}} +\omega(X,Y)\xi$, $[X,\xi]_{{{\mathfrak g}}} =0$, orthogonality ${{\mathfrak h}}$ to $\xi$, and $\nabla_X Y = {\rm D}_XY +\frac 12 \omega(X,Y)\xi$, we obtain: $$\begin{gathered}
R(X,Y)Z = \nabla_X \nabla_YZ -\nabla_Y\nabla_XZ -\nabla_{[X,Y]}Z = \\
= \nabla_X \{{\rm D}_YZ + \frac 12 \omega(Y,Z)\xi\} -\nabla_Y\{{\rm D}_XZ +\frac 12 \omega(X, Z)\xi\} -\nabla_{[X,Y]_{{{\mathfrak h}}}+ \omega(X,Y)\xi} Z =\\
= {\rm D}_X{\rm D}_YZ + \frac 12 \omega(X,{\rm D}_YZ) \xi + \frac 12 \omega(Y, Z)(-\frac 12 JX) -\{{\rm D}_Y{\rm D}_XZ +\frac 12 \omega(Y,{\rm D}_XZ)\xi +\frac 12 \omega(X,Z)(-\frac 12 JY)\} -\\
-\{{\rm D}_{[X,Y]} Z +\frac 12 \omega([X,Y],Z)\xi\} -\omega(X,Y)\nabla_\xi Z = R_{{{\mathfrak h}}}(X,Y)Z + \\
+ \frac 12 \{\omega(X,{\rm D}_YZ) -\omega(Y,{\rm D}_XZ) -\omega([X,Y],Z)\}\xi - \frac 14 \{\omega(Y, Z) JX - \omega(X, Z)JY\} +\frac 12 \omega(X, Y)JZ =\end{gathered}$$ To simplify $\omega(X,{\rm D}_YZ) -\omega(Y,{\rm D}_XZ) -\omega([X,Y], Z)$ in the last expression, we use the properties ${\rm D}_XZ = {\rm D}_ZX +[X,Z]$ and ${\rm D}_YZ = {\rm D}_ZY +[Y,Z]$. Then, considering the closedness of the form $\omega$, $\omega(X,[Y,Z]) + \omega(Y,[Z,X]) + \omega( Z,[X,Y]) = d\omega(X,Y,Z) = 0$ and equality $Z\omega(X, Y) = ({\rm D}_Z\omega)(X,Y) + \omega({\rm D}_ZX,Y) + \omega(X,{\rm D}_ZY) = 0$, we obtain: $$\begin{gathered}
\omega(X, {\rm D}_YZ) -\omega(Y, {\rm D}_XZ) -\omega([X,Y],Z) = \\
= \omega(X,{\rm D}_ZY +[Y,Z]) -\omega(Y,{\rm D}_ZX + [X,Z]) -\omega([X,Y],Z) = \\
= \omega(X,{\rm D}_ZY) -\omega(Y,{\rm D}_ZX) +\omega(X,[Y,Z]) -\omega(Y,[X,Z]) -\omega([X, Y], Z) = \\
= \omega({\rm D}_ZX, Y) + \omega(X,{\rm D}_ZY) +\omega(X,[Y,Z]) + \omega(Y,[Z,X]) + \omega(Z,[X,Y]) = -({\rm D}_Z\omega)(X,Y).\end{gathered}$$ Substituting this expression, we complete the calculation: $$=R_{{{\mathfrak h}}}(X,Y)Z -\frac 12 ({\rm D}_Z\omega)(X,Y)\xi -\frac 14 (\omega(Y,Z)JX -\omega(X,Z)JY) + \frac 12 \omega(X,Y)JZ.$$ Consider the case of $R(X,Y)\xi$, where $X,Y \in {{\mathfrak h}}$. Then, considering equalities $\nabla_X \xi = -\frac 12 JX$ and $\nabla_\xi \xi = 0$ we get: $$\begin{gathered}
R(X,Y)\xi = \nabla_X (\nabla_Y \xi) -\nabla_Y (\nabla_X \xi) -\nabla_{[X,Y]} \xi = -\nabla_X (\frac 12 JY) + \nabla_Y (\frac 12 JX) -\nabla_{[X,Y]_{{{\mathfrak h}}}+ \omega(X, Y)\xi} \xi =\\
= \frac 12 (-\nabla_X (JY) + \nabla_Y (JX) +J[X, Y]) = \\
= \frac 12 (-{{\rm D}_X JY -\frac 12 \omega(X, JY)\xi} +{{\rm D}_Y JX +\frac 12 \omega(Y, JX)\xi } + J[X, Y]) =\\
= \frac 12 ( -({\rm D}_X J)Y -J({\rm D}_XY) -\frac 12 \omega(X, JY)\xi +
({\rm D}_Y J)X +J({\rm D}_YX) +\frac 12 \omega(Y, JX)\xi +J[X, Y] ) =\\
= \frac 12(-({\rm D}_X J)Y + ({\rm D}_Y J)X -J({\rm D}_XY-{\rm D}_YX) -\frac 12 \omega(X, JY)\xi +\frac 12 \omega(Y, JX)\xi + J[X, Y]) =\\
= \frac 12 (-({\rm D}_X J)Y +({\rm D}_Y J)X -J([X,Y]) -\frac 12 g(X,Y)\xi +\frac 12 g(Y,X)\xi +J[X, Y]) = \\
= -\frac 12 (({\rm D}_X J)Y -({\rm D}_YJ)X).\end{gathered}$$ Now consider the case $R(X, \xi)Y$, where $X,Y \in {{\mathfrak h}}$. Similarly, we obtain: $$\begin{gathered}
R(X, \xi)Z = \nabla_X(\nabla_\xi Z) -\nabla_\xi(\nabla_XZ) - \nabla_{[X, \xi]} Z = \\
= -\nabla_X (\frac 12 JZ) -\nabla_\xi ({\rm D}_XZ + \frac 12 \omega(X, Z)\xi) = -\nabla_X (\frac 12 JZ) + \frac 12 J({\rm D}_XZ) = \\
= \frac 12 (-{{\rm D}_XJZ -\frac 12 \omega(X, JZ)\xi} +J({\rm D}_XZ)) = \frac 12 (-({\rm D}_XJ)Z - J({\rm D}_XZ) - \frac 12 \omega(X,JZ)\xi +J({\rm D}_XZ)) = \\
= -\frac 12 ({\rm D}_XJ)Z -\frac 14 \omega(X,JZ)\xi = -\frac 12 ({\rm D}_XJ)Z -\frac 14 g(X, Z)\xi.\end{gathered}$$ Similarly, established the last formula, $$R(X, \xi) \xi = \nabla_X(\nabla_\xi \xi) -\nabla_\xi(\nabla_X \xi) -\nabla_{[X, \xi]}\xi = -\nabla_\xi(-\frac 12 JX) = \frac 12 \nabla_\xi (JX) = -\frac 12 \frac 12 J(JX) = \frac 14 X.$$
In the case of a (pseudo) Kähler structure on the Lie algebra ${{\mathfrak h}}$ we have $D\omega = 0$ and $DJ = 0$. Therefore, the formulas for the curvature will have a simpler form. If additionally submit an expression of $\omega(Y,Z)JX -\omega(X,Z)JY$ as $h(Z,JY)JX -h(Z,JX)JY$, we get:
\[Cor-3\] Let $(\omega, J, h)$ be a (pseudo) Kähler complex structure on the Lie algebra ${{\mathfrak h}}$ and $(\eta, \xi, \phi, g)$ be the corresponding (pseudo) Sasakian structure at the central expansion ${{\mathfrak g}}={{\mathfrak h}}\times_\omega{\mathbb{R}}$. Then the curvature tensor $R$ on ${{\mathfrak g}}$ is expressed in terms of the curvature tensor $R_{{{\mathfrak h}}}$ on ${{\mathfrak h}}$, the symplectic form $\omega$ and an almost complex structure $J$ on ${{\mathfrak h}}$ as follows: $$R(X,Y)Z = R_{{{\mathfrak h}}}(X,Y)Z -\frac 14 (h(Z,JY)JX -h(Z,JX)JY) +\frac 12 \omega(X,Y)JZ,$$ $$R(X,Y)\xi =0, \qquad R(X,\xi)Z =-\frac 14 g(X,Z)\xi, \qquad R(X,\xi)\xi =\frac 14 X,$$ where $X,Y \in {{\mathfrak h}}$.
Ricci tensor {#Formuly-Ricci}
------------
Recall that the Ricci tensor $Ric$ in a pseudo-Riemannian case is defined by the formula: $$Ric(X,Y) = \sum_{i=1}^{2n+1} \varepsilon_i g(R(e_i,Y)Z, e_i),$$ where $\{e_i\}$ is the orthonormal basis on ${{\mathfrak g}}$ and $\varepsilon_i =g(e_i, e_i)$. We choose a basis for ${{\mathfrak g}}$ in the form $\{e_1, \dots , e_{2n}, e_{2n+1}\} =\{E_1, \dots, E_{2n}, \xi \}$, where $E_i \in {{\mathfrak h}}$ and $\xi$ is the Reeb field. The following calculations assume that the index $i$ changes from 1 to $2n+1$, and the index $j$ changes from 1 to $2n$. In addition, we consider that an almost complex structure on ${{\mathfrak h}}$ is integrable, so that ${{\mathfrak h}}$ is the (pseudo) Kähler Lie algebra.
\[Th-4\] Let $(\omega, J, h)$ be (pseudo) Kähler structure on the Lie algebra ${{\mathfrak h}}$, and $(\eta, \xi, \phi, g)$ corresponds to a contact (pseudo) metric Sasaki structure on a central expansion ${{\mathfrak g}}={{\mathfrak h}}\times_\omega{\mathbb{R}}$. Then the Ricci tensor on ${{\mathfrak g}}$ expressed by the Ricci tensor $Ric_{{{\mathfrak h}}}$ on ${{\mathfrak h}}$ forms $\omega$ and an almost complex structure $J$ on ${{\mathfrak h}}$ as follows: $$Ric(Y,Z) = Ric_{{{\mathfrak h}}}(Y,Z) -\frac 12 h(Y,Z),$$ $$Ric(Y, \xi) = 0,\qquad Ric(\xi,\xi) = n/2.$$ where $X,Y \in {{\mathfrak h}}$.
In the basis $\{e_1, \dots , e_{2n}, e_{2n+1}\} = \{E_1, \dots, E_{2n}, \xi \}$ of the algebra ${{\mathfrak g}}$, where $E_j \in {{\mathfrak h}}$, for the $Y,Z \in {{\mathfrak h}}$ we obtain: $$\begin{gathered}
Ric(Y,Z) = \sum_i \varepsilon_i g(R(e_i,Y)Z, e_i) = \\
= \sum_j \left(\varepsilon_j h(R_{{{\mathfrak h}}}(E_j,Y)Z, E_j) - \frac 14 \varepsilon_i h(\omega(Y, Z)JE_j -\omega(E_j, Z) JY, E_j) + \frac 12 \varepsilon_j \omega(E_j,Y)h(E_j,JZ)\right) + \\
+g(R(\xi,Y)Z, \xi) =\\
= Ric_{{{\mathfrak h}}}(Y,Z) -\frac 14 \sum_j \varepsilon_j \omega(Y, Z)h(JE_j,E_j) +\frac 14 \sum_j \varepsilon_j \omega(E_j,Z) h(JY,E_j) +\\
+ \frac 12 \sum_j \varepsilon_j \omega(E_j,-JJY)g(E_j,JZ) + g(\frac 14 g(Y, Z)\xi,\xi) = \\
= Ric_{{{\mathfrak h}}}(Y,Z) + \frac 14 \sum_j \varepsilon_j \omega(E_j, -JJZ)h(JY,E_j) +\frac 14 h(Y, Z) -\frac 12 \sum_j \varepsilon_j g(E_j,JY)g(E_j,JZ) =\\
= Ric_{{{\mathfrak h}}}(Y,Z) - \frac 14 \sum_j \varepsilon_j h(E_j, JZ) h(E_j, JY) + \frac 14 h(Y, Z) - \frac 12 \sum_j \varepsilon_j g(E_j, JY)g(E_j,JZ) = \\
= Ric_{{{\mathfrak h}}}(Y,Z) -\frac 14 h(JY, JZ) + \frac 14 h(Y, Z) -\frac 12 h(JY, JZ) = Ric_{{{\mathfrak h}}}(Y,Z) -\frac 12 h(Y, Z).\end{gathered}$$ Further, $$Ric(Y, \xi) = \sum_i g(R(e_i,Y)\xi, e_i) = \sum_j \varepsilon_j g(R(E_j,Y)\xi, E_j) + g(R(\xi,Y)\xi, \xi) = -\frac 14 g(Y, \xi) = 0.$$ $$\begin{gathered}
Ric(\xi, \xi) = \sum_i \varepsilon_i g(R(e_i, \xi)\xi, e_i) = \sum_j \varepsilon_j g(R(E_j, \xi)\xi, E_j) + g(R(\xi, \xi) \xi, \xi) = \\
=\frac 14 \sum_j \varepsilon_j g(E_j, E_j) = \frac 14 \sum_j \varepsilon_j \varepsilon_j = n/2.\end{gathered}$$
In [@Smolen-11], the invariant pseudo-Kähler structures on six-dimensional nilpotent Lie algebra with the symplectic structure of the classification list [@Goze-Khakim-Med] are studied in detail. For each of them there are many compatible complex structures and corresponding pseudo-Riemannian metrics. It was found that they all have common properties: the associated pseudo-Kahler metric is Ricci-flat, the Riemann tensor has zero pseudo-norm, and the Riemann tensor has several nonzero components which depend only on two or, at most, three parameters. The author of [@Smolen-11] found a pseudo-Kähler structure depending only on the parameters that have an impact on curvature. Such metrics are called canonical. The curvature properties of the almost pseudo-Kähler structures on six nilpotent Lie algebra are obtained in [@Smolen-13]. Each (almost) pseudo-Kähler structure on a six-dimensional nilpotent Lie algebra determines the pseudo-Riemannian ($K$-contact) Sasaki structure on the seven-dimensional nilpotent Lie algebra. The formulas of Theorems \[Th-3-Riem\] and \[Th-4\] allow the use of the properties of the pseudo-Kähler structures for the properties of the corresponding contact ($K$-contact) Sasaki structures. This is demonstrated by the following example.
**Example**\
Consider the Lie algebra ${{\mathfrak g}}_{14}$ with the commutators $[e_1,e_2] =e_4, [e_2,e_3] =e_6, [e_2,e_4] =e_5$, $[e_1,e_6] = -e_7, [e_2,e_5] = e_7, [e_3,e_4] = e_7$ and contact form $\eta = e^7$. It is central extension of the algebra ${{\mathfrak h}}_{14}$, $[e_1,e_2] =e_4, [e_2,e_3] =e_6, [e_2,e_4] = e_5$, using the symplectic form $\omega = -e^1\wedge e^6 + e^2\wedge e^5 + e^3\wedge e^4$. As noted in the example in the previous section, there is [@Smolen-11] a family of pseudo-Kähler metrics on ${{\mathfrak h}}_{14}$ which depend on six parameters $\psi_{ij}$. The curvature tensor on ${{\mathfrak h}}_{14}$ is zero for all values of the parameters $\psi_{ij}$. Therefore, in this case, we obtain a family of contact pseudo-Sasaki structures $(\eta, \xi, \phi, g)$ on ${{\mathfrak g}}_{14}$, where $\xi = e_7$ and $\phi(x) = JX$, if $x = X + \lambda\xi$, $X \in {{\mathfrak h}}_{14}$. The curvature tensor and Ricci tensor have the form: $$R(X,Y)Z = -\frac 14 (g(Z,JY)JX -g(Z,JX)JY) +\frac 12 \omega(X,Y)JZ,$$ $$R(X,Y)\xi =0, \quad R(X,\xi) Z = -\frac 14 g(X,Z)\xi, \quad R(X,\xi)\xi =\frac 14 X,$$ $$Ric(Y,Z) = -\frac 12 g(Y,Z), \quad Ric(Y,\xi) = 0,\quad Ric(\xi,\xi) =n/2.$$
**Remark.** Using the results of [@Smolen-11] it is easy to build a family of contact pseudo-Riemannian Sasaki structures and other contact structures from Theorem \[Th-1\].
In [@Goze-Remm] it is shown that the contact nilpotent Lie algebra of dimension $2n+1$ is a central extension of the $2n$-dimensional symplectic nilpotent Lie algebra. Therefore, contact nilpotent Lie algebras in the tables of Theorems \[Th-1\] and \[Th-2\] with the Heisenberg algebra give a full list of all contact seven-dimensional nilpotent Lie algebras. Another classification of seven-dimensional contact nilpotent Lie algebras is introduced in [@Kutsak]. In contrast to the symplectic case, this paper shows that the Ricci tensor of the contact seven-dimensional Lie algebras is nonzero even in the direction of contact distribution $D$.
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Cappelletti-Montano, B., De Nicola, A., Marrero, J. C. and Yudin, I. Examples of compact $K$-contact manifolds with no Sasakian metric. Int. J. Geom. Methods Mod. Phys., 2014, Vol. 11, no. 9, 10 P.
Cordero L. A., Fernández M. and Ugarte L. Pseudo-Kähler metrics on six dimensional nilpotent Lie algebras. J. of Geom. and Phys., Vol. 50, 2004, 115–137.
Diatta, A. Left invariant contact structures on Lie groups. Diff. Geom. and its Appl., 2008, Vol. 26, Issue 5, P. 544–552 ( arXiv: math. DG/0403555 v2 24 Sep 2004).
Goze M., Khakimdjanov Y., Medina A. Symplectic or contact structures on Lie groups. Differential Geom. Appl. Vol. 21, no. 1, 41–54, 2004, (arXiv:math/0205290v1 \[math.DG\]).
Goze, M., Remm, E. Contact and Frobeniusian forms on Lie groups. Diff. Geom. Appl., 2014, Vol. 35, P. 74–94 (DOI 10.1016/j.difgeo.2014.05.008).
Kobayashi S. and Nomizu K. Foundations of Differential Geometry, Vol. 1 and 2. Interscience Publ. New York, London. 1963.
Kutsak, S. Invariant contact structures on 7-dimensional nilmanifolds. Geom. Dedicata, 2014, Vol. 172, P. 351–361.
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Smolentsev, N. K. Canonical pseudo-Kähler metrics on six-dimensional nilpotent Lie groups, Vestn. Kemerovsk. Gos. Univ., Ser. Mat., 2011, 3/1, No. 47, 155–168. (arXiv:1310.5395 \[math.DG\])
Smolentsev, N.K. Canonical almost pseudo-Kähler structures on six-dimensional nilpotent Lie groups. 2013, arXiv:1310.5395 \[math.DG\], 21 P.
| |
Literature and law have always influenced each other and the recent flourishing of critical analysis on the comparison between the two fields acknowledges the importance of this branch of comparative study. Literary scholars are more and more aware of how literature is deeply interspersed with legal elements. The aim of this course is to discern some of the legal elements inherent in Renaissance theatre, such as the problems concerning the transfer of property, the concept of equity and justice, the representation of trials, legal debates on power, and so on.
Assessment will be by oral exam. Students will have to demonstrate their capacity to discuss the main themes of the programme, their skill in connecting the different theoretical approaches to the analysis of the texts, and in inserting the texts into the trends and characteristics of Renaissance society. | http://www.dlls.univr.it/?ent=oi&aa=2006%2F2007&codiceCs=L01&codins=10658&cs=69&discr=&discrCd= |
Mobile health apps, text messaging solutions and all forms of electronic systems are validated against the specifications set forth by regulatory or functional requirements. Basic validation principles are based on the FDA’s 2011 Guidance for Industry Process Validation and is defined as follows:
The collection and evaluation of data, from the process design stage through commercial production, which establishes scientific evidence that a process is capable of consistently delivering quality product. Process validation involves a series of activities taking place over the life cycle of the product and process.1
The European Union’s Guide to Good Manufacturing Practice is similar. Manufacturers should be able to justify their standards, protocols, acceptance criteria procedures and records on the basis of their risk assessment. Having the evidence that computer systems are correct for their purpose and operating properly represents a good business practice applicable across industry sectors.
The systems validation process encompasses the full system development life cycle and includes the following critical elements: system requirements, system design, coding/customising/software development, testing by system provider, traceability, UAT, installation/configuration management and decommissioning plan.
Synegys has a systems development life cycle methodology addressing specific functional or regulatory requirements. This includes 21 CFR part 11, HIPAA, EU Directive 2002/58/EC, local text messaging regulations and local privacy laws. Synegys can provide a checklist of how our applications comply with major industry standards. Contact us for more information. | https://www.synegys.com/solution-features/system-validation/ |
We need a paradigm shift to develop solutions to global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and decline of natural resources. We call this paradigm shift – Planetary Thinking. It involves four levels: new self-understanding, new thinking, new solutions, and new processes. These levels are explored and connected through an interdisciplinary collaboration between natural sciences, social sciences, the humanities, and arts. The seminar series features four presentations by natural and social scientists who present how planetary thinking influences their research. The seminar includes a 30-minute presentation and a 30-minute question and answer session.
You will find the upcoming events of the seminar series below. Fall program: Wednesday - at 18:00
Please also have a look at the recordings of all previous lectures.
Note: Please kindly note that our events will take place only via Zoom, because of technical challenges.
PD. Dr. Diana Hummel: Planetary Thinking and Human Population Dynamics in the Anthropocene. A Perspective from Social Ecology
January 19, 2022, online | co-hosts: Prof. Dr. Joachim Curtius, Dr. Camelia-Eliza Telteu
Abstract
In the debate about the Anthropocene - the “age of humans”- the topic of human population dynamics is gaining (renewed) significance and is subject to controversial scientific and public discussion. In conjunction with climate change, biodiversity loss and resource depletion, population growth is considered to be one of the key global challenges for sustainable development. Diana Hummel will illustrate how the issue of human population dynamics can be critically addressed in the context of planetary thinking. In her presentation, she outlines several narratives of population and development and presents this field from the perspective of Social Ecology, which relates population dynamics to issues of shaping societal relations to nature.
Dr. Helge Kminek: Planetary Thinking – Reflections From Educational Science on Requirements, Possibilities and Limitations
February 09, 2022 online | co-hosts: Prof. Dr. Roland Borgards, Dr. Camelia-Eliza Telteu
He is recognized for his work on reconstructive school and teaching research, philosophy didactics, and education for sustainable development. | https://www.goethe-university-frankfurt.de/99718276/EXPLORING_PLANETARY_THINKING |
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Arjun (AJ) Bhardwaj
Assistant Professor
Faculty of ManagementOffice: EME 4107
Phone: 250.807.8898
Email: [email protected]
Biography
AJ is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Management at the Kelowna campus of UBC. Prior to joining UBC, AJ was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at Harvard University. Earlier, AJ completed his Ph.D. in Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business, Western University. AJ has diverse cross-cultural exposure and has lived, worked, or studied in four countries (Canada, India, Japan and the United States).
During his doctoral studies at Ivey, AJ spent a year as a McCain Fellow at Mount Allison University where he taught International Management, Issues in Business and Society, and Research Methods in Business. At UBC, AJ teaches courses in Sustainability, International Business, and Leadership. The peer rating of his teaching is 4.9/5.
AJ’s interdisciplinary and cross-cultural research seeks to understand how social attitudes (e.g., social dominance orientation) shape group-based social hierarchies (e.g., caste, gender, race) and it explores the facilitative role of social networks in sustaining group-based hierarchies in organizations/societies. His recent research has focussed on social network ties that bridge across social group divides. AJ is also interested in understanding the interplay of individual agency and network structure with particular interest in examining personality influences on social networks. His research has been published in the Academy of Management Best Papers Proceedings, Academy of Management Learning and Education, Group and Organization Management, Journal of Business and Psychology, Journal of Social and Political Psychology, and Management International Review.
AJ has supervised one graduate thesis and currently serves on multiple graduate supervisory committees. His research is being currently supported by a collaborative Insight Development Grant (2020-2022) from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada and a two-year collaborative grant (2019-2021) under the Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) in India.
At UBC, AJ has served as the Graduate Studies Coordinator for the IGS Program (M.A. and Ph.D.) in the Faculty of Management, and at the campus level, as a member of the College of Graduate Studies Council and the Research Advisory Council to the Vice-Principal (Research).
Away from the office, AJ is interested in hiking, meditation (Vipassana – Goenka), and cricket (mostly watching). AJ has also learnt elementary Chinese (Putonghua) and successfully passed the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) Level 2 examination.
Websites
Degrees
Post-Doctoral Fellow, Harvard University
Ph.D., Richard Ivey School of Business, Western University
M.B.A., International University of Japan and Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth (Exchange)
Selected Publications & Presentations
Variety, dissimilarity, and status centrality in MBA networks: Is the minority or the majority more likely to network across diversity? Academy of Management Learning and Education, 2017, 16(3), 349-372 (in coll. with Alison M. Konrad, Marc-David L. Seidel, Eiston Lo, and Israr Qureshi).
A two-wave study of self monitoring personality, social network churn, and in-degree centrality in close friendship and general socializing networks, Group and Organization Management, 2016, 41(4), 526-559 (in coll. with Israr Qureshi, Alison M. Konrad, and Seung Hwan Mark Lee).
Ideological support for the Indian caste system: Social dominance orientation, right-wing authoritarianism and karma, Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 2014, 2(1), 98-116 (in coll. with Sarah Cotterill, James Sidanius, and Vivek Kumar).
Proactive personality heterophily and the moderating role of proactive personality on network centrality and psychological outcomes: A longitudinal study, Journal of Business and Psychology, 2014, 29(3), 381-395 (in coll. with Seung Hwan Mark Lee, Israr Qureshi, and Alison M. Konrad). | https://management.ok.ubc.ca/about/contact/arjun-aj-bhardwaj/ |
Namibia Africamedium kaolin impact crusherprice.mediumkaolinore concentrate inNamibia AfricaThis work dwells on 292kaolin depositsand occurrences inAfrica. It has presented concise details on its geology, mineralogy, and utilization. It has also considered thekaolin industry in Africain terms of its geology, mineralogy, industrial ... We have mining machines for crushing, beneficiation, grinding, building materials, and ball pressing. Welcome to consult or purchase. | https://optimalhealthcenter.nl/impact-crusher/3804.html |
I have taught theory for years. BUT many think it is just a bunch of rules. THERE'S MORE. Through CONVERSATION, we will explore these concepts. We'll begin at your current understanding then journey together.
I believe music should be fun and educational. I joke around to keep the mood light when the music gets difficult. Music is my passion and I enjoy having the privilege to share my years of knowledge in theory and performance with others.
My teaching methodology is very individualized. For beginners, I recommend longer lessons times to learn how to read music, some basic music theory, and then delving into there desired instrument. For more advanced students, I encourage them to search for personally chosen pieces which both inspire ad stretch the individual's abilities.
My lessons are focused solely on the goals and aspirations of my students. I build curriculums that are unique to each individual student in order to help them achieve these goals. In our lessons, we will cover all the areas that are essential to one's development as a musician including; music theory, ear training, rhythmic analysis, and technique.
I have been teaching for over 25 years. I have taught in schools and privately. I teach technique and rudiments for solid playing while also teaching theory and sight reading.
MUSIC EXPERIENCE JamSpot - Trombone and electric bass 2010 - 2011 New England Band Productions 2010 - Present Boston Windjammers Worcester Brass Band Dixieland Hobos Firehouse Dixie Blues Brothers Next Generation 2010 - Present Musical Director, Performer and Promoter Mill City Revival - Dance band performer 2011 - Present Stereo Kings - Rock band performer 2012 - 2013 Spotlight...
I was taught by the iconic late Dr. Isaac B.
I am an MSU College of Music graduate with a specialty in low brass instruments who teaches beginning and intermediate wind instrumentalists. I've taught myself some basic proficiency on the ukulele which I also feel qualified to instruct. Furthermore, I have a strong concept of music theory and can teach that as well.
I start out seeing where you are at with your chosen skill and let you show me what you can already do, and then from there I provide suggestions on how to improve what you are already doing right, and how to let go of habits and methods of playing that are getting in your way, and then from there I create lesson plans tailored to your situation, your strengths and weaknesses, and am always...
I base my classes on the individual's or groups' way of learning that suits their needs and the pace also depends on overall skill and practice. I like to guide my students to not only improve on instrumentation, but also work ethic and confidence.
I like to approach the lesson by first evaluating what you do and don't know, and then working on a foundation from there. I treat my students professionally but not with a cold shoulder. I listen and play all types of music, and do not exclude anyone based on skill or music tastes.
Test Test TEst test test test a a a a a a a aa a a a a a a aa a a a aa a a a a a a aa a a a a a a a a a a a a
How i teach is my first demonstrating a little what i can do , and then allowing the new student to play what ever they can or wish to perform giving me a feel for there current level of experience and there bad and good habits as a musician then i form my warm up with them around there strengths and weaknesses allowing us to work on there problem areas and also having fun and growing there...
My name is Terry Whittington. Retired from Army bands system. Have given lessons to beginners to advanced level students. I am a member of the International Trombone Association, and the British Trombone Society. Have studied with Marta Hofacre at the University of Southern Mississippi. Was a member of the Mississippi Lion's All-State Band in 1987.
My teaching principals are highly based upon the Pedagogy of Arnold Jacobs. I think the most important aspect along with proper fundamentals is playing musically.
I am a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music. I teach trombone, tuba, and euphonium lessons to anyone and any age from those that have just started playing through those looking to just improve their musicianship. I tailor my methodology to the needs of my students, and I am willing to work with them to try and find the best way for them to learn.
Born and studied in Cuba ( American citizen ) I graduated with a degree in trumpet and minor in piano from Amadeo Roldan 1994 Habana, Cuba. Languages: Spanish, English. Over 20 years of experience gained as a lead Professional trumpet player ( any style ) • Stylistic accomplishments in a variety of musical genres ranging from classical to jazz, salsa and funk.
I have experienceTeaching all the ages and the ability levels. I focus on a fundamentals-based approach while still keeping lessons fun and energetic. I believe in tailoring my teaching style and lessons to each person in order for each student to benefit greatly.
I am a college Graduate of the College of Saint Rose and I majored in Music Education. I am offering private lessons on multiple instruments as needed. I studied trumpet at a College level and have completed my senior performance. As part of my College degree I have completed and passed my student teaching.
I am a Jazz trombonist, and I also have many years of classical education and experience. I can help you with fundamentals, rhythm, sound, sight reading, improvising, audition preparation, or whatever your personal goal is. I am a very patient and positive teacher, and I thoroughly enjoy passing some of my knowledge and practice techniques forward to my students.
I am a classically trained, professional trombone player working in New York City. During my 11 years as a trombone player I've performed everything from Beethoven to Bebop at venues such as -- Symphony Space, Verizon Hall of the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, The Bowery Electric, The Hudson Music Festival and Carnegie Hall.
I love to help students not only learn the theory and movements behind their instruments, but also how to appreciate music and truly become musical members of their band or orchestra! I played trombone and oboe all through high school, participating in marching and jazz bands on trombone, and playing in a selective orchestra as first chair oboe, and played oboe again for two years in the YSU...
I am a musician and professor who has played and taught in NYC and overseas. I teach trombone, music theory, and jazz history in a way that will increase your appreciation for all music regardless of style. I adjust to you, your interests and what you wish to learn.
I like to find out what the student likes and wants in their musical experience.
02/02 / 2004-04 / 12/2009: Bachelor of Music with honors on technical euphonium, 3 years of trombone at the Music Conservatory of Musical Education Institution Technician "Amina Melendro of Pulecio" Ibague (Colombia). Currently studying Specialized Cycle (DEM) at the Regional Conservatory of Paris (CRR), Paris (France). The lessons are aimed at people of all ages.
COPPER: The content of the course is adapted to each student according to his objectives: discovery, leisure practice, rapid progression, preparation of an audition, a concert or an examination. MAO: My students will be able, at the end of the training, to master the Ableton Live software, the plug-ins (synths and effects), to record, arrange, build a piece.
Gives piano music theory and violin lessons for all levels up to the equivalent of late conservatory study. I am very attached in contact with the student, regardless of age, so that it happens to the best of us. Once this is achieved I adapt to the need of the student.
I am a professional harpist based in Birmingham. I have over 3 years of teaching experience where I have successfully guided my students to passing their ABRSM grade exams. Each lesson is tailored to suit the student and make the learning enjoyable.
I like to focus on the needs of each student and make them enjoy what they want to learn, from the first contact with music and the instrument to improve a more advance particular technical aspect. I am offering lessons to people from all ages, from kids to adults.
I believe that there is no single method that works for everyone. I am constantly looking for ways to alter my teaching to suit the student in question. I have successfully helped students get into music colleges and have taken beginners all the way through their grades.
Thousands of teachers can teach you trombone. Find private lessons closest to you. | https://www.superprof.us/lessons/trombone/united-states/ |
Recent Articles
Updated MEPs singled out Nokia Siemens for criticism over selling censorship and surveillance systems to Iran on Wednesday, charges the networking firm said are unfounded.
A European Union Parliament resolution "strongly criticizes international companies, and notably Nokia/Siemens, for providing the Iranian authorities with the necessary censorship and surveillance technology, thus being instrumental to persecution and arrests of Iranian dissidents".
The parliament called on the EU institutions immediately to "ban the export of surveillance technology by European companies to governments and countries such as Iran".
Nokia Siemens Networks said MEPs have misunderstood the use of its technology in Iran. The networking firm concedes that it did provide "lawful interception" (wiretapping) capabilities for mobile kit it supplied to Iran but denies it has anything to do with technology used to censor internet connections, a practice it condemns.
"The implication that we have provided censorship technology is wrong," a Nokia Siemens spokesman explained. "We will be clarifying any innaccuracy in their understanding of our business in Iran with the European Parliament."
"Contrary to some press reports, the mobile networks Nokia Siemens Networks provided have no capability for surveillance or censorship or so-called 'deep packet inspection' of emails or other Internet traffic. Moreover, almost all Internet traffic in Iran is carried on fixed, not mobile, networks."
"We are, of course, aware of reports from Iran, and condemn any abuse of communication technologies that may have taken place. We strongly believe that mobile networks have enhanced individuals' lives, promote transparency, and empower citizens with effective means of feedback. In Iran they clearly have played a pivotal role in their ability to communicate, organize, and share their story with the outside world.".
Technology exports between US firms and Iran are strictly controlled so the country can be expected to make greater use of European technology from the like of Nokia/Siemens than might otherwise be the case.
The European Parliament resolution, which also called for Iran to "restore the transparency of its nuclear programme" and free dissidents, was made on the eve of the 11 February anniversary of the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Opposition groups plan to stage demonstrations on Thursday, continuing protests over the disputed results of June 2009 presidential elections, but efforts to coordinate these protests have been frustrated by a disruption of internet and mobile services by the Iranian authorities.
The BBC's Farsi service and social networks (used to co-ordinate last year's protests) have long being the target for censorship. This week Iranian authorities throttled access to webmail services including Yahoo! and Gmail and shut down text-messaging services.
An Iranian official told local media that Gmail would be blocked to "encourage users to switch to local e-mail services", the New York Timesreports. ®
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Physics, Earth & Space
Proper Credit — Who Discovered Hubble’s Law?
Today marks the 90th anniversary of Edwin Hubble’s publication of the paper, “A relation between distance and radial velocity among extra-galactic nebulae,” in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. This short paper contains one table, one figure, and four reference citations. Yet, for its modest size, it has had enormous impact.
There Was a Beginning
In it the American astronomer presented observational evidence for the correlation between the radial velocities and distances to the spiral nebulae (termed extra-galactic nebulae by Hubble and today called galaxies). The radial velocities were measured from the Doppler shifts on spectra (made mostly years before by Vesto Slipher). Hubble determined their distances from his measurements of Cepheid variables identified on photographs taken with the 100-inch Hooker telescope at Mount Wilson Observatory. Cepheids are a type of astronomical “standard candle.” If you can measure the period and average apparent brightness from its regular light variations, then you can calculate its distance.
The figure included in the paper shows a simple, if rather noisy, correlation between the recession velocity of a galaxy and its distance. Albert Einstein soon after admitted that Hubble’s finding showed that the universe was not eternally static as he had assumed, but instead was expanding. Many leading scientists of the day realized the implication of the cosmic expansion — there was a beginning!
The Philosophy of the Day
Einstein, like other scholars of the day, had simply assumed the prevailing philosophy of the day, that there was no beginning and that to ask about a beginning to the universe was not even science (scroll down in link to the discussion with Nernst). Now, leading cosmologists (notably, Alan Guth and Alexander Vilenkin) admit that theoretical considerations combined with observations are best explained by a beginning to the universe.
Live Science rightfully takes note of this anniversary. The online article is a nice summary as far as it goes, but it leaves out one detail that leads me to answer the question I posed in the headline above. Well, did Hubble discover Hubble’s Law?
No! A Belgian priest and cosmologist named Georges Lamaître beat Hubble by two years. Sadly, his original paper was published in French in an obscure scientific journal. He is finally receiving the recognition he deserves. There is a movement among scientists to rename Hubble’s Law to include Lamaître’s name (see here, here, and here).
Lamaître’s Achievement
In 1927 Lamaître was probably the only person who fully understood cosmology from both the theoretical and empirical perspectives. He understood Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, applied it to the cosmos, and predicted the velocity-distance relation, which he then confirmed with the available astronomical data. He even calculated the value of the constant of proportionality, now called the Hubble constant. Not only was Hubble two years late, but also he didn’t grasp the implications of his eponymous law.
In 1931 Lamaître published a paper in Nature in which he presented his theory of the early universe, called the Primeval Atom. It formed the basis for the Big Bang theory, a term coined by Fred Hoyle in 1949. While intended as pejorative, Hoyle’s label, in a way, was a tacit acknowledgment by a then avowed atheist of the implications, clearly favorable to theism, of Lamaître’s theory.
Photos: Edwin Hubble (above) in 1931, by Johan Hagemeyer (1884-1962) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons; Georges Lamaître (below), via Wikimedia Commons. | https://evolutionnews.org/2019/01/proper-credit-who-discovered-hubbles-law/ |
In a signal point arranging method for use with a quadrature amplitude modulator/demodulator device in which a desired number of signal points (3) are arranged on a rectangular plane, a plurality of grid (1) points are first set such that they are symmetrical with respect to the rectangular coordinate axes of the rectangular plane and arranged at intervals of a unit distance. Next, a plurality of concentric circles (2) with their center at the coordinate origin of the rectangular plane are set, each of the concentric circles (2) having a radius equal to a distance between the coordinate origin and a grid (1) point. Then, a desired number of signal points (3) are arranged on points of intersection of said grid (1) points, said concentric circles (2) beginning with the circle (2) smallest in radius and continuing with circles (2) of increasing radius. As a result, each of the signal points (3) can be arranged as close to the coordinate origin as possible, thus enabling the peak power of modulated signals to be minimized. In addition, since the distance between signal points (3) can be held constant, the S/N characteristic does not vary with the signal points (3) and a constant transmission error rate can be secured. As a result, a signal point (3) arrangement is obtained which enables data transmission at minimum required power, reduces transmission error rate and minimizes the S/N characteristic. | |
This episode I'm pleased to finally share my full interview with Zach Horvath, Founder and Owner of LIVE A GREAT STORY. In the episode we discuss how Zach is building a group of ambassadors that motivate and inspire one another (and people all over the world) through the use of their personal life stories and experiences. We also dive into how LIVE is so much more than a motivational reminder to experience life to its fullest, but a community of individuals that are constantly enhancing each other's lives through sharing their story. Learn how you can get involved with LIVE A GREAT STORY.
All content © 2019 Audio Austin. | http://audioaustin.buzzsprout.com/139182/675406-spotlight-zach-horvath-live-a-great-story |
An Old Testament custom that seems unnecessarily harsh is the "eye for an eye" laws, also called lex talionis, or law of exact equivalence. Many people are familiar with Jesus' radical response to this law in the Sermon on the Mount, in which he tells his listeners to "turn the other cheek" (Matt. 5:39). The clearest expression of this law appears in Leviticus.
If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him (Lev. 24:19-20).
If you injure another person's bone, eye or tooth, as punishment your bone, eye or tooth will be injured similarly. Christians today are called by Jesus not to respond with an eye for an eye, but with turning the other cheek, going the second mile and loving our enemies (Matt. 5:38-44). (Recently, one of my sons gave the other a wedgie. While chasing the perpetrator, the victim yelled out, "An eye for an eye, a wedgie for a wedgie." While fleeing, the perpetrator replied, "You're supposed to turn the other cheek.")
Just as Jesus' commands from the Sermon on the Mount were progressive for first-century Israel, the lex talionis principle was progressive for ancient Israel. Old Testament scholar David Baker describes the societal benefits of lex talionis: "It limits vengeance and rules out punishment disproportionate to the offence." As anyone with sons knows, the pattern that usually follows violence is not equivalent retaliation, but escalation. You pinch me, I hit your arm. You hit my arm, I punch your face. On a national scale the escalation principle, if left unchecked, eventually results in ...1
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2011-04-28
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God Behaving Badly
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Please log in or subscribe to view the slideshow. | https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/july/godbehavingbadly.html |
China announces official second-quarter GDP on Tuesday, a figure widely expected to reflect official guarantees of continued strong growth. But data from the China Beige Book—a private survey of 2,200 firms nationwide—suggest that the Chinese economy isn’t expanding as Beijing’s numbers would imply. Actually, the second quarter saw another broad-based slowdown.
Yet it is hardly news that GDP isn’t a reliable gauge of growth or credit conditions across China’s economy. The real news is that this slowdown may be the beginning of something much more important: weakness, perhaps of unprecedented degree, in both capital expenditure and loan demand.
Economic analysts have for years called for China to curb investment-led growth. Now that process may be beginning—and it won’t be painless.
A year ago, the weakening of the economy was due primarily to a tightening of credit. In early 2013—while many analysts remained glued to the government’s “total social finance” credit measure—our research data revealed that companies had escalating difficulties in accessing credit, a trend that began as early as the fourth quarter of 2012.
A few months later, Beijing’s central bank became more forceful in its policy response, declining to feed the credit beast its usual meal of loan rollovers. That led to spikes in interbank lending rates, including the June 2013 credit crunch.
Our survey data this quarter reflect a very different dynamic: broad-based falls in capital expenditure growth and a related further fall in loan demand. Back in the second quarter of 2013, loan demand remained high but many couldn’t access credit, driving those firms to more expensive shadow lenders. But this quarter firms simply didn’t want the credit. Loan demand hit the lowest level since our survey began in the first quarter of 2012.
The lack of demand can’t be seen in interest rates on bank loans, which rose a bit this quarter and often reflect institutional relationships as much as real changes in market demand. But it is manifest in rates charged by non-bank financials, the so-called shadow lenders. Shadow bank rates plunged to below those charged by the banks, for the first time at the national level.
Firms watching the economic slowdown didn’t want to spend. At the national level, capital-expenditure growth slowed broadly this quarter, as did firms’ expectations for future spending. Fewer firms increased investment than at any time since our survey began.
The worst slowdown was in mining, where the share of firms increasing their investment spending collapsed by almost 30%. Services firms followed with a 20% drop, and manufacturers dropped nearly 20% despite a relatively solid quarter of growth. The only sector to increase investment slightly was real estate and construction, but even there the on-year trend showed weakness. The proportion of real-estate firms expecting higher investment next quarter also dropped, while more firms said they expect to cut spending.
Capital expenditure in retail is best reflected by retailers’ willingness to open or close stores. In China’s central region, including megacity Chongqing and Sichuan province, outlet expansion fell off a cliff. Just 22% of firms increased their number of outlets—a near 50% drop from the first quarter—while 18% are cutting stores, more than twice as many as last quarter.
There is a chicken-or-egg problem with capital expenditure and the labor market, but the outcome is clear: The labor market is seeing depressed growth in hiring and wages.
If official data are at all accurate, Chinese capital expenditure is the weakest it has been in more than a decade—and evidence suggests that this investment downshift may be difficult to reverse. A year ago, tighter credit constrained growth and the central bank had the option of loosening again. This quarter, lower non-bank interest rates failed to support investment.
There are considerable advantages to this dynamic, as China badly needs investment to decline and consumption to grow. But these numbers suggest that firms are borrowing and spending less, not ratcheting up in response to anticipated or actual government stimulus.
If so, this isn’t a slowdown with Chinese characteristics, as some have argued. It is the opposite: a normal slowdown. That bodes well for China’s long-term fortunes but also suggests that slowing investment will produce a much bumpier ride than many have hoped. | http://www.charneyresearch.com/resources/this-china-slowdown-is-different/ |
Our previous research demonstrated that spaceflight conditions affect antibody production in response to an antigenic stimulation in adult amphibians. Here, we investigated whether antibody synthesis is affected when animal development occurs onboard a space station. To answer this question, embryos of the Iberian ribbed newt, Pleurodeles waltl, were sent to the International Space Station (ISS) before the initiation of immunoglobulin heavy-chain expression. Thus, antibody synthesis began in space. On landing, we determined the effects of spaceflight on P. waltl development and IgM heavy-chain transcription. Results were compared with those obtained using embryos that developed on Earth. We find that IgM heavy-chain transcription is doubled at landing and that spaceflight does not affect P. waltl development and does not induce inflammation. We also recreated the environmental modifications encountered by the embryos during their development onboard the ISS. This strategy allowed us to demonstrate that gravity change is the factor responsible for antibody heavy-chain transcription modifications that are associated with NF-kappaB mRNA level variations. Taken together, and given that the larvae were not immunized, these data suggest a modification of lymphopoiesis when gravity changes occur during ontogeny.
Related URLs: | http://www.spacestationresearch.com/research/gravity-changes-during-animal-development-affect-igm-heavy-chain-transcription-and-probably-lymphopoiesis/ |
A shorter version of this article appeared today in the Globe and Mail’s Economy Lab
Have you noticed how common it has become to talk about replacing workers with even cheaper workers? If you’re looking over your shoulder, you’re not paranoid; you’re paying attention. There’s probably a cheaper you out there. And in Canada, the feds are helping your boss find them.
This week, the International Labour Organization noted there are 50 million fewer jobs in the global economy than before the financial crisis began in 2008. Some 200 million people are now looking for work, and many of them are on the move. Some have landed here.
But with 1.4 million unemployed, many Canadians, too, are desperately seeking opportunity, and trying to avoid losing economic ground. As manufacturers continue to decamp to low-wage climes, and the public sector sheds jobs, the job options are sliding down the income scale. There, the growing competition is pushing the pay floor lower and lower.
Why? Canada, oddly, has welcomed newcomers in record numbers throughout a recession even as unemployment rates spiked. But our policies are shifting, and with it the type of labour market and society we are creating. Today, the preferential nod is being given to a soaring number of temporary foreign workers, or “guest” workers. Make no mistake: These are people who are brought here at the pleasure of employers, and stay at the pleasure of employers.
In 2011 156,000 economic immigrants entered Canada as permanent residents, while 191,000 people entered with a temporary work permit, granted to employers by the federal government. Many of these permits extend beyond a year, so as of December 1 2011 there were over 300,111 temporary foreign workers employed in Canada, the highest number on record. The number of temporary foreign workers has more than doubled since 2006.
The federal government is promoting the temporary foreign worker program as a solution to skill shortages now faced by employers, particularly in the West. Yet 35 per cent of the nation’s temporary foreign workers are in Ontario, and almost one in five (18 per cent) are in Toronto, which has an unemployment rate of 8.6 per cent. Labour shortage? I don’t think so.
Those numbers will soon rise. Last week, the federal government announced that employers could usher in high-skilled temporary workers like engineers and electricians in 10 days instead of the current 12-14 week approval process, noting this fast-tracking will likely be extended to other categories of temporary foreign workers. But the fastest growing contingent of temporary foreign workers now are low-skilled workers, whose numbers have grown ten-fold in just five years. This category of temporary foreign workers are not the seasonal fruit-and-vegetable pickers that our nation also relies on. Low-skilled temporary workers are the people who toil year-round at Tim Horton’s and Canadian Tire, in our abattoirs, nursing homes and hotels, and any workplace where employers say they can’t find Canadian workers willing to work at the offered wage rates.
Disturbingly, the federal announcement also set out new wage rules which permit employers to pay temporary foreign workers up to 15 per cent below the average paid for that type of work locally, sanctioning the creation of a two-tiered “us and them” labour market.
Even if such a rule were rigorously applied and monitored — and budget cuts may eliminate the staff to do this job — it guarantees a downward trend in wages for everyone. Fifteen per cent below the average is a recipe for continuous decline when labour shortages are filled, as a matter of policy, by those who get paid less and are not allowed to stay long enough to ask for more.
Lower wages for most workers will not be an accidental, unintended result of this federal policy initiative. Ottawa’s recently announced reforms did not include a change in the four year cap on residency for temporary foreign workers, brought into play in 2011. That rule guarantees two things: one, employers can minimize the costs of churn; and two, a permanently temporary class of workers is created, keeping wages and expectations low.
The insider/outsider ethos is also reinforced by policy design. The salute to increased use of temporary foreign workers was also not accompanied by increased quotas which the federal government sets for the number of people that provinces can nominate for fast-track citizenship. In Alberta, by the end of 2011 over 58,000 people were working under temporary foreign work permits, up from about 37,000 at the end of 2007. The province can only nominate up to 5,000 of these workers to become Canadian. The vast majority of low skilled temporary foreign workers have no avenue for permanent residency.
This latest twist in Canadian immigration policy accelerates the growth in income inequality which, left unchecked, can destabilize and disrupt the economy, society, and democratic institutions.
By positioning more temporary foreign workers as the fix for labour shortages — a malaise that will only get worse in the coming years — the federal government is assaulting deep-rooted values that have guided Canada’s evolution as a society.
Even the Chinese railway workers of the 1800s came with “landed immigrant” status. Emphasizing the benefits of a disposable class of workers is a very recent, and unsavoury, development in our history.
This nation was built by immigrants who had a stake in its future. Together we created an economy which today is the tenth largest in the world. While the economy will continue to grow, the distribution of the gains from that growth threatens to become rapidly even more lopsided. Policies like favouring temporary foreign workers over economic immigrants means the next generation of Canadians are all but assured to have a lower standard of living than the current generation of decision-makers have enjoyed their whole lives.
As an economist, I understand cheaper labour will benefit some employers in the short term, though the longer-term results will slow purchasing power and growth.
As a Canadian, I am appalled that public policy can be boiled down to this. We are all cheapened as a result.
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A single-flower vase with playful and organic form, you can enjoy pairing various flowers and plants with SACCO. The mouths which are at different angles create interesting motion, highlighting the lively and delicate expressions of plants. The compact size makes it easy to incorporate into various interior spaces. The subtly varying colors and rich textures contribute to creating richly inviting spaces with greenery. | https://exhibit-at.com/shop/sacco-vase-glass-01-gray/ |
Where is Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner?
Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner is currently in the constellation of Corvus. The current Right Ascension is 12h 10m 46s and the Declination is -13° 20’ 09”.
- 21P/Giacobini-Zinner is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change].
- Given its current magnitude, 21P/Giacobini-Zinner is visible only through long exposure photography.
- See also 21P/Giacobini-Zinner rise and set times.
- Go to interactive sky chart
Tip: you can also create a Quick Access page for this data if you access it frequently and would like to have a simpler view.
Below you can see a simplified sky chart showing where Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner is right now in the sky with respect to the brightest stars and constellations. More advanced sky charts for Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner are available on TheSkyLive: 1) the Online Planetarium which is interactive and allows to select dates and additional objects to visualize; and 2) the Live Position and Data Tracker which provides the highest precision position data and features deep sky imagery from the Digitized Sky Survey. | https://theskylive.com/where-is-21p |
The purpose of the School Linked Mental Health Services Program is to offer mental health services to children who may not have access to them otherwise. It is considered a mini mental health center located in the schools. The type of individuals that one may consider referring are those who struggle with depression, low self esteem, anxiety, family conflict, grief, self injury difficulties, relationship difficulties, inattentive behavior, impulsive behavior, anger or aggression. Some areas of focus in sessions are on emotional and behavioral regulation, personal safety/body awareness, social and interpersonal skills, problem solving as well as conflict resolution in both individual and family therapy sessions.
Referrals for services are filtered through the school social workers/counselors and family. Referral forms are available at the main office, through the social worker/counselor, and through Chris Davis or Samantha Dreyer. A parent interest form signed by a youth’s parents serves as a release of information between the school and Sioux Trails Mental Health Center. Upon receipt of a signed referral form, Chris or Samantha will be in contact with the family regarding the inclusion of their youth in services. Should the parent/guardian choose to take advantage of these services, Sioux Trails will then proceed to admit them to the program.
For youth receiving services, session times may be varied during the school day to make sure that youth get the mental health services they need while encouraging success with school work. Chris and Samantha work closely with teachers in this regard. Please contact either Chris or Samantha with questions! | https://sleepyeyeschools.com/Special_Services |
You will contextualise the support provided to individuals with learning disabilities, including gaining an understanding of inclusion, advocacy and empowerment. You will also consider the causes, nature and characteristics of learning disabilities.
This unit will help you to recognise the signs of abuse and understand how to respond to a situation of alleged or suspected abuse. You will also look into ways to reduce the likelihood of abuse and how to report unsafe practices.
You will consider the importance of adopting a personalised approach to care when supporting individuals with learning disabilities, as well as looking at the systems currently in place which encourage personalisation.
In this unit you will focus on autistic spectrum condition (ASCs) and the different experiences of individuals living with an ASC. You will consider person-centred ways of supporting individuals who have an ASC, including the different systems which can be used to enable communication.
You will gain a comprehensive understanding of the roles of different professionals working with individuals with learning disabilities in healthcare services. The unit also covers how healthcare plans and health checks underpin long-term health and well-being, and explores issues that individuals may face when accessing healthcare services. | https://www.bctrust.co.uk/home/our-courses/subjects/care-child-care/principles-of-working-with-individuals-with-learning-difficulties-level-2-certificate |
Impact on practice {#Sec1}
==================
Most primary care professionals recognize the need for more integration of pharmaceutical care into daily primary care practice.General practitioners and community pharmacists regard the introduction of the non-dispensing pharmacist as a possible route to integrate pharmaceutical care into practice.Most primary care professionals agree that the non-dispensing pharmacist should be an integral part of the primary care team, offering consultations to vulnerable patients with polypharmacy.Although further separation of pharmaceutical care and drug dispensing is considered as the key paradigm shift, there is discussion about the best way to implement this.
Introduction {#Sec2}
============
Co-locating a non-dispensing pharmacist (NDP) in primary care practice, including shared use of patients' medical records, is expected to improve interprofessional collaboration and communication and thus effective patient-centred medication management services \[[@CR1]\]. However, controversy about this new role for pharmacists is hampering implementation. Different perceptions have led to significant barriers preventing pharmacists from expanding their roles as pharmaceutical care providers. The barriers include lack of mandate, legitimacy, effectiveness and readiness to embrace change \[[@CR2]\]. Currently, NDPs have been integrated successfully in primary care practice in only a limited number of health care settings, mainly in Great Britain, the United States, and Canada \[[@CR3]--[@CR5]\].
Interprofessionality is an essential feature of healthcare development \[[@CR6]\], reflected in the willingness to work in interprofessional teams \[[@CR7]\]. Yet, introducing new roles in healthcare practices puts professional boundaries under pressure \[[@CR8]\]. New roles lead to the substitution of labour, including reallocation of resources and control. Consequently, it has an impact on dominance and authority, fed by the implicit wish to maintain established arrangements for healthcare delivery and by scepticism about the feasibility and effectiveness of related professionals working jointly \[[@CR6]\].
Despite the identified positive attitude to team-based work, attempts to introduce the NDP to primary care practice have led to debate, as evidenced by several qualitative studies on stakeholder experiences with NDPs in primary care practices \[[@CR9], [@CR10]\].
Aim of the study {#Sec3}
================
In this Q-study we systematically map the debate on the introduction of NDPs in primary care practice amongst all involved stakeholders to uncover and understand the controversy and consensus.
Ethics approval {#Sec4}
===============
This Q study is part of the POINT project, which aims to evaluate the effect of integration of an NDP in general practice with regard to the quality and safety of pharmacotherapy \[[@CR11]\]. This project is exempted of formal medical-ethical approval by the Medical Ethical Committee University Medical Centre Utrecht (METC protocol number 13-432C).
Method {#Sec5}
======
Research design {#Sec6}
---------------
Q methodology \[[@CR12]\] was used to disclose different viewpoints on the value and position of the NDP in primary healthcare. The Q method is a robust and hybrid qualitative--quantitative technique that provides a basis for the systematic study of subjectivity and accentuates shared understanding \[[@CR13]\]. A Q study consists of three steps: construction of the Q set, performing Q sorting and analysis of obtained data \[[@CR14], [@CR15]\].
*Step 1* Constructing the Q set.
The first step is the collection of statements broadly covering the debate on the subject at hand. In Q methodological terms this is called "the concourse" \[[@CR14], [@CR15]\]. The concourse on integration of an NDP in primary care was based on the literature and collected from six interviews with pharmaceutical and medical experts. From this concourse we drew a subset of 116 statements. Since careful consideration of the context is helpful to a better understanding of the debate on NDP integration, we deliberately added a number of general statements on improving pharmaceutical care in primary care. The subset of 116 statements was stripped of double and comparable statements and condensed to a Q set of 37 statements (Table [1](#Tab1){ref-type="table"}). The statements were evaluated by a group of experts who were both pharmacists, general practitioners (GP) and researchers with experience in Q methodological studies. They refined the statement set to improve readability and clarity. Next, statements were assessed and sorted by a small group of general practitioners and pharmacists. Finally, statements were again refined and improved. The result was the final Q set which was considered representative for the issues raised on integrating an NDP in primary care. Quoted statements were originally phrased in Dutch.Table 1Q set of 37 statements and idealized Q sort for the four factors representing perceptions of integration of an NDP in primary care clinicsStatementsFactor A: independent clinical pharmacistFactor B: independent community pharmacistFactor C: dependent clinical pharmacistFactor D: medication therapy management specialist1.With the introduction of the NDP confusion arises about whom the patient can ask questions related to medication−1\*00\*02.The GP wishes to minimize the number of other healthcare providers in general practice−10\*−2\*−13.**The NDP poses a risk to patient safety due to the resulting formation of an additional link between prescription and delivery**−**2**−**1**−**3**−**2**4.The patient has more confidence in the NDP than in the community pharmacist0−1\*115.The community pharmacist is insufficiently informed about the pharmacotherapy of the individual patient1\*−2\*0−16.**The NDP improves adherence2121**7.A community pharmacists' primary concern includes the financial status of the pharmacy business−2−10\*−28.**The health insurance company pays too little for pharmaceutical care22\*11**9.A fee for practice costs for community pharmacists is essential to enable delivery of pharmaceutical care12\*1−1\*10.**Earmarked funding for pharmaceutical care in general practice should be initiated1121**11.The NDP loses its independent position as healthcare provider as an employee of a general practice−20−1012.GP care will be unnecessarily expensive by nationwide introduction of the NDP−2\*00−113.The GP has insufficient knowledge of medication11−1\*214.*The tasks of the NDP and the community pharmacist are different*10\*1115.The knowledge of the NDP about clinical pharmacology is essential in general practice3\*11116.**Shared training in the GP's and pharmacist's educational programmes improves pharmaceutical care1231**17.To improve pharmaceutical care, the community pharmacist needs to give advice about the choice of medication02\*0018.**The added value of the NDP is the care of the individual patient1123**19.Medication reviews should take place in general practice0−2\*1\*020.**Access to medical records is an essential prerequisite for pharmaceutical care33\*22**21.**The GP and NDP share a common goal in the pharmacotherapy of the patient2332**22.Information on medication provided to the patient by the community pharmacist does not sufficiently reflect the GP's advices0\*−102\*23.The inferior position of the pharmacist relative to the GP impedes medication safety00\*−2\*−124.*The NDP will take on the fun part of the community pharmacist's work*−1\*00025.Without proactive identification of patients with potential drug therapy problems, the NDP has no added value01\*−13\*26.The advice on pharmacotherapy and the dispensing of the medication should be separated0−2\*0\*027.The community pharmacist is not skilled to perform a patient consultation0−3\*0028.To enable a successful collaboration it is necessary that GP and NDP are working in the same organisation2\*00029.**The NDP is doing work that can be done more adequately by a practice nurse**−**3**−**2\***−**3**−**3**30.*The logistics in the community pharmacy can be coordinated more adequately by someone with a bachelor's degree*000031.The education of the patient about their medication use should be linked to the dispensing of the medication−11\*−1−2\*32.Pharmaceutical care (including the dispensing of the medication) can best be accommodated at a general practice0−3\*−1−133.*The community pharmacist should focus solely on counselling on pharmacotherapy*−1−1−1034.The NDP must be an independent prescriber0\*0\*−2−335.*A general practice with 10,000 patients is too small to employ a full*-*time NDP*−1\*0−1\*036.The NDP cannot be employed at a community pharmacy due to conflict of interest−1−1\*1\*−137.**The NDP takes on too many tasks of the GP**−**3**−**1**−**2**−**2**−3 indicates that the factor on (weighted) average disagrees most with that statement3 indicates that the factor on (weighted) average agrees most with that statement\* Distinguishing statements (*p* \< 0.01), consensus statements: bold, neutral statements (neglected in final results): italic
*Step 2* Performing Q sorting.
For Q sorting, respondents considered to have a clear and distinct viewpoint were selected. In this study, they were community, clinical and hospital pharmacists and GPs with varying levels of work experience, located in both rural and urban settings; other pharmaceutical and medical experts; health care insurers; policy makers; practice nurses and patients. Members of the research team approached a convenience sample of respondents for Q sorting online or in person. Q sorting in personal interviews was done by two researchers (AH and AW). Q sorting started by sorting the 37 statements into three categories: 'agree,' 'neutral' or 'disagree.' Next, respondents were asked to place the statements in a Q sorting table (Fig. [1](#Fig1){ref-type="fig"}). Respondents were requested to adhere to the Q sorting table, in order to gradually force them to take position on the statements. Q methodology combines statement-sorting and interviews to unravel different perspectives. Therefore, respondents were asked to comment on the four statements at the extreme ends (−3 being disagree most and +3 being agree most). FlashQ© was used as an online Q sorting programme \[[@CR16]\].Fig. 1Q sorting table
*Step 3* Analysis of obtained data.
The final step in Q methodology is by-person factor analysis in order to identify significant correlation between individuals, expressed as factors with common viewpoints and preferences \[[@CR14]\]. In this study, obtained Q sorts were analysed using PQMethod 2.35 \[[@CR17]\]. By-person factor analysis with centroid factor extraction and varimax rotation was conducted with the aim to obtain a clear pattern of relationships between the factors \[[@CR15]\]. Since more than the theoretically required minimum of 40--60 respondents was included, it was decided to increase significance \[[@CR15], [@CR18]\]. As a result, Q sorts that loaded significantly on one factor (with *p* \< 0.01) were included in the analysis. For each factor solution an idealized Q sort was computed. This idealized Q sort represents how a person with a 100 % loading on that factor would have ranked the 37 statements \[[@CR14], [@CR15]\].
The content of the factors was examined by reviewing the characterising, distinguishing and consensus statements. Characterising statements are the statements that a factor most (rating +2 or +3) or least (rating −2 or −3) agrees with. The characterising statements are a first peek into the content of a factor. Distinguishing statements are the statements on which factors have different opinions. These statements highlight the differences between factors. Consensus statements are the statements with which all factors (dis)agree. These statements uncover the common viewpoints between factors \[[@CR14], [@CR15]\]. Statistical characteristics of the different factor solutions were evaluated.
Results {#Sec7}
=======
A total of 163 participants performed Q sorting: 125 online (77 %) and 38 in person (23 %). Respondents had an average of 17 years of work experience in healthcare (Table [2](#Tab2){ref-type="table"}). Q analysis of the Q sorts supported a maximum of five factors. Content and statistical characteristics were examined for three-, four- and five-factor solutions. The four-factor solution was selected as the desirable solution, based on statistical characteristics, defining statements and written and verbal comments provided by the respondents defining the factors during Q sorting. These four factors explained 53 % of the total variance in the Q sorts (Table [3](#Tab3){ref-type="table"}).Table 2Baseline characteristics participantsCharacteristicNumberTotal number of respondents163Female50 % (n = 82)Age, mean (range)45 years (24--77)Total years of experience in healthcare, mean (range)17 years (0--42)Medical and/or pharmaceutical positionsPercentage (n)Pharmacy28 % (60) Community pharmacist18 % (37) Non-dispensing pharmacist4 % (9) Hospital pharmacist3 % (7) Pharmacist trainee3 % (7)General practice16 % (35) General practitioner11 % (24) General practitioner trainee3 % (7) Practice nurse2 % (4)Other medical and/or pharmaceutical expert34 % (71) University teacher or professor49 % (35) Medical advisor17 % (12) Medical doctor (no GP)14 % (10) Researcher8 % (6) Employee research and medication safety institute7 % (5) Employee health insurance company4 % (3)Policy maker13 % (28)Pharmacy or medical student5 % (11)Patient2 % (5)Some participants fulfil multiple positions (e.g. a part-time GP also working part-time as policy maker). As a result 163 participants fulfil 211 positionsTable 3Factor characteristicsCharacteristicFactorABCDNumber of defining variables2750208Explained variance (%)1518119Cumulative (%)334453Correlation between factors B0.59 C0.680.46 D0.680.550.69
The next section presents quotations of comments made by respondents (italics). The figures in parentheses, preceded by "s", correspond to statement numbers in Table [1](#Tab1){ref-type="table"}.
Similarities between factors {#Sec8}
----------------------------
All participants shared the same opinion of many statements (Fig. [2](#Fig2){ref-type="fig"}).Fig. 2The four factors covering the debate on NDP integration in general practice
First, all participants in either factor A, B, C or D believe that an NDP improves adherence (s6), should focus on individual patient care (s18) and does not take over too many tasks of the GP (s37). Second, it is thought evident that the work of an NDP could not be done by a practice nurse (s29). According to some respondents, the pharmaceutical knowledge of the practice nurse is "*nowhere near as extensive as the NDP's.*" However, some participants suggested that the practice nurse could support the NDPs in the follow-up of some care issues.
Third, all factors emphasize that health insurance companies pay too little for pharmaceutical care (s8) and that there should be funding earmarked for pharmaceutical care (s10): "*Pharmaceutical care is variable and hard to quantify. So it's challenging for health insurance companies to develop a good reimbursement system.*" This leads to "*low quality patient consultations and medication reviews.*" And "*since reimbursement is insufficient, evaluation and follow*-*up are neglected. Also, quality projects are initiated, but not embedded.*"
Fourth, access to medical records is thought a prerequisite for pharmaceutical care (s20). Numerous participants commented that especially knowledge of (contra-)indications and the results of lab tests are important in providing safe pharmaceutical care. Respondents also stressed the importance of access to medical data: "*Without access to medical records it's impossible to properly assess the quality of pharmacotherapy and to develop a pharmaceutical care plan tailored to the needs of individual patients."*
Fifth, another organisational aspect which all factors agree with unanimously is that NDP integration does not pose a risk to patient safety, despite it creating an additional link between prescription and delivery (s3).
Finally, clearly GP and NDP share a common goal in the pharmacotherapy of the patient (s21): "*\[Providing good patient care\] is indisputable. \[...\] Everything else (costs, practical implementation* etc*.) is secondary*." Moreover, all respondents agree that pharmaceutical care would be improved by shared training in GP and pharmacist educational programmes (s16).
Differences between factors {#Sec9}
---------------------------
Despite the large number of statements on which all participants shared the same opinion, controversies between the four factors are identified (Fig. [2](#Fig2){ref-type="fig"}).
### Factor A: "independent clinical pharmacist" {#Sec51}
Participants aligned with factor A, one-third of whom were medical or pharmaceutical experts (Table [4](#Tab4){ref-type="table"}), seem to fully support NDP integration in general practice. Working in the same organisation is considered necessary to enable successful collaboration between GP and NDP (s28). "*The GP and NDP will share the same vision and principles when they work in one organisation. Integrating an NDP stimulates close collaboration and this will result in unambiguous pharmaceutical care for the patient*." Since the community pharmacist is not fully informed of the details of the pharmacotherapy of the individual patient (s5), an NDP can provide better pharmaceutical care.Table 4Defining participantsExpertiseFactor A (n = 27)Factor B (n = 50)Factor C (n = 20)Factor D (n = 8)Percentage (n)Percentage (n)Percentage (n)Percentage (n)Community pharmacist11 (3)44 (22)Non-dispensing pharmacist19 (5)2 (1)Hospital pharmacist7 (2)2 (1)25 (n = 2)Pharmacist trainee12 (6)General practitioner4 (1)4 (2)45 (9)25 (n = 2)General practitioner trainee4 (1)20 (4)Practice nurse4 (1)5 (1)Other medical and/or pharmaceutical expert33 (9)18 (9)20 (4)25 (n = 2)Policy maker7 (2)8 (4)25 (n = 2)Pharmacy or medical student11 (3)10 (5)5 (1)Patient5 (1)
Specifically the knowledge about clinical pharmacology that an NDP brings into general practice is regarded as added value (s15). When it comes to complicated patients, the importance of the knowledge of the NDP in primary care is emphasised:
*"The unique combination of an NDP's knowledge of medication and clinical experience enables him to tailor the pharmacotherapy to the needs of the individual patient. This is particularly important with multimorbidity and polypharmacy, when patients really can't be treated according to the guideline for one specific disease or condition."*
Introducing a new care provider in general practice might confuse patients as to whom they should address questions related to medication (s1). Nevertheless, factor A does not identify this as a problem: *"When a clinical pharmacist takes care of a patient, they establish a relationship which makes it natural for the patient to consult them about their pharmaceutical care issues."* Participants disagree with the statement that an NDP loses their independent position as healthcare provider as an employee of a general practice (s11): "*The clinical pharmacist's professional integrity will not be influenced by the organisational framework of the workplace." "An NDP has its own expertise and independency."* However, participants commented that it will take some time to adjust to this new role of a pharmacist. Respondents loading on this factor disagree with the statement that the NDP takes on too many tasks of the GP (s37). "*The NDP doesn't take over too much of the pharmaceutical care, but enhances it by working together with the GP*."
Participants of factor A show confidence in a nationwide introduction of this new pharmacists' role. This is underlined by the statement that NDP introduction will not make primary care unnecessarily expensive (s12): "*Healthcarecosts might be reduced by preventing adverse effects, overprescribing and medication*-*related hospital admissions*."
### Factor B: "independent community pharmacist" {#Sec52}
Participants aligned with factor B, over forty percent of whom were community pharmacists (Table [4](#Tab4){ref-type="table"}), insist that the community pharmacist should be the leading independent pharmaceutical care provider, with sufficient financial reimbursement as a prerequisite to perform this role. The participants agree with the statement that a fee for practice costs is necessary to deliver pharmaceutical care (s9): "*Improper reimbursement for pharmaceutical care results in hasty dispensing \[pharmaceutical activities performed in a short amount of time\] resulting in low quality pharmaceutical care and inadequate follow*-*up.*" The participants aligning with this factor disagree that a community pharmacists is unable to perform pharmaceutical care. This is reflected by their disagreement on: the community pharmacist is insufficiently informed about the patients' individual pharmacotherapy (s5) and the community pharmacist is not skilled to perform patient consultation (s27). They said, "*patient consultation is the most important part of our job"* and *"during our training, and in the community pharmacy, it's crucial to have good communication skills otherwise you can't do your job as a (community) pharmacist.*"
These participants share the opinion that a community pharmacist should advise on the choice of medication (s17): *"Nowadays medication is an important part of therapy. The \[up-to-date\] pharmaceutical knowledge of a community pharmacist is more extensive than the GP's knowledge. A community pharmacist can, with this knowledge, increase adherence, efficiency and medication safety by giving advice on the choice of medication."*
Moreover, these participants disagree with the statement that the patient has more confidence in the NDP than in the community pharmacist (s4). They strongly disagree with the statement that pharmaceutical care can best be accommodated at a general practice (s32) and that clinical medication reviews should take place in the GP practice (s19): "*Medication reviews can also take place in community pharmacy. It's not really a matter of where the reviews are done, what's important is that they are done. Medication reviews should be done in collaboration with the prescriber and the patient.*" Therefore, an NDP can also be stationed at a community pharmacy; a potential conflict of interest, due to both consulting on medication and selling it is thought unlikely (s36). Dissimilar to the other factors (A, C and D), participants of factor B strongly support linking dispensing medication and both patient education and giving advice on pharmacotherapy (s31, s26). These statements illustrate the wish to keep general practice and community pharmacy separate. "*Dispensing medication involves more than a GP can handle. GPs have only a limited amount of time per patient. They have little time to give advice on medication, let alone take care of the dispensing*."
### Factor C: "dependent clinical pharmacist" {#Sec53}
The theme of this factor is pharmaceutical care improvement, managed primarily by GPs, with a supporting role for the NDP to join the team as a dependent pharmaceutical care provider. Sixty-five percent of the participants defining this factor were GPs or GP trainees (Table [4](#Tab4){ref-type="table"}).
Unlike the other factors (A, B and D), participants in factor C believe that the GP has enough knowledge of medication (s13): "*In general, no major accidents happen due to the GP's pharmacotherapeutic choices. Over the past years, the GP's knowledge has increased.*" However, GPs are considered to be open to having more healthcare providers in their practice and encourage multidisciplinary teamwork (s2): "*The support from other caregivers is very nice, since a doctor can't know it all*." In line with this multidisciplinary approach, participants aligning with this factor are open to having an NDP in their practice and debate the statement that a pharmacist has an inferior position which could impede medication safety (s23): "*A pharmacist is not inferior. Collaborating on conducting safe practice together is the main issue.*" Medication safety is not thought endangered by inequality in positions but "*a lack of collaboration or organisational flaws*" are considered the most likely cause of medication safety problems.
Those aligning with this factor are the only respondents who agree with the statement that an NDP cannot be employed at a community pharmacy due to a conflict of interest (s36). They agree with the statement that the patient has more confidence in the NDP than in the community pharmacist (s4): "*Patients associate general practice with good quality of care. They prefer to discuss their care issues with healthcare providers who are physically present in general practice.*" Therefore, clinical medication reviews should be organised in general practice (s19): "*The GP is the centre point of primary care. That's why it's logical to do medication reviews in general practice*" and "*the access to medical records in general practice facilitates medication reviews.*" Pharmaceutical care provision can be performed in close collaboration with an NDP but in contrast to the respondents aligning with factors A and B, respondents on factor C disagree with the statement that an NDP should be an independent prescriber (s34): "*A pharmacist is not a medical doctor.*"
### Factor D: "medication therapy management specialiste-" {#Sec55}
Factor D supports the idea of integrating an NDP in primary care and shows similarities with factors A and C, although this vision of the added value of an NDP includes managerial expertise. Also, this factor shows some mistrust in the ability of community pharmacists to provide good pharmaceutical care. Participants defining this factor are a heterogeneous group of GPs, hospital pharmacists, policy makers and other medical and/or pharmaceutical experts (Table [4](#Tab4){ref-type="table"}).
The added value of an NDP is made tangible by their proactive task to screen patients with potential drug therapy problems (s25): "*An NDP can intervene before medicines are prescribed, while intervening afterwards is inconvenient, time*-*consuming and confuses the patient.*" A GP who worked with an NDP stated: "*In our practice, the NDP's particular expertise to proactively identify high risk patients resulted in improved patient safety.*" Besides this preventive approach, factor D is most outspoken about the individual patient care an NDP should deliver (s18). Also, they are most distinct about the NDP not being an independent prescriber (s34): "*Prescribing and monitoring medication have to be separate at all times*" and "*the GP will lose control over patient care if multiple healthcare professionals are allowed to prescribe medication independently" and "the pharmacist has not enough (clinical) knowledge about a patient.*" Despite the latter, the GP conceded their insufficient knowledge of medication (s13): "*GPs get very little schooling on medication.*"
This factor suggests that educating patients on their pharmacotherapy can be separated from dispensing medication (s31). Moreover, it was stated that the information on medication given by the community pharmacist to the patient does not reflect the GP's advice well enough (s22): "*Unfortunately, patients are often confused by the different advice in the community pharmacy.*" Also, participants aligning with this factor disagree on the statement that a fee for practice costs for community pharmacists is essential to enable delivery of pharmaceutical care (s9). This implies that this factor does not necessarily support the development of community pharmacists as pharmaceutical care providers. On the other hand, participants aligning with factor D acknowledge that a community pharmacists' primary concern is not the financial status of the pharmacy business (s7), which suggests the possibility of another primary concern, for instance pharmaceutical care.
Discussion {#Sec10}
==========
We systematically mapped the debate amongst stakeholders on introducing an NDP in primary care practice and revealed four perspectives: "the independent community pharmacist" (Factor B), "the independent clinical pharmacist" (Factor A), "the dependent clinical pharmacist" (Factor C) and "the medication therapy management specialist" (Factor D).
Factors A, C and D favour NDP integration in primary care practice. The main contrast between factors A and C concerns the level of professional independence, which is an eminent point of debate when introducing new roles into current practice. Fournier says that the construction of boundaries and the creation of an independent area of knowledge is crucial to professional development \[[@CR19]\]. In accordance with this, factor A supports the integration of an NDP as an "independent clinical pharmacist" based upon the clinical knowledge that an NDP brings into practice and the benefits of working within the same organisation. This creates interprofessional trusting relationships and integrates work processes, thereby improving quality and continuity of individual patient care. Despite the restricted clinical, economic and political autonomy of pharmacists described by Edmunds \[[@CR20]\], factor A highlights development in the process of reprofessionalisation of pharmacy.
In contrast to factor A, factor C stresses the role of an NDP in general practice as a "dependent clinical pharmacist" within a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, with drug monitoring and not drug prescription as the primary task. This perspective accentuates the GPs' wish to maintain professional dominance, triggered by external threats of their privileged position \[[@CR8]\]. Also, it is acknowledged that GPs are hesitant about the clinical roles of medication management performed by community pharmacists \[[@CR2]\]. This hesitance towards community pharmacists might have influenced their perception of the level of independence that an NDP in primary care practice should attain.
Factor D is distinct about the innovation level of tasks performed by NDPs. Supporters of this factor promote a new model of care: an NDP as a "medication therapy management specialist" who focuses on proactive screening (and treating) of patients with potential drug therapy problems, thereby integrating managerial expertise and values into the professional work. It involves population-focused preventive care, which is important in an era with a large ageing population, to prevent avoidable chronic diseases and unnecessary medical expense \[[@CR21]\].
While factors A, C and D favour NDP integration in primary care practice, factor B see pharmaceutical care provision improved by maintaining and expanding the traditional roles of community pharmacists. The respondents aligning with factor B underline the essential role of community pharmacists as leading pharmaceutical care providers \[[@CR22]\]. According to the respondents of factor B, pharmaceutical care, including dispensing medication, should definitely not be accommodated in general practice. Factor B wishes to enhance the level of independence of community pharmacists in the context of treating individual patients to legitimate their role as pharmaceutical care professionals \[[@CR20]\]. They see clear boundaries and the creation of an independent area of knowledge crucial to the professional development of the pharmacist \[[@CR19]\].
Although these four perspectives are distinct, we identified a relatively large overlap between them. There was consensus on the potential of the NDP as a pharmaceutical care provider. Moreover, all respondents in this Q study were consistent in their view on financial, organisational and collaborative issues such as more funding for pharmaceutical care improvements, better access to medical records for pharmacists, shared education for GPs and pharmacists, and shared responsibility for the outcome of pharmacotherapy. This high level of consensus demonstrates a willingness for interprofessional collaboration and a positive attitude towards different aspects of an NDP integrated in primary care practice.
A strength of this study is that it included participants with a large variety of medical and pharmaceutical experience. This makes it likely that it represents all the different viewpoints on the NDP in Dutch general practice. No indications for missing topics were found in the evaluation by the expert group and pilot study. Also, this study is part of the POINT study, a large multicenter intervention study on NDPs in Dutch primary care practice \[[@CR11]\] and the results of this Q study will contribute to further development of the intervention.
This study does have limitations. Firstly, nothing can be said about the prevalence of the four factors amongst pharmacists, GPs and external stakeholders in the wider population since Q methodology is not designed for this purpose. Secondly, for pragmatic reasons the majority of the respondents ranked the Q set electronically, including computer-based interviews instead of personal interviews. In-person interviews enable the researcher to better understand and interpret the results. However, we identified no apparent differences in reliability or validity of these two methods of administration \[[@CR23]\].
Since all stakeholders underline the potential benefit of an NDP as pharmaceutical care provider, we need to reflect upon the financial aspects of these services. As said, all stakeholders agree that more and earmarked funding is needed to improve pharmaceutical care. In the POINT study that we are currently evaluating, the NDP services were funded via a temporary grant \[[@CR11]\]. A sustainable model of reimbursement for the services performed by NDPs is needed. The employer could than either be community pharmacies or GP practices. A community pharmacy fee finance model, however, is less feasible because this model is based on dispensing of medication. The relatively small fees for pharmaceutical services obstruct employment of an NDP in community pharmacies. Implementation through the GP fee finance model is feasible, but limited to groups of collaborating GP practices. Implementation of the NDP would probably be optimal if dedicated additional funding from the insurance company. Whether and how an NDP can be employed in other health care systems heavily depends on the local situation. Hence, it would be relevant to replicate this study in a country with a different health care system.
It is important to define the scope of practice of NDPs in comparison to both the community and clinical pharmacists. The NDP is the clinical pharmacist in primary care. While earlier initiatives to bring hospital clinical pharmacists in primary care failed, the NDP provides an alternative role. NDP services will add especially to the quality of pharmaceutical care of specific subgroups of individual patients, such as elderly patients and those with polypharmacy. The community pharmacist will---in addition to dispensing medication and medication surveillance---provide pharmaceutical care connected to the pharmaceutical product to less complex patients. In contrast to the UK and the US, neither community pharmacists, clinical pharmacists nor NDPs can prescribe drugs in the Netherlands. In the current study prescribing by pharmacists was not seen a priority for an NDP.
Conclusion {#Sec11}
==========
Despite the fact that introducing new professional roles in healthcare can be controversial, this Q study identified a consensus on various features of the NDP role, as well as on financial, organisational and collaborative aspects of NDP integration in primary care practices. This shows the potential of an NDP as a pharmaceutical care provider and the willingness for interprofessional collaboration. The main identified controversies concern the NDP's level of professional independence and the level of innovation of task performance. The results from the POINT intervention study will be an important next step in resolving current controversies.
The authors would like to thank Job van Exel (from the Institute for Policy and Management in Health Care, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands), for his help with statistical analysis. The authors also wish to thank all the respondents of this Q study for their participation.
Funding {#FPar1}
=======
The POINT project is funded by The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMW).
Conflicts of interest {#FPar2}
=====================
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
| |
About Huancayo, Perú
«On the left bank of the Mantaro River, in a luscious, fertile valley 310 kilometers from Lima and 3244 meters above sea level lies the city of Huancayo, capital of the department of Junin and the main commercial center of inland Peru. Huancayo was the cradle of the Huanca nation, the home of a people known for their pride, warrior spirit.» «The Huanca people…[sic]…are hard-working, traditional and very religious.
These traits are apparent in the nearly endless chain of local festivals that occur in the region. It is said there is a festival somewhere in the Mantaro Valley every day of the year. And where there are festivals, there is dancing. It is estimated that with all the regional variations taken into account, there are more then 5000 different Andean dances. Though it is impossible to mention all of the dances and festivals of the Mantaro Valley, some certainly stand out. La Tunantada (The Rascal) is danced on January 20 in Jauja and Yuayos in honor of Saint Sebastian and Saint Fabian. It is a picaresque, mischievous and crafty dance that is clearly a product of colonial influence, as it parodies the despotism and presumptuousness of the Spanish powers.
In February, there are carnival celebrations all month long, and the Semana Santa festivities in March/April should not be missed. May is the month of the La Fiesta de las Cruces (Festival of the Cross), where towns throughout the Valley perform special dances such as the Chonguinada in Chongos in which dancers wearing masks and colorful costumes commemorate the wedding of a Spaniard to a beautiful native of the town in a graceful and elegant parody of the French minuet. The same festival in Chupaca features the famous dance of the Shapis, a war dance commemorating the Hunaca’s return to their land after fleeing the Incas.
Sapallanga, Orcotuna, Apata and Marcatuna celebrate their fiestas in honor of the Sanctified Virgin of the Cocharas on September 8, at which time they also reproduce the capture and death of the Incan King Atahualpa in a ceremony known as El Apu Inca. This is also celebrated in Lima on September 2 in an homage to Saint Rosa. Finally, El Huaylarsh caps the festive and happy atmosphere surrounding a successful harvest. Huaylarsh is a Quechua word meaning «young lovers,» and the dance features couples imitating the cultivation of the potato as well as the «flirtation of the fox,» a reference to the strength and virility of young men in search of wives. This dance originated in the towns of Pucura, Viques, Huayucachi and Sapallanga, and has become a genuine representation of Huancayan feeling.
These many festivals are possible because the region has an agreeable and healthy climate. There are three distinct seasons: the rainy season, from November to April; winter, from May to July; and the dry season, with strong winds and lots of sun, from August to October.
Huancayans say that anyone coming to the area will feel a liberation of the senses. The climate, the smells and especially the sights will not be forgotten. It is not only a matter of the colorful festivals, but also of the area’s natural beauty.
Huancayans say that anyone coming to the area will feel a liberation of the senses. The climate, the smells and especially the sights will not be forgotten. It is not only a matter of the colorful festivals, but also of the area’s natural beauty. Green fields of corn, artichokes, carrots and potatoes contrast with bright yellow retama flowers and the reddish-brown earth. There are old, stark-white houses with burnt orange roof tiles dwarfed by the snow-capped Huaytapallana mountain. And the Mantaro River, stirred by the rains, is chocolate brown. The legendary river begins at 4000 meters above sea level, in the Pasco region of the Andes Mountains, and runs approximately 300 kilometers until it joins the Apurimac River. Although its waters are now polluted, it is nonetheless used to irrigate the land off of the left bank of the river; the right bank is cultivated only with rain and smaller tributaries and streams.»
«Huancayo has been a bustling place for centuries, as it is the link between the capital and the Southern highlands and jungle. The Feria Domincal (Sunday Fair) was instituted in 1572 as an important venue for regional products and now does a brisk business in handicrafts, industrial and agricultural products, and livestock. This market, and others like it, are still as important to local commerce as they were in earlier times. The most authentic, and famous, however, is the Feria Dominical . It is an event that visitors should not miss, as it provides a taste of all that Huancayo has to offer in a setting that will not be forgotten.
Though it is easy to buy Mantaro Valley’s famous handicrafts in Huancayo, it is also worthwhile to go to the nearby towns that produce them. Each town has its specialty, and there are many from which to choose: beautiful, intricate works of silver, textiles, weavings, ceramics and much more. Perhaps the best known example of Huancayan popular art, however, is gourd carving. The plain gourds – imported from Chiclayo or Piura – are a modest medium for the intricately designed bowls that result, displaying scenes that are first carved and then burned into the surface of the gourd. Cochas Grande and Cochas Chico are the centers of this artistic activity.
The delicate metal working artistry of the region is also very popular because of the high demand for religious accessories to supply all of the festivals held throughout the year. Because of this, San Jeronimo de Tunan has become the heart of the metal working trade in the area, known for its silver filigree designs. Engraved and laminated silvers, and sheet designs are also very popular. The town also boasts a 17th-century church with lovely wooden altars.
In terms of pottery, the town of Quilcas has been practicing its craft since colonial times, when it produced tiles using techniques imported from Spain. San Augustin de las Cajas is known for its wool weavings and famous broad-brimmed wool hats. Wood carvings like masks and utensils are found in abundance in Molinos, Huertas, Mito, Julcan and Masma. Huallhuas is known for its highly developed knitting.
A tour of the towns of Mantaro Valley should not be missed, but there are also several places of interest in Huancayo and plenty of outdoor activities for nature lovers. The Cerrito de la Libertad is a hill that provides a good view of the city and of the Mantaro Valley; nearby is Torre Torre, a set of eroded sandstone formations on the hillside. Mountain biking is a popular pastime, but for the more adventurous, it is possible to take treks down the eastern slopes of the Andes and into the high jungle on foot, horseback, or with public transportation.»
The above excerpts came from a Rumbos Online article, «Huancayo: Plentiful Land, Proud Nation» by Rubén D. Gutiérrez. | https://carismaperu.org.pe/about-huancayo/ |
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
The invention pertains to systems that monitor one or more physiological characteristics of an individual. More particularly, the invention pertains to such systems which incorporate trend analysis.
Known in-home monitoring systems monitor certain vital signs of residents or patients and transmit that information to a central computer at a remote location that can then be accessed by medical personnel and caregivers. At that site, trend information can be obtained and evaluated.
If a parameter is out of a normal range, then a medical monitor or caregiver can communicate that to the resident by electronic means, a virtual visit or an actual visit to the home. In order to keep costs low, it is advantageous to not have to make actual home visits unless necessary to correct the situation or provide medical attention.
In view of an aging populating there is a continuing need to support those residents who are able to and want to continue to live in their present residences. It would thus be desirable and useful to make available to such residents health related trend information. Probably such trend information could be developed locally, at the residence, and presented to the resident with relatively short turnaround times.
FIG. 1
is block diagram of a system in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2
is a graph illustrating blood pressure trend information; and
FIGS. 3A, 3B
3
and C illustrate heart rate trend information under various conditions.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawing and will be described herein in detail specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.
Disclosed embodiments of the invention provide data and trend analysis in a home or residence for the resident to view and use to adjust behavior accordingly. This provides a feeling of self-reliance and respect in being able to control their behavior without outside influence.
In one aspect of the invention normal physiological limits can be presented in a trend analysis. However, residents can observe where they are relative to the normal range. The normal limits for a given resident may be unique to that person and pre-established based upon historical data collected for that resident.
The advantage of having the plot and trend analysis of data representing an individual's physiological measurements presented with at least one limit is that person then can themselves recognize any trend that is starting to deviate from normal before it passes into an abnormal range for that person. This provides immediate feedback to the person to continue with their present behaviors or to adjust their behaviors. For example, a resident starting to see his/her glucose levels deviating from normal could relate it back to the their diet. They could realize they should alter their diet or recognize deviations from their diet that affect glucose.
In accordance with this invention, the resident can perform a physiological measurement at any time he/she wishes. That data can then be incorporated into the trend analysis. The trend analysis can also include provisions for resident inputs that may be of value in interpreting the physiological sensor readings. For example, taking a glucose reading before eating and after eating may produce different results. Such results can then be charted differently for the resident to observe the results of their behavior.
Taking a physiological reading before and after exercise can also produce different results. The resident can enter critical input information that is used in the trend analysis.
Further in accordance with this invention, the processing of sensor data can be adjusted for the conditions prior to or at the time of obtaining that data. These adjustments can be presented in the trends.
In one aspect of the invention, the sensor data can be input into the system. If any abnormalities are detected, the resident can be asked to report the conditions prior to the physiological reading to determine an acceptable reason for the abnormality, such that it may actually be normal for that measurement. For example, to simply take the blood pressure and enter it into the system is not adequate to determine the health status of the resident.
If the blood pressure is high, then it is important to know if some behavior contributed to that such as exercising in some form immediately before taking the sensor readings. Exercise and food/water consumption may alter some of the physiological measurements. The system can ask questions that may relate to when food and water were consumed or when and how much exercise was performed or the activity of the patient.
The taking of medications may alter the physiological measurements. Medications can be entered by the resident, possibly answering questions from the system.
A primary advantage of embodiments of this invention is that residents themselves can effectively determine what charts are presented by the inputs they enter into the system. If they input information that relates to their heart rate recovery after exercising, the sysems can automatically generate a graph or a chart for them with that information.
The resident can enter information into the system for processing to determine the health status of the person. The system may instruct the resident to take some specific action such as resting or taking medications and then to schedule their physiological measurements again at a later time. The system may also reschedule the next time when the resident will measure his/her physiological data based upon the response of the resident in following a specific action. All data entered may still be used to evaluate the resident's health.
The trend information in the display can also involve multiple levels of concern. One level could be related to the resident evaluating their behaviors. A second level could relate to a pending critical condition that needs emergency response.
The system can send information to a remote location at different priorities based upon the trend information developed on-site. This is a more interactive exchange of information between the system and the resident to provide a more accurate assessment of the health and wellbeing of the resident.
An important aspect for any display of information relative to a resident is privacy and the access to that information by others. The resident may have certain access needs that are not appropriate for a visitor or neighbor or caregiver. A doctor may have more extensive needs for information concerning a resident in certain areas but not in others.
Embodiments of the invention can further provide multi-level access to medical information of a resident by use of different passwords.
An emergency responder could be unknown at the time passwords are predetermined and there should be no passwords related to sustaining the life of the resident. An emergency responder in a medical emergency may be presented with medications being taken, allergies, medications that are adverse to the patient (especially in connection with the medications being taken). The emergency responder may also be presented with graphical information related to trends of physiological measurements that may e relevant to the emergency situation. Seeing the trend information can be of critical value in determining temporary treatment and sustaining of life until arriving at the hospital.
In another embodiment, the system could automatically print a copy of information that would then be immediately available to the emergency responder. These printed copies may exclude resident name or identification information in case they get misplaced or lost. The resident could pre-approve what information can be released to the emergency responders so as to not violate his/her privacy.
In one aspect of the invention the information for emergency responders is only available without passwords in the presence of the resident. If a caregiver uses a remote access to the system during a medical emergency, then the caregiver would need to use a password which would then give him/her access to their normal information level plus the emergency response information level.
By way of example, for an access level 1 password, a caregiver may be presented with medications being taken and the trend graphs of important physiological measurements of the resident. Since the caregiver is not prescribing medications, their access would not include the same degree of information as the doctor or resident. If there is presently a critical emergency situation taking place while the caregiver is in attendance, the caregiver then becomes a part of the emergency response team.
For an access level 2 password, the requestor can be presented with the same information as the caregiver and emergency responder plus other medical information that is more private to the resident-if requested. That can include history of doctor visits and medical matters, related medical information, schedules, costs, insurance, etc.
For an access level 3 password, a doctor can access diagnosis and testing information which can include raw data as well as summaries and notes on discussions with other physicians. This could be a more complicated language intended for exchange of information between physicians. The physician would be issued a password that could then be stored in a special data bank or location accessed by the doctors or their representatives. They could change that password to one of their choosing.
If a cell phone access is available and the phone incorporates text and video, it is possible that the same passwords can provide the same levels of information. For example, if a doctor is out of the office when called for an emergency response, the doctor can call into the system and obtain the emergency or other information remotely. In the case of remote access, the doctor would need to use his/her password even as an emergency responder. Other access levels could be provided without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.
FIG. 1
10
10
12
. illustrates various aspects of a system which embodies the present invention. System incorporates a base or control unit which can carry out many, if not all of the functions of a residential monitoring system.
1
Residential meeting systems have been disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,691 B entitled In-Home Patient Monitoring System which issued Jun. 11, 2002. Another such system has been disclosed in pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/956,681 filed Oct. 1, 2004 and entitled Mobile Telephonic Device and Base Station. The '681 application is assigned to the Assignee hereof and incorporated herein by reference.
12
12
12
14
14
a
b
Unit includes a programmable processor as well as interface circuitry , which would be understood by those of skill in the art, for receiving information from members of a plurality of physiological sensors. The members of the plurality could include for example and without limitation blood pressure monitors, heart rate monitors, temperature monitors, respiration sensors and the like all without limitation.
14
12
16
16
The sensors of communicate with the unit by a wired or wireless medium indicated generally at . It will be understood that the nature and characteristics of the media of are not limitations of the present invention.
12
12
12
1
12
2
12
3
12
4
12
5
14
12
c
c
c
c
c
c
c
Unit incorporates control software having a variety of different functional characteristics including data acquisition software -, communication software -, data and trend analysis software -, local display and interacting control software - and multi-level access control software for -. In accordance with the above description and as described in more detail subsequently, signals received from members of the plurality of sensors can be acquired and analyzed by software for purposes of informing residents, substantially in real-time, if desired, as to ongoing trends.
20
20
12
22
20
22
Trend information can be presented on a display unit . A resident who might be viewing trend information on the display can interact with unit via a touch screen or alternately keyboard . It will be understood that the exact characteristics of the display and input devices such as keyboard are not limitations of the present invention.
12
12
5
12
12
c
c
d
d
Software can also incorporate multi-level access control software - which can make available to the resident, emergency personnel, caregivers, relatives or medical monitors various degrees of residential medical and personal data . The data can be stored over a period of time and can be used to establish baselines for the resident.
FIG. 2
FIG. 2
FIG. 2
14
12
3
20
1
1
1
12
c
d
is a representative graph of blood pressure which might be sensed via one of the sensors , and, as a result of analysis carried out by software - the trend information of can be presented on display for the resident. As illustrated in , upper and lower limits U, L can be displayed as well as a nominal or normal value N, which might be based on medical information and data of the resident.
1
1
FIG. 2
The sensed blood pressure information B as illustrated in as trending away from the nominal or normal value N for the resident. Such a display provides immediate feedback to the resident that a potential trend of concern is developing.
12
12
26
26
a
The trend information can be forwarded via processor , unit , and a medium , which could be wired or wireless, to one or more monitoring sites, sites maintained by relatives and/or friends for purposes of alerting such individuals as to developing trends of potential concern. It will be understood that the medium could include one or more computer networks, such as the Internet.
FIGS. 3A, 3B
FIG. 3A
3
12
14
2
2
2
1
2
c
and C illustrate additional aspects of the interactive software relative to data received from a heart rate sensor of the plurality . illustrates ongoing heart rate prior to exercise taking place with upper limit U, lower limit L and nominal normal N. The illustrated R various above and below the nominal normal value N depending on in part behavior of the resident for example resting, moving around or the like prior to exercise.
FIG. 3B
FIG. 3B
2
3
3
3
2
12
represents ongoing trend information relative to heart rate subsequent to exercise. As illustrated in the post exercise rate R once again is presented in combination with the upper limit U lower limit L and a nominal or normal post exercise value N. The heart rate data R illustrates an increase due to exercise and a subsequent decrease. Such information could be useful to the resident as well as to other individuals in communication with unit to ascertain the benefits of one or more exercise programs.
FIG. 3C
4
4
3
3
4
1
illustrates alternate trend information, namely, heart rate recovery after exercise as a function of time. Upper and lower limits U, L bracket part of measured heart rate R. While falling within normal limits subsequent to exercise the resident's heart rate R exceeds upper limit U at time T which could be indicative of an adverse developing condition.
12
26
12
12
5
d
c
FIG. 3C
Feedback can be provided to the resident automatically via unit as well as from the remote monitoring sites via medium to alert the resident to a need to modify behavior, take medication and/or the like. Additionally, the accumulated resident data can be accessed by the multi-level control software - both locally and remotely to further evaluate the resident's condition in the event of adverse trends as illustrated in .
From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims. | |
Humane Society London & Middlesex to keep animals safe with new division
CTV London
Published Wednesday, July 3, 2019 7:31AM EDT
The Humane Society London & Middlesex has launched a new division that will continue animal welfare enforcement and investigations to help keep animals safe.
The new division will be known as HSLM Animal Protection.
After June 28, the Ontario SPCA is no longer enforcing the cruelty provisions in provincial legislation.
To ensure the safety of animals, the Ontario government announced that willing humane societies and their protection officers will enforce the law while the new animal welfare model develops.
HSLM signed an agreement with the province on June 28, which means HSLM Animal Protection Officers are accountable to the Chief Inspector.
“This is good news for animals at risk,” said Steve Ryall, HSLM executive director in a statement.
“Locally, this means that our Protection Team will continue enforcement and investigation duties in the City of London and the County of Middlesex, as well as new expanded coverage for us in Elgin and Oxford Counties. Established relationships with veterinarians, justice, health, and social services, and police will continue.” | |
In this post on neck pain, it provides general information about what can cause neck pain and should only be used as a guide. In cases where you have severe neck pain or weakness in your arms/hands, contact your medical doctor as soon as possible.
Generally, neck pain is often caused by a strain or spasm of the neck muscles or of the neck joints. Some common activities that may cause this type of minor injury include sitting in front of the PC during a long day at the office or working at home, keeping your head in a forward posture or odd position while working for long periods of time, watching TV, reading or sleeping in an incorrect posture.
There are many for pain relief, where find that your neck pain is causing you distress and impacting your work, then you could try herbal remedy -Turmeric it has been used in for 100’s of years because of its beneficial healing properties and is now commonly recommended by health practitioners worldwide for pain management.
Where the neck pain is caused by “wear and tear” that occurs to the bones and joints in your neck, this can occur as you age. This is a type of arthritis known as cervical spondylosis, fancy medical name. Cervical spondylosis occurs naturally with age. It doesn’t always cause symptoms, in some people the bone changes can cause neck stiffness, soreness or pain.
3 Common Causes of neck pain
Cervical spondylosis
Neck pain resulting from Spondylosis occurs due to everyday use over many years. This is where discs become thinner, the facet joints become worn and the spaces between the bones become narrower over time.
In worse cases, spurs of bone, known as osteophytes, format the edges of the vertebrae and the facet joints. These changes are very similar in nature to those seen in cases of osteoarthritis. If you suffer from this type of neck pain then seek medical advice, you can take painkillers to ease the pain, and exercise will help you to stretch and strengthen your muscles.
Neck Tension
Tension around the shoulder and neck can be caused by activities like driving for long periods, leaning over a laptop or PC while working or simply by watching TV. Muscles at the back of the neck are always tensed in order to keep the body upright. This is made worse when we’re stressed we often tense these muscles even more, which can increase neck pain and lead to tension headaches. To avoid this type of neck tension practice regular relaxation and neck exercises which over time can help ease neck pain and tension.
Neck injury due to Whiplash
Whiplash injuries are often seen as a result of car accidents and can lead to long term neck pain and tension. This type of neck injury is caused by the body being pushed forward, causing the head to flip back. Then, as the body stops from the forward motion, the head is thrown further forwards, leading to what is termed Whiplash.
There’s often a delay between having an accident of this nature and you feeling any pain or stiffness. It’s thought that the pain is caused by the stretching of the ligaments and the capsule around the facet joints in the neck, along with muscle spasm as the body tries to support the injury.
Although a whiplash injury can seriously strain your neck, most cases of this type improve within a few weeks or months. Gentle simple exercises to keep the neck mobile will help avoid longer-term pain and get you back to normal.
If you are suffering from neck pain and have spoken to your doctor, to rule out any serious complications. In that case, you should slowly do neck exercises to reduce pain, apply heat compress to the affected area. Always take regular breaks from your desk, if working and stay active doing regular stretching exercises.
Summary
- Neck pain resulting from Spondylosis occurs due to everyday use over many years.
- Neck pain sometimes caused by “wear and tear” to the bones and joints in your neck, this can get worse as you age.
- Tension around the shoulder and neck can be caused by activities like driving, leaning over a while working – generally made worse by not taking regular breaks.
- Whiplash injuries are often a result of car accidents leading to long term neck pain and tension in some cases. | https://naturalhealthtips.co.uk/how-to/know-can-cause-neck-pain/ |
Julie Miller Investment Art International is an art investment and management company focused on harnessing and developing the global investment potential of the African art industry for the benefit of all stakeholders, and to allow art to make a greater contribution to the economic development of our continent.
◦ providing the tools, guidance and exposure necessary for them to realise their full potential.
◦ provide a platform that enables artists to develop by trying out new ideas and gain market feedback.
◦ expose the public to a broad spectrum of quality art that is interesting, unusual and thought provoking.
3. Create and enhance cross-border networks to promote and sell African Contemporary art to the international community.
To achieve these objectives, two separate but interdependent strategic platforms have been developed.
Investment grade Contemporary African art that has a high probability of price growth over time.
International network to facilitate sales and distribution from the African continent to the rest of the world.
Technology driven to moderate as far as possible the barriers to location independent art investment decisions.
A public platform to generate broad-based exposure for local artists.
A means for emerging artists to gain market access and potentially achieve gallery representation.
A project space in which new concepts can be safely tested and evolved through market participation and feedback.
For more information, or to discuss potential opportunities for collaboration, please contact [email protected]. | https://www.juliemiller.gallery/contact/about/ |
26 B.R. 945 (1983)
In re Larry Allen BECK, Pegge Anne Beck, Debtors.
John J. HUNTER, Trustee, Plaintiff,
v.
S.K. AUSTIN CO., dba Austin Power Equipment, Defendant.
Adv. No. 81-0895, Bankruptcy No. 81-01584.
United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Ohio, W.D.
January 31, 1983.
*946 John J. Hunter, Toledo, Ohio, trustee/plaintiff.
Richard R. Huber, Oberlin, Ohio, for defendant.
ORDER GRANTING CONDITIONAL STAY
WALTER J. KRASNIEWSKI, Bankruptcy Judge.
This matter is before the Court upon the Appellant's (Defendant's) motion for a stay pending appeal of this Court's judgment, 25 B.R. 947, entered December 23, 1982 in favor of the Appellee (Plaintiff) in the amount of $15,000.00 and upon the objections thereto by the Appellee. It is the decision of the Court that a stay be granted if and when Appellant gives, and the Court approves, a sufficient and adequate cash or surety bond.
The Appellant's motion for stay pending appeal is brought pursuant to Rule 805 of the Bankruptcy Rules which, in pertinent part, as modified by the Bankruptcy Code, provides as follows:
A motion for a stay of the judgment or order of a [bankruptcy court] for approval of a supersedeas bond, or for other relief pending appeal must ordinarily be made in the first instance to the [bankruptcy court]. Notwithstanding Rule 762 but subject to the power of the [appellate panel, or district court, or court of appeals] reserved hereinafter, the [bankruptcy court] may suspend or order the continuation of proceedings or make any other appropriate order during the pendency of an appeal upon such terms as will protect the rights of all parties in interest. A motion for such relief, or for modification or termination of relief granted by the [bankruptcy court], may be made to the [appellate panel, or district court, or court of appeals], but the motion shall show why the relief, modification, or termination was not obtained from the [bankruptcy court]. The [appellate panel, or district court, or court of appeals] may condition the relief it grants under this rule upon the filing of a bond or other appropriate security with the [bankruptcy court].
Since Appellant's motion makes no mention of an intent or desire to post a supersedeas bond under Rule 62(d) Fed.R.Civ.P., made applicable to adversary proceedings under the Bankruptcy Rules by Rule 762, this Court will first consider whether Appellant's motion is sufficient to invoke the Court's descretionary power to grant a stay without posting a bond.
In Moore v. White Motor Corp. (In re White Motor Corp.), 25 B.R. 293, 9 B.C.D. 1042, 1044 (D.C.N.D.Ohio 1982) the district court determined that, in considering bankruptcy cases involving stays pending appeals, the following standard adopted by the court in In re Sung Hi Lim, 7 B.R. 319, 321 (Bkrtcy.D.Hawaii 1980) should be applied in determining if a stay pending appeal should issue:
1. Appellant is likely to succeed on the merits of the appeal.
2. Appellant will suffer irreparable injury.
3. No substantial harm will come to appellee.
4. The stay will do no harm to the public interest.
See also Hadar Leasing International Co., Inc. v. D.H. Overmyer Telecasting Co., Inc. (In re D.H. Overmyer Telecasting Co., Inc.) 18 B.R. 110 (Bkrtcy.N.D.Ohio 1982); Wymer v. Wymer (In re Wymer) 5 B.R. 802, 6 B.C.D. 855 (Bkrtcy. 9th Cir.1980). In applying the above standard it should be noted that each of the above conditions must be *947 satisfied as a condition to issuance of a stay. In re Sung Hi Lim, 7 B.R. at 321.
Adopting the standard applied in White Motor, supra, and applying it to the instant motion, the Court concludes that the issuance of a discretionary stay without bond under Rule 805 is inappropriate under the circumstances of this case.
First, Appellant has failed to demonstrate any likelihood of succeeding on the merits of the appeal. Although the motion for stay pursuant to Rule 805 states that there are "many serious constitutional issues involved in this appeal", Appellant has failed to offer any argument or cite any controlling authority in support of its contention that this Court's previous determinations of the issues involved was erroneous. Furthermore, upon examination of Appellant's statement of the issues he intends to present on appeal to the district court, this Court can discern no issue of fact or law which it feels will reasonably be subject to question.
Appellant argues that enforcement of the Court's December 23, 1982 judgment would force Defendant, a small closely held corporation, out of business and thus, assuming that this is true, there has been a showing of possible irreparable injury to Defendant sufficient to meet the second condition for issuance of a stay. This same showing, however, increases the possibility of substantial harm to the Appellee and the public interest if a deterioration of Appellant's financial condition during the course of the stay would render the judgment valueless. The possible harm to the Appellee is direct in that his possibilities of recovery through writ of execution may diminish through the course of a stay. The public interest may be less directly, though not insubstantially harmed, by virtue of the failure of the trustee in bankruptcy to recover for the benefit of the estate the value of the asset preferentially transferred.
The failure of the Appellant to meet the condition for issuance of a discretionary stay without bond, however, does not exhaust the possibilities of Appellant obtaining a stay pending appeal. The second sentence of Rule 805 provides that "[n]otwithstanding Rule 762 but subject to the power of the district court reserved hereinafter, the [bankruptcy court] may suspend or order the continuation of proceedings or make any other appropriate order during the pendency of an appeal upon such terms as will protect the rights of all parties in interest." This sentence has been interpreted as vesting in the bankruptcy judge and district judge "the widest possible latitude and discretion in granting or denying stays on appeal to the district judge". See 13 Collier on Bankruptcy, ¶ 805.05 at 8-55 (14th Ed.1943). Thus, even if Rule 805 is interpreted as being in conflict with Rule 62(d) Fed.R.Civ.P., which provides a right to a stay, with certain exceptions, by doing all things necessary to perfect an appeal and by posting a proper supersedeas bond, see Collier supra; contra Farmer v. Crocker National Bank (In re Swift Aire Lines, Inc.), 21 B.R. 12 (Bkrtcy. 9th Cir.1982), this Court holds that under Rule 805 it has the discretion, if it will "protect the rights of all parties in interest", to condition the grant of a stay upon the giving and approval of a supersedeas bond under Rule 62(d) Fed.R. Civ.P.
The granting of a stay on condition that Appellant give and the court approves a supersedeas bond would effectively protect the Appellee and the public from the contingencies discussed earlier and therefore "protect the rights of all parties in interest" under rule 805. The Court must therefore determine the proper amount of a cash or surety bond which, according to the terms of Rule 62(d) Fed.R.Civ.P., when and if given by Appellant and approved by the Court, would give Appellant a stay of the Court's December 23, 1982 judgment pending appeal to the district court.
Although the standard for setting the amount of a supersedeas bond under Rule 62(d) Fed.R.Civ.P. is not presently governed by any of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, "former Rule 73(d) described what always has been good practice on a supersedeas bond, and except as the matter now is regulated by local rules in a particular district, it is still a useful guide in these matters." Wright & Miller, Federal Practice *948 and Procedure: Civil § 2905 at 327. Since there is no governing local rule in this district, the Court will therefore apply the standard under former Rule 73(d).
The court in In re Wymer, supra, summarized the standard for supersedeas bonds under rule 62(d) incorporating the former Rule 73(d) standard as follows:
1. The non-discretionary, matter-of-right stay requires a bond in sufficient amount to cover the unsatisfied judgment, costs on appeal, interest and damages for delay. Former Rule 73(d).
2. For cause, established after notice and a hearing, the court has discretion to:
a. Fix a different amount, or
b. Order security other than the bond.
5 B.R. at 805.
The Court will therefore order that bond be set at $15,500.00, with $15,000.00 representing the amount sufficient to satisfy the Appellee's unsatisfied judgment and $500.00 representing anticipated costs on appeal, interest and damages for delay. This may be satisfied by a cash bond or surety bond from the list of qualified sureties published by the Administrative Office of the United States Court. The stay on execution of the judgment will be effective only if and when Appellant gives and this Court approves the bond.
In the light of the foregoing, it is hereby,
ORDERED that Appellant's motion for stay of this Court's December 23, 1982 judgment be granted if and when Appellant gives the Clerk of this Court, and this Court approves, a cash or surety bond in the amount of $15,500.00. It is further,
ORDERED that upon the giving of such bond and the approval of this Court a stay be, and hereby is, granted against the Appellee, his officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys, and upon those persons in active concert or participation with them who receive actual notice of the order by personal service or otherwise, of any act or remedy to collect or execute on the judgment entered December 23, 1982 by this Court in the above captioned case.
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The purpose of the Spaceflight for Everybody Symposium is to communicate the current state of NASA spaceflight health knowledge. Speakers will highlight NASA’s operational medicine and biomedical research findings that are establishing how the human body adapts to the space environment during space missions. Additionally, other health and medical topics will be discussed including future goals for spaceflight participation for other nontraditional able-bodied people. Discussion will include how to expand commercial spaceflight activities and opportunities. The end goal of the symposium is a better awareness of how NASA protects the health of all astronauts and the agency’s plans to do so in the future.
Panelists seek to:
· Educate and excite the public about future possibilities in human spaceflight
· Demonstrate how precision health and other innovations expand spaceflight opportunities to a more diverse group of space explorers
· Identify spaceflight health challenges and how we mitigate and counter them
· Demonstrate how NASA’s partnerships with commercial space providers are enabling increased access to space
· Highlight efforts to broaden exploration opportunities from the ground up – through leadership, engineering, science, participants, etc.
The symposium will take place virtually, and NASA will provide a live stream including an ASL translator. Scientists, researchers, healthcare workers, especially those interested in space medicine, and other interested parties who would like to be able to contribute to the virtual chat can register to join the WebEx connection for each day. | https://spaceref.com/status-report/nasa-spaceflight-for-everybody-virtual-symposium/ |
U.S. Stock Index Futures Eliminate Early Rise After Increased Unemployment Claims
US stock index futures have significantly abandoned their early rise on Thursday after data showed an increase in initial applications for unemployment benefits last week.
Corporate earnings reports continue to roll in in support of a stock recovery this week, while the European Central Bank provides dovish tweaks to interest rate and monetary policy guidance.
What are the major indexes doing?
-
Dow Jones Industrial Average 30 Futures
YM00,
-0.06%
It decreased by 43 points (0.1%) to 34,646.
-
S & P500 Futures
ES00,
+ 0.04%
It was 3.5 points or 0.1% off at 4,347.
-
Nasdaq-100 Futures
NQ00,
+ 0.09%
Increased 4.25 points to 14,832.
Wednesday, Dow Jones Industrial Average
DJIA,
The S & P 500 closed at 34,798, up 286.01 points (0.8%).
SPX,
Nasdaq Composite Index, up 0.8%
COMP,
Increased by 0.9%.
What is driving the market?
All three major indices have recovered from the plunge on Monday over the past two days, as investors have been worried about the spread of the coronavirus delta variant behind COVID-19. Became a plus.
But Thursday’s US employment data could weaken the rebound.Labor Ministry said first unemployed allegations 51,000 increase It reached 419,000 in the seven days until July 17. This is the highest level in almost two months. However, this increase is concentrated in Michigan and Kentucky and may be related to the annual remodeling of car factories to build new models.
“As the federal program expires across the state, the total number of people who rely on government support continues to decline,” said Rubela Farooqi, Chief US Economist at High Frequency Economics. “Beyond the weekly turnover of claim data
Filing trends should remain down, reflecting issues related to seasonal adjustment. “
Stocks bounced off Monday’s plunge, and investors are citing alleviation of concerns about the effects of the epidemic of the coronavirus delta variant causing COVID-19.
“Concerns about the rapidly prevailing delta variant of the coronavirus are probably due to bright earnings results, or … because market participants may have reconsidered how limiting potential new measures are. It seems that it has continued to be relaxed, “said Charalambos Pissouros. , JFD Group Principal Investigator, Memo.
With that in mind, Pisoros predicts that the wider path of stocks will continue to be positive, and that a setback could trigger more buys “perhaps for fear of overlooking.” He said he was.
read: Do you think this is a “strange market” for now?Here’s more evidence
Some analysts said they were even weaker in the short term due to weak seasonal factors, delayed assessments, concerns about peak economic growth, and uncertainty about the spread of delta variants. We are exploring the possibilities of the economy.
In one chart: Why the S & P 500 is down 5%, or ready to go down further this summer
Investors will also see data on existing home sales in June, which is expected to rise from 5.8 million in May to an annual rate of 5.93 million. The June Leading Economic Indicators Index, scheduled to be released at 10 am, is projected to fall from 1.3% to 0.9%.
Which company is paying attention to?
- Dow Inc.
Dow,
-2.25%
Stock prices rose in pre-market transactions after chemical companies Swayed by second quarter profits Earnings were higher than expected, boosted by soaring local prices amid rising demand.
- Netgear Inc.
NTGR,
-12.30%
Shares fell more than 15% after computer network companies reported their financial results for the second quarter. Less than expected on Wall Street About revenue and revenue.
-
Share Texas Instruments Inc.
TXN,
-4.27%
Down nearly 5% after third-quarter forecast late Wednesday Suggests slowing earnings growth In the global chip shortage.
- Whirlpool Corporation.
WHR,
-3.72%
At the end of Wednesday, quarterly sales were reported to have increased by 32%, Boosting 2021 Guidance, Quote the ongoing demand for its kitchen and laundry equipment. Stocks fell 0.4%.
- AT & T
T,
+ 0.07%
After exceeding expectations, it increased by 1% Latest financial results Telecom giants are less likely to leave customers in the wireless business, and the number of HBO Max service subscribers continues to grow.
- Biogen
BIIB,
+ 0.82%
Thursday’s pre-market trading rose 1.6% The company exceeded expectations In the second quarter, it revealed that it had already sold $ 2 million in a new controversial drug for Alzheimer’s disease.
- Southwest Airlines Co., Ltd.
LUV,
-3.74%
Later 3.3% increase Net profit report After a loss of $ 915 million ($ 1.63 per share) in the same period last year when travel stagnated during the global epidemic, $ 348 million (57 cents per share) in the second quarter It increased. | https://www.jioforme.com/u-s-stock-index-futures-eliminate-early-rise-after-increased-unemployment-claims/615678/ |
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This book focuses on the history of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), from its origins in the mid-19th century to nowadays. ITU was the first international organization ever and still plays a crucial role in managing global telecommunications today. Putting together some of the most relevant scholars in the field of transnational communications, the book covers the history of ITU from 1865 to digital times in a truly global perspective, taking into account several technologies like the telegraph, the telephone, cables, wireless, radio, television, satellites, mobile phone, the internet and others. The main goal is to identify the long-term strategies of regulation and the techno-diplomatic manoeuvres taken inside ITU, from convincing the majority of the nations to establish the official seat of the Telegraph Union bureau in Switzerland in the 1860s, to contrasting the multi-stakeholder model of Internet governance (supported by US and ICANN).
History of the International Telecommunication Union is a trans-disciplinary text and can be interesting for scholars and students in the fields of telecommunications, media, international organizations, transnational communication, diplomacy, political economy of communication, STS, and others. It has the ambition to become a reference point in the history of ITU and, at the same time, just the fi rst comprehensive step towards a longer, inter-technological, political and cultural history of transnational communications to be written in the future. | https://www.degruyter.com/serial/idme-b/html |
The final project is a strategic marketing plan for a new business idea. This group project gives you an opportunity to test and advance your ability to understand and analyze marketing situations, identify an opportunity, design a marketing strategy and implementation plan. It requires a good grasp of marketing concepts, strong decision-making and team-work skills.
While the marketing process and specific responsibilities of a marketing manager vary across industries and firms, developing a strategic marketing plan involves three main activities:
- analysis of market situation;
- marketing strategy formulation;
- implementing strategy through marketing mix.
The course will cover all three areas and will equip you with the necessary concepts and skills.
Each plan will be prepared and presented by a group of students. Each team has to identify an existing opportunity (an unfulfilled need, perhaps) in the market, propose a new business (or product, or service) that can address it, and design strategy and related tactics for launching it.
Each team will present its plan to the class during Ses #20. Time for each presentation will depend, in part, on the total number of projects, but will be no more than 3 minutes. That is, we will use the format and will practice the "elevator pitch." Effectiveness of the verbal presentation is key in communicating your concept and receiving quality feedback from your classmates.
The written plan for your final project is due few days after your presentations to allow you to incorporate any feedback you receive for you "pitch" following your in-class presentation. The final project should be a maximum of 15 pages, including any charts, graphs, and figures.
The plans will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- the quality of the analysis — were the right questions asked?
- the feasibility of conclusions or recommendations — do they follow from the analysis? | https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/sloan-school-of-management/15-810-marketing-management-fall-2010/projects/ |
Moving was an adventure for the whole family. As the daughter of a service member in the United States Navy, Keema Mc Clung moved around a lot, giving her the opportunity to see a number of places in the US. As an Orientation and Mobility Specialist with Braille Institute San Diego, she is able to share her love of experiencing the world with people who are blind or visually impaired.
“I wanted to help people who are visually impaired learn ways to travel safely and efficiently,” she said.
Keema has worked with Braille Institute for 30 years. She began her career with Braille Institute in Palm Springs and assisted with the center’s move to its current location in Rancho Mirage. In 1995, she began her work with the center in San Diego. Over the years she has helped a number of students, even military veterans and spouses of active duty service members at Camp Pendleton.
Orientation and Mobility has a long history with veterans. Techniques and formal training of specialists were developed after World War II to help returning service members who were blind or visually impaired. The first university training program started in 1960. Since then, the program has expanded to working with adults, children and preschool-aged children.
“Not only do we have the opportunity to help our students who are visually impaired build skills through training and preparation for real life travel situations, but we also get to help create learning experiences for friends and family, volunteers and the whole community,” Keema said.
For people starting out or interested in the field of Orientation and Mobility, she has a few words of advice: stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. Good shoes and carrying items hands free helps as well, she said.
“If you like helping people find their way to a great sense of freedom and independence in a very real way, Orientation and Mobility just might be for you,” she said.
When people find out Keema is an Orientation and Mobility Specialist many ask if she can read Braille or if she knows sign language. Every so often, she gets a real treat when someone tells her about their friend or family member who has been a student at Braille Institute and how the nonprofit has helped them, she said.
For people who have recently lost their vision and are wondering if Orientation and Mobility can help them, Keema encourages them to give it a try as this program is very flexible to suit your needs.
“Orientation and Mobility Specialists need your perspective too,” she said. “By participating you are helping to enrich this field of endeavor.”
Keema says she is grateful for all the places she has been privileged to work and learn. | https://www.brailleinstitute.org/blog/our-stories/san-diego-stories/exposing-world-adventure-orientation-mobility |
The reduced production or activity of the cysteine-rich glycoprotein progranulin is responsible for about 20% of cases of familial frontotemporal dementia. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that govern the level and secretion of progranulin. Here we show that progranulin is expressed in mouse cortical neurons and more prominently in mouse microglia in culture and is abundant in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi. Using chemical crosslinking, immunoprecipitation, and mass spectrometry, we found that progranulin is bound to a network of ER Ca(2+)-binding chaperones including BiP, calreticulin, GRP94, and four members of the protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) family. Loss of ERp57 inhibits progranulin secretion. Thus, progranulin is a novel substrate of several PDI family proteins and modulation of the ER chaperone network may be a therapeutic target for controlling progranulin secretion.
Rights and Permissions
Copyright: © 2011 Almeida et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
DOI of Published Version
10.1371/journal.pone.0026454
Source
Almeida S, Zhou L, Gao F-B (2011) Progranulin, a Glycoprotein Deficient in Frontotemporal Dementia, Is a Novel Substrate of Several Protein Disulfide Isomerase Family Proteins. PLoS ONE 6(10): e26454. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0026454. Link to article on publisher's site
Journal/Book/Conference Title
PloS one
Related Resources
PubMed ID
22028881
Repository Citation
Almeida, Sandra; Zhou, Lijuan; and Gao, Fen-Biao, "Progranulin, a glycoprotein deficient in frontotemporal dementia, is a novel substrate of several protein disulfide isomerase family proteins" (2011). Open Access Articles. 2353. | https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/oapubs/2353/ |
Think regionally and act, well, regionally.
That is the credo of “new regionalism,” a growing movement in academic and public policy circles calling on governments, businesses and activists to reach beyond traditional city and county borders to work together on pressing social, economic and environmental issues.
The movement was on full display Tuesday, when Nick Bollman, president of the California Center for Regional Leadership – a statewide nonprofit that fosters regional cooperation in the Bay Area and elsewhere – held court at a seminar sponsored by UC Berkeley.
Bollman, who also serves as the chairman of State Assembly Speaker Robert Hertzberg’s Commission on Regionalism, spent much of the afternoon discussing a draft report the commission just concluded. “The California Dream: Regional Solutions for 21st Century Challenges” is due for release in January.
The report calls on the state government to use economic incentives to encourage regional cooperation on a whole host of issues – ranging from affordable housing, to transportation, to economic growth. If the recommendations become law, local governments would receive greater funding for projects if they show that they are coordinating development with other communities in the region.
Local advocates are enthusiastic about the growth of “new regionalism,” and say that Berkeley’s attention to regional concerns has already paid dividends in the Bay Area.
Victoria Eisen, principal planner for the Association of Bay Area Governments, cited the city’s decision to build a bridge from Aquatic Park to the Marina, providing greater access to the San Francisco Bay Trail, a half–built hiking and biking path that will encompass all of the San Francisco and San Pablo bays. She says increased access to the trail will cut down on auto traffic and improve quality of life throughout the area.
But critics of the “new regionalism” doubt whether the movement can work on a broader scale. Peter Gordon, professor in the School of Policy Planning and Development at the University of Southern California, says that regional governments – created through the annexation of one city by another, or the development of a county –based government – have failed.
Bollman, during the Berkeley seminar, admitted that his movement faces a number of hurdles – from the parochialism of local government, to a multi–million dollar state deficit that may prevent heavy spending on regional initiatives.
However, Bollman said some regional organizations, like the California Coastal Commission and the Lake Tahoe Conservancy, have proven successful. He also claimed that Speaker Hertzberg supports the movement, suggesting that the state might spur a more regional approach. A spokeswoman in Hertzberg’s office could not confirm his support for the report’s recommendations by the Daily Planet’s deadline.
Whatever happens at the state level, local proponents of the “new regionalism” are moving full speed ahead. The Bay Area Alliance for Sustainable Development, a coalition of business, environmental and social justice groups, hosted a series of meetings in recent months, including an Alameda County meeting on September 6th in San Leandro, centered on regional cooperation around economic development and growth.
Participants, including several officials and activists from Berkeley, gathered in small groups and used computer models to debate the best patterns for future growth in the Bay Area. The alliance will present its findings in early December.
The group has also targeted a group of 46 downtrodden neighborhoods in the area in need of investment, including West Berkeley. The organization is encouraging banks, insurance companies and corporations to invest in the neighborhoods.
Andrew Michael, vice president of the Bay Area Council, which participates in the alliance, hopes that the investment will revitalize Berkeley and other urban centers in the region, create affordable housing, and draw skilled workers from the suburbs. This migration, he argues, will boost the regional economy, and cut down on the number of people commuting to Bay Area cities for work.
Such is the promise of “new regionalism” – a broad–scale movement to address multiple, overlapping issues. Will it work? That may be a question for another Berkeley seminar. | http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2001-11-21/article/8469?headline=New-regionalism-movement-goes-beyond-borders--David-Scharfenberg-Special-to-the-Daily-Planet |
In winter, even just a casual glance at the sky will register the Pleiades star cluster. For northern hemisphere observers, the cluster is like winter's beauty mark, arriving with the darkening months and sitting high in the constellation Taurus, preceding the bright red star Aldebaran across the sky. It is easy to find, and punctuates the end of a beautiful sweep of stars beginning in Perseus with first magnitude Mirfak, along the eastern leg of the constellation.
The Pleiades rises in the east.
This eye-catching cluster is quite young by astronomical standards, having emerged from the Merope Nebula within the last 100 million years, and some estimate it is as young as 20 million years, meaning it did not shine in the skies when the dinosaurs roamed the Earth. The cluster is our close neighbor, about 380 light years distant in our local arm of the Milky Way galaxy, and has about an 8 light year diameter. For perspective, only Alpha Centauri and Sirius are bright stars within 8 light years of Earth.
As Walter Scott Houston said of the Pleiades, "Even on the coldest of winter nights, when time spent at the telescope is better measured in minutes than hours, it would be a very un-amateur act not to look in on the Pleiades."
The cluster makes an excellent target for binoculars or a wide-field telescope, but require nearly two degrees to see all members in one field of view. The nebulosity is fleeting, and can be faintly glimpsed under excellent conditions, primarily around the star for which the nebula is named, Merope (the bottom star in the image below). In Deep Sky Wonders, Walter Scott Houston wrote of this fleeting nebulosity, saying: "On an ordinary night, there are usually a few wisps of nebulosity seen around the Pleiad Merope. But on really exceptional nights (or more likely, half hours), the glow swells out to encompass the entire cluster in a big cocoon."
Charles Messier catalogued the Pleiades as Messier 45, or M45, but he was not the first to notice the Pleiades. The cluster goes by many names, and its fame crosses many cultures. Ancient Greeks called it The Seven Sisters and the Japanese call it "Subaru" - you can see it as the logo of the car company. Ancient Persians used "Soraya" - which was also the name of the former Iranian empress. The British and Germans called it the Chick with Hens. Many people today see it, and mistake it for the Little Dipper. Perhaps we should refer to it as The Littlest Dipper? There are many variations, but the cluster is part of human records reaching as far back as Babylonia. It was mentioned in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, referenced three times in the Bible, shows up in the Quran and in ancient Hindu mythology as well. This may be history's most famous star cluster!
Bright Members of the Pleiades in the Merope Nebula.
On average, the naked eye sees the six brightest stars of the cluster. I've read reports of people counting up to fourteen members, naked-eye. My best is nine. The above chart shows the brightest members and magnitudes. How many can you see? Make a sketch then come back and compare it to the chart.
Despite the number of stars you're able to see, remember this: the cluster is actually comprised of over 1,000 confirmed members with a "tidal radius" of around 43 light years and total mass of around 800 suns. That's a big group of stars!
The Pleiades is an open cluster. Open clusters are comprised of young star systems. There are thousands of examples of these throughout our own Milky Way galaxy. They tend to occur in the spiral arms of galaxies, as that's where star formation is predominant.
In your pair of binoculars or telescope, you can see hundreds of open clusters, varying greatly in size, shape, density and brightness. Some, like the Pleiades, do not require anything other than your eyes and interest to see them. The Hyades in Taurus is an example of an older dispersing open cluster that can be seen without a telescope, as are the stars around Mirfak in Perseus. The stars of The Big Dipper are a highly dispersed old open cluster. Like children, growing up in their family home (their nebula, per se), the stars of open cluster eventually disperse - and move on, to new homes across our night skies.
The winter Milky Way is a fine sight, with many bright stars against a black background. The Pleiades are a jewel among them. Beautiful at the casual gaze, spectacular in almost any astronomical instrument, and should you try to discern the nebula, a challenge as well. Even on the coldest nights, take a few minutes to go outside and enjoy the great sight of Winter's Littlest Dipper.
Mark Wagner is a life-long astronomy enthusiast and deep sky observer. He has spent the past twenty years popularizing amateur astronomy in the San Francisco bay area through his writing and community building. A past president of the San Jose Astronomical Association, he founded what is now the annual Golden State Star Party in California. Please post if you have comments, questions, sketches or images you've taken of the targets mentioned above.
Astro-images taken through a telescope on a tracking mount provide breathtaking color and detail that you just can't see with your eyes alone. The astro-images on our web site demonstrate the imaging capabilities of the products used and are not intended to represent what you will see when you look through a telescope.
Learn More
This complete binocular and tripod bundle includes 15x70 Astronomy Binoculars and the versatile Paragon HD-F2 Heavy Duty Tripod, making it easy to scan the skies and enjoy bright, stable views of comets, star clusters, planets, and more.
The SkyQuest XT10 classic reflector has features for both beginners and advanced users. It has a huge aperture, the stable base glides easily to give you total pointing control, and this package includes a Barlow and Beginning Stargazer's Toolkit.
The AstroView 6 is a great telescope for the intermediate viewer. The manual slow motion knobs track objects or add an optional EQ3 DC drive to the mount to power the scope electronically. A good size telescope for planetary and deep sky viewing.
The Orion Mini Giant 15x63 Binoculars excel for both astronomical and terrestrial viewing. The binoculars grab more light than a 50mm yet they don't have the weight or bulk of larger giant binoculars. Long eye relief makes for comfortable viewing.
At Orion, we are committed to sharing our knowledge and passion for astronomy and astrophotography with the amateur astronomy community. Visit the Orion Community Center for in-depth information on telescopes, binoculars, and astrophotography. You can find astrophotography "how to" tips and share your best astronomy pictures here. Submit astronomy articles, events, and reviews, and even become a featured Orion customer!
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King Prawns cooked in mild, light and creamy rich gravy with Indian spicy and nuts; this ...
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This delicious, mild curry is so easy to make. The word 'malai' means cream, but this cur...
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Mustard is such a great companion to cooked salmon. Learn the recipe of Salmon with mustard Sauce by vahchef.
A natural affinity exists between salmon and mustard. In this sauce, fresh lemon juice and herbs temper the heat of the mustard, but its flavor remains strong enough to stand up to the salmon. | https://www.vahrehvah.com/salmon-with-mustard-sauce-recipe |
A female in a male dominated profession is challenging. I am talking about women in the Astronomy field and the negative impact it has around the world. I will refer to the difficulties women experienced when trying to pursue a career in Astronomy and relate it back to New Zealand. If I told you to think of a scientist, you would think of a male. Over the years women have been labelled incapable in science when compared to male counterparts.
They are told to stay home and be a housewife. Society back then were against women contributing to science, however some were determined to break this gender discrimination and pursue their desires. There have been many women that have contributed to scientific research and not credited for their findings, such as Mileva Marić (Einstein’s Wife). They worked on scientific theories together. Einstein was unable to get a job, Marić allowed him to publish their findings under his name to increase his chances. They later divorced, and Einstein went on to obtain the Nobel Prize money, which he split with Marić (Dombroski, 2018).
This shows that society had an old fashion approach that men should work in science and not women. Society today has become more accepting of women in science, but it is still not gender equal. There have been 129 NASA astronauts that have flown to the International Space Station – 103 were men, 26 were women, that’s only 20% of the total. (Saralyn Mark S. G., 2014) Being a female myself, the level of expectation is low compared to male colleges. Even though society has moved forward there is always going to be gender discrimination, big or small. This may affect the work I do as an astronomer in New Zealand as employers may turn me down or deem me incapable only to employ a male. In fact, New Zealand was the first to allow women to vote and tackle gender equality. To conclude, being a female astronomer has a negative impact on how society perceives you. Labelling you as not worthy enough to be a scientist even though you work just as hard. | https://eduzaurus.com/free-essay-samples/gender-equality-in-astronomy/ |
Maker-centered Learning (Teaching and Learning in the Maker-Centered…
Maker-centered Learning
Benefits of Maker-Centered Learning
"Agency & character can loosely be understood as being on a spectrum, on which one end is character building, and establishing a sense of self in a complex world, and the other end is developing a sense of agency, or activating one's character to uniquely shape one's world" (p. 18)
Building Character
"Building competence, building confidence, and forming identities" (p. 25)
"soft skills, non cognitive skills, or twenty first century skills" (p. 28)
patterns of thinking that are highly valued in MCL: a) lack specific associations with particular disciplines or domains b) cannot easily be measured with psychometric tests used to gauge cognition or intelligence (p. 28)
divergent thinking, close observation, aesthetic sensitivity, cultural competency
8 attributes that are important to cultivate in young makers, according to AnnMarie Thomas, an engineering professor at the University of St. Thomas: 1) Makers are curious, explorers. 2)makers are playful; whimsy 3) Makers are willing to take a risk; not afraid to try something new 4) Makers take on responsibility; help others 5) Makers are persistent 6) Makers are resourceful 7)Makers share knowledge, support, tools 8) Makers are optimistic
Developing Agency
Community
Secondary Outcomes of MCL: Cultivating Discipline-Specific and Maker-Specific Knowledge and Skills
"Stuff making" "Community Making" "Self-Making"
Benefits for school/world: online knowledge sourcing, reconceptualize the economy, increasing proficiencies in STEM programs
Teaching and Learning in the Maker-Centered Classroom
Who (and what) are the teachers in MCL classroom?
Students as teachers; teachers in the community; online knowledge sourcing; tools and materials as teachers (p. 44)
What does learning look like in MCL classroom?
Students learn by engaging in activities encouraged by the teacher including collaboration, co-critique, co-inspiration, seeing skills and knowledge on own and sharing skills; figuring it out
What does the MCL classroom look like?
Tools and materials from multiple disciplines; storage and visibility; specific and flexible spaces (p. 44)
What does teaching look like in the MCL classroom?
Facilitating student collaboration; encouraging co-inspiration; encouraging co-critique; redirecting authority; promoting an ethics of knowledge sharing (p.45)
Fundamental philosopher of MCL: John Dewey: emphasized an approach that has come to be known as a hands-on or an experimental approach to learning (constructivism v. constructionism)
John Piaget: knowledge is instructed via the interaction between learns schema and experiences to the world (p. 46)
Vygotsky: ZPD, cooperative learning
project-based learning: a) start with driving question b) students explore driving q. by participating in situated, authentic inquiry c) students, teachers, community engage in collaborative activities to answer the q. d) students are scaffold to answer their q. e) students create set of tangible products that address the driving q.
Developing a Sense of Maker Empowerment
Agency: People exercise their agency when they consciously choose to act in ways that are intended to bring about certain effects
choice, intention, action
participating in agentic action (locus): where a sense of agency developed and resides
Maker Empowerment: A sensitivity to the designed dimension of objects and systems, along with the inclination and capacity to shape ones world through building, thinking, tinkering, re/designing, or hacking (p. 98)
Empowerment & Social Justice
Empowerment in Education: Maker empowerment is a sensitivity to the deigned dimension of objects and systems, along with the inclination and capacity to shape one's world through building, tinkering, redesigning
Developing Sensitivity to Design
Developing a Sensitivity to Design in a Consumer-Driven World
Living in the Throes of a Throwaway Culture: celebrating everyday objects; rather than repair objects when they fail, we throw them away; one tends to be more efficient to go about one's daily business with objects that one does not understand
What is Sensitivity to Design? "A design in a structure adapted to a purpose. Sometimes a structure gets a purpose gradually over time, through the ingenuity of many individuals " (p. 117)
Being attuned to the designed dimension of objects and systems, with an understanding that the designed world is malleable
Design hunt in the classroom
Hidden Mechanics of Stuff
A lot can be accomplished by simply asking people to be alert to things they may otherwise not notice
MCL Teaching in Action:
Framework: looking closely <--> Exploring Complexity<-->Finding Opportunity
Looking Closely at Computers with ELL's (p. 130)
instills confidence in students, changes a blind fear and satisfies curiosity, empowers students to troubleshoot computers
Exploring Complexity: look at it closely =, first. Explore the complexity of an object or system by looking beyond what is immediately obvious: think of the relationship of all the parts
Finding opportunity to tinker, build, re/design; explore materials
questions to ask yourself as a MCL facilitator: a) what kind son learning environments, space, ad spatial characteristics nest support design and MCL thinking and learning? b) How can teachers and students reenvision their school facilities as more MCL environments? c)HowcandesignthinkingandMCLthinkingandlearningactivateagencyinstudents? | https://coggle.it/diagram/W37m--GhImUubqRW/t/maker-centered-learning |
Immunotherapy is increasingly recognized as an important therapeutic strategy for many cancers. High levels of intratumoral T-cells strongly and consistently correlate with patient survival in multiple cancer types, including high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC)2. However, while immune checkpoint blockade antibodies, such as aPD-1 or aCTLA-4, have shown remarkable efficacy in selected cancer types, limited therapeutic benefit has been observed with other types of cancers. Indeed, a recent clinical trial with aPD-L1 showed limited benefit for ovarian cancer patients, with only 1 out of 17 patients having a partial response5. This difficulty of inducing an effective anti-tumor immune response largely stems from the highly immunosuppressive microenvironment present in these tumors. This hostile microenvironment significantly inhibits both the penetration and the function of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs).
To address this problem, we performed a systems-based approach to identify genes that are highly expressed in cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in tumors with low CTL infiltration. We focus our effort on CAFs due to their well-known immunosuppressive activity as well as their emerging role as a major barrier for CTLs at the tumor site. Through integrative analyses of two independent cohorts of HGSC tumors, we have successfully identified presenilin 1 (PSEN1) as a critical regulator of T-cell trafficking in the tumor microenvironment. Our preliminary data suggest that PSEN1 silencing in ovarian tumors results in a significant increase in CTLs in preclinical models of HGSC. Silencing PSEN1 in CAFs also results in enhanced T-cell activity. On the basis of these compelling preliminary data, we hypothesize that PSEN1 siRNAs delivered using chitosan nanoparticles can overcome the immune privilege and synergistically impact the therapeutic efficacy of existing immune modulating agents in HGSC tumors, leading to induction of a potent tumor-antigen specific immune responses. The overall goal of this study is to develop effective nano-medicine strategies to target PSEN1 in CAFs to enhance the infiltration and function of CTLs in HGSC tumors. | https://ocrahope.org/project/re-activating-anti-tumor-immunity-targeting-psen1-in-cafs-in-ovarian-cancer/ |
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Call No:
xPJ5059.E8F327 2008 (Carlson Fable Collection, BIC bldg)
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2008
Jewish
MetadataShow full item record
Remark:
Here is a second copy of this book. This is a paperback book of 104 pages offering forty numbered fables, each with a lively colored illustration and a paragraph of comment--all in a two-page spread. One strong feature of the book is the brevity of each fable. Most of the fables last just a few lines. Many come from the Aesopic tradition. The Aesopic fable about the wolf and the fox, for example, starts here with the fox tricking the wolf into the place where the Jews live on Sabbath eve (30). It includes Ezekiel 18:2 about fathers eating sour grapes and the children's teeth being set on edge. I find these fables often not hitting their issues as directly as good fables usually do. They seem often just a bit off. In some cases, the miss seems to coincide with an intent to align the fable with a scripture passage. The author claims a common theme, for example, between a good story about a mulberry thief's stained hands, used as a parallel to the story of Cain's blood-stained hands, and the Aesopic fable in which a man uses a mulberry tree as an excuse for his having blood-stained hands. I do not think that there is a common theme here. The Aesopic fable about the fox entering an oak (or a granary) lean and needing to come out again lean is told rather of a fox entering a vineyard and is referred to coming into life naked and needing to leave the same way (32-33). The Aesopic theme is, I think, quite different from the Jewish. The art focuses particularly on the characters' or animals' eyes. A typical illustration might be that of the dancing crow on 59. At the book's end there are some seventeen pages on fables, midrash, and Talmud. I had to find a second copy of this book online because the first I found was lacking pages 19-22. This copy is integral. | https://dspace2.creighton.edu/xmlui/handle/10504/83144 |
The Apache Software Foundation is considering a proposal to take custody of Java development environment NetBeans.
The IDE allows development in Java and in other languages and runs operating systems that can fire up a JVM. As the Foundation explains in its proposal, “NetBeans has approximately 1.5 million active users around the world, in extremely diverse structures and organizations.” Students, teachers, “large organizations who base their software on the application framework beneath NetBeans” and many others use the tool.
But the Foundation points out that “NetBeans has been run by Oracle, with the majority of code contributions coming from Oracle.”
Moving the project to the Foundation is therefore seen as a way “to expand the diversity of contributors and to increase the level of meritocracy in NetBeans.”
The Foundation seems to be betting that things can't get worse with the potential for more contributors that would come with its stewardship. The proposal therefore says that “... though Oracle will relinquish its control over NetBeans, individual contributors from Oracle are expected to continue contributing to NetBeans after it has been contributed to Apache, together with individual contributors from other organizations, as well as self-employed individual contributors.”
Which sounds a bit like an attempt heading off the notion Oracle is bailing from NetBeans and, by extension, expressing a loss of interest in all Java.
Apache anticipates some problems getting current NetBeaners to work with its licences, but the learning curve shouldn't be too steep because the tool has been open source since Sun decided to change its licence way back in the year 2000. Oracle now uses the GNU Lesser General Public License version 2.1 for the tool.
The thread discussing the proposal is mostly positive towards the idea, with much discussion considering the effort required to make Apache’s oversight work.
But one developer evangelist of The Register's acquaintance, who prefers we don't use his name, said his starting point for considering the move to Apache is “Oracle's sordid history of acquiring then neglecting open source tech (remember MySQL?)”.
Kate Carruthers, chief data officer at the University of New South Wales, said “I'm worried that anyone is still using java to be honest. But this seems like a better option than Oracle's neglect.”
“I think it’s a healthy enough project to not suffer the same fate as Apache OpenOffice,” open source developer and advocate Jeff Waugh told El Reg. “It’s well regarded. Apache doesn’t have much of a rep for building user interfaces / products, but they do for developer tools.”
And here's another opinion. | https://www.theregister.com/2016/09/14/oracle_happy_to_let_apache_foundation_adopt_netbeans/ |
Anjana is a news editor at Mercom India. Before joining Mercom, she held roles of senior editor, district correspondent, and sub-editor for The Times of India, Biospectrum and The Sunday Guardian. Before that, she worked at the Deccan Herald and the Asianlite as chief sub-editor and news editor. She has also contributed to The Quint, Hindustan Times, The New Indian Express, Reader’s Digest (UK edition), IndiaSe (Singapore-based magazine) and Asiaville. Anjana holds a Master’s degree in Geography from North Bengal University, and a diploma in mass communication and journalism from Guru Ghasidas University, Bhopal.
Renewable Project Developer Greenko Receives $329 Million in Equity
After receiving $495 million (~₹33.92 billion) as primary equity from General Insurance Corporation (GIC) and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Greenko Energy Holdings (Greenko), has now secured another $329 million ...
Total Eren and EDF Renewables Sign PPA for 716 MW of Solar Projects in India
Total Eren and EDF Renewables have signed 25-year long term power purchase agreements (PPA) for four solar power projects with an installed capacity of 716 MW. These projects are located ...
Delhi To Shut Rajghat Thermal Power Project, Use Land for 5 MW Solar Park
Amid constantly deteriorating air quality, the Delhi government has decided to officially close the Rajghat thermal power project and develop it into a 5 MW solar park. According to a ...
Solar EPC Company Sterling and Wilson Solar Receives SEBI’s Approval for its IPO
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has given its approval to Sterling and Wilson Solar Limited (SWSL) to float its proposed initial public offering that is estimated to ...
Sembcorp to Infuse ₹5.169 Billion in its India Arm to Push Renewable Business
Sembcorp Industries has increased its equity stake in its India arm Sembcorp Energy India (SEIL) from 93.73% to 94.05%. The company has infused ₹5.169 billion (~$75.33 million) into SEIL to ...
NTPC Invites EPC Vendors to Enlist for Solar Projects Between 10-50 MW
The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has issued tender inviting applications from eligible vendors for the enlistment of engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) bidders to develop floating or ground-mounted solar ...
UAE Signs MoU with IRENA to Introduce Renewable Energy Studies in its Education System
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Karnataka Extends Generic Tariff of ₹7.08/kWh for Waste to Energy Projects Until 2020
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REIL Issues Tender to Install 20,000 Solar Streetlights Across India
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Silk Road Fund Gets 49% Stake in Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power
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Kerala Automobiles to Manufacture 8,000 Indigenous Electric Autorickshaws
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Ola Electric Raises $250 Million from SoftBank
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Delhi Police Goes Green: Signs Pact with SECI for 3-4 MW of Rooftop Solar Installations
The Delhi Police has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) to install rooftop solar energy systems on its establishments. Through this MoU, ...
/ Anjana Parikh / Rooftop, Solar
BlackRock Real Assets Set to Buy 115 MW of Solar Projects in Taiwan
BlackRock Real Assets, a global investment management company, has announced its plans to expand its renewable power portfolio in Asia. The Fund, which is a private fund managed by BlackRock ...
Keppel Land China Secures $125 Million from HSBC for Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City
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Renewable Developer ReNew Power Raises $300 Million Through Rights Issue
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This information does not cover every possible kind of situation under which Building Permits and Certificates of Occupancy may be required. In addition, some kinds of work require special permits from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, as well as other local, state, and federal agencies.
The Certificate of Occupancy is the Town’s assurance to a prospective buyer or owner that a building or home is legally occupied and that it conforms to zoning, minimum repair and maintenance standards as of the date the Certificate of Occupancy is issued.
A Certificate of Occupancy is required when there is:
The Certificate of Occupancy inspection is a thorough inspection of the interior and exterior of the premises as applicable.
The Certificate of Occupancy permits and authorizes the use and occupancy of the land or premises as described in the permit application.
No Certificate shall be issued except upon an inspection which reveals no uncorrected deficiency or material violation of the NYS Uniform Code , Energy Code and/or Town Codes.
No building erected subject to the NYS Uniform Code, Energy Code shall be used or occupied until a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued. Similarly no building that has been altered, extended or enlarged shall be occupied or used for more than 30 days after completion unless a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued.
The requirements for a Certificate of Occupancy are compliance with all applicable codes, rules, and regulations some of which are:
The requirements for a Certificate of Occupancy can be found in the Property Maintenance Code, Housing Code Building Code, and Zoning Ordinance, as well as in the New York State Multiple Residence Law, but are written in complex legal terms and may be somewhat confusing to most people.
To Obtain a Certificate of Occupancy
Fire Inspectors Requirements
The Building Department will gladly supply information or answer any questions regarding Certificate of Occupancy requirements.
You must have a valid Building Permit before you can apply for this Certificate.
An owner or his representative can obtain an application for Certificate of Occupancy from the Clarkstown Town Hall, Building Department, Room 101 (lower level), 10 Maple Ave., New City, NY 10956.
The owner or his representative can fill out this application with the following information:
This application is then filed along with a copy of the Final Electrical Certificate of approval for the electrical work, with the Building Department. Affidavits, and final as built plot plans, may be required also for some projects. This information can be obtained when application for Certificate of Occupancy is picked up from the Building Department.
If the building meets zoning approval and is found to be in compliance with applicable codes, ordinances and regulations, the Building Department will issue a Certificate of Occupancy.
For Certificates of Occupancy to be issued on permits that have expired or for existing building, built before the adoption of the zoning and building codes an additional fee is required.
A temporary Certificate of Occupancy may be issued for a building in full compliance with the Zoning Ordinance and near substantial compliance with other applicable laws, ordinances and regulations if the temporary use would in no way endanger life, safety, or property. A Temporary Certificate of Occupancy expires in 90 days.
All applications for Certificate of Occupancy must be reviewed and endorsed by the Building Inspector. Zoning approval for a Certificate of Occupancy certifies that the described use of a building is permitted. | https://www.clarkstown.gov/building/certificates-of-occupancy/ |
FACTBOX-Where Biden and Sanders diverge on climate change
WASHINGTON, March 9 (Reuters) - Democratic White House hopefuls Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders believe climate change is an existential threat, that the United States should immediately rejoin global climate talks, and that fossil fuel workers need help adjusting to a cleaner energy economy.
The similarities end there.
Sanders wants to end fossil fuel use completely in power and transport in less than 10 years. Biden, meanwhile, sees traditional power sources like natural gas still having a role to play, with the help of technology to deal with emissions.
Here are the climate strategies of the two candidates:
JOE BIDEN
Joe Biden, who was vice president under Barack Obama, touts a $1.7 trillion plan to set the United States on a course to achieve 100% clean energy and net-zero emissions by 2050.
The plan, dubbed the Clean Energy Revolution, calls for the installation of 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations nationwide by 2030, ending fossil fuel subsidies, and providing $400 billion for research and development in clean technology.
Biden's plan, however, sees some role for fossil fuels during the transition to a clean energy economy: It would invest money in carbon capture and sequestration, for example, a potential lifeline to coal- and natural gas-fired power plants.
Biden would also decline to impose a ban on fracking, a drilling technique that pumps water and chemicals into rock formations underground and has allowed the United States to vastly expand its production of oil and gas over more than a decade.
He also supports innovation in nuclear power, currently the top U.S. source of carbon-free power.
Biden has been silent, however, on whether Washington should ban U.S. oil exports - unlike Sanders, who has vowed to reinstate the ban. The United States initially banned oil exports in the 1970s to shore up domestic energy security, but lifted the ban in 2015 as U.S. output soared.
Biden's critics say he needs to be tougher on fossil fuel interests to achieve his decarbonization goal.
Biden, seen as a champion of blue-collar workers, wants security for coal miner health programs. His plan says Biden would reform the black lung benefit system, create union jobs, and invest in their communities.
BERNIE SANDERS
In his plan, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont makes a nod to fossil-fuel executives he sees as blocking action on climate, saying, "We need a president who welcomes their hatred.”
His plan - dubbed the Green New Deal after a resolution sponsored by progressives in Congress and meant to evoke Democratic President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's 1930s New Deal - would mobilize $16.3 trillion in public funding to power all U.S. transportation and generate all electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
He would do so in part by creating publicly owned utilities. Gasoline-fueled cars, meanwhile, would be phased out, while electric car-charging stations and public transport would get government support.
Sanders' plan opposes high-tech fixes, including geo-engineering, or large-scale intervention in the climate; carbon capture and nuclear energy, which he calls "false solutions." The plan bans new nuclear plants and halts nuclear power license renewals, mainly over worries about nuclear waste.
Meanwhile, Sanders would crack down on fossil fuels interests. He calls for a nationwide ban on fracking and for a ban on oil exports - moves that would hit the U.S. drilling industry hard.
Sanders, a democratic socialist, would also direct his Justice Department to bring lawsuits, both criminal and civil, against oil and gas companies for evading taxes, desecrating tribal lands, exploiting workers and poisoning communities.
The Sunrise Movement, the influential youth climate activist group, endorsed Sanders, saying he "grasps the scale of the climate crisis." But Republicans and some labor leaders worry his plan is too extreme and would hurt the economy.
Sanders says the plight of fossil fuel workers in the energy transition has been neglected by companies and politicians. His plan would guarantee those workers five years of their current salary, housing assistance, and job training, among other things. (Reporting by Timothy Gardner and Valerie Volcovici; editing by Jonathan Oatis) | |
Chris Labrooy's Twisted Car Art Now Takes Inspiration From Tokyo
Geometric sculptures imagined with Pikachu and Sonic the Hedgehog.
UK-based artist Chris Labrooy is back with a new series of manipulated automobile art. Inspired by Japan’s capital, and namely the Nakagin Capsule Tower by architect Kisho Kurokawa, the series, aptly titled “Tokyo,” honors Japanese automobiles and anime characters. Four cars including a Honda NSX, Datsun 240Z, Datsun Skyline GT-R and Toyota AE86 are digitally created as physically distorted models set in an urban Neo-Tokyo landscape, with a little cameo from Pikachu and Sonic the Hedgehog. Check out Labrooy’s latest exploration of auto elasticity in the video below, created by the artist himself. | https://hypebeast.com/2016/2/chris-labrooy-tokyo-car-sculpture-art |
Singapore has always been a fun place to shoot street, a diverse country with many languages, religions and has a great mix of cultures.
APF held a 3 day workshop in Singapore 26th-28th Aug 2016 and there were a total of 18 participants. Most of the participants were new to street photography, there were also some who were experienced wedding photographers with a fondness to street photography.
In the middle of rain and haze, participants managed to get some exceptional photographs which is a testament of their effort and determination.
The above collection shows some of the best street photographs shot during the workshop period by the participants.
It’s fulfilling to see the results and the improvement in their work in such a short period.
Testimonials from the participants.
“I appreciated how Vineet and Rohit structured the workshop so everyone could see an improvement in their work. Their lectures and feedback were clear, insightful and very helpful. I felt a considerable improvement in my photography in a short period of time. Thanks!” Faisal Fazalbhoy
“Vohra bothers are the ultimate artists of street photography. Their dedication towards this art and their sincere efforts to prepare us for street photography is indeed commendable. The sincerity they show and effort they put to educate us will only be returned with gratitude if we put our hundred percent effort and sincerity with determination to learn all they teach and practise how they advise us. Singapore workshop has been the most interesting session among all the sessions I have attended so far. Thank you VV and RV for coming to Singapore.
As William Arthur Ward said, “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires”. Vineet Vohra and Rohit Vohra, you inspire us everyday. Keep up the great work.” Mithu Chakraborty
“I’m glad that i managed to join this workshop and learnt a lot from you both. Your sharing and critique were excellent and rich in contents. Nothing sugar coated but straight to the points. Powerful technicality and skills aside, i love your kind reminders about shooting for ourselves not for ‘likes’, having fun and enjoying the process as the core of street photography. I have got so much to take away from the workshop but keeping the gratitude towards all of you – Vohra and workshop fellows! Thank you!” Kai Tan
“This workshop has opened my eyes on photography. I have read many articles on street photography but nothing beats observing the masters doing it in real life. I am so amazed that they can go so close to the subjects without them even knowing it. Truly fearless! I have learnt not to be afraid and just go with the flow. Seeking order in chaos. Finding something in nothing. Now all I need is just practise practise practise! The Vohra brothers are truly 2 of the best street photographers alive today.” Melvin Ho
“I have been starting Street photography since about 1.5 years ago, many shot was in Frontal Shot . When I get to know about APF workshop in Singapore, i made a quick decision for the Appointment without think twice. On the way back to Jakarta, i talked to myself that i have found My Teachers, My Street Photography Teacher !!! Big Thanks to both of you, Sir !!! As Mentor, Vohra Brothers are Superior, Humble and Wise. All the Best to Vohra Brothers, please keep inspire us.” Evi Herlyna
“A good teacher shows the student what is possible and how to go there”. Vineet and Rohit are demonstrating that during the workshop! They always available with suggestions and even manage to track down wandering students to offer their insights. Thank you for expanding my photography horizons ! Shan Zhan
“At first, I joined the workshop expecting to learn the technical aspects of capturing street, and marrying these aspects with wedding photography work. While the past three days certainly provided that, what I gained was far more than that.I learnt that a successful street photograph will come with 99 other failures. I learnt to embrace what I like and shoot what-the-hell I want, the way I want. I learnt that the streets are brimming with potential and to see and feel more rather than keep shooting away. And I also learnt that to have good street photographs, I must simply have fun.It was mind-boggling to see such a diverse range of photographs even though we shared the same location. The refreshingly honest critique of the photos were also necessary if we want to improve, and I really appreciate that. I had a great time dissecting not only my photos, but also every participant’s, and it was super enriching. Thank you everyone (mentors included) and I had a wonderful 3 days learning from all of you!” P.s: Leica dream still far away :p” Haolun Li
“Vineet & Rohit are beyond great photographers. They’re humble, honest and creative people who can show you the decisive moment that happens in between the busy bustle of life. Their workshops are a must do for anyone serious about street not just for the lessons, but also, for the connections you make with other like minded photographers.” Adhiraj Ghosh
” Time well spent at the workshop! The Vohra brothers are generous teachers of photography, thank you very much I really appreciate all that you have given. Their enthusiasm for the street rubs off on you. Whatever stage of photography you are pursing, they offered steadfast advice to everyone in the class such that every student was able to gain more insights into thinking about photography, and ways they can develop their craft further. You could not ask for more.” Mindy Tan
Some fun behind the scenes here
Congrats to all the participants and we wish you success. | http://www.apfmagazine.com/street-photography/singapore-street-photography-by-apf-workshop-participants/ |
This article highlights a unique neuroscience research project at University College London that uses fNIRS to measure the brain activity patterns of Shakespeare actors performing the same scenes multiple times. The goal is to obtain a new understanding about human social cognition and how social interactions might be different for individuals with autism.
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Providing the world with answers
Shimadzu is working to contribute to society through science and technology. From food safety to personal health, from improving the environment to developing industry, we are devising answers to the diverse challenges in society. | https://www.shimadzu.com/ |
Celebrating 40 years of the RNCM
Today is the beginning of a landmark year ahead for the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) as it celebrates its 40th anniversary.
Founded in 1973 when the Northern School of Music and the Royal Manchester College of Music merged, the RNCM has, over the past four decades, nurtured over 5,500 students, many of whom are shaping the artistic world, both in the UK and internationally, as performers, composers, conductors, teachers, artistic administrators and much more besides.
Over a seventh month season of exciting events, the College will reflect on its history, and the students, staff and supporters who have made it what it is. It will also look to the future with innovative performances and special guests.
The season launches officially on 15 November 2012 when the RNCM Symphony Orchestra recreates the first concert ever performed by the RNCM Orchestra to celebrate the 100th birthday of Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw, the driving force behind the creation of the RNCM. The concert in her honour features Wagner’s Overture to Die Meistersinger, Arthur Bliss’ Music for Strings and Vaughan Williams’ London Symphony.
November also sees the first concert of Ludwig van, a six-month Beethoven festival exploring how his compositions transformed Western classical music forever. The festival features all nine Beethoven symphonies, plus weekends dedicated to his chamber, string and keyboard music, and a contemporary ‘festival-within-a-festival’ that re-invents his music for the 21st-century.
The celebrations continue when the College launches RNCM in the City, a series of 40 free public concerts in 40 venues throughout Manchester. The first concert will take place in the Town Hall on Thursday 29 November, and the full line-up will be announced soon. The year culminates with a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at The Bridgewater Hall on 28 June 2013, 40 years after The Duchess of Kent officially opened the RNCM. | https://www.rncm.ac.uk/blog/celebrating-40-years-of-the-rncm/ |
The following is from Mike McMonagle, President of the Pro-Life Coalition of Pennsylvania inviting everyone from Southeast Pennsylvania and beyond to attend this valuable and much needed workshop.
The purpose of this workshop is to provide an opportunity to use our God-given creative talents to expand the pro-life movement. This workshop seeks to launch a regular practice of outreach activities, as well as regular meetings to plan, evaluate, and promote such activities. Outreach activities include spreading the pro-life message, as well as recruiting participants in and developing leaders for the pro-life movement.
Christine Fauci Wittman serves as our principal presenter. Christine is a motivational speaker and professional counselor who is a faithful and zealous advocate for spreading Our Lord’s Gospel of Life. She will provide inspiration and practical tools for outreach to both new and experienced participants in the pro-life movement.
Please be willing to risk the potential discomfort and the fear of rejection that outreach activities involve. Attendees also need to bring their complete responses to a survey to this workshop. This survey is available by clicking on this link.
Registration is $25 ($15 for students). Registration form as well as additional information can be found on the flyer below or on the website. | https://voices4life.blog/tag/pro-life-educational-foundation/ |
Manchester’s Cultural Education Partnership (MADE) is a collaboration between arts, education and youth organisations across the city which launched in March 2020, a week before the first national lockdown. Our aim is to bring arts and culture to every young person in Manchester, and to help teachers to enrich their lessons with a creative curriculum.
We’ve made big steps towards achieving this through the collaborative approach and drive of our 15 schools and 23 cultural organisations who make up the core partnership. Since March 2020, we’ve kickstarted 27 different participation projects, from our creative challenge video series ‘Unlock Your Imagination’ to a series of wallpapers made by pupils inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, which are now touring schools and engaging hundreds of local young people. In this blog we want to share how MADE’s collaborative approach between arts, education and youth organisations has opened up new opportunities for young people and encouraged schools to teach for creativity.
Developing opportunities for young people
Digital resources for the classroom
The Creative Curriculum task group establishes partnerships between schools and cultural organisations to infuse creativity across the subjects of the National Curriculum.
Last year, partnerships addressed subjects ranging from Poetry to PSHE to Dance, and themes included Black Lives Matter, Mancunian heroes and local nature. This year, young people identified that they wanted partnerships to explore a shared theme: Climate Change.
You can see some of the digital resources created out of the partnerships on our website, which are available for teachers to download and use in the classroom.
Why not try this activity, created by the Manchester Art Gallery and local artist Venessa Scott, which prompts pupils to explore the story and words of Sarah Parker Remond – an American lecturer, activist and abolitionist campaigner, who delivered one of her most inspiring speeches here in Manchester in 1859 – before creating collage art inspired by her speeches.
Your City, Your Culture
Last year, MADE’s 15-21 year old Creative Influencers reflected on their shared anxieties about the re-opening of culture in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite enjoying visiting cultural venues, they feared feeling like ‘imposters’.
The group explored their concerns and spoke to different partners across MADE, eventually working with a creative facilitator and local artist to create a 7-point Call-to-Action which they hope encourages other young people to overcome their reservations and anxieties and visit Manchester’s cultural venues.
You can see their Manifesto here, or visit the Whitworth art gallery’s School of Creativity space on the mezzanine to see the display in person!
Encouraging teaching for creativity
Jo Sliwa, Director of Creative Arts at Abraham Moss High School reflects on how MADE encourages teaching for creativity:
“We are all aware of the marginalisation of the arts in schools. I’m interested in how we challenge the notion that the arts should be reserved for extra curricular activity. They are fundamental. It’s not about separating academics and the arts, it’s about valuing both and educating the whole person.
Children have different skills and different joys. We need to cater for all of them. Every child needs that moment when they love something and find out they are good at it. Whether it’s writing an essay or being in a play. We all have to find our spot.”
MADE: Manchester's Cultural Education Partnership, a collaboration between arts, education and youth organisations across the city. We create meaningful cultural learning experiences and work together to ensure all children and young people have the creative ability to flourish. | https://creativityexchange.org.uk/ideas-hub/creating-opportunities-through-collaboration |
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Daniel Muñoz, M.D, M.P.A Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology Medical Director for Quality, Vanderbilt Heart & Vascular Institute Medical Director, Cardiovascular ICU Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville, Tennessee MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Despite advances in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, it remains the number one global killer of both men and women. Patients face a variety of barriers to getting the care need, including cost and complexity of medication regimens. Innovative strategies are needed to improve the delivery of preventive care, especially when it comes to socio-economically vulnerable individuals. The polypill, a fixed-dose combination of 3 blood pressure lowering medications and a cholesterol lowering medication, may be a strategy for improving cardiovascular disease prevention. We enrolled 303 patients at a community health center in Mobile, Alabama. Half of the patients were assigned to take a daily polypill, while the other half received their usual medical care. Participants underwent a standard medical exam, blood pressure measurement, and blood cholesterol testing during their initial visit, a 2-month visit, and a 12-month visit. MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?
- Participants in the polypill group experienced a greater reduction in both systolic blood pressure and LDL cholesterol level, as compared with participants in the usual care group. These differences translate to an approximate 25% reduction in the risk of experiencing a cardiovascular event.
- At 12 months, adherence to the polypill regimen, as assessed based on pill counts, was 86%.
- The vast majority of our study participants were African-American (96%), with three quarters reporting an annual income below $15,000. | https://medicalresearch.com/category/heart-disease/page/4/ |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and a method for transmitting/receiving signal in a communication system, and in particular, to an apparatus and a method for transmitting/receiving signal in a communication system using a non-binary Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) code.
2. Description of the Related Art
Next-generation communication systems have evolved from a packet service communication system for transmitting burst packet data to a plurality of Mobile Stations (MSs), with the packet service communication system being suitable for mass data transmission. Further, next-generation communication systems are considering an LDPC code, together with a turbo code, as a channel code. The LDPC code is known to have an excellent performance gain at high-speed data transmission, and advantageously enhances data transmission reliability by effectively correcting an error due to noise occurring in a transmission channel. Examples of next-generation communication systems considering the use of the LDPC code include the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.16e communication system, the IEEE 802.1n communication system, etc.
Reference will now be made to a signal transmission apparatus in a common communication system using an LDPC code.
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional signal transmission apparatus includes an encoder 111, a modulator 113 and a transmitter 115. If an information vector s to be transmitted occurs in the signal transmission apparatus, the information vector s is delivered to the encoder 111. The encoder 111 generates a codeword vector c, that is, an LDPC codeword by encoding the information vector s in an encoding scheme, and then outputs the generated codeword vector c to the modulator 113. The encoding scheme corresponds to an LDPC encoding scheme. The modulator 113 generates a modulation vector m by modulating the codeword vector c in a modulation scheme, and then outputs the generated modulation vector m to the transmitter 115. The transmitter 115 inputs therein the modulation vector m output from the modulator 113, executes transmission signal processing for the input modulation vector m, and then transmits the processed modulation vector m to a signal reception apparatus through an antenna.
Now, reference will be made to a signal reception apparatus in a common communication system using an LDPC code.
Referring to FIG. 2, a conventional signal reception apparatus includes a receiver 211, a demodulator 213 and a decoder 215. A signal transmitted by a signal transmission apparatus is received through an antenna of the signal reception apparatus, and the received signal is delivered to the receiver 211. The receiver 211 executes reception signal processing for the received signal to thereby generate a reception vector r, and then outputs the processed and generated reception vector r to the demodulator 213. The demodulator 213 inputs therein the reception vector r output from :the receiver 211, generates a demodulation vector x by demodulating the input reception vector r in a demodulation scheme corresponding to a modulation scheme applied to a modulator of the signal transmission apparatus, that is, the modulator 113, and then outputs the generated demodulation vector x to the decoder 215. The decoder 215 inputs therein the demodulation vector x output from the demodulator 213, decodes the input demodulation vector x in a decoding scheme corresponding to an encoding scheme applied to an encoder of the signal transmission apparatus, that is, the encoder 111, and then outputs the decoded demodulation vector x into a finally restored information vector ŝ. The decoding scheme, that is, an LDPC scheme, is a scheme using an iterative decoding process based on a sum-product process.
Meanwhile, a binary LDPC code is a code defined by a parity check matrix in which most elements have a value of 0, but a small minority of other elements have a non-zero value, for example, a value of 1. So, all elements of the parity check matrix of the binary LDPC code have one of a value of 0 or a non-zero value.
On the other hand, all elements of a parity check matrix of the non-binary LDPC code are elements on Galois Field (GF)(q). Here, “q” in GF(q) indicates the order of a GF, and q=2p. Thus, the non-binary LDPC code is a code defined by a parity check matrix in which most elements have a value of 0, but a small minority: of other elements are non-zero elements, for example, elements on GF(q).
Using a non-binary LDPC code has only been considered in the conventional art, but there is provided no specific solution has been provided, for example, for generating a parity check matrix of a non-binary LDPC code and encoding/decoding the non-binary LDPC code, and for transmitting/receiving a signal using the non-binary LDPC code. Accordingly, there is a need for such a solution to transmit/receive a signal using a non-binary LDPC code.
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Lilongwe, February 11, 2019: Successful experiences by women entrepreneurs in Malawi will be a model for those in similar situations in other Least Developed Countries (LDCs), says United Nations official who was on a four-day visit to Malawi.
High Representative and United Nations Under Secretary General for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), Fekita Utoikamanu told journalists in Lilongwe on Friday of her perception of the country’s women entrepreneurs.
She said women entrepreneurs in Malawi have made tremendous success in different activities they are undertaking, hence the need to use such successes as a model.
Utoikamanu said once implemented, the model would provide other countries the know-how as far as entrepreneurship is concerned.
“We work in 47 LDCs, as such, the experiences in Malawi, particularly the successful ones, will provide opportunities for young people and women entrepreneurs in other countries to really succeed in this area,” she said.
She described her visit to some women entrepreneurship sites as impressive, describing the women as passionate and committed to achieving their goal.
During her visit in the country, Utoikamanu visited the Innovation Hub (mHub), the Clean Cooking Stoves Project in Mitundu, Lilongwe and the Agribusiness project at Thanthwe Farm in Lilongwe.
“It is quite impressive and, I think, also quite inspirational for young women to also get involved in these business ventures,” she said.
Asked why she targeted women, Utoikamanu said women as business people are still not a majority, as such, there was need to push for parity in the workplace to balance the gap with their male counterparts.
She observed that opportunities for women are quite limited, hence the need to look at how they can be supported to make a living and contribute to the economy.
The projects that she visited are supported by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Despite some progress made, women face problems of inadequate funding for them to do more. As such, Utoikamanu emphasised the need to come up with strategies that would ensure women have access to funding.
“Through some of these pilot projects, the women entrepreneurs can review and look at how they can scale up their programmes across the country so that a lot more people can benefit.
“But also through these pilot projects, once they are successful then you can attract other development partners or other business partners to be involved as well,” she said.
Thanthwe Farms Managing Director, Ngabaghila Chatata concurred with Utoikamanu on imbalance of men and women on the job market specifically in entrepreneurship, saying time was ripe for women to rise up to the occasion.
“Of course you have to realise that there will be challenges, it’s not like everything will be smooth just because you are a woman, but being able to tackle them from a professional angle,” she said.
She observed that if Malawi is to develop, then entrepreneurship is the way to go, especially in the agribusiness since the country’s economy is agro-based.
She, however, expressed concern that since agribusiness is a high investment venture, the key challenge faced is access to capital.
“But sometimes it is also an issue of access to skilled people so that is why I am also so much interested in training the young people in skills that they need in the horticultural value chain,” she said.
Apart from visiting the three sites, the UN Under Secretary General presided over the launch of the Malawi Sustainable Energy Investment Study which will map the way forward for investment in the country’s energy sector. | http://www.manaonline.gov.mw/index.php/national/developmet/item/11652-malawi-women-entrepreneurs-to-provide-a-model-for-ldcs |
Watch out for the Southern flank. In a world torn by the confrontation between democracies and autocracies, one that’s shaken by the Russian war in Ukraine, most eyeballs are watching NATO’s Eastern flank. But all these movements also impact the Southern flank – and spell dramatic challenges.
- Such challenges, along with Italy’s role to play, were discussed on Tuesday at the presentation of a new book (“The Return of Empires: How the war in Ukraine revolutionised the global order”) by Maurizio Molinari, editor-in-chief of Repubblica.
- The event was attended by Carlo Calenda, leader of Azione, and Marco Minniti, President of the Med-Or Foundation and former Minister of the Interior. It was moderated by Formiche’s own Flavia Giacobbe.
A multipolar context. Empires are not over, as previously thought. They were just asleep, argued Mr Calenda. “Despite opposing blocs, cultural identity remained prevalent during the Cold War – and this became evident again with the fall of the Berlin Wall,” he noted.
- Today, the challenge between empires has returned to the fore. There are two main competitors, i.e. the United States and China. “After the People’s Republic hid its capabilities for years, today Xi Jinping is presenting himself to the world as Mao Zedong’s heir and is preparing to overtake the US,” said Mr Minniti.
- Those two prevailing empires, he added, are joined in the multipolar framework by Narendra Modi’s India and Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Turkey, which seeks (and found) strokes of realpolitik in a mediation space produced by the Ukrainian conflict.
The war in Ukraine upset the balance. Strategies and plans clearly need to be revised, but the Transatlantic front seems to be driven by strong leadership, which Mr Molinari praised in his book. “The ills of democracies manifest themselves in the same way in different countries and must be tackled with a common front. Economic justice, for example, is too great a wound for States to tackle alone. That is why I believe that [US President Joe] Biden has demonstrated, in this crisis, a strategy suited to the circumstances.”
The Mediterranean remains a centre of gravity. Meanwhile, noted the panellists, the European Union is a pivot in world balances, and the Mediterranean a central playing field. According to Mr Minniti, the EU, as a US ally, faces several crises that could upset the balance of peace – namely “the energy crisis, which manifests itself today with the challenge posed by OPEC/OPEC+ on crude oil prices; the humanitarian pincer; and the security pincer, arising from international terrorism in Africa.
- “[Mr] Putin’s Russia has inserted itself in all these challenges, and one of the effects of the conflict in Ukraine is to have brought attention back to these dossiers, which should not be underestimated.”
Italy’s role. In this regard, Rome has the onus to re-establish an incisive foreign policy, leading the Union to recognise its fundamental role in the Med. However, it’s unclear what kind of foreign policy it could actually set out. “The majority line seems contradictory,” said Mr Calenda; “between declarations of pro-Russian sympathy and Atlanticism, one has to wonder if a balance will be found.”
- Still, as far as good neighbour policy should go, it would be crucial to intercept those countries that are not fully democratic to prevent them from falling into the autocratic grip, he concluded.
- “Let us talk in Parliament about foreign policy decisions; let us take responsibility,” said Mr Minniti, calling for a responsible political discourse that does not fall into the trap of a “free-for-all” policy, which demands individual rights and does not prescribe collective duties. | https://decode39.com/4629/nato-southern-flank-mediterranean-sea-italy/ |
The New Sector Summer Fellowship program is an intensive, 11-week leadership development program for individuals interested in the social impact sector. Fellows are selected from a highly competitive pool to provide support to Boston and San Francisco organizations that enhances that organizations’ service to their constituents. Our Summer Fellowship program includes:
The Summer Fellowship program: is tailored to undergraduate juniors, seniors, and recent graduates. Fellows serve full-time at a non-profit organization for 11 weeks. Alongside their service, Fellows receive rigorous training from experienced social impact leaders, including 1 week of kickoff training, biweekly afternoon seminars, and 1 full-day workshop. Fellows also receive one-on-one mentorship from leaders in the social impact sector, including for-profit management consultants and non-profit professionals.
Application for Summer 2013 Fellows cohort will open on November 1, 2012.
To download an overview of the Summer Fellows program in PDF format, click here.
Program Dates and Locations
2012 Summer Fellows will serve June 3, 2013 – Friday, August 16, 2014 in the Boston Area or San Francisco Bay Area (30-35 program participants of each cohort). Student applicants who cannot start on June 3 due to their university calendar will serve June 17 – Friday, August 30, 2014.
Program Elements
Each program consists of a full-time capacity building project, intensive training and support.
While no two New Sector experiences are the same, all offer unique opportunities and challenges. Specific responsibilities vary based on project and placement, but a typical program participant’s duties may include:
- Plan and manage projects to address a host site’s key capacity-related opportunities and challenges
- Perform quantitative and qualitative analysis
- Generate practical, creative, and action-oriented insights and recommendations for a host site
- Create and give presentations and provide other deliverables to ensure host site satisfaction
- Work with host site staff members to implement recommendations
- Recruit and manage volunteers for service events
- Assist in daily host site operations
- Effectively communicate and manage relationships with all stakeholders in the New Sector model
For more information on projects, take a look at our example projects and our samples and guidelines.
Training
Program Participants experience New Sector’s Social Change Leadership Curriculum, which is designed to
- increase Program Participants’ ability to provide quality service,
- provide professional and community development knowledge and skills,
- create a dynamic “esprit de corps” by providing insight into the communities they serve and the power of national service, and
- inspire commitment to a lifetime of service through exposure to role models, theories of change, and concepts of leadership.
Our training program combines the best from nonprofit management, business, and civic engagement curricula. Program participants learn financial modeling from business professors, mission-based decision making from local nonprofit leaders, and have conversations about long-term engagement in service with AmeriCorps alumni.
Program Participants engage in an intensive Kickoff Training at the start of the program, attend Biweekly Trainings throughout the program and reflect on their service and professional development through Mid-Term (Residency only) and End-of-Term Reflection and Training Retreats.
Support
Each program participant is matched with a volunteer Consultant Advisor from firms including Accenture, Bain & Company, The Boston Consulting Group, The Bridgespan Group, Deloitte, McKinsey & Company, and Oliver Wyman. These consultant advisors provide instruction, concrete feedback and support to improve program participants’ project management skills, persuasive communication, analytical analyses and professional skills. In addition to this scheduled support structure, New Sector Program Staff is also available to provide individual support to program participants as-needed throughout their programs.
Eligibility
- Be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Not have served more than three State and National AmeriCorps program terms (limit: two Education Awards)
Compensation and Benefits
- A living stipend of $1,500 (for undergraduates) and $5,500 (for Master’s candidates). | http://sites.middlebury.edu/middccg/?p=8562 |
The Australian cricket team lost a major sponsor and a host of large companies tore up branding deals with individual players on Thursday, as the fallout of a ball-tampering scandal tore into the financial core of the country’s favourite pastime.
Darren Lehmann said he would quit as coach of the scandal-tainted team after the fourth and final Test of a series in South Africa.
The quick financial fallout to the ball-tampering last Saturday in South Africa, 11,000 km away, shows the corporate sector’s eagerness to distance itself from scandal at a time when the internet and social media can keep public criticism alive seemingly indefinitely.
“A conspiracy by the leadership of the Australian men’s test cricket team which broke the rules with a clear intention to gain an unfair advantage during the third test in South Africa goes to the heart of integrity,” said Magellan chief executive Hamish Douglass in the statement. “These recent events are so inconsistent with our values that we are left with no option but to terminate our ongoing partnership with Cricket Australia.” | |
Born and raised in South Texas, Michael returned to the Rio Grande Valley after law school and, since then, has litigated a broad range of complex, and often high stakes, commercial cases across the state of Texas involving business torts, shareholder/partner litigation, lender liability, wrongful foreclosure, real estate disputes, labor and employment matters and commercial and consumer collection. Michael has also handled catastrophic personal injury and death cases, oftentimes involving claims in the millions of dollars. Michael routinely counsels business owners on partnership disputes and dissolution; corporate structure and risk reduction strategies; and labor and employment matters. Michael has tried numerous cases to verdict in front of juries and judges and commercial arbitration matters through final hearing, entry of judgment, and appeal. Michael has also been asked to speak on the topic of arbitration at continuing education seminars hosted by the State Bar of Texas.
In 2019, Michael was part of a trial team that obtained a $70,200,000 jury verdict in a highly complex, cross-border business dispute between two multimillion-dollar international companies. The verdict ranked No.1 Business Law Verdict in Texas in 2019 and No. 2 Business Law Verdict in the US by The National Law Journal. Michael was responsible for all financial aspects of the case, including presenting and defending his client’s financial expert witness and chief financial officer; and cross-examining the opposing parties’ financial expert witness and two chief financial officers. In 2020, Michael was recognized in The New York Times as a “2020 Power Lawyer” and has also been recognized numerous times as a “Super Lawyer” in Texas Monthly magazine. | https://www.wmcnlaw.com/attorney/michael-a-mcgurk/ |
For the ‘Eternal city - glory of ancient Rome’ Exhibition, Relicase provided display cases base on each exhibit character and display position, got high praise. This Exhibition opened in Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum, On January 26, 2016.
The Eternal City; the Roman Republic; the Roman Empire - a civilisation that conquered and transformed much of the known world at the time. The 'Glory of Rome' refers to the epic achievements of Ancient Rome, whether military, architectural or institutional - from the Colosseum to the spread of Roman Law.
Covering a total area of about 38,000 square meters (9 acres), Jinsha Site Museum mainly consists of Relics Hall, Exhibition Hall, Cultural Heritage Protection Center and Ecological Garden. It is a rare site museum among Chinese museums because of its combination of modern civilization and the civilization of ancient Shu State (Sichuan Province was called Shu State in ancient times), as well as the combination of ecological environment and culture. | http://www.relicase.com/kh/79/ |
This course will present the state-of-the art understanding of brain function and dysfunction and its relationship to normal and abnormal cognition. A review of the central neurobiological, cognitive, and clinical concepts will be offered, with some of the established concepts challenged and novel ones introduced.
The course is designed to be both relevant and accessible to practicing neuropsychologists, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, neurologists, cognitive neuroscientists, as well as other professionals interested in cutting-edge issues of brain and cognition.
DATES:
February 17 – February 21, 2020.
TIME:
Morning coffee: 8:30 am – 9:00am
Lecture: 9:00am – 10:30am
Coffee break: 10:30am – 11:00am
Lecture: 11:00am – 12:30pm
There will be an opportunity for the participants to continue discussions in small groups after the lectures.
LOCATION:
Conference room at Anja Hotel, Bali.
Address: Jl. Yoga Perkanthi No.2, Jimbaran, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Phone: +62 361 3352068
Website: www.anjajimbaran.com
TUITION:
$975 (USD) for the 5-day program (travel and hotel expenses are not included).
In the unlikely case of program cancellation, a full refund will be issued for the program tuition. However, travel and hotel expenses will not be reimbursed. Travel insurance is advised. If a participant wants to cancel registration, tuition will be refunded as long as the cancellation is made no later than one week prior to the beginning of the course, minus a $75 (USD) processing fee.
Monday
Tuesday
Frontal lobes in evolution. Executive functions and their components.
The triple-decker: frontal lobes, striatum, and the dopamine systems.
Neural basis of executive functions. Subdivisions of the frontal lobes.
Major frontal-lobe syndromes: dorsolateral, orbitofrontal, reticulo-frontal, and others.
Decision making in ambiguous environments. Agent-centered decision making.
How animal research helps understand human working memory.
Wednesday
Neuroscience of creativity. Neuroimaging and genetic findings.
Hyperfrontality and hypofrontality in the normal and abnormal brain.
Intelligence and the brain. “IQ intelligence” vs real-life intelligence.
Arousal, attention, and consciousness.
Voluntary vs automatic attention and their disorders. ADHD and dysexecutive syndrome.
“Memory based learning disability” – a neglected syndrome.
Thursday
Connecting the dots between disparate disorders: frontal lesions, Parkinson’s disease and Tourette syndrome.
Rethinking Tourette syndrome and ADHD.
Cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease. Why executive deficit is often overlooked.
Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s disease: merely related or variants of the same disorder?
Frontotemporal dementia and its variants: separate until they are not.
Neuroplasticity and the lifespan: How neurobiology and environment interact in the age of innovation.
Friday
Cognitive impairment in traumatic brain injury. When “mild TBI” is not so mild.
Cognitive impairment in neuropsychiatric disorders: schizophrenia and affective disorders.
Connecting the dots again: Schizophrenia and Frontotemporal dementia.
“Punding,” dopamine, and the mechanisms of addiction.
Cross-cultural neuroscience: Why we need it today more than ever.
Summing up: What we have learned and future directions.
Elkhonon Goldberg, Ph.D., ABPP/ABCN, is a clinical professor of neurology, New York University School of Medicine, and the Founding Director of Luria Neuroscience Institute and Goldberg Brain-Mind Symposia. He is a diplomate of The American Board of Professional Psychology / American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology, with over 40 years of experience in neuropsychological diagnosis, cognitive rehabilitation, and forensic neuropsychology.
Dr. Goldberg is internationally renowned for his research, writings, clinical work, and teaching in the area of clinical neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience. He is particularly well known for his work on executive functions and dysfunction. His other areas of expertise include memory disorders, attention deficit disorder, dementia, traumatic brain injury, and others.
Dr. Goldberg was a student and close associate of the great neuropsychologist Alexander Luria, whose memory he honored in two edited volumes: Contemporary Neuropsychology and the Legacy of Luria (Laurence Erlbaum, 1991) and The Legacy of Luria in the 21st Century (Oxford University Press, 2009).
Goldberg’s books The Executive Brain: Frontal Lobes and the Civilized Mind (Oxford University Press, 2001); The Wisdom Paradox: How Your Mind Can Grow Stronger as Your Brain Grows Older (Gotham Books, Penguin, 2005); The New Executive Brain: Frontal Lobes in a Complex World (Oxford University Press, 2009) have received international critical acclaim and have been published in 20 languages. His book Executive Functions in Health and Disease (Academic Press, 2017) has received a “highly commended book” award by the British Medical Association. His most recent book is Creativity: The Human Brain in the Age of Innovation (Oxford University Press, 2018).
Goldberg is a foreign member of The Venetian Institute of Science, Literature and Arts; as well as a recipient of Copernicus Prize for contributions to neurosciences and neuropsychology, and of Tempos Hominis medal for international medical sciences educations. Goldberg has served as Visiting Scholar at The Institute for Advanced Studies of Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Visiting Professor at University of Sydney. He lectures worldwide. His current research spans a wide range of topics, which include the brain mechanisms of decision making, cross-cultural cognitive neuroscience, and Artificial General Intelligence. | https://goldbergbrainsymposia.org/program/ |
This project addresses two fundamental questions: how does a circadian clock function at the molecular level as a timekeeping mechanism, and how is it integrated at the cellular level to control activities such as gene expression and cell division? The circadian clock is an oscillatory timer that drives 24-h rhythms of biological activities in diverse organisms from bacteria to humans, and disruptions in its underlying molecular mechanism adversely affect fitness. Clock dysfunction in humans is related to a spectrum of health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, metabolic syndrome, mental illness, and sleep disorders. Despite different strategies for timekeeping that have evolved between cyanobacteria and mammals, the circadian clock of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus generates bona fide circadian rhythms of genetic, physiological, and metabolic activities that fulfill all criteria that define circadian clocks in eukaryotes. A quantitative, systems- level, biochemical understanding is attainable for the circadian clock of S. elongatus, whose fundamental circadian oscillator can be reconstituted in vitro with three proteins, KaiA, KaiB, and KaiC. In this genetically tractable model organism it is possible to systematically alter the physical and biochemical properties of clock proteins and trace the impact of these changes from their proximal effects, through the protein-interaction network, to the expressed circadian phenotype. Moreover, as is true in mammalian cells, the circadian clock of S. elongatus controls the timing of cell division. This project will leverage recent conceptual and technical advances to determine the mechanism of the timekeeping system with unprecedented clarity, understand how the clock controls activities in the cell, and elucidate how a sense of time is inherited when cells divide. The discoveries that KaiB refolds as part of the timekeeping mechanism and becomes a connector between oscillator and output pathways, and that metabolites are sampled by oscillator proteins to set the clock with local time, will enable establishment of a more complete in vitro clock that exhibits rhythmic output relevant for control of gene expression. Using this preparation, and kinetics measurements of partner interactions from BioLayer Interferometry, the project will quantify the steps that contribute to timekeeping, synchronization, and rhythmic output. Analysis in vivo of mutations that alter such interactions will tie specific steps to clock functions. The biochemical basis of interactions between two transcription factors that integrate temporal and environmental cues will be clarified. Time-lapse measurements of dividing cells that carry fluorescently labeled clock proteins and markers of the circadian cycle, in genetic backgrounds that are proficient or deficient in clock-control of cell division, will provide insight into how clock components are inherited with the correct timestamps. Proteomic approaches will identify partners responsible for localization of clock components within the cell and the ability of the clock to allow or disalow cytokinesis. Together, these approaches will elucidate clock mechanisms and the relationship between the circadian and cell division cycles.
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Abstract:
This article examines whether and how international human rights law transforms grassroots mobilization strategies of labor activists. Drawing on original ethnographic research on the activism of the blacklisted workers in the UK, I show that there is a multi-layered process through which human rights norms are interpreted and mobilized first by legal advocacy groups, then by grassroots activists. Contrary to skeptics who argue that human rights have a “mainstreaming” and “individualizing” effect on labor movements, this research shows that by strategically embedding human rights language in their campaigns, blacklisted workers leveraged media attention and undertook a discursive change on trade union rights and human rights. Findings suggest that strategic mobilization of human rights differs from other mobilization efforts, since labor activists use human rights language primarily for the purpose of finding a sympathetic audience within a political environment in which trade unions are viewed as a regressive force in the economy.
Bio:
Filiz Kahraman is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Political Science, and she is also a graduate fellow at the Comparative Law & Society Studies Center. Filiz’s research centers on human rights and labor activism. In her dissertation research, Filiz examines the new strategies adopted by labor activists against the challenge of shrinking welfare states in Europe. She has been awarded numerous fellowships and grants, including the Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant from the National Science Foundation, the David J. Olson Graduate Fellowship for Labor Studies, the EU Center of Excellence Graduate Research Grant, the Chester A. Fritz and Boeing Fellowships for International Research and Study, and Individual Research Grant from the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies.
The SR-SCP is generously sponsored by the Severyns Ravenholt Endowment. | https://www.polisci.washington.edu/events/2016-01-08/new-era-labor-activism-strategic-mobilization-human-rights-against-blacklistings |
NVIDIA started GeForce GTX 460 OEM sales 11 October 2010. This is Fermi architecture desktop card based on 40 nm manufacturing process and primarily aimed at gamers. 1 GB of GDDR5 memory clocked at 3.4 GHz are supplied, and together with 256 Bit memory interface this creates a bandwidth of 108.8 GB/s.
Compatibility-wise, this is 2-slot card attached via PCIe 2.0 x16 interface. Its manufacturer default version has a length of 210 mm. Two 6-pin power connectors are required, and power consumption is at 150 Watt.
It provides poor gaming and benchmark performance at 5.82 percent of a leader's which is AMD Radeon R9 390 X2.
General info Technical specs Memory specs Technologies Benchmarks Mining AMD equivalent Advices and comments
General info
Of GeForce GTX 460 OEM's architecture, market type and release date.
Place in performance rating
Architecture
Fermi
Code name
GF104
Type
Desktop
Release date
11 October 2010
Technical specs
GeForce GTX 460 OEM's general performance parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core clock, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. These parameters indirectly speak of GeForce GTX 460 OEM's performance, but for precise assessment you have to consider its benchmark and gaming test results.
Pipelines
336
of 8192 (Radeon Pro Duo)
Core clock speed
650 MHz
of 1677 (Radeon RX Vega 64 Liquid Cooling)
Transistor count
1,950 million
of 21100
Manufacturing process technology
40 nm
of 12
Power consumption (TDP)
150 Watt
of 900 (Tesla S2050)
Texture fill rate
36.4
of 512 (Radeon Pro Duo)
Floating-point performance
873.6 gflops
of 16384 (Radeon Pro Duo)
Compatibility, dimensions and requirements
Information on GeForce GTX 460 OEM's compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop video cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).
Interface
PCIe 2.0 x16
Length
210 mm
Width
2-slot
Supplementary power connectors
2x 6-pin
Memory specs
Parameters of memory installed on GeForce GTX 460 OEM: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Note that GPUs integrated into processors don't have dedicated memory and use a shared part of system RAM.
Memory type
GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount
1 GB
of 32
Memory bus width
256 Bit
of 8192 (Radeon Pro Duo)
Memory clock speed
3400 MHz
of 11408 (TITAN Xp)
Memory bandwidth
108.8 GB/s
of 1024 (Radeon Pro Duo)
Video outputs and ports
Types and number of video connectors present on GeForce GTX 460 OEM.
Display Connectors
2x DVI, 1x mini-HDMI
Technologies
Technological solutions and APIs supported by GeForce GTX 460 OEM. You'll probably need this information if you need some particular technology for your purposes.
CUDA
2.1
Video card benchmarks performance
Non-gaming benchmarks performance of GeForce GTX 460 OEM. Note that overall benchmark performance is measured in points in 0-100 range.
Overall benchmark performance
5.73
Mining hashrate
Cryptocurrency mining performance of GeForce GTX 460 OEM. Usually measured in megahashes per second.
Bitcoin / BTC (SHA256)
77 Mh/s
Relative perfomance
Overall GeForce GTX 460 OEM performance compared to its nearest competitors. All GPU types participate.
AMD equivalent
We believe that the nearest equivalent to GeForce GTX 460 OEM from AMD is Radeon HD 7660D, which is slower by 2% and lower by 6 positions in our rating.
Choose a GPU
Compare GPUs
Compare GeForce GTX 460 OEM with others
GeForce GTX 460 OEM vs GeForce 920A GeForce GTX 460 OEM vs GeForce 9800 GTX+ GeForce GTX 460 OEM vs Radeon R7 M365X GeForce GTX 460 OEM vs GeForce GTX 260 GeForce GTX 460 OEM vs Radeon R7 240 GeForce GTX 460 OEM vs GeForce GT 745A
Other GPUs
Advices and comments
Here you can ask a question about GeForce GTX 460 OEM, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch. | https://technical.city/en/video/GeForce-GTX-460-OEM |
Before a couple under go IVF treatment, there are a number of tests and initial investigations they undergo under the guidance of their treating fertility specialist.
Firstly, three essential questions are asked before IVF fertility treatment is even considered.
They are:
In Australia, most IVF clinics offer IVF treatment up to the age of natural menopause. However, patients are counselled that after the age of 45, the success rate of IVF treatment has only been achieved in a very small number of cases. Women under the age of 35 have a good overall outlook with IVF treatment with a very high likelihood of eventual conception, provided there is no cause for sterility present. Women in the 35-40 age-group still have a reasonable chance of a pregnancy, though they should be counselled to start sooner rather than later.
With regard to women who have had a previous pregnancy, there have been a number of studies, which indicate a better outcome from IVF fertility treatment for these women. This is particularly so when the pregnancy has been within five years.
The duration of trying is the third important feature in assessing the prognosis of a couple before IVF treatment is considered. Within the first three years of trying, there is generally a reasonable prospect of spontaneous conception (although most couples will be seeking active intervention long before this), while from three to seven years of trying is the time when IVF is a particularly effective intervention. Beyond seven years of attempted conception, even the success rate of IVF treatment is limited.
The answers to these three questions provide a very useful basis for planning any IVF treatment.
Standard investigations prior to IVF treatment will include looking at a woman?s menstrual history, investigating any pain, considering medications she may be taking which could be hindering conception and taking into account any past surgeries. All of these elements could impact on the timing and type of IVF treatment offered.
For males, typical factors to be considered before IVF treatment include any past surgeries, any androgen abuse and any illnesses and infections, such as mumps, or STIs.
What are some of the routine examinations a couple may have to undergo prior to the process of IVF treatment? Ultrasounds may be used to diagnose conditions such as PCOS and endometriosis in the female, both of which can impact on the success of IVF treatment. The ovarian reserve may also be measured using an AMH (Anti Mullerian Hormone) test. In some clinics, an AMH level is now a routine part of the assessment of even young women in order to identify the small proportion of women with a reduced ovarian reserve of oocytes where accelerated referral and IVF treatment is indicated.
For males, a semen analysis is mandatory. Sperm DNA fragmentation and sperm antibodies may also be examined. This is because in recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the potential for genetic damage in the human spermatozoa. This appears to be more prevalent in older men, in men with medical conditions such as diabetes and in men whose wives are experiencing difficulties in reproduction. | https://newbornbaby.com.au/conception-category/getting-pregnant/fertility-treatments/ivf-treatment__trashed/before-ivf-begins/ |
Procurement Officer. - Our client is a rapidly growing and changing organisation requiring a Procurement Officer with experience of Civil Service / Public sector procurement. Working from smart city offices and supporting around 250 colleagues in total, your overall remit will be to ensure that procurement and contract management functions are administered in accordance with policy rules and public procurement regulations and to support value for money, transparency and the achievement of service objectives.
This is a wide ranging role with both managerial and operational responsibilities across the whole organisation as well as with external suppliers and stakeholders.
Responsibilities
Accountabilities
Support the procurement with consideration to budget and delegations and policy
Liaising with external suppliers, negotiating contracts based on service, delivery and price
Advise stakeholders within the organisation on procurement matters
Support effective consultation and communications with colleagues, clients, bidders and suppliers and other stakeholders in accordance with policy
Approve New suppliers’ setup on the finance system
Contribute to the identification and resolution of procurement risks and issues
Provide a link with finance to enable close forecasting
Coordinate and manage the tender process including the development and preparation of tender documents for signoff, setting of evaluation criteria and methodology, leading the tender evaluation process and managing communications with bidders up to contract award
Publish tender documentation and communicate with bidders on behalf of the organisation.
Experience Requirements
To apply successfully for this permanent Procurement Officer opportunity, you must have Civil Service procurement experience: premarket, sourcing and contract and supplier management.
Skills
You will have excellent negotiating skills and the ability to close contracts to a cost effective and satisfactory conclusion. You will have the ability to build rapport and foster excellent customer service ethos and a commercial aptitude. Any Project Management experience would also be highly beneficial. | https://www.onyxrecruitment.co.uk/job/procurement-officer/ |
Are you looking for partnering opportunities or thinking about bidding? Find out who is interested in the tender and add your name to the List of Interested Suppliers.
Access the List of Interested Suppliers for this tender
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The following statistics are only for the English page and are provided in close to real time. To calculate the total activity for a tender notice, you will need to add the English and French statistics.
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Description
Trade Agreement: NONE Tendering Procedures: All interested suppliers may submit a bid Competitive Procurement Strategy: N/A - P&A/LOI Only Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No Nature of Requirements: Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) Project - Draft Invitation to Qualify On January 7, 2019, Canada provided an update on the multi-phase procurement process for the Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) Project. The update can be found at the following address: https://buyandsell.gc.ca/procurement-data/tender-notice/PW-BL-298-25896 In line with that update, this notice provides the opportunity for interested suppliers to submit their written feedback on the draft Invitation to Qualify (ITQ) before Canada releases the final ITQ. This opportunity for written feedback to Canada is neither a call for tender nor a Request for Proposal (RFP) and is not to be considered in any way a commitment by Canada, nor as authority to potential respondents to undertake any work that could be charged to Canada. Participation in this opportunity for written feedback is not a condition or prerequisite for responding to any subsequent ITQ. Canada continues to engage the same Fairness Monitor, Samson and Associates. All enquiries and other communications related to this notice, including the feedback on the draft ITQ, are to be submitted in writing to the attention of the Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) Contracting Authority, using the Project's e-mail address below: [email protected] Interested suppliers are requested to provide their feedback as early as possible. Feedback received after the closing date and time may not be considered. Delivery Date: Above-mentioned The Crown retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any procurement. Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.
Government of Canada (GC) tender notices and awards, solicitation documents and tender attachments are available free of charge and without registration on Buyandsell.gc.ca/tenders, the authoritative location for GC tenders.
You may have received this tender notice or award through a third-party distributor. The Government of Canada is not responsible for any tender notices and/or related documents and attachments not accessed directly through Buyandsell.gc.ca/tenders.
This Government of Canada tender notice or tender award carries an Open Government Licence - Canada that governs its use. Related solicitation documents and/or tender attachments are copyright protected. Please refer to the section about Commercial Reproduction in the Buyandsell.gc.ca Terms and Conditions for more information. | https://buyandsell.gc.ca/procurement-data/tender-notice/PW-RPS-002-27265 |
In this section you will find a list of themes that illustrate how the Classical past is still relevant today. A list of topics to choose from for each theme offers you plenty of choice for your EPQ research, giving you some general information on the topic, suggesting specific EPQ research questions and providing you with useful resources to give you the best start for your research.
Click on the left handside of this page to discover them all and pick up the one that you feel is more inspiring or appropriate for your project.
The image below gives you a quick overview of all the themes and topics offered in this website.
How to use the resources
Let's say that you are interested in Government as a theme and that you choose Democracy as a topic for your EPQ resource. Opening the Topic page, you will find a short Introduction followed by a series of EPQ suggested questions. The questions are there to help you setting your research, but feel free to discuss them with your teachers to find a research question that is more relevant to your specific interests.
A series of Sources will help grounding your EPQ research in Greek and Roman literary and material evidence: the sources can be a selection of Greek and Latin authors, whose writing is particularly relevant to the topic, but also coins, inscriptions, artefacts, architecture, sculpture and painting. Feel free to use the sources as you deem more appropriate to the nature of your project and your research interests. For example, you might want to include written and material cuture sources in a written essay, or use ancient texts and images to set up a video, or even get inspired by Greek and Roman visual arts and ancient literature to create your own piece of artwork or drama.
Sometimes, we feel that working with ancient material culture can be a bit tricky: therefore we have created pdf documents for some artefacts that will provide you with more details on the objects, discussing their relevance in the research.
Any good research needs to be grounded into the existing debate on the topic. We have created a list of References that are relevant to each topic . The books are listed in a Reading List available online and can be generally found at Newcastle University Library.
Lastly, wherever possible, we have tried to include a list of academically reliable Online Resources that can also provide you with additional information. | https://research.ncl.ac.uk/classicsepq/themes/ |
A cerebral aneurysm (also known as a brain aneurysm) is a weak or thin spot on an artery in the brain that balloons or bulges out and fills with blood. The bulging aneurysm can put pressure on the nerves or brain tissue. It may also burst or rupture, spilling blood into the surrounding tissue (called a hemorrhage). A ruptured aneurysm can cause serious health problems such as hemorrhagic stroke, brain damage, coma, and even death.
Some cerebral aneurysms, particularly those that are very small, do not bleed or cause other problems. These types of aneurysms are usually detected during imaging tests for other medical conditions. Cerebral aneurysms can occur anywhere in the brain, but most form in the major arteries along the base of the skull.
Brain aneurysms can occur in anyone and at any age. They are most common in adults between the ages of 30 and 60 and are more common in women than in men. People with certain inherited disorders are also at higher risk.
All cerebral aneurysms have the potential to rupture and cause bleeding within the brain or surrounding area. Approximately 30,000 Americans per year suffer a brain aneurysm rupture. Much less is known about how many people have cerebral aneurysms, since they don’t always cause symptoms.
Symptoms of Cerebral Aneurysm
Unruptured aneurysm
Most cerebral aneurysms do not show symptoms until they either become very large or rupture. Small unchanging aneurysms generally will not produce symptoms.
A larger aneurysm that is steadily growing may press on tissues and nerves causing:
• pain above and behind the eye
• numbness
• weakness
• paralysis on one side of the face
• a dilated pupil in the eye
• vision changes or double vision.
Ruptured aneurysm
When an aneurysm ruptures (bursts), one always experiences a sudden and extremely severe headache (e.g., the worst headache of one’s life) and may also develop:
• double vision
• nausea
• vomiting
• stiff neck
• sensitivity to light
• seizures
• loss of consciousness (this may happen briefly or may be prolonged)
• cardiac arrest.
Leaking aneurysm
Sometimes an aneurysm may leak a small amount of blood into the brain (called a sentinel bleed). Sentinel or warning headaches may result from an aneurysm that suffers a tiny leak, days or weeks prior to a significant rupture. However, only a minority of individuals have a sentinel headache prior to rupture.
If you experience a sudden, severe headache, especially when it is combined with any other symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention.
Types and Classifications of Aneurysms
Type
There are three types of cerebral aneurysms:
- Saccular aneurysm. A saccular aneurysm is a rounded sac containing blood, that is attached to a main artery or one of its branches. Also known as a berry aneurysm (because it resembles a berry hanging from a vine), this is the most common form of cerebral aneurysm. It is typically found on arteries at the base of the brain. Saccular aneurysms occur most often in adults, and are found in about 2% to 3% of the population.
- Fusiform aneurysm. A fusiform aneurysm balloons or bulges out on all sides of the artery.
- Mycotic aneurysm. A mycotic aneurysm occurs as the result of an infection that can sometimes affect the arteries in the brain. The infection weakens the artery wall, causing a bulging aneurysm to form.
Size
Aneurysms are also classified by size: small, large, and giant.
- Small aneurysms are less than 11 millimeters in diameter (about the size of a large pencil eraser).
- Large aneurysms are 11 to 25 millimeters (about the width of a dime).
- Giant aneurysms are greater than 25 millimeters in diameter (more than the width of a quarter).
Causes of Cerebral Aneurysm
Cerebral aneurysms form when the walls of the arteries in the brain become thin and weaken. Aneurysms typically form at branch points in arteries because these sections are the weakest. Occasionally, cerebral aneurysms may be present from birth, usually resulting from an abnormality in an artery wall.
Risk factors for developing an aneurysm
Sometimes cerebral aneurysms are the result of inherited risk factors, including:
- genetic connective tissue disorders that weaken artery walls
- polycystic kidney disease (in which numerous cysts form in the kidneys)
- arteriovenous malformations (snarled tangles of arteries and veins in the brain that disrupt blood flow. Some AVMs develop sporadically, or on their own.)
- history of aneurysm in a first-degree family member (child, sibling, or parent)
Other risk factors develop over time and include:
- untreated high blood pressure
- cigarette smoking
- drug abuse, especially cocaine or amphetamines, which raise blood pressure to dangerous levels. Intravenous drug abuse is a cause of infectious mycotic aneurysms.
- age over 40
Less common risk factors include:
- head trauma
- brain tumor
- infection in the arterial wall (mycotic aneurysm)
Additionally, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, diabetes, and high cholesterol puts one at risk of atherosclerosis (a blood vessel disease in which fats build up on the inside of artery walls), which can increase the risk of developing a fusiform aneurysm.
Risk factors for an aneurysm to rupture
Not all aneurysms will rupture. Aneurysm characteristics such as size, location, and growth during follow-up evaluation may affect the risk that an aneurysm will rupture. In addition, medical conditions may influence aneurysm rupture.
Risk factors include:
- Smoking. Smoking is linked to both the development and rupture of cerebral aneurysms. Smoking may even cause multiple aneurysms to form in the brain.
- High blood pressure. High blood pressure damages and weakens arteries, making them more likely to form and to rupture.
- Size. The largest aneurysms are the ones most likely to rupture in a person who previously did not show symptoms.
- Location. Aneurysms located on the posterior communicating arteries (a pair of arteries in the back part of the brain) and possibly those on the anterior communicating artery (a single artery in the front of the brain) have a higher risk of rupturing than those at other locations in the brain.
- Growth. Aneurysms that grow, even if they are small, are at increased risk of rupture.
- Family history. A family history of aneurysm rupture suggests a higher risk of rupture for aneurysms detected in family members.
- The greatest risk occurs in individuals with multiple aneurysms who have already suffered a previous rupture or sentinel bleed.
Diagnosis of Cerebral Aneurysms
Most cerebral aneurysms go unnoticed until they rupture or are detected during medical imaging tests for another condition.
If you have experienced a severe headache or have any other symptoms related to a ruptured aneurysm, your doctor will order tests to determine if blood has leaked into the space between the skull bone and brain.
Several tests are available to diagnose brain aneurysms and determine the best treatment. These include:
- Computed tomography (CT). This fast and painless scan is often the first test a physician will order to determine if blood has leaked into the brain. CT uses x-rays to create two-dimensional images, or “slices,” of the brain and skull. Occasionally a contrast dye is injected into the bloodstream prior to scanning to assess the arteries, and look for a possible aneurysm. This process, called CT angiography (CTA), produces sharper, more detailed images of blood flow in the brain arteries. CTA can show the size, location, and shape of an unruptured or a ruptured aneurysm.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MRI uses computer-generated radio waves and a magnetic field to create twoand three-dimensional detailed images of the brain and can determine if there has been bleeding into the brain. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) produces detailed images of the brain arteries and can show the size, location, and shape of an aneurysm.
- Cerebral angiography. This imaging technique can find blockages in arteries in the brain or neck. It also can identify weak spots in an artery, like an aneurysm. The test is used to determine the cause of the bleeding in the brain and the exact location, size, and shape of an aneurysm. Your doctor will pass a catheter (long, flexible tube) typically from the groin arteries to inject a small amount of contrast dye into your neck and brain arteries. The contrast dye helps the X-ray create a detailed picture of the appearance of an aneurysm and a clear picture of any blockage in the arteries.
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis. This test measures the chemicals in the fluid that cushions and protects the brain and spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid). 9 Most often a doctor will collect the CSF by performing a spinal tap (lumbar puncture), in which a thin needle is inserted into the lower back (lumbar spine) and a small amount of fluid is removed and tested. The results will help detect any bleeding around the brain. If bleeding is detected, additional tests would be needed to identify the exact cause of the bleeding.
Complications of a Ruptured Cerebral Aneurysm
Aneurysms may rupture and bleed into the space between the skull and the brain (subarachnoid hemorrhage) and sometimes into the brain tissue (intracerebral hemorrhage). These are forms of stroke called hemorrhagic stroke. The bleeding into the brain can cause a wide spectrum of symptoms, from a mild headache to permanent damage to the brain, or even death.
After an aneurysm has ruptured it may cause serious complications such as:
- Rebleeding. Once it has ruptured, an aneurysm may rupture again before it is treated, leading to further bleeding into the brain, and causing more damage or death.
- Change in sodium level. Bleeding in the brain can disrupt the balance of sodium in the blood supply and cause swelling in brain cells. This can result in permanent brain damage.
- Hydrocephalus. Subarachnoid hemorrhage can cause hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is a buildup of too much cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, which causes pressure that can lead to permanent brain damage or death. Hydrocephalus occurs frequently after subarachnoid hemorrhage because the blood blocks the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid. If left untreated, increased pressure inside the head can cause coma or death.
- Vasospasm. This occurs frequently after subarachnoid hemorrhage when the bleeding causes the arteries in the brain to contract and limit blood flow to vital areas of the brain. This can cause strokes from lack of adequate blood flow to parts of the brain.
- Seizures. Aneurysm bleeding can cause seizures (convulsions), either at the time of bleed or in the immediate aftermath. While most seizures are evident, on occasion they may only be seen by sophisticated brain testing. Untreated seizures or those that do not respond to treatment can cause brain damage.
Treatment of Cerebral Aneurysms
Not all cerebral aneurysms require treatment. Some very small unruptured aneurysms that are not associated with any factors suggesting a higher risk of rupture may be safely left alone and monitored with MRA or CTA to detect any growth. It is important to aggressively treat any coexisting medical problems and risk factors.
Treatments for unruptured cerebral aneurysms that have not shown symptoms have some potentially serious complications and should be carefully weighed against the predicted rupture risk.
Treatment considerations for unruptured aneurysms
A doctor will consider a variety of factors when determining the best option for treating an unruptured aneurysm, including:
- type, size, and location of the aneurysm
- risk of rupture
- the person’s age and health
- personal and family medical history
- risk of treatment
Individuals should also take the following steps to reduce the risk of aneurysm rupture:
- carefully control blood pressure
- stop smoking
- avoid cocaine use or other stimulant drugs
Treatments for unruptured and ruptured cerebral aneurysms
Surgery, endovascular treatments, or other therapies are often recommended to manage symptoms and prevent damage from unruptured and ruptured aneurysms.
Surgery
There are a few surgical options available for treating cerebral aneurysms. These procedures carry some risk such as possible damage to other blood vessels, the potential for aneurysm recurrence and rebleeding, and a risk of stroke.
- Microvascular clipping. This procedure involves cutting off the flow of blood to the aneurysm and requires open brain surgery. A doctor will locate the blood vessels that feed the aneurysm and place a tiny, metal, clothespin-like clip on the aneurysm’s neck to stop its blood supply. Clipping has been shown to be highly effective, depending on the location, size, and shape of the aneurysm. In general, aneurysms that are completely clipped do not recur.
Endovascular treatment
- Platinum coil embolization. This procedure is a less invasive procedure than microvascular surgical clipping. A doctor will insert a hollow plastic tube (a catheter) into an artery, usually in the groin, and thread it through the body to the brain aneurysm. Using a wire, the doctor will pass detachable coils (tiny spirals of 13 platinum wire) through the catheter and release them into the aneurysm. The coils block the aneurysm and reduce the flow of blood into the aneurysm. The procedure may need to be performed more than once during the person’s lifetime because aneurysms treated with coiling can sometimes recur.
- Flow diversion devices. Other endovascular treatment options include placing a small stent (flexible mesh tube), similar to those placed for heart blockages, in the artery to reduce blood flow into the aneurysm. A doctor will insert a hollow plastic tube (a catheter) into an artery, usually in the groin, and thread it through the body to the artery on which the aneurysm is located. This procedure is used to treat very large aneurysms and those that cannot be treated with surgery or platinum coil embolization.
Other treatments
Other treatments for a ruptured cerebral aneurysm aim to control symptoms and reduce complications. These treatments include:
- Antiseizure drugs (anticonvulsants). These drugs may be used to prevent seizures related to a ruptured aneurysm.
- Calcium channel-blocking drugs. Risk of stroke by vasospasm can be reduced with calcium channel-blocking drugs.
- Shunt. A shunt, which funnels cerebrospinal fluid from the brain to elsewhere in the body, may be surgically inserted into the brain following rupture if the buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (hydrocephalus) is causing harmful pressure on surrounding brain tissue.
- Rehabilitative therapy. Individuals who have suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage often need physical, speech, and occupational therapy to regain lost function and learn to cope with any permanent disability.
Prognosis for Cerebral Aneurysm
An unruptured aneurysm may go unnoticed throughout a person’s lifetime and not cause symptoms.
After an aneurysm bursts, the person’s prognosis largely depends on:
- age and general health
- pre-existing neurological conditions
- location of the aneurysm
- extent of bleeding (and rebleeding)
- time between rupture and medical attention
- successful treatment of the aneurysm
About 25% of individuals whose cerebral aneurysm has ruptured do not survive the first 24 hours; another 25% die from complications within six months. People who experience subarachnoid hemorrhage may have permanent neurological damage. Other individuals recover with little or no disability. Diagnosing and treating a cerebral aneurysm as soon as possible will help increase the chances of making a full recovery.
Recovery from treatment or rupture may take weeks to months. | https://www.cooperhealth.org/services/cerebral-aneurysm-brain-aneurysm |
This collection contains essays from the Workshop on Moral Psychology and Human Agency at the University of Michigan in 2012, funded through co-editor Daniel Jacobson's Templeton grant, "The Science of Ethics." The editors describe the contributors as "philosophers who share our conviction that scientific inquiry is relevant to various classic philosophical questions, while also showing an appreciation for the difficulty of these questions that is not always evident in empirical moral psychology" (2). For the most part, the contributions bear this out. I'll examine each, critiquing them as stand-alone works in addition to discussing some of their connections to each other and the book's themes.
Guy Kahane's "Intuitive and Counterintuitive Morality" targets Joshua Greene, who argues for a "dual process model" on which moral judgements can be generated either by an "automatic" system of intuitions, or by a "deliberative" rational system. Greene also offers evidence purporting to show that the latter system tends to generate utilitarian judgments, the former deontological ones. Greene takes this to speak in favor of utilitarianism.
Kahane argues convincingly that judging that one should push the fat man in front of the trolley (e.g.) typically requires deliberation because it is counterintuitive, not because it is utilitarian. Yet Kahane also writes that Greene "has suggested to me that his dual process theory is really meant to essentially make this more general claim about intuitive and counterintuitive judgment" (17). Kahane dismisses this quickly, pointing out that (a) this is not how Greene presents the theory in print; (b) this "banal" claim about intuitive vs. counterintuitive judgment is practically a truism; and (c) if Greene thinks deliberative judgements favor utilitarianism, he needs to provide more evidence.
Kahane then argues that even in cases where a counterintuitive result is in line with utilitarianism, the deliberation that occurs isn't utilitarian calculation, but rather a process of resolving conflict between competing intuitions -- including non-utilitarian ones. He further provides evidence that there are people who at first blush appear to reason in a utilitarian fashion; but their "judgments actually turn out to be non-deliberative -- and to reflect a strong antisocial, self-centered tendency" rather than a concern with the greater good (34).
If Greene really is comfortable with Kahane's "banal" dual process theory, the force of these further critiques may not be entirely apparent. Consider three types of people, the existence of whom is suggested by Kahane's discussion: those with (quasi-)utilitarian intuitions; those with deontological intuitions; and those who have to resolve conflicts between the two. Greene would presumably maintain that only the judgements of the third group have epistemic merit, and that these tend towards the utilitarian. Of course, he needs to gather further evidence for the latter claim, as Kahane suggests. But why should it trouble Greene that the deliberators aren't directly engaged in utilitarian calculation? Perhaps deliberators need to consider and overcome deontological intuitions in order to arrive at the truth! And what is the relevance of the "automatic pseudo-utilitarians"?
I think there are good answers to these questions, and that they point to a deeper critique of Greene. Help comes at the opposite end of the book, from the editors' own contribution, "Sentimentalism and Scientism" (Ch. 11). They consider Peter Singer's contention that because we have good evidence that many of our moral judgements are rooted in emotionally laden intuitions, we face a choice: we can accept that all moral judgements are so rooted, leaving us with skepticism or relativism, or we can find a way to distinguish those judgements that are not so rooted, that have a rational basis.
As D'Arms and Jacobson note, Greene champions the latter option. For Greene, what ultimately matters is our ability to cordon off "rational" moral judgements from automatic/emotional/intuitive ones, lest we fall into skepticism or relativism, not just that the former favor utilitarianism. But Kahane has offered evidence that no process here is a purely rational one. Some people start with deontological intuitions, some start with (pseudo-)utilitarian ones, and some have to resolve conflicts between the two. Even if everyone who was conflicted ultimately leaned towards utilitarianism (which they don't), that would hardly prove the view more rational, especially since there is no evidence that the process of conflict-resolution is rational itself.
Reading Kahane alongside D'Arms and Jacobson, we find a critique of Greene's attempts to locate purely rational moral judgements. D'Arms and Jacobson critique the goal itself. They contend that their own view, rational sentimentalism, represents an option Singer, Greene and others miss: moral judgements need be neither purely rational nor wholly non-rational; our sentiments may provide genuine guides to (an explicitly anthropogenic) morality, yet also be subject to rational assessment. On this view, the automatic processes Greene denigrates have epistemic merit after all, and not just as guides to something subjective or relativistic.
As a metaethicist with realist sympathies, I'm not yet on board with rational sentimentalism. But the goal of D'Arms and Jacobson isn't primarily to argue for the view; it is to expose flaws in various defenses of (often scientifically motivated) pessimism about the possibility of rationally assessable sentimental values. In this, they are overwhelmingly successful.
I think it unfortunate that the Kahane and D'Arms and Jacobson chapters appear at opposite ends of the collection. I suspect the reason is that the editors recognized that their chapter is closest in theme to Selim Berker's "Does Evolutionary Psychology Show that Normativity Is Mind-Dependent?" (Ch. 10), a critical discussion of Sharon Street's evolutionary debunking arguments in metaethics. But Berker's chapter has little to do with moral psychology or the "science of ethics," and frankly does not belong in this collection. The obvious defense would be that the evolutionary nature of Street's arguments makes it relevant. But (like Street herself) Berker is explicit that focusing on evolution is just one way of motivating Street's challenge for realism; it "is not essential for generating the puzzle" (244).
The next contribution is Brendan Dill and Stephen Darwall's "Moral Psychology as Accountability" (Ch. 3). Dill and Darwall defend a unified account of condemnation and conscience, arguing that both can be understood in terms of accountability. They are largely successful in undermining both experimental and philosophical defenses of various alternatives, and providing experimental evidence for their view.
My only significant worry about the empirical discussion concerned their claim that "the condemnation motive [is] satisfied when and only when the perpetrator has adequately held himself accountable for his wrongdoing" (50). They do not discuss what seem to me obvious foils, such as the death penalty. If the condemnation motive is sometimes satisfied by procuring the death of wrongdoers before they have repented, this threatens Dill and Darwall's claim. And even if it does not satisfy the motive fully, the fact that many support the death penalty suggests that more than accountability is motivating them.
My larger concern is the chapter's framing as a defense of the claim that morality is to be understood, conceptually, in terms of accountability -- a view Darwall is famous for. Dill and Darwall acknowledge that there are normative ideas that some consider moral, such as honor or purity, that don't necessarily involve accountability. But they deny that these really are moral. There are some hints that they take their position to be bolstered by empirical data -- that the fact that, for instance, shame is psychologically quite different from guilt exposes the fact that the latter, but not the former, is moral. But I see nothing here that would or should move someone who denies that morality is all about accountability -- unless they did so only because they embraced Jonathan Haidt and Selin Kesebir's functional view, which Dill and Darwall argue (convincingly, I think) is too broad.
The next two chapters concern the psychology of moral responsibility. David Shoemaker's "Remnants of Character" (Ch. 4) begins with a puzzle: Why do certain psychological abnormalities arouse in us a certain ambivalence regarding moral responsibility, a "feeling that while the agents are exempt in one sense, they may not be in another" (86)? (Full disclosure: Shoemaker and I have published together on some related issues.)
Shoemaker focuses on dementia, arguing that it is inappropriate to hold a demented agent accountable for her actions when she can neither remember what was done nor identify with the agent of those actions. Importantly, this does not preclude attributing actions to her in a way that legitimates assessment of her character. A good deal of the chapter is spent considering how to handle cases where traits exhibited by the demented agent seem inconsistent with those of her non-demented self. Shoemaker's solution is to maintain that our deep selves contain clusters of character traits, and that dementia may dampen some traits, thereby making others more apparent.
I think Shoemaker's position here is plausible and well-defended. But I worry a bit about drawing psychological conclusions from intuitions about cases, especially in a book on empirically informed moral psychology. Shoemaker presents his view on the nature of character as a theory that our intuitions about responsibility provide evidence for. I wish he had instead framed it as a psychological hypothesis suggested by our practices of holding responsible, one whose confirmation or refutation might either vindicate or undermine those practices. We should be prepared to find that Shoemaker is entirely right about how we tend to think about character and dementia, but that psychologically we are off base. This is not a major criticism; Shoemaker might even be happy to accept my reframing. But I do think it important that philosophers be wary of such issues, both for dialectical clarity as well as for rhetorical reasons, especially for those expecting their work to be read by non-philosophers.
Heidi Maibom's "Knowing What We Are Doing" (Ch. 5) aims to account for cases where "we are responsible for acting under situational influences that we are unaware of at the time of action, such as stereotyping or standing by when others are in need" (109). I share many of Maibom's intuitions about when agents are morally responsible. And it certainly seems true that a capacity for self-reflection is implicated in such cases, as she suggests. But Maibom is concerned not just with defending a view about what explains responsibility, but also with arguing that it undermines Deep Self views (such as Shoemaker's).
Unfortunately, the Deep Self view she considers strikes me as a straw man. Maibom apparently takes Deep Self views to require a focus on idiosyncratic aspects of an agent's psychology. In critiquing Deep Self views she writes:
There is nothing personal about being subject to the situational effects outlined by the social psychology literature. . . . These are tendencies that we share with many or, in some cases, most people. They are part of who we are, of course, but not in a way that individuates us as persons. (116)
Later, she writes that "the capacity for self-reflection is impersonal and universal. It has nothing to do with what kind of person someone is" (120).
I'm rather puzzled by these remarks. As I understand Deep Self views, nothing precludes sharing aspects of one's deep self with others -- even all others. And it seems plausible that the capacity for self-reflection varies from agent to agent, anyway. So I don't see what Maibom has done to undermine the idea that one's capacity for self-reflection is part of one's deep self, or that this is relevant to one's level of responsibility in certain cases.
Next is Julia Driver's "Meta-Cognition, Mind-Reading, and Humean Moral Agency" (Ch. 6). Driver maintains that a number of conditions -- especially affective disorders -- that have been taken to eliminate moral agency merely lessen it. Driver's case studies are interesting, and there are some exegetical issues that will likely be of interest to Hume scholars; but the discussion is so broad, and there are so many background assumptions that I found myself unclear what philosophical lessons could be drawn. (For example, Driver simply takes for granted the view that practices of holding accountable are pragmatically justified in terms of social utility.)
The remaining three chapters all defend theories in the psychology of moral agency. Shaun Nichols' "The Episodic Sense of Self" (Ch. 7) argues that humans have both a trait-based, thick conception of the self, as well as a much thinner "mere I," evidence for which can be found in the nature of episodic memory. Nichols does a particularly nice job of showcasing the potential benefits of applying philosophical acumen to empirical data in order to expose their relevance to philosophy without drawing hasty conclusions on either side.
Andrea Scarantino's "The Motivation Theory of Emotions" (Ch. 8) defends that very theory of emotions, which holds that emotions are goal-oriented action tendencies that are prioritized -- they take precedence over other action tendencies and are prepared for execution. Scarantino argues that emotions have motivational features that his view accounts for better than standard alternatives. This seems true in many cases. But for the theory to be successful, all emotions must exhibit these features, and there must be no other features of emotions the theory fails to account for. I unfortunately do not have the space here to discuss Scarantino's attempts to accommodate apparently non-motivating emotions in his theory. But Scarantino is explicit that according to his view, "appraisals and feelings are no longer essential components of emotions" (180). I suspect some would consider these to be features a theory of emotions needs to accommodate. Partly because of (admittedly inchoate) worries along these lines, I find myself wondering why Scarantino's theory should be accepted as a theory of emotions themselves, rather than of the impulses emotions (typically) generate.
Finally, there is "The Reward Theory of Desire in Moral Psychology," (Ch. 9) in which Timothy Schroeder and Nomy Arpaly argue that the philosopher's notion of an intrinsic desire is a psychological natural kind: to intrinsically desire something is to constitute it as a reward in the technical sense associated with psychological theories of reward learning. Their defense of the view -- drawn from their recent book, In Praise of Desire -- is sophisticated and compelling.
I'll close with a small worry: I suspect the view will need to be further complicated if it is to properly distinguish intrinsic from instrumental desires. Imagine you intrinsically desire an end that you know to necessarily covary with a particular means. I suspect your reward system would respond to the two in the same way. Yet, surely, it does not follow that you intrinsically desire the means. | https://ndpr.nd.edu/reviews/moral-psychology-and-human-agency-philosophical-essays-on-the-science-of-ethics/ |
This invention relates to a method of manufacturing a grafted resin composition, which is useful, for example, as adhesive, coating agent, quality improver, microdispersion promoter, polymer alloy precursor, functional molding material and agent for providing solubility to a polymer, and which permits a high grafting efficiency to be obtained.
Heretofore, ethylene polymers i.e. homopolymers, copolymers or mixtures thereof, have been used extensively owing to their excellent characteristics, and also there are attempts to improve their characteristics and use them in new fields.
For example, low density ethylene polymers have been used as molding material because of their moldability and satisfactory physical and chemical properties of their product.
It has been put into practice to mix vinyl polymers, e.g., polystyrene, with low density ethylene polymers as molding material, in order to improve, for instance, the rigidity, dimensional stability and printing property of the low density ethylene polymers.
Further, it is well known in the art that epoxy-group-containing olefin copolymers provide a satisfactory adhesive force as adhesive to bond together metal and plastic materials due to their polarity. Further, since they have elasticity and reactive properties, they are used as condensation series polymers ; particularly, they are used as impact improving agents by being reacted with engineering plastics.
Further, since the ethylene-(meth) acrylic ester copolymers and -olefin-vinyl ester copolymers have an excellent flexibility, weather-proof property and impact resistance, they are extensively used as molding material, and -olefin-vinyl ester copolymers are also broadly used for hot-melt adhesives. Further, recently there have been attempts to use both copolymers as impact resistance improving agents for engineering plastics.
Further, since ethylene-propylene copolymer rubbers and ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer rubbers have an excellent rubber elasticity, flexibility, coldness-proof property and weather-proof property, they are extensively used as rubber material, and also recently there are attempts to use them as impact resistance improving agents for engineering plastics.
However, since olefin (co-and/or) polymers and vinyl polymers are not satisfactorily compatible with each other, it is not practicable to incorporate more than 10 % by weight of vinyl copolymer. Usually, the vinyl polymer is incorporated only in an amount of 0.2 to 5 % by weight. Even when such a small quantity of vinyl copolymer is mixed, the impact resistance of the mixtures is reduced due to the unsatisfactory mutual solubility of the two resins, and also the appearance is liable to deteriorate.
Further, when ethylene copolymers are used as impact resistance improving agent, a sufficient impact resistance improvement effect cannot be obtained because of the low mutual solubility and dispersion property.
In case of the epoxy-group-containing olefin copolymer, the scope of applications is limited to materials which can react with the epoxy group. Therefore, a sufficient adhesive force often cannot be obtained with materials which do not react with the epoxy group, e.g., vinyl copolymers, or a sufficient impact resistance cannot be obtained due to a low dispersion force with respect to the materials.
Therefore, there have been attempts to increase the compatibility with engineering plastics.
For example, there have been attempts to increase the compatibility with the engineering plastics by increasing the proportion of the ethylene-(meth) acrylic ester copolymers component and the a-olefin-vinyl ester copolymer component with respect to the (meth) acrylic ester or vinyl ester.
A block copolymer obtained by radically copolymerizing a (meth)acrylic acid ester with a radical polymerizable organic peroxide and further copolymerizing a vinyl monomer with said (meth)acrylic ester is disclosed in EP-A-0 20 66 44.
Further, it has been attempted to introduce functional groups such as epoxy group, carboxyl group and acid anhydride group for reaction with residual functional groups of engineering plastics, particularly, condensation engineering plastics to increase the compatibility and improve the impact resistance improvement effect. In the meantime, it is well-known in the art that graft copolymers, in which a polymer having a high compatibility with other resins and a functional polymer are chemically combined in a molecule, are preferred to improve the compatibility with respect to other resins.
Generally, as a method of grafting combining a vinyl polymer with an olefin polymer, there has been proposed an olefin polymer, which is obtained by graft polymerizing a vinyl monomer, e.g., a styrene monomer, with an olefin polymer by irradiation with ionizable radiation. This method provides considerable effects for causing a uniform dispersion of the vinyl copolymer in the olefin polymer. A further well-known method is the liquid graft polymerization method making use of a solvent such as xylene or toluene. Another method is the emulsification graft polymerization method.
Further, it has been proposed to impregnate olefin polymer particles with vinyl monomers and cause polymerization of the resultant system using an aqueous suspension (as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Sho 58-51010 and Japanese Patent Publication sho 58-53003). According to this method, the vinyl polymer is uniformly mixed in the polymerized resin composition. With this method, satisfactory results can be obtained in comparison to other methods.
More specifically, the method of irradiation with ionizable radiant rays is based on a special process of a radiation graft polymerization process. Therefore, this method is not economical and difficult to be put into practice. Further, in this method there is a limitation in the amount of vinyl monomers to be introduced.
Further, in the solution graft polymerization process, the polymerization is carried out in a state, in which the system to be graft polymerized is diluted with a large quantity of solvent. From the standpoint of the compatibility of the olefin polymer, there is less opportunity of contact of vinyl monomers, polymerization initiators, and olefin polymers with one another, and generally the reaction efficiency of the vinyl monomers is low. Further, complicated after-treatment steps of the vinyl monomers are necessary, which is economically disadvantageous.
A further method is the emulsified graft polymerization process. In this case, the reaction is limited only to the on-surface reactions of the olefin polymer particles. In the process of polymerization in a water suspension, the grafting efficiency of the resin composition obtained by this process is low. Therefore, vinyl polymer particles which have been uniformly dispersed at the end of the completion of the polymerization, are liable to be aggregated secondarily due to heating in the secondary processing or on contact with the solvent, thus giving rise to problems when using the obtained resin composition as microdispersion promoters, compatibilizers of polymer alloys and agents for providing polymer compatibility.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a resin composition which has a high grafting efficiency with respect to the olefin polymer or polymers and vinyl polymer or polymers.
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suspending (A) 100 parts by weight of ethylene homopolymer, copolymer or a mixture thereof in water,
1
1
2
2
3
4
adding to the resultant suspension a solution obtained by dissolving in (B) 5 to 400 parts by weight of one or more vinyl monomers selected from the group consisting of vinyl aromatic monomers, acrylic or methacrylic ester monomers or mixtures thereof, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile or mixtures thereof and vinyl ester monomers, (C) from 0.1 to 10 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of said vinyl monomers (B) of one or more radical polymerizable organic peroxides represented by general formula (I)
wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or a C - alkyl group, R represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R and R
1
4
5
6
1
4
7
8
4
10
represent C - alkyl groups, R represents an alkyl, phenyl or alkyl-substituted phenyl group containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms or a Ca-, cycloalkyl group, and m is 1 or 2, or represented by general formulawherein R represents a hydrogen atom or a C - alkyl group, R represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R and Rg represent C, -. alkyl groups, R represents an alkyl, phenyl or alkyl-substituted phenyl group or a Ca-, cycloalkyl group, and n is 0, 1 or 2,
°
and (D) a radical polymerization initiator with a decomposition temperature of 40 to 90 C for obtaining a half reduction period of 10 hours such that it constitutes 0.01 to 5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the sum of said vinyl monomers (B) and said radical polymerizable organic peroxide (C),
heating the resultant mixture to less than the decomposition temperature of said initiator (D) until said ethylene polymer (A) is impregnanted with at least 50% by weight of said vinyl monomers (B), radical polymerizable organic peroxide (C) and radical polymerization initiator (D), and
elevating the temperature of said water suspension to cause polymerization of said vinyl monomers (B) and said radical polymerizable organic peroxide (C) in said ethylene polymer (A) so that the vinyl/peroxide copolymer contains 0.01 to 0.73% by weight of active oxygen, said polymer forming the mixture with said graft polymerization precursor being either one or both members of a group consisting of (i) ethylene homopolymer, copolymer or mixtures thereof and (ii) a vinyl polymer obtained through polymerization of one or more members of a group consisting of aromatic vinyl monomers, acrylic or methacrylic ester monomers or mixtures thereof, methacrylonitrile, acrylonitrile or mixtures thereof and vinyl ester monomers.
According to the present invention, this object is attained with a method of manufacturing a grafted resin composition by causing a grafting reaction of a graft polymerization precursor or a mixture consisting of 1 to 99% by weight of said graft polymerization precursor and 99 to 1% by weight of a polymer by melting said graft polymerization precursor or said mixture at a temperature of 100 to 300 C and kneading it, said graft polymerization precursor being a resin composition prepared by
Examples of the ethylene polymer according to the invention are low-density ethylene polymers, epoxy-group-containing ethylene copolymers obtained through ethylene and (meth) acrylicglycidyl esters, ethylene copolymers consisting of ethylene and (meth) acrylic ester, ethylene copolymers consisting of ethylene and vinyl ester, ethylene-propylene copolymer rubbers and ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer rubbers.
The low density ethylene polymer useful in the invention has preferably a density of 0.910 to 0.935 g/cm, and specific examples are an ethylene polymer obtained by the high pressure polymerization process and copolymers of ethylene and a-olefin for density control, e.g., propylene, butene-1, and pentene-1.
The low density ethylene polymer may be in the form of pellets with diameters of 1 to 5 mm or in a powdery form. These shapes may be suitably selected according to the proportion of low density ethylene polymer in the graft polymerization precursor. For example, when the proportion of the low density ethylene polymer in the graft polymerization precursor is 50 % by weight or above, pellets are suitable. If it is less than 50 % by weight, it may be in the powder form. The epoxy-group-containing ethylene copolymer useful in the invention is preferably obtained through copolymerization of ethylene and glycidyl (meth) acrylate. Glycidyl (meth) acrylate is preferably incorporated for copolymerization in an amount of 0.5 to 40 % by weight, preferably 2 to 20 % by weight. If the ratio is less than 0.5 % by weight, a sufficient effect cannot be obtained when the precursor is used as impact resistance promoter. If the ratio exceeds 40 % by weight, the fluidity when the precursor is melted is reduced. When the ratio of glycidyl (meth) acrylate is less than 40 % by weight, it is possible to select for copolymerization one or more members of the group consisting of (meth) acrylic ester monomers, e.g., methyl (meth) acrylate, vinyl ester monomers, e.g., vinyl acetate and vinyl propionate, other vinyl monomers, (meth) acrylonitrile, vinyl aromatic monomers and carbon monoxide in accordance with the invention. Examples of the epoxy-group-containing copolymer are ethylene glycidyl methacrylate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate glycidyl methacrylate copolymer, ethylene-carbon monoxide glycidyl methacrylate copolymer, ethylene glycidyl acrylate copolymer and ethylene vinyl acetate glycidyl acrylate copolymer. Among these examples, ethylene-glycidyl methacrylate copolymer is most preferred.
The epoxy-group-containing ethylene copolymers noted above may be used in combination.
The epoxy-group-containing ethylene copolymer may be in the form of particles or pellets with diameters ranging from 0.1 to 5 mm. These shapes are suitably selected according to the proportion of epoxy-group-containing ethylene copolymer. If the diameter is excessively large, not only the dispersion is difficult at the time of the impregnation, but, e.g., also the period of impregnation of vinyl monomer is extended. Examples of ethylene-(metha-and/or) acrylic ester copolymers are an ethylene-(metha-and/or) acrylic methyl copolymer, ethylene-(metha-and/or) acrylic ethyl copolymer and ethylene-(metha-and/or) acrylic butyl copolymer. Of these example, the ethylene-acrylic ethyl copolymer is most suited.
In the ethylene-(meth) acrylic ester copolymer, the (meth) acrylic ester copolymer is preferably present in an amount of 1 to 50 % by weight, preferably 2 to 40 % by weight. If the copolymerization ratio is 1 % by weight or less, a sufficient effect cannot be obtained when the precursor is used as impact resistance promoter. If the ratio exceeds 50 % by weight, the moldability is reduced. The shape and proportion of the ethylene-(meth) acrylic ester copolymer are like those of the epoxy-group-containing ethylene copolymer.
The ethylene-vinyl ester copolymer useful in the invention is preferably obtained through copolymerization of ethylene and one of more vinyl ester monomers selected from the group consisting of vinyl propionate, vinyl acetate, vinyl caprylate, vinyl laurate, vinyl stearate and vinyl trioflouroacetate in the presence of a radical polymerization initiator. Of these examples, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer is most suited. The copolymerization ratio of the vinyl ester monomers in the ethylene-vinyl ester copolymer is the same as that of the (meth) acrylic ester copolymer in the ethylene-(meth) acrylic ester copolymer.
The shape and proportion of the ethylene-vinyl ester copolymer are like those of the ethlene-(meth) acrylic ester copolymer.
°
The ethylene-propylene copolymer rubber or ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer rubber may be an ethlene-propylene copolymer rubber, which preferably contains 40 to 80 % by weight of ethylene and 60 to 20 % by weight of propylene and which has a Mooney viscocity of 15 to 90, and a ternary copolymerized rubber, which is preferably composed of 40 to 80 % of ethylene and 60 to 20 % by weight of propylene and which contains a non-conjugated diene component selected from ethylidene norbornene, 1, 4-hexadiene and dicyclopentadiene. Suitably, its diene content is 4 to 30 in terms of iodination, and its Mooney viscocity is 15 to 120. The Mooney viscocity is obtained in conformity with JISK 6300 (100 C).
These ethylene-propylene copolymer rubbers and ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer rubbers may also be used as their mixtures. To facilitate the impregnation of vinyl monomers and prevent aggregation at the time of suspension polymerization, the particles of the ethylene-propylene copolymer rubber or the ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer rubber are suitably pellets in a narrow diameter range and with diameters of 2 to 8 mm. If the diameter is excessive, not only the dispersion at the time of the impregnation, but also the speed of impregnation of vinyl monomers is reduced to extend the reaction time. Specific examples of the vinyl monomer according to the invention are vinyl aromatic monomers, e.g., styrene, nucleus substituted styrene, e.g., methyl styrene, dimethyl styrene, ethyl styrene, isopropyl styrene and chloro-substituted styrene, a-substituted styrenes, e.g., a-methyl styrene (meth) acrylic ester monomers, e.g., alkyl esters with a carbon number of 1 to 7 of (meth) acrylic acid, (meth) acrylonitrile, and vinyl ester monomers, e.g., vinyl propionate, vinyl acetate, vinyl caproate, vinyl caprylate, vinyl laurate, vinyl stearate and vinyl trifluoroacetate.
Further, it is possible to use halogenated vinyl and vinylidene (particularly, vinyl chloride and vinylidene chloride), vinyl naphthalene, vinyl carbazole, acrylamide, methacrylamide, maleic anhydride, and others. These components may be used either alone or in combination. Of these compounds, vinyl aromatic monomers and (meth) acrylic ester monomers are preferred. Preferably, 50% or more by weight of the vinyl monomers consists of vinyl aromatic monomers, (meth)acrylic ester monomers, or mixtures of the latter.
Particularly, in application as impact resistance improvement agents for engineering plastics, it is desirable to use the reaction product of the (co-and/or) polymerization of mixtures containing 50 % or above of vinyl aromatic monomers and (meth) acrylic ester monomers. The reason is that it has a satisfactory solubility in engineering plastics.
Particularly, hydrophilic or solid vinyl monomers are suitably dissolved in monomers soluble with respect to oil when they are used. In the preparation of the graft polymerization precursor the vinyl monomers are suitably incorporated in an amount of 5 to 400 parts by weight, preferably 10 to 200 parts by weight, with respect to 100 parts by weight of the ethylene polymer. If the amount is less than 5 parts by weight, it is difficultly to obtain a sufficient graft performance in spite of the fact that the graft after the grafting reaction has a high grafting efficiency.
When the amount exceeds 400 parts by weight, the proportion of the vinyl monomer, radical polymerizable organic peroxide represented by the formulae I and II and radical polymerization initiator that is not impregnating the ethylene polymer is liable to exceed 50 % by weight, thus increasing the amount of free vinyl monomers in the system.
According to Japanese Patent Publication Sho 58-51010 or Japanese Patent Publication Sho 58-53003, it is taught that in the water suspension polymerization process it is necessary that the amount of free vinyl monomers is less that 20 % by weight.
According to the invention, however, the graft polymerization precursor has a peroxide group in its vinyl polymer molecule and has a grafting function. Therefore, a sufficiently excellent grafting function can be obtained even if the sum of free vinyl monomers, radical polymerizable organic peroxide represented by formula I or II is above 20 % by weight as long as its content is less than 50 % by weight.
The radical polymerizable organic peroxide which is used in accordance with the invention, is represented by formula I or II.
Specific examples of the compound represented by the formula I are t-butylperoxyacryloyloxyethyl carbonate, t-amylperoxyacryloyloxyethyl carbonate, t-hexylperoxyacryloyloxyethyl carbonate, 1, 1, 3, 3-tetramethylethylbutylperoxyacryloyloxyethyl carbonate, cumylperoxyacryloyloxyethyl carbonate, p-isopropylcumylperoxyacryloyloxyethyl carbonate, t-butylperoxymethacryloyloxyethyl carbonate, t-amylperoxymethacryloyloxyethyl carbonate, t-amylperoxymethacryloyloxyethyl carbonate, t-hexylperox- ymethacryloyloxyethyl carbonate, 1, 1, 3, 3-tetramethylbutylperoxymethacryloyloxyethyl carbonate, cumyl- peroxymethacryloyloxyethyl carbonate, p-isopropylcumylperoxymethacryloyloxyethyl carbonate, t-butyl- peroxyacryloyloxyethoxyethyl carbonate, t-amylperoxyacryloyloxyethoxyethylcarbonate, t-hexylperox- yacryloyloxyethoxyethyl carbonate, 1, 1, 3, 3-tetramethylbutylperoxyacryloyloxyethoxyethyl carbonate, cumylperoxyacryloyloxyethoxyethyl carbonate, p-isopropylcumylperoxyacryloyloxyethoxyethyl carbonate, t-butylperoxymethacryloyloxyethoxyethyl carbonate, t-amylperoxymethacryloyloxyethoxyethyl carbonate, t-hexylperoxymethacryloyloxyethoxyethyl carbonate, 1, 1, 3, 3-tetramethylbutylperoxymethacryloyloxyethoxyethyl carbonate, cumylperoxymethacryloyloxyethoxyethyl carbonate, p-isopropylcumylperoxymethacryloyloxyethoxyethyl carbonate, t-butylperoxyacryloyloxyisopropyl carbonate, t-amylperoxyacryloyloxyisopropyl carbonate, t-hexylperoxyacryloyloxyisopropyl carbonate, 1, 1, 3, 3-tetramethylbutylperoxyacryloyloxyisopropyl carbonate, cumylperoxyacryloyloxyisopropyl carbonate, p-isopropylcumylperoxyacryloyloxyisopropyl carbonate, t-butylperoxymethacryloyloxyisopropyl carbonate, t-amylperoxymethacryloyloxyisopropyl carbonate, t-hexylperoxymethacryloyloxyisopropyl carbonate, 1, 1, 3, 3-tetramethylbutylperoxymethacryloyloxyisopropyl carbonate, 1, 1, 3, 3-tetramethylbutylperoxymethacryloyloxyisopropyl carbonate, cumylperoxymethacryloyloxyisopropyl carbonate, p-isopropylcumyl- peroxymethacryloyloxyisopropyl carbonate.
Specific examples of the compound represented by the formula II are t-butylperoxyallyl carbonate, t-hexylperoxyallyl carbonate, 1, 1, 3, 3-tetramethylbutylperoxyallyl carbonate, p-menthanperoxyallyl carbonate, t-butylperoxymethallyl carbonate, t-amylperoxymethallyl carbonate, t-hexylperoxymethallyl carbonate, 1, 1, 3, 3-tetramethylbutylperoxymethallyl carbonate, p-menthanperoxymethallyl carbonate, cumylperox- ymethacryl carbonate, t-amylperoxyallyloxyethyl carbonate, t-hexylperoxyacryloxyethyl carbonate, t-butyl- peroxymethallyloxyethyl carbonate, t-amylperoxymethallyloxyethyl carbonate, t-hexylperoxymethallylox- yethyl carbonate, t-butylperoxyallyloxyisopropyl carbonate, t-amylperoxyallyloxyisopropyl carbonate, t-hex- ylperoxyallyloxyisopropoyl carbonate, t-butylperoxymethacryloxyisopropyl carbonate, t-amylperoxymethal- lyloxyisopropyl carbonate and t-hexylperoxymethallyloxyisopropyl carbonate.
Among these compounds, t-butylperoxyacryloyloxy ethyl carbonate, t-butylperoxymethacryloyloxyethyl carbonate, t-butylperoxyallyl carbonate and t-butylperoxymethallyl carbonate are preferred.
The radical polymerizable organic peroxide is incorporated in an amount of 0.1 to 10 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of vinyl monomers.
When the proportion is less than 0.1 parts by weight, the amount of active oxygen in the graft polymerization precursor according to the invention is insufficient, so that a sufficient grafting function is difficult to achieve.
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When the amount exceeds 10 parts by weight, the radical polymerizable organic peroxide is inductively decomposed during the polymerization, so that a large amount of gel is generated in the graft polymerization precursor at the instant of the end of the grafting reaction. Further, although the grafting capacity of the graft polymerization precursor is increased, the gel formation capacity is also increased, which is undesirable. With the radical polymerization initiator which is used in the preparation of the graft polymerization precursor used in the invention, the decomposition temperature for obtaining a half reduction period of 10 h (hereinafter referred to as 10-h half reduction period) is 40 to 90 C, preferably 50 to 75 C.
The polymerization in the preparation of the graft polymerization precursor according to the invention, has to be carried out under such a condition that the radical polymerizable organic peroxide is not decomposed at all. Meanwhile, the 10-h half reduction period temperature for the radical polymerizable organic peroxide is 90 to 110 °C, the polymerization temperature should be less than 110°C.
If the 10-h half reduction period temperature of the radical polymerization initiator exceeds 90 °C, the polymerization temperature is increased, so that there is a possiblility that the polymerization temperature is increased and the radical polymerizable organic peroxide is decomposed during the polymerization. If the 10-h half reduction period is less than 40 °C, the polymerization is initiated during the process of impregnating ethylene polymer with with vinyl monomers.
The term "10-h half reduction period temperature", is refers to the temperature, at which the polymerization initiator is decomposed by 50 % when 10 h have passed at a certain temperature after the addition of 0.1 mol of the polymerization initiator to 1 I of benzene.
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Specific examples of such a radical polymerization initiator are di-isopropylperoxy dicarbonate (40.5 °C), di-n-propylperoxy dicarbonate (40.5 °C), dimyristylperoxy dicarbonate (40.9 °C), di-(2-ethoxyethyl) peroxy dicarbonate (43.4 °C), di(methoxyisopropyl) peroxy dicarbonate (43.5 °C), di(2-ethylhexyl) peroxy dicarbonate (43.5 °C), t-hexylperoxyneodecanoate (44.7 °C), di(3-methyl-3-methoxybutyl) peroxy dicarbonate (46.5 °C), t-butylperoxyneodecanoate (46.50 °C), t-hexylperoxyneohexanoate (51.3C), t-butyl- peroxyneohexanoate (53 C), 2, 4-dichlorobenzoyl peroxide (53 C), t-hexylperoxypivalate (53.2 C) t-butyl- peroxypivalate (55 °C), 3, 5, 5-trimethylhexanoyl peroxide (59.5 °C), octanoyl peroxide (62 °C), lauroyl peroxide (62 °C), cumylperoxy octoate (65.1°C), acetyl peroxide (68 C), t-butylperoxy-2-ethylhexanoate (72.5 °C), m-toluoyl peroxide (73 °C), benzoyl peroxide (74 °C), t-butylperoxy isobutylate (78 °C), 1, 1-bis (t-butylperoxy) -3, 5, 5-triethyl-cyclohexane (90 °C). (Figures in parentheses represent 10-h half reduction period temperature.)
The radical polymerization initiator is used in an amount of 0.01 to 5 parts by weight, preferably 0.1 to 2.5 parts by weight, with respect to 100 parts by weight of the sum of the vinyl monomers and the radical polymerizable organic peroxide.
If the amount used is less than 0.01 parts by weight, a perfect polymerization of the vinyl monomers and the radical polymerizable organic peroxide can not be obtained. If the amount exceeds 5 by % weight, it is possible that crosslinking of the ethylene polymers occurs during the polymerization and that an induced decomposition of the radical polymerizable organic peroxide occurs.
In the preparation of the graft polymerization precursor used in the invention, the polymerization is carried out by the usual water suspension polymerization process with the ethylene polymer and a solution prepared separately agitatedly and dispersing the radical polymerization initiator and the radical polymerizable organic peroxide in the vinyl monomers in water in the presence of a suspension agent used for water suspension polymerization, e.g., a water-soluble polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone and methyl cellulose and water-insoluble inorganic compounds such as calcium phosphate and magnesium oxide.
The concentration of the water suspension may be set as desired. Usually, however, the proportion of the reaction components is 5 to 150 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of water.
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The impregnation of the ethylene polymer with the solution noted above is suitably carried out at an as high as possible temperature. However, when the polymerization commences with the decomposition of the radical polymerization initiator at the time of the impregnation, the composition of the graft polymerization precursor that is formed becomes very non-homogeneous. Therefore, the impregnation is usually suitably carried out at a temperature 5 C or more lower than the 10-h half reduction period temperature of the radical polymerization initiator used.
The sum of the free vinyl monomers, radical polymerizable organic peroxide and radical polymerization initiator after the impregnation should be less than 50 % by weight, preferably less than 20 % by weight, with respect to their initial amounts used. If the sum exceeds 50 % by weight, the grafting capacity of the graft polymerization precursor according to the invention will be extremely reduced. The amount of the free vinyl monomers, radical polymerizable organic peroxide and radical polymerization initiator is calculated by sampling a given quantity of the water suspension, quickly filtering the sampled liquid using a metal filter of about 0.04mm (300 mesh) to separate the ethylene polymer and the liquid phase and measuring the quantities of the vinyl monomer, radical polymerizable organic peroxide and radical polymerization initiator in the liquid phase.
In the preparation of the graft polymerization precursor used in the invention, the polymerization is usually carried out at a temperature of 30 to 110 °C, in order to prevent the decomposition of the radical polymerizable organic peroxide during the polymerization.
If the temperature exceeds 110°C, the amount of decomposition of the radical polymerizable organic peroxide that is decomposed will be increased, which is undersirable. The polymerization period is usually suitably 2 to 20 h.
In the graft polymerization precursor used in the invention, the vinyl peroxide copolymer should contain 0.01 to 0.73 % by weight of active oxygen.
If the content of active oxygen is less than 0.01 % by weight, the grafting capacity of the graft polymerization precursor will be extremely reduced.
If the content exceeds 0.73 % by weight, the gel formation capacity will be increased, which is also undesirable.
The active oxygen content can be calculated by extracting the vinyl polymer from the graft polymerization precursor according to the invention by solvent extraction and obtaining the active oxygen content of the vinyl polymer by the iodometric method.
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The graft resin composition according to the invention is obtained through a grafting reaction of either the afore-noted graft polymerization precursor alone or of a mixture of the graft polymerization precursor and a polymer noted below caused by kneading the system in a molten state at a temperature of 100-300 C.
The polymer noted above, which is used to form a mixture with the graft polymerization precursor in accordance with the invention, is suitably the same as that polymer which is used for the manufacture of the graft polymerization precursor, that is, it is a polymer consisting of either one or both of the ethylene polymer and the vinyl polymer.
For example, when the ethylene polymer in the graft polymerization precursor is a low-density ehtylene polymer, the polymer is suitably of the same monomer composition or density. If the monomer composition or density is different, the kneading will be insufficient, so that the mechanical strength and appearance of the obtained graft resin composition will be deteriorated. Even in the case of other ethylene polymers, the same monomer composition is preferred for the same reason.
The vinyl monomer which can be used to form a mixture with the graft polymerization precursor, is preferably obtained through polymerization of one or more vinyl monomers used for the manufacture of the graft polymerization precursor including aromatic vinyl monomers, e.g., styrene, nucleus-substituted styrene, e.g., methyl styrene, dimethyl styrene, ethyl styrene, isopropylstyrene and chlorostyrene, a-substituted styrene, e.g., a-methyl styrene and a-ethyl styrene, (meth) acrylate ester monomer, e.g., alkyl ester with a (meth) acrylate carbon number of 1 to 7, (meth) acrylonitrile, and vinyl ester monomer, e.g., vinyl acetate and vinyl propionate. Preferably, the vinyl polymer has the same monomer composition as the vinyl polymer in the graft polymerization precursor. If the monomer composition was different, the kneading would be insufficient, and a deterioration of the mechanical strength and of the appearance of the resultant graft resin composition would possibly occur.
The graft resin composition according to the invention, which can be used as mixture, is constituted by 1 to 99 % of the graft polymerization precursor and 99 to 1 % by weight of polymer. If the graft polymerization precursor is present in an amount of less than 1 % by weight, that is, if the polymer exceeds 99 % by weight, the amount of the graft polymerization precursor in the graft resin composition will become insufficient, and a laminar separation is likely to occur.
In the manufacture of the grafted resin composition according to the invention, the grafting reaction is caused by kneading the system in a molten state at 100 to 300 °C. If the temperatures was below 100 °C, the melting would be insufficient, the kneading would be difficult, and the decomposition of the radical polymerizable organic oxide in the graft polymerization precursor would require a long time. If the temperature exceeded 300 °C, a molecular decomposition of the graft polymerization precurser would occur.
According to the invention, the kneading is necessary for maintaining the homogeneity of the graft resin composition and controlling the grain size of the dispersed phase.
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Particularly, when the temperature of the grafting reaction at the time of the manufacture of the graft resin composition exceeds 200 C, an aggregation of the dispersed phase is liable to occur. Such aggregation can be prevented by kneading.
The grafting reaction period at the time of the manufacture of the graft polymerization precursor varies with the temperature, but usually it is within 1 h. The thermal melting and kneading of the grafting reaction is carried out using for instance an extruder, an injection molding machine or a mixer.
According to the invention, the grafted resin composition can be obtained, and the proportions of kneading may be changed. Further, the grafted resin composition obtainable according to the invention has a higher graft polymerization precursor than the prior art products. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a grafted resin composition, which is less subject to the aggregation of vinyl polymers due to secondary processing and which is useful, e.g., as adhesive, coating agent, character improver, microdispersion promoter, polymer alloy formation agent, functionable molder material and agent for imparting solubility to a polymer.
The following examples explain the present invention in more detail.
2,500 g of pure water were charged into a stainless steel autoclave with a volume of 5 I and 2.5 g of polyvinyl alcohol were dissolved as a suspension agent.
Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., with a grain size of 3 to 4 mm)
were charged and dispersed by agitation. Separately, 1.5 g of benzoyl peroxide (available under the trade name "Nyper-B" by Nippon Oil & Fats Co., Ltd., with a 10-h
half reduction period temperature of 74 C) as radical polymerization initiator and 6 g of t-butylperoxymethacryloyloxyethyl carbonate as radical polymerizable organic peroxide were dissolved in 300 g of styrene, and the resultant solution was charged into the autoclave, and agitated.
Further, 700 g of low density ethylene polymer with a density of 0.925 g/cm (available under the trade name "Sumikathene G-401 ", by
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Then, the autoclave was heated to elevate its temperature to 60 to 65 C, and the system was agitated for 1 h, whereby the low density ethylene polymer was impregnated with the vinyl monomer containing the radical polymerization initiator and radical polymerizable organic peroxide. Subsequently, after confirming that the content of free vinyl monomers, radical polymerizable organic peroxide and radical polymerization initiator was less than 50 % by weight of the initial amount, the temperature was elevated to 80 to 85 C, and the system was held at this temperature for 7 h to complete the polymerization, followed by washing with water and drying to obtain a graft polymerization precursor.
The active oxygen content in the styrene polymer in this graft polymerization precursor was measured. It was 0.13 % by weight. This graft polymerization precursor was subjected to extraction in a Soxhlet extractor with xylene. Any insoluble part in xylene was not found.
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Then, this graft polymerization precursor was subjected to a grafting reaction by kneading it at 180 C for 10 min using a "Laboplast Mill B-75 Type Mixer" (manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisakusho Co., Ltd.) rotated at a rate of 50 rpm. The system obtained after this grafting reaction was subjected to an extraction in a Soxhlet extractor with ethyl acetate to extract any styrene polymer remaining without being grafted. Thus, the grafting efficiency of the styrene polymer was calculated to be 89 % by weight. Further, an extraction with xylene was conducted to find that the part insoluble in hot xylene was 17.5 % by weight. Further, this insoluble part in xylene was analyzed by pyrolysis gas chromatography.
The contents of low-density ethylene polymer and styrene polymer were 79.0 and 21.0 % by weight, respectively.
A grafting reaction was caused in the same manner as in Example 1 except for that the kneading temperature of the graft polymerization precursor was varied as in Table 1 for measuring the grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the styrene polymer. The results are shown in Table 1.
A grafting reaction was caused in the same manner as in Example 1 except for that a "Banbary Type Mixer" (manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisakusho Co., Ltd.) was used in lieu of "Laboplast Mill B-75 Type Mixer" as the kneader. The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene of the styrene polymer were 86 and 15.6 % by weight.
A grafting reaction was caused in the same manner as in Example 1 except for that a single screw extruder (manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisakusho Co., Ltd.) was used as the kneader. The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene contents of the styrene polymer were 80 and 20 % by weight.
A grafting reaction was caused in the same manner as in Example 1 except for that 500g of a low-density ethylene polymer, 2.5g of benzoyl pentoxide, 10g of t-butylperoxymethacryloyloxyethyl carbonate and 500g of styrene, thus preparing the graft polymerization precursor. As a result, the grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene of the styrene polymer were 82 and 23 % weight, respectively.
A graft polymerization precursor was manufactured for a grafting reaction in the same manner as in Example 1 except for that 300g of styrene and 300g of methyl methacrylate were used. The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the methyl methacrylate polymer were 64 and 22 % by weight, respectively.
A graft polymerization precursor was fmanufactured for a grafting reaction in the same manner as in Example 1 except for that a monomer mixture consisting of 10 g of styrene and 90 g of acrylonitrile was used in lieu of 300 g of styrene. The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene of the styreneacrylonitrile copolymer were 58 and 28 % by weight, respectively.
A graft polymerization precursor was manufactured for a grafting reaction in the same manner as in Example 1 except for that a monomer mixture consisting of 210 g of styrene and 90 g of n-butyl-acrylate was used in lieu of 300 g of styrene. The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the styrene-n-butyl-acrylate were 62 and 23 % by weight, respectively.
A graft polymerization precursor was manufactured for a grafting reaction in the same manner as in Example 1 except for that 300 g of vinyl acetate were used in lieu of 300 g of styrene and 6 g of t-butyl peroxyallylcarbonate were used in lieu of 6 g of t-butylperoxymethacryloylxyethylcarbonate. The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the vinyl acetate polymer were 69 and 29 % by weight respectively.
A graft polymerization precursor was manufactured for a grafting reaction in the same manner as in Example 1 except for that a powdery low-density ethylene polymer (available under the trade name "Flothene G-401 ", manufactured by Seitetsu Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. with a density of 0.925 g/cm) was used in lieu of the low-density ethylene polymer. The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the styrene polymer were 85 and 13 % by weight, respectively.
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The graft polymerization precursor manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 was subjected to a grafting reaction at 90 C for 1 h using a "Laboplastmill B-75 Type Mixer" at a rotating rate of 50 rpm. The system was not dissolved, so that it could not be kneaded.
The grafting efficiency of the styrene polymer was measured in the same manner as in Example 1.
It was 8 % by weight, and the reaction was insufficient.
A grafting polymerization precursor was manufactured for a grafting reaction in the same manner as in Example 1 except for that t-butylperoxymethacryloyloxyethyl carbonate was not used. The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene contents of the styrene polymer were 7 and 3 % by weight, respectively.
The effect of t-butylperoxymethacryloyloxyethyl carbonate on grafting was clearly recognized.
A graft resin composition was obtained by causing a grafting reaction in the same manner as in Example 1 except for that a mixture prepared by adding 50 g of powdery low-density ethylene polymer with a density of 0.925/cm to 50 g of a powdery graft polymerization precursor prepared in the manner as in Example 1 was used, and satisfactorily kneading the mixture at room temperature.
The grafting efficiency of the styrene polymer was obtained with respect to this graft resin composition in the same manner as in Example 1.
It was 72 % by weight.
The insoluble part in xylene content was 9.2 % by weight.
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Then, the graft resin composition was subjected to compression molding at 200 C to obtain a plate having a thickness of 2 mm.
The plate was uniformly white in color, and no phase separation was obserred.
By cutting the plate, no layer separation was observed.
Graft resin compositions were manufactured in the same manner as in Example 13 except for that the proportions of the graft polymerization precursor and low-density ethylene polymer were varied as in Table 2.
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The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the styrene polymer in the graft resin compositions and the appearance of plates compression molded at 200 C are as shown in Table 2.
Graft resin compositions were manufactured in the same manner as in Example 13 except for that the kneading temperature was varied as in Table 3.
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The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the styrene polymer in the graft resin compositions and the appearance of plates, compression-molded at 200 C, are as shown in Table 3.
A graft polymerization precursor was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 13 except for that a "Banbury Type Mixer" as in Example 5 was used as kneader in lieu of the "Laboplast Mill B-75 Type Mixer".
The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the styrene polymer in the graft resin composition were 78 and 9.2 % by weight, respectively. A plate of the graft resin composition was formed by compression molding at 200 °C, and it neither showed a phase separation nor a layer separation.
A graft resin composition was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 13 except for that a single screw extruder was used as the kneader as in Example 6.
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The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content were 68 and 13.1 % by weight, respectively. A plate of this graft resin composition obtained by compression molding at 200 C neither showed a phase separation nor a layer separation.
A graft resin composition was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 13 except for that 50 g of styrene polymer (available under the trade name "Mitsubishi Monsant Chemical Co., Ltd.) were used as vinyl polymer in lieu of 50 g of low-density ethylene polymer as mixture.
In this graft resin composition, the styrene polymer seems to be a matrix. Therefore, it is thought to be more suitable to obtain the grafting efficiency of the low-density ethylene polymer. Unfortunately, however, there is no suitable measuring method. Therefore, the grafting efficiency of the styrene polymer with respect to the low-density styrene polymer was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1.
The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the styrene polymer were 20 and 2.8 % by weight. A plate of this graft resin composition obtained in the same manner as in Example 13 showed neither a phase separation nor a layer separation.
Graft resin compositions were manufactured in the same manner as in Example 13 except for that the proportions of the graft polymerization precursor and styrene polymer were varied as in Table 4.
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The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the styrene polymer in the graft resin compositions and the appearance of plates of the compositions formed by compression molding at 200 C are as shown in Table 4.
As shown in Examples 26 and 27, when the styrene polymer was a matrix, the calculated grafting efficiency of the styrene polymer with respect to the low-density ethylene polymer was low, but the low-density ethylene polymer which was in the dispersion phase seemed to be grafted with a considerable high efficiency compared with the styrene polymer.
Graft polymerization precursors were manufactured in the same manner as in Example 13 except for that 700 g of a low-density ethylene polymer were used for the manufacture of the graft polymerization precursor in lieu of 500 g, 300 g of styrene were used in lieu of 500 g, 1.5 g of benzoyl peroxide were used in lieu of 2.5 g and 6 g of t-butylperoxymethacryloyloxyethyl carbonate were used in lieu of 1 g.
Then, graft resin compositions were manufactured in the same manner as in Example 13 except for that the amount the graft polymerization precursor, low-density ethylene polymer and styrene polymer were varied as in Table 5.
A graft polymerization precursor was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 13 except for that 300 g of methyl mechacrylate were used in lieu of 300 g of styrene and 0.6 g of n-dodecylmercaptan were additionally used.
Then, graft resin compositions were manufactured in the same manner as in Example 13 except for that the amounts of the graft polymerization precursor, low density ethylene polymer and methyl methacrylate polymer (available under the trade name "Delpet 50N" manufactured by Asahi Chemical Co., Ltd.) were varied as shown in Table 6. Table 6 shows the test results.
A graft polymerization precursor was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 13 except for that a monomer mixture consisting of 210 g of styrene, 90 g of acrylonitrile and 0.6 g of n-dodecylmercaptan, as molecular weight adjuster, was used in lieu of 300 g of styrene.
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Separately, an acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer was obtained by adding a mixture solution consisting of 70 g of styrene, 30 g of acrylonitrile, 0.2 g of n-dodecylmercaptan and 0.5 g of benzoylperoxide to 500 g of an aqueous solution containing 1 % of polyvinyl alcohol and holding the resultant admixture at 80 to 85 C for 7 h to complete polymerization.
Then, graft resin compositions were manufactured in the same manner as in Example 13 except for that the amounts of the acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer, graft polymerization precursor and low-density ethylene polymer were varied as shown in Table 7.
Test results are as shown in Table 7.
A graft polymerization precursor was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 13 except for that a monomer mixture consisting of 210 g of methyl methacrylate and 90 g of n-butyl-acrylate was used in lieu of 300 g of styrene.
Then, a graft resin composition was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 13 except for that 50 g of the graft polymerization precursor and 50 g of low-density ehtylene polymer were used.
Thus, the grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the methyl methacrylate-n-butyl-acrylate copolymer were 62 and 8.9 % by weight, respectively.
Further, a plate formed by compression molding in the same manner as in Example 13 had a phase separation and layer separation.
A graft polymerization precursor was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 13 except for that 300 g of vinyl acetate were used in lieu of 300 g of styrene, and 6 g of t-butylperoxyallyl carbonate were used in lieu of 6 g of t-butylperoxymethacryloyloxyethyl carbonate.
Then, a graft resin composition was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 13 except for that 50 g of this graft polymerization precursor and 50 g of low-density ethylene polymer were used.
The grafting efficiency was measured in the same manner as in Example 13 except for that methanol was used as extraction solvent in lieu of ethyl acetate. The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the vinyl acetate polymer were 73 and 16.3 % by weight, respectively.
A graft polymerization precursor was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 13 except for that 50 g of the graft polymerization precursor and 50 g of low-density ethylene polymer were used.
Further, the grafting efficiency was measured by using methanol as extraction solvent in lieu of ethyl acetate in Example 13.
The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the vinyl acetate polymer were 73 and 6.3 % by weight, respectively.
Further, a plate formed by compression molding in the manner as in Example 13 had neither a phase separation nor a layer separation.
A graft polymerization precursor was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 13. Then, a graft resin composition was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 13 except for that 50 g of "Sumikathene G-401 " (a trade name by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. with a density of 0.010 g/cm) were mixed with a low-density ethylene polymer kneaded as graft polymerization precursor and then mixed with 50 g of the graft polymerization precursor.
At this time, the grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content in the styrene polymer were 74 and 9.8 % weight, respectively. A plate formed by compression molding in the same manner as in Example 13 had no phase separation, but a slight layer separation was seen on the broken surface.
Then, a graft resin composition was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 13 except for that 0.5 g of the graft polymerization precursor, 50 g of low-density ethylene polymer and 49.5 g of "Dialex HF-55" used in Example 23 were mixed together.
The grafting efficiency of the styrene polymer was 0.3 % by weight, and the insoluble part in xylene content was 0.1 % weight.
A plate formed by compression molding in the same manner as in Example 13 had no phase separation, and also its broken surface had a large layer separation.
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A grafting reaction was caused in the same manner as in Example 13 except for that the temperature of kneading of the graft polymerization precursor and the polymer was set to 90 C.
However, kneading in the molten state was impossible due to the low kneading temperature.
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A grafting reaction was caused in the same manner as in Example 13 except for that the temperature of kneading of the graft polymerization precursor and polymer was set to 320 C.
During the grafting reaction, the resin was decomposed, and the resultant graft resin composition had a brown color.
A grafting reaction was caused in the same manner as in Example 13 except for that the graft polymerization precursor was manufactured without the use of t-butylperoxymethacryloyloxyethyl carbonate.
The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the styrene polymer were 7 and 2.8 % by weight, respectively.
However, a plate formed by compression molding in the same manner as in Example 13 had a slight phase separation, and its broken surface had a great layer separation.
In other words, the effect of t-butylperoxymethacryloyloxyethyl carbonate on the grafting efficiency was clearly confirmed.
Graft polymerization precursors were obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except for that the ethylene polymers shown in Table 8 were used in lieu of the low-density ethylene polymer as the ethylene polymer for the graft polymerization precursor, the impregnation was carried out for two hours in lieu of one hour and the polymerization temperature of 80 to 85 °C when manufacturing the graft polymerization precurser was varied as in Table 8.
Each of the graft polymerization precursors was subjected to extraction with ethyl acetate at room temperature for 7 days to obtain a styrene polymer solution, which was charged into a powdery styrene polymer.
The active oxygen content in the styrene polymer was measured in the same manner as in Example 1.
The results are as shown in Table 8.
Further, the insoluble part in xylene content was also measured to obtain the results as shown in Table 8.
Further, a grafting reaction of each graft polymerization precursor was caused in the same manner as in
The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the styrene polymer of each graft resin composition were measured in the same manner as in Example 1.
The results are shown in Table 8.
The term "grafting efficiency" represents the ratio of grafted polystyrene to the total amount polymerized.
Graft resin compositions were obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except for that the graft polymerization precursors obtained in Examples 45 to 48 were used and the kneading temperature was varied as shown Table 9 instead of 180 °C.
The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the styrene polymer of each graft resin composition were measured.
The results are as shown in Table 9.
Graft resin compositions were obtained by causing grafting reactions in the same manner as in Example 1 except for that the graft polymerization precursors obtained in Examples 45 to 48 were used and the kneaders as shown in Table 10 were used in lieu of "Laboplast Mill B-75 Type Mixer". The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the styrene copolymer of each graft resin composition were measured.
The results are as shown in Table 10.
Graft polymerization precursors were manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 except for that the kind and proportion of ethylene (co-and/or) polymer used for the preparation of the graft polymerization precursor and the proportion of benzoyl peroxide, t-butylperoxymethacryloyloxyethyl carbonate and styrene were varied as in Table 11.
Graft resin compositions were obtained using these graft polymerization precursors in the same manner as in Example 1.
The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the styrene polymer of each of the graft resin composition were measured in the same manner as in Example 1.
The results are as shown in Table 11.
Graft polymerization precursors were obtained in the same manner as in Table 12 except for that the proportions of the ethylene polymer and styrene used in the manufacture of the graft polymerization precursors were varied as shown in Table 12.
Graft resin compositions were obtained using the individual graft polymerization precursors in the same manner as in Example 1.
The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the styrene polymer of each of the graft resin compositions were obtained in the same manner as in Example 1.
The results are as shown in Table 12.
Graft polymerization precursors were manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 except for that the proportions of the ethylene polymer, styrene and t-butylperoxymethacryloyloxyethyl carbonate used for the preparation of the graft polymerization precursors were varied as in Table 13.
Using these graft polymerization precursors graft resin compositions were obtained in the same manner as in Example 1.
With respect to each of these graft resin compositions, the grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the vinyl acetate copolymer were measured in the same manner as in Example 1.
The results are as shown in Table 13.
Graft polymerization precursors were obtained by causing grafting reactions in the same manner as in Example 1 except for that the product obtained by pulverizing the epoxy-group-containing ethylene copolymer (Example 78), the ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer (Example 79) or the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (Example 80) in the frozen state was used as ethylene (co-and/or) polymer in lieu of low-density ethylene polymer for the preparation of the graft polymerization precursors.
The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the styrene polymer were as shown in Table 14.
A graft polymerization precursor was manufactured by a grafting reaction in the same manner as in Example 45 except for that a system consisting of 82 % by weight of ethylene, 12 % by weight of glycidyl methacrylate and 6 % by weight of vinyl acetate was used in lieu of the epoxy-group-containing copolymer.
The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the styrene polymer were 79.5 and 19.8 % by weight.
A graft polymerization precursor was manufactured by a grafting reaction in the same manner as in Example 46 except for that a copolymer consisting of 95 % by weight of ethylene and 5 % by weight of ethyl acrylate (available under the trade name "Nisseki Lekusuron EEA A-3050" manufactured by Nippon Oil Co., Ltd.) was used in lieu of the ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer.
The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the styrene polymer were 76.7 and 18.8 % by weight, respectively.
A graft polymerization precursor was manufactured by a grafting reaction in the same manner as in Example 47 except for that a copolymer consisting of 72 % by weight of ethylene and 28 % by weight of vinyl acetate (available under the trade name"Evaflex 260" manufactured by Mitsui Polychemical Co., Ltd.) was used in lieu of the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.
The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the styrene copolymer were 84.8 and 27.4 % by weight, respectively.
°
The graft polymerization precursors used in Examples 45 to 49 were subjected to grafting reactions at 90 C for one hour using a "Laboplast Mill B-75 Type Mixer" at a rotational speed of 50 RPM. The system was not molten, so that it could not be kneaded.
The grafting efficiency of the styrene polymer was measured in the same manner as in Example 1.
It was 6.2 % by weight in Comparative Example 7, 3.1 % by weight in Comparative Example 8, 4.7 % by weight in Comparative Example 9 and 2.7 % by weight in Comparative Example 10, i.e. it was insufficient.
°
°
Grafting reactions were caused in the same manner as in respective Comparative Examples 7 to 10 except for that the temperature of the grafting reaction was varied from 90 C to 320 C. As a result, a decomposition of the graft polymerization precursors occurred, and the resins were colored.
Grafting reactions were caused in the same manner as in Examples 45 to 48 except for that t-butylperoxymethacryloyloxyethyl carbonate was not used. When the the epoxy-group-containing ethylene copolymer (Comparative Example 15) was used, the grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the styrene polymer were 3.2 and 0 % by weight, respectively. When the ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer (Comparative Example 16) was used, they were 1.2 and 0 % by weight, respectively.
When the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (Comparative Example 17) was used, they were 1.9 and 0 % by weight, respectively. When the ethylene-propylene -diene copolymer (Comparative Example 18) was used, they were 0.6 and 0 % by weight, respectively.
Thus, the effect of t-butylperoxymethacryloyloxyethyl carbonate on grafting was clearly confirmed.
Graft polymerization precursors were obtained by grafting reactions carried out in the same manner as in Example 13 except for that 50 g of ethylene copolymer as shown in Table 15 was added to 50 g of the powdery graft polymerization precursors obtained in Examples 45 to 49.
The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the styrene polymer of these graft polymerization precursors were as shown in Table 15.
Plates with a thickness of 2 mm were manufactured using these graft resin compositions in the same manner as in Example 13.
These plates were all uniformly white in color and had no recognizable phase separation. Further, no layer separation was recognized in any of their broken surfaces.
Graft resin compositions were manufactured in the same manner as in respective Examples 84 to 87 except for that the mixed amounts of the graft polymerization precursor and ethylene copolymer for the preparation of the graft polymerization precursor were varied as in Table 16 to 19.
°
The styrene polymer grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the resultant graft resin compositions as well as the appearance of plates formed by compression molding at 200 C were as shown in Tables 16 to 19.
Graft resin compositions were manufactured in the same manner as in respective Examples 84 to 87 except for that the kneading temperature was set as in Table 20 instead of 180 °C.
°
The styrene polymer grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the graft resin composition and the appearance of plates formed by compression molding at 200 C are as shown in Table 20.
Graft polymerization precursors were manufactured in the same manner as in respective Examples 84 to 87 except for that a "Laboplast Mill B-75 Type Mixer" was replaced by the kneaders as shown in Table 21.
The characteristics of the graft resin compositions and the appearance of the plates formed by compression molding are as shown in Table 21.
Graft resin compositions were manufactured in the same manner as in Examples 84 to 87 except for that styrene (available under the trade name "Dialex HF-55", manufactured by Mitsubishi Monsanto Chemical Co., Ltd.) was used as vinyl polymer in lieu of the ethylene copolymer to be mixed with the graft polymerization precursor.
The characteristics of the graft resin composition and the appearance of plates formed by compression molding are as shown in Table 22.
Graft resin compositions were manufactured in the same manner as in respective Examples 101 to 104 except for that the mixed amounts of the graft polymerization precursor and styrene polymer were varied as in Tables 23 to 26.
°
The styrene polymer grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of the graft resin composition and the appearance of plates formed by compression molding at 200 C are as shown in Tables 23 to 26.
Graft polymerization precursors were manufactured in the same manner as in Examples 84 to 87 except for that 500 g of an ethylene copolymer were used instead of 700 g, 500 g of styrene were used instead of 300 g, 2.5 g of benzoyl peroxide were used instead of 1.5 g and 9 g of t-butylperoxymethacryloyloxyethyl carbonate were used instead of 6 g for the preparation of the graft polymerization precursors.
Then, graft resin compositions were prepared in the same manner as in Examples 84 to 87 except for that the proportions of the graft polymerization precursor, ethylene copolymer and styrene were varied as in Tables 27 to 30.
°
The styrene polymer grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content of these graft resin compositions and the appearance of plates formed by compression molding at 200 C are as shown in Table 27 to 30.
Graft polymerization precursors were prepared in the same manner as in respective Examples 84 to 87 except for that methyl methacrylate was used in lieu of styrene for the preparation of the graft polymerization precursors and 0.6 g of n-dodecyl mercaptan were additionally used as molecular weight adjusting agent.
Graft polymerization precursors were manufactured in the same manner as in Examples 84 to 87 except for that the amounts of the graft polymerization precursor, ethylene copolymer and methyl methacrylate polymer (available under the trade name "Delpet 50N" manufactured by Asahi Kasei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) were varied as in Tables 31 to 34. The results are as shown in Tables 31 to 34.
°
Graft polymerization precursors were manufactured in the same manner as in Examples 84 to 87 except for that a monomer mixture consisting of 210 g of styrene and 90 g of acrylonitrile was used in lieu of 300 g of styrene and 0.6 g of n-dodecyl mercaptan as molecular weight adjusting agent. Separately, an acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer was prepared by adding 70 g of styrene, 30 g of acrylonitrile, 0.2 g of n-dodecyl mercaptan and 0.5 g of benzoyl peroxide to 500 g of a water solution containing 1 % polyvinyl alcohol and holding the resultant admixture at a temperature of 80 to 85 C for 7 h to complete the polymerization. Graft resin compositions were manufactured in the same manner as in Examples 84 to 87 except for that the amounts of this copolymer and the graft polymerization precursor and ethylene copolymer noted above were varied as in Tables 35 to 38. The results are as shown in Tables 35 to 38.
Graft polymerization precursors were manufactured in the same manner as in Examples 84 to 87 except for that a monomer mixture consisting of 210 g of ethyl methacrylate and 90 g of n-butyl-acrylate was used in lieu of 300 g of styrene. Then, graft resin compositions were manufactured in the same manner as in Examples 84 to 87 except for that 50 g of the graft polymerization precursor and 50 g of the ethylene copolymer as shown in the Table below were used. The results are as shown in Table 39.
Graft polymerization precursors were manufactured in the same manner as in Examples 84 to 87 except for that 300 g of vinyl acetate were used in lieu of 300 g of styrene and 6 g of t-butylperoxymethacryloyloxyethyl carbonate were used in lieu of 6 g of t-butylperoxyethyl carbonate. Then, graft resin compositions were manufactured in the same manner as in respective Examples 84 to 87 except for that 50 g of the graft polymerization precursor and 50 g of the same ethylene copolymer were used for the graft polymerization precursor.
Further, the grafting efficiency was measured by using methanol as extraction solvent in lieu of ethyl acetate.
The results are as shown in Table 40.
A graft polymerization precursor was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 84. Then, a graft resin composition was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 84 except for that 50 g of a copolymer consisting of 82 % by weight of ethylene, 12 % by weight of glycidyl methacrylate and 6 % by weight of vinyl acetate was mixed as epoxy-group-containing ethylene copolymer and kneaded with 50 g of the graft polymerization precursor.
In this case, the styrene polymer grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content were 55.5 and 14.5 % by weight, respectively. A plate compression-molded in the same manner as in Example 84 had no phase separation, but its broken surface had a trace of layer separation.
A graft resin composition was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 85 except for that a copolymer consisting of 95 % by weight of ethylene and 5 % by weight of ethyl acrylate (available under the trade name "Nisseki Leksron EEA A-3050" manufactured by Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd.) was used in lieu of the ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer. The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content were 9.5 and 9.7 % by weight, respectively.
A graft resin composition was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 86 except for that a copolymer consisting of 72 % by weight of ethylene and 28 % by weight of vinyl acetate was used in lieu of the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer. The grafting efficiency and insoluble part in xylene content were 53.5 and 10.5 % by weight, respectively.
Graft polymerization precursors were manufactured in the same manner as in respective Examples 84 to 87. Then, graft resin compositions were manufactured in the same manner as in Examples 84 to 87 by mixing 0.5 g of the graft polymerization precursor, 50 g of the same copolymer used for that preparation of each of the graft polymerization precursors and 49.5 g of the same styrene polymer used in Example 10. The grafting efficiency of the styrene polymer was 0.3, 0.4, 0.9 and 0.7 % by weight, respectively. The insoluble part in xylene content was 0.1, 0.4, 0.3 and 0.2 % by weight, respectively. Further, plates formed by compression molding had a phase separation, and also their broken surface had great layer separation.
°
Grafting reactions were caused in the same manner as in Examples 84 to 87 except for that the temperature of the kneading of the graft polymerization precursor and ethylene copolymer was set to 90 C. However, kneading in the molten state was impossible because of the low kneeding temperature.
°
Grafting reactions were caused in the same manner as in Examples 84 to 87 except for that the temperature of the kneading of the graft polymerization precursor and ethylene copolymer was set to 320 C. As a result, each resin was decomposed during the grafting reaction, and the obtained resin composition was brown in color.
Grafting reactions were caused in the same manner as in Examples 84 to 87 except for that the respective graft polymerization precursors were manufactured without the use of t-butylperoxymethacryloyloxyethyl carbonate . As a result, the grafting efficiency of the styrene polymer was 0.1, 0.2, 0 and 0 % by weight, respectively, and the insoluble part in xylene content was 0 % by weight in all cases. Further, plates formed by compression molding had a phase separation, and their broken surface had a great layer separation. This fact confirms the effect of t-butylperoxymethacryloyloxyethyl carbonate on grafting.
[Example 1] ]
[Examples 2 to 4]
[Example 5]
[Example 6]
[Example 7]
[Example 8]
[Example 9]
[Example 10]
[Example 11 ]
[Example 12]
[Comparative Example 1] ]
[Comparative Example 2]
[Example 13]
[Example 14 to 17]
[Example 18 to 20]
[Example 21 ]
[Example 22]
[Example 23]
[Example 24 to 27]
[Example 28 to 31 ]
[Example 32 to 36]
[Example 37 to 41 ]
[Example 42]
[Example 43]
[Example 44]
[Comparative Example 3]
[Comparative Example 4]
[Comparative Example 5]
[Comparative Example 6]
[Examples 45 to 49]
Example 1.
[Examples 50 to 53]
[Examples 54 to 57]
[Example 58 to 61 ]
[Examples 62 to 73]
[Examples 74 to 77]
[Examples 78 to 80]
[Example 81 ]
[Example 82]
[Example 83]
[Comparative Examples 7 to 10]
[Comparative Examples 11 to 14]
[Comparative Examples 15 to 18]
[Examples 84 to 88]
[Examples 89 to 92]
[Examples 93 to 96]
[Examples 97 to 100]
[Examples 101 to 104]
[Examples 105 to 108]
[Examples 109 to 112]
[Examples 113 to 116]
[Examples 117 to 120]
[Examples 121 to 124]
[Examples 125 to 128]
[Example 129]
[Example 130]
[Example 131] ]
[Comparative Examples 19 to 22]
[Comparative Examples 23 to 26]
[Comparative Examples 27 to 30]
[Comparative Examples 31 to 34] | |
Q:
Teamcity, set configuration parameter for next build
I'm trying to set/change a build parameter from build 1 to be used in build 2.
In build 1 I have a build step that sets a configuration parameter like this:
echo "##teamcity[setParameter name='ENVIRONMENT' value='%Target environment%']"
And in a build step on build 2, I want to use this environment variable in a rake task by
specifying %ENVIRONMENT%
The problem I have is that the configuration parameter is not visible in build 2. I have surely missed something essential.
I have also tried with env variables but that seems like the wrong approach as this is just configuration variables which is not needed in a build script.
Any clues?
Thanks
A:
You can publish an artifact with the value you want in build 1, introduce an artifact dependency from build 2 to build 1, and in the first step of build 2 transform that artifact into a configuration value again for the other steps in build 2 by using the echo (or better Write-Host) statement you mentioned.
| |
From victims to activists: The role of communication for the empowerment and impact of the PAH anti-evictions movement in Spain
Abstract: The anti-evictions movement Plataforma de Afectados por la Hipoteca (PAH) is one of the most effective and valued grassroots initiatives in Spain. It has convinced the majority of the population on the need to change the mortgage law, given solution to the immediate needs of its members via civic-disobedience actions and dignified the people who are not able to pay their mortgage debts. From being considered irresponsible victims, now they are seen as heroes fighting for a just cause and as the representation of the collective power of organized citizenship to produce social change. To find out if –and how- communication has been key in this transformative process, this research uses observations and in-depth interviews to respond to the question: What role does communication play in the PAH for the empowerment of its members and for the overall impact of the movement? The findings suggest that empowerment has been necessary to obtain impact, while impact has further promoted empowerment, in a virtuous cycle where internal and external communication practices, both interpersonal and mediated, have been central. The main communicative goal, as we will see, has been to transform people and society, and not to obtain visibility. Decentralisation, open and horizontal collective knowledge-sharing and decision-making, diagnostic and motivational counter-frames, a focus on positive messages and results, graphic elements, the savvy use of different media (Twitter, Facebook, videos, mass media) and a very skilled spokes-person are some of the key aspects of a successful communication strategy that has been able to challenge neoliberal frames and representations related to poverty. Several concrete activists have been very competent in designing and adapting the PAH’s use of communication, and in promoting contributions of many other participants throughout every part of the network. However, only a continuous effort in spreading knowledge and skills throughout the movement, in line with participatory communication approaches, will guarantee a sustainable and long-lasting impact. | https://www.essays.se/essay/0d6a5443f6/ |
The heat and dehydration are the main risks on the Lycian Way, ensure you have at least two, preferably three litres of water per person per day, wear light and loose fitting clothing and a suitable sun hat. Factor 30 sun cream is recommended, particularly from May until the end of August.
There are some road crossings, always be aware of traffic and be sure to use a pavement/sidewalk where possible. Where it isn’t, walk on the right-hand side of the road in the direction of oncoming traffic.
Some of the ground can be uneven, with rocky/pebbly paths. Ensure you have suitable footwear and step cautiously when needed.
Much of the path is on clifftops and there has been some erosion, for this reason, the path is sometimes unclear, be careful of the drop and of loose rocks and edges to the cliffs.
Tips and hints
Food and Drink
There are no food and drink stops en route, so bring a packed lunch.
Points of Interest
Phellos
Ancient Lycian ruins, 2000 years old, sit crumbling atop a mountain, The path winds through the monolithic sarcophagi. You will find an almost intact mosaic floor of truly exquisite quality.
Ridge views
After the ruins, you walk along a long ridge, the sweeping views to left and right are truly exceptional. You have the coast to your left, and farms, shepherds, goats and pine forest to your right.
Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
0.00 km - Start at the beginning of the tack where the taxi driver drops you off, ascend the track past the white house
0.50 km - The path forks slightly, BEAR RIGHT to stay on the larger track
1.20 km - The path forks again, take the descending path as you BEAR RIGHT
1.30 km - 20 metres before the road hairpins to the right, TURN LEFT ascending up a small path into the woods
1.40 km - The path forks, BEAR RIGHT following the sign for Haciogla
1.80 km - You come across the lost mountain ruins, continue straight on, look out for the mosaic floor on your left
2.50 km - The path forks slightly, take the left-hand form as it ascends slightly
3.40 km - BEAR RIGHT and then BEAR RIGHT again sharply to almost go back on yourself
4.00 km - The path meets a track, BEAR LEFT to join the track as it ascends
5.30 km - The path forks, BEAR LEFT ascending slightly and after 20 metres TURN RIGHT to join a smaller stone path
5.40 km - There is a small pile of stones on the track, TURN RIGHT descending to join a smaller path
6.50 km - You come to a wider track, TURN RIGHT to join this track, there will be a red and white way marker on a stone
6.60 km - Shorty after joining a larger track, TURN LEFT ascending, there is way marker on the rocks and then immediately TURN RIGHT onto another small path into the bushes, then as the path merges into another wider track, TURN RIGHT off the track and onto a smaller descending path, waymarked by painted stones
7.00 km - The path comes into a small clearing, BEAR LEFT to stay on the route, following the markers
7.20 km - Ignore the right turn, and BEAR LEFT to stay on the path, you will then come to a well, a water pipe and a wooden structure by a tree, BEAR LEFT to pass the wooden structure and then BEAR LEFT
8.00 km - TURN RIGHT sharply off the path to pass a square pond, then BEAR LEFT then pass a stone wall and BEAR LEFT to take the higher path and pass to the left of the abandoned farm, picking up the trail on the other side as it begins to descend
8.40 km - BEAR LEFT where the path forks to continue to descend
8.90 km - Continue the descent, the valley opens up and the trees thin, continue on the path, BEAR LEFT to join a smaller path
9.20 km As the path forks, BEAR RIGHT
10.30 km - The ground levels out to a large clearing, follow the small dirt path through the grass, follow the red and white way markers
11.40 km - Join a larger vehicle track, cross the stream and then come to another T Junction, with Lycian Way Signpost 'Gokceren - Phellos'. Your transfer should be waiting there for you.
Note
Coordinates
Equipment
Sturdy boots for uneven ground
A sun hat
Walking poles
Water purifying tablets in case of emergency
Basic Equipment for Hiking
- Sturdy, comfortable and waterproof hiking boots or approach shoes
- Layered, moisture wicking clothing
- Hiking socks
- Rucksack (with rain cover)
- Protection against sun, rain and wind (hat, sunscreen, water- and windproof jacket and suitable legwear)
- Sunglasses
- Hiking poles
- Ample supply of drinking water and snacks
- First aid kit
- Blister kit
- Bivy / survival bag
- Survival blanket
- Headlamp
- Pocket knife
- Whistle
- Cell phone
- Cash
- Navigation equipment / map and compass
- Emergency contact details
- ID
- The 'basic' and 'technical' equipment lists are generated based on the selected activity. They are not exhaustive and only serve as suggestions for what you should consider packing.
- For your safety, you should carefully read all instructions on how to properly use and maintain your equipment.
- Please ensure that the equipment you bring complies with local laws and does not include restricted items.
Questions and answers
Would you like to the ask the author a question?
Rating
Help others by being the first to add a review. | https://your.macsadventure.com/en/tour/hiking-trail/felen-to-gokdere/29434831/ |
Introduction:
Pain is very common in covid patients. The common types of pain in covid are musculoskeletal pain (14.9%), and headache (13.6%). Other common pains are chest pain and abdominal pain. Many of these pain symptoms continue long even after recovery from acute covid and the condition is called Long Covid. The most common types of musculoskeletal pain are shoulder and back pain, but small joint and muscle pain can occur in any part of the body.
Some people experience severe shoulder and arm pain after Covid, especially those that were admitted to the hospital. There might be stiffness, burning and tingling sensations, numbness of the arms, and weakness along with pain. Many of those problems improve with time, but if the problem is severe and persists longer one must contact a doctor.
Arthralgia or joint pain and Myalgia or muscle pain are very common in the and include pain in the neck, back, shoulder, knee, and small joints of hands & feet. Many of us will have had these at some point in their life. Most of those problems aren’t serious and improve or recover quickly except for those who are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, or fibromyalgia.
There are multiple reasons behind muscle and joint pain. These are:
- Damage of muscle because of viral infection or immunological injury
- Damage and changes of pain carrying nerves
- Deconditioning of muscle and joints because of rest during illness and hospital admission
- Pain associated with the treatment of Covid illness
- Psychological issues like anxiety and depression can increase pain
- Pre-existing patients with chronic pain may suffer from more pain.
What should be done in muscle and joint pain?
Tips of pain management in Covid:
- Most joint and muscle pain after Covid improve quite quickly. You can take care of your muscles and joints with simple activities and exercises. Don’t be too much anxious and take the help of physicians when it is moderate to severe and persists long.
- Gradually start normal daily life activities, gradually increase the quantity of movement and activities. It is well known that muscles, joints, and bones are wasted and deconditioned with rest and become stronger with movements. So, do movement, walking and gradually increase the activities.
- It is safe to do exercises after Covid unless advised by a doctor. Aim for a balance between activity and rest. Initially, you’ll need to rest more frequently than general physical activities and no exercises. With time and improvements gradually increase general physical activities and later add exercises. Never overdo for rapid recovery.
- General physical activity means all the activities that we normally do like washing and dressing, going to the dining table to take breakfast or lunch, housework like cleaning, gardening, etc.
- There are different types of exercises like strengthening exercises, flexibility exercises, stretching exercises, etc. The simple exercise to start with can be walking on a plane surface. Other forms of exercises should be done with the advice of a physiotherapist in a setup for post covid rehabilitation.
- Yoga, pranayama, or meditations can also be started with the advice of a physiotherapist.
When and what medicines can be started at home?
Painkillers medicines can be dangerous and must be taken with the advice of doctors only. Apart from its side effects, many a time these pain medicines may hide the danger signal and one can report to a doctor later.
Most commonly doctors prescribe paracetamol and muscle relaxants for pain. But many patients need additional nerve medicines and antidepressant medicines. Some time doctors advise interventions like joint injections if it is needed. Application of heat or cold sometimes gives good pain relief and can be done at home.
When should one contact a doctor?
Ideally, all patients should consult a doctor at least once for a check-up even after recovery, but a doctor must be consulted in the following situations:
- More than mild pain
- Persistent pain even it is mild
- Presence of numbness, tingling sensations
- Presence of weakness of a part of the body
- If there difficulties in passing urine or stool
- If there is persistent chest pain, abdominal pain, or headache
- History of unconsciousness or convulsions
- Swelling of joints
- Red or hot joints
- Difficulties in sleep because of pain
Most types of pain are recovered quickly and one must not be anxious or panicked, but at times pain management is very challenging. But it is always advised to take a doctor’s opinion at least once. | https://shellhealth.com/common-tips-of-pain-management-in-covid-19/ |
With a focus on confidence and respect, The University’s Women of Color Task Force convened their 33rd annual conference Friday.
The annual event aims to empower women of color in their workplaces and promote career and educational development. Open to any University employee, the task force promotes professional development, particularly for women of color.
Eilisha Dermont, communications manager at the University’s Center for the Education of Women and a member of the WCTF executive team, said the conference is the largest professional development event hosted at the University.
Dermont said the task force offers mentoring programs and training seminars to help women develop leadership and workplace skills.
This year’s theme, “Tools for the Journey: Self-Awareness, Confidence & Respect,” focused on encouraging women of color to excel in leadership and career development as well as promoting financial education and work-life balance.
Alfred Squire, a former workforce development manager for the Greenville Health System and current director of the MedEx Academy, presented the conference’s keynote speech.
The conference also included 22 workshop sessions around campus, which focused leadership and workplace development pertaining to this year’s theme.
Inspired by the WCTF’s programs, GHS created their own professional development opportunities for women of color. The initiative ultimately resulted in an alliance between the University and GHS to further increase development opportunities for people at both institutions.
As a director of operations, training and human resources, Squire promotes diversity and leadership development at different institutions by mentoring staff. He helps organizations and individuals achieve success by promoting mutual respect and investing in “human capital.”
Squire discussed GHS’s slow evolution to a diverse community throughout the years and his involvement as a director there.
“My personal mission is to educate, enable and empower individuals and teams to achieve excellence,” Squire said.
During his speech, Squire focused on how “color groups” can be used to represent work performance. He discussed how people could be broken into red, yellow and green groups to indicate differences in work motivation, skills and performances among the workforce.
“Colors reflect our lives because we all have them,” Squire said. “We bring them to our work. They bring up the question — what color are you? Are you the manager who never provides follow up to your instructions? Are you the person in the team who always complains and tries to bring the team down? Or are you a different color because you are always sincere in work and take risks to achieve your goals?”
Using this concept of colors — where green is considered the best of the workforce — Squire also discussed implementing changes to increase the staff’s efficiency and satisfaction and to understand problems stemming from a lack of communication, initiative and awareness of consequences.
“The most important responsibilities of leadership are to recognize, respond and reward,” Squire said. “Then you can have your work done the way you want it done every day.”
Squire concluded his speech by emphasizing the importance of a diverse workforce. | https://www.michigandaily.com/uncategorized/wctf-career-conference/ |
In October last year it became known about the interesting position daughter of a famous designer Valentin Yudashkin Galina.
Then the girl was already the fourth month of pregnancy, the second child in the family Galina must be born this spring. The girl reported how her pregnancy this time.
“This pregnancy started out heavier than the first, three months of morning sickness on the classics, but then the second trimester is a great boost of energy for work and new projects, there are very few, and welcome a new member to our family!”says Yudashkin.
Recall that the son of Galina in April will be two years, and she has admitted that she always dreamed of a big family. | https://capelino.com/pregnant-galina-yudashkin-feels-bad/ |
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In order to perform work in plant nurseries rapidly and with high productivity while fully respecting the natural environment in which this work is performed, the need is well-known for machines which are conceived and provided specifically for the many tasks performed in a nursery.
Self-propelled vehicles are widespread in the nursery gardening sector which are constituted by a chassis on wheels or tracks, which is provided with a driver's seat and supports a tool selected among a root balling tool, a plant binder, a drill, a stick driver, a pole driver or another equivalent or similar tool.
These self-propelled vehicles generally rest on the ground by means of at least one pair of stabilizer arms, which can be extended and are adapted to increase the contact base determined by the wheels or tracks with which said vehicles are provided.
Although said vehicles are widely appreciated commercially, they are not entirely free from aspects which can be improved.
The main drawback is the lack of flexibility in use.
In each instance, depending on requirements, it is in fact necessary to remove a tool from the machine in order to fit a different one.
These operations for removing and fitting a tool force the operator to return the machine to the place where the tools are stored, perform the replacement, and then return to the place where work is to be done with the tool that has just been fitted to the machine.
These displacements are an unavoidable source of wasted time, and so are the operations for replacing the tools.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a multifunctional machine for nursery gardening and other similar sectors which is flexible and capable of performing several preset functions.
Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a multifunctional machine which is easy to drive and manage in its functionalities even for an operator who does not have particular prior teachings and has the notions required to drive known types of vehicle.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a multifunctional machine which is stable, can be stabilized easily and quickly if required, and can move rapidly and easily on any type of terrain, from packed soil to muddy/swampy terrain.
Another object is to provide a multifunctional machine which is capable of adapting its wheel gage to the space available between two consecutive rows of a nursery.
Another object of the invention is to provide a multifunctional machine which is capable of reversing its direction of travel quickly and in a small space.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a multifunctional machine for nursery gardening which can be manufactured with known systems and technologies.
a chassis provided with motorized tracks,
a driver's seat which comprises a dashboard and a seat and can rotate through at least 180°,
first means for supporting tools and for coupling and power transmission, fitted with a first root balling tool,
second means for supporting tools and for coupling and power transmission, which are fitted with a second tool selected among a drill, a stick driver, a pole driver, a plant binder, or another tool adapted for nursery gardening.
This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a multifunctional machine for nursery gardening, characterized in that it comprises:
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of five preferred but not exclusive embodiments thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a multifunctional machine according to the invention;
FIG. 2
is a first side view of a multifunctional machine according to the invention;
FIG. 3
is a second side view of a multifunctional machine according to the invention.
10
With reference to the figures, a multifunctional machine for nursery gardening according to the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral .
10
11
12
a chassis provided with motorized tracks ,
13
14
15
a driver's seat , which comprises a dashboard and a seat and can rotate through at least 180°,
16
17
first supporting means for supporting tools and for coupling and power transmission, fitted with a first root balling tool ,
18
second supporting means for supporting tools and for coupling and power transmission, which are fitted with a second tool selected among a drill, a stick driver, a pole driver, a plant binder, or another similar or equivalent tool.
The multifunctional machine for nursery gardening comprises:
10
17
10
The machine according to the invention is therefore provided with two tools, one of which is the root balling tool ; the machine allows to save the time required to remove a tool from the machine to fit another different one, and as mentioned these operations for removing and fitting a tool force the operator to return the machine to the place where the tools are stored, perform the replacement, then return to the site where work is to be performed with the tool that has just been fitted to the machine.
Avoiding these movements and operations allows to save time, fuel and precious physical energy.
10
19
Further, the machine comprises two lateral stabilizer arms of the telescopic type.
10
12
In another embodiment of the machine according to the invention, the tracks have a variable configuration.
13
20
21
15
14
The driver's seat is formed by a platform on which the internal combustion engine is mounted inside its own hood , together with the seat and the dashboard .
14
15
22
23
The dashboard and the seat are inside a volume or space formed by a protective structure for an operator .
22
24
FIG. 1
The protective structure can be constituted by a simple metal frame with a roof , as in , or a cabin in an embodiment of the invention which is not shown for the sake of simplicity.
20
11
25
11
The platform is rigidly coupled to the chassis by interposing a center bearing , which allows its rotation with respect to the chassis .
20
13
10
Rotation of the platform with the associated driver's seat allows to maneuver in the best possible conditions the tools with which the machine is provided.
13
20
The driver's seat can be turned easily by hand simply by freeing the rotation prevented by an appropriate known type of locking means, but this rotation can also be motorized, by installing a dedicated hydraulic or electric drive which is associated with reduction means interposed between said drive and a portion of the center bearing which is rigidly coupled to the platform .
17
The first tool supporting means comprise a hydraulic power take-off, of a per se known type, for actuating the root balling tool .
26
The second tool supporting means comprise a power take-off and at least two hydraulic power take-offs for the actuation of a plant binding tool .
10
26
17
26
17
The machine according to the invention, provided with the plant binding tool on one side and with the root balling tool on the other, is capable of performing sequentially the operations for binding a plant to be removed from the ground, by means of the binding tool , and the removal operation by means of the root balling tool , without having to use, in order to perform the two operations, two separate machines and without requiring a time interval for tool replacement between these two operations.
13
10
The time that elapses between the end of a first binding operation and the beginning of the subsequent root balling operation is the time required to turn the driver's seat and reposition the machine with respect to the plants on which one is to work.
12
The configuration of the tracks is determined by means of appropriately provided devices of a known type, which are not shown and are driven by actuators.
12
By actuating said actuators, the tracks are pushed outward so as to widen the wheel gage and at the same time are moved forward.
12
10
The advancement of the tracks advantageously entails the retraction of the center of gravity of the machine according to the invention.
12
10
Likewise, the tracks are retracted so as to reduce the wheel gage if it is necessary for the machine to move between two particularly narrow rows.
In practice it has been found that the invention thus described solves the problems noted in known types of nursery gardening machine.
In particular, the present invention provides a multifunctional machine for nursery gardening which is flexible and capable of supporting the most disparate tools depending on the requirements of a user.
Moreover, the present invention provides a multifunctional machine which is capable of supporting on one side a root balling tool and on the opposite side a tool selected among a plant binder, a drill, a stick driver, a pole driver, or other tools which are similar in terms of structure or function.
Further, the present invention provides a multifunctional machine which, thanks to the variable-configuration tracks, is capable of adapting to the most disparate terrains, allowing permanent stable balance of all the machine and of what it is carrying and/or supporting.
Said variable-configuration tracks in fact allow to travel over the large holes produced by the removal of sods linked to the removal of roots from the soil.
Said tracks also allow the machine according to the invention to adapt the configuration of the wheel gage to the width of the rows in which said machine is to pass.
Moreover, the present invention provides a multifunctional machine which, thanks to the possible mutually opposite rotation of the tracks, can turn about its own axis if a reversal of travel direction in particularly confined spaces is required.
Further, the present invention provides a multifunctional machine which is easy to drive and manage in its functionalities even for an operator who does not have particular prior teachings and has the notions required to drive known types of vehicle.
Moreover, the present invention provides a multifunctional machine for nursery gardening which can be produced with known systems and technologies.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
In practice, the materials employed, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.
The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No. PD2006U000033 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference. | |
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for making frozen edible products, typically ice cream products. Ice cream is marketed in a large variety of grades and shapes, such as cones, flat-bottomed troughs, rectangular sandwiches and various cup shapes. Most of the products, in addition to the ice cream proper, also contain various fillings and top decorations.
The products are formed more or less automatically, such as by filling ice cream into containers in the form of cornets, cups or the like, then moving the filled products into a freezing or hardening compartment, and finally picking up the frozen products ready for packing. In the simplest production systems, no particular means are provided to hold the products upright during the freezing process. As a result, the decoration tends to creep downwards and outwards when the products are laying down during the freezing process, leaving a diffuse and less attractive appearance. There are more advanced machines on the market, in which the products are held upright also during the freezing/hardening process. However, until now, all such types of machines have been encumbered with low capacity and/or limited flexibility. The machines are generally built for producing either cone or cup shaped ice cream and rarely both kinds. Machines capable of producing both have a low capacity, from 4000 to 8000 items per hour. Also, such machines are very expensive, and shifting from one product to another takes considerable time and tends to cause running-in problems.
Today there are three main machine varieties available for producing cup or cone shaped ice cream products with the products standing upright. According to one such variety the products are filled by a traditional filling machine such as a so-called "Fornaroli" or "Viking" in four or six rows. After the products have been filled and provided with lids they are lifted up from the machine by means of vacuum or tongues and placed in plastic or steel cages formed with holes to accomodate the products. The filled cages are then moved into a traditional freezing tunnel or cabinet, e.g. of the spiral type. When frozen the products are picked up from the cages and packed. The empty cages then return to the filling machine to be filled with products again.
This prior system has a large capacity but very low flexibility. The diameter of the cage holes must match the associated filling machine equipment, and consequently such a production system is normally not feasible for more than two different products. If more than two variants are required, then a completely new set of cages must be provided and in addition all of the filling machine product dispensers must be replaced. Also, the largest product diameter should not exceed the maximum diameter for which the filling machine is designed. In addition, this system is limited to a certain product taper angle, with a corresponding limitation of possible variants. Therefore, machines of this type very seldom allow for more than two or three different product variants. As a result only the very largest ice cream makers use such equipment, since the investments are high and require continuous production. Furthermore, cleaning of the cages represents a considerable problem and the cages occupy a considerable space when not in use.
A second wellknown type of machine is sold in several variants such as the so-called Straight Line, Glacier, Gram and Cattabriga machines. These mainly consist of a long continuous chain provided with squared steel trays. Holes are formed in the trays to receive the product to be run on the machine. Usually there are up to six products per tray. The capacity of this machine is low and large expenses are required for replacing trays, etc., if high flexibility is to be obtained.
There is also a third machine variant exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 3, 580,188. This is a 6-row type of machine in which the products are filled and frozen in a traditional manner. After dwelling for about 15 minutes in the freezing tunnel the products are turned upside-down and emerge depending with their tops down. This prior machine requires a very long freezing tunnel in order to ensure sufficient hardening of the products before upsetting them. The machine construction is useful for conical products only.
Swedish Patent No. 127 370 describes an endless conveyor machine specifically designed for producing ice lollies. Trays carried by the conveyor are lifted and rotated horizontally a quarter turn by cylinder means below the conveyor upper run to permit insertion of sticks into the ice bodies formed on the trays.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main object of the present invention is to combine large capacity with flexibility, thus making it possible to produce a wide range of products at high speed on the same machine without large investments in rebuild adjustments and correspondingly long adjustment periods. Also, the machine should keep the products in an upright position throughout the production process, to obtain an optimum top decoration having sharp and clear contours.
According to the invention these objects are obtained through an apparatus as defined below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention and its advantages will clearly appear from the following detailed description thereof, with reference to the accompanying rather schematic drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a partial elevational view of a machine primarily for production of ice cream and incorporating an apparatus according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing parts of the machine of FIG. 1,
FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective and cross-sectional views, respectively, of a machine part;
FIGS. 5-8 are partial views illustrating various steps during a product filling process;
FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic elevational view of a freezing cabinet usable in the machine;
FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating various shapes of ice cream products capable of being be produced by the machine;
FIGS. 11 and 12 are partial views illustrating a lid application step;
FIG. 13 is a partial view illustrating a detail of a modified machine.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In FIG. 1 numeral 2 refers to an endless conveyor for conveying preforms which, by means of a filling assembly 4 located above the conveyor 2, are filled with ice cream and possibly taste and colored additives, and are furnished with top decorations before advancing to further processing stations or sections such as freezing or hardening section 25 (FIG. 2) and a pick- up station (not shown). By "preform" in this context is meant any top open container or substrate made of any convenient material such as cardboard, plastics, pastry, etc., and of any shape such as cone or cornet, cup, etc.
The conveyor 2 as shown is generally of a conventional type comprised of a plurality of rectangular carrier plates or trays 6 mounted between two parallel spaced conveyor chains 8, as illustrated in FIG. 2, for moving along an upper and lower runs 3 and 5. Each tray 6 can generally be of a form as shown in FIG. 3, for example, with a plurality of apertures or holes 10 arranged in a transverse row and each adapted to receive a preform standing upright therein. In the example shown there are ten holes in a row, i.e. there are ten product lines across the width of the conveyor 2.
The trays 6 are pivotally supported between the conveyor chains 8 by means of pivots 9 at each end along the central axis of the tray, such that the trays in a conventional manner, by means of guide members not shown, retain their horizontal position when moving around the conveyor chain turn sprockets (not shown) as indicated at the right hand side of FIG. 2. In FIG. 4 a longitudinal section through a portion of a conveyor tray 6 is shown to a larger scale and in more detail. The holes 10 are defined by a circumferential, frustoconical support surface or socket 11 generally matching the shape of conical products to be carried therein. The socket 11 extends downward, e.g. 5-6 mm, to form a support rim 16 on the tray bottom side, in a per se known manner. The mean diameter of the holes 10 is practically selected to keep all current cone- shaped products standing upright therein owing to their weight distribution. A suitable hole diameter would be about 45 mm.
According to the invention, as a new and specific feature of the tray 6, there is a raised wall portion 12 surrounding, in a radially spaced relationship, each of the holes 10 of a conveyor tray 6, leaving a support or land portion 13 between such wall portion 12 and the edge of hole 10, for supporting flat-bottomed preforms that do not fit into the circular holes 10 in the trays 6. The wall portions 12 serve to keep such flat bottomed preforms in place on the trays as explained more fully below. By "raised wall portion" is meant raised relative to the holes 10, i.e. to the plane of the land portion 13.
If desirable, instead of single row trays such as tray 6 illustrated in the drawings, trays having several parallel rows of holes symmetrically disposed on each side of the center axis of the tray may be used.
Like the product conveyor 2 the filler assembly 4 schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 may be of a conventional type comprising a plurality of stations, generally denoted by reference numeral 14, such as a preform dispenser, one or more stations for ice cream filling, nut vibrator, jam applicator, top decoration applicator, lid dispenser and pleating means. Thus, the stations 14 of the filler assembly 4 each comprise a transverse row of ten identical dispensers, filler nozzles, etc, i.e. one for each of the ten product lines of the conveyor 2. The filler assembly 4 is reciprocally arranged in the longitudinal direction of the product conveyor 2 as indicated by arrows 15 in FIG. 1, such that all of the stations intermittently follow the movement of the conveyor during each filling operation. Conveniently this may be implemented by arranging the filler assembly 4 in a sliding carrier or the like, for example, which, like the remaining details of the filler assembly 4, is not further illustrated or described since it is merely a matter of ordinary prior art known to any skilled person.
The skilled person will also realize the importance of accurate positioning of the preforms advanced onto the product conveyor relative to the various stations of the filler assembly. Therefore, in prior machines, the frustoconical sockets of the holes in the conveyor trays have to be accurately conformed to the shape of the preforms of the type of product to be received therein, and such products must necessarily be conical in order to be stably supported in their holes. Whenever a product is to be run having a shape different from that for which the conveyor trays are made, prior machines have to have all trays of the conveyor replaced, which is a relatively time-consuming operation since a such conveyor normally is of a considerable length.
In a preferred version of the apparatus according to the present invention a second endless conveyor 18 is disposed between the upper and lower conveyor runs 3, 5 of the product conveyor 2 directly below the filler assembly 4, and adapted to move synchronically with the product conveyor 2. The conveyor 18 carries a plurality of liftable and lowerable suction cups 20 mounted on rods 19 arranged in transverse rows corresponding to the rows of holes 10 in the product conveyor trays 6 located thereabove, such that when the machine is operated there will always be a row of holes 10 directly above each of the rows of suction cups 20 in the area at the filler assembly 4.
The construction of the suction cup conveyor 18 is not shown and described in detail, since it is within the competance of the skilled artisan to implement a such conveyor in a useful manner. For example, like the product conveyor 2, it may be comprised of two parallelly extending chains in which the suction cup rods 19 with their not shown lifting means are arranged in transverse members disposed between the chains and secured thereto for moving along an upper and lower runs 21 and 22, respectively. Also the vacuum system for the suction cups and the design of the latter is a conventional technique which a skilled person will be able to carry out without a detailed description.
The machine as shown and described so far functions essentially as follows.
Each time a tray 6 passes under the preform dispenser station of the filler assembly 4, the underlaying row of suction cups 20 on the upper run 21 of the conveyor 18 is lifted up through the row of tray holes 10, until they each contact the bottom of a respective lowermost preform 23 of a stack of preforms in the dispenser row, thereby suctionally engaging such preform (FIG. 5). Then the suction cups 20 are lowered down to a bottom position bringing the engaged preforms with them until the latter are seated in their predetermined positions on the tray 6 (FIG. 6). When the row of preforms 23 has been positioned into or onto the product conveyor 2 as explained above, the respective remaining stations 14 of the filler assembly 4 are successively operated as the preforms passes under them. During each operation the filler assembly follows the movement of the product conveyor 2 until the operation has been completed, after which it rapidly returns to its initial position ready to serve the next row of preforms in the product conveyor 2. FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate operations of filling a cone-shaped and a cup-shaped preform 23, respectively.
Thus, since the preforms 23 are held stably by the suction cups 20 during the filling operation, the cone angle of the sockets 10' of the tray holes 11 is not critical, i.e. it need not exactly match the preform cone angle such as in prior machines. Consequently, according to the present invention, products of varying cone angle can be stably accommodated in the tray holes 10 of the machine according to the invention.
When the last one of the successive operations of the filler assembly 4 has been completed for the row of products in a tray, the vacuum in the corresponding row of suction cups is released, allowing the latter to release their engaged product and return along the lower run 22 of the suction cup conveyor 18, back to their initial positions. Mechanisms 24 preferably are provided at the lower conveyor run for automatically cleaning the depending suction cups, e.g. by means of pressurized air, to remove any debris that may have deposited therein. Conveniently, the pressurized air is blown down through bores in the cup rods 19 and out from within the suction cups 20. The valves of the various stations 14 of the filler assembly 4 for ice cream filling, chocolate filling etc are preferably provided with a bypass valve (not shown) which is activated in case a photocell, sensor or the like detects the absence of a preform on a tray below that filler station, such that the ice cream, etc escapes through the bypass valve rather than through the station 14 filler nozzle, thereby avoiding flooding and clogging of the suction cups.
The products on the conveyor 2 are then conveyed to the next processing step which normally will be freezing (hardening) in a multifloor freezing cabinet 25, for example, as indicated in FIG. 2.
In the freezing cabinet the products are exposed to refrigeration air streams that would displace them on the trays were they not kept in place. Conical products extending down into the tray holes 10 are kept in place by the latter, in contrast to products having bottom dimensions larger than the tray hole diameter, such as the cup of FIG. 8, for example.
This is where the importance of the raised wall portions 12 around the holes 10 on the upper surface of the trays 6 becomes clear. Thus, such wall portions 12 prevent products which rest on the land portions 13 rather than extending down into the tray holes 10 from substantial displacement on the trays during the freezing process. As a result, the same trays 6 can be used in the conveyor 2, not only for conical products of varying sizes, but also for flat- bottomed cup products of highly deviating shape, such as indicated in FIG. 10. It should be noted that although, for simplicity, the various products in FIG. 10 are shown as being placed together in one and the same tray row, normally, in operation of the machine, only one type of product at a time will be produced, i.e. the same product in all ten product lines of the conveyor.
In the example illustrated in FIGS. 4-12 of the drawings, the raised wall portion 12 is shown as an annular ridge protruding above the general upper surface of the tray 6. It should be understood, however, that such wall portion may take many different forms. Thus, rather than annular (circular) it could have any other suitable configurations e.g. rectangular such as square or other polygon shapes. Further, they could extend intermittently rather than continuously around their holes 10. As indicated in FIG. 13, raised wall portion 12' would also result by lowering or recessing each land portion 13' with its hole 10 relative to the top surface of tray 6. The dimensions of the wall portions 12, 12' are selected to accommodate all current products. Thus, in case of an annular wall portion, a suitable diameter would be about 8- 12 cm, preferably about 10 cm. A suitable height of the wall portion 12, 12' would be about 5-10 mm, but of course it may be lower or higher if desirable.
Although, as explained above the suction cups 20 keep the preforms stably in exact positions during the entire filling process, during lid application and pleating, which normally will be the last operation of the filling process, an accuracy beyond that achieved by the suction cups 20 may be required. This may be achieved in a manner known per se by using aligning means in the form of a pair of arms or jaws 26 having semicircular recesses 27 adapted to the product shape as indicated in FIG. 11. The jaws 26 clamp each preform 23 and keep it in an exactly desired position during application of a lid 28, as shown in FIG. 12.
When the products emerge from the freezing cabinet 25 and move along the bottom run 5 of the conveyor 2 they will meet a pick-up means (not shown) of known type, e.g. a pick-up robot for automatic packaging. At such pick-up means there may conveniently be provided an aligning means of the same type as the jaw means 26 at the lid applicator station of the filler assembly, such that those products which may be slightly disaligned in the hole 10 or slightly displaced within the raised wall portion 12, 12' are aligned before pick-up.
As will appear from FIGS. 6-8 the various preforms may be of different heights relative to the trays 6. Therefore the height of the filler assembly 4 and suction cup conveyor 18 may be adjusted as indicated by arrows 29 in FIG. 1, enabling their level to be preset for the product to be produced. The construction of a such height levelling means is also within the competence of the skilled person, e.g. based on well known hydraulic principles.
As noted above, the suction cups 20 carried by the conveyor 18 are preferred means for keeping the preforms 23 in exact aligned positions during the filling operation. However, any other suitable gripping means may be used to perform this function. For example, a set of jaws like the aligning jaws 26 described above in connection with lid application could be used. In that case the preforms 23 would be dropped rather than drawn from their dispenser stack in the filler assembly 14.
From the above description it will be clear that the machine as shown and described will be able to produce ice cream products of substantially varying shapes, with a minimum of intervention when shifting from one product to another. Generally, nothing more than preform and lid dispensers have to be replaced, which is a relatively simple and rapid operation.
Although the apparatus according to the invention has been described and illustrated in connection with a machine for making ice cream products, it is of course not limited to such products. Thus, edible materials other than ice cream, e.g., youghurt, suffle, etc, could be filled from the filler assembly 4 into the various preforms 23, for subsequent freezing, cooling or a heat/cool process. |
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