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Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour (LITAC) is a collaborative, multi-disciplinary research institute addressing global challenges in colour, fashion and textiles through research and innovation, as well as teaching. We are particularly focused on the development of innovative science and technology, materials, methods and processes. Technology-driven sustainable development is a major part of our work. We are collaborative and international in our outlook and work with business, governments, NGOs and policy makers. LITAC is built on a heritage of nearly 150 years of teaching and research in colour and textiles on the same site in Leeds, and we are proud to have been supported by The Clothworkers’ Company since our original founding in 1874. Discover the Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour - Our heritage Discover more about the historical links between the University and the textiles industry in Leeds. - Building on expertise LITAC works collaboratively, bringing together the University’s academic expertise in areas related to textiles and colour. - Research strengths Cutting-edge research related to colour, fashion and textiles to find solutions to global challenges. - The Clothworkers' Company The Clothworkers’ Company and the University of Leeds have a rich history dating back to the foundation of the Yorkshire College of Science in 1874. News Discover the latest news from the Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour. - The future of footwear Future Fashion Factory community member Hylo is leading the way in accelerating environmental change in the athletic footwear market. - Revolutionary dyeing process wins prestigious Circular Future Fund prize Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour in collaboration with the School of Chemistry, are developing a solution to separate dyes from fibre, enabling easier recycling of the polyester. - The tragedy of the fast fashion landfill Listen to Mark Sumner, an expert in sustainable fashion speak to Channel 4 about how the West's addiction to fast fashion is leaving an environmental disaster in West Africa. - What is the effect of different fibre/yarn types on microplastics release? LITAC member Dr Muhammad Tausif explores in his new paper the impact of key fibre types and yarn structures (rudimentary elements of textiles) on fragmented fibre release during laundry. - Why wool matters University of Leeds experts have taken part in a short documentary produced with His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales for the Campaign for Wool. - Investing in solutions to improve the sustainability of UK clothing Textiles 2030 is WRAP’s ground-breaking initiative, harnessing the knowledge and expertise of UK leaders in sustainability to accelerate the textiles industry’s move towards circularity in the UK.	https://www.leeds.ac.uk/leeds-institute-textiles-colour
Published Jun 13, 2017 by Addison-Wesley Professional. Part of the Developer's Library series. The Python 3 Standard Library contains hundreds of modules for interacting with the operating system, interpreter, and Internet–all extensively tested and ready to jump-start application development. Now, Python expert Doug Hellmann introduces every major area of the Python 3.x library through concise source code and output examples. Hellmann’s examples fully demonstrate each feature and are designed for easy learning and reuse. You’ll find practical code for working with text, data structures, algorithms, dates/times, math, the file system, persistence, data exchange, compression, archiving, crypto, processes/threads, networking, Internet capabilities, email, developer and language tools, the runtime, packages, and more. Each section fully covers one module, with links to additional resources, making this book an ideal tutorial and reference. The Python 3 Standard Library by Example introduces Python 3.x’s new libraries, significant functionality changes, and new layout and naming conventions. Hellmann also provides expert porting guidance for moving code from 2.x Python standard library modules to their Python 3.x equivalents.	http://www.informit.com/store/python-3-standard-library-by-example-9780134291161
Most L2 motivation research ultimately aims to provide insights for teachers of languages, and much that happens in a classroom has the potential to affect learner motivation, but this chapter focusses specifically on the strategies that teachers consciously use to maintain or increase their learners’ motivation. It first reviews the research based on Dörnyei’s (Motivational strategies in the language classroom. Cambridge: CUP, 2001) comprehensive framework of motivational teaching strategies, and offers a summary of the findings in regard to the strategies favoured by language teachers and learners, and evidence for their efficacy in improving learner engagement. The chapter then goes on to critique the notion of a ‘motivational strategy’ and to propose some alternative ways that researchers might try to expand our understanding of what makes a motivational L2 pedagogy, for example by investigating teachers’ motivational ‘thinking-in-action’ and examining the subtleties of learners’ responses to teaching.	https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-030-28380-3_14
When you start creating a Markdown card, you will have two options. If you choose a template for your markdown card, the font type will be preset depending on the markdown card theme. You can change the font by writing custom CSS. Creating your own markdown card will require you to write your own Custom CSS for the font of your choice. How to customize the font? In both cases, you can customize the font type by choosing Bold, Italics or use H1 or H2 to distinguish the font. How to change the size and color of the font? Set the font size and color of your choice from the 'Set Style' pop-up. In the 'Set Style' window, you can also set H1 to H6 tags for the text. How to change the font size and color of the text inside a button? You can also change the size and colour of the text that you write within a button on the markdown card. Here is a preview of the markdown card with a different font size and color for the button text. In the Tag option, select Button. Type in the desired font size and choose a color by dragging your cursor to the desired color. For instance, here we've chosen Font Size as 16 px and chosen White as the intended color.	https://docs.beaconstac.com/frequently-asked-questions-faqs/can-i-change-the-font-type-size-and-color-on-markdown-cards
By exploring the world around me, I use my lens to become a storyteller and articulate the narrative of a scene. Using perspective, timing and light, my pictures capture the unique beauty and detail in that instant. Explore my range of products from fine art prints to small coasters. I love to capture Singapore in its raw and unique beauty and use the images to create stunning prints and gift ideas for people to enjoy.	https://www.macheroux.photography/
(X-axis) shows the year of each data point. The Orange FIT [dashed] (Y-axis) is least squares fit (linear) that fits the data to Y=6.0916x read against right axis The Early years Starting in 1936-1937 - The Social Security Administration started issuing numbers. Over these first 2 years a significant amount of numbers were issued, approximately 37.1 Million numbers were initially issued. The exact amount issued in each year is unknown, so the total for this first period was divided between these 2 years evenly. 1940's We see 6-7 Million numbers assigned each year drastically dropping in 1943, soon after the United States entered World War II. Through the remainder of the 1940's the assignments Decline ending in 1949 with just over 2 million assigned that year. 1950's The 1950's see a dramatic uptick, to over 4 million per year in 1951 and then wavering to around 3 million by 1959. 1960's Starting the same as the end of the 1950's, we see ae huge uptick in 1963 with 8.6M numbers issued that year. Numbers stay up through the end of the 1960's ending with an average of 6 million issued per year for the last half. 1970's Starting with almost a direct repeat of the 60's in pattern, we see an upshoot, but this time to 10 Million issued in 1963 which will remain the highest issued (ignoring the start at 1936-1937) until 1987. The decade remains strong until the end where there is a significant drop to around 5.2 million for the last 2 years. 1980's The decade average 5.8 Million per year until 1987 with 11.6M and 1988 with 11.3M - the highest years in this data set. This decade ends with a strong 8 Million issued in 1989. This incrediable uptick is most likely to the change in policy to do 'enumeration at birth' instead of working age which up to this point, a SSN was issued around the age of 14, or when a person entered the work force. 1990's The 90's continue the decline at the end of the 80's and drops another 1M in 1990 to 9M issued. This decline continues through the decade ending 1999 with 5.3M issued that year. 2000-2008 With very little fluctuation, the issuing rate in the 2000's is at 5.7M - The same average as 1978-1986. Average 6.1M per Year Over the first 72 years of operation, the average amount issued per year can be seen by the dotted orange line in the plot. This fitted line is forced to 0 at the beginning, so in a typical linear equation y=mX+b, or y=aX+b form, the b (zero intercept) is forced to zero and best fit found with slope (m or a depending on the equation you are familiar with) is solved to y=6.0916x. This is y(how many issued that year) = 6.0916million/yr. So on average, over this dataset, about 6.1M are issued per year. Beyond 2008 The trend in this data shows that if no other major disturbances happen, the actual amount of numbers issued each year will most likely be less than 6.1M. Many other analysis use a rule of thumb of around 5.5M issued per year.	http://numchk.com/ssn/articles/SSN-450M-Issued.html
The amount of data in the world is growing. We now have access to millions upon millions of resources online – which is both a blessing and a curse. On the upside, having huge amounts of data at our disposal gives us more options, and can help us make more informed decisions. But there is such a thing as too much data, especially when you have to wade through an ocean of information to find something specific. Ultimately, having so much data at our fingertips only helps us if we can search it efficiently. Without smart search tools, scouring for information online can be like searching for a needle in a digital haystack. Search engines like Google are constantly updating their algorithms to tackle this problem and improve online searches. But this challenge extends beyond general googling – it affects website searches as well. Ever tried to find something through a website's search engine and got no results back? It's rough, isn't it? You're left either feebly trying different search terms until something comes up, or sifting through all the information on the site, hoping you'll stumble upon what you're looking for. This is where semantic search can help. In this guide, you'll learn what it is, how it works, and what it means for your website.	https://www.sitesearch360.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-semantic-search/
Have you ever considered what life would be like if you were considered very attractive? Have you ever considered if your life would be different if people consistently looked at you and thought, "that person seems friendly?" Recently, a group of researchers looked at the relationship between a scientist's appearance and how the public responds to their work. What they found was pretty interesting. One aspect of this experiment considered whether a scientist's facial appearance would affect public interest in their work. The answer seems to be yes. Attractive With Glasses On, Attractive With Glasses Off Participants were more interested in learning about scientific research that was presented as the work of an attractive-looking scientist, for example. But the participants' judgements of whether a scientist did high-quality work, based on viewing the scientist's face alone, were lower if the scientist appeared attractive or sociable. One idea is that people have preconceived notions about what a good scientist should look like, based on stereotypes. We expect scientists to be solitary and socially awkward, for example. And even though the assumptions we make based on a person's facial appearance can be incorrect, our biases still influence our decisions. In this case: the selection and evaluation of scientific news. While the study featured in this article discussed symmetry and averageness of people's faces, there are more ways that humans determine attractiveness, cuteness, and other ways that we define beauty. If you want to read about why we find some ugly animals cute and how it relates to the ways we perceive human infants, here's a recent post. Thanks to Ana Ioana Gheorghiu of the University of Essex for reviewing this episode's script. Sources And Further Reading:	https://indianapublicmedia.org/amomentofscience/pretty-face.php
Flowers of War is an intricately layered and connected artwork drawing on stories of World War One from local communities archives and museums. Personal historical narratives inspire the creation of individual leaf and flowers forms. Each element of the work is an enamelled wearable brooch, either a leaf or a flower associated with sites of the Great War or memories of the home front. The objects adorn a large steel wreath to illustrate the emotions and spirit the organic forms embody. In conjunction with the final exhibition, objects are linked to historical narratives and connected to stories and artefacts recorded online or displayed in museum collections. The wreath is a work in progress. People can contribute to the wreath by uploading images of artefacts and memories to an existing World War One website and sending the link to the artists. The Exhibited Work and Community Flowers of War is an iterative work which will be exhibited for the first time in Australia at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne commencing in late October 2018. Flowers of War at the Shrine of Remembrance: https://www.shrine.org.au/Exhibitions/Temporary-Exhibitions/Flowers-of-War Prior to this, the work was exhibited at the Royal West of England Academy in Bristol, UK and in 2017 at Canterbury Museum in Christchurch, New Zealand. The Final Work Each flower or leaf form will have its own unique story and imagery. Collected together on a structure there is a recurrence of familiar forms but as a collection, the united images and stories become woven together to form a two-metre diameter wreath. The final work is a contemporary interpretation of the function of the ceremonial wreath; it is a recollection of fragmented memories of the past that can evoke remembrance. The Flowers of War combines media to provide a powerful and moving commemoration of individual stories. These international stories are woven together to form a singular art work, digital artist book and website. Taken as a whole these objects tell a story of individual memory alongside collective experience and the community of commemoration.	http://flowersofwar.org/the-project/
Aaron Boehm: FINRA Sanctioned Copia Wealth Management Broker Copia Wealth Management adviser Aaron Boehm (CRD# 3232128) has been sanctioned by securities industry regulators in connection to alleged rule violations. According to his Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) BrokerCheck report and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, accessed on February 24, 2022, he is currently based in Bend, Oregon. He was also previously registered as a broker with Securities America and KMS Financial Services. Boehm Entered into Improper Loan Arrangement In 2011 FINRA sanctioned Mr. Boehm in connection to allegations he improperly engaged in an outside business activity. According to a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent (No. 2010022029101) issued in June 2011, he was affiliated with Charles Schwab & Company when, in 2007, he entered into a handwritten agreement with a firm customer “while at the customer’s garage sale.” Under the terms of that agreement, FINRA states, he would provide the customer with financial advisory services “in exchange for three older vehicles which the customer sold to him at a discounted price.” The AWC Letter goes on to state that prior to entering into the agreement, the customer held his funds in a Schwab Managed Portfolio wrap account. The customer “paid an additional percentage for the management of his mutual funds within the account,” and allegedly complained to Mr. Boehm about those fees. After entering into the agreement, the customer transferred his funds into a no-fee account which he had “previously held” at Schwab. Roughly a year after this, FINRA states, the financial recession had taken hold. The customer allegedly “instructed Boehm to liquidate his positions,” incurring a “significant loss.” FINRA states that Mr. Boehm had advised the customer not to liquidate his positions, but the customer “persisted.” The agreement between the two terminated in December 2008, and did not include the provision of “any other financial advisory services,” according to FINRA. The Letter also notes that Mr. Boehm received no payment other than the three older vehicles. FINRA Fined, Suspended Boehm As FINRA explains in the AWC Letter, NASD Rule 3030 stipulated that brokers associated with FINRA may not accept compensation from “any other person as a result of any business activity, other than a passive investment, outside the scope of his relationship with his employer firm.” (NASD Rule 3030 has since been superseded by FINRA Rule 3270.) Although the rule allowed brokers to engage in such activities in cases where they provide “prompt written notice” to the firm in the form it required, Mr. Boehm allegedly did not provide Schwab with prior notification or receive its prior written approval. In connection with these findings, FINRA determined that Mr. Boehm had violated NASD Rule 3030. It suspended him from associating with any FINRA member firm for 30 days and issued him a fine of $5,000. Copy of FINRA FINE Investor Paid $150,000 Settlement for Complaint Involving Aaron Boehm Mr. Boehm’s BrokerCheck report goes on a 2010 customer complaint alleging unsuitable recommendations regarding mutual fund purchases, as well as the “violation of a written agreement… for management services in exchange for a jeep and two motorcycles.” The complaint settled for $150,000, with Mr. Boehm stating in a comment that “the claim is without basis.” Aaron Boehm Formerly Registered with KIS Financial Aaron Boehm started working as an investment adviser at Copia Wealth Management in Bend, Oregon in January 2022. (According to his BrokerCheck report, he has been the company’s owner since 2009.) Before that, he worked at Securities America in Bend from 2020 until 2021, having joined the firm after his tenure at KMS Financial Services from 2011 to 2020. His history as a securities professional also includes registrations with LPL Financial, Charles Schwab & Company, and Dean Witter Reynolds. For more information about his time in the securities industry, visit his FINRA-maintained BrokerCheck report and SEC-maintained Investment Adviser Public Disclosure. (The above-referenced information was accessed on February 24, 2022.) Call MDF Law to Discuss Your Claim If you have suffered losses investing with Aaron Boehm, you may have options. The attorneys at MDF Law have proven track records of experience advocating for the victims of broker fraud, recovering millions of dollars in lost funds. Call 800-767-8040 today for a free consultation with our team.	https://mdf-law.com/aaron-boehm/
...BTEC LEVEL 3 BUSINESS SCOREBOARD User Manual By Rudy Qaqu Contents BTEC LEVEL 3 BUSINESS SCOREBOARD 1 Introduction 3 System Requirements 3 Installation 4 Step by step guide 5 How to use the System to your needs 9 Trouble-Shooting 12 Error recovery procedure 13 Introduction Welcome to the BTEC Level 3 Business Scoreboard user manual. This programme allows you as teacher to mark business student’s work using a simple check box that defines the criteria of that unit. The system loads up a specific unit or a student, in which it also loads the marking assessment for that and the teacher will tick the criteria’s the student has met and these marks will be aggregated to be viewed as grades of Pass, Merit, Distinction which teacher’s & students can view it to see what grades they have got and which sections they need to improve. System Requirements Here are the requirements for Microsoft Access to run efficiently. (Source from Microsoft website) COMPONENT \| REQUIREMENT \| Computer and processor \| 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster x86-bit or x64-bit processor with SSE2 \| Memory \| 1 GB RAM (32-bit); 2 GB RAM (64-bit) \| Hard disk \| 3.0 GB available disk space \| Display \| 1366 x 768 screen resolution \| Graphics \| Graphics hardware acceleration requires a DirectX 10 graphics card. \| Operating system \| Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Server 2008 R2, or Windows Server 2012 \| Browser \| Supported browsers for Office 2013 and Office 365 \| .Net version... Words: 1044 - Pages: 5 ...Faculty Portal Homepage 1.2 If you have enrolled in E-Campus and have a User name and Password skip to section 2.1. All other continue to 1.2.2. 1.3.1 New User Registration (See Figure 2 Red Section) 1.3.2.1 Click on “New to campus? Sign up here” link 1.3.2.2 Follow directions on New Registration Screen to enroll in to E-Campus ( Figure 1) 1.3.2.3.1 Create a Username Note: * You cannot use your Social Security number and/or PIN as a User Login Name. * An all-numeric User Login Name will not be valid. * Use 6 to 20 characters, alpha/numeric (e.g. johndoe1). Important: Your user login name will be used as the prefix of your University issued email account (i.e. [email protected]). 1.3.2.3.2 Create a Password and enter it into the Password field then re-enter your created Password into the Re-enter Password field. Note: * Use 7 to 16 characters, alpha/numeric. (e.g., passwrd1) 1.3.2.3.3 Enter Birthdate 1.3.2.3.4 Enter email ID 1.3.2.3.5 Enter your Individual Record Number (IRN) 1.3.2.3.6 Choose a Challenge Question 1.3.2.3.7 Give your Challenge Question an Answer and submit information. Note: * Use 7 to 16 characters, alpha/numeric. (e.g., passwrd1) Figure 1: User Registration (Ecampus Student & Faculty Portal, 2008) ...... Words: 748 - Pages: 3 ...User Manual ENG/221 June 14, 2011 Table of Contents Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………………...……1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………..………….....2 Login Screen………………………………………………………………………………...……3 Home Page………………………………………………………………...……………………...4 Classroom……………………………………………………………………………..………….7 Library………………………………………………………………………..………………....11 Program……………………………………………………………………………..…………..15 Account……………………………………………………………………………………..…...17 Contact Number………………………………………………………………………….……..18 Introduction The University of Phoenix offers to their students and faculty a portal (eCampus) to conduct his or her collage program. Since most of the attendees at the university are working, the eCampus website provides 24 hours of access to the classroom. Students can read class material, communicate with fellow students, and complete assignments on their own time. Students will also have access to his or her particular program and account. Students have at their fingertips the ability to control their own collage experience. Students will also enjoy benefits such as an online library, online books, and an online store. This manual will help guide the new student through the basics of the eCampus site. It is recommended that a new student read this manual first before entering the site or attending his or her first class. It is also recommended that a new student enter...... Words: 2267 - Pages: 10 ...Web-Based User Manuals Shawn Craig ENG221 November 2, 2011 Dr. Yvette Irizarry Web-Based User Manuals Web-based user manuals are becoming more popular as manufacturers find it more cost effective to put their products manuals on the Internet. Printed manuals will still be available with the products but only provide essential information. Web-based user manuals provide in-depth information and include better visuals of the product. Many of the web-based manuals also offer interactivity, allowing the consumer to understand the product better. According to (Gerson & Gerson, n.d.) the techniques used for developing an effective, interactive, and web-based user manual are similar to writing a paper manual. Audience recognition, development, conciseness, consistency, ease of use, and document design are part of the process. The differences interactive web-based manuals must include are better visuals, interactivity, and more information. Adding product pictures in place of drawings gives the manual an improved look. Adding clickable tabs and links helps the user navigate the manual more efficiently. Online user manuals can also provide the consumer with more information about the product than a paper manual. Many products are too small, and the packaging may not provide enough room for an effective user manual. By providing a user manual online, all important information can be addressed without the constraint of space. These differences add to... Words: 331 - Pages: 2 ...User Manual Critique Munchkin Baby Gate User Manual Critique INTRODUCTION Almost any parent can attest to the importance of a good baby gate. The right gate can help keep your little one safe from many of the potential hazards around the house. In addition to protecting your child, a wall mounted baby gate is easier to use than a pressure mounted gate, typically looks better, and can be used safely at the top of a staircase. In order to reap the benefits of a wall mounted baby gate, it must be properly assembled, installed, and mounted. Most customers that buy a baby gate rely on the user manual included to help guide them through this assembly. Unfortunately, the majority of those that purchase the Munchkin Extended Baby Gate will find themselves very unsatisfied with the included user manual instructions. I know all too well how frustrating a poorly written user manual can be because I purchased the Munchkin Extended Baby Gate, and I had to suffer through the poor excuse of a manual provided. While the guide had some of the important pieces we expect from a solid user manual such as warranty information, hazard details, and equipment information; the manual does not however properly consider its audience. The manual also fails in its ease of use, and its document design. THE GOOD Ethical Instructions It is important for any successful user manual to be ethical. A key factor in doing this is to highlight the potential hazards and warnings involved...... Words: 749 - Pages: 3 ...Welcome Dear Beetel Customer, Thank you for choosing Beetel "BG60" HSDPA Datacard. With this manual, you can acquire a full understanding of the usage of this datacard. Beetel Teletech LTD © 2011. All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced without permission. All trademarks and brand names mentioned in this publication are property of their respective owners. While all efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of all contents in this manual, we assume no liability for errors or omissions or statements of any kind in this manual, whether such errors or omissions or statements resulting from negligence, accidents, or any other cause. The contents of this manual are subject to change without notice. We strive to produce products in compliance with global environmental standards. Please consult your local authorities for proper disposal. Note: User’s Manual is just to guide the user about the functionality of the phone. This does not seem any certificate of technology. Some functions may very due to modifications and upgradations of software or due to print mistake. . Contents 1. Description of Beetel BG60 HSDPA Modem 2. Internet Service 3. Contacts Service 4. Message Service 5. Settings and Information Query 6. FAQs 1. Description of Beetel BG60 HSDPA Modem 1.1 Launch Beetel BG60 HSDPA Modem Management To launch the program, double-click the shortcut icon of Beetel BG60 HSPA Modem on the desktop. Note: a. When you...... Words: 1913 - Pages: 8 ...User Manual Critique: Marantz DVD Player DV4003 This critique is on the Marantz DVD Player DV4003 user manual. This manual was chosen at random from brand names with which I am unfamiliar so as to provide an unbiased critique on its printed material. The user manual for this particular product is very comprehensive. Although there are 54 pages total including the covers, the information is organized well and in a logical order. The chapters are marked on the edge of the page for easy location in the manual, and the language (of the several available) in which this particular manual is written is highlighted on the top. The manual starts with a page giving congratulations on the purchase as well as information on DVD copy protection, the operating environment, and warnings and cautions. It welcomes the user and provides some valuable information before any startup or installation is discussed. This is followed by two pages of safety instructions that conclude with regulatory information. All of the legalities are covered before the “user” part of the manual begins. Following all of the legally required information is the table of contents which is thorough and accurate. It is well organized with headings for the specific categorized chapters and subheadings or the indexed items in those categories. It is very simple to go through and see what is contained under each heading, and to find the needed steps by the layout. Helpful notes are marked with a very visible icon to...... Words: 676 - Pages: 3 ...User Manual Critique Chris Bolte ENG/221 November 5, 2012 Janet Chappell So many people depend on some form of media to escape the everyday grind, stay informed, or simply to relax. Media comes in many forms, such as film, radio, internet, and text. Consumers all over the world fill their homes with these many forms of media. In fact, as of May, 2011, consumers worldwide spent over $4.2 billion dollars on home entertainment, and that figure is down from the previous year by 9.8% (Dan, 2011). That is not $4.2 billion spent a year -- that is $4.2 billion spent during the first quarter alone. With all of those media devises in all those homes, it can be a hassle keeping track of all those remote controls. After all, everything comes with a remote control these days. Many have tried to organize the handful of remotes that are in their possession by labeling them, keeping them in a designated drawer or basket, or even gone as far as “Velcroing” them to the wall. However, there is a better method to the madness that requires a little less creativity, but more ingenuity. It is a great little solution known as the universal remote. In most cases, you can put up to four devices onto one remote, eliminating the frustrating remote control cluster that many people deal with, and they can cost as little as $4 and up to more than $100. It all depends on your needs and budget. In this user manual critique, the item reviewed is the One For All Universal Replacement... Words: 1073 - Pages: 5 ...User Manual Critique Ryan Parker University of Phoenix ENG/221 Technical Writing Fundamentals August 8, 2012 Susan Boyle I. Introduction This Sony® manual critique will analyze how the document is organized, the layout, the use of visuals and written instructions of the document. II. Document Organization The user manual for the Sony® Blu-ray Disc/DVD Home Theatre System is well organized. It includes a cover page with the title but does not have a visual picture of the actual product. In some products it is helpful to the consumer if the manufacturer has a visual on the cover. This ensures the customer that they have received the correct documentation for the product they have purchased. III. Layout The layout of this manual is standard. It includes the scope, which is, that it contains operation instruction for the product. There are the warnings that are necessary for the safety of the consumer. One section that I noticed it contains is the instructions for unpacking the product. This is something that I do not normally see. The unpacking instructions are combined with the parts list of the home theatre system. The manual also contains the standard index, instructions on how to hook up the system, how to operate the system and how to make adjustments to customize the settings. IV. Use of Visuals The uses of the visuals in the home theatre manual are detailed but general enough so not to confuse the consumer that is not technically...... Words: 449 - Pages: 2 ...critique the user manual of the Samsung 460DX-3 LCD display. The manual is set up in PDF form to easily be viewed on a computer or hand held device. There are numerous tabs to select that will allow the user to quickly find the information they are looking for. The manual seems to be in good written order with images and warnings to help the user operate the display. The first section of the manual is about safety instructions. This section includes both headers and footers to let the user know what subject they are reading about and also what page they are on. The images that are shown are really helpful in determining what may be dangerous to the user while operating the display. The manual uses the color red to show warnings and other images about the display such as the electrical plug and safe lifting instructions. The safety instructions are not vague in any way that would confuse the user. Anyone with the ability to read would be able to understand these safety instructions. The next section of the Samsung’s manual is the introduction section. This section explains to the user everything they must expect when they first get the display home. It shows how to take it out of the box safely and what contents should be in the package when first opening it. This section also includes headers and footers for the user. This section is very useful as it explains the different buttons and inputs that are located on the display. Images are present to help the user identify...... Words: 799 - Pages: 4 ...User manual User Manual Critique Robert L. Jordan, Sr ENG/221 February 14, 2011 Janet Chappell User Manual Critique Canon PowerShot SX130 IS I. Introduction The user manual I have chosen to critique is from Canon Inc. for the Canon PowerShot SX130 IS camera, a digital camera with High Definition capabilities. It can shoot in 720p HD video with stereo sound. The SX130 also has a large 3 inch LED screen with high resolution and a wide viewing angle. It also has a 12 X digital zoom for perfect pictures from close ups to wide angle shots of the whole gang. Advanced Smart Auto detects and analyzes faces, brightness, colors, distance and movement, then selects an appropriate setting based on 28 predefined shooting situations. The complete manual can be found at http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/5/0300003855/04/PSSX130IS_CUG_EN_03.pdf . II. Document Organization This user manual has 180 pages divided into ten chapters. The first five chapters explain the basic use of the camera and the final five chapters expand on that knowledge by showing advanced functions. The first five chapters cover such topics as getting started, learning more about your camera, shooting with commonly used functions, choosing settings yourself, and getting more out of your camera. The last five chapters concern more advanced topics such as using various functions for shooting movies, using the various playback and editing...... Words: 466 - Pages: 2 ...User Manual Critique Brenda Wissman ENG/221 November 17, 2014 Nancy Feldman User Manual Critique The technology we have today can at times be confusing for those that use it. To compensate for this almost all devices come with a manual that explains the proper usage of the device. These manuals break down each part of the device and gives the user a detailed description of what should be done and how it should be done properly. These manuals also inform the owner of what could happen if proper instructions are not followed. This paper is going to look at the user manual for the Samsung Galaxy S4 which is a smart phone. This paper will look at the manual and critique it for a number of things such as readability and understanding of the content. The first part of the manual that I am going to critique is the how well the manual is written. The manual is written in a way that most users will be able to understand what the manual is telling them to do. However, in the beginning of the manual it seems that it is backtracking when it gets to the point of telling the user was is to be found in the packaging. I would have put that information first and then proceed with discussing the device. The manual however, begins by describing the device, and then informs the user what should be in the package. The packaging information should also be listed first because it states in the wording that the device may look differently than described so this should be listed before the...... Words: 721 - Pages: 3 ...User Manual Critique guess ENG 221 April 3, 2013 soijd User Manual Critique The user manual is for the Samsung GT-S5250 mobile device. It is a user manual with instructions, operation, and maintenance of the Samsung Wave smart phone. In order to approve or disapprove of this user manual, the manual will be critique in six criteria: Organization, order of information, access features, variety features, graphics, and content. Provide positive and negative examples from the online manual that represent each aspect of your designated criteria. 1. Organization The organization of this user manual will be broken down into five sections: chunking, white space, sections, headers/talking headings, and length. Example figure 1 at end of section. a. Chunking- All the information in this manual is separated in separate chunks. The chunks separate the information for easier reading. The reader can easily identify the beginning and end of a section. b. White space- The white space between chunks is good. Some pages have too much white space that can be use for additional information. Information, warnings, or a tip is information that could be added in the extra white space. The white space allows the reader to know where a chunk of information ends and the next one begins. c. Sections- the sections in this user manual are good. The sections are separated by topic titles. Each section has sub sections...... Words: 1313 - Pages: 6 ...® Essential™ and Essential SE Ultra-Portable Hard Drives User Manual My Passport Essential and Essential SE User Manual External Portable My Passport WD Service and Support Should you encounter any problem, please give us an opportunity to address it before returning this product. Most technical support questions can be answered through our knowledge base or e-mail support service at support.wdc.com. If the answer is not available or if you prefer, please contact WD® at the best telephone number shown below. Your product includes 30 days of free telephone support during the warranty period. This 30day period starts on the date of your first telephone contact with WD Technical Support. E-mail support is free for the entire warranty period and our extensive knowledge base is available 24/ 7. To help us keep you informed of new features and services, remember to register your product online at http://register.wdc.com. Accessing Online Support Visit our product support website at support.wdc.com and choose from these topics: • Downloads—Download drivers, software, and updates for your WD product. • Registration—Register your WD product to get the latest updates and special offers. • Warranty & RMA Services—Get warranty, product replacement (RMA), RMA status, and data recovery information. • Knowledge Base—Search by keyword, phrase, or answer ID. • Installation—Get online installation help for your WD product or software. Contacting WD...... Words: 16742 - Pages: 67 ...VIZIO GV52L FHDTV10A User Manual Dear VIZIO Customer, Congratulations on your new VIZIO GV52L FHDTV10A LCD Television purchase. Thank you for your support. For maximum benefit of your set, please read these instructions before making any adjustments, and retain them for future reference. We hope you will experience many years of enjoyment from your new VIZIO GV52L FHDTV10A Television. For assistance, please call 949-428-2525 or email us at [email protected]. To purchase or inquire about accessories and installation services for your VIZIO LCD HDTV, please visit our website at www.vizio.com or call toll free at 888-VIZIOCE (888-849-4623). We recommend you register your VIZIO GV52L FHDTV10A either at our website www.vizio.com or fill in your registration card and mail it in. For peace of mind and to protect your investment beyond the standard warranty, VIZIO offers onsite extended warranty service plans. These plans give additional coverage during the standard warranty period. Visit our website or call us to purchase a plan. Write down the serial number located on the back of your GV52L FHDTV10A. __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Purchase Date _____________________ VIZIO is a registered trademark of V, Inc. HDMI logo and “High Definition Multimedia Interface” are registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC. Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby......	https://www.termpaperwarehouse.com/essay-on/User-Manual/93565
# Glutaric acidemia type 2 Glutaric acidemia type 2 is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder that is characterised by defects in the ability of the body to use proteins and fats for energy. Incompletely processed proteins and fats can build up, leading to a dangerous chemical imbalance called acidosis. ## Genetics Mutations in the ETFA, ETFB, and ETFDH genes cause glutaric acidemia type II. Mutations in these genes result in a deficiency in one of two enzymes that normally work together in the mitochondria, which are the energy-producing centers of cells. The ETFA and ETFB genes encode two subunits of the enzyme electron transfer flavoprotein, while the ETFDH gene encodes the enzyme electron-transferring-flavoprotein dehydrogenase. When one of these enzymes is defective or missing, the mitochondria cannot function normally, partially broken-down proteins and fats accumulate in the cells and damage them; this damage leads to the signs and symptoms of glutaric acidemia type II. This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means the defective gene is located on an autosome, and two copies of the gene – one from each parent – are needed to inherit the disorder. The parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive disorder are carriers of one copy of the defective gene, but do not show signs and symptoms of the disorder themselves. ## Diagnosis Glutaric acidemia type 2 often appears in infancy as a sudden metabolic crisis, in which acidosis and low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) cause weakness, behavior changes, and vomiting. There may also be enlargement of the liver, heart failure, and a characteristic odor resembling that of sweaty feet. Some infants with glutaric acidemia type 2 have birth defects, including multiple fluid-filled growths in the kidneys (polycystic kidneys). Glutaric acidemia type 2 is a very rare disorder. Its precise incidence is unknown. It has been reported in several different ethnic groups. ## Treatment It is important for patients with MADD to strictly avoid fasting to prevent hypoglycemia and crises of metabolic acidosis; for this reason, infants and small children should eat frequent meals. Patients with MADD can experience life-threatening metabolic crises precipitated by common childhood illnesses or other stresses on the body, so avoidance of such stresses is critical. Patients may be advised to follow a diet low in fat and protein and high in carbohydrates, particularly in severe cases. Depending on the subtype, riboflavin (100-400 mg/day), coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), L-carnitine, or glycine supplements may be used to help restore energy production. Some small, uncontrolled studies have reported that racemic salts of beta-hydroxybutyrate were helpful in patients with moderately severe disease; further research is needed.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glutaric_acidemia_type_2
TISINON 10 MG 60 CAP. Tisinon is a hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase inhibitor. Tisinon is used to treat adults and children with a rare genetic condition called hereditary tyrosinemia type 1 (HT1), along with dietary restrictions on tyrosine and phenylalanine. HT1 is a metabolic disorder that occurs when the body does not produce enough enzymes to break down proteins from certain foods. This condition is most common in young children. Tisinon works by preventing the body from breaking down an amino acid called tyrosine and by preventing other toxic substances from accumulating and damaging the liver and kidneys. Use Tisinon as directed by your doctor. Check the drug label for accurate dosing instructions. Take Tisinone on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. If the capsule is difficult to swallow, you can open the capsule and sprinkle the contents on a small amount of water, formula, or applesauce just before use. Do not save the mixture for later use. If you miss a dose of Chicinone, take it as soon as possible. When it's time for your next regular dose, don't take the missed dose, skip the dose, and take one dose during your regular dose. Do not take twice at a time. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about using Tisonon.	https://www.jollyrx.com/product/nitizinon
While heart health and how to prevent heart disease are important topics, many people in the United States, including Hispanics and Latinos, remain at risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 23 percent of Hispanics and Latinos in the United States have high blood pressure, which can lead to stroke if untreated, and nearly 9 percent have heart disease. However, you can lower your risk for heart disease in a variety of ways, and one of the most important is by becoming physically active. National guidelines recommend at least 2 hours, 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week for adults, like brisk walking where your blood gets pumping and you are a little breathless. If you find yourself short of time, you can incorporate physical activity in small chunks, such as three 10-minute intervals per day, and still achieve some heart health benefits. Certain physical activities are safe for most people. However, if you have a chronic health condition such as heart disease, arthritis or diabetes, talk with your doctor about the type and amount of activity that is right for your health. Incorporating regular physical activity into your life can help your health in many ways, but it can be especially helpful for your heart. Find more hearthealthy facts and tips from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at nhlbi.nih.gov.	http://www.happyherald.com/print-article-2079-print.html
As well as music clubs in school such as Choir, Orchestra and Recorders, there is also opportunity for all KS2 children to have individual instrument lessons in school with our peripatetic music teachers. Our current teachers are: Mrs Tindal – Piano and flute Mr Cooke – Woodwind: clarinet, saxophone, flute; Guitar Mrs Bull – Violin Mr Pike – Drums Mrs Denning – Brass: trumpet, cornet, trombone If your child is interested in an instrument not listed here, we will do our best to match them with a teacher. We recently had teachers for oboe and bass guitar, when requested. These are private lessons, therefore you will need to source your child’s own instrument and, apart from piano and drums, they will need to bring it in for their lesson. Devon County Council Music Services run an instrument hire scheme. Ask in the office for details. If your child is interested in learning an instrument, please speak to the school office. Invoices for lessons are sent out at the beginning of each term, and payment is requested before lessons begin. We have many children learning instruments now, and opportunity is given through the year for them to perform in assembly, our Festival of Music etc. Where appropriate, they will also be invited to join the school orchestra, which is a great opportunity for them.	https://www.otteryprimary.co.uk/parent-and-carers-hub/music-lessons/
The question is, will we take advantage of the opportunity or push this problem down the road? Since March of this year, (2022) stakeholder groups have been holding public committee meetings on the 12 different titles covered in the Farm Bill. I recently watched one of these meetings on crop insurance. Frankly, I found the conversation disappointing. The stakeholders that gave witness testimony were mostly representing the private sector insurance industry. So, naturally, their position was that the current crop insurance program needs strengthened with more "support" (read "taxpayer funding"). They argued that the crop insurance program was the number one priority for the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill, and that it was farmers' number one strategy for risk mitigation and that it is fundamental in the protection of profitability for American farmers. Additionally, the 'expert witnesses' representing crop insurance agencies argued that most farmers are underinsured. One comment from a cotton farmer in the south stood out, he shared that the atmosphere in his region was one of fear, feeling vulnerable and uncertain about the future. With inflation increasing the costs on conventional inputs like diesel, synthetic fertilizer, seed and equipment at a rate significantly higher than the inflation in most other sectors, and with the intense volatility of the commodities futures market, farmers are looking for ways to slow the bleeding from their operating budgets. He shared that crop insurance premiums might sadly be squeezed out of that dwindling budget. Added to the conversation, were numerous recommendations from the witness testimonies that the crop insurance program should not be altered in any way to try and incentivize farmers to implement more environmentally friendly production practices. Why? In their view, the crop insurance program is too important to the profitability of a farm operation and these practices are 'as of yet not shown by science to make a difference.' Rather, they argue for an increase in public funding for crop insurance and farmers will naturally implement sustainable farming practices on their own. One member of congress on the subcommittee advocated for pre-payments of disaster relief and that it is in the interest on consumers who want a stable food supply to work on the crop insurance program with a scalpel and not a sledge hammer. Who's voices are drafting the next Farm Bill? So here is the problem, if these are the voices representing the direction of the next Farm Bill we are definitely not going to seize the opportunity to regenerate our food supply or rural America. They're all just advocating for the status quo. I haven't watched all the stakeholder meetings on all the titles/subcommittees but I would bet that everyone is there to advocate for more funding for their interests. And, that's the definition of unsustainable. Tax payer funding shouldn't be used as a Band-Aid to kick the root cause of our country's problems down the road. Synthetic fertilizer costs aren't going to go down, GMO seed costs, fossil fuels, and equipment costs aren't going to go down. Furthermore, the current trend of subsidizing monocrops that require increasing amounts of pesticides and fertilizers to produce consistent or decreasing yields is hurling us towards a cliff of land degradation where we're losing topsoil at a rate of 5.8 tons per acre per year. Those advocating for the status quo would have you believe that if we keep on keeping on then that will solve the problem for now. The Farm Bill is renewed about every five years. How much worse will our current problems be in five years? As a taxpayer we need to be concerned and involved in how the Farm Bill is written, what's in it and the direction it's steering our food supply and our country's health by way of nutrition. Ever wonder why soda pop and potato chips are cheaper than broccoli and blueberries? The answer is the Farm Bill. Ever wonder why small farms go under and the land is taken over and consolidated by neighboring larger farms that plant the same 2-4 commodity, GMO monocrops on the land? Also, we should consider that with fewer farms, you need fewer farmers which leads to the demise of small rural towns as people move away to pursue city jobs. Once again, the answer is the Farm Bill. This isn't just happening as a sign of the times and the result of scientific and technological "progress." This is done on purpose, systemically designed by those that hold the helicopter view of what's going on, incidentally, it's also the same entities and the only ones that are profiting from this system. A stark example of conflicting interests and divergent agendas Take for example, Georgia congressman Austin Scott who sits on the House Agriculture Committee. It's interesting that he is also personally invested in companies' like Bloom Energy, Plug Power Inc, Clean Energy Fuels Corp, and Fuelcell Energy Inc. These are all fuel cell companies that convert low pressure natural gas or biogas into electricity. The raw materials for this process is methane. Wait for it, and the methane is from anaerobic digester technology on large factory farms, dairies mostly. It looks like this, large consolidated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) like dairies in California with on average15,000 cows create a lot of manure every day. And, managing all that manure creates a problem. The most common way to manage it is in large lagoons where the liquid manure is stored. These lagoons are oxygen free environments and leak a lot of methane, not to mention they don't make for lovely smelling neighbors. And, that's where the anaerobic digester comes in, it's a giant tank system where the liquid manure is pumped inside and heated which causes the methane to rise to the top where it's collected as a natural gas to be burned for electricity or sold to companies in the fuel cell technology business. These anaerobic digesters are expensive to build and to maintain, but that's where government subsidies, incentives, and grants come in to help. So, instead of putting funding into programs that support small grass-based, sustainable operations that are not polluting the local air, and waterways our Farm Bill is funding the worst polluters in what's a clear conflict of interest by our elected officials. What a better direction could look like... So, what can we do about it? The direction the Farm Bill should be pointing our country is one away from the highly centralized and fragile structure built on giant consolidated farms. We need to shift subsidies towards a much wider array of crops, so we can move away from monocultures. We need to incentivize environmentally sounds production practices and fund education on soil health. The reality is crop insurance being the number one risk mitigation strategy is not a good thing especially when farmers can't afford the premiums. Furthermore, most farmers are already not profitable, they're up to their eyeballs in debt. The amount of debt carried by American farmers is at an all time high and only set to rise year-to-year. Our farmlands can be more resilient if we focus on soil health, nutrient density and biodiversity. This focus could help buffer the effects of extreme weather, and reduce the frequency and intensity of floods and droughts. Imagine if we could lower farmer inputs and minimize their risk by spreading it across numerous crops and income streams. Then farmers could be more self-sufficient and profitable with fewer federal subsidies (instead of more). We should be moving towards more small farms so we can decentralize our food supply and make it more secure. It's the previous decades of policies in the Farm Bill that have pushed farmers to take on more debt, to grow more monocrops, and to acquire more equipment at the expense of their land and their financial and mental wellbeing. They've pushed the idea that this is all necessary in order to feed a growing population. Only, there is a few problems with this storyline. It's true that the population is growing, but in our country there's no shortage of calories. In contrast, we're both overfed and undernourished. If we're being honest, our farmers are being used as replaceable cogs in a military industrial machine and the worst part is those drafting these policies talk a big talk about being pro farmer while taking tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the companies that really benefit from the Farm Bill. Okay, now comes the call to action part. If these issues get you hot and bothered like they do for me, and if you're tired of the degradation of rural America while foreign owned companies get rich at the expense of hard working farmers then it's time to pick up the phone. Call your congressman or congresswoman and tell them you want to see regenerative agriculture practices made a focus of the upcoming Farm Bill. For more details on what that might look like, check out Regenerate America and read the priorities they've listed that could help change the direction of America's farmlands for the better.	https://uncommonpastures.com/blogs/news/opportunity-to-regenerate-american-farmlands-with-the-2023-farm-bill
Jennifer Thornquest Featured in NY Times Article: Idaho City of Immigrants Debates Taking In Middle Eastern Refugees “In an echo of the ferocious debate that is gripping Europe about the fate of the millions of Syrians thrown from their country by civil war, Twin Falls, Idaho is grappling with the question of whether taking in a next generation of refugees from the Middle East is wise and safe.... Jennifer Thornquest is among those who have responded from the other side, arguing that Twin Falls should follow the teachings of Jesus and practice what she calls “radical hospitality.” Jennifer (McCollum) Thornquest’s commitment to peace and inter-religious harmony stems from her diverse religious experiences. The contrast between growing up with her father a prominent leader in the Pagan movement and currently a leader in her non-denominational Christian faith community, in rural Idaho, inspires her dedication to provide young people with the empowerment and leadership skills necessary to advance peace in the world today and in the future. She co-organizes an annual event called The Gathering, 48-hours of continuous worship fostering dialogue among Christian churches. To further her journey in social entrepreneurship, Jennifer joined Children of the Earth (COE), an international NGO, as it fosters spirituality in the form of conscious leadership. She is developing as a trainer for COE workshops for youth abroad and is currently the news editor for COE. Jennifer was featured in the following NY Times article, in October, regarding the conflict of receiving refugees from Syria into her small home-town in rural Idaho. Idaho City of Immigrants Debates Taking In Middle Eastern Refugees: http://nyti.ms/1KQsdQR As an example of inspired action and conscious leadership taught as a guiding principle of COE, she incorporated a presentation of her work in the COE team’s presentation at the World Parliament of Religions in Salt Lake City, UT.	https://www.coeworld.org/news/nytimes
Is it lit up or lite up? 1 of a light : to become lit : to begin shining All of the lights on the display suddenly lit up. —often used figuratively to express interest or pleasure His eyes/face lit up when she walked in the room. 3 informal : to light a cigarette I can’t wait to light up after work. Why do lamps light up? When a light bulb connects to an electrical power supply, an electrical current flows from one metal contact to the other. As the current travels through the wires and the filament, the filament heats up to the point where it begins to emit photons, which are small packets of visible light. What is uplight lamp? For instance, uplight is light cast from a fixture that goes up to the ceiling and downlight is light that spreads downward to the floor. A few examples of fixtures that only give downlight include gooseneck, decorative pendant styles, and task lighting such as lamps. Why are lamps lit at night? Uses and cultures. People usually use nightlights for the sense of security which having a light on provides, or to relieve fear of the dark, especially in young children. Gerontologists have recommended use of nightlights to prevent falls, which can be life-threatening to the elderly. What do you call someone who lights up a room? Charisma, oh that elusive, beautiful quality that lights up a party, an office, a silver screen. The dictionary defines charisma as, “compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others.” Can you light me up meaning? To cause someone to become noticeably excited or animated. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between “light” and “up.” I’m sure she likes you—you just light her up whenever you’re around. Why does light turn on instantly? The is the movement of electrons in the current (and you mentioned, it’s “slow”). And then there is the propagation of that movement. Current propagates at the speed of light. That’s why the light bulb lights up almost instantly. Is uplighting or downlighting better? Uplights and downlights are actually better when used in unison to create the combination of subtle and dramatic lighting for your outdoor living space. Uplighting can soften the area where the downlighting begins at ground level, making it more subtle, so it appears more natural. Is it bad to sleep with lamp on? Light exposure before or during bedtime can make it difficult to fall and stay asleep because your brain won’t make enough sleep-inducing melatonin. Even if you do manage to fall asleep with lights on in your bedroom, you may not get enough rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Is sleeping with LED lights bad? It’s well-documented that exposure to blue light can negatively impact your sleep quality. Electronic screens, LED lights, and fluorescent lights can all contain blue light. One small older study from 1991 and one 2016 study on mice found evidence that green light could also negatively impact melatonin levels.	https://www.cravencountryjamboree.com/personal-blog/is-it-lit-up-or-lite-up/
- How to improve the washing results? Applies to - washing machine Resolution 1. Clothes may seem greasy after washing when too much fabric conditioner has been used. This results in a build-up of large amounts of active substances in the clothes, which makes them greasy to the touch and at the same time reduces the absorbency. 2. If you have white stains on your clothes, it may be because you are using a detergent containing zeolites. - Zeolites are insoluble in water. So, it may be the zeolite – rather than soap powder – that can be seen on your clothes. - Try to change to a non-zeolite detergent. 3. Discolouration and stains on clothing may also occur due to using too much fabric conditioner. - There may also be some small gum-like brown lumps on clothing if the detergent and fabric conditioner come into contact with each other. - These stains and lumps from the conditioner can usually be removed by washing the garment at a temperature which is roughly 20ºC higher than the temperature it is normally washed at. 4. Wash residue comprises small greyish, greasy lumps which occur when the laundry has included a lot of fatty substances and additional detergent was not used. - This is especially seen on clothing with ointment and/or cream on it, as well as on brand-new clothing, which may contain a small amount of oil. - Soap powder residue can be removed by washing with slightly more soap powder than normal. 5. If there is be too much foam in the machine during the main wash cycle, the clothes may not be washed properly. - This may be because you add too much soap powder, and/or use the wrong soap powder with soft water. - If there is a lot of foam in the machine during the wash cycle. - The clothes will float around in the machine and not undergo the necessary mechanical washing, therefore they will not be cleaned properly. 6. Clothes can get very hard if they are washed in water which is very hard, or if unsuitable or too little soap powder is used. - If clothes are dried on a washing line and/or in an enclosed space, they will frequently become stiff. - However, this problem can be remedied by adding fabric conditioner in the final change of rinsing water or by stretching the clothes when you take them off the washing line. - Stretching the clothing, in particular, will stop it from becoming rigid. 7. Unpleasant smells after washing clothes can be caused by using a temperature that is too low during the wash process. Try using a hot wash occasionally in order to kill fungi and bacteria in the appliance. 8. Dirt and grime in the laundry are made up of many things and detergents also consist of many different ingredients, each with their own task. - It is not just a matter of the washing machine, the water hardness and water temperature, but also of the composition of the detergent, which is vital to the outcome of the wash process. - Poor rinsing may be due to too low water pressure, the wrong dose of used detergent, particularly in soft water, or to the wrong cycle. 9. Clothes washing and care: If you wash and care for your clothes properly, they will look more attractive and they will last longer. The care label attached to clothing tells you how to wash, dry and iron your clothes. - Shirts: - To give your shirt maximum protection, wash it inside out. - You can also put it in a pillowcase before washing it. - For the best results, iron your shirt when it is still damp. - If the shirt is completely dry, use a water spray or a good steam iron. - Start by ironing the sleeves inside and out, then the edges. - Next iron the back of the shirt – be aware of the crease down the back. - The next step is to iron the outside of the shirt collar, which should be ironed from the tips inwards. - You then iron the inside of the collar. - The last step is to iron the front of the shirt. First place one half of the shirt with the outside facing up and iron it flat. Then take the other side of shirt. - Quilted jackets: - Quilted jackets and coats can usually be washed at 40°C or 60°C, preferably on a gentle cycle. - It can be a good idea to use a large machine with space for 7-9 kilos of clothing, as there should be plenty of room in the machine. - Use a special down detergent and do not use fabric conditioner, as this will cause the down to collapse. - Dry the garment in a tumble dryer, preferably together with tennis balls to help distribute the down evenly. Alternatively, you can take the garment out every 15 minutes and shake the down well. It is important that the down is completely dry and properly aired, so that it does not get moldy. - If the washing machine has a special cycle for quilted jackets, you should use this. - Clothing with prints and patterns: - Prints will last longer if you wash clothing with prints inside out. - You will also protect the print by not leaving your clothes creased when they are dry. - To iron the side with the print on it, place a cloth, such as a tea towel, between the print and iron, and only iron the garment inside out. - Wool articles: - New washing machines may be Woolmark-certified. This means that the machine is approved for washing untreated wool and silk, which normally should be hand-washed. - If your washing machine is not Woolmark-certified, you should follow the procedure below: - Select a detergent to suit the garment’s material and closely follow the instructions on the packet. - Dissolve the washing powder in water that is hot to touch at around 30°C. It must be completely dissolved before you add the garment. - Place the garment carefully in the water and make sure that it is completely covered. - Move the garment around gently in the water – without rubbing it! - Rinse the garment in clean water at the same temperature as the water used for washing. - Remove the garment from the water and place it on a clean, dry towel to dry at room temperature. - Do not use enzymatic washing powder. - Enzymes may affect wool, so it is very important that you do not wash wool articles using enzymatic washing powder. - You can buy special detergents for washing wool articles. - Do not use excessively hot water. Too hot water can cause wool articles to shrink. - Many washing machines have a wool cycle and it is a good idea to use it when washing wool articles. - If the garment’s washing instructions state that the garment must be washed by hand, it is important to make sure that the washing machine has a cycle for washing garments which, according to label, should be hand-washed only. Tip: Delicate materials such as wool and silk must not be left to soak for a long time. 10. Information about fabric qualities and materials: A description is given below of the most common fabric qualities. You should always follow the washing instructions on the garment’s label. - Cotton: - Cotton is natural soft fiber, which is comfortable to war and quite easy to wash. - White cotton can be boil-washed, but you should follow the washing instructions for colored cottons. For example, colored trousers and blouses often only need to be washed at 30–40°C in order to retain their color. - Cotton usually shrinks by 3-5%. The total shrinkage is the same after about five washes, regardless of the wash temperature. - Cotton can be spin with normal spin cycles, and iron-free cotton should be put through a gentle spin to avoid getting creased. - Many cotton articles can be dried in a tumble dryer, but be aware that the garment may shrink. - Acrylic: - Acrylic is a synthetic material which looks most like wool. - Acrylic is often used alone or mixed with wool, for example, in sweaters or cardigans. - Acrylic is sensitive to heat and can lose its shape if you wash it at excessively high temperatures. - Acrylic is usually washed at 40°C, but taking into account the garment’s fit, we recommend a temperature of just 30°C. - Never dry acrylic clothing in a tumble dryer. - Viscose: - Viscose is a natural material which – like cotton – is soft and comfortable to wear. - When wet, viscose shrinks slightly, but you can restore the garment’s original shape by steam-ironing. - Viscose is usually washed at 60°C, but if the viscose garment is colored, it should be washed only at 40°C, like cotton. - Wool: - In most cases, it may be enough for you to just air your wool garments. - If you need to wash them, use a wool or hand wash cycle or wash them by hand. - It is important that you use a special wool detergent. - Wool articles can be put through a gentle spin, but should not be dried in a tumble dryer unless your dryer is Woolmark certified and has a special cycle for drying wool. - Wool clothes retain their shape best if you dry them laid out on a towel. - Silk: - Silk is delicate and should be handled with care. - It must be hand-washed or washed using a gentle detergent and a suitable wash cycle. - The washing machine’s wool cycle is often good for washing silk. - You should only tumble dry silk if your dryer has a special cycle for drying silk. - Silk garments are usually dried by placing them on a hanger while they are wet. - Always iron silk garments inside out. - Some silk garments need to be dry cleaned. - Denim: - Denim is a strong fabric made of either cotton or cotton and polyester, and is typically washed at 40°C. - You should always wash and iron jeans inside out in order to retain their color and avoid white faded lines. - If your washing machine has a special denim/jeans cycle, it may be a good idea to use this. - It may be useful for you to soak your jeans in 5 liters of water, with 4 tablespoons vinegar added, for about half an hour, before washing them according to the instructions. Vinegar helps retain the color in the fabric. - Take your jeans out of the washing machine as quickly as possible when the washing cycle has finished in order to avoid creases. - Polyester: - Polyester is a synthetic material, which is used in all types of clothing. - It is often mixed with either cotton or viscose. - Polyester is easy to care for and does not shrink in the wash. - Polyester can be washed at 40°C, 60°C or 95°C. - The temperature will depend on the color and type of garment. - Leather: - If stains have appeared on your leather clothing, you should send them to a leather specialist. However, it may be a good idea to hang them up to air.	https://www.electrolux.co.uk/support/support-articles/laundry/washing-machines/washing-tips/
Sir Worton (also known as King Worton) is a character in Heroes of Might and Magic IV. Biography As the youngest son of the legendary Swordbearer, Sir Kentaine, Worton always felt he couldn't live up to his father's glorious reputation, so he didn't even try. He has many contacts among the criminal element, and will do just about anything to get what he wants.OffBck Sir Worton is son of Sir Kentaine and Lady Desette. Unlike them, however, he longs for the throne of Palaedra and uses force whenever needed to the point that he crafted a copy of the Gryphonheart Blade to be the king of Palaedra, and when his plan was in danger he even tried to assassinate his own mother. Lord Lysander refused to call himself king of Palaedra, because he insisted that since no royal blood flowed through his veins he didn't deserve to be called king. Whatever the reason for the rebellion was, it was the perfect climate for Sir Worton to appear. Worton stepped before Palaedra's court and claimed that he was the illegitimate child of King Gryphonheart, and thus the rightful heir of Palaedra as well. He used Lord Lysander's own argument against him. Sir Worton's most convincing proof of his identity was the Gryphonheart Blade. Believed missing or destroyed during the Reckoning, Sir Worton presented the magical weapon to the court. To everyone's surprise, Worton drew it from its jeweled scabbard. It is well known that the enchantment forged into that glorious weapon allows only one of Gryphonheart blood to draw it. It took all of Lysander's considerable leadership skills to hold on to his position when half the country called for him to step down from the throne, in the end, Sir Worton and his supporters swore they would take the throne by force if they had to. War was imminent. Four gold mines had been seized by Worton's supporters, a former knight named Normic and a known thief named Caileen. Worton used people with no connection to himself to get the nobles in the area to divert the gold away from the lord's coffers. Lysander retook the four mines, but he couldn't fight against Worton and his supporters without proving his claim false. During his travel to discover Worton's bloodline and despite Worton's orders to kill his mother had someone approached her, Lysander realised that his parents were the legendary Swordbearer Keintaine and his wife, which gave him a bloodline unknown to everyone else due to the way Kentaine kept his private life secret, and plenty of opportunities to see the Gryphonheart Blade and make a mold of it. After regaining control of Palaedra and discovering Worton's plan, Lysander followed alone with his squire, the trail to Worton who after his defeat had escaped to a cave. But he was not alone and with a group of bandits, Worton ambushed the lord and his squire. Milton was incapacitated with some broken ribs and Lysander's sword was broken, and then Worton challenged Lysander to a single combat and Lysander accepted. He entered the cave and drew which was none other than the Gryphonheart Blade: With it, he defeated the bandits and Worton, incapacitating Worton's shoulder but letting him live due to his promise to Worton's parents. Gameplay Sir Worton is a Knight. Scenarios The True Blade - The Rightful Heir: Worton must be defeated to beat the scenario. Appearances Worton appears only in Heroes of Might and Magic IV.	https://mightandmagic.fandom.com/wiki/Worton
Would you like to receive an alert when new items match your search? Sort by Proceedings Papers Proc. ASME. ICONE20-POWER2012, Volume 1: Plant Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Modifications, Life Cycle, and Balance of Plant; Component Reliability and Materials Issues; Steam Generator Technology Applications and Innovations; Advanced Reactors and Near-Term Deployment; Reactor Physics, Neutronics, and Transport Theory; Nuclear Education, Human Resources, and Public Acceptance, 629-637, July 30–August 3, 2012 Paper No: ICONE20-POWER2012-54599 Abstract Steam generator installed with heat-transfer tubes (HTT) is an enormous heat exchanger that uses heat energy derived from a reactor to generate steam. The steam drains into turbine generator of an nuclear power plant, and plays an important role in producing electric power in nuclear power plant. Lately, demand of advanced manufacturing technology, especially related with high quality heat transfer tubes used for the steam generator of APR1400, has been increased. And the quality of final product as the heat transfer tube, which is manufactured by using Alloy 690, depends upon several process variables such as angular speed, bending angle and bending radius, and so on. For satisfying the required quality of the heat transfer tube, several factors such as permissible ovality, minimum wall thickness, tolerance of bending radius, residual stress have to be secured. In this study, numerical and experimental approaches on the U-bending process to manufacture the heat transfer tube from the straight and long tube are performed with considering the elastic recovery of the deformed tube after the U-bending. Furthermore the ovality, the minimum wall thickness and the tolerance of the U-bending tube are predicted and measured. From the results, it is shown that main process variable, which plays an important role to the formability such as the ovality and the minimum wall thickness of the heat transfer tube used for the steam generator, is the angular speed. Proceedings Papers Computational Study on the Particle Sedimentation Performance of a Reactor Building Floor Weir by Means of Two-Dimensional Lattice Boltzmann Method Proc. ASME. ICONE20-POWER2012, Volume 4: Codes, Standards, Licensing, and Regulatory Issues; Fuel Cycle, Radioactive Waste Management and Decommissioning; Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Coupled Codes; Instrumentation and Controls; Fuels and Combustion, Materials Handling, Emissions; Advanced Energy Systems and Renewables (Wind, Solar, Geothermal); Performance Testing and Performance Test Codes, 411-418, July 30–August 3, 2012 Paper No: ICONE20-POWER2012-54182 Abstract A reactor building floor weir (RBFW) is proposed as a simple as well as an efficient option to sediment particulate debris generated after loss of coolant accident of a nuclear power plant and its performance is computationally studied by means of two-dimensional Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) with momentum exchange boundary conditions. After benchmarking against a standard problem of a flow past a cylinder at relatively low Reynolds numbers, the RBFW is simulated for diverse parametric conditions such as height, inclination angle, number of weirs (one or two) and the distance between two weirs. The weir performance is measured by the area of quiescent and/or downward reverse flow region where particles have more chance to sediment. It is found a wake causing reverse downward flow behind the weir mainly contributes to generating the quiescent flow region. And the most effective option in terms of particle sedimentation performance is found to be relatively tall double weirs separated by two weir heights.	https://verification.asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/search-results?f_AllAuthors=Won-Seok+Kim
Job title: Manufacturing Technology Intern (6-12 months) Location: Stonehouse, UK About Schlumberger: We are Schlumberger, the leading provider of technology and services to the energy industry. Throughout much of the oil and gas lifecycle in over 120 countries; we design, develop, and deliver technology and services that transforms how work is done. We define the boundaries of the industry by unleashing our talented people’s energy. We’re looking for innovators to join our diverse community of colleagues and develop new solutions and push the limits of what’s possible. If you share our passion for discovery and want to find out what you could really do, then here is the place to do it. Job Summary: You will be part of a team who are responsible for manufacturing and delivery of drilling & measurements tools and would collaborate on a regular basis with other teams such as TLM and Software. You will your engineering skills to develop, validate, and implement automated test systems and software workflow for our products. Since our tools are extremely complex due to the nature of the environment they function in, the test equipment to test their functionality are bespoke and unconventional. With a multidisciplinary team, you will collaborate with other experts (software engineers, electrical engineers, etc) to design these systems. You will also perform planning for test system review, test commissioning, technical documentation, and contribute to the modernization of our manufacturing shop floor. Essential Responsibilities and Duties: Your tasks will include: Automation of manufacturing test systems includes learning about different type of equipment (power supplies, communication interface, current sources, etc), controlling them, and interfacing them with our products. Qualification: Studying towards a Bachelors or Masters in Computer Science or related field. Competencies: Required skill: Exposure to any of the following would be a plus: Schlumberger is an equal employment opportunity employer. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or other characteristics protected by law.	https://careers.slb.com/jobaddetail.aspx?id=49527
Neuromuscular disorders affect the nerves that control voluntary muscles and the nerves that communicate sensory information back to the brain. Nerve cells (neurons) send and receive electrical messages to and from the body to help control voluntary muscles. When the neurons become unhealthy or die, communication between the nervous system and muscles breaks down. As a result, muscles weaken and waste away (atrophy). There are many neuromuscular disorders, and treatment by an experienced multidisciplinary team, such as the one at Cedars-Sinai's Neuromuscular Disorders Program, is vital. These disorders result in muscle weakness and fatigue that progress over time. Some neuromuscular disorders have symptoms that begin in infancy, while others may appear in childhood or even adulthood. Symptoms will depend on the type of neuromuscular disorder and the areas of the body that are affected. Neuromuscular disorders can be inherited or caused by a spontaneous gene mutation; some also may be caused by immune system disorders. Currently there is no cure for neuromuscular disorders. Research is being done on genetic therapies and new medications in hopes of finding a cure. Treating symptoms, delaying disease progression and enhancing quality of life for patients is accomplished with medications, physical therapy, occupational therapy and, when necessary, surgery.	https://www.cedars-sinai.edu/Patients/Health-Conditions/Neuromuscular-Disorders.aspx
The initial phase of project was jointly funded by Science Foundation Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. The second stage of the project is funded by DAERA in collaboration with the Public Health Agency NI (PHA-NI). Research Summary This project aims at providing an integrated testing and surveillance programme for SARS-CoV-2 in Northern Ireland. An important aspect of this project has been the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to model population to link with information on the sewer network provided by Northern Ireland Waters. This enables the development of the most efficient and informative sampling strategy for the programme and enables contextualisation of the wastewater test results in terms of the socio-economic and geographic patterning of the population. Cormac has along with his colleagues in the Centre for GIS and Geomatics at Queen’s University Belfast, Professor Jenny McKinley, Dr Behnam Firoozi Nejad and Conor Graham, developed an innovative methodology for identifying the most appropriate locations for monitoring the levels of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater facilities across Northern Ireland, and is actively engaged in selecting emergency sample locations to target localised outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2, and in developing a method to normalise rates of SARS-CoV-2 in waste water samples using information on the rate of waste water flow into NIW treatment plants and rainfall data from AgriSearch. The project partners include the Public Health Agency , Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs , the NI Environment Agency, Department of Health , Department for Infrastructure, Belfast City Council and NI Water Ltd. In addition, Cormac is also an archaeologist with a particular research interests in funerary archaeology, the archaeology of migration, the emergence of social complexity and the application of radiocarbon dating to archaeological problems. He has just published: C. McSparron.2020 Burials and Society in Late Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Ireland, Queen’s University Belfast Irish Archaeological Monograph Series, No. 1, Oxford, Archaeopress. Impact of Research This project has made a very significant contribution to Northern Ireland’s response to the Sars-CoV-2 crisis. The GIS component is an integral and very important part of the wider project allowing a nuanced approach to site selection, presentation of testing results and analysis which would otherwise be impossible.	https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/NBE/Research/postdoctoral-fellows/DrCormacMcSparron/
- 06 September 2021! Current News Science & Technology Health & Disease Nipah Virus A boy infected with the Nipah virus has died in Kerala, a state already hit badly by Covid-19 About Nipah Virus(NiV) (Scientific name-Nipah henipavirus) - It is a type of RNA zoonotic virus (it is transmitted from animals to humans) and can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly between people. - It is a member of the family Paramyxoviridae. - Given that NiV is genetically related to Hendra virus, another henipavirus known to be carried by bats. Host - The animal host reservoir for NiV is the fruit bat (genus Pteropus), also known as the flying fox. Transmission - Direct contact with infected animals, such as bats or pigs, or their body fluids (such as blood, urine or saliva) - Consuming food products that have been contaminated by body fluids of infected animals (such as palm sap or fruit contaminated by an infected bat) - Close contact with a person infected with NiV or their body fluids (including nasal or respiratory droplets, urine, or blood) Symptoms - In infected people, it causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. - The virus can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers. Diagnosis - Nipah virus infection can be diagnosed with clinical history during the acute and convalescent phase of the disease. - The main tests used are real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from bodily fluids and antibody detection via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). - Other tests used include polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, and virus isolation by cell culture. Treatment - There are currently no drugs or vaccines specific for Nipah virus infection although WHO has identified Nipah as a priority disease for the WHO Research and Development Blueprint. - Intensive supportive care is recommended to treat severe respiratory and neurologic complications. Outbreak - Nipah virus was first recognized in 1999 during an outbreak among pig farmers in, Malaysia. No new outbreaks have been reported in Malaysia since 1999. - It was also recognized in Bangladesh in 2001, and nearly annual outbreaks have occurred in that country since. - The disease has also been identified periodically in eastern India.	https://www.chronicleindia.in/current-affairs/daily/06-09-2021
Legislation is considered one of many W1 government regulations for any development process. Indeed, the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 (SPA) and the Planning Act 2016 (PA) are considered necessary legislation for development assessment for any development process in Queensland. These two legislations were used in two previous exercises: scenarios and planning codes. The two exerW2 cises made it very clear both how these legislations work and what the differences are between them. HoweW3 ver, during the past few years, the SPA and PA have been subjected to several changes. In this essay, proposed changes and implementation challenges will be reviewed with regard to development assessment rules in the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 and the Planning Act 2016. First, W4 the fundamental differences of the development assessment rules in SPA will be reviewed, followed by a review of the rules in PA. In general, the Planning Act 2016 does not significantly alter the process for changing development applications and approvals. However, notably, there are some changes in the planning process. SomW5 e are minor changes, and some are essential changes. In PA 2016, the development assessment process has been removed. ThiW6 s is an appropriate step that provides further flexibility that allows for responding quickly to changes and developments in the development process. The change was achieved by separating the Development Assessment Rules (DA Rules) from the PA itself. Additional changes worth noting relate to the submission of applications. W7 First, assessment managers in PA 2016 have shorter assessment timeframes. But there is a challenge in discounting the timeframe allotted for asking for information that affects decision-making because it may affect W8 the timeframes of other steps. Indeed, there are specific timeframes for all procedures which can be extended by agreement between the applicant and the evaluation manager. However, this action makes the assessment manager face a challenge if the applicant does not consent to the W9 extension. Regarding the request for information, it is possible for the applicant to withdraw from requesting information, which is usefulW10 . But there is a bit of a gamW11 ble in doing so because the applicant cannot reverse the decision to withdraw from the request for information. Also among the changes taking place is that the applicant may suspend the assessment working hours at any stage of the assessment except for the public notice stage. Thus, this may be useful if theW12 applicant requires the request for information. In regard to the change in approvals, there is a slight chW13 ange allowed in the Sustainable Planning Act 2009, but the change depends heavily on the same assessment process. The other changW14 e is a new process of cW15 hange in PA 2016, but the potential challenge to this shift would occur in the event of an objection on the basis of changW16 e. Finally, the proposed changes of PA 2016 reduced the time and effort in the assessment process. There are also challenges in some evaluation steps that need to be reconsidered to cope with developments in the process of development assessment. We Will Write a Custom Essay Specifically For You For Only $13.90/page! order now Before a review of the proposed changes and any implementation challenges in SPA 2009, it must be recalled that the development assessments are assessed in accordance with the Integrated Development Assessment System (IDAS) under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009. Indeed, as is the case in PA 2016, there are some changes and challenges to implementing development assessments rules. Basically, there are changes with respect to changing development applications: An applicant W17 might can change the application any time before taking a decision, which is a remarkable change W18 in anthe application process. But this is not always helpful if the results of the changed application are not properly made or include prohibited development. In addition, there is an important minor change which allows changing the application without reprocessing the IDAS. Indeed, this process is important because it changes the strict situation which requires a re-operation of IDAS when any change occurs concerning the request for information or when the details relating to the owner or applicant are changeW19 d. Time factor is verW20 y important, so it is essential to reduce the timeframe throughout the development assessment process. In fact, reducing the delays in the development assessment process is necessary to reduce the waiting period for applicants. But the challenge is when something goes wrong outside of human will which may cause losses to all parties or to one of them. Regarding the forms, it is known that the applicant must complete 33 IDAS forms, whicW21 h is considered too many. However, the proposed change is to reduce the number of IDAS forms from 33 to two W22 or three specific forms. In this matter, it is an ideal solution to facilitate the applicant. The challenge, though, is not to consider this solution as uniform because each applicant may need some additional formulations when required. Regarding the development assessment process, it is known that it contains a number of concrete steps that must be taken before moving on to other stages. IntegrW23 ating some steps into one phase, reducing the number of steps, and then moving to the decision-making process provides more flexibility in the format and structure of the development assessment process, making it more usable, navigable, anW24 d straightforward. The process of development and modernization of SPA 2009 and PA 2016 was and is still controversial in terms of changes to the content. Therefore, the continuous development of both legislations must involve fundamental change in the interest oW25 f continuous development. OW26 verall, the changes aimed to streamline performance for applicants and assessment managers. Most of the steps in the development process can be further developed in isolation from each other. However, there are some proposals in both legislations language. First, if there are some similarities in the legislations, then duplication of similar steps can be avoided through consolidation. Second, merging the two legislations into a single electronic file would be W27 ideal. This would make it easy to find the appropriate information in both legislations. Having a single electronic file would also provide a suitable process for comparing the two legislations by clicking one buttonW28 . Third, it is also best to propose that the language used in the legislation be accessible to everyone and not just professionals. The reason for this is so that applicants will be familiar with the language used, which would reduce the effort required by the assessment manager in the process of explaining some contents W29 of the legislation to applicants. Finally, it is best to rely on only one reference, so combining the two legislations to unify procedures would save time, effort, and money for both applicants and service providers.	https://quailrunfibermill.com/legislation-separating-the-development-assessment-rules-da-rules-from/
Course Delivery Delivery Type Delivery length / details Seminar 44 x 2 Hour Seminars Assessment Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion Semester Assessment Continuous assessment through team work and individual work Team Component (60% of final grade) includes 1) Team-led seminar (20% of team component); 2) Team project including development of web-site (with negotiable options) contributing upto 1000 words per team member (30% of tem component); 3) Team presentation (50% of team component); Individual component (40% of final grade): written report on personal development, critical skills development and teamwork (1500 words: 100% of component). 100% Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this module students should be able to: - Analyse key problems in chosen and negotiated academic issues. - Present an argument in varying formats in writing and speaking. - Identify strategies for individual and team roles within academic tasks and projects. Brief description This module covers a wide range of academic communication issues. This module involves students in team-based work through which they consider aspects of writing, discussion and presentation skills through student negotiated self-managed projects. Teaching and learning is mediated through planning and discussion of the project topics towards the development of project web-sites. Web text is compared with other formats for academic and professional writing to consider different styles and audiences. During the module students will be engaged in team led seminars and discussions that will take place both in the classroom and by video conference. As a result of critical discussions, further work is done on a comparison of written and oral styles of communication towards group presentation of projects. Individual students are required to work on a reflective written report about individual aspects of the team work. Content Identifying and proposing team based research projects (topic analysis techniques, critical review techniques for published text and web content, defining purposes and objectives, audience analysis and awareness). Basics of web design for academic writing. Awareness of conventions of academic communication face to face and through video conferencing. Comparative academic writing for essays, reports and web content and the differences between written and spoken language for discussions and presentations. Language development in the context of academic and professional interests: identifying strategies to independently inform a critical profile of language needs. Module Skills Skills Type Skills details Communication Takes place in all tasks. Language development is facilitated and focused through the tasks and students are encouraged to adopt autonomous strategies for individual and peer learning. Improving own Learning and Performance Through reflecting on their own performance, the group¿s performance and how their own learning and performance affects the group¿s performance, students identify an agenda for self improvement. Information Technology Web development, PowerPoint development, Video conferencing, occasional use of video film for documentary based interviews as support for presentations, management of IT resources towards transferability of skills to all academic contexts. Personal Development and Career planning Students reflect on networking skills for projects, transferability back to home institute settings in English and in translation and the use of these skills for postgraduate education and identification of future professional interests. Problem solving Through all communication tasks that take place in class towards facilitation of independent strategies for team work and individual roles outside class. To be accountable to and for the group. Research skills Independent and team based planning for topic nomination, proposal, initial planning, team meetings, reading, analyzing and setting criteria for project structure, use of technology in learning and communication, ability to plan, write and present for a variety of academic purposes that lead to transferability of skills to future professional contexts. Subject Specific Skills Linguistic and rhetorical analysis and application in academic and professional communication. Team work Takes place in all tasks. Assessment of teamwork is a central component of the module. Students are assessed through criteria for cooperative and collaborative learning ensuring that students are responsible to and for the group and keep accurate, mutually agreed records of levels of involvement in D3. This is cross referenced with presentations and individual written assignments.
Bird species are in decline even in the remote parts of the Amazon, far from human interference, a study shows. Scientists have found a sharp decline in nine insect-eating bird species in the lowlands of the central jungle in the space of a few decades. No equivalent decline was found among fruit-eating birds. This, they said, indicated that the climate crisis and its effect on insect populations may be to blame. The research, published in the journal Ecology Letters, makes use of data collected more than 30 years ago by the conservation biologist Thomas Lovejoy and others to study the impact of deforestation. At the time, the Brazilian government was encouraging ranchers to turn rainforest into pasture, but requiring them to keep some land intact. Lovejoy and his colleagues convinced some ranchers to leave patches of forest of various sizes inside large clear cuts, isolated from the rest of the forest, in the hope that they would discover how small a fragment of rainforest could support healthy flora and fauna. They used birds – well studied and easy to catch – as a proxy for the animal kingdom. To survey bird numbers, they unfurled impenetrable “mist nets” made of almost invisible fine polyester fibre, three times as high and 20 times as long as a tennis net. These captured a proportion of birds in flight without harming them. The captives were let loose after being counted, weighed and measured. The researchers also studied control plots in large tracts of untouched forest. Camp 41, located deep in the control forest 65km north of Manaus, became a central base. Years later, in 2008, Prof Philip Stouffer, of Louisiana State University, the lead author of the new paper, was asked by a birder at Camp 41 why they had not seen any wing-banded antbirds, a bulbous bird with a dramatic turquoise eye ring. Although never common, the bird had previously been seen from time to time. Other birds scientists would have expected to see were also absent. The forest fragments project had not been designed to measure changes in bird abundance at the control sites but, in an unrelated study, Stouffer and colleagues were already repeating the biggest mist-netting at these sites since the 1980s. This data, they realised, could be used to work out whether the local birds were in decline. The new paper compared the abundance of 79 species caught between 2008 and 2016 with sampling from the early 1980s. Stouffer said the results surprised him. Nine species had become less common, including eight that were at least 50% less abundant. All but one of the declining bird species were members of two insect-eating groups: near-ground insectivores and terrestrial insectivores. Significantly, according to Stouffer, almost no fruit eaters were declining, with a handful found to be more common in the recent count. “Something different is going on for birds that forage on arthropods on or near the forest floor,” said Stouffer. The paper ruled out several explanations for the declines, including hunting, an invasive predator, or some pathogen. Lovejoy, one of the authors of the new paper, said the only other explanation that seemed to make sense was the climate crisis: “There’s no other smoking gun,” he said. He said the drier and warmer conditions in the central Amazon may either cause direct “physiological stress to birds”, or “structural change to the forest” that reduced food supply or otherwise made the habitat less suitable. Stuart Pimm, a conservation biologist at Duke University, who was not involved with the new research but had previously collaborated with several of the co-authors, questioned the conclusions, pointing out that the current sampling sites were close to, but not exactly the same as, the original areas. “They can’t be sure that there aren’t some differences in the natural history of these two sets of sites that might explain the results,” he said. However, Stouffer said he believed it was fair to compare the two datasets. “It would become really difficult to find the [original] plots,” he said. He said some of the original research camps had been swallowed up by jungle, and the precise locations from the era before GPS had been lost. In any event, he said, the natural evolution of the forest, such as normal tree falls that open up clearings or new trees that close them, constantly changed the suitability of any given location. “We are deceiving ourselves if we think the ‘forest’ is the same 35 years later,” he said. Vitek Jirinec, a PhD candidate at Louisiana State University and second author of the paper, said: “This is the best we have to show what happened to the forest community of birds.” Since 2017 he has been strapping miniature data loggers to birds to monitor them during the hottest hours of day, which has shed more light on the subject. This, he said, hinted at their response to a hotter climate. While the data has not yet been published, Jirinec said it did not look good for the birds of the forest. “Climate change is making the forest less suitable for these species,” he said.	https://www.theweeklyinvestor.com/2020/10/26/nine-insect-eating-bird-species-in-amazon-in-sharp-decline-scientists-find/
After months of negotiations, the Arizona Legislature passed a major water spending plan last month with funding for new conservation efforts to address deteriorating water supplies. However, for the fourth year in a row, state leaders failed to pass legislation to address unlimited groundwater pumping, missing an opportunity to enable a water secure future for 1.5 million rural residents and the state as a whole. Growing Returns Selected tag(s): colorado river A conservation win and groundwater loss: Arizona ends 2022 session with mixed water record The Colorado River is getting closer to tanking. Can we free ourselves from the long arc of depletion? “They would come to the river to see a reflection of their own liberated minds, running free and easy…In the midst of what had once been regarded as the bleakest scarcity they would find abundance.” —Donald Worster, Rivers of Empire Lake Powell, our nation’s second-largest reservoir, dropped 40 feet in just the last year to a new record low, triggering an unprecedented set of emergency actions. The changes underway at Powell provide a striking illustration of how a new era of aridification in the West is pushing a river management culture steeped in assumptions of the past to the brink. It’s been a few years since I’ve visited Lake Powell, so two weeks ago I went back to see how it’s changed with my own eyes. Crop-switching in the megadrought: Can guayule help Arizona farmers use less water? This year, farmers in Pinal County, Arizona, will lose two-thirds of their irrigation water from the Colorado River because of a historic shortage declaration triggered by the driest period in more than 1,000 years. And within two years, they will be completely cut off from the Colorado River. Some farmers are responding by fallowing fields. Others are selling their land to solar companies. And then there’s Will Thelander, a farmer who partnered with EDF, Bridgestone Americas and the University of Arizona to test a new crop that uses half as much water as the alfalfa he previously grew. Crop-switching to a desert shrub called guayule used to produce rubber is one of just many strategies that will be needed in Arizona and other regions to adapt to water scarcity and maintain agricultural economies in a new era of aridification. However, it’s not nearly as simple as just planting different seeds in the ground. Arizona water is at a crossroads. Will the Legislature respond? The Arizona Legislature opened this week with the state facing significant water insecurity. Water has climbed to one of the top three concerns of Arizona voters, who are getting engaged in water issues and will be watching the Legislature closely this session as an election year looms large. EDF Action and our Water for Arizona Coalition partners are focusing on the following five priorities for this year’s legislative session to respond to residents’ concerns and help ensure water security for Arizona. Climate change is destabilizing the Colorado River Basin. Where do we go from here? In June, a portion of my neighborhood in Flagstaff, Arizona, was put on pre-evacuation notice due to a nearby wildfire. A few weeks later, storms dumped heavy rains over a burn scar from a 2019 fire that caused destructive floods through parts of town. So far, this summer has been our third-wettest monsoon season on record, a complete contrast from our two driest monsoon seasons on record in 2019 and 2020. These extremes are just a few local examples of the havoc that climate change is causing around the world. Here in the West, we are now in uncharted territory with the first-ever shortage declaration on the Colorado River. This landmark water conservation agreement is good news for Arizona. We need more like it. Water scarcity in the Colorado River is becoming more urgent by the day. As temperatures soar to record levels — 122 degrees in Phoenix last month — Lake Mead has plummeted to 37% of its capacity, the lowest level since the nation’s largest reservoir was filled in 1935. Amid this dire picture comes one significant piece of good news: In the largest ever multisector response to drought, final funding has been committed to enable the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) to conserve nearly 49 billion gallons of water (or 150,000 acre-feet) in Lake Mead over three years. This project is the largest single conservation effort to date, both in dollars and volume of water, in the Colorado River Basin. It is a harbinger of the unprecedented collaboration that will be required going forward to build resilience to climate change and water scarcity in the West. Climate leadership is water leadership. This Arizona bill is neither. Climate change is already having sweeping impacts across Arizona — from devastating wildfires to increases in heat-related illnesses and deaths to declines in safe and reliable water supplies. Unless global carbon emissions are reduced to net zero in the coming decades, these impacts will only multiply and increase in severity across the Southwest. We must embrace all available tools to reduce carbon emissions to help stave off worsening climate change, which is why we oppose HB 2248, a bill that would undermine progress on Arizona’s proposed clean energy rules. Read More Colorado River Basin story map highlights importance of managing water below the ground The Colorado River is a water workhorse for seven western states, supplying drinking water to 40 million people. But it’s not the region’s only important source of water. Groundwater — the water underground that we can’t see — is also hugely important in the Colorado River Basin. Groundwater provides base flow to rivers and streams, supports groundwater-dependent ecosystems, serves as the primary source of drinking water for many rural communities and plays a key role in water supply balance. Unlike the Colorado River, which is governed by multi-state agreements, groundwater management is generally most appropriately carried out at the state and local level because groundwater availability is highly localized and variable throughout the basin. However, gaining a strong understanding of groundwater availability and use across the Colorado River Basin is more critical than ever to managing the system-wide supply and demand balance and long-term planning, especially as the climate becomes increasingly arid. New Colorado River story map highlights importance of groundwater sustainability in the West Click To Tweet EDF created an online story map at www.edf.org/colorivgw. The story map aims to provide a more holistic view of groundwater supplies and challenges in the seven-state Colorado River Basin (Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming), drawing from recent research. Here are four key highlights from the story map that demonstrate the importance of groundwater and the challenges of groundwater management in the arid West: Read More Resilience on the river: How an Arizona farmer combines tribal traditions with modern practices Velvet Button’s parents, Ramona and Terry, started farming on a 10-acre allotment on the Gila River Indian Community Reservation south of Phoenix more than four decades ago. Today, the family farms 4,000 acres of alfalfa, Bermuda hay and four types of traditional beans. Ramona and Terry were inducted into the Arizona Farming and Ranching Hall of Fame in 2017, and at least 100 chefs from coast to coast are cooking or baking with their products. “We’re bringing our traditional food crops to the modern table,” Velvet told us recently on a tour of Ramona Farms. Here are some highlights from our interview and tour with Velvet. Read More New Lake Mead forecast spares Arizona – for now. Here are four critical steps to water security. Arizona just got another temporary reprieve from water cuts in Lake Mead, for the second year in a row. However, sustainable water management — of both the Colorado River and groundwater — remains crucial for communities in the Southwest to become resilient to increasingly arid conditions.	https://blogs.edf.org/growingreturns/tag/colorado-river/
"Collect, Cut, Composite" An Online Collage Exhibition “Collect, Cut, Composite” is a celebration of contemporary collage curated by PxP Contemporary gallery. This online exhibition highlights recent artworks by ten international women artists working in the medium’s analog format. Especially in a time when our society has been forced to live much of our lives virtually, the presence of the artist’s hand reminds us of the human element often lost behind the images presented on our glossy screens. Beyond engaging us with tactile components, however, each artist also invites us to consider their subjects in a new way. By repurposing or recontextualizing familiar images, they comment on such themes as female empowerment, the existence of an alternate universe, memory architecture, and the subconscious, among others. We hope you enjoy this collection! Featured artists: Ashley Buttercup, Charuka Arora, Elyse’ Jokinen, Heather Polk, Jenny Brown, Linden Eller, Liza Isakov, Lydia Cecilia, Rocio Romero, and Sarbani Ghosh.	https://artzealous.com/events/collect-cut-composite-an-online-collage-exhibition-2/
Trypanosomes are parasitic protozoan hemoflagellates that cause health problems in developing countries. These organisms diverged from other eukaryotes early in evolution and possess many unique RNA processing pathways such as uridine insertion/deletion editing of mitochondrial mRNAs. Studies of the RNA editing and guide RNA maturation processes emphasize RNA uridylylation reactions as crucial for RNA biogenesis in mitochondria of Trypanosoma brucei. We discovered three Terminal Uridylyl Transferases (TUTases), enzymes of unique structures and essential functions. This proposal focuses on: 1) functions of the RET1-catalyzed 3'-uridylylation in processing RNA precursors;2) the mechanism by which RET2 guides U-insertion;and 3) the biological role of MEAT1. We consider this research to be indispensable for the development of TUTase inhibitors as potential trypanocides. The Specific Aims are: 1. Investigate functions of RET1-catalyzed 3'-uridylylation of small and ribosomal RNAs. The editing is directed by trans-acting guide RNAs which are post-transcriptionally modified by the 3'U -addition. Similar U-tails are also found in ubiquitous gRNA-like molecules and in rRNAs. We propose that uridylylation stabilizes gRNA-like molecules, which direct nucleolytic cleavage of maxicircle- and minicircle-encoded multicistronic transcripts. We will analyze functions, sequence diversity, and stability of short RNAs by next-generation sequencing and biochemical methods. 2. Determine the mechanism of the RET2-mediated U-insertion editing reaction. We propose that the fidelity of the U-insertion editing is determined by RET2's intrinsic selectivity for UTP and RNA substrates while complex association facilitates the editing efficiency. Structure-based predictions will be tested by a novel RNAi-based inducible genetic knock-in system. 3. Establish the function of MEAT1 TUTase. MEAT1 is an exclusively U-specific TUTase which associates with a 20S editosome-like particle and is essential for the parasite's viability. We propose to investigate whether U-insertion editing is accomplished by distinct RET2- and MEAT1-dependent mechanisms. MEAT1-specific U-insertion editing sites and interacting partners will be identified by in vivo crosslinking and quantitative mass spectrometry. Trypanosomatids are the causative agents of parasitic diseases in developing countries, including areas of substantial American presence. Available treatments are often toxic and ineffective, which further stresses the need for new drugs. Targeting essential parasite-specific enzymes, such as mitochondrial RNA editing terminal uridylyl transferases (TUTases), is a promising approach toward a new generation of trypanocides.	https://grantome.com/grant/NIH/R01-AI091914-05
In the past decades, quantum technologies have been fast developing from proof-of-principle experiments to ready-to-the-market solutions; with applications in many different fields ranging from quantum sensing, metrology, and communication to quantum simulations. Recently, the study of gauge theories has been recognized as an unexpected field of application of quantum technologies. Gauge theories describe some of the most fundamental and intriguing processes occurring in Nature, ranging from the interaction of elementary high energy particles – described by the Standard Model – to condensed matter systems displaying frustration or topological order. Despite being at the heart of our understanding of many fundamental processes, these systems elude most of our investigative approaches in the non-perturbative regime, whenever real-time dynamics, finite fermionic densities and other problems with complex action are involved and the infamous sign problem hinders the effectiveness of Monte Carlo methods. Thus, developing novel approaches without such limitations will pave the way to unprecedented research possibilities and exciting developments. This is the project’s goal: to develop a new quantum-based sign-problem-free experimental and theoretical tools to simulate strongly correlated many-body quantum systems with Abelian and non-Abelian dynamical gauge degrees of freedom and to apply them to the study of lower dimensional gauge theories,ultimately and in the very long run aiming at Quantum Chromodynamics. The project will develop classical simulation methods based on tensor networks, and develop and run quantum software on experimental quantum simulation platforms. The classical and quantum simulation routes are interconnected and each of them will benefit from the other, however, each route can be a standalone tool to reach the goal, increasing the overall project chances of success.This interdisciplinary project can be developed only within a collaborative effort of different groups as it will exploit knowledge from experimental and theoretical branches of quantum optics; atomic,molecular and optical physics; quantum information science; high energy physics and condensed matter. The results of this project will serve as benchmarks for the first generation of quantum simulators and will have far reaching consequences in different fundamental and applied fields of science ranging from materials science and quantum chemistry to astrophysics. From the technological point of view, this research will allow the study and design of novel materials with topological error correcting capabilities, which will play a central role in the quest for building a scalable quantum computer.	https://quantera.eu/calls-for-proposals/funded-projects/52-qtflag
Tornado warnings exist for a reason, and that reason could be seen earlier this week in Celina. The city near Dayton was hammered by storms on Memorial Day, resulting in more than 100 injuries and one death, a sleeping man who was killed when an empty car crashed into his home. Authorities credit people heeding warnings on their phones and from TV meteorologists for the low number of deaths and injuries in comparison to the damage, according to an Associated Press story. Incidences of "siren fatigue" have been well documented here and elsewhere. Residents in areas that are often hit by strong storms become blase about such warnings when they don’t result in actual tornadoes. This has become such a problem that meteorologists have changed parts of the messages they deliver in an attempt to be more descriptive and accurate. "Siren fatigue" was mentioned several times in "What Stands in a Storm," a book by Kim Cross about a dangerous string of tornadoes that ripped across Alabama in 2011. The book was a former One Book One Community selection. Of course, when people listen to expert advice, they are far more likely to survive dangerous situations, and perhaps this very success is what lulls others into a false sense of complacency. Regardless of the psychology behind the decisions, it was heartening to read of people in Celina who followed protocol with tornado warnings. In other words, they headed to the lowest level of the building they were in, as far away from exterior walls and windows as possible, and shielded their heads from debris. It helped, too, that forecasters were able to give residents a full 10-minutes warning, something not always possible with fast-moving systems and rapidly changing weather patterns. Of course, not everybody comprehends the importance of weather-related warnings. Jamie Simpson, a TV meteorologist in Dayton, went viral after he criticized, on the air, viewers who took him to task for interrupting regularly scheduled programming — in this case, ABC’s "The Bachelorette" — on Sunday night to warn of potentially dangerous weather. Apparently, he was supported by Hannah Brown, the title star of "The Bachelorette," who tweeted support for Simpson and warned viewers that tornadoes were indeed dangerous. The Review’s circulation area was not spared from recent weather. Photos submitted by Pastor Rich Hall from the Atwater Congregational Church shows downed trees across roads and yards from a thunderstorm that rolled through Lexington Township on Tuesday. This damage is a reminder that thunderstorms, too, can be dangerous. Just as with tornadoes, there are two categories of thunderstorm advisories — watches and warnings. A thunderstorm watch means that conditions for a severe storm are possible, but no storm has yet risen to that level. It basically tells residents to be vigilant. A thunderstorm warning, however, means that such a storm has actually developed. Residents in the affected area should take cover. As we continue to move through spring and into summer, we hope readers follow the example of Celina residents by taking appropriate action when watches and warnings for thunderstorms and tornadoes are announced. We also keep in our thoughts the good people of Celina and other areas affected by this week’s extreme weather.	https://www.the-review.com/news/20190530/editorial-stay-safe-in-extreme-weather
MARUAH is concerned over the process and the reasons offered for terminating the services of Mr Roy Ngerng, a patient coordinator at the Communicable Diseases Centre at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH). The Ministry of Health (MOH) also issued a Press Statement to support TTSH’s decision and to say that Mr Ngerng’s “actions show a lack of integrity and are incompatible with the values and standards of behaviour expected of hospital employees”. MARUAH appreciates that TTSH as an employer has a right to haul up employees who do not spend their time on the work they were hired to do. Under Section 14(1) (a) and (b) of the Employment Act the employer has alternative approaches to dismissal including instantly downgrading the employee or suspending him without pay for a period of one week. In this case it was immediate termination after the warning letter issued one month prior. TTSH has not shared all the relevant information about the alternatives approaches it had considered for a public case such as this. We are not any clearer on the volume of time that Mr Ngerng spent on his ‘other’ interests and how the work at TTSH had suffered through incomplete projects or the off-loading of Mr Ngerng’s tasks to others in the office. It seems that in 2012-2013 TTSH had held up Mr Ngerng as a model employee for the dedicated work he was doing with people with HIV, putting him on a poster at public events organized by the hospital. So as an organization that believes in the importance of worker’s rights, MARUAH would like to ask TTSH to be more transparent and share information on the disproportionate amount time Mr Ngerng had spent on this ‘other’ interests and the impact on the work for TTSH; before he was issued with the Prime Minister’s letter of demand on his blog-postings. MARUAH is gravely concerned over TTSH second reason for dismissal. It said that Mr Ngerng’s blog-posting had revealed a lack of integrity especially so because he had apologized to the Prime Minister for the defamatory remarks and removed them. Mr Ngerng is currently facing serious legal consequences for his actions. The issue at hand here is whether employers can simply terminate employees based on the fact that they had apologized for their oversights and ‘facts’. There must be many-a-time that employees – whatever their rank – have made statements – foolishly, naively, egoistically, arrogantly – that they had to withdraw through an apology. The questions here then are these:-what is the value of an apology or retraction to an employer; what is the worth of an apology if it was made to a lower-ranking staff; does TTSH as an employer have a zero-tolerance towards apologies? Whether Mr Ngerng has integrity and honesty will remain to be seen through the court case, a case that will be watched closely. In this case then, as an employer it is unfortunate that TTSH has based its decision on an apology as a reflection of Mr Ngerng’s lack of integrity. Yet an illustrative example, in our history, would be the response of the Singapore government when two of its ministers apologized to Mr Chiam See Tong for defamatory remarks in 1981. The balanced approach taken by the Singapore government to the defamatory remarks made by the senior officers who apologized, paid damages and remained in office, is in marked contrast to the actions of TTSH in this instance. TTSH has a wonderful track record of investing in its staff and has a strong employee-centric mandate as outlined in the six staff values, which TTSH promises its employees. Some of these include dialogue and constructive critique between staff and management and respect for each other as professionals. MARUAH respects TTSH’s commitment to its staff; particularly in striving to create a work environment where staff feel respected and where they are treated with dignity and fairness. Yet it is troubling to us to see how these very values were applied to Mr Ngerng. Lastly MARUAH is perplexed about the response of the MOH. Does the MOH’s role of regulating services and institutions, include the human resource policies and actions of restructured hospitals? Should not that be the decision of TTSH independent of any regulating government body especially when the suit brought against Mr Ngerng is a civil case with a letter of demand issued by the Prime Minister, in his personal capacity? A clarification of the MOH’s approach to this matter and to its own role in relation to healthcare employees and institutions will be very useful. This entry was posted on Thursday, June 12th, 2014 at 11:06 pm and is filed under Position statements (Maruah). You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.	https://maruah.org/2014/06/12/press-statement-termination-of-services-of-mr-roy-ngerng/
Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells. Leukemias are grouped by how quickly the disease develops (acute or chronic) as well as by the type of blood cell that is affected (lymphocytes or myelocytes). The four main types of leukemia include acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), acute myelocytic leukemia (AML), and chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML). People with leukemia are at significantly increased risk for developing infections, anemia, and bleeding. Other symptoms and signs include easy bruising, weight loss, night sweats, and unexplained fevers. The diagnosis of leukemia is supported by findings of the medical history and examination, and examining blood and bone marrow samples under a microscope. Treatment of leukemia depends on the type of leukemia, certain features of the leukemia cells, the extent of the disease, and prior history of treatment, as well as the age and health of the patient. Most patients with leukemia are treated with chemotherapy. Some patients also may have radiation therapy and/or bone marrow transplantation. The prognosis of leukemia depends upon several factors, including the patient's age, the type of leukemia, and the extent to which the cancer has spread. In summary, the four main types of leukemia are as follows: • Acute lymphocytic leukemia • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia • Acute myelocytic leukemia • Chronic myelocytic leukemia Less common types include hairy cell leukemia and human T-cell leukemia. Leukemia affects people of all ages. Approximately 85% of leukemias in children are of the acute type. • Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) affects both children and adults but is more common in children. It accounts for 65% of the acute leukemias in children. • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is essentially an adult disorder and is almost twice as common as chronic myelocytic leukemia. • Acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) is the most common acute leukemia in adults. • Chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) is far more common in adults than in children. Leukemia CausesWhile the exact cause(s) of leukemia is not known, risk factors have been identified. As with other cancers, smoking is considered a risk factor for leukemia, but many people who develop leukemia have never smoked, and many people who smoke never develop leukemia. Long-term exposure to chemicals such as benzene or formaldehyde, typically in the workplace, is considered a risk factor for leukemia, but this accounts for relatively few cases of the disease. Prolonged exposure to radiation is a risk factor, although this accounts for relatively few cases of leukemia. Doses of radiation used for diagnostic imaging such as X-rays and CT scans are nowhere near as prolonged or high as the doses needed to cause leukemia. Other risk factors for leukemia include the following:Previous chemotherapy: Chemotherapy, particularly certain of the alkylating agents and topoisomerase inhibitors, used to treat certain types of cancers, are linked to development of leukemia later. It is likely that radiation treatment adds to the risk of leukemia associated with certain chemotherapy drugs. Human T-cell leukemia virus 1 (HTLV-1): Infection with this virus is linked to human T-cell leukemia. Myelodysplastic syndromes:This unusual group of blood disorders (formerly referred to as "preleukemia") is characterized by abnormal blood cell development and a highly increased risk of leukemia. Down syndrome and other genetic diseases:Some diseases caused by abnormal chromosomes may increase risk for leukemia. Family history:Having a first-degree relative (parent, brother, sister, or child) who has chronic lymphocytic leukemia increases one’s risk of having the disease by as much as four times that of someone who does not have an affected relative. About 20% of people with chronic leukemia do not have symptoms at the time their disease is diagnosed. Leukemia SymptomsSome symptoms of leukemia are due to deficiencies of normal blood cells. Others are due to collections of leukemia cells in tissues and organs. Leukemia cells can collect in many different parts of the body, such as the testicles, brain, lymph nodes, liver, spleen, digestive tract, kidneys, lungs, eyes, and skin -- in effect, virtually every tissue site. The following symptoms of leukemia are common to all types: • Unexplained fevers • Frequent infections • Night sweats • Fatigue (feeling tired or washed out) • Weight loss • Easy bleeding or bruising Collection of leukemia cells in certain parts of the body may cause the following symptoms:	http://mercystepsprogram.org/en/leukemia.html
Mgmt645 – project – part c: conflict Part I: Begin your paper by presenting an overview of current research and scholarly views on this topic. Focus your research on positive vs negative conflict, conflict resolution, common stressors in the workplace, conflict management, etc. Utilize Google Scholar, Lexis Nexis Academic, or any other research search engine to find and present these foundational concepts. The first 2-3 pages of your submission should not mention your chosen company. In the second part of this assignment you will articulate current practices of your chosen company, and compare them to your research findings. Consult the weekly announcement for additional clarification. Part II: Second, conduct and present research that evaluates how conflict manifests itself within your chosen organization and how it is managed. Discuss both positive and negative conflict. Be sure to provide specific examples. Examine what stressors cause conflict and what approaches are used to manage conflict. Identify how the practices of your chosen company align with current research.	https://theessaycorp.com/mgmt645-project-part-c-conflict/
To encourage, initiate and facilitate an enriched artistic, cultural and creative environment in Michigan. This Mission Statement has never been more important. It clearly frames the purposes of the Council as part of the broader environment in Michigan that strives to reinvent the State. This Mission Statement recognizes the need for a strong creative sector in our State that is fully engaged with many of Michigan’s other key sectors including industry, healthcare, education and tourism. As State government’s lead agency charged with developing arts and culture policy and grant-making, MCACA recognizes the need for, and seeks out, a wide variety of public and private sector partners to help fulfill this mission. Our partners provide needed services to the field through collective knowledge, expertise and genuine care for the mission of the Council and the fulfillment of our collective goals. Furthermore, the Council works to fulfill its mission by serving as champions, advocates and a point of connection and coordination for the field with legislative, corporate and other leaders with an interest in seeing the mission of MCACA fulfilled. The Council also seeks out those other champions, inside and outside the halls of government, in order to give voice to all concerned and to better achieve the Council’s mandate and mission. Lastly, the Council serves to advise the Governor concerning the various ways that the arts and support for the arts can integrate with gubernatorial policies and goals, especially in connection with economic development, place-making and education initiatives. The Ruth Mott Foundation’s mission is to advocate, stimulate, and support community vitality. Our commitment is to base the Foundation in its home community of Flint, Michigan. The Foundation envisions communities of hope and pride, whose neighborhood environments and urban core are safe, attractive and healthy, enriched by cultural diversity and an engaged citizenry. The Ruth Mott Foundation believes in the power of the arts to bring people together to explore and address community issues and to fund creative new ways to do that. Over its ten year history, the Foundation has focused its grant funding in Arts and Culture, Health Promotion and Beautification. A Focus on Community Arts and Culture. Community arts and culture offer meaningful and accessible ways for a wide range of Genesee County residents of all ages to take part in creative experiences and to connect with each other and the community. Community arts and culture programs seek to engage residents on issues that matter in their daily lives through education, dialogue, and action. They provide avenues to address serious social issues in productive new ways, give voice to those who are often silent, celebrate our diversity and unite us through a shared sense of community. The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that funds and promotes artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA works with more than 20 other federal agencies, state and local governments, state and regional arts agencies, and private nonprofits on projects that provide opportunities for thousands of Americans to experience quality arts programming throughout the country. We envision a world in which each individual’s quality of life is connected to the well-being of the community, both locally and globally.	http://www.buckhamgallery.org/sponsors/
- What question did you set out to ask in your research? It has been a number of years since the last systematic review and meta-analysis investigated our main research question – Does physical rehabilitation in ICU improve patient outcomes? There have been a number of trials published since, so we set out to update the literature. Our second research question was: Are functional exercises (such as sitting out of bed, standing and walking) are more effective than non-functional exercises (bed exercises, electrical muscle stimulation)? The final research question was: How does the dose of control therapy impact the effectiveness of experimental interventions? This is because there is considerable variability in the routine physical rehabilitation practices around the world. Some studies compared intense physical rehabilitation (twice a day, seven days per week) to regular physical rehabilitation (once a day, five days per week); other studies compared their experimental intervention to little or no physical rehabilitation. Like most treatments, after a point increasing dosage returns diminishing return. Finding out where that point is has implications on how physical rehabilitation should be resourced in the ICU. - How did you go about doing it? We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis, and performed sub-group analysis based on characteristics of trials that related to our research questions. Sub-groups analysis were bases on the 1) type of experimental intervention: functional rehabilitation vs. non-functional rehabilitation and 2) on how much physical rehabilitation were available to the control group: least 5 times per week vs. little or no rehabilitation. - What where the interesting findings and what does this mean for clinical practice? Our main findings were: Physical rehabilitation begun in the ICU improved patient outcomes. Functional exercises showed benefits, but nonfunctional exercises did not. Compared to little or no physical rehabilitation, physical rehabilitation provided benefits. But when compared to a group receiving regular rehabilitation, a higher dosage did not further improve outcomes. - Did the findings raise new or unanswered questions? No, however we did list a number of recommendations for future trials investigating physical rehabilitation in the ICU. - What did you enjoy the most when doing this research? Problem solving, finding novel ways to answer our research questions. - Do you have any advice for clinicians wanting to get into research? Find a good research mentor(s), and seek the support of your manager(s). - What’s next for you? Try to be a good research mentor to someone else, pay it forward!	https://www.peninsulahealth-research.org.au/news/interview-with-michael-wang-about-his-new-publication-physical-rehabilitation-in-the-icu/
[Note that this is a critique of the full game, and contains plot spoilers.] I am not much of a platformer guy. Except for Mario Galaxy, I haven't really engaged with one in years. Nor am I, since the mid-90's, much of an adventure/puzzle guy, aside from indulging in a few of Telltale's Sam & Max episodes, and of course Portal. Hell I'm not even much of an indie games guy, as something is lost on me in that more abstract realm. But Braid, the new indie puzzle platformer by Jon Blow, grabbed my attention and spoke to me despite my lack of usual interest in the bounds it occupies. What's most interesting to me about Braid is how it takes familiar mechanics, considers their implications, and then twists them into an effective metaphor expressed through the play itself. Video games it's based off of such as Super Mario Bros. have always pointed towards a cartoon representation of the many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics: each of the player's "lives" represent one possible set of decisions Mario might have made; dying and trying again presents a vision of an alternate reality where Mario made a different decision at some crucial point. The one reality that finally leads to the completion of the game is made up only of the lives with which the player made progress past at least one save point, building towards a whole. Braid takes this interpretive aspect of an existing game format and makes it integral to the overall experience. The player may rewind time at will, throwing the sheer number of alternate realities onscreen into sharp relief. The narrative of the game is expressed through interstitial text relating the story of a man's struggles between maintaining a romantic relationship and pursuing some other, obsessive goal. The seeming regret and misgivings of the protagonist "Tim" in these passages highlights the difference between the endless revision possible in a video game, and the inability to take back permanent life decisions in the real world. The play and the narrative come together to portray the longing and impotence of a man wishing to undo the past. The way the mechanics of the game reinforce this aesthetic theme is wonderfully subtle and fully realized. The place that this dichotomy falls down is when Blow's reach surpasses his grasp in the epilogue of the game. Mechanical play is well-suited to supporting universal and personal themes such as the ones noted above, and to this end the protagonist's story of love and loss retains meaning when told as a parable. But at the end of the game the narrative content becomes overly weighty and specific, calling out the creation of the atomic bomb and other major scientific and intellectual conundrums by name-- conceptual territory of a fidelity and gravity that the play of Braid can't support. I don't begrudge Blow an attempt at addressing important issues, but the weight of the atomic age seems too much to satisfy with a few lines of text that feel incongruous with the rest of the production. If this aspect of the narrative were going to be present at all, I wanted it reinforced by the gameplay, as the rest of the framing story was; instead, I came away thinking, "Wait, was that supposed to be about the atomic bomb somehow?" This overextension of narrative ambition without satisfactory justification did a disservice to all of the game's other highly successful elements. As a puzzle game, Braid is nearly flawless. On top of reversability, time works differently in each of the game's worlds, and in each these new mechanics are fully explored. It's a joy to be learning new things along every step of the game. But like most puzzle games, it's a tightly authored experience, with only one solution to any given room: while all the puzzles are set up in extremely clever ways and are largely discoverable to the attentive player on first pass, the puzzles definitely tend away from making the player feel smart for deciphering them and more towards making the player feel like Jon Blow was smart for coming up with them. To be playable at all, the rules of a game's world must be internally consistent at all times, and Braid is no different. So, the only places that the play of Braid falls down are where Blow breaks his own rules. For instance, it's understood that every puzzle room of Braid is solvable first time through, on its own as a distinct unit. So, when the player must leave a room in World 2 without collecting all the puzzle pieces, then come back later to grab them, it's frustrating and unfair since it's the only place that this rule of Braid's structure isn't upheld. Elsewhere, puzzle solutions require an understanding of the world's properties that haven't been demonstrated up to that point. How am I to know that elements of a completed puzzle can become interactive pieces of the gameworld? Or that an enemy bounces up into the air when it lands on my head? Additional training simply to introduce all the pertinent game dynamics would have reduced the 'unfair' challenge of the game without reducing the fair challenge of figuring out how all those elements fit together to solve a given puzzle. In the end though, these are small quibbles directed towards an outstandingly unique and satisfying puzzle game. Braid is a brilliant exploration of a principle that Blow has addressed in his prolific conference talks: certain game genres have been prematurely left by the wayside, victims of the ongoing march of technology. There are many formats ripe for reexamination outside the existing assumptions built before they fell out of favor. What if progress in a platformer weren't gated by having to replay segments whenever the player died? What if the challenge weren't in outright manual dexterity and memorization but in mental dexterity and logical deduction? What if the many-worlds quantum aspect of retrying platformer segments were embraced, wound into the play, and made meaningful to the player on multiple levels? What if we went back and picked up design threads that we'd dropped along the way, and found that they still had plenty more slack to explore? It's a way of stepping out of the technological jetstream and embracing a sustainable sort of design that's conscious of more than the medium's here-and-now. One might say it's a method of exploring an alternate path that one branch of game design might have taken, if only we could go back in time and try again. 8.17.2008 Quick Critique: Braid 8 comments: - Mitu Khandaker said... - A wonderful review, and, given that it perfectly reflects most of my own thoughts on the game far more eloquently than I could (and have) put it, I have no need to quibble with any of it at all. It's interesting to me however that even in positive reviews such as this one (though mainly, in others), the main point of criticsm with Braid appears to be that the gameplay can be, at times, somewhat too "fussy"; a heavy handed exercise in platforming precision. Whilst I do, to an extent, agree with this, I also think it provides a certain barrier to entry which serves to strengthen it's reason for being. By no means am I saying that Braid belongs to a more hardcore gaming demographic and should be inaccessible to anyone else. But, together with the humorous allusions to classic platform favourites, I wonder if Braid is meant to speak to, or rather, best speaks to a smaller subset of skilled and seasoned gamers; it is, after all, as you mention, about reimagining and even subverting well known mechanics. As you say though, it's a small quibble nonetheless. :) Again, excellent critique, enjoyed reading. - Sun Aug 17, 05:09:00 PM PDT - Nels Anderson said... - Instead, I came away thinking, "Wait, was that supposed to be about the atomic bomb somehow? That was the reaction I had too, and I didn't even really get it until I played the Epilogue twice in a row. I was thinking, "That can't possibly mean what I think it means." Heh, I still wasn't completely sure until I read you thought so too. (Just finished it 30 minutes ago and have been avoiding any articles) You definitely right in that Braid walks outside the lines a little much. But the rub is all those times, things make enough sense in retrospect that you don't feel quite cheated (at least I didn't). The ledge in the puzzle does look exactly like the ledges in the game; if jumping on enemies makes you bounce, it make sense they'd bounce off you too. Even the atomic bomb bit somewhat makes sense if you think about almost quantum physics is weaved throughout the entire game. It's still unexpected, but not so unexpected that you feel taken advantage of by Blow. Despite its quirks, Braid is extremely ambitious and as you said, where it succeeds, it succeeds masterfully. An excellent read Steve, thanks for sharing your thoughts :) - Sun Aug 17, 05:44:00 PM PDT - Iroquois Pliskin said... - Hi Steve, I enjoyed this critique, I thought it really captured the flavor of the gameplay and raised some justified critiques of the game's design (I thought the "crossing the gap" puzzle, which you mentioned, was the sort of thing you could only solve by accident.) I wanted to just make a comment about your critique of the narrative in the epilogue. I did not take the final portions as an indication that Tim was literally a nuclear scientist. My own take is that the narrative is a sort of parable about the ethically ambiguous nature of play. Hear me out on this one: The game mechanics of Braid are all about learning rules and using them to master the world, achieve the objectives posed by the environment. This attitude to the world is relevantly like scientific inquiry (which I think is the point of several text passages in the epilogue). But the text passages also indicate that the assumption of this inherently manipulative and singleminded attitude towards the world also has a dark side: it alienates "Tim" from his loved ones, and there is also an inherently destructive aspect to this effort to control the world. (I took this to be the point of the robert Oppenheimer reference in the epilogue. Oppenheimer's biography is a story of the conflict between high ethical values and the horrific consequences of his desire for scientific knowledge, which culminated in the bomb. Anyhow, I think there is no one valid interpretation of the story (the whole thing is intentionally allusive rather than explicit) but I thought it was interesting how the game sought to explicitly reflect on the nature of gameplay itself. - Sun Aug 17, 05:52:00 PM PDT - Nels Anderson said... - Also, did you find and read all the hidden text in the epilogue? The candy store one still has me a little perplexed. After World 1, I get the feeling a lot of people think Tim is "the bad guy," but I'm not sure it's quite that simple. The epilogue, if you read all the text, seems to indicate it's more complicated than that. - Sun Aug 17, 06:35:00 PM PDT - Steve gaynor said... - I did read all the alternate text during the epilogue, which is what made me come to the conclusion about Tim's identity. "The princess" Tim pursues seems to be the creation of the atomic bomb as far as I interpreted, but of course there is the possibility that this was simply a train of thought running parallel to Tim's story, as opposed to actually being one in the same. Enough of the epilogue text was semi stream of consciousness that I didn't get one coherent read from it. Even if Tim doesn't literally represent an atomic physicist, I thought the inclusion of that content at all was too much of a stretch to fit with the rest of the experience. - Sun Aug 17, 07:42:00 PM PDT - Steve gaynor said... - Actually, going back through the epilogue just now and re-reading all the text, I can formulate an interpretation that makes the "he" of the text a symbol of humanity in its endless pursuit of knowledge, and "she" a representation of the universe itself. Humanity, like a child, always wants the tantalizing knowledge that seems just beyond its fingertips, while the universe looks on bemused as man struggles to decipher it. In that case, atomic theory is only one concrete example of knowledge so far attained by humanity, along with ethical calculus and other concepts mentioned. It still seems that the text is exploring space that the game itself fails to even point toward, which is unfortunate for a game the most notable aspect of which is unity between play and meaning. - Sun Aug 17, 08:33:00 PM PDT - Unknown said... - I think your last comment is spot-on, Steve. The reading that makes sense (that the princess is the eternal quest-object) implies that the game is reaching for something that exceeds its grasp. Thanks for synthesizing so beautifully so much of what's going on in "Braid." The game makes me very hopeful, in that it seems like the failures of the most ambitious games are becoming nobler and nobler. - Mon Aug 18, 04:59:00 AM PDT - Brent said... - Steve, A wonderful review, and very thoughtful. I agree that the discussion of the atomic bomb is a little bit clunky in the game, but it is not without meaning or place. One of the beautiful themes of the game is the dichotomy between the game, where you can manipulate time and remake certain decisions, and reality. I think that the focus of the game is on the relationship between Tim and his wife, with the princess playing the part of the quest-object. It’s these relationships, and the permanence that past decisions have had on these relationships, that take center stage, and the identity of Tim’s quest-object does not matter so much. However, the game does leave clues as to what Tim’s princess really is (the bomb), but only as an add-on to the game. You really only pick up on the discussion after reading the alternate text in the epilogue. This placement of the most direct text, in my mind, again highlights the importance of the major themes, with the permanence of human knowledge left as an additional sub-plot, albeit one that is outside of the themes reflected in the game-play. However, could you argue this sub-plot helps fold Braid into Blow’s larger discussion of video games? His criticism of the use of quest-objects in certain games to manipulate gamers seems to be very pertinent to the essence of Braid. In Braid, could Blow potentially be hinting at the fact that real world quest-objects are not necessarily any more noble than those in the virtual world. Who is worse off, the Tim that devoted his life to a chilling scientific discovery at the expense of the relationships and experiences in his life, or the poor shclub who has devoted his life saving princesses and killing ogres on the couch, at the expense of the relationships and experiences in his life? Then again, maybe I am just a guilty gamer and work-a-holic who is trying to read more into the narrative than is actually there. But, at any rate, these discussions should be incremental to the central themes and design of the game, which were masterfully done.	http://www.fullbrightdesign.com/2008/08/quick-critique-braid.html
Scale and Complexity in Plant Systems Research This book presents and discusses new directions in plant systems research to bridge knowledge from the gene to the plant, crop and agro-ecosystem levels and to assist in solving problems in production ecology and resource use by identifying and applying new research methods. Functional genomics, systems biology and ecophysiological modelling of crop growth and development provide powerful tools for identifying genes and genotypes of agronomic importance. Despite remarkable advances in basic knowledge of plant genes and gene networks, there has been relatively little impact on crop improvement from the application of genomics and recombinant-DNA technology. Novel directions in linking plant sciences to crop and systems research are needed to meet the growing demand for food in a sustainable way. The challenge is to produce more food on the limited available land through more efficient use of natural resources and external inputs. Genetics of plant performance are discussed using examples of Arabidopsis thaliana and food crops. The concept of ‘crop system biology’ is introduced. Within the theme ‘physiology and genetics’ traits and mechanisms to improve crop adaptation are discussed. Furthermore, various approaches in modelling G x E interactions and crop performance are presented. Some chapters are dedicated to the role of diversity in optimizing resource use and crop performance. An outlook and dialogue on future directions in plant system research challenges readers with contrasting opinions on the way forward concerning this critical issue for the future of food production. - Authors / Editors: - J.H.J. Spiertz; P.C. Struik; H.H. van Laar - Price: - 106.95 EUR; 139.00 USD; 79.00 GBP - Print ISSN: - 978-1-4020-5904-9 - Launch: - 1900 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Register here for the Springer e-mail newsletter providing you with information on the latest products in your field. Customer comments No comments were found for Scale and Complexity in Plant Systems Research. Be the first to comment!	https://www.agriculture-xprt.com/books/scale-and-complexity-in-plant-systems-research-20340
Weaving Art and Ideas into Understanding and Connection At the Center for Humans and Nature, we often use writing and language to explore our relationships and responsibilities to nature. However, we know that art is a meaningful pathway to discovering the multiple ways of understanding and connecting with the world around us. We believe art and artists help us to see the possibilities of our humanity through creative expression. With that, we created this online gallery space to cultivate an artistic, inspirational place for exploring and discovering new meanings. We invite you to wander through these works on view and to learn more about the artists who are reimagining the connections between humans and nature. Making Kin Exhibition Making Kin is an online art exhibition exploring the visual dimensions of kinship in a more-than-human world. With work from 24 artists from around the world, Making Kin is in conversation with the themes—Planet, Place, Partners, Persons, Practice—that are central to the Center for Humans and Nature’s five-volume book series, Kinship: Belonging in a World of Relations. The participating artists illuminate the deep connections between humans and nature while inviting us to consider how kinship practices and ethics can expand our sense of identity, as well as deepen our care and respect for other-than-human kin. Making Kin is part of the Center for Humans and Nature’s Kinship Project, which includes a five-volume book series, podcast, and ongoing events. Kinship and Beyond We gather thoughtful and inspiring ideas across perspectives about our kinship, belonging, and responsibilities with nature. Learn more about the Kinship Book Series, podcast, events, and other Center for Humans and Nature publications. About Center for Humans and Nature Exploring our relationships and responsibilities with nature. The Center for Humans and Natures is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that publishes stories that spark curiosity, build community, and inspire action. We provide programs and experiences to explore, connect, and nurture our understanding and responsibilities to the natural world. Our work promotes thoughtful and diverse ideas across perspectives about what it means to be human in an interconnected world. Our Center in Libertyville, IL, is a place to experience and engage in interdisciplinary ideas about arts, humanity, and nature. We practice inclusive and respectful civil discourse to understand the critical and urgent issues of our time.	https://humansandnatureart.com/about/
Society: The Basics, is written to help students find and use sociology in everyday life. With a complete theoretical framework and a global perspective, Society: The Basics offers students an accessible and relevant introduction to sociology. The new edition continues to grow to meet readers' changing needs. With a newly integrated pedagogical framework, readers are guided through both the text - and optional new MySocLab - to build their critical thinking skills while learning the fundamentals of sociology. This program will provide a better teaching and learning experience - for you and your students. Here's how: Personalize Learning - The new MySocLab delivers proven results in helping students succeed, provides engaging experiences that personalize learning, and comes from a trusted partner with educational expertise and a deep commitment to helping students and instructors achieve their goals. Improve Critical Thinking -Six new learning objectives per chapter help readers build critical thinking and study skills. Engage Students- New design, everyday life and pop culture examples make sociology relevant for students today. Explore Theory-Three main theoretical perspectives are discussed in every chapter.	https://www.bartleby.com/textbooks/society-the-basics-12th-edition/9780205898916/solutions
WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and its Russian counterpart Roscosmos signed a joint statement on building a "deep space gateway" in lunar orbit, NASA said Wednesday. In the agreement signed at the 68th International Astronautical Congress in the Australian city of Adelaide, NASA and Russia's Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities formed cooperation in building a crewed space station orbiting the moon. "This joint statement reflects the common vision for human exploration that NASA and Roscosmos share," NASA said in the statement. The concept of "deep space gateway", still in formulation, was first proposed by NASA in March, which conceived it as a crew tended spaceport in lunar orbit to "serve as a gateway to deep space and the lunar surface." According to NASA, the spaceport will have a power bus, a small habitat to extend crew time, docking capability, an airlock, and will be serviced by logistics modules to enable research. "Both agencies, as well as other International Space Station partners, see the gateway as a strategic component of human space exploration architecture that warrants additional study," NASA said. Robert Lightfoot, acting administrator at NASA Headquarters in Washington, said that "statements such as this one signed with Roscosmos show the gateway concept as an enabler to the kind of exploration architecture that is affordable and sustainable." NASA said it's working with its partners to "identify common exploration objectives and possible missions for the 2020s." NASA has also been engaging the U.S. industry in habitation concepts for the gateway and for the deep space transport that would be needed for Mars exploration, the U.S. space agency said. Five full-sized prototypes of habitation systems are expected to be complete in 2018, it added.	http://www.xinhuanet.com//english/2017-09/28/c_136645082.htm
Slow transit constipation has been traditionally considered and classified as a functional disorder. However, clinical and manometric evidence has been accumulating that suggests how most of the motility alterations in STC might be considered of neuropathic type.In addition, further investigations showed that subtle alterations of the enteric nervous system, not evident to conventional histological examination, may be present in these patients. In the present article we will discuss these evidences, and will try to put them in relation with the abnormal motor function of the large bowel documented in this pathological condition. Citation: Bassotti G, Villanacci V. Slow transit constipation: A functional disorder becomes an enteric neuropathy. World J Gastroenterol 2006; 12(29): 4609-4613 In gastroenterology practice, the most frequently encountered disorders are represented by those related to an abnormal function of the abdominal viscera, the so-called functional diseases[1,2]. The term “functional” defines several variable combinations of chronic or recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms that do not have an identified underlying pathophysiology, and that are often also labelled as “idiopathic”. Thus, the definition of functional relies on the exclusion of an organic disease, and it is consequently thought to be related to abnormalities of its physiological properties or functions. Among the so-called functional disorders, one of the most common is functional constipation, whose diagnostic criteria according to Rome II classification are reported in Table 1. Patients with functional constipation may be further classified in three subgroups: normal transit constipation, disorders of defecatory or rectal evacuation (outlet obstruction), and slow transit constipation (STC)[5,6]. This latter condition affects mainly women, it is characterized by an often intractable constipation , a heavily delayed colonic transit up to true colonic inertia[7,8], and it is usually attributed to disorders of colonic motor function[9,10]. Indeed, several abnormal motor aspects have been described in STC, such as alterations of rectosigmoid contractile activity, decreased colonic propulsive function[12,13], abnormal response to food ingestion[14,15], and overall reduced electrical or motor activity of the large bowel[16,17]. It must also be taken into account that a further cause of delayed colonic transit may be due to the association with pelvic floor dyssynergia; this condition must be identified, since it is amenable of biofeedback treatment, which can normalize colonic transit. However, we still do not know how and why these abnormalities are present in STC patients. In recent years, clinical and manometric evidence has been accumulated that suggests how most of the motility alterations in STC might be considered as a neuropathic type. Moreover, other data showed that some subtle alterations of the enteric nervous system, not evident to conventional histological examination, may be present in these patients. In the present article we will discuss these evidences, and will try to put them in relation with the abnormal motor function of the large bowel documented in this pathological condition. In several patients with STC subclinical features of autonomic neuropathy may be present, and other studies described selective sensory and autonomic neuropathy in these subjects, often with a positive family history, suggesting a genetic basis for this condition. Animal studies might help in elucidating these issues: for instance, transgenic mice with a targeted deletion of neurturin (a neurotrophin) display clinical and tissue phenotype similar to that found in STC, and display associated parasympathetic deficits. Moreover, since in a sizable proportion of STC patients the symptoms start after pelvic surgical procedures[23-25] or following childbirth it has been hypothesized (although the anatomic proof has never been given) that pelvic nerve injury may occur following hysterectomy and childbirth, and that STC could be considered a disorder of pelvic autonomic nerves at least in a subgroup of patients. Several manometric studies carried out in patients with STC have reported findings that suggest the presence of neuropathic-type abnormalities. Such abnormalities have been described in many instances with respect to the periodic motor activity of the rectosigmoid area (including the so-called rectal motor complex), that appears either decreased or disorganized[28-30], the contractile colonic motor response following intravenous cholinergic stimulation, that in results impaired, the early motor response following ingestion of a meal, reported as decreased or absent, the overall daily colonic motility, usually decreased to a lesser or greater extent[33,34], the daily organization of regular contractile colonic patterns, that is often impaired, and the lack of propulsive response to intraluminal instillation of bisacodyl (a powerful stimulant of mass movements in healthy subjects). It is worth noting that neuropathic-type abnormalities in patients with STC are not necessarily confined to the large bowel, but may be also documented in other viscera such as the esophagus[37,38], the stomach[39,40], the gallbladder, and especially the small bowel[42-45], suggesting the presence of a pan-enteric motor disorder in these patients, particularly in those with more severe symptoms. Most of the pathologic descriptions related to STC are pertinent to the large bowel, and only sporadic reports from other gastrointestinal viscera (terminal ileum) exist. Therefore, the discussion of pathological findings will focus on the colonic studies. Most studies employing routine light microscopy have failed to identify consistent abnormalities of the enteric nervous system (ENS) in patients with STC[46-50], apart from the presence of melanosis coli. However, we have recently demonstrated that melanosis coli per se does not have any relationship with colonic ENS abnormalities (in particular with the loss of enteric neurons, as hypothesized in older studies only evaluating the submucosa) in these patients. Morphological abnormalities of colonic innervation have been described in STC patients using the silver staining technique introduced by Smith. These studies have generally reported a reduction in the total number of argyrophilic neurones and morphological neuronal and/or axonal abnormalities[53,54]. However, the silver staining technique has been subsequently replaced by more modern and reliable immunohistochemical methods (see below). Concerning the hypothesized imbalance of enteric neurotransmitters or the enzyme markers (mostly neuro-peptides) in STC, the various studies (using immuno-staining, immunoassays, or both methods) have frequently yielded inconsistent results. In fact, looking at the findings related to the most commonly investigated neuropeptides (VIP, substance P, neuropeptide Y and 5-HT), decreased, increased or unchanged levels or immunoreactivity has been described in these patients[55-59]. Overall, on the basis of the above reports it might be stated that it is unlikely that alterations of the enteric neurotransmitterns may play a major role in the pathophysiology of STC. However, more recent observations suggest that an excessive production of nitric oxide in the colonic myenteric plexus of patients with STC could play a pathophysiological role, concurring in the persistent inhibition of contractions[60,61]. More consistent results have been reported with respect to enteric neurons, interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), and enteric glial cells (EGC). In fact, a decrease of enteric neural elements (neurons and/or neurofilaments) seems to be a constant feature in studies evaluating patients with STC severe enough to require surgery for symptoms’ relief[62-66], and these abnormalities are often associated with a reduced number of ICC[67-71], although this latter finding is not constantly present. We have recently shown in a relatively large and homogeneous group of patients with severe and intractable STC, compared to age-matched controls, that the ICC are significantly decreased in patients (Figures 1A and B), that the enteric neuronal loss may be partially due to apoptotic phenomena, and that these patients display a significantly decreased number of EGC with respect to controls (Figures 1C and D), in both the submucosal and myenteric plexuses. On the basis of the above evidences, it seems now possible to track a link between the clinical picture, represented by severe constipation with heavily delayed colonic transit, often refractory to medical treatment, the instrumental manometric findings, that mostly show impaired motility and propulsive activity of the large bowel (sometimes with the participation of the upper gastrointestinal segments too), and the abnormalities of the colonic ENS. The neuronal loss is likely to affect the motor activity of the large bowel, reducing the likelihood of enteric neurotransmission. This defect is then strengthened by the concomitant reduction of the number of ICC, a cell population of paramount importance for the correct homeostasis of gastrointestinal motility. In fact, the primary role of ICC as intestinal pacemakers has been established in experimental animal models, where it has been shown that a lack of ICC networks leads to the absence of slow waves and is accompanied by delayed or absent intestinal motility[74,75]. A decreased ICC function might therefore impair the colonic electrical slow wave activity, thereby affecting the contractile response and causing delayed transit in STC patients. In addition, it has been recently demonstrated that in patients with STC the expression of c-kit mRNA and c-kit protein is significantly decreased compared to controls, suggesting that alterations in the c-kit signal pathway may play an important role in ICC reduction in such patients. An interesting findings, never described before, was the significant decrease of EGC in both the myenteric and submucous plexuses in STC patients compared to controls. This cell population originates from the neural crest and provides both mechanical and physiological support for neuronal elements. The chief known function of the glia in the adult is the formation of myelin sheaths around axons, allowing the fast connections essential for the nervous system function. Moreover, EGC maintain the appropriate concentrations of ions and neurotransmitters in the neuronal environment and are essential regulators of the formation, maintenance and function of synapses, the key functional units of the nervous system[78,79]. Since EGC are thought to act as intermediaries in enteric neurotransmission, it is likely that their decrease could synergistically act in further weakening the already precarious neuroenteric balance due to the decrease of neuronal elements and ICC found in patients with STC. The case for reclassifying STC other than an “idiopathic” or “functional” disorder is built. In fact, as seen above, clinical, instrumental, and pathological evidences exist that all point toward to a (perhaps) more precise definition of this condition as a true enteric neuropathy. It is probably too early to target STC with a different label, but at least we are now aware of some basic pathophysiological mechanisms potentially responsible for the symptoms and the manometric abnormalities found in this condition. Moreover, apart from mere semantic considerations, the demonstration of such background abnormalities might reveal useful for more targeted therapeutic approaches. For instance, in a mouse model the blockage of Kit receptors caused transdifferentiation of intestinal ICC to a smooth muscle phenotype: if the same would occur in the human colon and if ICC do not die in STC but rather redifferentiate, it might be possible to create conditions that would shift the phenotype back toward ICC. In conclusion, the advancement of our knowledge of the possible pathophysological mechanisms of “functional” disorders is important for a more correct clinical and therapeutic approach. Further studies are obviously needed before we can drop the “idiopathic” label from these disorders.	http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/full/v12/i29/4609.htm
In AACC webinar, Drs. Geralyn Lambert-Messerlian and Glenn Palomaki to discuss the rollout of DNAFirst study and the potential pros and cons of cfDNA screening. Speakers Geralyn Lambert-Messerlian, PhD, FACB, NRCC, and Glenn Palomaki, PhD, of Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island/ Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, will cover the study’s lab analysis of test results and reporting, how the testing was conducted, and what the study revealed about patient and provider education needs. The DNAFirst study looked at the clinical utility of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) screening in a general pregnancy population through primary obstetrical care providers, Lambert-Messerlian explained to CLN Stat. The test results “indicated excellent screening performance, with 0.2% screen positive women and no known missed cases of aneuploidy. Among the small percentage of screen positive pregnancies, 3 of every 4 were confirmed to be common aneuploidies,” she said. The speakers plan to touch on current strategies in using cfDNA for prenatal screening, and what barriers this method may face for implementation. Current limitations include occurrence of test failures, high test costs, and lack of consistent insurance reimbursement, Lambert-Messerlian said. Many professional organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), have voiced concerns regarding the use of cfDNA for prenatal screening, she continued. These organizations suggest that cfDNA testing is not diagnostic, that women with screen positive cfDNA results have a high risk for fetal aneuploidy, and invasive diagnostic testing should be required for confirming screen positive results. ACOG has also suggested that genetic counselors provide this type of education. “Our study explored providing education through carefully constructed patient materials and primary care providers,” Lambert-Messerlian said. The advantage of cfDNA screening is its high detection and low screen positive rates, she emphasized. It’s also a simple and convenient way for patients and providers to screen for chromosome abnormalities. The fact that these parties understood the purpose of cfDNA test, the meaning of test results, and the limitations of screening with this method, were important takeaways of this study, Lambert-Messerlian said. Lab directors, managers, and technologists who perform prenatal screening or want to find out more about these tests should register for this informative webinar on Feb. 14, which is scheduled from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST.	https://www.aacc.org/Publications/CLN/CLN-Stat/2017/January/19/Edging-Cell-Free-DNA-Analysis-Closer-to-Clinical-Implementation.aspx
Project briefing: Peak Hill Mineral Field, Australia Sandfire Resources, a mid-tier Australian mining company that operates the mine, called on developers to co-locate not only a solar power plant, but also a utility-scale energy storage system alongside its existing diesel power station. Showcasing the latest technological advances, the newly completed project in the Peak Hill Mineral Field has been hailed as one of the largest renewable energy systems installed at a mine anywhere in the world and certainly the largest in Australia. Download Options Also read...	https://www.pv-tech.org/technical-papers/project-briefing
Instructors: Ms. Jodi Cook, Initial Level certified teacher in Medical Laboratory Technology Ms. Elyse Boress, Professional Level certified teacher in Biology Ms. Deborah Gerritz, Permanent Level certified teacher in Business and Distributive Education Program of Study Student Data Regional Labor Market Demand Teaching & Learning Institute Curriculum Documents CTE Technical Assessments - Precision Exams: Biotechnology (written) Biotechnology is designed to create an awareness of career possibilities in the field of biotechnology. Students are introduced to diagnostic and therapeutic laboratory procedures that support bioscience research and practice. - Precision Exams: Biotechnology (performance) Performance standards to be evaluated to determine proficiency in biotechnology laboratory technology.	https://www.rcsdk12.org/Page/49752
On behalf of Sabelhaus + Lynch, PLLC posted in property division on Sunday, April 14, 2019. Divorce will bring significant financial changes for both spouses, and it will likely require both parties to make some adjustments in lifestyle and future expectations. This is particularly true for retirement accounts. It may be prudent for a person facing the prospect of divorce to understand how the property division process works and what it could mean for his or her retirement plans. When a Texas couples divorces, they will have to divide all marital property. This includes retirement savings accumulated over the course of the marriage, which can be a substantial amount if the couple was married for a long time. A person interested in protecting his or her interests in divorce will need to know what types of accounts are subject to division, their classifications and how money is paid out from those accounts. Should a protective order require a background check? On behalf of Sabelhaus + Lynch, PLLC on Wednesday, April 10, 2019. Hopefully you never need a protective order. Yet, there are times when you may need a legal deterrent for someone who has threatened to harm you or your family. There are times that these orders have made a difference in a dire domestic situation. While protective orders can help, recent events have raised the question if process of obtaining one could be better. By Stephanie Sabelhaus of Sabelhaus + Lynch, PLLC on Thursday, April 4, 2019. You may have already figured out (even if it was the hard way) that there are some posts you shouldn't make while you are going through a divorce. As much as it might be nice to have your friends rally in your corner, it makes sense not to talk about your fights and paperwork battles on social media. But there are still more topics you should avoid posting about while you and your ex are negotiating your divorce. On behalf of Sabelhaus + Lynch, PLLC posted in property division on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. When a Texas couple decides to move forward with divorce, they will have to divide all of the property they purchased, accumulated or earned over the course of the marriage. This is often one of the most difficult aspects of the divorce process, particularly when it comes to valuable marital property to which people may have an emotional attachment. In many cases, this includes the family home. A couple may opt to simply keep the family home and share expenses, deciding to wait and sell until after the children are grown and gone. After the children move out, they may then decide to sell and share the proceeds. In other situations, one spouse may buy out the other. This will allow that spouse to remain the home, which is sometimes a way to provide stability and continuity of lifestyle for the children. On behalf of Sabelhaus + Lynch, PLLC on Tuesday, March 5, 2019. If you are a parent just starting the divorce process, one of your first thoughts may be about who will end up with custody of your child. If you and your spouse cannot agree on a plan, a court will determine child custody, legally called conservatorship, based on the best interests of your child. There are two types of child custody in Texas. Joint managing conservatorship involves both parents sharing child care responsibilities. Sole managing conservatorship involves just one parent managing child care responsibilities.	https://www.sabelhauslynch.com/blog/
Phases of matter like magnets or water can be understood by studying the individual atoms that form them. In the last three decades, other types of materials have been discovered which cannot be understood in this simple approach. In such materials, quantum mechanics and strong correlations force the particles to lose their identity and form collective quantum states that resemble complicated loops and braids. These “topological phases of matter” have profoundly enriched our understanding of quantum matter (which was also recognised by the 2016 Nobel physics prize), and they are currently being utilised for practical applications in terms of new ways of storing and manipulating quantum information, which is protected from from many sources of errors. This PhD project will investigate novel types of dynamics in topological phases of matter, in particular focusing on their geometric degrees of freedom that can be described by gravitational Chern-Simons field theory. <p>One of the best studied examples of topological phases is the so-called fractional quantum Hall effect (FQHE). Under experimental conditions of the FQHE, electrons form exotic types of quantum liquids where they fractionalise into new kind of particles called anyons. The reason why this happens has to do with topology, which is experimentally imposed by an applied magnetic field. In recent years, from the work of Haldane and others, it has been realised that topology does not fully describe FQHE phases – these phases also have emergent degrees of freedom which have geometric character. This means that their quantised excitations behave like an analog of the elusive graviton particle in theories of quantum gravity.</p> <p>This PhD project will investigate dynamics of fractional quantum Hall phases, in particular focusing on their geometric degrees of freedom. While the equilibrium properties of the FQHE have been well understood due to major theoretical efforts of the past three decades, the study of non-equilibrium dynamics of FQHE phases is an uncharted territory. In our recent work , we have addressed this question for the first time and we have shown that FQHE phases have rich dynamical properties, in particular they allow us to probe the mentioned “graviton” excitation and observe its dynamics after the FQHE system is “quenched” (i.e., the direction of the external magnetic field is suddenly changed).</p> <p>One of the goals of the project will be to understand the dynamics in the so-called non-Abelian FQHE phases, whose underlying particles have exchange statistics which is fundamentally different from fermions and bosons. It is precisely this type of statistics that allows to use such systems to perform “topological quantum computation”. The second goal of the project would be to investigate the dynamics of higher-spin excitations in FQHE phases, which can be viewed as generalisations of the “graviton” particle (which carries spin-2). The study of such exotic excitations would not only shed light on the richness of structure in FQHE phases, but the insights gained from it might prove to be of interest in various other areas of theoretical physics which have focused on higher-spin symmetry (e.g., generalization of gauge/gravity dualities, large N gauge theory, etc.).</p> <p>Desired student background: We seek talented and highly-motivated physics students to pursue this project in the general area of quantum condensed matter physics and topological phases. The project will involve numerical modelling of fractional quantum Hall systems via exact diagonalisation and related techniques (e.g., matrix product states, DMRG, etc.). The project is thus particularly suitable for those with strong interest in computational physics and numerical simulations.</p> <h5>References</h5> <p> Geometric Description of the Fractional Quantum Hall Effect, F. D. M. Haldane, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 116801 (2011).<br /> Geometric quench and non-equilibrium dynamics of fractional quantum Hall states, Zhao Liu, Andrey Gromov and Zlatko Papic, arXiv:1803.00030.</p> <p>Formal applications for research degree study should be made online through the <a href="http://eps.leeds.ac.uk/physics-research-degrees/doc/apply">University's website</a>. Please state clearly in the research information section that the research degree you wish to be considered for is “Dynamics in Topological Phases of Matter” as well as <a href="https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/physics/staff/4124/dr-zlatko-papic">Dr Zlatko Papic</a> as your proposed supervisor.</p> <p>If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (below).</p> <p><em>We welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates, but UK black and minority ethnic (BME) researchers are currently under-represented in our Postgraduate Research community, and we would therefore particularly encourage applications from UK BME candidates. All scholarships will be awarded on the basis of merit.</em></p> Applicants to research degree programmes should normally have at least a first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline. The criteria for entry for some research degrees may be higher, for example, several faculties, also require a Masters degree. Applicants are advised to check with the relevant School prior to making an application. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the School or Graduate School prior to making an application. The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study is an IELTS of 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid.	https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/project/372-geometry-and-dynamics-in-topological-quantum-matter
- This event has passed. Messaging and Behind-the-Scenes Technology February 11, 2022 , 9:00 am – 10:00 am PST How does messaging work? How have messaging applications evolved during the last few decades? Please join us as Yun Wu, Senior Application Development Manager, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, leads this discussion about messaging and behind-the-scenes technology. About the Speaker Yun Wu has worked in Information Technology for 20+ years as a consultant and a leader creating applications for customers. Yun has led teams designing and developing tools to facilitate monetary policy makers. She currently works as a Senior IT manager, responsible for product delivery, operation and security using leading edge technologies. How to Participate Registration is not required. Click or tap the Zoom link below to join or enter 885 892 09796 into your Zoom app. Need help joining by Zoom? English instructions / Spanish instructions About the Silicon Valley Speaker Series Today, technology is intertwined with personal finance – everything from how you bank, pay for things, manage money, get a loan, or invest money. Although this is not new, the pandemic has expedited the use of technology in our daily routines of managing our personal finances. Online banking, online shopping, and other online transactions grew during the last 20 months. The use of technology will persist beyond the pandemic. What are the basics of technology used in personal finance? In this speaker series, we are inviting guest speakers from the banking and/or technology industry to provide a behind-the-scenes look at the technology and processes involved with online banking and payments. It intends to open the eyes of the curious minds, and connect common technology terms to our day-to-day activities, such as managing passwords, multi-factor authentication, encryption, and more.	https://www.avenidas.org/event/messaging-and-behind-the-scenes-technology/
The utility model provides a device for horizontally measuring the friction coefficient of a high polymer material. The device comprises a support frame, a workbench, a pressure applying module, a guide module and a traction module, wherein the workbench is used for fixing a high polymer material; the pressure applying module comprises a pressure adjusting module and a friction pair detachably connected to the lower portion of the pressure adjusting module, the friction pair abuts against the high polymer material on the workbench in the measuring process to form a friction surface, and the pressure adjusting module adjusts the pressure applied by the friction pair; the guide module comprises an X-direction sliding mechanism and a Y-direction sliding mechanism, the workbench is connected with the X-direction sliding mechanism, and the pressure applying module is connected with the Y-direction sliding mechanism; the traction module is provided with a traction mechanism moving in the vertical direction, and the traction mechanism pulls the pressure applying module to horizontally move in the Y direction through the steering assembly. Positive pressure borne by a material is adjustedthrough the pressure adjusting module, the relative movement speed is adjusted through the traction module for multiple times of measurement, and the accuracy of a measurement result is improved.
For his latest offering, the Belgian-based designer presents his Spring collection titled, Smells Like Soft. Drawing on a softer colour palette, Schneider incorporates a mix of beiges, navys and greys. Fabrics this season are of lightweight cottons and jerseys, juxtaposed on the same garment. The designer also utilizes cotton-linen blends on his jackets. Look for grid graphics and gradients as well as oversized check prints. View the collection here. "	https://www.shopneighbour.com/blogs/blog/17033841-newly-received-stephan-schneider-ss15-smells-like-soft
Freeman Brothers Funeral Directors was first established in 1855. Today, the company is still based in its original office in Horsham, as well as having added a further three branches across the county – in Billingshurst, Crawley and Hurstpierpoint. As we approach two years since COVID-19 was officially categorised by the WHO as a pandemic, Becky blogs on the history of World AIDS Day, which is marked annually on 1st December… I’ve survived two pandemics during my lifetime so far: COVID-19, and AIDS. This may seem to be a dramatic statement, as the diseases are so different, but it’s an overlooked truth that HIV/AIDS is considered to be a pandemic. And, as we step further away from the Western world’s darkest days of the HIV/AIDS crisis, it’s easy to forget the gravity of the situation. World AIDS Day was founded in 1988, and is the first global health day. This in itself is something worth celebrating, as it has undoubtedly inspired other awareness days – whilst some people think that there are now far too many, I disagree, and believe that it’s important to highlight individual issues in this manner. Awareness helps us to empathise better with other people, and also means that we can recognise signs and symptoms of a variety of conditions in ourselves and others. I don’t doubt that, due to increased awareness of all kinds of diseases and issues, there is a higher level of both prevention and recovery. I grew up at a time when the narrative around HIV/AIDS was finally starting to very slowly shift. I’m grateful that I don’t remember the early days, and the height of stigma and propaganda which unfairly represented HIV as ‘the Gay plague’, though I did learn about this element as a teenager. The confusion created by media and even health officials during the emergence of HIV in the 1980s undoubtedly led to a greater level of transmissions, a narrative which is now widely covered in many popular culture pieces, such as films like ‘The Dallas Buyers Club’ and TV shows like ‘It’s A Sin’. Whilst some of us are able to casually forget that HIV/AIDS remains a pandemic, others never will. As my friendships and experience broadened early in adulthood, I paid close attention to the stories told by those who are a little older than me. The memories of those generations of the LGBTQ+ community who survive today are incredibly important, when they are willing to share them. The experience of someone falling silent, overcome by the memories of many funerals attended, friends who just disappeared and died alone, or spaces they were excluded from due to mistakenly being thought of as unsafe, can be similar to attempting to discuss World War II with those who lived through it, or active duty with a former soldier. The experiences themselves are distinct, and all are important, but what is familiar is the overpowering nature of their feelings – so many feel deeply saddened, and betrayed. Many lives ended far too soon. The lessons they learned were hard and often lonely, but we can benefit from them today and in the future, by remembering that stigmatisation only serves to worsen situations, and can kill people. We must also remember that sharing correct and up to date information with those impacted is key, and those who are ill and those around them require support. Something that both HIV/AIDS and COVID have highlighted is that correlation does not equal causation – although many believe that certain demographics are more vulnerable to both illnesses, the reality is very different, and being aware that all of us are at risk, but can do things to protect ourselves and others is critical. Although the COVID-19 pandemic remains ongoing, and suspicion among some communities is high, it seems that it will never be socially unacceptable to discuss it, unlike HIV/AIDS. One of the significant drawbacks and something which prevented early conversations taking place, is undoubtedly due to the fact that this is a sexually transmitted disease, whereas COVID is a respiratory illness which is airborne. As an additional element of misfortune, the 1980s were a time when the Reagan administration had issued the ‘war on drugs’; in many parts of the world, it was still highly unacceptable to be outwardly LGBTQ+, and the Thatcher government initiated Section 28 – the legislation preventing the discussion of anything other than heterosexuality by teachers and other school staff. All of this created a perfect storm at the outset of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and the damage done by these policies remains ongoing (Section 28 was only repealed in 2003 and, whilst this is now a mighty 18 years ago, we must remember that the children of today are impacted by the education their parents received as much as they are by the current curriculum). When World AIDS Day was first considered, the timing was chosen by an interesting means. Various factors were considered, from holiday periods to the US election schedule, and with those things in mind – the US’s Thanksgiving holiday, plus Christmas being the holidays factored in – 1st December was chosen. Some of this logic was due to one of the co-creators being James W. Bunn, who was a public information officer at the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Geneva. His previous experience was in broadcasting, and he believed that avoiding other large events would maximise impact, but that this time of year would also therefore generate a lot of attention. Having been the first global health day, World AIDS Day remains one of only 11 health days officially supported by the WHO. As I mentioned previously, many people think that awareness days are too common, and the fact that the WHO continues to support so few speaks to the gravity of these particular issues. World AIDS Day has always had a theme and, in the early years, the focus of these was on children and young people impacted by HIV/AIDS. This concept did receive some criticism, and it could indeed be viewed as an attempt to cover up the true demographics impacted, however it did mean that attention was still garnered. It was a good choice by the organisers, as with the focus on children, many were more comfortable discussing the topic. There has been a campaign running since 2016 to change the name of World AIDS Day to World HIV Day, and I can see the relevance of this. With advances in both prevention and treatment, and the fact that many people living with HIV are now able to have their viral load be undetectable (meaning that they cannot transmit the virus – this is achieved by careful management of medication), there are fewer progressions from HIV to AIDS, and the evolving status of this pandemic would be honoured. In 2021, the UK’s World AIDS Day campaign is focused on allyship, with the ‘Rock the Ribbon’ strapline. This fits with the National AIDS Trust’s aims to support those living with the virus by ensuring that their rights are defended, and fighting discrimination, as well as ending the stigma around it and reducing transmission. To do this, members of the public are encouraged to wear a red ribbon and share via social media what the purpose of this is and continue to raise awareness of the pandemic that many are currently forgetting. You can find out more about World AIDS Day via the National AIDS Trust website.	https://www.freemanbrothers.co.uk/world-aids-day/
Feb 26 girl-with-piano collab Theresa: It would not be FAWM without a Doug lyric! I was thrilled when Doug sent me this song. It's always a pleasure to work with him because his lyrics just sing themselves off the page to me. I really love the juxtaposition of the sweet, poetic lines and then the harsh reality of the truth that hits hard. I kept the music kind of sweet and pretty to keep that feel and then resolved the ends of each verse with the major chord to emphasize the finality of the words. Doug: So happy this song came together! These lyrics are based on an idea I had before FAWM and I was really looking forward to writing. But it turned out harder to do than I thought, especially the bridge. I also worried if the final verse moved the idea along enough. Anyway, as it started shaping up, I knew I wanted to ask Theresa to do the music because the “feel” of the song just cried out for her piano and voice. Here’s the proof! Such beautiful music -- and vocals full of vulnerability and nostalgia and sadness. I love it! Thank you, Theresa! Never, Never, Never I never loved how snow Makes the landscape more pristine Or how flowers burst in colors Amid a meadow’s green I never loved to see Lightning split the sky in two And I never, never, never Loved you I never loved a quiet dinner Wine and candlelight Or holding hands on an empty beach On a dreamy, moonlit night I never loved to dance real slow To set the perfect mood And I never, never, never Loved you We fool ourselves so easily We fool ourselves, and how Was I doing it for all those years? Am I doing it right now? The need is deep to wash away The presence of the past When it turns out nothing’s what it seems When it turns out nothing lasts I never loved the intimacy Of arms around my waist Or imagining the look the world Must see upon my face I never loved the way love feels When there’s no doubt it’s true And I never, never, never Loved you I wish I hadn't missed half of FAWM! Theresa, you're another on my watchlist I hadnt' got to. And a Doug collab: his lyrics just pull you in, I know. This is a soulful and emotionally-laden song, and the sadness and betrayal in the last two lines of the chorus, just tear-making. Yet there's no maudlin sentimentality in the music nor the lyrics, it comes out real. Applause! [download] So incredibly beautiful to hear and read this. A cathartic moment came upon me and my eyes swelled. I am so glad that I got a chance to experience this. Excellent job you two! Oh my! How lovely and how sad. Such beautiful imagery. You've outdone yourself Doug, and such a beautiful melody and vocal performance to bring every word to life. This is such a beautiful song you two. I'm so glad I 'stopped by' to hear it. Thank you both. I love it in March when i do my watchlist FAWM catch ups and all the songs i seem to be listening to are similar genre. This i heartfelt and beautiful reproduction of some stunningly beautiful lyrics. Theresa you are the magician of producing songs which really touch the heart and oh my once again that vocal is to die for. Such a lovely morning listen. Thanks guys Very moving song and collaboration. The lyrics and the music are very spiritually connected. Beautiful, thoughtful lyrics, music, vocals and piano. Very personal yet appealing to very many... Thank you both very much. this is so good...vocals piano. very captivating vocals and lyrics. Great collab...they can be so rewarding. PS i listened to it twice! This one just reaches in and grabs you by the heart! These are lyrics that Stephen Sondheim could have written, and your melody enhances the melancholic mood to perfection. Beautiful delivery, as usual. So glad you were able to get at least one more song in! can pinch this for my podcast - i will check with Doug as well! A wonderful exposition of a love that "never" was, but which is a denial of that same love. Genious. Second last day of the month and I still have two to pull off. Thank you for this inspired work, both of you. Timely! Wonderful as always vocal delivery from Theresa, really enjoyed the piano lines. nice lyric 'I never loved a quiet dinner Wine and candlelight Or holding hands on an empty beach On a dreamy, moonlit night' Excellent collab A perfect combination of stunning vocal, melody, piano and Doug's lyric. Theresa's emotional performance... wow...just breathtaking. i second the idea you have to use a Doug lyric! even i cant help myself! and i write plenty of my own! This is a really strong lyric! The piano is just right for this and Therese your delivery is spot on! really enjoyed this one. Absolutely gorgeous. Couldn't be otherwise with Theresa's vocal and musical/melodic interpretation and Doug's lyric. 😊 The song would be right at home in musical theatre. Beautifully singing and piano playing. Very nice collaboration. The lyrics get the point across quite clearly. It's sad to think about this situation... Beautiful piano, vocals and lyrics. The piano is indeed sweet and pretty but also has a melancholy feel to me, along with the vocal melody. And these lyrics are pretty darn sad. They hit me for personal reasons. I think the musical approach to these lyrics was perfect with the gorgeous piano, a singer with an amazing and soft voice, and the right mood set by both. This was great, you two. What a fantastic, melancholy lyric and a beautiful treatment of it. What a beautiful treatment of Doug's lyric. It's extraordinary how his work so readily seems to conjure melodies--a rare talent. This one goes beyond just a nice interpretation by the musical collaborator. It's become a very real and valid song. Wonderful performance as well. My compliments. Oh my, it's that voice again! Wow! Great song of denial. When things go wrong, rather than accept we were in the wrong we excuse ourselves (or lie to ourselves) saying that we never truly felt the depth of feeling that we did at the time. Lovely collaboration you two. Wow... very nice. The performance is spot on. The music is great... I dig the choices. The lyrics are so good. Great concept... well done! Wow. I cannot stop listening to this beautiful song. Captivating lyrics, entrancing vocals, and a piano sound that cuts deep . . . far beyond words. The music sets a great mood for this sad lyric. The "never, never, never" part is catchy and memorable. I loved the fast melody rhythm at the end of the B section. Excellent collab, beautiful song. Shades of Stevie Nicks here and that's a very GOOD thing. Lovely song and performance. Great job. Yay! A song from Theresa!	https://fawm.org/songs/122744/
A rapid method is described for the determination of petroleum hydrocarbons in soil samples. The method is based on the extraction of hydrocarbons by a solvent and the treatment of the solution with an aqueous solution of a surfactant to release the hydrocarbons to the water phase in the form of a stable emulsion. The emulsion is then utilized to measure the hydrocarbon content by turbidimetry. The effects of various operating parameters including the surfactant solution composition and time of extraction and time of mixing with the releasing solution are investigated. The stability of the emulsion was improved in acid environment containing and electrolyte. The turbidity values (T) were related with hydrocarbon concentration in the extract (C) by the following equation. Turbidity = 2.75 C + 205.7. With R2 = 0.9929. The soil hydrocarbon content (SHC) measured in µg/g can then be calculated using the formula: SHC = [Extract Vol. (mL) x C]/Sample Wt (g). The results correlated well with the results of total hydrocarbons in soils determined by standard methods. The method was applied for the estimation of hydrocarbons in Passaic river sediments taken from various locations and depths. For field work the method was used to supply data on the hydrocarbon contamination of soil samples taken within an oil refinery and a monitoring well drilled within heavy hydrocarbon waste dumping location. Keywords Hydrocarbon Contamination, Turbidimetry, Refinery Soils, Passaic River Sediments Share and Cite: Conflicts of Interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest. References Copyright © 2022 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.	https://scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=7416
Hi! Just received the Canon 20x lens and have worked a little bit with it. It is a very nice lens doing great pictures - a nice add to our Fujinon 13x lens. __________________ Greetings from Henrik dBA MEDIA www.dba-media.com \|August 30th, 2009, 07:08 PM\|\|#2\| \| \| Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 414 \| \| This has always been a lens of interest to me, factionally wider, but 13.5% longer in zoom than the stock lens. Everyone goes the 13x or 17x, fewer still the 18x. And even though the 18x BERM lens would seem to better meet the ticket, it's $20,000 in Australia. This lens is closer to $10,000. How do you find the CA and things like zoom speeds etc. Does the lens have the preset zoom points for quick pull focus etc? Any chance of a comparative frame grab from both lenses of the same subject for a comparo?	https://www.dvinfo.net/forum/jvc-gy-hm-800-700-600-series-camera-systems/331867-canon-20x-good-piece-glass.html
Riding the mental health pendulum: mixed messages in the era of neurobiology and self-help movements. Whereas professional disagreement about optimum mental health treatment is commonly understood, recognized, and discussed, the influence of opposing philosophies on patients is less often addressed. This article examines the long-term distress created for the author, battling severe, recurrent depression, as she received advice from practitioners who offered widely varying treatment theories as the basis for differing recommendations. Medical knowledge based on advancing research in neurobiology has led to greater understanding of brain chemistry, more reliance on the use of pharmaceuticals, and an emphasis on other "physical" approaches to mental illness. At the same time, growing "self-help" recovery initiatives, with underlying theories analogous to cognitive therapy, continue a focus on emotional and behavioral self-direction. These messages can appear dramatically opposed in terms of expectations on the patient, when presented from separate perspectives that are not described in a context of the whole. The resulting confusion is an unfair imposition of the personal differences of philosophy among practitioners on patients in crisis seeking help.
Our goal is to create and implement an Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group (ARLG) that will develop, design, implement, and manage a clinical research agenda that will increase knowledge of and mitigate the important factors that drive resistance. We will pair an unprecedented team of over two dozen of the world's top investigators with the organizational excellence of the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI), one of the world's largest Academic Research Organizations. Because of the complexity of integrating multiple components of such a large-scale clinical research network, our submission features centralized leadership through an Executive Committee and a dual PI approach. One PI (Fowler) focuses primarily on operations and the other (Chambers) focuses largely on scientific agenda. The organizational structure, modeled after that of the ACTG, also features Scientific Subcommittees devoted to four priority areas: Gram-negative bacterial infections, Stewardship and infection prevention, Gram-positive bacterial infections, and Diagnostics and devices. These Subcommittees are supported by three Special Emphasis Panels (SEPs) (Pediatrics, Pharmacokinetics, and Special Populations) and a Mentoring Core. Each Subcommittee, SEP, and Core contains internationally recognized investigators, ensuring expertise. To complement the current research activities of both NIH and the pharmaceutical biotechnology industry, our ARLG has established collaborative ties with members of both communities. Our long-term goals are 1) to complete a superiority trial of new anti-infectives (either new agent or new dosing regimen of existing agent) for MDR-Gram negative bacterial infections; 2) to define shorter course, narrow-spectrum therapeutic regimens for common infections as a principal means to support stewardship; 3) to test a rapid diagnostic that identifies antimicrobial resistance based on genotypic markers in bacteria; and 4) to identify a more effective alternative to vancomycin for MRSA infections. The research agenda reflects our overall strategy of making realistic, incremental steps in early phase studies upon which to build toward more complex transformational trials that will change clinical practice and reduce the impact of antibacterial resistance. Antibacterial resistance (AR) is one of the world's top health threats. It is a complex, growing problem. Reducing the burden of AR requires a sustained program that simultaneously addresses critical issues from many perspectives. Our goal is to establish an Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group (ARLG) that will develop, design, implement, and manage a clinical research agenda to increase knowledge of AR, and to reduce the factors that drive its emergence.	https://grantome.com/grant/NIH/UM1-AI104681-06
Get to Know Raspberry Leaf Learn more about the benefits of Raspberry Leaf, a time-honored herb used by herbalists to support the uterus. As a mineral-rich remedy, Raspberry Leaf is often considered one of the most recognized herbs for supporting pregnancy; as well as for supporting the uterus and promoting uterine health. With its mild, earthy flavor, this herb is commonly used to make Raspberry Leaf tea. Raspberry Leaf is a source of mild astringent compounds, which is a taste produced by chemical compounds called tannins. Given its astringent nature, Western Herbalists and midwives have used Raspberry Leaf tea to aid in easing discomfort during menstruation, pregnancy, and labor.	https://yogiproducts.com/2017/05/raspberry-leaf/
Safe Voices operates a 17-bed emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence and their children at a confidential location. At our shelter, residents share bedrooms, bathrooms, and common living spaces. We provide basic necessities such as food, clothing, and personal care items. Residents participate in shelter-based education programs, and have assistance through individual advocacy, case management, and safety planning during their stay. Shelter Living - Our shelter is a safe, secure, and handicapped-accessible facility in a confidential location. - The shelter is an old Victorian home arranged for communal living. - The home features a full kitchen, complete with dining areas and booster seats for children, a large living room and children's play area. Our converted attic houses a clothing boutique with clothing for men, women, and children. There is a laundry facility in the basement and a fenced, private backyard with a wrap-around fence for security and a children’s playground. - Our shelter is staffed nearly 24 hours a day by our advocates who are present during weekday, evening and weekend hours. - Individual advocacy and case management services are provided including personalized safety planning, education on the dynamics of domestic violence, support groups and emotional support, housing assessments, and referrals to community-based resources. - Our Shelter Advocates, in coordination with our Housing Coordinator, provide assistance with applying for and obtaining safe, permanent housing. - Our Child Advocate connects families to various resources that can help meet their children’s needs. These resources may include free or low-cost clothing, diapers, transportation to and advocacy with the child’s school, and referrals to childcare providers, counselors, doctors, and child development services. The Child Advocate also provides education and support to parents regarding children’s behaviors. - The shelter maintains a no-pet policy, however when helping someone consider shelter options, we help victims consider care and options for their pets when preparing their safety plans. Safe Voices collaborates with the local humane society to foster pets during an individual’s or family’s stay in a shelter. - With regard to service animals at shelter, we support and follow laws and guidelines for disabled persons and use the Maine Human Rights Act as a model for our policy. For more information, please contact us at [email protected]. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence and is in need of emergency shelter please call the 24-hour, toll-free helpline at 1-800-559-2927 and a Safe Voices advocate will assist you.	https://safevoices.org/get-help/shelter-services
Giant breeds are primarily from the working group used to protect families or livestock. These breeds were developed to work in cold climates and as rescue dogs. Giant breed dogs were predominantly selected based on morphologies, typically focused on a specific characteristic. They have a life expectancy of 9 - 12 years and weigh over 100 pounds at maturity. Characteristic To reach his full size, the giant breed puppy needs 18 to 24 months. His birthweight will increase by 80 to 100 times. Their longer growth period must be monitored carefully to prevent any malformation in the skeleton and muscles. The larger and heavier the dog, the earlier the aging process starts. Life expectancy for large breeds is 2/3 of small breeds. It is best to begin addressing the nutritional considerations of aging early in the large breed dog's life to help promote optimal health and longevity. Sensitive Joints The dog's body weight, combined with an active temperament, puts their joints under daily stress. A food rich in the antioxidant vitamins E and C, plus natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin, helps protect the joints. Digestive Sensitivity Because of their reduced digestive capacity, giant breed dogs are very sensitive to their food. Heavy meals and indigestible food can lead to diarrhea, abdominal distension (bloat) and other digestive disorders.	https://pawsomepuppiesforyou.com/giant-breed-dogs
26 Sep 2022 Rabat - Although energy has become a strategic factor in economic development, Morocco remains largely dependent on the international energy market, as it imports more than 90% of its energy needs. To reduce its energy dependence, Morocco adopted a new energy strategy in 2009 to increase the share of renewable energies in the mixed electrical power installed to 52% by 2030. Its strategic location allows Morocco to be an electrical hub between Europe and Africa. While achieving energy security has been a top priority for Morocco through the last ten years, the current high gas prices due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict have greatly increased the national energy bill, highlighting the need for Morocco to adopt a more self-sufficient energy policy. A growing sustainability portfolio Renewable energy projects in Morocco are possible due to the establishment of an appropriate legislative, regulatory and institutional framework. As Morocco continues to update its energy initiatives, in order to make the renewable energy sector more attractive to private investment, it has become among the leaders of renewable energies in Africa, alongside South Africa and Egypt. Morocco has also developed an integrated water desalination program featuring power plants backed by renewable energy production units, as well as an ongoing preparation of a marine energy roadmap. As the south of Morocco benefits from an exceptional resource of renewable energy, the next decade will witness the development of a large portfolio of wind projects in this region. The transport of this energy to the centers of consumption, however, requires the reinforcement of the 400kV alternating current network in southern Morocco and the subsequent increase in the transit capacity of this network. Regional electrical connection As for Mauritania, the increase in electricity consumption has prompted the West African countries to take a greater interest in the development of the production of electricity through renewable resources. Wind technologies will aim to produce 129 MW by 2030 in Mauritania. Since 1997, the Moroccan electricity national network has been connected to its Spanish counterpart, its continental connection with the Mauritanian national network will constitute a regional electricity integration model which will contribute to the economic development of Atlantic Africa. Mauritania shares similar wind resources with southern Morocco, particularly the northern coastal zone. The installed wind power in Mauritania is 34.4MW. The renewable energy projects, including wind power, can thus serve as a model for the integration of green energy in the South of Morocco and North of Mauritania. Wind power potential The study of the wind speed and the evaluation of the wind potential at a given site depends on the period and the step of measurements, thus the amplitude and the nature of the variation of wind speed. For example, for the site of Tangier in Northern Morocco, the assessment of wind potential requires four measurements of wind speed per day (0h, 6h, 12h and 18h) for a minimum of nine years In the south of Morocco, August and July are the windiest months for Laâyoune and Dakhla, with monthly averages of 7.67m/s and 10.12m/s respectively. For Laâyoune, the maximum speed is 34 m/s, while it is 27 m/s for Dakhla. The variation in wind speed is more steady for the Dakhla site. For the Moroccan village of Lagouira, June is the windiest month, where daily average wind speed is between 7.9 m/s and 10.7 m/s for 27 days. During December, however, the least windy month is only 5 days, but 19 days have an average between 5.4 m/s and 7.9 m/s. For the majority of the considered sites, the wind speed is strong during the day and reaches its maximum around 4 p.m., local time, before becoming weak at night. The variation between the daytime and nighttime wind speeds can be primarily explained by the influence of the gradual rise in temperature over the course of the day on the Atlantic coast that causes local winds (sea/land breeze) to join the winds from the Azores. The available wind potential is greater for the sites of Dakhla in southern Morocco and Nouadhibou in northern Mauritania, where a 100MW wind farm will be installed. For Dakhla, at an altitude of 10m, the annual average of available wind potential is the highest (P=462 W/m2), almost double that of Laâyoune and four times that of Tan Tan. In 2021, total wind power installed in Morocco amounted to 1350 MW. More than 56% (757.3 MW) is located in the south of Morocco. Morocco’s Tarfaya wind farm (301.3 MW) installed in 2014 remains the largest wind farm in Africa. Total wind power in Mauritania is 34.4MW. The first 4.4MW park was installed in Nouakchott in 2011. For the south of Morocco and the north of Mauritania, wind energy is a competitive energy alternative to petroleum products for the next generation of electricity. The renewable energy projects, including wind power, is a model and an essential factor for the economic integration for southern Morocco and northern Mauritania. The development of wind energy has important economic and social implications for this region and will help the two countries become regional leaders in the field of renewable energies.	http://marocgazette.com/story-z4123701
In November 2006, Washington voters approved the Energy Independence Act, also known as Initiative 937. The act, codified as RCW Chapter 19.285, imposes targets for energy conservation and use of eligible renewable resources on the state’s electric utilities that serve more than 25,000 customers. Specifically, these utilities, both public and private, must secure 15 percent of their power supply from renewable resources by 2020. The utilities must also set and meet energy conservation targets starting in 2010. Under the act, conservation is defined as any reduction in electric power consumption resulting from an increase in the efficiency of energy use, production or distribution. Beginning Jan. 1, 2010, qualifying utilities must begin acquiring all conservation that is cost-effective, reliable and feasible. Each utility is required to set an annual target consisting of a certain share of this achievable cost-effective conservation potential and to meet that share of conservation. A utility must identify its achievable cost-effective conservation potential. Every two years the utility must review and update its 10-year assessment. Each impacted utility must establish a biennial acquisition target and meet that target during the subsequent two-year period. Questions should be directed to Andrew Grassell, Energy Development and Conservation manager, at (509) 661-4626 or by email. The Chelan County PUD Board of Commissioners held a public hearing on establishing 10- and two-year conservation targets for the next biennium at 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4, 2017 in the boardroom of the PUD Headquarters Building, 327 N. Wenatchee Ave., Wenatchee. A presentation to the board on the District's conservation potential and setting the targets took place prior to that meeting, on Monday, Nov. 20, 2017, also in the boardroom. "Commissioners set a target for conservation savings of 2.42 average megawatts (aMW) for 2018-2019, as required by the state. The target is based on an updated 10-year conservation potential assessment. The PUD achieved its previous two-year target of 1.78 aMW." View the numbers behind our Energy Independence Act (Initiative 937) renewable requirements. Share Chelan County PUD Energy Independence Act page on LinkedIn"	https://www.chelanpud.org/environment/operating-responsibly/energy-independence-act
As the population ages, it is more common than ever to hear that a friend or family member is struggling with difficult care-giving decisions for an older loved one in a nursing home or care facility. While mediation has proven to be an effective process for clarifying issues and settling other types of disputes, until now institutionalized adults and their families facing conflict have not enjoyed access to the mediation process. Long term care mediation encourages conflict resolution through neutral fact-finding in a safe and confidential setting. A third-party neutral facilitator (the mediator) ensures the wishes of the older adult, family members, and other health care staff can be heard and considered. In this role, Baltimore Mediation can bring peace to elderly clients, wishing to avoid conflict during this latter part of life. There is little doubt that care-giving is associated with increased family conflict and with heightened concerns and anxieties about neglecting other family members. When family members are willing to participate, family counseling can be effective in addressing these issues. Baltimore Mediation can act as an alternative to counseling or therapy. Mediation provides a unique tool in such cases for elders, families and caregivers to move beyond impasse into positive decision-making that meets the needs of all parties, while, in many cases, avoiding costly and unnecessary long term care services. Family care-giving mediation, like general mediation, provides a cooperative, non- adversarial setting for families to discuss their concerns in privacy and with confidentiality. The mediator serves as a neutral facilitator who has no connection to the case or situation The mediator does not decide the outcome or determine who is right or wrong; and there is no force on the disputing parties to reach agreement – it is a consensual process in which all parties must agree in order to have an agreement. The mediator listens to the concerns of all the parties and their ideas on how the matter might be resolved, facilitates the conversation, and helps the parties develop and agree upon a workable solution themselves.	https://www.baltimoremediation.com/care-facilities-disputes/
PEI Gives Climate and Energy Research at Princeton a $1.1 Million Boost The Princeton Environmental Institute (PEI) has announced $1.1 million in new awards to support climate and energy research at Princeton University. The new endeavors will engage faculty investigators with expertise spanning nuclear energy policy, wind energy technology, carbon capture and sequestration, biofuels and air pollution, deforestation of tropical rainforests, and the global carbon cycle. The seven new two-year projects will involve faculty from the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, and several departments in the natural sciences. These projects were competitively awarded by the Carbon Mitigation Initiative (CMI) and the Siebel Energy Challenge (SEC) at levels between $100,000 and $200,000 each over the period 2011 to 2013 and represent a significant expansion of the research portfolio of the two PEI administered programs. Selection committees drawn from Princeton faculty conducted separate review processes for the CMI and SEC proposals. “The two competitions brought forth terrific proposals,” said Robert Socolow, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, co-director of CMI and director of SEC. “Every one of the seven new projects represents a shift of at least a portion of a faculty member’s research in favor of deeper involvement in the colossally challenging problems of energy and the environment. Several projects enable new combinations of faculty to join forces. A key outcome is that the many students at Princeton who see themselves as future planetary leaders will have new opportunities to work on problems that already fascinate them.” Additional information regarding the newly awarded CMI and SEC projects is provided below: Carbon Mitigation Initiative Awards Re-Engineering the Nuclear Future Alexander Glaser, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and international affairs and M.V. Ramana, associate research scholar at the Woodrow Wilson School will focus on emerging nuclear technologies that emphasize small-scale solutions and will examine how nuclear power potentially fits into a modern low-carbon energy system – one that may be more decentralized than today’s system. The research project will draw expertise from the fields of computing, engineering, and policy to evaluate a range of possible alternative energy futures. Coordinated Biological, Chemical, and Atmospheric Investigations of the Amazon as a Carbon Sink David Medvigy, assistant professor of geosciences, and Lars Hedin, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, will coordinate field- and model-based assessments of the response and resilience of tropical ecosystems to global environmental change.The study will seek to understand how nutrient feedbacks can affect the strength of the tropical forest carbon sink in the future, to better resolve the processes responsible for the conversion of soil carbon to atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), and to investigate how plant diversity impacts the response of tropical forests to climate change. Molecular Modeling of CO2 Capture and Storage (CCS) Athanassios Panagiotopoulos, professor of chemical and biological engineering, Pablo Debenedetti, professor and vice dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and Jeroen Tromp, professor of geosciences and director of the Princeton Institute for Computational Science and Engineering, will develop molecular-based computational tools for predicting the physical and chemical behavior of systems relevant to CCS. In particular, the group will study CO2/water/salt phase and interfacial behavior, examine systems for the separation of CO2 from flue gases using novel solid adsorbents, as well as improve on the accuracy of seismic monitoring of CO2 sequestration projects. Siebel Energy Challenge New Investigator Awards Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Farms (VAWT): Modeling and Optimization Elie Bou-Zeid, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, and Alexander Smits, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, will investigate the potential of VAWT farms using laboratory experiments and numerical simulations. The project will focus on optimizing the design of large-scale VAWT wind farms, and with the help of Jean-Christophe Golaz, physical scientist at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, will model their impact on weather and climate. Data generated through this project will be used to enrich engineering courses MAE 222 and CEE 305, as well as independent research projects. Understanding Earth’s Thermostat Using Experimental Studies of Water-Rock Interactions John Higgins, assistant professor of geosciences, will develop an experimental rock autoclave system to probe weathering reactions that are thought to regulate the flow of CO2 through Earth’s surface reservoirs and impact global climate on geologic timescales.The insights gained from this work will further understanding of past and future climate change and why planets like Earth are habitable.The experimental setups in this project will serve as a foundation for a new lab-based undergraduate course on analytical techniques in the environmental and engineering sciences. A Princeton Institute for Rainforests and the Amazon including their Nutrients, Hydrology, and the Atmosphere (PIRANHA) Medvigy and Hedin, in coordination with their CMI funded project, will create a tropical rainforest research community by bringing together Princeton faculty, undergraduates, and GFDL researchers called the PIRANHA Consortium. This Consortium will serve as a platform for integrated biological, biogeochemical, and atmospheric investigations relevant to tropical forests and to the impacts of large-scale deforestation. The project will give Princeton students opportunities to actively engage in consortium meetings, independent research projects, and new course offerings centered on tropical ecosystems such as the Amazon. New Diagnostics Enabling Biofuels in Transportation with Reduced Air Pollutant Emissions and Improved Efficiency Gerard Wysocki, assistant professor of electrical engineering, and Yiguang Ju, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, will develop a novel in-situ sensing method to detect key species in biofuel combustion. By using mid-infrared quantum cascade laser technology, these faculty will aim to optimize combustion efficiency and minimize the associated emissions. As part of this project, they will jointly develop a new course entitled “Cleaner transport fuels, combustion sensing and emission control” (ELE/MAE/CEE 428). CMI is a 15-year partnership between Princeton University and BP that seeks solutions to the global carbon and climate problem. Since the program’s inception in 2000, CMI has provided $19.0 million in research funding to Princeton faculty engaged in carbon mitigation research. Launched in 2007, the Grand Challenges Program is an integrated research and education initiative that seeks to develop solutions to focal problems of energy and climate, sustainable development in Africa, and global health and infectious disease. A collaboration between the Princeton Environmental Institute, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, it is supported by the High Meadows Foundation, the Princeton Environmental Institute and the Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundation. The Grand Challenges Program is administered by the Princeton Environmental Institute. Over $12.0 million has been awarded to date involving more than 50 faculty committed to exploring new dimensions in their research and teaching.	https://environment.princeton.edu/news/pei-gives-climate-and-energy-research-at-princeton-a-1-1-million-boost/
“Doomed!” is a fantastical comedy series about the reunion of the extinct human race in an alternate universe where they will settle their mortal lives. This anthology series, in which the lives of mortals from various segments of society are shown in each season, takes place in a slightly absurd universe in which they must come to terms not only with each other but also with all the creatures with whom they share their lives. The series progresses in a half-fantastic, half-realistic line by combining the imagination of its characters with real-life insights, with the goal of making its audience question their lives and choices while having fun. The entire focus of “Doomed”, which pays its respects to the issue of faith but does not go there at all, is on human beings and their mortal life. The 4.40 billion-year-old planet Earth has already experienced five mass extinctions, including the extinction of the dinosaurs, and the sixth will mark the end of the life forms known as humans. After finishing on Earth, the human race gathers in an alternate universe where they must settle accounts with all the creatures they shared the planet with before entering the divine dimension. Everyone in this universe has a different reality, but the same rules apply: all mortals must settle their personal accounts and close the book on Earth before confronting their faith. Emre Özer wakes up in the “Account Universe” after his sudden death at the age of 33, and while he is shocked to learn that life continued after him and that he must now account for his entire mortal life, he quickly adapts to this universe. After discovering that he can settle his accounts in any way he wants, our hero decides to settle them in a television format where he can embellish them with dramatic moments. Our hero is preparing to settle accounts with everyone and everything, from his first school teacher to the boss he despises, from the resentful potted flower to the cat he feeds, and his first “live broadcast” guest is someone he never expected. Emre, who has believed his entire mortal life that he has a better life in another universe, meets a second Emre who represents his unlived life and where this belief becomes a reality. This second Emre, who draws a superior and more mature character than our hero in every way, tells our hero that, above all else, he must first come to terms with himself. As a result, our hero, who has never believed in himself, embarks on an absurd journey about his personal beliefs in a dimension where everything he believes in is real. Throughout the first season, our protagonist comes to terms with all the entities in his life in a variety of situations and settings, including a desert island, dating shows, talent competitions etc. and at the end of his story, he surprisingly comes to terms with himself and ends his personal universe and moves on to the next one where he will be alone with his faith. Emre Özer, who has a colorful personality merged with popular culture and an unfinished life story, carries these characteristics to the universe of reckoning in which he finds himself. Unable to realize his dreams during his mortality, Emre therefore begins to “live” his posthumous reality as a 10-part television program. Thus, all of our character’s reckonings turn into dramatic moments decorated with exaggerated reenactments or divine comedies with absurd situations. This “superbeing” in charge of Emre’s accounts actually represents the voice of his logic. This being, which represents our character’s childhood, will also play a mediating role in the showdown between Emre and Emre Bey. This cat, which represents the greatest love Emre has ever known in his mortal life, is a creature that has lived nine times on Earth! This version of Emre, who is always “happier” in the alternate universe, is the embodiment of all his unfulfilled dreams. This legendary voice, which Emre strangely admires, mysteriously finds itself in the conflict between our hero and his evil twin. “Doomed!” is planned as an anthology that will tell the reckoning of different mortals in each season. When a married couple with 20 years between their deaths reunites in the Account Universe, they begin to pay the bill for two. When the posthumous affairs of one of the couple come into play, a romantic reckoning ensues in which immortal loves are questioned. When the three women, who have called each other “my hereafter” throughout their mortal lives, come together again in the “Universe of Account,” they realize that they don’t have much in common, but they often have to settle their accounts together. When an extended family who have double-crossed each other and kept big secrets throughout their mortal lives meet in the “Universe of Reckoning”, a generational showdown ensues in which all truths are revealed and roles are reversed. “Doomed!” universe is an alternative universe that can take a different form for each mortal, but where the same rules apply to everyone. Here all living beings are accountable and equal. Humans and other living beings can understand and communicate with each other in various ways in this universe. The series, which examines the relationship of a human being with all the living beings that enter his/her life and expands the concept of “Civil Rights” to “Life Rights”, is an entertaining satire and even a fable about life and human beings who live as if the end will never come. Inspired by many television formats that Turkish people can’t get enough of, such as morning shows, discussion and sports programs, “Hesap Please!” examines the lives of its main protagonists, combining the dramatic perspectives of productions such as Dead Like Me and The Truman Show with the disproportionate energy of live television programs. The main purpose of “Doomed!”, which wants to deliver its message by hiding behind a fantastic comedy approach, is to make us empathize about the value of the lives we have. The first season, centered on a man who has lived his life as if there is no tomorrow, is a warning against the real consequences that we will not account for, based on the power of influence that a single life has. It is a satire, even a fable, that aims to bring down the arrogance of superior beings by depicting the end of humankind, which harms the planet and its environment every day. Thank you for your visit. You can select a different project from the menu or contact me using the information below.	https://www.emreunayli.com/portfolio/doomed/
Abrams Claghorn Gallery is pleased to announce the selected individuals of our Emerging Artist Program for summer 2019: MaiLee Vang AKA Leeee, Moxie Evan, and Allie Phillips. Part of the mission of Abrams Claghorn Gallery is to work with up-and-coming artists by giving them a platform to showcase their work while they develop their art careers. The Emerging Artist Program evolved from that mission as a professional development tool to provide mentorship and insight on gallery show processes with selected participants ahead of a summer exhibition. Once selected, these artists began working with industry professionals to develop their artist statements, curatorial skills, and create new work ahead of their exhibition date. We posted an open call on our website, social media outlets, and forwarded it to local colleges, art schools, and our network of artists. All the applicants submitted proposals with images of past work as well as an artist statement. Once selected, our mentors – sculptor and professor Pamela Blotner, painter Elizabeth Addison, gallery manager and visual artist Natalie Mae Borges, gallery assistant and photographer L. Herrada-Rios, and owner Robert Abrams – met with each artist on a bi-monthly basis to provide guidance and constructive critique to refine their visions for their individual projects. “Nco Ntsoob Peb (Remember Us)” is a three-part homage and critique of the Hmong past, present, and future by recent San Francisco State graduate, MaiLee Vang (Leeee). Through stories of her own personal heritage highlighted with dynamic detailing and narrative composition, Leeee uses her printmaking craftsmanship to illustrate a harrowing history of her forgotten people, punctuating the resilience of the Hmong united in the aftermath of trauma. For “Slap Bracelet,” Allie Phillips takes a thoughtfully playful approach to recontextualization. Using clip art images of women from 1992 as a jumping off point for this series of silk paintings, Phillips creates a statement through repetition of feminine imagery juxtaposed with a loose and gestural execution. The results are a rough yet broad meditation on taste, the goal not necessarily to produce pristine imagery but to have audiences interject with their own contexts. Focusing on the web of connections to people, Earth, and community, Moxie Evan’s “Nature of the Soul,” is an extension of the artist’s reflection of the relationship between the world’s inhabitants to the environment. Evan emphasizes the importance of social awareness to create balance and harness positivity in both the natural world and our immediate communities through mixed media collages and ceramic sculptures. Often with an undertone of larger global issues such as global warming, Evan’s works for “Nature of the Soul” emphasize the inarguable value in taking care of the natural world and the people around us. Abrams Claghorn Gallery invites you to join us for the concurrent opening receptions of MaiLee “Leeee” Vang, Moxie Evan, and Allie Phillips on Saturday July 13th from 5pm to 7pm and celebrate the first iteration of our Emerging Artist Program.	https://abramsclaghorn.com/emerging-artist-program-summer-2019/
OLED LG 2019 TVs (R9, Z9, W9, C9, B9, E9) review, compare technical specifications The line of TVs LG OLED 2019, compare the table 2019, LG has expanded its lineup of OLED TVs. To the traditional models that the company has presented for the last 3 years, starting in 2016, these are models (W, C, B, E). Released new models of TVs R9, Z9. OLED R9 R9 OLED TV with...	http://en.tab-tv.com/?m=20190422
Azerbaijani IT sector (January-November 2014) The Azerbaijani information and communication technology sector (ICT) is one of the most dynamically developing sectors of the national economy due its profitability and total profitability of this business. Although the main catalyst for the growth of Azerbaijan's economy is the oil and gas sector, the ICT sector also increases its capacity every year. Azerbaijan's ICT sector has doubled for the past five years. An average annual growth of information technologies was 17 percent. The ICT sector volume is planned to be increased by 4-4.5 times for the next 10 years to implement the measures envisaged in the "Azerbaijan 2020: Look into the future" concept. Information and communication services worth 1.5 billion AZN were rendered for Azerbaijan's population and organizations in January-November 2014 or 14.2 percent more than in the same period of 2013, the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee's report says. Around 72.5 percent of the total volume of information and communication services accounted for the services rendered to the population. Around 57.2 percent of the total amount of revenues accounted for mobile services, the report says. A total volume of revenues obtained from mobile services in Azerbaijan hit 836.3 million AZN in January-November, which is 7.3 percent more than in the same period of 2013. The role of Azerbaijani mobile operators - "Azercell", "Bakcell" and "Azerfon" is significant in the development of the ICT sector. As a result of their work, a mobile communication segment expanded. The number of mobile subscribers per 100 people reached 110. The Azerbaijani Ministry of Communications and High Technologies has issued a license to CDMA operator of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic - Nakhtel. The customer base of Azercell Telecom mobile operator, with a market share of 51 percent and the territorial coverage of 99.8 percent of the population, exceeds 4.6 million subscribers. Aztelekom Production Association under the Ministry of Communications and High Technologies of Azerbaijan has recently replaced the automatic telephone exchange's trunk for fiber-optic lines. Over 100 automatic telephone exchanges were connected to the fiber optic lines. More than 700 kilometers of cable have been laid since the beginning of the year. The broadband internet capacity increased by 35,000 in the network of AztelekomNet state Internet provider. Currently, all settlements in the area of the production association were completely provided with telephones. The new automatic telephone exchanges are being created. A priority is to provide the areas with IDPs with telephones. Around 20 new automatic telephone exchanges were used by the state operator as part of the work. NGN coverage is being expanded. In this direction, along with large cities, NGN equipment is being installed in rural automatic telephone exchanges. NGN network has been deployed in the settlements of Hajigabul, Goygol and Shamkir districts. The number of broadband internet users has been recently increased for the last year. The number of broadband connections in the service area of the state operator for the last year increased by 22.5 percent (41,400 units), by reaching 230,000. Around 137,000 of them are AztelekomNet subscribers. The connections have increased by 31.2 percent (32,600) since the beginning of the year, Aztelekom head said. Currently, around 19.5 broadband subscribers account for every 100 families, but 32.8 subscribers for every 100 subscribers.	https://en.trend.az/other/analysis/2352977.html
FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES: - Focusing on Oversight, Open Communication, and Best managerial Practices, Academic quality in the Institute. - Make sure the agreed aims, overall objectives and learning outcomes of educational programs are consistently achieved. - Monitoring the programs of internal reviews of learning and teaching. - To be vigilant about the annual academic process. - Regular analysis of course information and conduct evaluation through questionnaires and feedback in each semester. - Regular staff (faculty & administrative) meetings are held along with managerial bodies to discuss on current issues, proposed programs etc, wherein optimum attendance is maintained. - To advise the Chairman on all areas of academic matters and suggest improvements in academic programs. - To suggest measures for improvement of library, workshop and training facilities. - To organize seminars/short-term courses for academic development. - Any other function entrusted by Governing body from time to time.	https://www.lords.ac.in/central-committee/functions-academic-committee/
Information For... Consumers & Educators Scientists & Researchers Small/Very Plants Businesses & Partners Constituent Groups FSIS Employees You are here: Home / Regulations & Policies / International Affairs / Import Information / Importing Egg Products & Shell Eggs Importing Egg Products and Shell Eggs FSIS regulates the importation of egg products , which must originate in countries and establishments eligible to export to the United States. Currently, Canada is the only establishment eligible to export egg products to the United States. Animal disease restrictions may be applied to some egg products by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). FSIS also verifies that shell eggs packed for the consumer are labeled "Keep Refrigerated" and are transported under refrigeration at temperatures no greater that 45 degrees F. Shell eggs may be imported from any country, provided there are no animal disease restrictions applied by APHIS.	https://cybercemetery.unt.edu/archive/oilspill/20120926184131/http:/www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_%26_policies/Importing_Egg_Products_&_Shell_Eggs/index.asp
In this post, I will discuss how taxation of tampons may constitute gender discrimination and possibly amount to a human rights violation. I will also be discussing how disparate treatment in taxation is made visible in this situation and why choices made in taxation policy have significance outside of simple revenue collection. Sales tax as gender discrimination In anticipation of additional lawsuits being filed in US states to challenge the tampon tax, Professor Emily Gold Waldman and I have developed the constitutional arguments against the US state sales tax on menstrual hygiene products. In a forthcoming article in the University of Richmond Law Review, we provide an overview of the sales tax system in US states and provide a roadmap that can guide litigators in preparing pleadings or briefs. Unlike in India, in the United States (and Australia), there is a federal Constitution and each state has its own constitution. The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and its state-constitution counterparts provide that the government may not deny to any person the “equal protection of the laws.” In 1976, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in Craig v. Boren that sex-based classifications must be substantially related to an important governmental purpose. The US protections are similar to the ones provided by the Constitution of India under Articles 14 and 15. The US and India share constitutional commitments to protections against discrimination on the basis of sex. In translating the United States Supreme Court precedents to the tampon tax imposed by thirty-five US states, note that the US state sales tax statutes are gender-neutral on their face. In each of thirty-five jurisdictions that have a tampon tax, sales tax applies to all sanitary pads and tampons, regardless of gender of the purchaser. Professor Waldman and I argue, however, that the sales tax on tampons and pads nevertheless functions as a tax on women because the products are so uniquely linked to the female body. As such, the tampon tax violates both US federal and the state constitutional prohibitions against denial of equal protection. Prior to India’s elimination of the GST on menstrual hygiene products, similar constitutional claims might have been raised under the Constitution of India. Most women will menstruate for almost 40 years of their life. Practically speaking, this means that the average woman spends roughly 6.25 years of her life menstruating. Men do not menstruate; women (or persons such as some transmen, who may have certain anatomical factors associated with women) do. Note that the closest analog male-only product might be erectile dysfunction drugs, and those drugs are not subject to state sales tax in the US. The closest analog unisex product might be bandages or gauze, and those products escape state sales taxation. By not exempting menstrual hygiene products from sales tax, then, some US states engage in gender discrimination. For that reason, all US jurisdictions should repeal the tampon tax, just as India repealed its GST on menstrual hygiene products. India has shown the world that tax policy can be used to move closer to a nation’s highest aspirations for gender equity. Human rights claims Other possible sources for legal challenges to the tampon tax are international treaties. Although not a treaty itself, the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948 by forty-eight countries including many in South America and Europe, as well as India and the United States. The UN Declaration provides: “All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.” The principles of the UN Declaration are implemented through treaties such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. Each of the implementing treaties prohibits discrimination and elaborates on the contours of particular rights, such as the rights of women to be free from discrimination and to equal protection under the law. India has ratified all of the core human rights treaties, and the repeal of the GST on menstrual hygiene products is consistent with India’s commitment to non-discrimination on the basis of sex. Unlike India, the US has not ratified several important treaties such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Given the general hostility of US domestic courts to relying on or even referring to international treaties, it may be difficult for tampon tax reformers to use international law as source for their challenges, although reformers in other jurisdictions might have greater success. Making disparate treatment visible The argument made here is not to suggest that the tampon tax is the result of some secret meeting of men who wanted to devise ways to make women suffer financially. Rather, sanitary pads and tampons have been taxed for so long because of a general cultural aversion to talking about menstruation. In India, a variety of misperceptions and myths continue to contribute to a sense of shame and ignorance about women’s bodies. In many religious and cultural traditions, menstruating women are treated as unclean and unfit to participate in communal life. Professor Carla Spivack and I argue that in the US, cultural squeamishness about women’s bodies generally and menstruation in particular have led to maintenance of a kind of tax status quo for menstrual hygiene products: unless a state legislature affirmatively exempts them from taxation, they remain in the category of taxable items. All around the globe, public awareness of the tampon tax has increased dramatically in the last three or four years. Internet-based publicity, traditional protest demonstrations – in India, Australia and Europe – and even a Bollywood film, Padman – have attracted attention in the international press. Once people get over the discomfort of talking about menstruation and learn more about the tampon tax, most people consider the tax to be patently unfair. Not only do girls and women need (or wish) to use certain products because of their biology, and pay for the products themselves, but they also pay an additional sales tax. When confronted with the fact that women in California, for example, pay approximately $20 million (approximately 1,435,700,000 INR) each year in sales tax on menstrual hygiene products, it is easy to see that the tax law imposes a quantifiable burden on girls and women for having the biology that they do. Tax matters For California, annual tampon tax revenue represents less than .001% of the entire state budget. In that sense, it is not a significant source of revenue. Yet during times when US states are facing significant budget shortfalls, every bit of lost revenue matters. But tax laws are important not only because governments rely on tax revenue to operate. Through choices a society makes about whom and what it taxes, a society also signals the values it embraces. In the case of menstrual hygiene products, imposing a GST, VAT or sales tax on them when there is no principled way to distinguish these products distinction from those that are treated as tax-exempt “necessities,” the government effectively communicates to women that their biology is burden which they literally must pay if they wish to go to work, attend school, or engage in public life. Such a system is inconsistent with a society that values the contributions of all its members. Ultimately, India’s GST council may have been motivated to eliminate the tampon tax as part of an overall plan to increase consumer spending. It is not likely that most of the council members developed a new-found appreciation for the expressive function of the tax laws. Yet given the public outcry over the #LahuKaLagaan, or blood tax, council members and other government officials likely understood that eliminating the tax would operate as a symbolic gesture toward women’s rights. That gesture does have practical effects, insofar as the tax repeal will put money back in women’s hands. The gesture also moves the India tax system closer to the aspirational goal of horizontal equity, or treating like taxpayers alike. Eliminating the tampon tax is a functional statement that women are equal to men. The US would do well to follow India’s example. Reformers in jurisdictions in Europe, in particular, might find international tribunals there to be receptive to claims that the tampon tax violates certain human rights norms. Professor Carla Spivack and I explore several tax cases recently brought in the European Court of Human Rights, although none involve the tampon tax. Taken together these tax cases suggest that, given appropriate facts, international tribunals are capable of understanding disparate taxation of men and women as a violation of human rights. Dr. Bridget J. Crawford is the James D. Hopkins Professor of Law at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University in White Plains, New York, USA. She is a graduate of Yale University (BA), the University of Pennsylvania (JD) and Griffith University (PhD). Her research interests include property law, especially inheritance; taxation; trusts and equity; corporate law and policy; and feminist legal theory. Her published work has appeared in a wide range of international journals.	http://www.nlsir.com/?p=766
Strong corporate governance is critical for long-term creation of stakeholder value. Baanyan Software Services (“the Company”) believes in conducting its affairs in a fair, transparent and professional manner and maintaining the good ethical standards in its dealings with all its constituents. The Company is committed to follow good Corporate Governance practices, which include having professional Directors on the Board, adopting pragmatic policies and effective systems and procedures and subjecting business processes to audits and checks measuring up to required standards. The driving force behind the Company’s management is “Tomorrow’s Progress Today” and backed by “A culture of High - Tech and Quality”. The Company quality policy is “To satisfy customer needs and retain leadership by delivering quality services through continuous improvement by motivated employees”. The policies and actions of the Company are in terms of applicable guidelines on Corporate Governance with endeavor to enhance shareholders’ value.	http://baanyan.com/corporate-governance.php
Macroprudential policy has the important task of monitoring the accumulation of cyclical systemic risks, using a wide range of indicators. Decisions on the use of instruments that seek to mitigate the pro-cyclicality of the system should be made according to properly defined and stable indicators that signal future trends in the cycle itself. In its Recommendation, the European Systemic Risk Board considers several important categories of indicators for monitoring cyclical risks. Since the credit gap, the main indicator of cyclical risks, has shown numerous shortcomings in practice over the years, composite indicators have been developed in the literature. As there has been no such composite indicator in Croatia so far, this research considers several popular approaches to constructing composite indicators of cyclical risks for Croatia. As there are several different approaches currently available, this research considers their characteristics, advantages and shortcomings, with special reference to Croatian data. Comparing the composite financial cycle indicator, the cyclogram, the systemic cyclical risk indicator, as well as additional possibilities of data aggregation in terms of principal component analysis and the overheating index, the results indicate that the issue of defining an adequate indicator for Croatia is a demanding task. This is due to the short time series, the absence of characteristics of other types of crises that are available for other countries, the instability of certain variables relevant for monitoring cyclical risks, complexity of communication with the public, etc. Finally, based on the discussion, the best indicator is chosen, and the possibilities of calibrating the countercyclical capital buffer are considered. This paper provides an overview of different approaches, with a special focus on a comparison of them, which has not been dealt with in the literature. It provides proposals for improving individual indicators and analyses the possibility of calibrating the countercyclical capital buffer.	https://api.hnb.hr/en/web/guest/-/introduction-of-the-composite-indicator-of-cyclical-systemic-risk-in-croatia-possibilities-and-limitations
James Q Wilson, a right realist, concluded that the extent to which a community regulates itself has a dramatic impact on crime and deviance. The "broken windows" referred to in the name of the theory is the idea that where there is one broken window there will be many. A broken window is a physical symbol that the residents of a particular neighbourhood do not especially care about it and that low-level deviance is tolerated. The theory influenced policy-makers on both sides of the Atlantic and, most famously, in New York in the 1990s. Their response was zero tolerance policing where the criminal justice system took low-level crime and anti-social behaviour much more seriously than they had in the past. This included "three strikes and you're out" policies where people could get serious custodial sentences for repeated minor offences. The impact of the policy in New York appeared to be dramatic with crime levels (including very serious crimes like murder) falling rapidly. Fans of Broken Windows on the political right in America hailed this as a success, but there are two main criticisms. 1) This policy coincided with a period of economic growth and a reduction in poverty. Those who feel that social conditions are a stronger driver of crime than broken windows suggest that the crime rates in New York fell because the social conditions for people in New York significantly improved. 2) Some accused Broken Windows of achieving control without justice. Yes, the crime rates fell, but people were in prison for very minor misdemeanours. Furthermore, there was evidence to show that the policy affected some minority ethnic groups, such as African Americans and Latin Americans, much more than the majority white population. While poor black people might be arrested for public drunkenness or jay-walking, white middle-class students celebrating the start of their freshman year doing exactly the same thing are tolerated.	https://www.tutor2u.net/sociology/topics/broken-windows-theory
Human physical and mental performance is highly affected by the ability to regulate core body temperature within a narrow range around 37°C. Heat exchange between the human body and its environment occurs at the body surface and is controlled by thermoregulatory responses in the human skin. Textiles affect heat exchange and preferably support thermoregulatory efficacy. This talks particularly includes local requirements on textiles to contribute to heat dissipation and, thus, to keep body performance in challenging conditions. Simon Annaheim got his PhD in 2009 in exercise physiology for investigating limiting factors of exercise performance. Since 2013, he leads the research group ‘Body Monitoring’. The main activities include the investigation and modelling of thermal interactions of the human body and its environment including textiles at the body-environment interface. For this purpose, the group develops non-invasive monitoring approaches to record and predict physiological responses.	https://www.performancedays.com/library/expert-talk-archive/details/textiles-for-human-body-cooling.html
From a "performance objective" point of employees would like to receive their paycheck on time reflecting the correct amounts, so without mistakes and their data treated with Confidentiality. From a "Business Control" point of view we need to ensure that we have the appropriate check and balances in place whilst implementing a solid Separation of Duties (SOD) process mitigates potential conflict of interest. Sarbaness Oxley controlpoints require that we indenpendently test the Payroll process from an "End-2-End" process point of view to ensure that we have executed a process as per predefined parameters. Process Design Process Mapping the Payroll process which ilustrates Who does What and When provides a comprehensive overview of the proces and potential conflicts of interest or capacity/workload issues can also be made visible. Separation of Duties In this context the main objective of the Process Design should be aimed at executing a process which meets the 7 step criteria of SOD; \| \| Nr \| \| Step \| \| Characteristics \| \| 1 \| \| Appropriate \| \| employees need to be paid \| \| 2 \| \| Valid \| \| employees need to be eligible \| \| 3 \| \| Reasonable \| \| employees should be paid fairly (market rate, peer, benchmark etc..). \| \| 4 \| \| Funded \| \| Manager should have an approved budget \| \| 5 \| \| Accurately recorded \| \| costs should be correctly recorded/charged to the respective cost center \| \| 6 \| \| Supportable \| \| all required approvals and documentations need to be in place \| \| 7 \| \| Timely recorded \| \| all the approved/processed dates need to be accurately tracked source: http://financial.ucsc.edu/Pages/Management_SeparationofDuties.aspx Business Control (sarbanes oxley act) - Sox testing As soon as we have completed the Payroll Process, in order to demonstrate that the 7steps of SOD have been executed correctly, the Process Design should include BC element which results needs to be part of the Company's Business Control performance measures. Defects of Payroll Execution Any defects discovered during the Sox testing need to be reported and action taken to correct findings and to implement process improvements on how to mitigate this from re-occurring. This can be tested by subsequent testing to see if remediation efforts have solved the control gaps. Visibility HR Administrator and HR Manager have the highest visibility as they interact directly and regularly with the employees, whilst the Chief Accountant, CFO and Treasury have medium to low visibility. Process Task and Capacity Configuration With a 9 stage approach the Payroll process is long and thin with narrow task for everyone (SOD) and they need to be aligned perfectly as delay in one stage severely effects the subsequent stage. From a logistic point of view the employee provides or is the starting point of the process and also ends the process as recipient of salary. Cycle Time - this is very short as the process takes about 7 working days, however any errors made which need to be corrected and re-approved can jepordise the timely payment of salaries End References Slack et al, 2006, "Operations and Process Management", Prentice Hall Wally, 2009, Warwick MBA Study note on "Operations Management"	https://blogs.warwick.ac.uk/steveringeling/entry/operations_management_lesson/
Elisa Aracil via The Conversation \| The International Monetary Fund estimates that Latin America will experience an economic contraction this year equivalent to what happened after the crash of ’29. Specifically, a devastating 5.2% drop in GDP is expected in 2020, compared to an expected growth of 1.8 % in the pre-COVID-19 forecasts. However, the post-COVID outlook may not be as catastrophic. There are two reasons for the dramatic fall in 2020, but also for the possible recovery in 2021, so as to avoid the curse of another lost decade. The first one is the evolution of the economic impact of a pandemic. This is much faster than in crises sparked by other causes (e.g. financial crises, where the effects are felt over long periods.) When China sneezes, Latin America gets a cold The second reason is related to intrinsic issues in the region. For example, its heavy dependence on the price of raw materials (the region’s main export), tourism (especially in the Caribbean) and the China-Latin America link. In other words, when China sneezes, Latin America catches a cold, and to a much greater extent than in other regions. Most Latin American countries are major commodity exporters. The collapse in product markets, especially in the price of oil, puts Venezuela, Ecuador, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil and Argentina in serious difficulty. The operations of Vaca Muerta in Argentina and Pemex in Mexico are unviable with the current price of the barrel. Meanwhile, in countries like Venezuela or Colombia oil accounts for 90% and 40% of legal exports, respectively. The sharp drop in the price of other products has also taken its toll. For example, copper is a cause for concern in Chile (the world’s leading exporter) or Peru, as exports total 30%. Moreover, the region is closely dependent on the economic performance of its main partners: China and, to a lesser extent, the US. This dependence is manifested in the participation of Latin American countries in global production chains, which are paralysed due to quarantines and mobility restrictions. Brazil and Mexico have had to stop their production chains in the automotive or electronics sector, faced with the paralysis on the part of Chinese suppliers of intermediate products. Likewise, the fall in demand from China and the US has shaken the region. For example, 80% of Mexico’s GDP is linked to US activity. And other large economies in the area, such as Peru, Brazil and Argentina, have Asia as the main destination for their products. Structural weaknesses To complicate matters further, the economic impacts of the pandemic could be accentuated by existing weaknesses in the region. For example, political instability and social discontent following mass protests in Chile and other countries. Then economic stagnation in 2019 (GDP without growth) and some old friends like high levels of corruption and inefficiency in public administrations. Furthermore, it is well-known that infrastructure is precarious (in particular that related to public health). In fact, only Costa Rica and Uruguay follow the recommendations of the World Health Organization and allocate 6% of GDP to health. Will the post-COVID scenario be as dramatic for Latin America? Let’s focus attention not so much on how deep the contraction will be, but on the speed of recovery. Post-pandemic recoveries are faster: for example, global international tourist arrivals grew again in just five months after the SARS epidemic, a much shorter period than after the financial meltdown in 2008. In addition, rapid and comprehensive action by central banks and governments will increase the effectiveness of measures in this crisis. Is the banking sector part of the solution or part of the problem? The health of the banking sector in the region, with good levels of provisions, will be part of the solution and not part of the problem this time round. But the strong dependence on international trade and commodity prices means that Latin America’s fortunes are necessarily linked to what happens in China and the US. Global de-escalation will boost demand for raw materials and dynamism in international trade. Some argue that China will be in a worse position than in the past to help Latin America. However, China is the only large economy, along with India, expected to grow in 2020. That said, China brings much more than international trade. It is also a large issuer of foreign direct investment in the region, and its huge Belt and Road project is a major catalyst for demand for raw materials. The social impact of the pandemic A different issue is the social impact of the pandemic, which is likely to be profound due to the high level of informality in the region. (The IMF estimates that 50% of total jobs are in the informal economy.) This makes it difficult for social policies to be effective, leaving many informal workers without any coverage during the pandemic. In such a context, the region has a great opportunity to get out of this crisis by linking, for example, national or international aid for investment to the necessary improvement of public services and infrastructure and the adoption of environmental measures. These are necessary structural reforms so that we never again experience another lost decade.	https://thecorner.eu/news-the-world/world-economy/covid-19-another-lost-decade-for-latin-america/87368/
The 15 year programme, research method and findings are described in the downloadable paper: Thinking, straight or true?, Walker Simon P., 2015 Study population Walker developed a consistent, standardised assessment method for measuring steering cognition, which he has used repeatedly since 2002 across large, diverse, independent cohorts of up to 6,500 participants /study to produce commensurate, replicable data. His study populations have been drawn from large primary and secondary schools as well as some university and adult cohorts. School populations allow cross-correlations against known factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, CAT score as well as intra-school social, group, cohort, welfare and academic data. Data consistency The consistency of this assessment method, data model model and standardised conditions makes the steering cognition database highly reliable. Item, scale and factor structures have been repeatedly tested. As of 2015, the database contains more than 80,000 completed datasets enabling each of the seven steering cognition model factors to be analysed against more than 11,000 factor scale scores. It grows each month as schools repeat assessments. "This is a high quality scientific database, which is the result of a standardly applied data model, consistent testing conditions, repeated candidate measures and standardised responses. As a boinformatician used to working on chomatin influence on gene expression from the Global Genome Initiative, analysis of data in the steering cognition database is relatively simple because both participant and response variables are so tightly controlled and known. Measurement error effects are small and correlation effects have proved to be replicable." Dr Rosa Karlic, Bioinformatics Department, University of Zagreb, project data analysis Replicability Research claims that are made are based upon repeated results, reproduced consistently, across multiple, large, independent and diverse populations and over multiple years. The technology, data model and method of testing has been subjected to 80,000 trials with 11,5 00 candidates over a 14 year period within standardised conditions. Technology design, development and tesing Walker designed the research technology to be immune to collecting algorithmic data. 4.1. To avoid inadvertently collecting algorithmic cognitive data along with non-algorithmic data, Walker first designed as assessment which involved no computational calculation, deduction or other algorithmic process. Candidates opt for multiple-choice answers which would not be aided by prior knowledge of computational ability. In this way, the risk of algorithmic cognitive processing leaking into the assessment is removed. 4.2. Second, Walker exploits this correlation between heuristic cognition and the imagination. Using an imagination exercise, in which the candidate imagined performing a learning task Walker activates and then assesses the first-person cognitive response of the candidate rather than an abstracted response. In this way, associative processing rather than algorithmic processing is engaged. 4.3. Third, candidates complete the exercise without formal guidance as to the shape, structure, kind or approach to take to the imaginative task. By cueing up an undefined ‘white world’ in the candidate’s imagination, Walker removes the potential priming biases about what kind of answer was required, in order to overcome Stanovich's criticism of current ‘heuristic measures’ that are, in fact, closed and prescriptive. 4.4. Fourth, Walker standardises the candidate’s white world imagination against a data model consisting of 7 validated factors. Standardised scoring consists of a set of multiple choice questions on a Likert scale. Walker measures the candidate’s response to a series of real-world and unpredicted scenarios. In this way, the capacity to adjust and regulate heuristic cognition in response to an epistemically varied set of scenarios is measured against a baseline score. Walker refers to this 7 factor model of steering cognition as CAS state – cognitive affective social state. 4.5. Fifthly, Walker has conducted a multi-year programme of experiments with secondary school students across 20 schools, in which he compared student heuristic CAS scores with academic outcomes and general intelligence (algorithmic cognition measured by CAT or MiDYIS). In so doing, Walker has been able to identify that there is statistically negible relationship between CAT and CAS in large populations.	http://simonpwalker.com/research-method/4589549180
This internship in the City of Renton’s Community and Economic Development department is established to provide practical work experience to a current college student who demonstrates interest in studying and working in the Economic Development field. It is the City’s intention to provide an opportunity for educational and practical experience and receive assistance with important projects over the duration of the internship. This internship is anticipated to be 15-20 hours per week during the school year with the possibility of additional hours during the summer, however, this is an at-will position and could end earlier. Please note: A writing sample is required to apply for this position. In addition to your application please submit a writing sample from a recent college course that is 1 to 3 pages in length and relates to this position. JOB SUMMARY: Under the direction an assigned supervisor, perform a variety of support functions for planning and economic development including duties such as field work, data collection, data base development, data analysis, research and report writing. The Economic Development Intern performs entry-level duties under the direction of senior staff and supports department projects requiring research and fieldwork. This position also performs entry-level land use analysis, data collection and report writing related to a specific project as assigned. Essential Functions: - Assist in collecting, compiling and analyzing data on land use, population and property characteristics from other departments and agencies for use in planning and economic development projects. - Assist department staff in data analysis using existing data files. - Develop new data files as directed. - Prepare graphic displays, maps and photographs. - Prepare memorandums and brief reports on data and land use issues. - Develop or revise various informational documents such as land use matrix sheets, developer’s guides, land use applications and other hand outs. - Assist in presentations to interdepartmental staff, commissions. - Participate and contribute to research studies - May be required to attend night meetings. - Remain current with relevant technological advancements as it relates to field. - Maintain regular, reliable, and punctual attendance; work flexible evening and/or weekend hours as required; ability to travel as required. - Perform related duties as assigned. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIREMENTS: - Data collection, interpretation, and compilation methods - Marketing, communications, electronic media and common business software applications. - Correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary - Public relations and interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy - Read, interpret, apply and explain rules, regulations, policies and procedures - Communicate effectively both orally and in writing - Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others - Meet schedules and time lines - Plan and organize work EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND LICENSE REQUIREMENTS: - Currently enrolled in a Communications, Marketing, Business, Economics, Public Relations, Urban Planning or closely related program of study. - Valid Washington State Driver’s License. - Successful passing of a required background check. - Provide a Driver’s Abstract that is approved by the Risk Management department. WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS The following represent the physical demands that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job: - Operate a computer and other office equipment. - Work is performed in an office environment and in the field, but some attendance at night meetings may be required. Approved reasonable accommodation requests will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.	http://cep.be.washington.edu/city-of-renton-internship/
more... Medical and Biological Effects of Radiation Nuclear Reactors Fusion Plutonium Nuclear Weapons Design more... Law Environmental Science Economics Physics Literature more... Iranian Nuclear Weapons Program North Korean Nuclear Weapons Program Nuclear Weapons Delivery Systems Command and Control more... China North Korea Iran Israel Pakistan more... Kurchatov, Igor Oppenheimer, J. Robert Khan, Abdul Qadeer Meitner, Lise Szilard, Leo more... The Library Affiliated Sites Funding Sources National Advisory Board Acknowledgements The Alsos Mission in World War II Search Advanced Search Browse View Annotations My Bibliography Keyword Title Creator My Bibliography: 0 Home > People > Geiger, Hans results 1 to 10 of 18 Creator Title Media select all clear all Eve, A. S. Rutherford: Being the Life and Letters of the Right Honorable Lord Rutherford, O.M. Book Segrè, Emilio From X-Rays to Quarks: Modern Physicists and Their Discoveries Book Andrade, E. N. da C. Rutherford and the Nature of the Atom Book Atkins, Stephen Historical Encyclopedia of Atomic Energy Book Badash, Lawrence, Ed. Rutherford and Boltwood: Letters on Radioactivity Book Boorse, Henry A. / Motz, Lloyd / Weaver, Jefferson Hane The Atomic Scientists: A Biographical History Book Carlisle, Rodney P., Ed. Encyclopedia of the Atomic Age Book Chadwick, James The Collected Papers of Lord Rutherford of Nelson: Volumes 1-3 Book Dahl, Per F. Flash of the Cathode Rays: A History of J J Thomson's Electron Book Hendry, John, Ed.	http://alsos.wlu.edu/qsearch.aspx?browse=people/Geiger,+Hans&related=true
The Inter-Island Competitive Sports Program at LIS runs from the Primary School through the High School, with both Boys and Girls teams competing. We aim to field as many teams as is possible based on available numbers of students within a particular age group. The main emphasis of the program is to train teams to compete against other local school teams. Students who make the team to represent the school are not guaranteed playing time as the focus of this is competitive league play. We also seek to set up tournaments with the international schools in Nassau, namely St. Andrews and Lyford Cay. We generally field Primary, Middle and High School teams in all five island sports in Volleyball Softball, Basketball, Track and Field and Soccer and compete in the Grand Bahama Primary & Secondary Sports Association Leagues. Primary School teams are usually mixed and Middle and High School have Boys and Girls teams. We emphasize having fun, sportsmanship and fair play with our teams but we have also managed to be quite competitive. Some noticeable results in recent years are three LIS students have been named Player of the Year in their sport. LIS has won island championships in volleyball, basketball and soccer. Team training sessions are run based on the sports seasons with Volleyball and Softball typically taking place in the first semester and Soccer, Basketball and Track during the second semester. House Sports Teams For those students who do not want to play sports in a competitive environment, LIS has it's own House System. Students are assigned to one of three houses (Red Snappers, Blue Marlins, Green Morays) and we have quarterly athletic competitions during the school day. The highlight of the House System competition usually takes place in February on 'Sports Day.' This day is an LIS community event which is dedicated to field and track activities, where all students, as well as their parents and staff members participate and earn points for their respective House Teams.	https://www.lisbahamas.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1055858&type=d&pREC_ID=1351924
New findings show impact of sports on developing brains. Participation in team sports not only helps children improve fitness and social skills; it’s also linked with development of the hippocampus region of the brain, according to research published in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging (2019; doi:10.1016/j.bpsc.2019.01.011). In adults, lower hippocampal volume has been associated with depression for some time. “We found that involvement in sports, but not non-sports activities such as music or art, is related to greater hippocampal volume in both boys and girls, and is related to reduced depression in boys,” said lead study author Lisa S. Gortham, a senior majoring in cognitive neuroscience at Washington University in St. Louis. The finding was derived from analysis of data from a nationwide sample of children ages 9–11 that included information about depressive symptoms, sports activities and MRI scans of the brain. Study authors noted that this finding is critical for public policy, because if involvement in sports does change children’s brain development through impact on the hippocampus and related networks, strong incentives exist to encourage children as young as 9–11 to participate regularly in sports activities. More research is required to understand why girls did not experience the same antidepressant effect. 2 Comments - Was the particular sport played part of the analysis or just being on a team? For example, did it matter if the boys played an on-field sport like basketball or soccer or was an individual event sport like tennis or swimming as part of a team just as beneficial? Leave a Comment	https://www.ideafit.com/personal-training/playing-team-sports-fights-depression-in-boys/
one of a set of five dances. \| The figure of the wisteria maiden first came from the town of Otsu on the shores of Lake Biwa, where folk art called Otsu-e were sold as souvenirs. The wisteria maiden was the most famous of them. The other four dances in the original set also came from Otsu-e. The dance Fuji Musume was first performed in 1826 at Nakamura-za, Edo (now Tokyo). Later in 1938, Onoe Baiko VII, the most famous Kabuki actor during his time, became associated with dance after his portrayal of Fuji Musume at the Kabukiza Theater in Tokyo. His choreography and refinement of this dance helped to make it stand out and remain today as one of the most popular and famous Kabuki dances. Left: The actor Seki Sanjûrô II playing the role of the Wisteria Maiden in the hengemono "Kaesu Gaesu Onagori no Ôtsue", which was staged in September 1826 at the Nakamuraza. Print made by Utagawa Kunisada I (1826). \| \| So what is the dance about? Well, it portrays the spirit of the wisteria as a fashionable young girl, extravagantly dressed in a long sleeved kimono, called Nagasode, and obi (or sash) with a distinctive wisteria pattern. She also carries a wisteria branch with which she poses as the dance begins. The 'nagauta' ('long song') lyrics that accompany the dance are complex and create a series of suggestive images. They make sensual references to the closeness of the wisteria and its supporting pine tree, entwined stems compared to two lovers sleeping together. The dance moves through distinct sections, with the dancer miming the joy of a girl in love, then the heartbreak of jealousy and betrayal. Print: "Onoe Baiko VII as Fuji Musume" by Ota Gako (1949). \| \| \| \|\| After a costume change, the dancer re-emerges to dances two lovers quarelling, then making up over a cup of sake. The choreography in this section includes a famous sequence, with the same movements danced twice, first time sober, the second slightly tipsily. The piece moves through a rhythmical section of abstract movement as it reaches its climax. \| The original early 19th century choreography for the dance was lost over the years due to the dance falling out of fashion in the later 19th century. The choreography used today was created in 1937 for the actor Kikugoro Onoe VI. "Actor as Fuji Musume" by Tadamasa Ueno (1950) \| \|\| \|\| \| \| \|\| "Fujimusume" was originally part of a Gohenge buyo (5 different dances performed nonstop by a single actor) called "Kaesu gaesu onagori otsue". \| The concept of the work was that each character in an otsue painting comes out of the painting and dances. After the beginning of the Showa period, Onoe Kikugoro 6th, whose specialty was Buyo, developed a new dramatization according to the understanding that a wisteria nymph has slipped out of the painting and is dancing. This version has been the one generally used since then. Link for additional information on Kabuki. \| \| \| \|\| Many pictures can be found of unknown origin. This are some fine examples. \|\| \| \| \| \| \|\| \|\| \| \| \| This is a two-dimensional "oshie-ningyo" or padded ningyo, made of segments of padded silk fitted together, mounted on a background painted with wisteria (fuji). With her big black hat and branch of fuji, the figure is unmistakably Fuji Musume, the Wisteria Maiden, heroine of an old dance. Fuji Musume (at Matt's Kabuki for Everyone site) provides a history of this dance and a video as well as photographs \| \| Tamasaburo Bando as Fuji Musume, the Wisteria Maiden. Again we see the black hat; note also the kimono in which the outer garment's right sleeve has been pulled down to expose the red, emotional "heart" of the undersleeve.The wisteria "set" is obviously fabulous. \| \| Finally, a three-dimensional ningyo, of a type that might be classified as oyama or isho-ningyo (she has a gofun "skin"). Her hat is missing, but she still has her bit of wisteria pinned to her hair and her branch of long-dried flowers. Though her delicate face and tiny hands evoke the women immortalized by such woodblock artists as Haronobu, her stance--elbows in, knees together, exquisite swaying balance--is the one the onnagata defined as feminine.	https://www.zen-garden.org/html/page_FujiMusume.htm
May 2017: Further Concepts and Edwardian Photo Album Here are further drawings that show the development of the puppet, i.e. the armature and its fabrication, as well as further sketches showing the development of the Caravan Theatre. One rough sketch shows how the miniature museum, on the other side of the theatre (i.e. inside the caravan) might be laid out. Others are observational drawings that might be used in depicting the countryside and changing seasons. At the end there are also a couple images of an Edwardian Photo album I was fortunate enough to pick up in an antiques shop. I will use this as the basic of developing a 'catalogue' in a similar form, which will combine photos and illustrations (based on the 'Wind in the Willows' title illustrations by Beverly Bush), showcasing the making of this project.	https://www.richardhaynesanimation.com/single-post/2018/03/14/may-2017-further-concepts-and-edwardian-photo-album
My meditation today is on the source of the power of the Ho'oponopono prayer. This prayer seems unique in its depth and ability to communicate across cultural lines. That tells me the prayer is founded on principles that are universal to all human beings and to their participation in our shared reality-dance called Lila. When considered individually, each of the prayer's four phrases describes a different aspect of my relationships - with myself, other people, the world at large, and with the divine. As an aside, if the word "divine" gives you indigestion as it used to do for me, feel free to substitute some other suitably universal concept. Here's what each phrase means to me: "I'm sorry." This phrase acknowledges my personal responsibility for everything my actions contribute to the unfolding of What Is. By saying it I recognize that every action has both negative and positive effects. Even those acts I undertake with the most positive of intentions inevitably have negative outcomes that I must also own. As I'm fond of saying, "In this reality there are no one-sided coins." The same applies to my actions. In Shadow work we learn to recognize the value of the disowned aspects of our Self, those parts of our nature that society has deemed to be unacceptable. The acceptance of these qualities implied by the phrase "I'm sorry" is quintessential Shadow work, expressed in a very elegant shorthand. "Please forgive me." This phrase expresses my surrender. Not surrender in the Western sense of capitulation, but in the Eastern sense of "Acceptance of What Is." While the first phrase acknowledges my effects on others, this one acknowledges their effects on me. It recognizes the essential mutuality of existence - the equal importance and reciprocal influences of Other and Self - and completes the realization of interdependence that began with "I'm sorry." "I love you." Love is the emotion or force that unites me with the Universe that I am part of. When I am in love, or more precisely when I realize that I am Love, I feel the essential unity of All That Is. The great Advaita sage Nisargadatta Maharaj gave us this wonderful quote: "Love tells me I am everything. Awareness tells me I am nothing. Between these two my life flows." Meditators become familiar with the oceanic sense of the inclusive, seamless fabric of existence. In that universal awareness, the sense of myself as an independent individual submerges, and a singular emotion arises in me as a result. That emotion is love. By saying "I love you," I acknowledge myself and all other manifestations - whether living or inanimate, tangible or intangible - as intrinsic, essential parts of the universe. It's a reminder that I love all that I Am, where "I Am" is simultaneously and paradoxically one single fallible human being and an entire, intrinsically perfect Universe. "Thank you." When I have consciously expressed my realizations of personal responsibility, universal mutuality and Love as the Oneness of What Is, a sense of wonder and deep appreciation rises in me. My expression of gratitude for What Is and for my part in the unfolding reality then comes as naturally as breathing. This gratitude is not directed toward an external agent, as is traditional in most religious prayers or when we thank someone for doing us a favor. Again paradoxically, the object of this gratitude is simultaneously its subject - the One saying the prayer. For me the phrase is a reminder of what I see as the One True Miracle - existence itself. It's also a reminder of the value of humility in the presence of such majesty, and that as I learned from "I love you," everything in the Universe is an expression of that majesty. "I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I love you. Thank you." 3 replies, 3450 views Always highlight: 10 newest replies \| Replies posted after I mark a forum Replies to this discussion thread \|3 replies\|\|Author\|\|Time\|\|Post\| \| \| A Meditation on Ho'oponopono (Original post) \|GliderGuider\|\|Jan 2014\|\|OP\| \|GliderGuider\|\|Jan 2014\|\|#1\| \|Delphinus\|\|Jan 2014\|\|#2\| \|arikara\|\|Jan 2014\|\|#3\| Response to GliderGuider (Original post) Sun Jan 5, 2014, 10:40 PM GliderGuider (21,088 posts) 1. This meditation is dedicated to my Twin Flame, Kathleen Farago May. \| \| Each of the four phrases and the prayer as a whole are embodied in our relationship. She taught me what "Being Love" means. Response to GliderGuider (Reply #1) Wed Jan 8, 2014, 09:18 PM Delphinus (8,879 posts) 2. Beautiful! \| \| Thanks, Glider! Response to GliderGuider (Original post) Sat Jan 11, 2014, 12:49 AM arikara (5,562 posts) 3. Thank you for this \| \| I use this prayer all the time too, sometimes perhaps too quickly and by rote for example when I see a logging truck full of trees. (unfortunately they are stripping a large area around here, its very depressing) It does seem to be used more all the time by many.	https://upload.democraticunderground.com/122016080
This essay examines the systemic structural problems inherent within the policing system of Canada and the pervasive inequality and corruption that it perpetuates. Variables of public perception, along with police deviance and culture are examined to highlight the structural deficiencies and their prevention of social equality within the Canadian criminal justice system. This essay examines the concept of hero worship as a factor in the Canadian public’s acceptance of police corruption and deviance, along with Robert Merton’s strain theory to show the limited categories available for police officer identity under the current system. Finally, possible solutions to the closed subculture of police power and corruption are offered for future policy considerations.	https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/si/vol3/iss1/2/
When I first saw the title of this book before reading it, I immediately recalled great leaders throughout ancient history, including those whom Homer discusses in his two epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey as well as those featured in plays written by Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. More than 2,000 years later, the tribal leaders that Dave Logan, John King, and Halee Fischer-Wright discuss in this book are “natural leaders,” as were Achilles, Odysseus, Orestes, and Oedipus. However, they lead fellow workers rather than warriors to “victory” in the business world rather than on a battlefield. Moreover, what the co-authors mean by a “tribe” is a naturally occurring groups of 20-150 people. Viewed this way, an organization becomes an interconnected series of these tribes. The key to changing an organization is to upgrade its tribes, one member at a time, through one stage at a time. As I shall soon discuss in more detail, their view of stages is the key to getting an organization at least to the fourth of five stages of development. Their view is very practical: how to transform an organization. What they propose is based on a ten-year set of research studies that involved 24,000 people in two dozen organizations, with their members located around the world. The co-authors share what they learned from their research in this book. For example, how to build and then sustain strong relationships between and among an organization’s tribal members. As they explain, “Every tribe has a dominant culture, which we can peg on a one-to-five scale, with Stage Five being most desirable. All things being equal, a Five culture will always outperform a Four culture, which will outperform a Three culture, and so on.” Paradoxically, the leadership challenge is to strengthen a tribe until it becomes a Four or Five culture while allowing it to function collaboratively within a federation with other tribes. In essence, the strength of a tribe is determined by the health of its culture. In Chapter 3, Logan, King, and Fischer-Wright introduce and explain what they characterize as “the tribal leadership navigation system.” Its purpose is help leaders in the 75% of companies whose workplace tribes have a cultural Stage Three or below to locate the leverage points by which to nudge their company forward (i.e. higher) faster while emerging as a tribal leader. The co-authors suggest how to determine the current culture stage and then explain what is needed to reach the next stage. One key point is that advancing a tribe is most efficiently achieved one member at a time. Aspiring leaders, therefore, must keep in mind that they have two eyes, two ears, but only one mouth. Therefore, they should spend at least 80% of their time observing what is (and isn’t) happening and listening to what is (and isn’t) said. Those whom Logan, King, and Fischer-Wright cite as effective tribal leaders (e.g. Griffin Hospital’s David Charmel, the U.S. Olympic hockey team’s Mike Eruzione, IDEO’s David Kelley, and the Moore Foundation’s Frank Jordan) have highly developed skills for “reading” a person’s tone of voice and body language.Personal note: My own experience while working closely with several hundred companies is that one of the most revealing indicators is workers’ use of pronouns. Those who are actively and productively engaged use first-person plural pronouns almost exclusively. Those who are passively engaged or actively disengaged (i.e. dysfunctional) seldom do. Credit Logan, King, and Fischer-Wright with making especially effective use of various reader-friendly devices. For example, Technical Notes, Key [Chapter] Points, Coaching Tips, Summaries, Leverage Points for a Person (per Stage), and Success Indicators. These devices facilitate, indeed expedite frequent review later. Here in a single volume is about as much information, insights, and advice as a business leader needs to help her or his “tribe” (be it a department, division, or company) to develop and then sustain at least a Four culture. The success of those efforts, however, must be collaborative in nature and continuous at all levels and in all areas of the given enterprise.	http://www.sanfranciscoreviewofbooks.com/2018/07/book-review-tribal-leadership.html
Unreal Engine: Ultimate Survival Horror Course will teach you how to make a survival horror game . Course teaches all skillsets the fundamentals of game creation through one of the most popular genres in game media . We will go step by step through the game-making process to show how we can set up a character from scratch, well-designed gameplay, classic and advanced horror mechanics, artificial intelligence, and a lot more. We will also go through a step-by-step through the . game-building process to . show how . we can . set up characters from scratch and create a level with proper atmosphere, lighting, and post processing . We’ll go through cutscenes, cutscenes and objectives .Authentication failed. Unique API key is not valid for this user. Who this course is for:	https://whncourses.com/unreal-engine-ultimate-survival-horror-course-free-download/
Publications: Learning for Recommender Systems Recommender systems suggest information sources and products to users based on learning from examples of their likes and dislikes. Most existing recommender systems use collaborative filtering methods that base recommendations on other users' preferences. By contrast, content-based methods use information about an item itself to make suggestions. This approach has the advantage of being able to recommended previously unrated items to users with unique interests and to provide explanations for its recommendations. Our work has focused on a content-based book recommending system called LIBRA. We have also explored combining our content-based approach and standard collaborative filtering. Explaining Recommendations: Satisfaction vs. Promotion[Details] [PDF] Mustafa Bilgic and Raymond J. MooneyIn Proceedings of Beyond Personalization 2005: A Workshop on the Next Stage of Recommender Systems Research at the 2005 International Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces, San Diego, CA, January 2005.
What’s the latest “need to know” news in cancer research? In this post, I’ll briefly review several of the most interesting cancer research stories that have been in the news this spring. Among the topics we cover this time are ways in which researchers are working to improve immunotherapy treatments so they can be effective for more people. The category of immune system therapies known as PD-1 inhibitors or checkpoint inhibitors, which “release the brakes” on the immune system to attack cancer cells, have been shown to be very effective for some patients with advanced cancer. The FDA has approved these therapies for a number of different types of advanced cancer. However, these treatments only work for some patients and the big challenge is how to make them more effective for more patients. At the recent annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), findings were reported from various studies in which treatment with checkpoint inhibitors was combined with other therapies to increase effectiveness. One report which received a great deal of media attention was on the phase 3 KEYNOTE-189 clinical trial, also published in the New England Journal of Medicine. In that trial, patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer were randomized to receive pemproblizumab (Keytruda) along with chemotherapy, or just standard chemotherapy treatment. The results were striking–69% of patients receiving the combination therapy were alive after one year compared with 49% of patients receiving the standard chemotherapy alone. There are many more studies looking for optimal ways to combine checkpoint inhibitors with other treatments. A post on the AACR’s research blog reports on some of those studies that were presented at the annual meeting. Another major form of immunotherapy is CAR T-cell therapy, in which a patient’s own immune cells are withdrawn from a blood sample, engineered to attack cancer cells and then injected back into the patient’s bloodstream. This treatment received FDA approval last year for certain types of blood cancer. However, it is complex and requires customization for each patient. Researchers are searching for ways to make CAR T-cell therapy work for more types of cancer. One research group believes that a key problem is that the starting material–the T-cells themselves that are extracted from patients–varies in its usefulness for this therapy. They’re investigating ways to improve the manufacturing process for the engineered cells that would address this problem. Other research is looking into developing a standardized form of CAR T-cell therapy. One group has created a master cell line–originating with cells from a healthy donor–that could be used to produce large quantities of “universal” T cells. The goal is to develop an effective treatment that utilizes the universal T-cells, eliminating the need for a customized product for each patient. An important large set of studies that together are referred to as the Pancancer Atlas have recently reached completion. An article in Medical News Today explains that the project, which has been ongoing for the last ten years, was driven by the recognition that cancers arising in different parts of the body can be similar at the molecular level, while cancers occurring in the same part of the body can actually be very different at the molecular level. The findings from this project are publicly available through a portal, and will provide a foundation for future research that could lead to improved targeted therapies and immunotherapies, as well as a better ability to personalize treatment to the molecular features of an individual person’s cancer. Earlier this year, the American Heart Association issued a statement warning about the increased risk for heart disease associated with certain breast cancer treatments. Although these risks have been known for a long time, the AHA wanted to call attention to the long-term risk of cardiac complications for some women who had been treated for breast cancer. Then, in March, data from a large study on preventing heart problems in breast cancer patients were presented at a major scientific meeting. The study looked at whether, for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, adding an ACE inhibitor or a beta blocker to treatment could reduce risk for heart disease. The study was funded by the National Cancer Institute and enrolled 468 patients at numerous treatment centers. The data presented showed that, for patients who received the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin (an anthracyline) and then trastuzumab (Herceptin), the addition of either an ACE inhibitor or a beta blocker to their treatment significantly reduced cardiotoxicity. These findings need to be taken with caution as the study has not yet been published. Scientists are seeking to understand better why breast cancer is common in some families even though no known genetic mutations that increase breast cancer risk are present. A recent study published in Nature Communications looked at 210 people from 25 families that had multiple cases of breast cancer. The study identified 24 epigenetic changes that alter risk for breast cancer but do not involve changes in genes themselves. Such changes are heritable, that is they can be passed down from generation to generation. For the majority of women who undergo genetic testing, there is no explanation for their breast cancer predisposition. This ground-breaking work is not only helpful for women from families with many cases of breast cancer, it will improve breast cancer risk prediction for all women, and pave the way for the development of epigenetic therapeutics for breast cancer. That’s it for this time. If there was another recent cancer research story or article that caught your attention or if you have thoughts on any of what I’ve included, I’d love to hear from you!	https://after20yrs.com/2018/05/26/5-cancer-research-stories-worth-following-spring-2018/
Whitefish forced to seek new solutions for creating affordable housing after bill gets governor's signature Houses in Whitefish. Whitefish Pilot \| April 28, 2021 1:00 AM Whitefish’s affordable housing program will have to look to new strategies for creating workforce housing after Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte last week signed into law a bill that bans the use of a zoning tool designed to create such housing. Gianforte signed House Bill 259, which effectively prohibits inclusionary zoning in the state meaning that local governments can no longer require property to be dedicated for housing for specific income levels or at specified sale prices. The city’s Legacy Homes Program had utilized the zoning regulation. City Manager Dana Smith said it’s unfortunate that the approval of the bill will reduce Whitefish’s “ability to ensure deed-restricted affordable housing.” “We’re not going to stop working on affordable housing,” she said. “We do have other strategies that are part of our Strategic Housing Plan.” The 2017 Strategic Housing Plan outlined several suggestions for creating affordable housing in the city and came out of a housing need assessment the year before that found that Whitefish needed to add almost 1,000 new units of housing by the end of 2020 to keep up with demand. While the city will look at other options, Smith said it’s not pleased with the bill’s approval. “It’s disheartening to see local control being preempted especially on issues like affordable housing,” Smith said. “We heard from citizens and business owners that affordable housing is an issue, and not just when it comes to housing but in terms of employment and businesses finding workers. All levels of government need to address this issue.” In an interview with KJJR radio station last week, Gianforte addressed the bill. “We do need more affordable housing, but there’s a better way to do it,” he said. “Some of these local zonings were really putting the burden on the back of construction and it was making everybody else’s housing more expensive, which is exactly the wrong direction to head.” Gianforte also noted that he signed Senate Bill 161 that creates an expedited review process for subdivisions saying that would “bring the cost of housing down.” Whitefish’s Legacy Homes Program was adopted in 2019 and used inclusionary zoning by requiring that 20% of most new housing units be deed-restricted as permanently affordable or that developers pay a fee in lieu of providing units. The Whitefish Chamber of Commerce was a driving force behind the plan that eventually led to the Legacy Homes Program. The chamber, on behalf of the business community, asked for the icty’s help in putting together a plan to address creating workforce housing. Chamber Executive Director Kevin Gartland said the approval of the bill is disappointing. “We worked hard as a community on workforce housing as a whole in a pain-staking process to find an option that we thought would benefit the community,” he said. “It’s frustrating and discouraging.” A lack of affordable housing combined with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic has business owners struggling to fill positions. Gartland says some businesses are offering signing bonuses for service industry jobs, something he’s never seen before. “We’ve been focused on this issue for a long time and the last 12 months it hasn’t gotten any better,” he said. “There were 60 some strategies in the housing plan and we started with the ones we thought had the most potential, so we will reassess and keep going.” The Legacy Homes Program resulted in three units and about $1.3 million in cash-in-lieu payments that, Smith says, the city will still be able to utilize for affordable housing. Smith said Whitefish will likely return to its previous voluntary affordable housing program that allowed developers to gain certain benefits by providing affordable housing units. “Unfortunately that wasn’t very effective, but it’s the only alternative we have right now,” she said. City Council and the city’s affordable housing committee are expected to meet in a joint session at some point to review options moving forward. “We’re looking at alternatives and other ways to encourage affordable housing,” Smith said, noting what exactly those options are is still being determined. This fall the city also expected to do an update of the original 2016 housing needs assessment to get a picture of the current housing situation here. In a joint letter sent to the governor a few weeks ago, the cities of Whitefish and Bozeman and the Montana League of Cities & Towns made a request that the bill be vetoed. The letter points out that housing prices have drastically increased in Bozeman and Whitefish over the past 10 years, and other Montana communities are also beginning to face similar challenges. “With different factors impacting the rising costs in each community, affordable housing must be addressed at the local level,” the letter said. “Everyone needs to be at the table to solve this criss, and our local elected officials should have the ability to work with their constituents to determine the set of strategies best suited to respond to the growing housing crisis.” Though Missoula also spoke before the state Legislature against the bill, Bozeman is the only other city in Montana beside Whitefish with an inclusionary zoning program. Building and real estate associations supported the bill claiming that measures like inclusionary zoning are actually hampering the construction of affordable housing and unfairly places the burden of affordable housing on builders.	https://whitefishpilot.com/news/2021/apr/28/whitefish-forced-seek-new-ways-creating-affordable/
Unique Skills: n/a Education and Experience Requirements: Position Purpose: Provides leadership, technical expertise and guidance while performing various operational, functional tests and repairs of avionics/electronic, aircraft equipment and systems to ensure a defect free aircraft. Provides superior technical expertise in testing, troubleshooting and repairing system discrepancies to ensure minimum schedule impact. Demonstrates technical expertise and leadership by defining and implementing process changes to reduce cost and meet schedule without compromising Safety or Quality. Demonstrates the knowledge and leadership skills required to fill in for the team leader thus ensuring that the company goals of Safety and Quality are enforced all times while adhering to daily work plans to maintain schedule requirements. Principal Duties and Responsibilities:Essential Functions: 1. Demonstrates superior technical skills and expertise in avionics and aircraft systems operational testing and troubleshooting. Provides direct training to personnel to support company cross-training goals while ensuring a safety conscience, quality oriented, skilled workforce. 2. Teaches the installation and functionally testing of electrical/avionics components and systems per Engineering specifications, drawings and maintenance manuals ensuring a defect free system. 3. Ensures quality and efficiency of all installations: troubleshoots and teaches troubleshooting processes/concepts to provide timely, quality repairs of malfunctioning systems. 4. Demonstrates the skills and knowledge required to effective and efficiently repair or replace defective components and wiring to ensure installations meet conformity. Demonstrates effective repair techniques using acceptable practices including splicing, soldering and pinning of wiring. 5. Oversees the performance and compliance with engineering changes and modifications as required. 6. Sets up and operates necessary test equipment. Conducts functional and operational tests to evaluate performance and reliability. 7. Demonstrates through diligent compliance the importance of daily logs and other paperwork. Ensures that all work performed on the aircraft is properly and completely documented 8. As required, pre-inspects work of others prior to submitting to inspection for approval to reduce rework and inspection time. 9. Provides the knowledge and technical expertise in testing and maintaining test equipment and electronic systems and components as required. 10. Enforces the company FOD program, tool control program, 5-S program and all safety regulations. 11.Maintains required logs and records. 12. Adapts to sudden schedule changes. 13. Coordinates with other disciplines concerning projects. Additional Functions: 1. Where required, teaches the installation and functionally testing of electrical/avionics components and systems per Engineering specifications, drawings and maintenance manuals ensuring a defect free system. 2. Self inspection capability for all avionics testing functions in applicable areas. 3. In support of aircraft certification and final phase testing, may include flight tests on aircraft as required. 4. Performs other duties as assigned. Other Requirements: 1. Preferred proficiency in the operation and troubleshooting of other aircraft systems or disciplines other than avionics, such as hydraulics, landing gear, flight controls, environmental controls or structural installations and repairs. 2. APU run qualification and engine run qualification preferred. 3. Ability to read and interpret basic blueprints and schematic diagrams. Languages Required (in addition to English): No Selection PDS Tech, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or other legally protected status. Founded in 1977, PDS Tech, Inc. is one of the nation's premier specialty staffing firms with 31 offices nationwide. We offer a full range of benefits including: PDS specializes in Engineering and IT arenas including Aerospace, Defense, Electronics, Telecommunications, Automotive, and Energy just to name a few. Our reputation, track record, and years of continuous growth reflect the commitment to quality that our employees and clients experience first-hand. To find out more about PDS, please visit www.pdstech.com We pay thousands each month in referral bonuses!Contact a recruiter for details. To find one near you, take a look at where we are. PDS Tech, Inc. is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with physical and mental disabilities.If you need special assistance or an accommodation while seeking employment, please click here or call 1-800-270-4737 to contact us. We will make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis. The law requires PDS Tech, Inc. to post a notice describing the Federal laws prohibiting job discrimination. For information regarding your legal rights and protections, please click on the following links: EEO is the Law and EEO is the Law Supplement PDS Tech, Inc. will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay. Please see the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision for more information.	https://pdsjobs.force.com/candidates/job_detail?id=a1i50000002dwqSAAQ&URLSource=cjhunter
The invention discloses a method for cultivating ginkgo trees. According to the method, soil is comprehensively sterilized before seeding, so that stem rot can be prevented, and the cultivation cost can be greatly lowered; 1/3 of radicle is cut off before seeding when the radicle of a seed after germination acceleration grows to 1cm, and consequently the seed is sowed, so that fibrous root growth can be promoted, and the quality of nursery stock can be improved; an adhesive agent is sprayed together with topdressing, so that the absorption rate of ginkgo to fertilizers is increased; compounded reagents are sprayed together with disease and insect prevention and treatment, so that ginkgo super olethreutid, termite hills and ginkgo powdery mildew can be prevented and treated effectively, yellowing can be prevented when diseases and insects are prevented and treated, and the problem that ginkgo trees are yellowed can be solved. Ginkgo trees cultivated by using the cultivation method have the advantages of being simple to plant, exuberant in growth, large in market potential and wide in prospect.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to manufactured seed, each containing a unit of totipotent plant tissue, that can be sown like natural seed and produce viable germinants. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Modern agriculture, including silviculture, often requires the planting of large numbers of substantially identical plants genetically tailored to grow optimally in a particular locale or to possess certain other desirable traits. Production of new plants by sexual reproduction, which yields botanic seeds, can be time- and labor-intensive and is often subject to genetic recombinational events resulting in variable traits in the progeny. Further, inbred strains such as those used to perform such crosses often lack vigor, resulting in low seed productivity. In vitro culture of somatic or zygotic plant embryos can be used to produce large numbers of genetically identical embryos that have the capacity to develop into normal plants. However, the resulting embryos lack the protective and nutritive structures found in natural botanic seeds that shelter the plant embryo inside the seed from the harsh soil environment and nurture the embryo during the critical stages of sowing and germination. As a result, the embryos must usually be further cultured in vitro until they reach a "seedling" state characterized by the ability to photosynthesize, resist desiccation, produce roots able to penetrate soil, and fend off soil microorganisms. As used herein, the terms "Artificial" or "manufactured" seeds refer to seeds in which individual plant somatic or zygotic embryos are encapsulated in a hydrated gel. In the most advanced designs, the manufactured seed includes various protective and nutritive features that more closely mimic analogous structures of natural botanic seed. There is a need for an improved manufactured seed that more closely mimics the function of natural, botanic seed by protecting the embryo against mechanical damage, desiccation, and attack by pathogens, herbivores, and pests, and promoting a high rate of germination. The present invention meets these and other needs. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides manufactured seeds comprising a plant embryo or other unit of totipotent plant tissue. The totipotent plant tissue is enclosed and thus protected by a manufactured seed coat that has an orifice covered by a secondary end seal, or lid. The lid has a protruding portion that the totipotent plant tissue preferentially enters and contacts upon germination, facilitating the emergence of a plant germinant from the manufactured seed by dislodging or penetrating the lid. For this reason, the radicle of the totipotent plant tissue is oriented toward the protruding portion of the lid. The burst strength and cross- sectional diameter of the nipple is selected to optimize the speed of germination and germinant normalcy for totipotent plant tissue of a given plant species. According to another embodiment of the invention, a manufactured seed is provided that includes a totipotent plant tissue enclosed by a manufactured seed coat that has an orifice covered by a lid that includes a protruding portion, e.g., a nipple-, dome- or finger-like structure that protrudes outwardly from the manufactured seed. Upon germination, the totipotent plant tissue preferentially enters and contacts the protruding portion of the lid and dislodges or penetrates the lid. Preferably, the lid (at least the protruding portion thereof) is penetrable by the totipotent plant tissue upon germination. According to another embodiment of the invention, such a lid includes a wax or polymer film, for example Parafilm™. Preferably, the lid is made from a material that is water-impermeable and gas- permeable. The protruding portion or "nipple" may be produced by any conventional method. According to one embodiment the lid is produced by pre-stretching a wax or polymer film such as Parafilm™ with a probe, resulting in a nipple that includes a generally cylindrical portion having a diameter similar to that of the probe. Preferably, the diameter of the probe is selected so as to produce a nipple having a cross- sectional diameter selected to provide significantly better germination than a flat lid of the same material. For Douglas-fir and loblolly pine, for example, it is preferable that the probe (and thus the resulting nipple) has a diameter between about 1.52 mm and about 3.35 mm. According to another embodiment of the invention, the manufactured seed coat is water-impermeable until the totipotent plant tissue penetrates or dislodges the lid. The totipotent plant tissue is preferably disposed relative to, and preferably surrounded by or in contact with, a hydrated gel so as to allow the transfer of liquid, dissolved solutes, and gases from the gel to the plant tissue. The gel thus serves as an "synthetic gametophyte" for the plant tissue in a manner analogous to the gametophyte portion of a natural botanic seed, i.e., the endosperm or other seed nutritive tissue, depending upon the species from which the totipotent plant tissue originates. Therefore, according to another embodiment of the invention, the manufactured seed includes a nonphytotoxic hydrated gel (e.g., an oxygenated gel) disposed within the manufactured seed coat so as to permit liquid transfer from the gel to the totipotent plant tissue. According to another embodiment of the invention, the manufactured seed coat includes a material selected from the group consisting of a cellulosic material, glass, plastic, a cured polymeric resin, paraffin, wax, varnish, and combinations thereof. According to another embodiment of the invention, methods of making manufactured seeds are provided that include the steps of: providing a manufactured seed coat that includes an orifice, inserting a totipotent plant tissue into the manufactured seed coat through the orifice, and covering the orifice with a lid that comprises a protruding portion such that, upon germination of the totipotent plant tissue, the totipotent plant tissue preferentially enters and contacts the protruding portion and dislodges or penetrates the lid. According to another embodiment of the invention, such methods include the steps of: pre-stretching a wax or polymer film (for example, pre- stretching Parafilm™ with a probe) to produce the lid; and inserting the totipotent plant tissue into the manufactured seed coat such that the radicle is oriented toward the orifice. If the manufactured seed coat includes a nonphytotoxic hydrated gel, such methods include the step of disposing the totipotent plant tissue within the manufactured seed coat so as to permit liquid transfer from the gel to the totipotent plant tissue. According to another embodiment of the invention, methods are provided for germinating a totipotent plant tissue that include the step of incubating a manufactured seed as described above under conditions suitable for germination of the totipotent plant tissue. As discussed more fully below, manufactured seed according to the present invention may also include some provision for a restraint enclosing at least the shoot end of the totipotent plant tissue. These and other features result in manufactured seeds characterized by a high percent of germination of plant embryos therefrom. The foregoing objects and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood as the detailed description thereof proceeds, particularly when considered together with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1A is a sectional view of a manufactured seed with a flat lid. FIG. 1B is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a manufactured seed with a lid that includes a nipple. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a mold for penetrometer testing of the burst strength of a nucellar cap. FIG. 3 is a graph showing the force (g) required to break the nucellus of Douglas-fir gametophytes. FIGS. 4A is a cross-sectional view of a standard (straight) mold for pre-stretching lids. FIG. 4B is a top view of the standard mold of FIG. 4A. FIG. 4C is a plan view of the standard mold of FIG. 4A. FIG. 4D shows a cross-sectional view of a bevelled mold for pre- stretching lids. FIGS. 5A-B show the process for pre-stretching Parafilm™ to produce a lid. FIG. 5C shows a cross-sectional view of a pre-stretched lid. FIG. 5D shows a plan view of the lid of FIG. 5C. FIG. 6 is a bar graph showing the percent germination of manufactured seed having various lid designs. FIG. 7 is a bar graph showing the effect of the diameter (mm) of pre- stretched Parafilm™ lids on the germination (days from sowing to 50% germination) of manufactured seed that are made with Douglas-fir zygotic embryos. FIG. 8 is a bar graph showing the effect of the diameter (mm) of pre- stretched Parafilm™ lids on germinant normalcy (% normal germinants at 38 days after sowing) for manufactured seed that are made with Douglas- fir zygotic embryos. FIG. 9 is a graph showing the effect of the diameter (mm) of pre- stretched Parafilm™ lids on percent germination (full germinants) from 7 to 24 days after sowing for manufactured seed that are made with Douglas-fir zygotic embryos. FIG. 10 is a graph showing the effect of the diameter (mm) of pre- stretched Parafilm™ lids on percent germination (partial germinants) from 7 to 24 days after sowing for manufactured seed that are made with Douglas-fir zygotic embryos. FIG. 11 is a graph showing the effect of the diameter (mm) of pre- stretched Parafilm™ lids on percent germination from 10-31 days after sowing for manufactured seed including loblolly pine zygotic embryos. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The detailed description that follows is based on manufactured seed designs described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,236,469 and 5, 701, 699 (both incorporated herein by reference), with improved secondary end seals, or lids, as discussed in detail below. However, lids according to the present invention can be used in conjunction with any manufactured seed design, including, but not limited to, those discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,769,945 and 5,382,269 and Dupuis et al., Bio/Technology 12:385-389, 1994 (all incorporated herein by reference), in which a lid as described herein could be used to cover an opening in a capsule, vessel, or other structure enclosing a unit of totipotent plant tissue and a hydrated gel, thereby facilitating emergence of the plant tissue from its enclosure by penetrating or dislodging the lid. Totipotent Plant Tissue A manufactured seed, according to one aspect of the present invention, comprises a unit of totipotent plant tissue. As used herein, "totipotent" refers to a capacity to row and develop into a normal plant. Totipotent plant tissue has both the complete genetic information of a plant and the ready capacity to develop into a complete plant if cultured under favorable conditions. As is generally known in the art, totipotent plant tissue is obtainable from any of several areas of a plant, such as meristematic tissue and plant embryonic tissue. Meristematic tissue is comprised of undifferentiated plant cells that divide to yield other meristematic cells, as well as differentiated cells that elongate and further specialize to form structural tissues and organs of the plant. Meristematic tissue is located, for example, at the extreme tips of growing shoots or roots, in buds, and in the cambium layer of woody plants. Plant embryonic tissue can be found (in the form of a "zygotic" embryo) inside a botanic seed of the plant produced by sexual reproduction. Also, plant "somatic" embryos can be produced by culturing totipotent plant tissue such as meristematic tissue by standard methods under laboratory conditions in which the cells comprising the tissue are separated from one another and urged to develop into minute complete embryos. Alternatively, a process termed "cleavage polyembryogeny" known in the art can be induced during natural embryo development in seed. As used herein, a "unit" of totipotent plant tissue is a mass of such tissue that can be individually handled and that can develop into a germinant and ultimately a plant under favorable conditions. For use in preferred embodiments of manufactured seeds according to the present invention, the unit of totipotent plant tissue preferably is developed sufficiently to have a shoot end and a radicle end. In certain species of plants, the shoot end includes one or more cotyledons in some stage of development. For example, such totipotent plant tissue of gymnosperms usually has multiple cotyledons situated on or near the shoot apex. This is also the case with many dicotyledonous plants. In other types of plants, the cotyledon(s) are situated in locations other than the shoot end. Manufactured seed according to the present invention can include a totipotent plant tissue from any plant species (dicotyledonous, monocotyledonous, gymnosperm, etc.). Manufactured Seed Coat The manufactured seed can include a manufactured seed coat that, like a natural seed coat, protects the totipotent plant tissue and other internal structures of the manufactured seed from mechanical damage, desiccation, from attack by microbes, fungi, insects, nematodes, birds, and other pathogens, herbivores, and pests, among other functions. The manufactured seed coat can be fabricated from a variety of materials including, but not limited to, cellulosic materials, glass, plastic, moldable plastic, cured polymeric resins, paraffin, waxes, varnishes, and combinations thereof such as a wax-impregnated paper. The materials from which the seed coat is made are substantially non-toxic and preferably provide a degree of rigidity. It is preferable that the seed coat be biodegradable, although it is also preferable that the seed coat remain intact until after emergence of the germinating totipotent plant tissue. It is also preferable that, until after emergence, the seed coat be resistant to penetration by microbial or other plant pathogens. The manufactured seed coat includes a "shell" that has an opening or orifice that is covered or otherwise occluded by a lid and that contains a unit of totipotent plant tissue. Alternatively, in place of an orifice, the shell can include a region that is thin or weakened relative to other regions of the shell. The covered orifice or thinner or weakened portion has a lower burst strength than the rest of the shell. Thus, a germinating embryo preferentially emerges from the manufactured seed coat by penetrating through the opening or thinner or weaker portion of the shell. The shell is preferably sufficiently rigid to provide mechanical protection to the embryo, e.g., during sowing, and is substantially impermeable to gases, water, and soil microbes. It is preferable that the radicle of the totipotent plant tissue be oriented toward the opening or weaker area of the shell to facilitate protrusive growth of the primary root of the germinating totipotent plant tissue from the manufactured seed. If the seed coat lacks an opening or weakened or thin section, the seed coat must not prevent the totipotent plant tissue germinating from within from growing out of the manufactured seed without fatal or debilitating injury to the tissue. To this end, polymeric materials having a high dry strength and low wet strength can be used. The seed coat can also be so constructed that it breaks apart easily upon application of an outwardly protrusive force from inside the manufactured seed but is relatively resistant to compressive forces applied to the outside of the seed coat, e.g., a self-breaking capsule (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Application No. JP 59102308 [Masuda and Sakamoto, published 1993] and Redenbaugh, "Introduction," In: Redenbaugh (ed.), Synseeds: Application of Synthetic Seeds to Crop Improvement, Chapter 1, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla., 1993). However, such an embodiment is less preferred, since the totipotent plant tissue can readily desiccate and is exposed to attack by pathogens, pests, and herbivores when the seed coat breaks. The manufactured seed coat can have two or more layers, each having the same or a different composition. For example, the innermost layer can comprise a relatively compliant and water-impermeable cellulosic material and the outer layer can comprise a polymeric material having a high dry strength and a low wet strength. Alternatively, the inner layer can comprise a rigid shape such as an open-ended cylinder, where at least a portion of the open end(s) is covered with an outer- layer material having a high dry strength and a low wet strength. Further alternatively, the seed coat can comprise a relatively compliant cellulosic or analogous material, shaped to at least partially conform to the shape of the mass of hydrated gel to be disposed therein, and having at least one tapered end. The tapered end terminates with an orifice which is preferably covered with a lid. Additives such as plant nutrients, antibiotics, and plant- growth regulators can be added to the manufactured seed coat, for example, by incorporation into the material forming one or more of the layers of the seed coat or by coating or otherwise treating the layer(s) with the additive by conventional means. Although it is preferred that a manufactured seed according to the present invention have a hydrated gel disposed within the manufactured seed coat, the gel can be absent. If the gel is absent, it is preferred that the manufactured seed coat be selected to prevent mechanical damage to the totipotent plant tissue, e.g., be rigid and physically support the plant tissue. If the gel is absent, it is also preferred that the manufactured seed coat include a lid to prevent desiccation and penetration by pathogens and pests while allowing gas exchange. Secondary End Seal or Lid Our working model is that a natural seed, which includes an embryo and a megagametophyte-seed coat complex, has evolved a structure and a pattern and rate of germination that results in successful germination under variable environmental conditions. Therefore, the various parts of a manufactured seed preferably function as much as possible like the analogous structure of a natural botanic seed. One of the first occurrences during natural seed germination is the stretching of the nucellar membrane. As the radical grows, it presses against the nucellar membrane (nucellus), which is stretched and then punctured at the apex. An annulus remains after the nucellar cap breaks away from the megagametophyte. As a root moves through the soil, it squeezes into the gap between soil particles and exerts force perpendicular to the particles, i. e., normal to the curvature of the root tip, thereby separating the particles. We hypothesized that the root applies pressure to the apex of the nucellar cap in the same way. A secondary end seal, or lid, is disposed across and preferably completely covers and seals an opening or orifice in the manufactured seed coat. The lid functions as a synthetic analog of the nucellar membrane or analogous structures in a seed and preferably is similar in structure and function to such natural structures. The lid is penetrable or capable of being dislodged by the germinating totipotent plant tissue (particularly the radicle thereof) to permit the tissue to emerge from the manufactured seed, yet provides sufficient physical restraint to retain the plant tissue within the protective seed coat during handling of the manufactured seed. It is preferable that the lid be substantially impermeable to liquid water ("water-impermeable"), gas-permeable, and be able to substantially retard pathogen entry. In addition, it is preferable that the lid reduce water loss and desiccation of the totipotent plant tissue. Preferably, the lid comprises a wax or polymer film or membrane, preferably a thin, gas-permeable, water-impermeable membrane. A preferred end-seal material is a Parafilm® (American National Can, Greenwich, Conn.). Alternative materials include, but are not limited to, any of various thin polymeric films, e.g., stretchable films such as Duraseal™ (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.), Cellulon™, polymer films used for packaging fresh fruits and vegetables (including films used for modified atmosphere packaging), wax-impregnated cellulosic tissue (e.g., Kimwipe™, Kimberly-Clark, Roswell, Ga.), or other conventional materials. Such secondary end-seal materials may be provided in combination with other materials, for example multi-layer composite materials having one or more wax and/or polymeric film plies, provided that at least a portion of the lid can be penetrated or dislodged by the totipotent plant tissue upon germination. A lid made from Parafilm™, for example, is water- impermeable when properly sealed and permeable to oxygen and other gases. Water vapor loss from manufactured seed with unstretched or pre-stretched Parafilm™ lids is very slow, preventing desiccation of the hydrated gel and plant tissue. It is preferred that at least a portion of a lid for manufactured seed has a burst strength that is less than or equal to the force generated by germinating totipotent plant tissue from a given plant species, thus permitting the totipotent plant tissue (particularly the elongating radicle) to penetrate through the lid upon germination. Preferably, the burst strength of the lid (or at least a portion thereof, such as the protruding portion, or nipple, described below) is similar to that of the nucellar membrane or analogous structures in a natural botanic seed of the plant species. For a given species, an optimal burst strength can be estimated by determining the force necessary for an embryo to penetrate enclosing tissues of a natural seed of the species during germination. The force required for an embryo to penetrate a natural seed can be determined by using a penetrometer or Instron™ machine (see, e.g., Welbaum et al., J. Exper. Bot. 46:391-400, 1995). When determining this force, it should be noted that there may be enzymatic weakening of the enclosing tissues in natural seed. Endosperm softening appears to be necessary for germination of various types of natural seed (Welbaum and Bradford, Plant Physiol. 92:1046-1052, 1990; Miguel and Sanchez, J. Exper. Bot. 43:969-974, 1992). The nucellar cap (nucellus) of a natural seed is degraded by enzymes prior to embryo germination (Welbaum et al., J. Exper. Bot. 46:391-400, 1995). Such enzymatic degradation should be accounted for to accurately estimate the force required for the plant tissue to emerge from enclosing tissues. The desired burst strength can also be determined (or further defined) empirically by determining the germination rate of manufactured seed having lids of different burst strengths. A lid material having an appropriate burst strength (e.g., at the lower end of the force range for a given plant species) can then be selected, or a desirable material can be pre-stretched or otherwise weakened by conventional means (e.g., heating or chemical weakening by solvent application) so that at least a portion of the lid has the desired burst strength. Pre-stretching or otherwise weakening at least a portion of the lid reduces the force necessary for radicle penetration of the lid, allowing one to use materials that would otherwise be difficult or impossible for totipotent plant tissue to penetrate. Wax or polymer films, for example, can be pre-stretched in one or both linear dimensions to produce lids, by pressing a probe with a blunt end into the film to create a stretched region, or by other conventional means. Preferably, at least a portion of the lid protrudes outwardly such that upon germination, the elongating radicle (or other elongating tissue) preferentially enters and contacts the protruding portion and eventually either dislodges the lid or penetrates the protruding portion thereof. As discussed in detail below, pre-stretching Parafilm™ with a substantially rigid generally cylindrical probe with a blunt (e.g., rounded) end produces a protruding portion shaped like a dome, nipple, or finger. The protruding portion is therefore analogous to the bulge observed in the nucellar cap of a Douglas-fir gametophyte, for example, as it stretches upon germination prior to the emergence of the radicle. However, the protruding portion of the lid can be produced by any conventional method of shaping materials such as wax or polymer films, such as molding, embossing, etc., and need not be of any particular shape. The protruding portion of the lid causes the elongating radicle to preferentially enter and contact an area having an optimal burst strength. In at least some embodiments (e.g., with a pre-stretched Parafilm™ nipple), the lid curves around the root tip so that maximal force can be applied by the root. Moreover, the protruding portion allows the germinating embryo to become slightly larger before the radicle penetrates the lid (a) may result in tighter cotyledon contact with the surface of the cotyledon restraint; (b) facilitates better nutrient uptake (by equal and opposite reaction to the force of the root tip on the lid) for a longer period of time; (c) results in a longer radicle prior to bursting of the lid; (d) increases the dependency of the germinant on water in the soil rather than water in the seed; and (e) reduces pathogen entry into the seed until the germinant is larger. Parafilm™ lids that are pre-stretched to produce a nipple are associated with earlier germination (days to 50% germination) and higher normalcy rates. Even for materials that have a desirable burst strength without pre-stretching or weakening, it is nonetheless desirable to form or mold the lid to provide such a protruding portion to provide some or all of these advantages. The diameter (and depth) of the nipple in a pre-stretched lid can affect the germination rate and normalcy of plant germinants. For Douglas- fir and loblolly pine, for example, lids produced from Parafilm. TM. using probes between about 1.50 mm and less than about 3.35 mm, and especially between about 2.00 mm and about 2.90 mm, gave the best results. For other plant species, the optimal nipple size (diameter and depth) can be determined empirically as described in the Examples below. For example, preferably after determining the burst strength of the nucellar membrane or analogous structure of natural botanic seeds of a plant species, nipples can be produced to have the desired burst strength by probes having varying diameters. An antibiotic can be placed under the lid to prevent invasion by a bacterial or fungal pathogen or other pest. If the antibiotic is a beneficial microorganism, the microorganism can "inoculate" the primary root as it penetrates the lid during germination. Hydrated Gels A "gel" is a substance that is prepared as an aqueous colloidal solution and that will, or can be caused to, form a semisolid material. (As used herein, "hydrated" denotes the presence of free water interspersed throughout the matrix of gel molecules.) Conversion of a liquid gel solution into a semisolid material is termed herein "curing" or "setting" of the hydrated gel. In manufactured seeds according to the present invention, the hydrated gel, along with any other substances included therein, can serve as an "artificial gametophyte" for the totipotent plant tissue. As can be ascertained from the foregoing, "hydrated" denotes water- containing. Hydrated gels are prepared by first dissolving in water (where water serves as the solvent, or "continuous phase") a hydrophilic polymeric substance (serving as the solute, or "disperse phase") that, upon curing, combines with the continuous phase to form the semisolid material. In other words, the water becomes homogeneously associated with the solute molecules without experiencing any substantial separation of the continuous phase from the disperse phase. However, water molecules can be freely withdrawn from a cured hydrated gel, such as by evaporation or imbibition by germinating plant tissue. When cured, a hydrated gel has the familiar characteristic of a compliant solid, like a mass of gelatin, where the compliance becomes progressively less and the gel becomes more "solid" to the touch as the relative amount of water in the gel is decreased. In addition to being water-soluble, suitable gel solutes are not cytotoxic and substantially non-phytotoxic. As used herein, a "substantially non-phytotoxic" substance is a substance that does not interfere substantially with normal plant development, such as by killing a substantial number of plant cells, substantially altering cellular differentiation or maturation, causing mutations, disrupting a substantial number of cell membranes or substantially disrupting cellular metabolism, or substantially disrupting some other vital process. Candidate gel solutes include, but are not limited to, the following: sodium alginate, agar, agarose, amylose, pectin, dextran, gelatin, starch, amylopectin, modified celluloses such as methylcellulose and hydroxyethylcellulose, and polyacrylamide. Other hydrophilic gel solutes can also be used, so long as they possess similar hydration and gelation properties and lack of phytotoxicity. Also, it is important to be able to add, as required, other substances such as plant nutrients, antibiotics, plant growth regulators, or emulsified materials to a gel without substantially interfering with gelling ability. Hydrated gels are typically prepared by dissolving a gel solute, usually in fine particulate form, in water to form a gel solution. Depending upon the particular gel solute, heating is usually necessary, sometimes to boiling, before the gel solute will dissolve. Subsequent cooling will cause many gel solutions to reversibly "set" or "cure" (become gelled). Certain gels are termed "reversible" because reheating the cured hydrated gel will re-form the gel solution. Other gels typically require a "complexing" agent serving to chemically cure the gel by crosslinking gel solute molecules. For example, sodium alginate is cured by adding calcium nitrate (Ca(NO.sub.3).sub.2) or salts of other divalent ions such as, but not limited to, calcium, barium, lead, copper, strontium, cadmium, zinc, nickel, cobalt, magnesium, and iron to the gel solution. Many of the gel solutes requiring complexing agents are termed "irreversible" because reheating will not re-establish the gel solution. The concentration of gel solute required to prepare a satisfactory hydrated gel varies depending upon the particular gel solute. For example, a useful concentration of sodium alginate is within a range of about 0. 5% w/v to about 2.5% w/v, preferably about 0.9% w/v to 1.5% w/v. A useful concentration of agar is within a range of about 0. 8% w/v to about 2.5% w/v, preferably about 1.8% w/v. (As used herein, the "% w/v" concentration unit is equivalent to grams of solute per 100 ml of solvent. ) Gel concentrations up to about 24% w/v have been successfully employed for other gels. In general, gels cured by complexing require less gel solute to form a satisfactory gel than "reversible" gels. It is preferable to provide the totipotent plant tissue with any of various additives, e.g., plant nutrients and other beneficial substances such as vitamins and a source of carbon and energy (herein collectively termed generally "nutrients"), antibiotics, or plant growth regulators. See, e.g., the "adjuvants" listed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,376 (incorporated herein by reference). The additives can be provided by dissolving the gel solute in a solution of the additives or adding a volume of a concentrated solution (or suspension, etc.) of the additive to the gel solution before curing the gel. An additive also can be added to a gel by placing a cured hydrated gel, lacking the additive, in contact with an additive solution, upon which additive molecules pass into the hydrated gel as a result of the concentration gradient from the solution to the interior of the gel mass. Although the hydrated gel unit preferably contains nutrients dissolved therein, it is possible to dissolve the additive in a separate additive- containing unit in contact with the gel unit. For example, the hydrated- gel mass lacking the additive is placed in contact with a second mass of the same or a different type of hydrated gel containing the additive. As a result of a concentration gradient of the additive between the two hydrated gel masses, the additive will migrate from the additive- containing gel mass to the gel mass originally lacking the additive. Yet another way to provide a hydrated gel with an additive is to place a gel mass lacking the additive in contact with a hydrated gel mass comprising the additive in microencapsulated form or the additive associated with any substantially non-phytotoxic substance that will allow the additive dissolved or suspended therein to be bulk-transferred, e.g., via water convection, to the first gel mass. Representative substances include, but are not limited to, water, a second hydrated gel similar to the first hydrated gel, vermiculite, perlite, or any polymeric material that is non-phytotoxic and that can release the additive over time. A number of appropriate nutrient formulations exist in the art, including a number of proprietary formulations. For example, a popular medium is the "MS liquid" (Murashige and Skoog, Physiologia Plantarum 15:473-497 (1962)) containing the following dissolved in water: ______________________________________ NH.sub.4 NO.sub.3 1650 mg/L KNO.sub.3 1900 mg/L CaCl.sub.2.2H.sub.2 O 440 mg/L MgSO.sub.4.7H.sub.2 O 370 mg/L KH.sub.2 PO.sub.4 170 mg/L Na.sub.2 EDTA 37.25 mg/L FeSO.sub.4.7H.sub.2 O 27.85 mg/L MnSO.sub.4.4H.sub.2 O 22.3 mg/L ZnSO.sub.4.4H.sub.2 O 8.6 mg/L H.sub.3 BO.sub.3 6.2 mg/L KI 0.83 mg/L Na.sub.2 MoO.sub.4.2H.sub.2 O 0.25 mg/L CuSO.sub.4.5H.sub.2 O 0.025 mg/L CoCl.sub.2.6H.sub.2 O 0.025 mg/L Glycine 0.2 mg/100 cm.sup.3 Nicotinic Acid 0.05 mg/100 cm.sup.3 Pyridoxine.HCl 0.05 mg/100 cm.sup.3 Thiamine.HCl 0.01 mg/100 cm.sup.3 Kinetin 0.1 mg/L Myo-inositol 100 mg/L IAA 10 mg/L Sucrose 30000 mg/L pH 5.7-5.8 ______________________________________ (Note: "MS medium" also contains 1.0% w/v agar, Murashige and Skoog, id.) When adding a nutrient solution to a gel solution, the concentrations of both solutions should be high enough such that the resulting mixture of the two solutions has the proper concentrations of gel solute and nutrients. The nutrient solution can also include plant growth hormones and other compounds serving to further increase the probability of germinant survival. As used herein, a "nutrient liquid" is an aqueous solution of nutrients similar to the "MS liquid" formulation. A "nutrient agar" is similar to the "MS medium." Changes in types and amounts of certain ingredients can be made to meet the needs of specific types of plants without departing in any substantial manner from the purpose and utility of a nutrient liquid or nutrient medium. Since nutrient media, nutrient liquids, and any nutrient- containing hydrated gel is a rich growth medium for microorganisms and fungi, and other possible plant pathogens, it is important that all such liquids, as well as other additives and the totipotent plant tissue itself, be sterile before use. Totipotent plant tissue is kept sterile by culturing under sterile conditions. Liquids can be sterilized by any conventional means, e.g., autoclaving or microfiltration. Oxygenated Hydrated Gels To ensure that the totipotent plant tissue is provided with sufficient oxygen to undergo germination, a hydrated gel can be "oxygenated" to have a higher oxygen concentration than would otherwise be absorbed from the atmosphere. For example, the a non-phytotoxic oxygen- carrying or oxygen- absorbing substance can be added to the gel, or the gel can be oxygenated by other means, including subjecting the gel to a high-oxygen atmosphere under greater than atmospheric pressure. Oxygenation of a gel can be achieved by any of several representative methods, as disclosed extensively in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,236, 469 and 5,427,593 (both incorporated herein by reference) . The minimum oxygen concentration required for germination of a manufactured seed is preferably at least adequate to support sufficient growth and germination of the radicle (structure that eventually becomes the plant root) of a particular plant species. The minimum oxygen concentration can be determined by a simple germination experiment involving a series of otherwise identical manufactured seeds each of which having a stepwise different oxygen concentration from all other manufactured seeds in the series. Candidate oxygen carriers can be selected from the group consisting of perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and silicone oils. Representative perfluorocarbons include perfluorocycloalkanes, perfluoro(alkylcycloalkanes), perfluoro(alkylsaturated heterocyclics), and perfluoro(tert-amines). Use of these compounds in hydrated gels is disclosed extensively in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,236,469 and 5,427,593 (both incorporated herein by reference). PFCs and silicon oils are preferably present in the hydrated gel as an emulsion that is preferably stabilized by substantially non-phytotoxic surfactant. Representative surfactants include methyl oxirane polymers, egg albumin, and other substantially non- phytotoxic surfactants such as those for food or ingestible pharmaceutical use. Generally, the concentration of the perfluorocarbon in the hydrated gel is about 15% w/v or less, and the concentration of silicone oil is about 30% w/v or less, depending on the surfactant, microdroplet size in the emulsion, etc. Generally, the concentration of surfactant is about 10% w/v or less. Shoot Restraint A manufactured seed according to the present invention preferably is configured so as to prevent entrapment of the shoot (and/or of structures situated at the rear of the shoot) within the manufactured seed, particularly in the artificial gametophyte. Preferred restraints include, but are not limited to, any of various tube-like structures surrounding and is contacting the totipotent plant tissue, particularly all or part of the shoot end. The restraint, in turn, is disposed within the manufactured seed, e.g., in a cavity formed in the hydrated gel. The restraint permits transfer of water, nutrients, and oxygen from the gel to the totipotent plant tissue and, to such end, is preferably porous. The shoot end of the totipotent plant tissue is oriented toward a closed end of the tube and the radicle is oriented toward an open end. As the shoot elongates during germination, it impinges upon the closed end of the tube, which prevents entrapment of the shoot and urges the radicle to emerge from the open end of the porous tube. Generally, appropriate shoot restraint can be achieved via a number of ways including, but not limited to, the following: (1) Enclosing the totipotent plant tissue in a preformed cylinder that contacts, and preferably at least partially surrounds the plant tissue (particularly the shoot end). The cylinder is preferably encapsulated in a hydrated gel. The preformed cylinder is preferably porous and can be fabricated from suitable materials such as, but not limited to, glassy, metal, elastomeric, ceramic, clay, plaster, cement, starchy, putty-like, synthetic polymeric, natural polymeric, and adhesive materials. (2) Forming a cavity in a hydrated gel "capsule" and attaching a porous material to the walls of the cavity before inserting a unit of totipotent plant tissue into the cavity. Candidate porous materials include, but are not limited to, dialysis tubing, natural sausage casing material, paper, fabric, and collagen materials. (3) Forming a first cavity in a hydrated gel "capsule", filling the cavity with a conformable porous substance, then either forming a smaller- diameter second cavity in the porous substance coaxial with the first cavity before inserting a unit of totipotent plant tissue into the second cavity, or inserting the plant tissue directly into the porous substance in the first cavity. Alternatively, at least the shoot end of the plant tissue is dipped in the conformable porous substance before the plant tissue is inserted in the first cavity. Representative conformable porous materials include, but are not limited to, plaster of paris, cement, natural and synthetic polymers, tree resins, porous waxes, agar or alginate at a higher concentration than used for the gel capsule, and clays. (4) "Hardening" the hydrated gel itself, before or after forming a cavity therein, that is, making the gel stiffer or more rigid by increasing the concentration of the gel solute, "surface drying," or by adding a particulate material to the gel (e.g., sand, plaster of paris, pulp fibers, cement, and polymeric substances. (5) Inserting a sheet or piece of porous material between the plant tissue and the hydrated gel as the plant tissue is inserted into the gel. Candidate porous materials include, but are not limited to, paper, polymer-soaked paper, fabric, and polymer sheets. (6) Forming a cavity in the hydrated gel, then applying a conformable porous coating on the walls of the cavity. Candidate coating materials include, but are not limited to, dry powdery materials such as plaster of paris or cement that, when wetted by liquid from the gel, form a porous barrier. Alternatively, a web-forming material can be applied to the walls of the cavity, such as gelatin powder, sponge material, natural webbing, and foams. (7) Forming a gel capsule using a sufficiently concentrated gel solution to prevent a unit of totipotent plant tissue germinating therein from growing into and becoming entrapped in the gel. Antibiotics, Plant Growth Regulators A manufactured seed according to the present invention can also comprise one or more well known "antibiotics," i.e., agents known in the art that kill, prevent or inhibit the growth of, or repel pathogens, pests, and herbivores that are detrimental to the growth and development of the totipotent plant tissue including, but not limited to, bacteria, yeast, fungi, nematodes, insects, rodents, and birds. The antibiotic can be either a chemical compound or a beneficial organism that is effective in inhibiting the colonization of pathogens or that produces antibiotics. For example, a beneficial microbe (e.g., Mycostop™, Kemira Agro Oy, Helsinki, Finland) can be placed near the site of emergence of the primary root from the manufactured seed to colonize the root and preventing the root from becoming an area of entry for microbial pathogens in the soil. Microbes can also be added to enhance nutrient availability (e.g., nitrogen fixing bacteria or mycorrhizae) or otherwise to benefit the unit of totipotent plant tissue or the germinant developing therefrom. Antibiotics used in the practice of the present invention are compatible with growth and development of the totipotent plant tissue. For example, a number of antibiotic compounds have been tested and found to be effective for use with totipotent plant tissue of Douglas- fir as additives to the hydrated gel. These include (together with recommended dosages) the antimicrobial compounds benzylpenicillin (100 mg/L), vancomycin (100 mg/L), ticarcillin (100 mg/L), cefamandole (10 mg/L), gentamicin (10 mg/L), and rifampicin (15 mg/L); the antifungal compounds miconazole (1 mg/L), amphotericin (2.5 mg/L); and "combination" antibiotic/antimycotic agents such as "A 7292" (Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, Mo., containing 10 mg/ml streptomycin, 6.06 mg/ml penicillin, and 25 &mgr;g/ml amphotericin B). Other dosages of these compounds and other antibiotics known in the art, particularly those employed for treating botanic seeds, can be employed as well, whether alone or in combination. An antibiotic can be present in any part of the manufactured seed. For example, the antibiotic can be added directly to the synthetic gametophyte (hydrated gel) or be incorporated into or used to coat one or more layers of the seed coat. If the antibiotic is toxic to the totipotent plant tissue at high concentrations, the antibiotic can be restricted to the seed coat alone (or an outermost layer of a multi- layer seed coat), for example. Various plant-growth regulators, alone or in combination can also be added to the artificial gametophyte or one or more seed coats of the manufactured seed. Representative plant-growth regulators include auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins (e.g., GA.sub.3, GA.sub.4/7, etc.), or other plant-growth regulators known in the art. It is preferred that such plant- growth regulators be present in the artificial gametophyte. Long-Term Storage of Manufactured Seeds The components of manufactured seed, particularly the totipotent plant tissue but also the artificial gametophyte, can germinate or decompose, respectively, if stored for extended periods under ambient conditions. However, depending on the composition of the various components of the manufactured seeds, manufactured seed can be prepared for long-term storage, for example, (1) by storing the manufactured seed (or at least the totipotent plant tissue) in an environment containing a respiration- limiting gas and/or reduced oxygen concentration, preferably at reduced temperatures; or, alternatively, (2) by freezing and/or dehydration of the assembled seed or one or more of the components of the seed before assembly. These storage methods can be combined with each other and with other methods known in the art for preventing the germination of totipotent plant tissue while maintaining its viability until time for sowing. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5, 666,762 (incorporated herein by reference). For example, a manufactured seed can be prepared for long-term storage by the following process: (1) Prepare a manufactured seed coat and partially fill the seed coat with a synthetic gametophyte, thereby producing a manufactured seed "capsule" (lacking a unit of totipotent plant tissue). (2) Freeze the capsule, preferably to below about -3° C., more preferably to below about -10° C., by conventional freezing methods, e.g., using dry ice, liquid nitrogen, or an on-line freezer. (3) Place a unit of totipotent plant tissue in a shoot constraint. (4) Dehydrate the totipotent plant tissue and shoot restraint, preferably to a water content of less than about 10% or less. Conventional drying methods can be employed, e.g., use of a chemical desiccant such as Ca(NO.sub.3).sub.2 to create a drying environment in which the totipotent plant tissue is kept until dry. (5) Freeze the dehydrated totipotent plant tissue, preferably to below about -3° C., more preferably to below about -10° C. Conventional freezing methods can be used, preferably quick-freezing methods, e.g., using dry ice, liquid nitrogen, or an on-line freezer. (6) Finish assembly of the manufactured seed at a temperature sufficiently low to avoid rehydration of the totipotent plant tissue, preferably below about -3° C., more preferably below about -10. degree. C. (7) Store the assembled seed at a temperature at or below the normal freezing temperature of the plant tissue (i.e., at a temperature below which ice crystals normally form in the plant tissue), preferably 0. degree. C. or colder. Structural Embodiments of Manufactured Seeds Various possible embodiments of manufactured seeds within the scope of the present invention are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,236,469 and 5,701, 699 (both incorporated herein by reference). After preparing the gel liquid, preparing units of cured hydrated gel for use in making manufactured seeds can be done in a number of ways. Fluid transfer between the totipotent plant tissue and the hydrated gel can be accomplished, e.g., by direct contact or via an intervening water- permeable "bridge" such as filter paper. Preferably, the totipotent plant tissue is disposed in a preformed hole or cavity in a block of hydrated gel. The gel can be cured preformed into a preferred shape or can be formed as a larger cured mass and cut to size and shaped as desired before inserting the totipotent plant tissue. Preferred embodiments of a manufactured seed according to the present invention are shown in FIG. 1A (flat lid) and FIG. 1B (lid with nipple). The manufactured seed 250 comprises a seed coat 252 substantially surrounding a hydrated gel 258 that serves as an artificial gametophyte for the unit of totipotent plant tissue 266. The seed coat 252 provides physical protection for the interior of the manufactured seed 250 while allowing the germinant that develops from the plant tissue 266 to escape from the manufactured seed during germination. The seed coat 252 has an open end 254 and a closed end 256. The seed coat 252 can be constructed, for example, of a thin plastic material or a cellulosic material such as a portion of a common paper soda straw about 6.5 mm in diameter and 10-20 mm long that has been made water resistant by such means as dipping in a suitable liquid hot wax such as melted paraffin. A seed coat 252 made of cellulose or other biodegradable material is preferred so that nursery beds will not be cluttered with spent seed coats from previous crops, although it is preferred that the seed coat remain intact at least until emergence of the primary root. The closed end 256 can be created by the use of a suitable plug or barrier or preferably simply by crimping to form a somewhat dome- shaped or conical end. A seed coat 14 to 18 mm long length will hold about 0.8 ml of gel. A volume of gel from 0.5 to about 1.0 ml is usually very satisfactory. The hydrated gel 258 can be any of the types of gels discussed hereinabove, optionally comprising nutrients and oxygen carriers. A preferred gel 258 is agar-based because agar will gel (i.e., "set" or "cure") spontaneously by lowering the temperature. The hydrated gel 258 should be somewhat firm to prevent seepage of liquid from the gel into the cavity 262 containing the plant tissue. Flooding of the cavity 262 can cause low percentage of normal germinants. An agar concentration of about 1.8 g/L has proved to be very satisfactory. The size of the seed coat 252 can vary, depending upon the species of plant being propagated. The dimensions and gel capacities recited above are suitable for propagation of totipotent plant tissue of conifers and should not be considered limiting for this or other types of plants. The plant tissue 266 is contained within an inner tube 260 to provide, at least in part, sufficient shoot restraint. The inner tube 260 has an open end 263 and a closed end 264. The plant tissue 266 is situated within the manufactured seed 250 so as to orient the shoot end or cotyledons 268 toward the closed end 264 and the latent radicle 270 toward the open end 263. The tube 260 can be made of various materials that are not phytotoxic and that permit adequate access of the totipotent plant tissue 266 to moisture, gases, and nutrients necessary for germination. The materials are also preferably porous. Materials such as, but not limited to, filter paper, plaster of paris, ceramics, and reasonably rigid open- celled foams have all proved satisfactory. A tube made from filter paper or similar material can optionally contain small perforations. For somatic embryos of conifers, a tube length of 4 to 8 mm and an internal diameter of about 1.5 to 3 mm has proven very satisfactory. The internal diameter of the tube 260 should be sufficient to allow a somewhat enlarged shoot end 268 of the totipotent plant tissue to be in intimate contact with the walls of the tube 260. The tube 260 allows access of nutrients, gases, and liquids necessary for germination to the plant tissue. As stated above, the hydrated gel 258 should be firm enough to prevent excess liquid from seeping from the gel 258 into the cavity 262 occupied by the plant tissue 266. The seed coat 252 can be filled with the hydrated gel 258 by any of a number of means that will apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. A preferred method, especially for automated processes, is by use of an automatic pipette or syringe pump. Each seed coat 252 is filled to within a few millimeters of the open end 254 and the gel 258 allowed to set by cooling (if, e.g., agar is used) or by ion exchange (if sodium alginate is used). A coaxial internal cavity is formed in the hydrated gel 258 to accept the tube 260. The cavity can be molded in the gel as the gel cures or formed after the gel has cured. Forming the cavity after the gel cures can be performed in a number of ways. For example, a thin- walled cylindrical steel tube used as a punch has proved very suitable. The gel core left within the steel tube can be readily removed by application of vacuum. The cavity thus formed in the cured gel should have an internal diameter about equal to the outside diameter of the tube 260 so that intimate contact therebetween is maintained. The tube 260 can be inserted into the cavity by use of a mandrel. After forming or inserting the tube 260 in the cavity, the plant tissue 266 can be inserted into the tube 260 shoot-end first. Either before or after insertion of the plant tissue 266, the manufactured seed 250 can be oxygenated as described previously. A primary end seal 272 is applied over the gel surface and around the protruding open end 263 of the tube 260 before insertion of the plant tissue in the gel. However, the primary end seal 272 should not cover the open end 263 of the tube 260. This result can be readily achieved by inserting an appropriate mandrel in the end of tube 260 while the primary end seal 272 is being formed. It should be noted that a primary end seal is not necessary and may be omitted. Many materials are suitable for the primary end seal 272. Ordinary paraffin wax has proved very satisfactory. The primary end seal 272 is typically 2 to 4 mm thick but this is not in any way critical. A secondary end seal, or lid, 274 is applied so as to cover the open end 263 of the primary end seal 272. As shown in FIG. 1A, the lid 274 can be flat (either pre-stretched or unstretched). However, as shown in FIG. 1B, the lid preferably includes a nipple 275 that extends outwardly from the manufactured seed. The lid 274 is preferably very thin, most typically no more than about 1 mm thick. It can be made of the same material as the primary end seal 272. For example, one way to form the lid 274 is to heat the surface of the primary end seal 272 sufficiently to cause surface melting thereof and draw a small amount of the molten material to form a film across the open end 263. Preferably, however, the lid 274 is a gas- permeable, water- impermeable membrane such as pre-stretched Parafilm® , which can be sealed in place across the open end 263 by heat annealing or mechanical pressure. Stretching a material such as Parafilm™ to produce a lid 274 having a protruding portion, or nipple, 275 as shown will cause a thinning of the lid in the pre-stretched region relative to the unstretched portion of the lid. The protruding portion can have any shape or configuration and may be symmetrical or asymmetrical in shape. As with the seed coat 252, an antibiotic can optionally be added to or inside the primary and secondary end seals. The closed end 264 on the tube 260 has been found to be advantageous. The closed end 264 prevents the shoot end or cotyledons 268 growing inside the tube 260 from penetrating the tube and expanding into the gel 258. Expansion of the shoot end or cotyledons 268 into the gel 258 would result in entrapment in the gel, preventing the growing plant from escaping from the manufactured seed and/or causing germinant abnormalities. The growing shoot end is preferably only temporarily restrained within the tube 260. As it grows and elongates, the shoot end bears against the internal surfaces of the tube; this urges the shoot end out of the tube and, consequently, out of the hydrated gel, simulating the function of a natural seed. The germination sequence of a gymnosperm embryo from the embodiment of a manufactured seed 250 is as follows. After sowing, the manufactured seed 250 rests on or beneath the surface of soil or analogous plant- growth medium. At the onset of germination, before the germinating embryo bursts from the manufactured seed, nutrients (if any), oxygen and other gases, and water in the gel ("artificial gametophyte") pass from the gel 258 to the embryo. After the growing radicle burst open or penetrated the lid 274, atmospheric oxygen can enter the cavity 262 to provide oxygen to the embryo 266. After germination commences, the cotyledons also enlarge and elongate, whereupon they bear against the inside walls of the restraint, including the closed end thereof, further facilitating a "natural" germination, which prevents the cotyledons growing within from penetrating into the gel and becoming entrapped in the gel. Upon further growth, germinant has a longer root that may lift the capsule off the soil surface. The cotyledons assume a natural "bird cage" appearance as they further elongate out of the restraint. Finally, the germinant becomes fully upright and sheds the capsule in a manner analogous to the natural shedding of the remains of a botanic seed by a healthy germinant therefrom. The root continues to grow downward into the soil and the cotyledons spread apart. The germinant has excellent prospects for developing into a healthy plant. Definitions The following terms as used herein are defined as follows: "Somatic embryo" is a plant embryo that developed via the laboratory culturing of totipotent plant cells or by induced cleavage polyembryogeny. "Zygotic embryo" is a plant embryo removed from a seed of the corresponding plant. "Germinant" is a unit of totipotent plant tissue that has undergone sufficient growth and development to emerge from a seed coat, analogous to emergence from a natural botanic seed. "Radicle end" is that part of a unit of totipotent plant tissue that develops into the primary root of plant. "Shoot" or "shoot end" is that part of a unit of totipotent plant tissue that develops into the aerial portions of the plant and includes the cotyledon(s), epicotyl, and/or hypocotyl. "Cotyledon" refers generally to the first, first pair, or first whorl (depending on the plant type) of leaf-like structures on a plant embryo that function primarily to make food compounds in the seed available to the developing totipotent plant tissue but in some cases act as food storage or photosynthetic structures. "Hypocotyl" is that portion of a plant embryo or seedling located below the cotyledons but above the radicle. "Epicotyl" is that portion of the plant developed after germination from the stem apex. "Capsule" refers to a manufactured seed exclusive of the unit of totipotent plant tissue therein. "Hypocotyl length" pertains to the length of the hypocotyl at the time the hypocotyl was measured. "Hypocotyl germination" denotes the emergence of a shoot from the capsule, caused by elongation of the hypocotyl sufficiently to burst the capsule. This term does not take into consideration any length criteria or lack of hypocotyl malformations. "Partial germinants" are scored as any event from emergence of any part of the plant tissue from a manufactured seed, from penetration or dislodging of a lid by the radicle up to, but not including, the "full germinant" stage, which includes complete emergence of a germinant from a manufactured seed and complete shedding of the seed coat and shoot restraint. "Swollen hypocotyl" is an attribute of an abnormal germinant characterized by the hypocotyl or a portion thereof having a greater than normal diameter compared with hypocotyls on control bare "germinants" grown on the surface of a nutrient agar or similar nutrient medium. "Twisted hypocotyl" is an attribute of an abnormal germinant characterized by the hypocotyl having grooves spiraling longitudinally up or down the length of the hypocotyl. This defect is usually found only in germinants exhibiting swollen hypocotyls. "Swollen cotyledons" is an attribute of an abnormal germinant of a gymnosperm characterized by unusually large cotyledon(s) compared to cotyledons on control bare "germinants" grown on the surface of a nutrient agar or similar nutrient medium. "Twisted cotyledon" is an attribute of an abnormal germinant of a gymnosperm characterized by the cotyledon(s) having a spiraled or twisted appearance. "Radicle length" pertains to the length of the radicle at the time the radicle is measured. "Radicle germination" denotes the emergence or protrusive growth of the primary root from the capsule, caused by elongation of the radicle sufficient to burst the capsule. This term does not take into consideration any length criteria. "Growth through seed coat" occurs when a unit of totipotent plant tissue inside the manufactured seed coat undergoes elongation both of the radicle and the hypocotyl and bursts the seed coat at both ends. This is usually evidenced by the seed coat remaining for a period of time as a captive body around the hypocotyl. "Normalcy" denotes the presence of all parts (radicle, hypocotyl, cotyledon(s), epicotyl) of a germinant at time of evaluation. In the case of gymnosperms, a normal radicle has length greater than 3 mm and no visibly discernable malformations compared to the appearance of control bare "germinants" grown on the surface of nutrient agar or similar nutrient medium. The invention will be better understood by reference to the following Examples, which are intended to merely illustrate the best mode now known for practicing the invention. The scope of the invention is not to be considered limited thereto, however. EXAMPLES Example 1 Natural Seed Model for Manufactured Seed A baseline for natural seed vigor specifications is needed to better interpret the performance of manufactured seed. We sought to develop a natural seed model so that any point(s) in the process of germination of a manufactured seed can be quantitatively assessed. Therefore, we have created a quantitative and photographic baseline of hydrated and stratified seed germination kinetics and vigor during the first 5-7 weeks of development. Orchard seed of Douglas-fir were stratified for approximately 8 weeks prior to sowing, or simply hydrated for 24 hours. The design required 320 seed per treatment, so 400 seed per treatment were sown approximately 5 mm deep in a simulated nursery bed in a growth chamber that simulated air and seed zone soil temperatures in Mima, Wash., during a 42 day period. A grid was constructed to fit over the bed to allow seed position to be easily located. Areas around drip points were covered with a funnel, and these areas were not sown. Treatments were sown in alternate rows of stratified and hydrated-only treatments. Seeds were sown across a row (horizontally) at string cross points only and down a column (vertically) both at and in-between string cross points. Seeds were planted 25 positions deep in vertical columns in the bed. Among the notable features of the germinating seed was a pronounced stretching and bulging of the nucellar cap of the seed prior to emergence of the radicle. Example 2 Determining the Burst Strength of Natural Botanic Seed In these experiments we determined the force or pressure required for a penetrometer to break through the nucellus of a natural seed of Douglas- fir to simulate the radical of an embryo growing through the nucellar cap, an early occurrence in seed germination. Such data is useful for estimating the optimal burst strength of a lid for a manufactured seed containing totipotent plant tissue of Douglas-fir. For our measurements we used a mold 400 that includes a generally cylindrical holder 402 with a central hole 404 that is smaller than the diameter of a typical Douglas-fir gametophyte but large enough to receive the end of a Douglas-fir gametophyte, as shown in cross- section in FIG. 2. An intact Douglas-fir gametophyte 406 was placed in the holder such that the radicle end was vertically aligned with the central hole 404 in the holder. Paraffin wax 408 was pipetted around the gametophyte 406 until the gametophyte was partially covered, and the wax 408 was allowed to harden. The gametophyte 406 was then removed, thus producing a wax mold of the gametophyte. To test the burst strength of the nucellar cap of a Douglas-fir gametophyte, the top half of a gametophyte (corresponding to the shoot end of the embryo) was cut away, the embryo removed from the corrosion cavity of the gametophyte, and the remaining gametophyte half (corresponding to the radicle end of the embryo) mounted in the mold 400 with the nucellar cap oriented downward and centered in the central hole 404. The mold was then placed on a scale or balance. A cylindrical penetrometer probe with a blunt, rounded tip was aligned with the hole in the holder was lowered into the corrosion cavity of the gametophyte half by means of a stepper motor. The highest value noted on the scale was recorded as the force required to break through the nucellar cap of the gametophyte half. The results are shown in FIG. 3. Example 3 Comparison of Parafilm™ and Wax-Impregnated Kimwipe™ Lids In these experiments we compared the germination rate for manufactured seed having various lid designs. In earlier experiments, we produced lids by dipping circular pieces of a Kimwipe™ cellulosic tissue in melted paraffin wax, laying the dipped tissue circles on a Kimwipe™ tissue to drain away excess wax, and allowing the wax of the wax-impregnated Kimwipe™ lid to harden. We observed that a high proportion of such wax-impregnated Kimwipe™ lids either pop completely off or are lifted off by the hypocotyl, providing evidence that the forces generated by radical growth were not directed toward puncturing the Kimwipe™-based lid, but rather toward finding a way around the lid. Apparently, the radical cannot generate enough force to penetrate a Kimwipe™-based lid. Instead, upon contacting the lid, the radical turns and grows in a direction parallel to the lid. As a result, the lid "tents up" and the seal between the lid and the primary end seal (or cap) breaks. This study was conducted to determine whether a Parafilm™ lid would allow the same level of germination and normalcy as a Kimwipe™- based lid. The Parafilm™ lids were pre-stretched to produce a nipple portion, then attached close to the opening in the primary end seal to cause the radical to grow into the nipple, thereby facilitating puncturing of the lid by the radical. The force of root growth would then be directed against the lid, as it is against the nucellar membrane in natural botanic seed. It was believed that this would simulate the events in early seed germination better than a flat, non-stretchable lid and promote germination similar to natural botanic seed. Alternatively, it was considered possible that an attachment point towards the outer rim of the seed coat, far from the opening in the primary end seal, would facilitate more normal germination by allowing the radicle to exert forces on the lid directed toward popping off the lid, i.e., causing the lid to "tent up" and then break the bond between the primary and lids, as was observed with Kimwipe™-based lids (attachment close to the opening in the primary end seal is shown in FIG. 1B). Manufactured seed were prepared as follows. Seed coats were created by cutting paper drinking straws into 22-mm sections. One section was slid onto a mandrel inserted into a electric drill, and one end of the straw was closed to seal by pushing the mandrel into a hole in a stainless steel block while the mandrel was turning. The resulting seed coat was approximately 18 mm long. Seed coats were then steam sterilized (121. degree. C.). The paper in the seed coat was impregnated with wax by soaking the seed coats in a sterile molten wax bath containing paraffin and carnauba wax (9:1 by weight) with arasan (6% by weight; Thiram 50W Neutral, Gustafson, McKinney, Tex.) for approximately 30 sec. As the seed coats were removed, excess wax was drained and the coats were plunged into sterile cold water to quickly solidify the wax. The completed coats were then placed in a sterile dry Petri dish to dry in a laminar-flow hood until needed. A second, outer wax coat was provided by dipping the paper straw with the first wax coat, seal end down, into the molten wax- arasan mixture to coat the outside of the seed coat, then solidifying and drying the second coat as described. The shoot restraints were made from Seeleys Pearl White Porcelain slips (Seeleys, Oneonta, N.Y.). Artificial gametophyte medium (containing a perfluorocarbon emulsion and containing an elevated concentration of molecular oxygen compared to such medium lacking the emulsion) was prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,593 (incorporated herein by reference). The artificial gametophyte also contained 1 ml/L Sigma A 7292 (Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, Mo., combining 10 mg/mL streptomycin, 6.06 mg/mL penicillin, 25 . mu.g/mL amphotericin B, hereinafter, "antimicrobial cocktail") and 0.1 mg/L GA.sub.4/7 (a mixture containing, as tested, approximately equal parts of GA.sub.4 and GA.sub.7, Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Ill.). Hormone and antimicrobial additives were added directly to artificial gametophyte medium after autoclaving. Afterward, the medium was maintained at 44° C. to 50° C., a temperature is lower than normal (55° C.) due to the heat lability of the hormones and antibiotics used. For attachment of lids close to the opening in the primary end seal, the lids were attached to the wax primary end seal by heat bonding, specifically by pressing down against the lid with the flat surface of a scalpel blade that had been heated to approximately 75° C. All the lid material not located directly over the opening in the primary end seal was attached to the primary end seal in these treatments. Lids that were attached far from the opening in the primary end seal were also attached by heat bonding. Wax-impregnated Kimwipe™-based lids were produced by cutting circles of Kimwipe™ tissues, dipping the circles in hot paraffin wax, draining away excess wax by placing the circles on dry Kimwipe™ tissues, and permitting the wax to harden. Lids were made by cutting circles of Parafilm™ with a #2 cork borer. Parafilm™ lids were sterilized by soaking in 50% Clorox™ bleach+ two drops Tween- 80™ per 500 mL for one-half hour, followed by four rinses with sterile water. A straight (or standard) mold 420 for pre-stretching Parafilm™ lids is shown in FIGS. 4A-C. The mold 420 is generally cylindrical in shape and includes a top end 422 and bottom end 424. A cylindrical hole 426 for probe penetration extends along the central axis of the mold at least part way from the top end 422 toward the bottom end 424. A groove 428 for an O-ring 452 is provided in the top end 422 of the mold. A bevelled mold 440 for pre-stretching Parafilm™ lids is shown in FIG. 4D. The bevelled mold is similar to the straight mold of FIG. 4A except that a 45. degree. bevel 442 is present at the top end of the central hole 426. The central hole 426 has a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the penetrometer probe used with the mold. Different molds were used with Teflon™-coated penetrometer probes of different diameters. The following terminology is used: a "straight" lid is produced using a straight mold and a "bevelled" lid using a bevelled mold. A "standard lid" is made using a "standard" sized "straight" mold and is "unfilled". The use of the mold 420 to pre-stretch a Parafilm™ lid is shown in FIGS. 5A-B. The mold 420 is placed on a scale or balance. A Parafilm™ circle 450 was placed on the top end 422 of the mold. O- ring 452 was lowered into the groove 428 to hold the Parafilm™ circle 450 in place. A penetrometer probe 454 was then pressed downward into the hole 426, thereby stretching the Parafilm™ circle 450 and creating a lid 274 with a flat upper portion 276 and a "nipple" 275 (with a dome-, nipple-, or finger-like appearance, depending upon the depth of penetration of the probe) (FIGS. 5C and 5D). The interior of the nipple 278 has a cross- sectional diameter that can be about the same as or slightly larger than the diameter of the probe 454, although the interior diameter and depth of the nipple can decrease somewhat due to relaxation or partial collapse of the stretched Parafilm™ or collapsing of the nipples. The upper portion 276 of the lid can be trimmed to size, if desired. For "standard" lids, a 0.062-in diameter (1.57 mm) penetrometer probe was employed, with a depth of penetration of approximately 0.107 in (2.72 mm) (average of three replicates). For the "larger" lids, a 0. 080- in diameter (2.03 mm) penetrometer probe was used, with the depth of penetration being approximately 0.140 in (3.56 mm). To produce a "filled" lid, 2-3 &mgr;L agar medium including a PFC was introduced into the nipple produced by pre-stretching a Parafilm™ lid and allowed to harden. As shown in FIG. 6, the percentage of full germinants was higher for manufactured seed having lids that were made using the 0.080- in probe ("larger straight lid" in FIG. 6) than the 0.062-in probe ("standard straight lid" in FIG. 6). Example 4 Effect of Point of Attachment of Lids on Germination Frequency of Manufactured Seed Containing Douqlas-Fir Zygotic Embryos Manufactured seed were prepared as described above (Example 3). All manufactured seed were sown in sterile sand and incubated in the lab at room temperature for four weeks. We tested manufactured seed having the following six treatments: (1) No lid. (2) Kimwipe™-based lid. (3) Parafilm™ lid (not pre-stretched) attached near the outer edge of the top surface of the primary end seal (farthest from the opening in the primary end seal). (4) Parafilm™ lid (not pre-stretched) attached to the top surface of the primary end seal close to the opening therein. (5) Pre-stretched Parafilm™ lid attached near the outer edge of the top surface of the primary end seal. (6) Pre-stretched Parafilm™ lid attached to the top surface of the primary end seal close to the opening therein. The experimental design was based on a randomized complete block. Thirty seed were tested for each treatment, with five seed per treatment per block. One extra repetition was sown in non-sterile soil and placed in a growth chamber. The dependent variables were normal germination and radical and hypocotyl lengths. The germination tray was a blocking factor. The results are shown in Tables 1-3. In the arcsine-transformed data, treatments 1 and 2 produced significantly more normal germinants than all other treatments in this study (&rgr;=0.0001. This difference was also observed in the non-transformed data. No significant differences were detected in radical length, but differences in hypocotyl length were found between treatments. Treatment 4 produced significantly shorter hypocotyls than all treatments except Treatment 3. Differences were not detected in primary end seal thickness at . alpha. =0.05, but at &agr;=0.06 such differences would have been detected. Blocks 1 and 2 appear to have slightly thinner primary end seals than the other blocks, but this difference was not significant between all blocks. It is apparent that a Kimwipe™-based lid, which is easily dislodged, is beneficial compared to normal germination in sterile sand. However, a Kimwipe™-based lid has not performed well in small tests in non- sterile soil, perhaps because the seal around the opening in the primary end seal is insufficient to prevent microbial contamination. The unstretched Parafilm™ lid failed to allow the same level of germination as the Kimwipe™-based lid, possibly of the different sealing methods used. Kimwipe™-based lids were attached without heat by pressing the lid against the primary end seal. They readily stuck to the wax primary end seal. Parafilme lids were attached with heat. The heat seal may have been more difficult to break than the cold seal, resulting in fewer normal germinants. TABLE 1 ______________________________________ Effect of Treatment on Normalcy and Germination (%) Treatment 1 2 3 4 5 6 ______________________________________ Normalcy (%) 76.67 63.33 16.67 3.33 20.00 30.00 Full germ. (%) 83.33 63.33 16.67 6.67 20.00 30.00 Partial germ. (%) 10.00 13.33 36.67 20.00 53.33 40.00 No germ. (%) 3.33 23.33 36.67 73.33 20.00 23.33 ______________________________________ TABLE 2 ______________________________________ Effect of Treatment on Percent of Germinants with Radical and Hypocotyl Growth Outside the Manufactured Seed Treatment 1 2 3 4 5 6 ______________________________________ Radical growth 93.33 96.67 66.67 63.33 76.67 90.00 Hypocotyl growth 96.67 96.67 60.00 50.00 86.67 93.33 ______________________________________ TABLE 3 ______________________________________ Effect of Treatment on Percent of Embryos that Opened Lid and Manner of Opening of Lid by Embryo Treatment 1 2 3 4 5 6 ______________________________________ Grew through lid N/A 3.33 13.33 26.67 83.33 93.33 Pried off lid N/A 66.67 50.00 33.33 3.33 0.00 Lid did not open N/A 30.00 33.33 40.00 13.33 6.67 ______________________________________ Pre-stretched Parafilm™ lids performed better than unstretched Parafilm™ lids, with higher radical and hypocotyl growth, germination, and normalcy. The number of embryos that grew through the lid was much higher in the pre-stretched lid treatments than in any other treatments. These results support our hypothesis regarding the mechanism for radical penetration and indicate that the channeling of the root into the nipple resulting from pre-stretching facilitates penetration of the lid. Even though the germination and normalcy rates were low in the pre-stretched lid treatments, the number of germinants that penetrated the lid (similar to penetration of the nucellus of a natural botanic seed) was high. It also appears that attachment of the lids close to the opening in the primary end seal was beneficial for pre-stretched lids but did not matter for unstretched lids. Although normal germination was similar for both attachment points with pre-stretched lids, radical growth was about 14% greater and hypocotyl growth about 7% greater when the pre- stretched lids were attached close to the opening in the primary end seal. Pre-stretched lids promoted more normal germination. Root and hypocotyl growth and emergence from seed with pre-stretched lids was as high as manufactured seed that lacked lids or that had wax-impregnated Kimwipe™ lids. With pre-stretched lids, embryos germinated in a fashion similar to natural seed- When the radicle of the germinant punctures the lid, a seal is created around the radicle extending outside the manufactured seed coat, which may prevent microbes from entering the seed and competing with the embryo for nutrients. Example 5 Effect of Nipple Size on Germination and Normalcy of Manufactured Seed Containing Douglas-Fir and Loblolly Pine Zygotic Embryos In these experiments, pre-stretched Parafilm™ lids were created with probes of different diameters to test the effect of the size of the nipple on germination and normalcy of germinants from manufactured seed containing Douglas-fir or loblolly pine zygotic embryos. Manufactured seed were prepared essentially as described above (Example 3). Lids were made using strips of Parafilm™ M laboratory film (American National Can, Greenwich, Conn.) that were cut to 4 in . times.5/8 in (101.6 mm ×15.88 mm) that were pre-stretched using penetrometer probes having diameters of 0.06 in (1.52 mm), 0.08 in (2.03 mm), 0.10 in (2.54 mm), 0.115 in (2.92 mm), and 0.132 in (3.35 mm). The mold was placed on a balance and, for each probe, the penetrometer stopper point was selected as the point at which the balance read about 190 grams. It was observed that the larger the probe diameter, the farther the Parafilm™ could be stretched. The probe was raised five seconds after being lowered to the stopper point. After pre-stretching, the lids were cut from the strip using a 6 mm Acu-punch™ (Accuderm, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). Lids were attached close to the opening in the primary end seal (see Example 4). Non-stretched (flat) Parafilm™ lids were included for the sake of comparison. All manufactured seed were sown in sterile sand and incubated in the lab at room temperature. The diameter of pre-stretched lids had a significant impact on germination rate and normalcy. For Douglas-fir, on average, pre- stretched lids were better than flat lids. Lids pre-stretched with 0.08 in and 0.10 in probes produced the best results in terms of germination rate (days to 50% germination, a standard measure of germination vigor) and normalcy at 38 days after sowing (Table 4; FIGS. 7 and 8). Lids pre- stretched with 0.08-in, 0.10-in, and 0.115-in probes produced the best results in terms of total germination and speed of germination (FIGS. 9 and 10). However, lids pre-stretched with 0.062-in and 0.132-in probes did not differ significantly in performance from flat lids. TABLE 4 ______________________________________ Effect of Treatment on Normalcy and Speed of Germination Treatment Normalcy (%) Days to 50% Germination ______________________________________ Flat 56.7.sup.C 17 0.06" 56.7.sup.C 17 0.08" 78.3.sup.A 13 0.10" 74.6.sup.A,B 13 0.115" 71.7.sup.A,B,C 14 0.132" 60.0.sup.B,C 17 ______________________________________ Note to Table 4: Different letter in superscript denotes significant difference (&agr; = 0.05). The results were even more dramatic with manufactured seed that included loblolly pine zygotic embryos. For loblolly pine, 0.08-in and 0. 10-in probes produced lids that resulted in earlier germination (FIG. 11) and higher normalcy (Table 5). It is possible that if the diameter of the nipple is too large, the radicle can curve back on itself instead of penetrating the lid, reducing the efficacy of the nipple. TABLE 5 ______________________________________ Effect of Nipple Diameter on Normalcy of Loblolly Pine Germinants Probe Diameter % Normalcy* ______________________________________ Flat 25.0 .08" 55.0 .10" 61.7 .115" 60.4 ______________________________________ Note to Table 5: Normalcy figure for each of the prestretched lids was different to a statistically significant degree from the flat lid, but no to other prestretched lids. In other experiments, it was demonstrated that water loss from manufactured seed was very slow with both unstretched and pre-stretched Parafilm™ lids at low (20%) relative humidity. Having illustrated and described the principles of the invention in multiple embodiments and examples, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. We claim all modifications coming within the spirit and scope of the following claims.
The Marist College PA program seeks a Simulation Specialist to provide support to the School of Science’s educational programming in the simulation suite. Duties include regularly meeting with the program director to develop, plan and implement activities and exams in the simulation suite (e.g., Objective Structured Clinical Exam labs, manikin interactions, and didactic labs). In addition, the Simulation Specialist oversees and manages all equipment and supplies associated with the labs, as well as facilitating the scheduling, training, and assessment of standardized patients. The Simulation Specialist will work with faculty to develop exam flow and oversee skills lab preparation, setup and tear down. They will also support campus activities such as simulation suite viewing during campus tours, Open House, and Homecoming as well as provide backup support in maintaining the anatomy lab. This is a full-time, 12-month position that will report to the Program Director and will work closely with students and program faculty and staff. Minimum Qualifications: - Bachelor’s degree - Knowledge of digital audio/visual technology - Knowledge of Windows operating systems, wired and wireless networks, and databases - Strong interpersonal skills including good oral and written communication abilities Preferred Qualifications: - Knowledge of or strong ability to learn patient simulation education, technologies, and application. - Video processing and editing experience Essential Functions: - Assist and support PA faculty in daily programmatic operations - Develop exam flow and scheduling with respective course directors - Meet the daily needs to deliver educational programming in the labs - Schedule, document, communication record keeping, data management and reporting - Management of simulation suite (exam rooms, trauma suite) technical design and support for all simulation operations, including - Skills lab preparation, setup, tear down - Maintain labs and equipment in a state of readiness - Supplies & budget issues - Coordination with various campus programs (e.g., Athletic training, Media Arts, Physical Therapy, etc. - Coordinate and support technology needs of the various allied health programs - Training, maintenance, troubleshooting/repair of computerized manikins - Manage integration of related multimedia peripherals - Maintain data security and confidentiality in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local guidelines - Develop, organize and implement standardized patient (SPs) program - Facilitate scheduling, teaching and assessing of standardized patients (SPs) - Monitor SP in real time and provide immediate feedback as appropriate - Review videos of SP/student encounters and provide feedback to SP as appropriate - Maintain SP database - Other duties as assigned. - Coordination with external parties (e.g., vendors, advisory board, healthcare providers) - Support campus activities (e.g., PA space tours, Open house, Homecoming, etc.) - Provide back up support in maintaining anatomy lab Preferred Qualifications: Doctoral degree in an area pertinent to PA education.	https://www.paboard.com/jobs/simulation-specialist/
Computers often are programmed to automate or semi-automate a task that traditionally has been performed by one or more persons. Such tasks may include filling out an electronic form, installing an application, electronic registration, defining objects, shopping on-line, on-line banking, preparing tax forms, and the like. Such automation or semi-automation typically provides the benefit of saving time and cost in performing the task, particularly if the task is to be performed repetitively, and often increases the accuracy in performing the task. These benefits may increase as the complexity of the task being performed increases, e.g., as the number of actions to be performed to complete the task increases. As used herein, a “task action” is an action performed in the process of performing a task. For example, to perform the task of installing software on a computer, entering a registration number may be a task action. An application configured to perform a task in a semi-automated fashion typically requires user input such as the selection or entering of information. For example, several applications exist for performing the task of installing an application on a computer or preparing tax forms for the government. Although programming a computer to perform a task has several benefits, as the complexity of the task increases, entering the information for the task may grow more confusing to the user, possibly to the point of overwhelming the user. For example, an application to perform a relatively complicated task may be presented in a single continuous form on a computer screen. This form may require the user to scroll down through several pages, each page including several fields for which information must be selected or entered by the user. Such a form may provide no guidance or minimal guidance to the user as to which fields are related to one another, or in what order information should be entered for the fields. Thus, such an application may provide no navigational assistance to the user for performing the task beyond presenting the fields for which information must be entered or selected. This lack of guidance and/or navigational assistance makes performing tasks, particularly complex tasks, difficult for a user. Accordingly, to make performing such tasks easier, wizards often are employed. As used herein, a “wizard” is a computer-implemented application that assists a user in performing a task by dividing the task into a plurality of sub-tasks, each sub-task including one or more task actions, and assisting the user in navigating through the sub-tasks on a computer. It should be appreciated that each sub-task may include one or more sub-tasks, which each may include one or more sub-tasks, etc. As used herein, “plurality” means two or more. Wizards are ubiquitous in the computer and software industry. Wizards may be stand-alone applications, for example, an application installation program, or may be embedded within or invoked from within other applications. For example, Microsoft Word includes a letter wizard to assist a user in writing a letter. A wizard typically assists a user in navigating through the sub-tasks of the task by visually presenting each sub-task to the user one after another, for example, in an area of a graphical user interface (GUI). As used herein, the term “serially” means one after another (i.e., not concurrently), such that serially presenting sub-tasks means presenting sub-tasks one after another. As used herein, a “graphical user interface” or “GUI” is a user interface on which information is displayed graphically. As used herein, a “display panel” or “panel” of a GUI is an area within a GUI. A panel may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, a window or a menu. A user can enter or select information for the one or more task actions of a sub-task displayed in a panel. It should be appreciated that entering information in a panel may include a user actually entering (e.g., typing) information and may include a user selecting information (e.g., selecting from among enumerated values, selecting a radio button, selecting or not selecting a check box). A panel may enable a user to enter information for a task action, for example, by enabling the user to enter information into a displayed field or by enabling the user to select from a list of information (e.g., by clicking a mouse on a certain location within the panel or within a menu generated by the panel). A “list” of items may include one or more of such items. Typically, the one or more task actions of a sub-task are related in some way. For example, for a wizard for writing a letter, a first sub-task may include one or more task actions for entering sender information (e.g., a task action for entering the name of the sender and a task action for entering the title of the sender), and a second sub-task may include one or more task actions for entering information about the recipient (e.g., a task action for entering the name of the recipient and a task action for entering the address of the recipient). Serially presenting sub-tasks of a task to a user on a computer display has several advantages. One advantage is that serial presentation may improve physical navigation through a task. For example, if the task is a relatively large task (i.e., involving many sub-tasks, and/or requiring the presentation and/or entering of significant amounts of information, for example, for task actions of a sub-task), presenting the entire task to the user on a computer screen concurrently or presenting the entire task on a single, continuous form that may span more than one computer screen (i.e., require scrolling) may be confusing to the user and difficult to physically navigate. Serially presenting sub-tasks included in the task may alleviate this problem. Another advantage is that such serial presentation may improve cognitive navigation by the user, by dividing the task into two or more sub-tasks that each include one or more related task actions. Such a division may improve a user's understanding of each serially presented sub-task, thereby making the entering of information of the sub-task more intuitive for the user. Yet another advantage is that for each serially presented sub-task, the validity of the information that has been entered for the sub-task may be verified before proceeding to a next sub-task. For example, a wizard for purchasing an item through a web page (e.g., www.amazon.com) may include a panel for the sub-task of entering credit card information. The information entered in this panel may be validated before continuing to a next panel. Without such capability, a user may spend significant time entering information for a plurality of sub-tasks, only to find out at the end of the task that the information entered for a sub-task near the beginning of the task is invalid, such that entering information for all of the other sub-tasks was a waste of time. Further, if the information entered for all of the sub-tasks is not validated until the end of the task, a user may have to wait a significant amount of time for the information to be validated. In response, the user may lose patience and terminate the task or take other action harmful to the proper completion of the task (e.g., hit keys randomly or click a mouse randomly). Another advantage of serially presenting sub-tasks to a user is that the user has a chance to review and confirm the information (e.g., by clicking on a button labeled ‘OK’ or ‘NEXT’) that he or she entered for a given sub-task before advancing to a next sub-task. Reviewing and confirming the information entered for each sub-task individually typically is desirable over reviewing and confirming all of the information entered for an entire task together. Reviewing and confirming information for each sub-task individually reduces the likelihood of a user inadvertently skipping information, or losing track of his/her location within the information, or intentionally skipping information as a result of losing patience or focus due to the tediousness of reviewing all of the entered information together. There are a variety of types of wizards. One type of wizard is a linear wizard, which serially presents sub-tasks to a user in a predefined order, where the sub-tasks must be performed in the order of presentation. Installation wizards often are linear wizards. A linear wizard may be unidirectional in that the wizard does not allow the user to access a previously performed sub-task by proceeding through previously performed sub-tasks in the reverse order in which the sub-tasks were serially presented and performed. Consequently, a user must restart the wizard if the user wants to change any information entered for a sub-task. Alternatively, a linear wizard may be bi-directional in that the wizard enables the user to access a sub-task by proceeding through the sub-tasks in a reverse order in which the sub-tasks were presented. For example, such bi-directional linear wizard may provide a control button labeled “Back” to the user that enables the user to proceed back through preceding sub-tasks. Thus, the user may change information previously entered for a sub-task without restarting the wizard. Some linear wizards display a sub-task list while serially presenting the sub-tasks to the user. Such a sub-task list may include a visual indication (e.g., a name or brief description) of each of the plurality of sub-tasks that are serially presented to the user. Typically, the visual indications of the sub-tasks are listed in an order in which the sub-tasks are to be serially presented and performed, thus indicating the order to the user. Some of such wizards may emphasize (e.g., highlight, underline or embolden) the visual indication in the sub-task list that represents the sub-task currently presented, e.g., in a panel, to the user. An example of a linear wizard is InstallAnywhere available from Zero G Software, Inc. of San Francisco, Calif. A linear wizard may be more desirable than a non-linear wizard (described below) for assisting a user in navigating through a task. For example, if the task includes a plurality of sub-tasks that must be performed in a specific order or for which it is preferred that the steps are performed in a specific order, then a linear wizard may be preferred over a non-linear wizard. Another situation in which a linear wizard may be preferred is if the user performing the task (with the assistance of the wizard) is relatively inexperienced in performing the sub-task. In such a case, it may be desirable to use a linear wizard rather than a non-linear wizard because a linear wizard typically provides more navigational assistance for the user than does a non-linear wizard. Another type of wizard is a non-linear wizard, which enables a user to control the order in which sub-tasks of a task are performed. A non-linear wizard may include a sub-task list of visual indications of sub-tasks, and enable the user to select the next sub-task to be performed by selecting the visual indication representing the sub-task from the sub-task list. Each visual indication in a sub-task list may be a hyper-link that enables the user to invoke an abstraction (e.g., a document, and object, an application) defined to implement the sub-task represented by the visual indication. Examples of non-linear wizards include the wizards provided to navigate TurboTax and Quicken, respectively, which are available from Intuit, Inc., and the letter wizard of Microsoft Word available from Microsoft Corporation. Under some circumstances, a non-linear wizard may be more desirable than a linear wizard for assisting a user in navigating through a task. For example, if the task includes a plurality of sub-tasks that may be performed in different orders, then a non-linear wizard may be preferred over a linear wizard. Another situation in which a non-linear wizard may be preferred is if the user performing the task is relatively experienced in performing the sub-task. In such a case, it may be desirable to use a non-linear wizard rather than a linear wizard because a non-linear wizard typically provides less navigational assistance and more flexibility to the user than does a linear wizard. The experienced user may have more knowledge about the task, and thus want to proceed through the sub-tasks in an order other than an order dictated by the wizard. Further, a wizard may provide default values for one or more sub-tasks, for example, values for one or more task actions of a sub-task. A relatively inexperienced user (i.e., a novice) may still want to be directed through sub-tasks for which default values are defined, so that the novice user can learn or confirm the default values. In contrast, an experienced user may wish to skip sub-tasks for which default values are defined because the experienced user knows the default values and does not wish to change them.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide informational testimony on H.B. 7319, which would make local and regional school districts with average daily memberships of less than 15,000 students, fiscally independent. Although a somewhat controversial topic and challenging conversation, I sincerely appreciate the willingness of Committee members to discuss this bill and have a constructive and honest dialogue about fiscally independent school districts. In reading media coverage and op-eds about this bill, along with reviewing some of the testimony that has been submitted, there appears to be a great deal of misinformation about what fiscally independent school districts are and how they function. In an effort to help correct some of this misinformation and provide the Committee with nonpartisan, factual information as it considers this bill, my testimony today focuses solely on what fiscally independent school districts are and how they are utilized in the vast majority of states, including — already — Connecticut. Fiscally independent school districts are a form of a special purpose government, meaning they have substantial autonomy to fix and collect charges and to issue debt for the provision of educational services. Fiscally independent school districts most often levy and collect property taxes separately from townships and municipalities. Additionally, fiscally independent school districts are most commonly overseen by a board, such as a board of education, or similar governance structure, elected by voters from the area that the school district encompasses and serves. The elected board is then responsible for setting the budget for the school district and establishing the tax rate for educational services. Currently, 30 states have entirely fiscally independent school districts, while 16 states have some fiscally dependent and some fiscally independent school districts, and eight states have state dependent school districts. In states with fiscally independent school districts, taxpayers receive a bill from their town tax assessor’s office — similar to Connecticut — but the tax bill includes separate tax rates: one for the school district and one for the town. However, there are not two duplicative assessment and tax collection offices — both the town and school district utilize the same office. No additional office or level of municipal bureaucracy is created by a school district becoming fiscally independent. Additionally, fiscally independent school districts can bring a degree of greater transparency and accountability because taxpayers know the proportion of property taxes directed toward the support of local public schools and the proportion directed toward municipal services, such as police, fire, and waste removal. While the vast majority of Connecticut’s school districts are currently fiscally dependent on municipalities, meaning the district operates as a function of the municipal government that levies taxes to support its operations, Connecticut does already have some fiscally independent school districts. Even though they do not levy taxes, Connecticut’s regional school districts are considered fiscally independent because they operate and set their budgets independently from a municipal government and are authorized to issue bonds with voter approval. However, it is important to note that fiscally independent school districts have NOTHING to do with school district regionalization and/or the consolidation of districts or schools. A school district does not have to be regionalized or consolidated with another school district in order to be fiscally independent nor does fiscal independence lead to regionalization or consolidation. Finally, more information about fiscally independent school districts, as well as a chart with details about the types of school districts in each state, can be found on the one-pager attached to my testimony, which is also available online at www.ctschoolfinance.org/assets/uploads/files/Fiscally-Independent-School-Districts-FAQ.pdf. Thank you again for allowing me the opportunity to provide informational testimony on H.B. 7319 and fiscally independent school districts. I sincerely appreciate the Committee’s time and discussion of this issue, and I am happy to answer any questions you may have at this time.	http://ctschoolfinance.org/news/2019/katie-roy-testifies-in-front-of-planning-and-development-committee-on-fiscally-independent-school-districts-h-b-7319
PORTLAND, MAINE — Some of the classic lines that define Maine humor emerged 50 years ago on a record made by two Yale University students in a dormitory room. Uttered in exaggerated Down East accents, the exchanges between Marshall Dodge and Robert Bryan on the Bert and I album inspired generations of storytellers both in-state and beyond, including the likes of Garrison Keillor of Lake Wobegone fame. Some of Dodge and Bryan's bone-dry punch lines remain familiar even today. Summer tourist to Mainer: "Which way to Millinocket?" After considering and then rejecting a few possible routes, the native concludes, "Come to think of it, you can't get there from here." Then there's the day 85-year-old Arnold Bunker "from Bailey Island way" appears in court. Asked if he'd lived there all his life, he replies: "Not yet." CD features 34 stories Maine's Islandport Press has marked the 50th anniversary of Bert and I by distributing a CD that features 34 stories compiled from Dodge and Bryan's four albums, a concert appearance by Dodge, and a public television special. They include a mix of one-liners and drawn-out stories in which the buildup can be as memorable as the punch line. Islandport owner Dean Lunt said the humorists represent an important piece of Maine's cultural history. "Their genius was in taking existing stories, some of which were often off-color, and popularizing them and bringing them before a mass audience," Lunt said. Bert and I were two fishermen aboard the ill-fated Bluebird, out of Kennebunkport, which sinks after being sliced in two in the fog by the steamer Bangor Packet. As the first cut on the first album, the tale set the tone for what would come. Though neither was from Maine, Dodge and Bryan were familiar with the state and its people and had a keen ear for dialect, along with a knack for low-tech sound effects. Their first recording, made in their dorm room at Yale University, featured a wastebasket as an echo chamber. They made 50 copies for friends and family members, then pressed 50 more. Later in 1958 they made an expanded 12-inch version that grew in popularity across New England and eventually nationwide. Over the past half-century, according to Bryan, it sold about 1 million copies. The album, with a minimalist white-and-black cover, remains available to this day. Tales with no profanityAs one tale goes, Camden Pierce , who had never traveled outside Maine, wins a radio contest that earns him a two-week trip to New York. When he returns home amid much hoopla and is asked about his visit, he says, "There was so much going on at the depot, I never got to see the village." Then there's the one about the lobsterman's portly mother-in-law who falls overboard from his boat in rough seas. Weeks later, he hauls up an unusually heavy trap and finds her body draped across it with dozens of lobsters attached. As he and his sternman ponder what do with the remains, he says that with the catch being down these days, they might as well "peg those lobsters and set 'er again." Magician Penn Jillette of the comedy duo Penn and Teller recently included Bert and I on his list of the top 12 comedy albums of all time, placing it with the likes of those by George Carlin, Lenny Bruce and the Smothers Brothers. Unlike some of the other favorites, Bert and I has no profanity. Keillor, the storyteller, humorist and host of A Prairie Home Companion, remembered playing cuts from the Bert and I albums decades ago during his stints as a morning disc jockey. "Marshall Dodge came and performed on A Prairie Home Companion back in its early days, wearing a slicker and rain hat, and he was the sweetest man and also a big hit," Keillor said. 'Enduring message'The Bert and I stories, which often juxtapose the glib city slicker and the laconic Mainer, help to puncture pomposity, albeit in a gentle manner, said Tim Sample , a Maine humorist who was 7 when the album came out. He later worked with Dodge before his death in 1982 in a hit-and-run crash while bicycling in Hawaii. "The enduring message is, 'Don't come into this rural state with an attitude, thinking you can push the local people around.' You have to show a little bit of respect," Sample said. Bryan, a divinity student who went on to be ordained as an Episcopal priest, remains active at age 77 with the Quebec Labrador Foundation, a nonprofit he founded nearly 50 years ago. A bush pilot, he still flies into fishing villages as part of his work. Bryan will join Sample, fellow Maine humorists John McDonald and Kendall Morse, and Dodge's brother Fred on Dec. 13 at a free concert at the L.L. Bean retail store in Freeport that will include classic Bert and I stories and a discussion about the album's influence. "It's difficult for me to believe it has carried on 50 years," Bryan said. "On the other hand I realize that the stories that are on the record are timeless and many of them have been told for ages. And we picked up on that, and added, and just went with it."	https://www.chron.com/news/nation-world/article/Album-s-jokes-are-still-fresh-at-50-1753227.php
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