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, a small instrument that allows the orthopaedic surgeon to clearly see inside the shoulder joint and view the labrum, its environment, and any injuries that may have occurred. The arthroscope, in conjunction with anatomic dissections, history, physical examination, and symptoms has allowed orthopaedic surgeons to better understand and treat a variety of injuries to the labrum.
What does the inside of the shoulder look like?
The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the human body. It consists of a complex arrangement of structures working together to provide the movement necessary for daily life. Unfortunately, this great mobility comes at the expense of stability. Four bones and a network of soft tissue structures (ligaments, tendons, and muscles) work together to produce shoulder movement. They interact to keep the joint in place while it moves through extreme ranges of motion. Each of these structures makes an important contribution to shoulder movement and stability. Certain work or sports activities can put great demands upon the shoulder, and injury can occur when the limits of movement are exceeded and/or the individual structures are overloaded.
Click here to read more about shoulder structure.
What is the labrum and what does it do?
The
labrum
is a disk of
cartilage
on the
glenoid,
or "socket" side of the shoulder joint. The labrum helps stabilize
the joint and acts as a "bumper" to limit excessive motion of the
humerus,
the "ball" side of the shoulder joint. More importantly, it holds the humerus securely to the glenoid, almost as if suction were involved. Although the glenoid itself is a relatively flat surface, the labrum's cuff-like contour gives the glenoid a more concave shape.
The secure but flexible fit of the humerus within the glenoid permits the great range motion of the healthy shoulder.
How is the labrum injured?
Tears of the labrum can be the result of:
a direct fall or blow to the arm resulting in abnormal movement of the humerus.
repetitive trauma of the
greater tuberosity
and
rotator cuff
on the
posterior
(back of) labrum. This is termed
internal impingement
(pinching of the soft tissues) and is most commonly seen in baseball and tennis athletes whose arms are frequently in overhead positions.
A very common labral injury is a tear that occurs on the top of the labrum, extending from the front to the back of the cartilage. This is known as a
SLAP
tear ("SLAP" is an acronym for
superior labral anterior to posterior tear
). This injury affects the attachment of the
biceps tendon
to the glenoid.
An injury in this area can be extremely painful, and can cause the biceps tendon to rupture.
At least five types of SLAP tears have been identified. Treatment depends on the stability of the biceps anchor and the type of tear that has occurred. These injuries are commonly the result of:
a fall on an outstretched arm.
a forceful lifting maneuver.
repetitive throwing.
It is very important for the surgeon to determine whether or not the labral tear is associated with instability of the shoulder. A tear of the labrum not associated with instability can be treated surgically by itself, but the treatment of a labral tear in an unstable shoulder will only be successful if the shoulder is surgically stabilized at the same time.
© 2015 by LeadingMD.com All rights reserved. | https://leadingmd.com/labral_jteffort/overview.asp |
Updates for July 2020
Welcome to MassHire Cape & Islands Workforce Board's New Newsletter!
JULY 2020
MassHire Cape & Islands Workforce Board Updates
Reopening MA
Unemployment FAQ
COVID-19 Updates and Information
Travel Guidance
Unemployment Data Update as of 6/11/2020
"
Massachusetts had 44,660 individuals file an initial claim for standard Unemployment Insurance (UI) from May 31 to June 6, an increase of 17,626 over the previous week. Since March 15, a total of 968,899 initial claims have been filed for UI. At 565,898, continued UI claims decreased by 9,964 or 1.7% over the previous week, the second consecutive week of decline.
There were 20,991, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) initial claims filed for the week ending June 6, 33,290 less than the previous week. Since April 20, 2020, 594,068 claimants have filed for PUA."
Read More...
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Sales Tax Holiday Dates Announced!
Governor Baker has announced that the Sales Tax Holiday weekend will fall on Saturday August 29th and Sunday August 30th this year. Retail items up t0 $2,500 will be exempt from sales tax. Items must be purchased by an individual for personal use. | https://myemail.constantcontact.com/MassHire-Cape---Islands-Workforce-Board-June-Newsletter.html?soid=1134393049578&aid=8_j8BFZplB0 |
INCREASED confidence in the science supporting phosphorus application has seen major fertiliser companies incorporate the recent findings in the models they use to generate fertiliser advice for farmers.
The fertiliser industry has been a major partner in the State government's uPtake program that has established 32 phosphorus (P) fertiliser trials on grazing land across the South West over the past two years.
Nineteen trials were established in 2019 and some of these were rolled over to this year where 13 trials were conducted across the greater South West (Peel-Harvey to Oyster Harbour catchments) to examine the P response of pastures.
Trials were established on soils with low to high P buffering index (PBI) and with varying soil P levels.
Pasture growth was measured in response to Ps applications ranging from 0-40 kilograms per hectare, both with and without basal nutrients, nitrogen, potassium, sulphur and trace elements.
The information from these trials contributes to defining the relationship between the amount of P in the soil and pasture growth.
The amount of P in the soil measured by a soil test to achieve a target production level is called the critical value.
Critical values for soils with low to high PBI have been reported previously from similar trial data managed through the national Better Fertiliser Decisions for Pastures project.
The uPtake project aims to assess how relevant the national data and critical values are for South West soil types and contemporary pasture species.
A fertility index (soil test value divided by the critical value) is being used to compare trial results with expected results based on national data.
A fertility index of one (soil P the same as critical value P) is considered optimal.
For a Fertility Index 1 or greater no pasture response to P is expected and for soils with a fertility index of less than 1 a pasture response to P is expected.
What this means to farmers
- Results from trials to date show that the national critical values for P used to inform P fertiliser recommendations are relevant to the South West.
You can therefore have confidence that P fertiliser recommendations based on critical values from BFDP are appropriate.
- If your soil test shows that your soil contains excess P for your target production levels, (i.e fertility index greater than 1), adding more P will not increase productivity.
Adding more P will unnecessarily increase costs and may escalate P movement into waterways, contributing to algal blooms.
- If your P soil test shows a fertility index of 1 at the start of the season, then it should contain sufficient P for seasonal pasture growth.
Soil testing should guide subsequent pasture P requirements.
- Addressing limiting nutrients in your soil (for example nitrogen, sulphur, potassium, micro nutrients) and correcting low pH can dramatically increase production and minimise unnecessary losses of nutrients to the environment.
- Soil testing and comparison with critical values is essential to determine the nutrient requirements of your soil to meet your production targets.
The uPtake project will run to June 2023 and aims to undertake at least 36 P response trials across the South West.
Results from the next two years of trials will be added to the 2019/20 trial data to build a robust validation of national data and enhanced understanding of P responses in South West WA soils with contemporary pasture species. | https://www.farmweekly.com.au/story/7379200/fertiliser-trial-results-put-into-practice/?src=rss |
The “just transition” is a call for justice and worker protections along the road to a decarbonized future world, that has made its way into renowned international conventions including the 2015 Paris Agreement preamble and the 2020 European Green Deal’s Just Transition Fund. But what kinds of policies does the term refer to? Various actors put forward their own narratives for how to achieve a just transition, and the struggle between them to define these decarbonization pathways will influence how ordinary working people are included and protected in upcoming efforts to stabilize climate change.
Becca’s presentation on 22 February 2021 at the Leibniz Institute for Research on Society and Space (IRS) conference, “Energy Futures – Emerging Pathways in an Uncertain World!”, explored the variation between these Just Transition narratives. Highlighting the trade union and environmental movement origins of the campaign to overcome the so-called ‘jobs vs. environment dilemma’, she delves into five areas within which labour and advocacy groups, governments, and private sector actors offer their distinct visions. She distinguishes between ‘limited’, growth-oriented strategies to drive decarbonization through incentives and include working people via green jobs; vs. ‘expansive’ and transformative visions ranging from expanded public sector ownership and control to decentralized and democratized Regenerative economies. Ultimately, the combination of trade union’s institutional power and environmental movement’s transformative visions offer a promising route for expanding just transition narratives and guiding stronger collective action for a more just and inclusive future without carbon emissions.
The presentation slides are available here, and the full article is anticipated later in 2021. | https://ekopol.eus/2021/05/13/when-two-movements-collide-learning-from-labour-and-environmental-struggles-for-future-just-transitions/ |
The utility model discloses an electroplating heating device with a protective structure, and belongs to the technical field of electroplating heating devices. The electroplating heating device with the protection structure comprises an electroplating box, a heat insulation shell is installed at the bottom end of the electroplating box, a heating pipe is installed on the inner side of the heat insulation shell, a first heat conduction frame is installed between the heating pipe and the electroplating box, and a second heat conduction frame is installed on the side, away from the first heat conduction frame, of the heating pipe. Through the integral structure arrangement, the circulating pipeline is arranged at the position of the heating wire, and the liquid heat exchange medium is filled, so that the heat exchange medium transfers heat generated at the position of the heating wire into the plurality of groups of heating pipes, and the contact area between the heating pipes and the electroplating box is increased by matching with the two heat conduction frames which are arranged front and back; and in addition, transfer type heating is adopted, the heating pipes and the heating wires do not make direct contact with the electroplating liquid, and the heating efficiency is stable. | |
Welcome to Frost Elementary School located in Frostburg, Maryland. Frost school services students Pre-K through fifth grade.
At Frost, we are dedicated to providing our students with positive learning experiences through a rigorous academic program that will prepare students for a rapidly changing world. We inspire and motivate students to achieve their fullest potential in order to be successful for today and be prepared for tomorrow.
We believe that collaboration and open lines of communication help make the home-school connection a successful part of our students' education. We encourage family and community participation in classroom and school-wide programs and activities along with our PTA sponsored activities.
The vision at Frost Elementary School is to prepare and motivate our students for a rapidly changing world by instilling in them critical thinking skills, a global perspective, and a respect for core values of honesty, loyalty, perseverance, and compassion. Students will have success for today and be prepared for tomorrow.
Frost Elementary School’s staff, parents, and community are dedicated to the intellectual, personal, social, and physical growth of students. Our highly qualified staff recognizes the value of professional development in order to rigorously challenge students. Our teaching practices are both reflective and responsive to the needs of our students. Through diversified experiences, our students discover their potential, achieve readiness for college and careers, and succeed in a safe and caring environment.
Facebook page for the Summer Lunch Program.
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM HRDC/Judy Center "The Dangers of Secondhand Smoke" | https://www.acpsmd.org/fs |
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/378,676, filed on Aug. 31, 2010 by present inventors.
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The present invention is related to semiconductor device fabrication. More particularly, present invention teaches a method of fabricating high quality metal contacts to n-type Gallium Nitride which does not involve steps that could degrade other elements of a semiconductor device.
The useful function of electronic and especially optoelectronic devices is achieved by passing through them the electric current. In most cases, the electric current is applied through a set of metal contacts. The said contacts develop a voltage drop across them in response to the passing current, resulting in the electric power dissipation which is parasitic with respect to the useful function of the said device. The problem of contact quality is, therefore, important in optimizing the energy efficiency of any electronic and optoelectronic device.
The process of obtaining a high quality, low voltage drop contact to a semiconductor material involves several steps including, but not limited to semiconductor material surface cleaning and preparation, contact material (usually metal, sequence of metals or other conducting material) deposition, and following anneal at specified temperature and in specified ambient. Every fabrication step is usually optimized for the purpose of obtaining a contact with desired properties.
Since the process of fabrication of a semiconductor device involves many steps and usually more than just one type of the metal contacts, it is important that every step of the contact formation is compatible with the overall process flow, and the resulting contact be stable over all fabrication steps performed after its formation.
In particular, the fabrication process of Gallium Nitride-based light emitting semiconductor devices involves the formation of two types of metal contacts, namely the contacts to the n-type Gallium Nitride (n-contact) and to the p-type Gallium Nitride (p-contact). The standard fabrication process of the n-contact requires the anneal step at quite high temperature, between 650 and 900 degrees of Celsius scale, in the ambient of air or nitrogen gas. This, however, may degrade the quality of the p-contact in case it is formed prior to the anneal of the n-contact. In turn, the formation of the p-contact involves the anneal at somewhat lower temperature, from 400 to 550 degrees of Celsius scale, but in oxygen gas ambient. This is known to result in degradation of the quality of the n-contact, in case it is formed prior to the p-contact. Thus, a development of a compatible process flow resulting in the formation of both types of contacts of high quality is a challenging task.
In a particular case of Gallium Nitride optoelectronic devices, several solutions were previously suggested to overcome the problem indicated above. The solutions include using different contact materials or material stacks, and/or using advanced semiconductor surface preparation procedures. With respect to this last possibility, it was previously suggested that the surface of the n-type Gallium Nitride could be oxygen plasma pre-treated in order to improve the quality of the n-contact (See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,423,562 by Masaaki Nido and Yukihiro Hisanaga). However, this treatment represents an additional technological step in the semiconductor device fabrication and may lead to the degradation of the surfaces of a semiconductor die other than the portion of the surface intentionally treated, for example, a surface of p-type Gallium Nitride.
Yet another prior art U.S. Pat. No. 7,214,325 by J. L. Lee, H. W. Jang, J. K. Kim and C. Jeon describes the room temperature ohmic contact to n-type Gallium Nitride obtained by metal deposition onto the semiconductor surface immediately after the Inductively Coupled Plasma treatment. Our studies, however, do not confirm the feasibility of this method. It will be shown below that the contact obtained by the method of Lee's invention results in a non-linear contact with a high voltage drop while passing the current.
High temperature annealing is not always necessary if very high doping levels in the n-type Gallium Nitride are used (see for example, a paper by J. D. Guo, C. I. Lin, M. S. Feng, F. M. Pan, G. C. Chi and C. T. Lee, “A bilayer Ti/Ag ohmic contact for highly doped n-type GaN films”, in Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 68, No. 2, pages 235-237, 8 Jan. 1996). Such high doping levels, however, interfere with the epitaxial material quality and may not be achieved in real device structures.
The present invention relates to the contact fabrication optimization and contact quality improvement to the n-type Gallium Nitride material. The invention teaches the fabrication steps to form an n-contact which is fully compatible with the conventional fabrication flow of Gallium Nitride-based electronic and optoelectronic devices and provides a better quality contact, reducing parasitic power dissipation during the device operation.
The present invention provides an improvement to the metal contact fabrication process to the Gallium Nitride material of the n-type of conductivity. In one preferred embodiment, the present invention teaches the method that allows combining the p-contact post-treatment and n-type Gallium Nitride surface pre-treatment in one convenient fabrication step. This is made possible by adjusting the fabrication flow in such a way that the mesa structure formation and the p-metal deposition are performed prior to the n-contact formation. The new method allows producing robust, high-quality low-resistance contacts to n-type Gallium Nitride without affecting the quality of earlier formed p-contacts.
It is understood for the purpose of the following description and examples that the discussion based on the Light Emitting Diode fabrication is exemplary only and can be extended on any other semiconductor device which comprises an n-type Gallium Nitride layer and at least one metal contact to it. It is further understood that the findings of the present invention are readily applicable to other nitride based materials and compounds; therefore, for the purpose of the present invention, we use cumulative term “Gallium Nitride” to cover the family of materials comprising Boron Nitride BN, Aluminum Nitride AlN, Gallium Nitride GaN, Indium Nitride InN and their compounds.
It is also understood that for the purpose of the preceding discussion and following description of the present invention, the term “metal contact” is used to describe any type of the electrical contact to the semiconductor material, and is preferably referred to an ohmic type of electrical contact. It can be, however, discovered by a skilled artisan that in some cases, without changing the scope of the present invention, the term “metal contact” can refer to a contact that does not necessarily by fact contain metal or an alloy of metals, such as, for example, conventional oxide-based transparent contact containing Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) and its existing or further discovered modifications.
Referring further to the fabrication process of a Light Emitting Diode, we refer to the metal contact to the p-type material (usually top layer) as to the p-contact; respectively, we refer to the metal contact to the n-type material (usually buried) as to the n-contact.
FIG. 1
The standard processing sequence of a conventional Light Emitting Diode comprises the p-contact fabrication, followed by mesa structure formation and n-contact fabrication. This sequence is presented by the diagram of . Following the p-contact metal stack deposition, an oxidizing anneal is performed to improve the contact resistance. This anneal is performed at relatively low (400 to 550 degrees Celsius) temperature.
The mesa structure is obtained by selective combined Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) and Reactive Ion Etching (RIE) technique using either separate photoresist-based masking of the active device area, or utilizing the protective property of the p-contact metal. Finally, the n-metal stack patterns are deposited surrounding the active area of the devices. We found that, in spite of the data delivered in U.S. Pat. No. 7,214,325 by J. L. Lee et al., the n-contact as deposited on the ICP-etched n-GaN surface does not provide good contact quality and/or linearity. It is thought that the GaN surface is extremely sensitive to particular ambient conditions that cannot be accurately controlled during the ICP etching or between the ICP etching and the metal deposition.
FIG. 1
In order to improve the quality of the n-contact, an annealing step in Nitrogen ambient is needed at a relatively high (650 to 900 degrees Celsius) temperature. Unfortunately, such high temperature annealing results in clusterizationand degradation of the p-metal, if it was deposited as a prior step in the process sequence being discussed. Therefore, the standard processing sequence, as depicted by , does not allow for contact resistance optimization for both, n-contact and p-contact.
FIG. 2
presents the diagram of yet another conventionally used process flow of GaN-based Light Emitting Diodes. According to this process sequence, the mesa structure formation using ICP etching and n-contact metal stack deposition are performed prior to the p-contact formation, and followed by the n-contact anneal, necessary for the reason discussed above. The process is then concluded with the deposition of the p-contact metal stack over the appropriate portions of the semiconductor surface and another anneal at relatively low temperature, 400 to 550 degrees Celsius, in ambient comprising Oxygen. The said Oxygen-comprising ambient is commonly known to any artisan skilled in the art to be a key process feature to obtain low contact resistance and good current spreading of the p-contact metal layer, preserving at the same time some level of transparency for the light being generated by the device. This step, on the other hand, leads to a significant degradation of the n-contact quality. In particular, it results in a nearly twofold increase of the contact resistance of the said n-contact. Thus, existing standard process flows that are based on consecutive formation of the contacts to n- and p-layers of the device result in the degradation of the primarily formed contact while fabricating the latter one.
It is known that the presence of Oxygen atoms at the GaN surface assists the formation of an ohmic contact to the said surface. Two mechanisms are believed to be responsible for the effect. First, Oxygen is known as a donor-type dopant to GaN and related compounds; it is known that higher doping of the regions adjacent to the semiconductor surfaces in general results in lower contact resistances. In addition, Oxygen typically creates stronger bonds with Gallium than Nitrogen and it substitutes for the Nitride family compounds, so that the presence of Oxygen atoms at the semiconductor surface results in a certain level of Nitrogen release and Nitrogen vacancy creation, which, like a donor-type dopant, also act as a donor of electrons.
The present invention utilizes the advantage of the Oxygen treatment for the n-contact formation as described above. It is discovered that the thermal treatment of the ICP-etched surface of n-type GaN material in Oxygen ambient performed at relatively low (400 to 550 degrees Celsius) temperature assists the formation of a metal contact to the said GaN material for the n-contact metal stack as deposited, without a need for further treatment. It becomes possible, therefore, to combine in one fabrication step both, the annealing of the p-contact and the surface pre-treatment of the n-type Gallium Nitride.
FIG. 3
FIG. 3
FIGS. 1 and 2
An exemplary process flow benefiting from the teaching of the present invention is illustrated by the diagram of of the attached drawings. It will be appreciated by any skilled artisan that the process flow as illustrated by is substantially simplified as compared to the conventional process flows such as laid out in .
FIG. 3
FIG. 4
Although the major advantage of the metal contact fabricated in accordance with the present invention is the absence of the necessity for the contact anneal, an artisan skilled in the art may find it advantageous not to withdraw the annealing step from the fabrication sequence. In the variation to the process flow of , again taken for exemplary purposes within the fabrication process of a conventional LED, as illustrated by , the contact fabricated in accordance with the teachings of present invention is further annealed in Nitrogen ambient, preferrably in the temperature range between 650 and 900 degrees Celsius. Therefore, in case for example, when the degradation of the p-contact during such anneal does not significantly affect the device performance, the annealing step may be still performed to further improve the n-contact resistance, mechanical strength and adhesion, and/or other important properties discovered by skilled artisan.
FIGS. 1 through 3
FIG. 5
FIG. 1
FIG. 2
FIG. 5
The current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the n-contacts obtained with the use of the process flows described above with respect to corresponding diagrams in are shown in . The current-voltage characteristic as in the present invention is given by the open squares. The data for the n-contact as deposited on the ICP-pretreated n-GaN surface is given by open diamonds. The open circles correspond to the n-contact formed by the process flow as described by the diagram of . The stars denote the n-contact formed by the process flow as described by the diagram of . From , the contact prepared in accordance with the teaching of the present invention demonstrates that at any current level there is less voltage drop among the compared contacts.
FIG. 6
In an additional embodiment of the present invention, the method discussed herein is advantageous to use even in cases where only the n-type contacts are needed for device operation. We found that the method of thermal pre-treatment in oxygen is equally applicable to the etched and as-grown n-type Gallium Nitride. Also, referring to the data presented in , the contact pre-treated in accordance with the present invention and subjected to further post-metallization anneal outperforms similarly annealed contact without pre-treatment.
In light of the above discussion, one of the advantages of the present invention is improved quality of the electric contact to n-type Gallium Nitride or related material/compound. Yet another advantage is substantial simplification of the semiconductor device fabrication process, in the form of reduction of fabrication steps, made possible with the help of the teachings of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following discussion taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, among which:
FIG. 1
is a diagram illustrating the conventional method of producing a contact to n-type Gallium Nitride within the processing flow of a Light Emitting Diode;
FIG. 2
is a diagram illustrating yet another conventional method of producing a contact to n-type Gallium Nitride within the processing flow of a Light Emitting Diode;
FIG. 3
is a diagram illustrating the method of producing a contact to n-type Gallium Nitride provided by the present invention, taken for exemplary purposes in conjunction and within the processing flow of a Light Emitting Diode. The n-metal anneal is not necessary for ohmic contact formation;
FIG. 4
is a diagram illustrating the method of producing a contact to n-type Gallium Nitride provided by the present invention, concluded with optional n-metal anneal that can further improve the quality of the n-contact, taken for exemplary purposes in conjunction and within the processing flow of a Light Emitting Diode;
FIG. 5
is a plot of current-voltage characteristics demonstrating the quality of the contact obtained by the method of the present invention. The size of the metal contacts is 140 μm×100 μm, with a space of 5 μm between the two contacts.
FIG. 6
provides the current-voltage characteristics comparison of the contact obtained by the method of the present invention followed by thermal treatment to the conventional contact subject to similar thermal treatment. The size of the metal contacts is 140 μm×100 μm, with a space of 5 μm between the two contacts. | |
(PhD CUNY 1998; Assoc Prof) Archaeology, zooarchaeology, environmental studies; Northern Atlantic, Europe ([email protected])
Professor Perdikaris is an archaeologist specializing in the analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites in the North Atlantic. She has extensive field experience and has participated and directed excavations in many parts of the world. She has been excavating in Norway for the last twelve years and in Iceland for seven years. She has also taught field school in the Bahamas. In collaboration with Professor Thomas McGovern (Hunter College and PhD Program in Anthropology, CUNY) and the FSI (Fornleifastofn Islands) – Icelandic Archaeological Institute, she has been directing a special program of undergraduate study in Iceland. The Research Experience for Undergraduates program admits ten CUNY students per year. A graduate of the PhD Program in Anthropology at CUNY, Professor Perdikaris is committed to quality education for inner-city youth.
Her particular research interest is the transition from the Viking Age to medieval times in North Norway and how the early commercialization of the cod fisheries (AD 1200) affected the people and the economy of the area. She is currently involved in cooperative projects with institutions in the U.S. and the U.K. collecting DNA information from fish bone assemblages. These efforts are being done to help modern fisheries biologists develop better management strategies for depleted fish stocks. Most modern fisheries data were collected in the years post- AD 1850, but the human manipulation of wild resources and fish started many hundreds of years prior to this. If we are to understand the processes that affect the modern fish populations we need to look at the impact of human activity on natural resources as far back in time as possible.
Professor Perdikaris teaches a series of general courses in anthropology as well as more specialized courses such as zooarchaeology, urban archaeology, and Viking Age archaeology. She has been a member of NABO (North Atlantic Biocultural Organization) and chair of the Education and Maritime Adaptations groups since 1992. She is also a coordinator of NORSEC (Northern Science and Education Center), based at Brooklyn College. NORSEC includes faculty participants from the CUNY Graduate Center, Hunter College, College of Staten Island, John Jay College, the University of the Arctic, the Medieval Institute of Oslo, the Archaeological Institute of Iceland, and the Stefansson Institute. Students interested in northern research are encouraged to contact Professor Perdikaris for further information (see email address above).
Recent Representative Publications
- 2001 “Introduction” (The Vikings), pp 361-363, and “Introduction” (Pre-Viking Scandinavia), pp 269-272, in Archaeological Encyclopedia of Medieval Europe, Pamela Crabtree, ed. Garland Publishers.
- 2001 “Introduction” (Medieval Hunting) [with J. Woollett], pp 168-170 inArchaeological Encyclopedia of Medieval Europe, Pamela Crabtree, ed. Garland.
- 2001 “Viking’s Silent Saga” [with T.H. McGovern], Natural History 10:50-56.
- 2000 “Cultural Sediment Analyses and Transitions in Early Fishing Activity at Langenesvaeret, Vesteralen, N. Norway” [with I.A. Simpson, G. Cook, J.L. Campbell, and W.J. Teesdale], Geoscience: An International Journal 15(8):743-763.
- 2000 Economy of Landnam: Evidence of Zooarchaeology, with T.H. McGovern and C. Tinsley. Iceland: Nordall Publishers. | https://anthropology.commons.gc.cuny.edu/sophia-perdikaris/ |
Subject says it all. In Minecraft, carrots grow through 8 different stages. 4 of which can be visually seen. But, the Wiki article contains no information on how long it takes a carrot to move through each of the stages. I'm interested in the end to end growth time. Since, this is a random process, how likely per game tick is a carrot to grow? is this known? I could not find it on the Wiki.
Explanation:
Growth requires a light level of at least 9 in the block above the plant.
The farmland block the crop is planted in gives 2 "points" if dry or 4 if hydrated.
For each of the 8 blocks around the block in which the crop is planted, dry farmland gives 0.25 "points," and hydrated farmland gives 0.75.
Note that if a field is bordered with anything besides more farmland, the plants at the edge will grow more slowly.
If any plants of the same type are growing in the eight surrounding blocks, the "point" total is cut in half unless the crops are arranged in rows.
That is, having the same sort of plant either on a diagonal or in both north-south and east-west directions cuts the growth chance, but having the same type of plant only north-south or east-west does not.
The growth chance is only halved once no matter how many plants surround the central one.
The growth probability is then
1/(floor(25/points) + 1). | https://gaming.stackexchange.com/questions/249014/how-long-do-carrots-take-to-grow |
Right now, all the talk about election reforms and voting rights at the national level and at some state levels seems to center around gerrymandering (manipulating the boundaries of an electoral district to favor a particular party or person), state voter ID laws (something which critics argue disenfranchises some people), and restoring voting rights for people with completed felony sentences, to name a few. These are big and important things to try and take on, as gerrymandering allows representatives to choose their constituents instead of the other way around, restrictive voter ID laws create a potential barrier to voting for some people, and restoring voting for people with completed felony sentences seems only fitting for those who have already paid their debts to society.
Yet, there are several other severely needed election-related issues that aren’t being discussed enough, in my humble opinion, yet desperately need to be addressed in some form. One such issue I want to really focus on in this post is in reducing the racial disparity in wait times at the polls.
In the aftermath of the 2016 Presidential Election, it was found that residents of entirely Black neighborhoods took 29% longer to vote and were 74% more likely to wait at their polling place to vote for 30+ minutes than those from entirely white neighborhoods. Numbers were also bad in the 2018 midterm elections, when Latinos waited 46% longer than white voters on average while Black voters waited 45% longer than white voters on average. I haven’t seen any numbers for 2020, but I am guessing that 2020 might not be a fair year to look at for numbers due to how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the way so many Americans voted.
A fair bit of the blame for these disparities has often been given to a 2013 United States Supreme Court decision that decided to throw out key provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The result of the decision was that several elements of federal oversight of election decisions in states with histories of discrimination, including decisions on closing down polling places, were removed. Subsequently, many of these states covered by the Voting Rights Act of 1965 have closed down many polling places—something which has disproportionately affected Black voters in Georgia as well as Black and Latino voters in Texas, to name two.
While I have little doubt that the closing down of polling places in many communities of color post-2013 decision has played a factor, I think there is something more going on. I say that because wait times for voting in presidential elections in 2012 and 2008—in a time before the 2013 decision from the Supreme Court—also show racial disparities in terms of how long people waited at the polls, leading me to think that while the 2013 decision is likely a problem, it’s not the only problem.
Another potential problem to consider is the number of resources allocated to various voting places; namely, poll workers and voting machines. Speaking of 2012, the states that had the longest lines in that year’s election (Florida, South Carolina, and Maryland) were marred by a shortage of machines, poll workers, or both—issues that happened in areas with high percentages of minority voters. The fact that two of these states (Florida and Maryland) did not even have the “histories of discrimination” that made them subject to the Voting Rights Act also means that looking at voting from a racial injustice standpoint should not just be limited to those states and locations subjected to the Voting Rights Act.
A more politically progressive approach to this might be to advocate for voting rights legislation that could, if at all possible, hold accountable states which dole out fewer resources for voting to communities of color than to predominantly white communities, whether that be poll places or poll workers. I am not a legal expert so I don’t know the extent to which such a law is possible, especially given the fact that there is a lot of power in terms of the administering of elections that is in the hands of individual states. I am also not a legislative expert so I don’t know if the current voting rights legislation in Congress looks to address this specific issue. However, given the fact that the right to vote is a foundational right for an American citizen, it is certainly an issue that needs to be brought to the table at the federal level.
One thing that must be done, regardless of whether anything can legally be done at the federal level to address such issues, is that more advocacy needs to be done to pressure states into following their own election laws—laws that are often not followed. In the case of two of the states with the longest lines in 2012, for example (Maryland and South Carolina), the overwhelming majority of voting precincts did not comply with laws in place regarding resource allocations for polling places. And then there are all the cases of laws on the size of voting precincts and polling places—laws often not followed, much to the detriment of how long lines at the polls often are. I can’t help but wonder how many of the current racial disparities with polling wait times would be addressed if states were pressured into following their own election laws on everything from resource allocations to the sizes of polling precincts.
Regardless of the strategy for addressing the disparity in polling wait times, it cannot be denied that there are longstanding disparities in terms of how long people of different races need to vote. Figuring out how best to address this should be part of the larger election reform discussion.
https://www.law.nyu.edu/news/BRENNAN_CENTER_VOTERID_STUDY
https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w26487/w26487.pdf
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/waiting-vote
https://www.npr.org/2020/10/17/924527679/why-do-nonwhite-georgia-voters-have-to-wait-in-line-for-hours-too-few-polling-pl
https://kinder.rice.edu/urbanedge/2020/07/13/racial-inequality-why-does-it-take-so-long-vote-Black-communities
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2013/04/08/how-long-did-you-wait-to-vote-depends-on-your-race/
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/election-day-long-lines-resource-allocation
Ibid. | https://blindinjusticeblog.com/category/race/ |
Kforce (NASDAQ:KFRC) Issues Earnings Results
Kforce (NASDAQ:KFRC) posted its earnings results on Sunday. The business services provider reported $0.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.77 by $0.09, MarketWatch Earnings reports. Kforce had a return on equity of 32.56% and a net margin of 3.77%. The firm had revenue of $354.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $345.00 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.66 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 5.3% on a year-over-year basis.
KFRC opened at $47.16 on Tuesday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $43.52 and a 200 day simple moving average of $38.11. The company has a market capitalization of $1.04 billion, a PE ratio of 19.49 and a beta of 1.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 2.65 and a quick ratio of 2.65. Kforce has a 1 year low of $20.60 and a 1 year high of $47.41.
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In other news, President Joseph J. Liberatore sold 36,595 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, December 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $42.27, for a total transaction of $1,546,870.65. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Jeffrey B. Hackman sold 1,900 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, January 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.12, for a total value of $85,728.00. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 60,671 shares of company stock valued at $2,570,529. Corporate insiders own 10.80% of the company’s stock.
A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on KFRC shares. Credit Suisse Group lifted their target price on Kforce from $36.00 to $37.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 3rd. Truist boosted their target price on Kforce from $37.00 to $48.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 20th. Sidoti raised Kforce from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $53.00 target price on the stock in a report on Monday, January 4th. Finally, Zacks Investment Research downgraded Kforce from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 4th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. Kforce currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $40.43.
Kforce Company Profile
Kforce Inc provides professional staffing services and solutions in the United States and internationally. It operates through Technology (Tech) and Finance and Accounting (FA) segments. The Tech segment provides temporary staffing and permanent placement services to its clients primarily in the areas of information technology, such as systems/applications architecture and development, business and artificial intelligence, machine learning, network architecture, security, enterprise data, and project management. | |
Conservation ActionsConservation Actions Underway
Gracula robusta is an officially protected species in Indonesia (Ministry of Environment and Forestry (Indonesia) 2018) under MoEF RI Regulations (P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018). As a result of concerns about international trade, Hill Myna was included in CITES Appendix III at the request of Thailand in 1992 and subsequently included in Appendix II in 1997 on the recommendation of the Netherlands and the Philippines: at present G. robusta remains included within G. religiosa for the Appendix II listing. Considerable efforts are being made on the ground by an Indonesian NGO to establish a recovery programme for the species on one island, coordinated from Sumatra. There is also an attempt to create a captive, integral population of this species, though the present state of the programme is unclear.
Conservation Action Proposed
Strengthen the control, monitoring and law enforcement of trade. All trade in Hill Myna's must be through the appropriate documented legal routes, and trade in G. robusta should be entirely restricted. A detailed program including considerable benefits to local communities must be developed and implemented, with the species 'Beo' as a source of regional pride and identity. Institutions should take steps to ensure that captive holdings are correctly identified, genetically, and conservation breeding should proceed with the intention of maintaining the integrity of the wild forms.
Location InformationThis species occurs only on islands off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia.
Geographic Range
Extant
Indonesia
Population InformationThere are potentially two populations, though there are only two recent records of wild individuals on one island and the situation there may be complicated by possible releases that may have taken place. Any wild population on this island numbers fewer than 50 mature individuals. The species has recently been found to still occur at one other island, where the species is currently well-protected and estimated at at least 250 individuals (F. Rheindt in litt. 2020). Overall the population is estimated at between 250-400 individuals, roughly equivalent to 160-270 mature individuals. Concern over poaching from this island is very high, although rangers have been in place supported by a regional NGO to reduce the risk (F. Rheindt in litt. 2020). However on another island within the former range, the species is apparently now extinct, having disappeared following a period of intense trapping on the island, which principally targeted White-rumped Shama (Eaton et al. 2016).
ThreatsGracula robusta is highly desired as a songbird, perhaps even more so than the other Hill Mynas due to its large size and loud voice (Shepherd et al. 2006, Harris et al. 2015). Trade has seriously impacted this species, with significant population declines noted in recent years following the targeting of the form for the domestic cage bird trade. It has been reported to have become extinct within a very short time period on one island following the arrival of 'hundreds' of trappers sometime in 2010 (Eaton et al. 2015), from previously having a small but apparently stable population there. The current population in the wild is tiny, and occurs on only two islands, and on one it appears to be solely supported by a project directly overseeing the final few birds and undertaking captive breeding. The threat of the capture of the entire remaining wild population is very real.
The potential for deliberate hybridisation of Gracula religiosa with this species to increase the value of the offspring is very high; should these birds be included in releases, genetic introgression throughout the tiny remaining population may occur.
Partners
IUCN Red List Account LinkPlease click here to see the species' IUCN Red List Account page. | https://speciesonthebrink.org/species/nias-hill-myna/ |
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) continue an active docket challenging M&A transactions. DOJ is resolving antitrust reviews significantly faster than the FTC, following DOJ’s 2018 policy establishing a six-month target. The DOJ also made use, for the first time, of its authority to arbitrate a market definition dispute, potentially opening the door for a new tool the DOJ could employ to resolve challenges more rapidly.
EUROPEAN UNION
The European Commission (EC) agreed to clear, subject to conditions, the acquisition of broadband and energy networks following lengthy Phase 2 investigations. Meanwhile, the national European regulators opened new in-depth investigations into commercial radio advertising, software as a service for airlines, autonomous sea surface vehicles and the promotion of live music events (all in the UK) and prohibited the merger of two recyclers (Germany).
SNAPSHOT OF EVENTS
UNITED STATES
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DOJ Employs Arbitration in Aluminium Deal
The Administrative Dispute Resolution Act of 1996 gives the DOJ the authority to arbitrate cases under Section 7 of the Clayton Act. The DOJ recently agreed with the parties in the Novelis/Aleris deal to let an arbitrator decide their dispute on the relevant market. This case represents the first application of this authority. DOJ antitrust chief Makan Delrahim called the process “truly groundbreaking” and suggested it “could prove to be a model for future enforcement actions … bring[ing] greater certainty for merging parties and [preserving] taxpayer resources.” It remains to be seen how frequently this new process will be employed.
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CVS-Aetna Could Re-Shape Merger Review
When parties enter into a settlement with the DOJ related to a proposed merger, that settlement is reviewed by a federal judge under the Tunney Act to ensure the settlement is in the public interest. Judge Leon’s decision to review antitrust violations alleged by outside parties during his Tunney Act review of a proposed settlement involving the CVS-Aetna transaction, rather than relying only on the allegations provided by the DOJ, marked a departure from past practice. The resulting mini-trial slowed down the Tunney Act process, but Judge Leon ultimately approved the settlement. Going forward, the DOJ may need more preparation before defending settlement agreements in court.
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FTC Merger Review Taking Substantially Longer than DOJ
A recent review of merger investigations found that significant merger investigations in the United States ending in the first half of 2019 took an average of 12.1 months, compared to 10.5 months for those ending in 2018. This upward trend has been fairly consistent for a number of years. An emerging trend is the discrepancy between the DOJ and the FTC. In the first half of 2019, more than 80% of DOJ investigations concluded in 10 months or fewer, while 75% of FTC investigations took 16 months or more. DOJ’s 2018 reforms aimed at completing merger reviews in six months appears to be working well.
EUROPEAN UNION
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The French Competition Authority Consults on Revised Merger Control Guidelines
The French competition authority is expected to revise its merger control guidelines to provide clarity on identifying mergers that do not raise competition concerns, on procedural infringements, and the suitability of behavioural commitments to remedy specific concerns. The revised guidance should be helpful to assess what constitutes gun jumping.
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UK CMA Publishes Guidance on Interim Measures in Merger Investigations
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has updated its guidance on interim measures reflecting a move toward stricter adherence to procedural rules, particularly to prevent pre-clearance integration between parties to a transaction. The CMA has also been more aggressive in implementing interim enforcement orders to prevent merging companies from integrating assets while the CMA reviews the transaction.
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Germany Considers Revision to Antitrust Laws to Catch “Killer Acquisitions” in Digital Markets
The German government is looking to provide new tools to the German Federal Cartel Office (FCO) to investigate “killer acquisitions” in digital markets through a revision of the German Act against Restraints of Competition (ARC). Ever since the acquisition by Facebook of Whatsapp, the FCO and the German government have searched for ways to investigate transactions where large firms acquire smaller innovative targets to discontinue innovative projects and thereby preempt future competition.
SNAPSHOT OF ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS
UNITED STATES (TIMING FROM SIGNING TO CONSENT OR INVESTIGATION CLOSING)
EUROPEAN UNION (TIMING FROM SIGNING TO CLEARANCE)
SIGNIFICANT US TRIALS
SIGNIFICANT ABANDONED TRANSACTIONS
The information in this column summarizes the government’s allegations. McDermott Will & Emery LLP offers no independent view on these allegations.
SIGNIFICANT US CONSENT ORDERS / INVESTIGATION CLOSING WITH AGENCY STATEMENTS
The information in this column summarizes the government’s allegations. McDermott Will & Emery LLP offers no independent view on these allegations. | https://www.natlawreview.com/article/antitrust-ma-snapshot-doj-arbitrates-market-definition-dispute-while-ec-clears |
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U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.
Washington, D.C. 20590
March 6, 2012
In Reply Refer To: HOTO-1
Fred M. Greenberg, P.E.
Director of Traffic Services
BL Companies
355 Research Parkway
Meriden, CT 06450
Dear Mr. Greenberg:
Thank you for your of December 1, 2011, letter requesting an official interpretation of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) concerning the use of the Curve (W1-2) sign in lieu of the Turn (W1-1) sign when the posted speed limit is 30 mph.
As you mentioned in your letter, Section 2C.07, paragraph 02, of the MUTCD states that "A Turn (W1-1) sign shall be used instead of a Curve sign in advance of curves that have advisory speeds of 30 mph or less." Your letter stated that in this particular case, the posted speed is 30 mph and the engineering study determined the advisory speed to be 30 mph. Even though the advisory speed is the same as the posted speed, and therefore you are not installing an Advisory Speed Plaque, the 30 mph threshold as stated in Section 2C.07 still applies. Therefore, the Turn (W1-1) sign shall be used instead of the Curve (W1-2) sign for the condition you describe.
We have numbered and titled this Official Interpretation as "2(09)-28 (I) - Curve Sign for 30 mph Speed Limit." If you have further questions on this matter, please contact Mr. Eric Ferron of our MUTCD Team at 720-963-3206 or [email protected].
Sincerely yours,
Original signed by: | https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/interpretations/2_09_28.htm |
an impending loss Denial.
The Kubler-Ross model is based on five stages of grief. These are five emotional stages that someone can experience when faced with death or some other loss. The five stages are Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. Kubler-Ross noted that these stages are not meant to be a complete list of all possible emotions that could be felt, and they can occur in any order. Reactions to loss and grief are as different as each person experiencing them. We spend different lengths of time working through each step and express each stage more or less intensely.
We often move between stages before achieving a more peaceful acceptance of death. Many of us do not achieve this final stage of grief. “Many people do not experience the stages in the order listed below, which is okay. The key to understanding the stages is not to feel like you must go through every one of them, in precise order. Instead, it’s more helpful to look at them as guides in the grieving process — it helps you understand and put into context where you are. ” Denial —One of the first reactions to follow a loss or news of an impending loss is Denial.
What this means is that the person is trying to shut out the reality or magnitude of their situation. It is a defence mechanism that buffers the immediate shock. We block out the words and hide from the facts. This is a temporary response that carries us through the first wave of pain. Anger — As the effects of denial begin to wear, reality and its pain re-emerge. We are not ready Because of anger, the person is very difficult to care for due to misplaced feelings of rage and envy. Anger can manifest itself in different ways.
People can be angry with themselves, or with others, and especially those who are close to them. Anger may be directed at our dying or deceased loved one. Rationally, we know the person is not to be blamed. Emotionally, however, we may resent the person for causing us pain or for leaving us. We feel guilty for being angry, and this makes us even more angry. It is important to remain detached and nonjudgmental when dealing with a person experiencing anger from grief. Bargaining — The third stage involves the hope that the individual can somehow undo or avoid a cause of grief.
The normal reaction to feelings of helplessness and vulnerability is often a need to regain control. Secretly, we may make a deal with God or a higher power in an attempt to postpone the inevitable. This is a weaker line of defence to protect us from the painful reality. Psychologically, the individual is saying, “I understand I will die, but I am not ready, if I could just do something to buy more time…” People facing less serious trauma can bargain or seek to negotiate a compromise. For example “Can we still be friends? ” when facing a break-up.
Bargaining rarely provides a sustainable solution, especially if it is a matter of life or death. Depression —The grieving person begins to understand the lack of control over the situation. Much like the existential concept of The Void, the idea of living becomes pointless. Things begin to lose meaning to the griever. Because of this, the individual may become silent, refuse visitors and spend much of the time crying and sullen. This process allows the grieving person to disconnect from things of love and affection, possibly in an attempt to avoid further trauma.
It is natural to feel sadness, regret, fear, and uncertainty when going through this stage. Feeling these emotions shows that the person has begun to accept the situation. Acceptance — In this last stage, individuals begin to come to terms with what has happened or what will happen. This typically comes with a calm, retrospective view for the individual, and a stable mindset but reaching this stage of mourning is a gift not afforded to everyone. Death may be sudden and unexpected or we may never see beyond our anger or denial.
This phase is marked by withdrawal and calm. This is not a period of happiness and must be distinguished from depression. Coping with loss is a ultimately a deeply personal and singular experience — nobody can help you go through it more easily or understand all the emotions that you’re going through. But others can be there for you and help comfort you through this process. The best thing you can do is to allow yourself to feel the grief as it comes over you. Resisting it only will prolong the natural process of healing. | https://www.essaypoints.com/an-impending-loss-denial/ |
Chris Muller, Assistant Director, Intramurals & Sport Clubs,
University of Texas at Arlington
To develop an effective travel policy for your Sport Club program, first determine what you want to accomplish with the implementation of the policy. Steven Covey, in his The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, implores people to “begin with the end in mind.” Get some direction from your department or others within your institution as they may have previous experiences or knowledge with travel. The key priority is developing and implementing reasonable controls that will keep students safe and minimize risk for your institution. Review of current travel policies within your institution, other in-state and nationwide peer institutions, can provide insight — and a good starting point.
After completion of peer review and confirming department and institutional objectives, department policies can be developed or modified. Risk management and safety should be at the forefront of your thought process. There are several ways to address key transportation issues, but important factors that must be addressed are individual past driving experiences, training provided, and driving conditions. Key components of an effective travel policy include:
- developing a “travel form”
- establishing a deadline for the travel request submission
- addressing the safety of vehicles (whether university or personally owned)
- examining driving records of potential driver
- training programs (such a defensive driving class)
- number and range of hours of the day that allow travel
- individual health insurance
- medical emergency response
- vehicle accident response
- establishing university/department emergency contacts.
While the above list is not exhaustive, and each institution faces specific concerns, it does address many of the key areas that each club program faces.
Input from student club members remains important in the policy development and may allow trouble-shooting before implementation. Often, students may not agree with the final policy but will appreciate having input into its development. Before implementation, consideration of the previous policy, reason for the changes, and budget impact should be considered. Try to anticipate any questions and be prepared to justify the answers to both those within your department and others in your institution. Proper preparation will lead to a more well received implementation and justification for any future scrutiny of the policy. While budget limitations always exist, the safety and welfare of students is most important. Policy changes may increase your budget, but the justification of safety and elimination of a potential law suit can support the increased costs. Final policies may need approval at the vice-president/vice-chancellor level or university attorney, but by utilizing current institutional standards and input from various individuals this review should be straightforward.
The last and possibly most difficult step is implementation throughout your sport club program. Proper distribution and presentation is crucial for the clubs understanding and buy in to policy change. Like everyone else, clubs are resistant to change, so point out the positives of the policy. Finally, like most aspects of risk management, travel is in a state of constant evolution. Evaluate and consider revisions to your travel policy on an annual basis. | https://www.sportrisk.com/developing-sport-club-travel-policies/ |
J.P. Morgan 2022 Virtual Healthcare Conference January 13, 2022 EX – 99.1
Disclaimer Presentation This presentation (“Presentation”) is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation to purchase any equity, debt or other financial instruments, of CareMax, Inc. (“CareMax” or the “Company”) or any of its affiliates. The information contained herein does not purport to be all-inclusive. The data contained herein is derived from various internal and external sources. No representation is made as to the reasonableness of the assumptions made or the accuracy or completeness of any projections or modeling or any other information contained herein. Any data on past performance or modeling contained herein is not an indication as to future performance. CareMax assumes no obligation to update any information in this Presentation, except as required by law. Except as otherwise stated herein, references to "CareMax" for periods prior to June 8, 2021 refer to CareMax Medical Group, LLC prior to the business combination with Deerfield Healthcare Technology Acquisitions Corp. and IMC Medical Group Holdings, LLC ("IMC"). Trademarks This Presentation may contain trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights of other companies, which are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, some of the trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights referred to in this Presentation may be listed without the TM, SM © or ® symbols, but CareMax will assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, the rights of the applicable owners, if any, to these trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights. Projections This Presentation contains projected financial information. Such projected financial information constitutes forward-looking information, is for illustrative purposes only and should not be relied upon as indicative of future results. The assumptions and estimates underlying such projected financial information are inherently uncertain and subject to a wide variety of significant business, economic, competitive and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the projected financial information. See “Forward Looking Statements” paragraph below. Actual results may differ materially from the results contemplated by the projected financial information contained in this Presentation, and the inclusion of such information in this Presentation should not be regarded as a representation by any person that the results reflected in such projections will be achieved. The independent registered public accounting firm of CareMax has not audited, reviewed, compiled, or performed any procedures with respect to the projections for the purpose of their inclusion in this Presentation, and, accordingly, has not expressed an opinion or provided any other form of assurance with respect thereto for the purpose of this Presentation. Forward-Looking Statements This presentation contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding our future growth and strategy. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "budget," "contemplate," "continue," "could," "envision," "estimate," "expect," "guidance," "indicate," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "possibly," "potential," "predict," "probably," "pro-forma," "project," "seek," "should," "target," or "will," or the negative or other variations thereof, and similar words or phrases or comparable terminology, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this presentation. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside the Company’s control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Important risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in forward-looking statements include, among others, the impact of COVID-19 or any variant thereof on the Company's business and results of operation; the availability of sites for medical facilities and the costs of opening such medical facilities; changes in market or industry conditions, regulatory environment, competitive conditions, and receptivity to the Company's services; the Company's ability to continue its growth, including to fill existing patient capacity and grow in new markets; the Company’s ability to integrate acquired businesses; changes in laws and regulations applicable to the Company's business, in particular with respect to Medicare Advantage and Medicaid; the Company's ability to maintain its relationships with health plans and other key payers; any delay, modification or cancellation of government contracts; the Company's future capital requirements and sources and uses of cash, including funds to satisfy its liquidity needs; the Company or any other party’s ability to fulfill contractual obligations; and the Company's ability to recruit and retain qualified team members and independent physicians. For a detailed discussion of the risk factors that could affect the Company's actual results, please refer to the risk factors identified in the Company's reports filed with the SEC. All information provided in this presentation is as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no duty to update or revise this information unless required by law, and forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this presentation.
CareMax at a Glance 32K+ Medicare Advantage Members 2011 Year Founded 45 Medical Centers 100+ Employed Providers 82K+ Total Members We are A founder-led, technology-enabled, whole person healthcare platform providing value-based care and chronic disease management to seniors. Our mission Is to empower care teams to provide high-quality, compassionate care by transforming the primary care delivery model to improve outcomes for patients most in need and to reduce overall costs. We empower providers By providing a medical management platform equipped with data, analytics, and rules-based decision tools and workflows used by physicians across the United States. 100+ Affiliated Providers We offer community health and wellness centers that provide a comprehensive suite of healthcare and social services Note: Metrics as of 12/31/2021.
Agenda 1 2 3 4 5 Overview of CareMax The CareMax Model Core Process & Outcomes Growth Strategy Q&A
Overview of CareMax
Three-year CAGR reflects CareMax growth from year-end 2017 to year-end 2020. Represents 2019 CareMax medical expense ratio (MER); MER defined as external provider cost divided by Medicare and Medicaid risk-based revenue. Membership as of 12/31/2021. We Have Achieved a Number of Key Milestones Founded in 2011 in Miami, Florida to pioneer a whole health approach to value-based care Achieved a compound annual growth rate of 27% from 2017 to 20201 Reduced hospitalizations per thousand by nearly 30% from 2017 to 2020 and achieved medical expense ratio of 67%2 Created a purpose-built technology platform tried and tested by physicians throughout the country Announced collaboration with Anthem health plans to open approximately 50 centers across 8 priority states and to help bring New York City retirees into value-based arrangements Announced strategic relationship with The Related Companies to support opening CareMax’s medical centers in or near affordable housing units owned or affiliated with Related across the country Built a scaled, tech-enabled platform operating across South and Central Florida that is primed for new market expansion Grew Medicare Advantage base to over 32,000 members through organic growth, de novo center openings, and opportunistic and accretive acquisitions3 Founding Vision Regional Scale National Expansion
Vertically integrated care model with in-house specialty network Our Unique Approach Represents Proven Model for Future of VBC Proven track record managing dual eligibles Community approach to care management Long-term strategic relationships Purpose built technology platform Our comprehensive whole person health model delivers best-in-class member outcomes through high-touch, preventative primary care We have a track record of quality patient experience with a Patient Net Promoter Score of 96.7 Our community-focused model delivers a local clinical care approach Multi-pronged growth strategy built for long-term growth driven by de novo openings, strategic relationships, and opportunistic M&A Our proprietary, provider-agnostic technology platform is utilized by 20,000+ providers across the U.S. | http://content-archive.fast-edgar.com/20220113/AN2GH222Z22292B2222M2M42BMKGZK22B242/index.html |
Basharatullah Malik, an MS (marketing) and a PhD scholar, is a Marketing teacher at UCP for the last 10 years, engaged in teaching, training, counseling and supervising research. He had been the, Cluster Head, Director (Evening Program), and has managed CMER & CAL.
With 19 years’ teaching & training and 33+ years corporate experience at Citibank, Hoechst and NFC, CMD (a renowned Training House) and AMDIP (Association of Management Development Institutions in Pakistan) under SAARC. He often speaks as guest speaker at MPDD, DSD, Punjab Judicial Academy PJA & Akhuwat and other Universities. He has trained above 12000 participants.
- Strategic Marketing Management
- Strategic Distribution Network,
- Marketing Management
- Services Marketing
- Global Marketing
- Retailing Management
- Management
- Human Behavior in Organization (OB)
- Business Research Methods / Market Research
- Consumer Behavior
Objective
To learn by sharing knowledge and experience with the new generation. Help them grow by acquiring skills to fulfill responsibilities and contribute to establish a vibrant society
Education
Trainings / Seminar Attended
- Teaching through Case Method LUMS/AMDIP
- Marketing Management Association of Pakistan
- Human Resource Management Cabinet Division
- Entrepreneurial Leadership OCTARA
- Time Management & Goal Setting CMD
Work Experience
2007 to date:
Faculty Member University of Central Punjab UCP
Director, Executive MBA Program, UCP
Head, Center for Management Excellence and Research CMER, UCP
Head, Corporate Academia Linkage, UCP
1999 to 2007: Visiting Faculty Member at: | https://www.ucp.edu.pk/member/mr-basharat-ullah-malik/ |
WE REAFFIRM THE 21ST CENTURY’S SCHOOLING SYSTEM
The core purpose of our school is to impart wholesome good sense helping to develop the individual strengths of our pupils, stirring their imagination, making them explorers into the realms of the mind and the spirit with a studious work habit so that we will have added zest to these young lives and they will experience the joie de vivre which is their right and privilege.
At ATS,we give strong encouragement at a social level, following every child seeing it all through the child’s sensitive young perceptions. Children often fail to fulfill their potential because of what are diagnosed as the environmental factors of home and school ethics. We seek to remedy it.
At ATS we value the innate strength of every child in its journey of life and strive to inspire it with hope and courage. Our primary program is therefore designed to enrich learning, so that early childhood education can extend beyond the limits of today.
Pre-school
Our main focus is to develop adequate muscular co-ordination and basic motor skills, to develop good health habits, to help the child understand, accept and control feelings and emotions, to motivate group participation by providing opportunities to think and create. Children are allowed to explore and discover freely and express their interest and fascination to their new discovery. They are exposed to the idea of friendship and sharing through our special concept days like “Sharing Day” and “Favorite Day”.
Junior KG
Our multidimensional approach enhances optimal child development and helps our children grow as intellectual, confident and healthy individuals. Our creative curriculum and specialized methods of teaching contribute to the children’s Cognitive and emotional development, Communication (talking and listening), Knowledge and understanding of the world, Creative and aesthetic development, Physical development, Mathematical awareness and development.
Senior KG
Teaching method at this level is very interactive which initiates life-long learning. Integrated learning takes place in and out the classroom through problem solving, reading, language, mathematics, manipulative, etc. Children plan their activities, take responsibilities for learning. There is a high scope of learning while the children discuss what they did and how they liked it and what they learned from it. We help them differentiate between positive and negative behaviors. Our children are rewarded for their good choices which boost their confidence.
I Gr. – III Gr
We emphasize on reading, writing and arithmetic skills. Exploration and discovery is the method of our teachers to help students learn conceptually. Students are given ample opportunity to work together, discuss possible solutions, and speculate about theories. They are encouraged to look at many possible ways to solve a problem, not just find one “correct” one. They make observations, ask questions and share their ideas. The outcome is more learning, new ideas and curiosity satisfaction.
IV Gr. – V Gr
Children learn about the values of learning at this age of self discovery. We use a variety of teaching methods in our classrooms to address the differing needs of students. The students work alone, with partners, and in small and large groups. However, they learn to explore the facts, how things work and why it happens and they develop the ability to think “if” and “then” questions. They learn to deal with more than one variable. Fifth graders learn to use the scientific tools to understand experiment and describe the phenomena. They are given opportunities to understand in a broader dimension to apply their knowledge to solve problems.
ABHYAS TECHNO LOWER SECONDARY CURRICULUM – GRADES 6 TO 8
The ABHYAS Techno School Lower Secondary Curriculum (grades 6 to 8 ) framework is designed to engage learners in an active and creative learning journey. It provides a learning pathway in which students can excel in English, Math and Science. It gives teachers an easy-to- implement framework and a simple way to monitor progress.
The Abhyas Techno School Secondary Curriculum is created by experienced authors and teachers, and it provides an international benchmark of achievement, with externally marked Achievement Tests and Certification via Edexcel.
The Abhyas Techno Lower Secondary Curriculum:
- Provides pupils with an introduction to the essential knowledge that they need to be educated global citizens. It introduces pupils to the best that has been thought and said; and helps engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement.
- Enables learners to communicate confidently and effectively in English and to develop basics of critical thinking skills.
- Focuses on problem solving, computational thinking, scientific enquiry, meta cognitive reflection, algorithms, pattern recognition, data analysis, systems, functions and relationships, so that learners apply their innovative thinking to mathematical & scientific knowledge and develop a holistic understanding.
- Is easy to implement and administer, with teacher training and a fully flexible structure that allows teaching alongside other curriculam.
- Supplies ideas for lessons and a framework that allows teachers to embed knowledge creatively.
- Gives teachers and pupils a seamless and cohesive teaching and learning experience, preparing them for higher level qualifications.
- Offers valuable delivery support, with detailed suggestions of published resources embedded within each unit. | https://www.abhyastechnoschool.com/academics/ |
Immerse yourself in a discipline that offers a unique perspective on the complex and changing world we live in and abundant career opportunities - sociology. One of the most stimulating majors offered at Molloy College on Long Island, a Bachelor's degree in sociology will provide you with a wider view of society while preparing you to make an impact on the world.
Anthropology is "the study of people," so if you are interested in human origins, ancient worlds, or global community, the minor in Anthropology is for you. Get a comprehensive understanding of human societies and cultures past and present. Anthropology not only helps students succeed in a very interconnected and complex world, but helps to develop critical thinking and communication skills. It also gives students the confidence to work individually or as part of a group.
A faculty of outstanding scholars. All of Molloy's full-time faculty in sociology hold an advanced degree from a leading university. In addition, half of the full-time faculty have been awarded the Teaching Recognition Award that is given yearly be the Molloy senior class.
Invaluable hands-on experience. All sociology majors have the opportunity to intern and gain valuable experience.
Individualized attention. Come to us for advisement and you'll have our undivided attention. Our faculty spends considerable time with each student to ensure you're making the right course selections for your degree, career goals and personal interests.
Community-based research. Through our advanced research methods course and the Community Research Institute, you'll have ample opportunity to conduct a variety of studies.
Broadly accepted degree. A degree in sociology prepares you to continue your education on the graduate level, or to begin work in your chosen field right away.
Stay connected and follow us on Twitter. | https://www.molloy.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/sociology-and-anthropology |
The pioneering work of American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) makes a useful benchmark for public engagement around organisational purpose. In October 1927, W.S. Gifford, President of AT&T made a speech to the National Association of Railroad and Utilities Commissioners which was one of the few instances in which a major corporation publicly stated the bases on which it hoped to serve the public.
Recognising public relations was a management discipline, he appointed Arthur W. Page as the first public relations executive to serve as an Executive Officer and Board Director of a major public corporation.
Page’s appointment was in response to public resistance to its monopolisation efforts and his role was to increase the public’s appreciation for AT&T’s contributions to society. Page believed that the purpose of public relations was to find a place where the public’s interest and their company’s interest coincided and to engage around it. It was his thought leadership and lifetime practice that earned him his reputation as being regarded ‘the father of public relations’ and laid the foundations for The Arthur W. Page Society.
In his time at AT&T, Page was fortunate to work with Chester Barnard whose 1938 book, The Functions of the Executive, pioneered thinking in management theory and organisational studies.
With a heavy focus on improving reputation, the PR function at BNFL had moved BNFL from tabloid headlines to the business pages, rebranded the company and created its first above-the-line marketing campaign.
The objective was to create universal support for the company strategy to achieve private-public partnership (PPP). Favourability and familiarity of the BNFL brand had never been so high - BNFL was on course to become a flagship PPP. A journey that was deemed unstoppable but it proved to be a titanic task, in more ways than one.
In pursuit of growing the brand and delivering the strategy to achieve commercial freedom from the shackles of the DTI, the leadership team hit an iceberg.
They had become so blinded to significant cultural issues that lay under the surface of the corporate facade, their reputation had got ahead of their performance. A major safety related scandal resulted along with some of the most ferocious criticism ever heaped on a British commercial organisation. Four workers lost their jobs. Regulators, government, MPs and NGOs poured scorn on its leadership and, under growing pressure from a major Japanese customer, the CEO, FD and HRD eventually had to abandon ship.
Ironically, the crash in stakeholder confidence came two years after the introduction of, arguably, the most intensive, consistent and difficult engagement with stakeholders ever undertaken for a European organisation and a first for the industry.
BNFL’s National Stakeholder Dialogue involved a wide range of individuals and organisations interested in or concerned about nuclear issues and aims. When it began, it was a groundbreaking exercise for the Company, from an international viewpoint as much as for external stakeholders.
I captured the learnings from the process in a paper ‘Stakeholder dialogue - a new paradigm for a new millennium’ submitted to the World Energy Council 18th Congress in Buenos Aries in 2001. It flagged the risk of discontinuous or too frequent involvement resulting in involvement fatigue and drop-out of stakeholders in the follow-up processes.
A couple of years into the BNFL process two high profile NGOs – Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth – left the dialogue. A key learning.
Today, executive leaders in boardrooms and conference rooms across the world are talking about purpose beyond profit.
These discussions have topped the agenda at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting at Davos and has spawned new service offerings from leading consultancy firms. There appears to be a disconnect between these conversations and consultations and leadership action.
Lord Browne’s book was clearly influenced by Page’s work and his rebranding of BP was seen as a way to strengthen a common sense of purpose and symbolised their commitment to values including safety, respect and excellence. Subsequent events like Texas City Refinery and Deep Water Horizon raise concerns about the culture behind the brand and suggest the rebranding of BP was a triumph of style over substance.
Stakeholder engagement can be defined as the positive intellectual, emotional and behavioural state of stakeholders directed toward enhancing reputation and performance. Three universal enablers to reputation and performance are strategy, culture and brand - none of them are mutually exclusive and none of them can claim bragging rights for eating another for breakfast. Just as was demonstrated by BNFL and BP, you ignore any one of them at your peril.
The purpose of this chapter was to highlight the gap between the theory and practice of corporate public relations over the past century. Despite the title, there is nothing radical about the model or the thinking presented, what could be radical is the application of the wisdom of Arthur W. Page and PR grasping the opportunity to take a leadership role.
There has never been a better time to focus on three of the seven Page Principles: listen to your stakeholders, manage for tomorrow and conduct public relations as if the whole enterprise depends on it. Wise words indeed.
Sean Trainor is an independent change communications and employee engagement consultant. A professional engineer by background, his career in communications has spanned over 15 years with senior in-house roles for BNFL, BBC and Network Rail. Sean has also acted as senior counsel for brands including Barclaycard, Nissan, British Gas and British American Tobacco. He is a former CIPR Board Member and Chair of CIPR Inside. | https://www.futureproofingcomms.co.uk/thelatest/fp2-ch07 |
Extraordinary Costumes From Film & Television Exhibit – Why Charleston?
Description: Out of this World: Extraordinary Costumes from Film and Television Organized by Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, Seattle, Washington February 7 through May 10, 2009 Costumes play a crucial role in defining characters for visual storytelling media such as films. This exhibition examines how costume design incorporates color, style, scale, materials, historical traditions and cultural cues to help performers and audiences engage in the characters. | http://whycharlestonwv.com/events/extraordinary-costumes-from-film-television-exhibit/ |
A Pristine Paradise: Egmont Key
There’s no adventure like an Egmont Key adventure! If you’ve ever dreamt of exploring your very own deserted island, then a day trip to Egmont Key State Park may just be the next best thing.
With its crystal-clear waters, miles of white sand beaches, diverse wildlife and interesting history, this National Wildlife Refuge is a true escape.
Wildlife Watching
About half of the 280-acre island is reserved for wildlife, though you’re likely to see plenty in the areas where humans are welcome, too. Between 1,000 and 1,500 gopher tortoises roam the island and, typically, 30 to 70 loggerhead sea turtles nest here each year.
The southern part of the island—about 97 acres—is a dedicated bird sanctuary. On your visit, you’re likely to see some of the island’s 117 species of nesting, migratory and wintering birds, including osprey, brown pelicans, royal and sandwich terns, laughing gulls and black skimmers. Visit between April and August to experience the sights and sounds of literally thousands of birds roosting together. (Please respect wildlife and nesting areas and keep a comfortable distance.)
Historic Sites on Egmont Key
Although you won’t find any contemporary man-made structures on the island, there are some interesting historical ones: the ruins of Fort Dade (a military garrison built during the Spanish-American War in 1898) and a working lighthouse that’s more than 150 years old. The lighthouse is a relic of the prominent role the island played in Florida’s Seminole Indian War in 1854 as well as the Civil War. Immerse yourself in the island’s rich past by walking around Fort Dade, including a carriage brick road, sidewalks, gun batteries and a guardhouse.
The guardhouse building has been restored to serve as a visitor center and small museum (hours are sporadic). Learn more about the island’s environment and heritage through wildlife and history exhibits here.
More Fun Things to Do
Sunbathe and swim, stroll on the beach searching for shells and snorkel around the submerged historical batteries of the fort. There are plenty of shady paths to explore and photograph, too.
Getting to Egmont Key
Take the Egmont Key Ferry from the Bay Pier inside Fort De Soto Park to the island. Plan on starting your wildlife viewing from the boat—dolphin sightings are common. It’s best to book in advance. See the roundtrip schedule and make a reservation here. You can also book a snorkeling cruise through the Egmont Key Ferry, with rental masks, snorkels and fins available.
Another option is the half-day Egmont Key Dolphin Cruise, a dolphin-watching and snorkeling cruise that departs twice a day from Gulfport.
Two additional charter boat companies provide excursions to Egmont Key: | https://visitstpeteclearwater.com/article/pristine-paradise-egmont-key |
Sometimes it’s just easier to open a jar and heat. This recipe is the exception. We use ingredients you already have in your pantry to open, smash, chop, stir and heat this simple pasta sauce in just 15 minutes. Trust me, sometimes it really can be that simple.
Five Steps to Super Simple Tomato Sauce
2014-01-19 17:17:47
Ingredients
- 2 cups strained tomato puree
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried
- 1 Tbs. olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Measure 2 cups of tomato puree
- Smash, peel, and finely mince garlic
- Peel off thyme leaves and rough chop (or measure out dried thyme)
- Put all ingredients into a small pot with a lid
- Cook on a low simmer for 15 minutes, covered
JoyFoodly https://www.joyfoodly.com/
Chef Hollie Greene
Founder, CEO at JoyFoodly
Chef Hollie is a vegetable enthusiast and food educator with a mission to transform kids’ relationship with food. Hollie founded JoyFoodly, a San Francisco mission based company, to create a new food culture where kids and families celebrate the JOY of good food together. Hollie is passionate about helping parents feel good about the food they feed their kids. | https://www.joyfoodly.com/simple-tomato-sauce/ |
Hey guys! So I know you probably think refried beans are obviously vegan right? The fact is most of the time they aren’t, most recipes call for beef broth! So here’s our McDougall suitable version!
Soak a small bag of pinto beans overnight in enough water to cover them by 2-3 inches
Pressure cook them for 30 mins until they’re completely tender and ready to mash.
1 vidalia onion diced very finely
Vegetable Broth
2 cloves of garlic crushed
In a deep sautee pan cover the bottom with vegetable broth, place onions and garlic in and “sautee” them until the onions are soft and translucent, DO NOT brown. With a large slotted spoon transfer beans to the sautee pan (some juice will come with them, that’s fine). Stir these together and begin to mash them, and if needed add another splash or two of vegetable broth (we use our Pampered Chef Mix and Chop) simmer them, just barely all the while stirring and mashing until they look like proper refried beans. | https://frugalfrannie.com/2018/01/04/vegan-refried-beans/ |
Over the past century of recorded evidence, Cuban popular music has undergone great stylistic changes, especially regarding the piano tumbao. Hybridity in the Cuban/Latin context has taken place on different levels to varying extents involving instruments, genres, melody, harmony, rhythm, and musical structures. This hybridity has involved melding, fusing, borrowing, repurposing, adopting, adapting, and substituting. But quantifying and pinpointing these processes has been difficult because each variable or parameter embodies a history and a walking archive of sonic aesthetics. In an attempt to classify and quantify precise parameters involved in hybridity, this dissertation presents a paradigmatic model, organizing music into vocabularies, repertories, and abstract procedures.
Cuba's pianistic vocabularies are used very interactively, depending on genre, composite ensemble texture, vocal timbre, performing venue, and personal taste. These vocabularies include: melodic phrases, harmonic progressions, rhythmic cells and variation schemes to replace repetition with methodical elaboration of the piano tumbao as a main theme. These pianistic vocabularies comprise what we actually hear.
Repertories, such as pre-composed songs, ensemble arrangements, and open- ended montuno and solo sections, situate and contextualize what we hear in real life musical performances.
Abstract procedures are the thoughts, aesthetics, intentions, and parametric rules governing what Cuban/Latin pianists consider possible. Abstract procedures alter vocabularies by displacing, expanding, contracting, recombining, permuting, and layering them.
As Cuba's popular musics find homes in its musical diaspora (the United States, Latin America and Europe), Cuban pianists have sought to differentiate their craft from global salsa and Latin jazz pianists. Expanding the piano's gestural/textural vocabulary beyond pre-Revolutionary traditions and performance practices, the timba piano tumbao is a powerful marker of Cuban identity and musical pride, transcending national borders and cultural boundaries.
Recommended Citation
Fiol, Orlando Enrique, "Cubaneo In Latin Piano: A Parametric Approach To Gesture, Texture, And Motivic Variation" (2018). Publicly Accessible Penn Dissertations. 3112. | https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/3112/ |
# Stewart Peak (Colorado)
Stewart Peak, elevation 13,983 ft (4,262 m), is a summit in Colorado. The peak is the second highest thirteener (a peak between 13,000 and 13,999 feet in elevation) in the state. It is located in the La Garita Mountains, sub-range of the San Juan Mountains, in Saguache County, within the La Garita Wilderness. Stewart Peak is the 55th highest peak in Colorado by most standard definitions, just missing the list of Colorado fourteeners. At one time, the peak's elevation was measured to be over 14,000 ft and it was believed to be a fourteener, but more recent and accurate surveys have dropped it below that threshold.
## History
The first recorded ascent was on September 23, 1879, by the surveying party of Emmanuel Lee Patrick on behalf of the U.S. government. Stewart Peak and Stewart creek were both named after the first family to settle in the area. The peak was named in honor of William Mathews Stewart II. | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewart_Peak_(Colorado) |
TECHNICAL FIELD
BACKGROUND
SUMMARY
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
This disclosure relates to a lighting arrangement.
It is known to equip motor vehicles with front headlamps, the light from which is adapted to a respective driving situation of the motor vehicle. Such systems are also referred to as adaptive front lighting systems or as active forward lighting (AFS). Such headlamps may, for example, have mobile lenses to achieve improved lighting of a bend while driving around a bend. It is likewise known to configure such headlamps with a multiplicity of discretely driven light-emitting diode components that can be individually switched on and off according to the geometry of the desired lighting.
It could nonetheless be helpful to provide improved lighting arrangements.
I provide a lighting arrangement including a light source, a taper, and a two-dimensional image generator, wherein the taper guides light from the light source to the two-dimensional image generator, and the lighting arrangement is configured as a motor vehicle headlamp.
My lighting arrangement comprises a light source, a taper and a two-dimensional image generator. The taper is intended to guide light from the light source to the two-dimensional image generator. Advantageously, the two-dimensional image generator of the lighting arrangement may generate a spatial light field with variable geometry from light generated by the light source. The two-dimensional image generator in this case allows great variability and accurate adjustability of the geometry of the light field being generated. No modification of the light source is required to vary the light field generated by the lighting arrangement. This makes it possible to configure the light source as an economic or high-power point or surface light source.
The light source may comprise a laser diode. Advantageously, the light source of the lighting arrangement may thereby be configured to generate a high luminous flux. In this case, the light source can have compact dimensions and be inexpensively producible.
The light source may comprise a light-emitting diode. Advantageously, the light source may thereby also be configured to generate a high luminous flux, have compact dimensions and be inexpensively producible.
A diaphragm may be arranged between the light source and the taper. In this case, a side of the diaphragm facing toward the taper has mirroring. In this way, light scattered back or reflected in the lighting arrangement in the direction of the light source can be reflected again at the mirroring of the diaphragm and thereby be delivered for use. Advantageously, brightness losses in the lighting arrangement due to light reflected or scattered back in the direction of the light source can thereby be reduced or eliminated. In this way, the lighting arrangement can advantageously be configured with a high efficiency and to use a high optical power.
The lighting arrangement may comprise a converter material that converts a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation. In this case, the converter material may, for example, be configured to absorb electromagnetic radiation with a first wavelength and emit electromagnetic radiation with a second, typically longer, wavelength. In particular, the converter material may be configured to at least partially absorb electromagnetic radiation (for example, visible light) emitted by the light source of the lighting arrangement and convert it into electromagnetic radiation with a different wavelength. The converter material of the lighting arrangement is therefore suitable for modifying a light color of light generated by the light source of the lighting arrangement. The light source of the lighting arrangement may, for example, be configured to emit electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength in the blue spectral range. The converter material of the lighting arrangement may be configured to convert this electromagnetic radiation into white light.
A polarization-dependently reflecting sheet may be arranged in the optical beam path of the lighting arrangement between the taper and the two-dimensional image generator. The polarization-dependently reflecting sheet may thus be configured so that light with a first polarization direction can pass through the sheet, while light with a second polarization direction is reflected by the sheet. Light passing through the sheet may have an essentially uniform polarization direction. Light reflected at the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet may return to the converter material, be scattered and/or reabsorbed there, and subsequently with a certain likelihood reach the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet with a polarization direction that allows transmission through the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet. Advantageously, more than half of the light striking the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet can pass through the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet and, after passing through the sheet, has an essentially uniform polarization direction. The polarization direction may, for example, be matched to a preferred polarization direction of the two-dimensional image generator.
A retardation plate may be arranged in the optical beam path of the lighting arrangement between the taper and the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet. The retardation plate may also be referred to as an optical retarder. The retardation plate may be configured to rotate a polarization of light passing through the retardation plate by 45°. The fraction of this light transmitted at the polarization dependently reflecting sheet is essentially not changed thereby. Light reaching the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet from the light source of the lighting arrangement for the first time with randomly distributed polarization directions then experiences a rotation of its polarization by 45° when passing through the retardation plate for the first time. The fraction of this light transmitted at the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet is essentially not changed thereby. Light reflected at the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet passes through the retardation plate once more and may, for example, be reflected in the light source or at the mirroring of the diaphragm, whereupon it passes through the retardation plate for a third time before it reaches the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet again. By the twofold further passage through the retardation plate, the polarization direction of this light has now been rotated by 90° so that this time it can pass through the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet. Advantageously, a fraction of the light in total passing through the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet can also be increased in this way so that a high efficiency of the lighting arrangement is obtained.
The two-dimensional image generator may be configured as a liquid-crystal arrangement. In this case, the liquid-crystal arrangement can be configured as a two-dimensional pixel matrix. Advantageously, the two-dimensional image generator may therefore generate, from the light generated by the light source of the lighting arrangement, a two-dimensional light field with a geometry predeterminable by the pixel matrix of the liquid-crystal arrangement.
The two-dimensional image generator may be configured as a monochromatic, i.e. non color-selective, liquid-crystal arrangement. In this way, the liquid-crystal arrangement does not need to have separate cells for different light colors. This advantageously reduces light losses in the liquid-crystal arrangement of the two-dimensional image generator. Furthermore, the two-dimensional image generator is therefore producible inexpensively.
The two-dimensional image generator may be configured as a transparent liquid-crystal arrangement. The two-dimensional image generator may then also be referred to as an LCD. The transparency of the two-dimensional image generator is in this case advantageously adjustable so that the light passing through the two-dimensional image generator configured as a transparent liquid-crystal arrangement can be modulated two-dimensionally.
The two-dimensional image generator may be configured as a reflecting liquid-crystal arrangement. The two-dimensional image generator may then also be referred to as an LCOS. The two-dimensional image generator then makes it possible to two-dimensionally modulate a polarization direction of light reflected at the two-dimensional image generator. At each pixel of the pixel matrix of the two-dimensional image generator configured as a reflecting liquid-crystal arrangement, a polarization direction of light being reflected can then selectively be either rotated or not rotated.
A polarization beam splitter may be arranged in the optical beam path of the lighting arrangement between the taper and the two-dimensional image generator. Advantageously, a beam can be split polarization-dependently by the polarization beam splitter. This makes it possible to remove, from light reflected at the two-dimensional image generator configured as a reflecting liquid-crystal arrangement, those fractions whose polarization has not been rotated by the two-dimensional image generator configured as a reflecting liquid-crystal arrangement. This makes it possible for the two-dimensional image generator to two-dimensionally modulate light emerging from the polarization beam splitter.
The two-dimensional image generator may be configured as a micromirror arrangement. The micromirror arrangement may also be referred to as a digital micromirror device (DMD). The two-dimensional image generator configured as a micromirror arrangement may have a two-dimensional array of micromechanical mirrors. Each of the micromechanical mirrors makes it possible for light striking the two-dimensional image generator configured as a micromirror arrangement to be reflected in an adjustable direction. This makes it possible to two-dimensionally modulate light reflected at the two-dimensional image generator configured as a micromirror arrangement.
A prism may be arranged in the optical beam path of the lighting arrangement between the taper and the two-dimensional image generator. The prism of the lighting arrangement may advantageously be used to deviate light generated by the light source of the lighting arrangement and guided to the prism by the taper of the lighting arrangement onto the two-dimensional image generator configured as a micromirror arrangement and to forward light reflected by the two-dimensional image generator configured as a micromirror arrangement inside the lighting arrangement. To this end, the prism may have an interface which either totally reflects or transmits light striking the interface, depending on an angle of incidence.
The lighting arrangement may comprise an optical projection element arranged downstream of the two-dimensional image generator in the optical beam path of the lighting arrangement. The optical projection element may comprise a projection lens, for example. The optical projection element of the lighting arrangement may be used to project light generated by the lighting arrangement and modulated two-dimensionally into a spatial region to be illuminated by the lighting arrangement.
The lighting arrangement may be configured as a headlamp for a motor vehicle. Advantageously, the lighting arrangement allows illumination of a variable part of an environment of the motor vehicle.
The two-dimensional image generator may have a higher resolution in a first spatial direction than in a second spatial direction. For example, the two-dimensional image generator may have a higher resolution in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction, for example, with a resolution which is at least two times or, preferably, at least three times as high. This has the advantage that the lighting arrangement allows a finer variation of the illumination generated by the lighting arrangement in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction. If the lighting arrangement is configured as a headlamp for a motor vehicle, this allows particularly fine variation of the emitted light in the height and distance directions.
The two-dimensional image generator may comprise image points of different size. For example, image points in a central region of the image generator may have a smaller size and therefore be arranged more densely next to one another than in an outer region of the two-dimensional image generator. This has the advantage that the lighting arrangement allows a finer variation in the central region of the illumination generated by the lighting arrangement than in the outer region of the illumination generated by the lighting arrangement. If the lighting arrangement is configured as a headlamp for a motor vehicle, this allows a particularly fine variation of the emitted light in the particularly important central region of the light cone.
The above-described properties, features and advantages, as well as the way in which they are achieved, will become more clearly and comprehensively understandable in connection with the following description of examples, which will be explained in more detail in connection with the drawings.
FIG. 1
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shows a highly schematized view of a first lighting arrangement . The first lighting arrangement may, for example, serve as a headlamp, in particular as a front headlamp, of a motor vehicle. The first lighting arrangement allows adaptive illumination of an environment of the motor vehicle which may, for example, be adaptable to a driving situation of the motor vehicle. Adaptation of the illumination may, for example, comprise a horizontal and/or vertical displacement and/or a size change and/or shape change of a region illuminated by the first lighting arrangement in the environment of the motor vehicle. Adaptation of the illumination may, for example, be carried out as a function of the driving speed of the motor vehicle, driving the motor vehicle around a bend, a pitch or roll movement of the motor vehicle, a type of road on which the motor vehicle is being driven, as a function of the presence of other oncoming or preceding vehicles, and/or as a function of a brightness of ambient light.
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The first lighting arrangement has a light source . The light source generates visible light. Preferably, the light source is configured to generate visible light with a white light color comprising electromagnetic radiation with different wavelengths. Light generated by the light source of the first lighting arrangement leaves the light source essentially in a first beam direction .
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The first lighting arrangement has an optical taper arranged downstream of the first light source such that light emerging from the light source in the first beam direction reaches the taper . The taper may be configured as a fiber-optic component. The taper has an input side facing toward the light source and an output side facing away from the light source . At its output side , the taper has a larger diameter than at its input side . Between its input side and its output side , the taper therefore widens frustopyramidally or frustoconically.
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The taper is used to guide light generated by the light source from the input side to the output side of the taper and to emit it at the output side . Furthermore, the taper is used to reduce beam divergence of the light emitted at the output side of the taper relative to beam divergence of the light generated by the light source and input into the taper at the input side of the taper . This may be done by reflection at the lateral surfaces of the taper , for example, by total internal reflection or by reflection at a reflective coating of the lateral surfaces of the taper . The light generated by the light source and input into the taper at the input side of the taper may, for example, have a divergence of +/−90°. Light output at the output side of the taper may, for example, have a divergence of +/−10°.
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The light source of the first lighting arrangement may, for example, have one or more optoelectronic semiconductor chips intended to emit light. show possible configurations of the light source .
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shows a schematic representation of a laser diode light source . The laser diode light source has a laser diode . The laser diode may, in particular, be a semiconductor laser diode. The laser diode is configured to generate a light beam. For example, the laser diode may be configured to generate a light beam with a wavelength in the blue spectral range.
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The laser diode light source furthermore has a diaphragm with a diaphragm opening . The diaphragm opening may also be referred to as an aperture. The diaphragm opening may, for example, be configured in the shape of a circular disk. Arranged between the laser diode and the diaphragm , there is an optical element intended to project a laser beam emitted by the laser diode into the diaphragm opening . The optical element may, for example, have a converging lens. As an alternative, the laser diode can also be arranged so close to the diaphragm that the laser beam emitted by the laser diode enters the diaphragm opening directly. In this case, the optical element may be omitted.
1130
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The diaphragm may be configured as a cooling plate or be thermally conductively connected to a suitable cooling device to dissipate heat formed in the diaphragm .
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The laser diode light source can also comprise more than one laser diode . In this case, the diaphragm may have one diaphragm opening per laser diode . As an alternative, the laser beams of all the laser diodes can be projected into a common diaphragm opening . To this end, the diaphragm opening can also be configured as an elongate slit.
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A converter is arranged between a side of the diaphragm facing away from the laser diode and the input side of the taper . Laser light from the laser diode passing through the diaphragm opening of the diaphragm therefore strikes the converter . The converter is configured to absorb at least a part of the laser light from the laser diode striking the converter and in turn to emit light with a different, typically longer, wavelength. A mixture of light emitted by the laser diode and not absorbed by the converter with light emitted by the converter may, for example, have a white light color. The converter may, for example, have a luminescent material, for instance an organic or inorganic luminescent material. The converter may also have quantum dots.
1160
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Light emerging from the converter can enter the taper at the input side of the taper . Light leaving the converter may have a large beam divergence and a randomly distributed polarization.
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Mirroring is preferably arranged on the side of the diaphragm facing toward the converter . The mirroring may be used to reflect light emerging in the direction of the diaphragm from the converter in the direction of the taper . The mirroring may also be used to reflect light scattered back in the direction of the diaphragm from the taper back to the taper . The diaphragm opening of the diaphragm preferably has a much smaller cross-sectional area than the input side of the taper . In this way, light losses due to light scattered back in the direction of the diaphragm are kept small.
FIG. 3
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2110
shows a schematic representation of a light-emitting diode light source . The light-emitting diode light source has a multiplicity of light-emitting diodes , which in the example represented are arranged as a two-dimensional array close to the input side of the taper . The light-emitting diodes can, however, also be arranged in a different way. It is also possible to configure the light-emitting diode light source with only a single light-emitting diode .
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FIG. 2
The light-emitting diodes are configured to emit electromagnetic radiation, for example, visible light with a wavelength in the blue spectral range. Each light-emitting diode has, on its side facing toward the input side of the taper , a converter configured to convert a light color of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the light-emitting diode . For example, the converter may be configured to generate white light from the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the light-emitting diode . To this end, the converter may absorb a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the light-emitting diode and in turn emit electromagnetic radiation with a different wavelength. The converter may also be configured in a similar way to the converter of the laser diode light source of .
2120
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Light emerging from the converter can enter the taper at the input side of the taper . The light leaving the converter may have a large beam divergence and a randomly distributed polarization direction.
2120
2110
2100
A surface, facing toward the converter , of each light-emitting diode of the light-emitting diode light source may at least in sections be configured to be optically reflective.
10
500
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500
FIG. 1
The first lighting arrangement , schematically represented in , has a first two-dimensional image generator . The first two-dimensional image generator is configured as a transparent liquid-crystal arrangement. The first two-dimensional image generator may also be referred to as an LCD. Preferably, the first two-dimensional image generator is configured as a monochromatic transparent liquid-crystal arrangement. In this case, the first two-dimensional image generator only has one type of liquid-crystal cell, and not separate liquid-crystal cells for different light colors. In this way, the first two-dimensional image generator configured as a monochromatic transparent liquid-crystal arrangement can have a high transmission.
500
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The first two-dimensional image generator has a two-dimensional array of liquid-crystal cells, which form a pixel matrix. The pixels, formed by the liquid-crystal cells, of the first two-dimensional image generator may also be referred to as image points. The pixel matrix of the first two-dimensional image generator is arranged perpendicularly to the first beam direction and parallel to the output side of the taper .
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Each image point of the first two-dimensional image generator can be adjusted, independently of the other image points such that light from the taper , with a predetermined polarization direction, striking the respective image point of the first two-dimensional image generator can either pass through the relevant image point of the first two-dimensional image generator or is absorbed. To this end, for example, the first two-dimensional image generator may have two polarization filters arranged on either side of the first two-dimensional image generator , which are rotated by 90° relative to one another. Each image point of the first two-dimensional image generator can then adjustably rotate a polarization direction of light passing through the image point by 90°, or not rotate it.
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Independently of the adjustable transmission of the individual image points of the first two-dimensional image generator configured as a transparent liquid-crystal arrangement, only light with a predetermined polarization direction can pass through the first two-dimensional image generator . In the first lighting arrangement , therefore, a polarization-dependently reflecting sheet is arranged between the output side of the taper and the first two-dimensional image generator . The polarization-dependently reflecting sheet is oriented perpendicularly to the first beam direction . The polarization-dependently reflecting sheet is configured either to reflect or transmit light striking the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet as a function of the polarization direction of the light. In this case, the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet is oriented such that the polarization direction of the light passing through the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet corresponds to the polarization direction which can also pass through the first two-dimensional image generator . The polarization-dependently reflecting sheet may also be referred to as a film and may, for example, be configured as an inorganic film.
500
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Light, with the polarization direction not suitable for the first two-dimensional image generator , reflected at the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet , returns to the taper , passes through the latter from the output side to the input side , and can be at least partially absorbed in the converter , of the light source and re-emitted with a sometimes modified polarization direction. The re-emitted light in turn passes through the taper to the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet where it has another opportunity to pass through the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet and reach the first two-dimensional image generator . The polarization-dependently reflecting sheet thus increases the fraction of the light generated by the light source which reaches the first two-dimensional image generator with the polarization direction suitable for the first two-dimensional image generator .
10
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In the first lighting arrangement , a retardation plate is arranged between the output side of the taper and the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet . The retardation plate may also be referred to as an optical retarder. The retardation plate is oriented perpendicularly to the first beam direction and therefore parallel to the output side of the taper and to the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet .
300
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10
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The retardation plate is configured to rotate a polarization direction of light passing through the retardation plate by 45°. In this way, the retardation plate can further increase the fraction of the light generated by the light source of the first lighting arrangement which reaches the first two-dimensional image generator with the polarization direction suitable for the first two-dimensional image generator .
300
100
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400
During the first pass through the retardation plate , light generated by the light source experiences a rotation of its polarization direction by 45°. Since the polarization directions of the light emerging from the light source are essentially distributed randomly, the size of the fraction of the light which can pass through the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet is essentially not changed thereby.
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The fraction of the light reflected at the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet passes through the retardation plate once more and experiences a further rotation of its polarization direction by 45°. The light reflected at the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet passes back through the taper to the light source . If it is not absorbed there in the converter , , the light can be reflected at the mirroring of the diaphragm of the laser diode light source or at the upper side of the light-emitting diodes of the light-emitting diode light source , without the polarization direction thereby being changed. The light reflected in this way passes once more through the taper and the retardation plate , and during this it experiences a further rotation of its polarization direction by 45°. Since the polarization direction of this light has now been rotated by 90° relative to the last time it struck the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet , the light can this time pass through the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet and reach the first two-dimensional image generator with the polarization direction suitable for the first two-dimensional image generator .
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The polarization-dependently reflecting sheet and the retardation plate can therefore increase the fraction of the light generated by the light source , which reaches the first two-dimensional image generator with the polarization direction suitable for the first two-dimensional image generator , to more than 50%. The retardation plate may, however, also be omitted. The polarization-dependently reflecting sheet may also be omitted.
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The first two-dimensional image generator transmits only a part of the light striking the first two-dimensional image generator . In this case, for each image point of the two-dimensional image generator , it is possible to adjust individually whether light striking the respective image point can pass through the first two-dimensional image generator . The first two-dimensional image generator thus induces two-dimensional modulation of the light distribution.
10
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The first lighting arrangement has an optical projection element arranged downstream of the first two-dimensional image generator in the optical beam path of the first lighting arrangement . The optical projection element may, for example, comprise a projection lens and/or one or more mirrors. The optical projection element is configured to project light which has passed through the first two-dimensional image generator and is two-dimensionally modulated into a spatial region to be illuminated by the first lighting arrangement . For example, the optical projection element may be configured to project the light modulated by the first two-dimensional image generator onto a road in front of a motor vehicle. In a simplified configuration of the first lighting arrangement , the optical projection element may be omitted.
10
100
Taking into account all losses incurred in the first lighting arrangement , for example, from 20% to 25% of the luminous flux generated by the light source can be projected onto the road.
FIG. 4
FIG. 1
FIG. 4
FIG. 1
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20
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shows a schematic representation of a second lighting arrangement . The second lighting arrangement has correspondences with the first lighting arrangement of . Component parts of the first lighting arrangement which are also present in the second lighting arrangement are provided with the same references in as in and will not be described again in detail below. In what follows, only the differences between the second lighting arrangement and the first lighting arrangement will be explained.
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FIG. 2
FIG. 3
The second lighting arrangement has a light source that emits light in a first beam direction , inputs it at an input side into a taper , and transports it to an output side . The light source may, for example, be configured in a similar way to the laser diode light source of or the light-emitting diode light source of .
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FIG. 4
In the optical beam path of the second lighting arrangement , following the output side of the taper , the second lighting arrangement has a polarization-dependently reflecting sheet . There is no retardation plate in the second lighting arrangement represented by way of example in , although there can be one between the output side of the taper and the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet . As an alternative, besides the retardation plate , the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet can also be omitted from the second lighting arrangement .
500
20
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Instead of the first two-dimensional image generator , in the second lighting arrangement a second two-dimensional image generator is provided. The second two-dimensional image generator is configured as a reflecting liquid-crystal arrangement, preferably as a monochromatic reflecting liquid-crystal arrangement. The second two-dimensional image generator configured as a reflecting liquid-crystal arrangement may also be referred to as an LCoS display.
1500
1500
The second two-dimensional image generator has a two-dimensional array of optically reflecting liquid-crystal cells, which form a matrix of pixels or image points. For each image point of the second two-dimensional image generator , it is possible to adjust individually whether or not a polarization direction of light reflected at the respective image point is to be rotated by 90°.
1500
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The second two-dimensional image generator is oriented parallel to the first beam direction , i.e. perpendicularly to the output side of the taper .
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A polarization beam splitter is arranged in the optical beam path of the second lighting arrangement between the output side of the taper and the second two-dimensional image generator . The polarization beam splitter has a splitter plane , at which light reaching the splitter plane in the first beam direction from the output side of the taper is deviated perpendicularly in the direction of the second two-dimensional image generator .
1500
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The light reaching the second two-dimensional image generator is reflected at the image points of the second two-dimensional image generator , a polarization direction of the reflected light either being rotated by 90° or remaining unchanged as a function of the settings of the individual image points.
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The light reflected by the second two-dimensional image generator in a second beam direction again strikes the splitter plane of the polarization beam splitter. Those fractions of the light striking the splitter plane of the polarization beam splitter again whose polarization direction has not been rotated during the reflection at the second two-dimensional image generator are reflected again at the splitter plane of the polarization beam splitter and are therefore deviated perpendicularly in the direction of the output side of the taper . Those fractions of the light reflected at the second two-dimensional image generator whose polarization direction has been rotated during the reflection at the second two-dimensional image generator , however, are deviated again by the polarization beam splitter and emerge from the polarization beam splitter in the second beam direction oriented perpendicularly to the first beam direction .
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20
The light not deviated during the second passage through the polarization beam splitter and emerging from the polarization beam splitter in the second beam direction is two-dimensionally modulated by the image points of the second two-dimensional image generator . By an optical projection element , which follows the polarization beam splitter in the second beam direction , the two-dimensionally modulated light can be deviated into a space to be illuminated by the second lighting arrangement , for example, onto a road in front of a motor vehicle.
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That part of the light reflected at the second two-dimensional image generator reflected back into the taper during the second passage through the polarization beam splitter is mixed homogeneously inside the taper , i.e. it has its two-dimensional modulation induced by the second two-dimensional image generator removed. The light travels via the input side to the light source of the second lighting arrangement , where it can be reflected or reabsorbed and emitted again. Reabsorption and re-emission may, for example, take place in the converter , . Reflection may, for example, take place at the mirroring of the diaphragm or at the reflective surface of the light-emitting diodes . The reflected or re-emitted light subsequently travels again to the input side of the taper and is guided again to the second two-dimensional image generator by the taper .
20
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In the second lighting arrangement , therefore, at least a part of the unrequired light of switched-off image points of the second two-dimensional image generator is recovered and sent to the second two-dimensional image generator again. In this way, the second lighting arrangement can have a particularly high efficiency.
20
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To prevent a luminous density of light projected by the second lighting arrangement into an environment to be illuminated from varying with the number of active image points of the second two-dimensional image generator , the light source of the second lighting arrangement may be regulated as a function of the number of active, i.e. switched-on, image points of the second two-dimensional image generator . In this case, for example, the brightness and color locus of the light source may be separately corrected by varying the PWM frequency and the operating current.
FIG. 5
FIG. 1
FIG. 5
FIG. 1
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shows a schematic representation of a third lighting arrangement . The third lighting arrangement has correspondences with the first lighting arrangement of . Component parts of the first lighting arrangement also present in the third lighting arrangement are provided with the same references in as in and will not be described again in detail below. In what follows, only the differences between the third lighting arrangement and the first lighting arrangement will be explained.
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FIG. 2
FIG. 3
The third lighting arrangement also has a light source that emits light in a first beam direction . The light source may, for example, be configured in a way similar to the laser diode light source of or the light-emitting diode light source of . Light emitted by the light source in the first beam direction enters a taper at an input side and is guided thereby to an output side . The retardation plate and the polarization-dependently reflecting sheet are preferably omitted from the third lighting arrangement .
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Instead of the first two-dimensional image generator , the third lighting arrangement has a third two-dimensional image generator . The third two-dimensional image generator is configured as a micromirror arrangement. The third two-dimensional image generator configured as a micromirror arrangement has a two-dimensional array of micromechanical mirrors, which form a matrix of pixels or image points. Each micromechanical micromirror can be adjusted independently of the other micromirrors to reflect light striking the respective micromirror in one of at least two different spatial directions.
2500
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The two-dimensional array of micromirrors of the third two-dimensional image generator , configured as a micromirror arrangement, of the third lighting arrangement is oriented parallel to the first beam direction and therefore perpendicularly to the output side of the taper .
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A prism is arranged in the optical beam path of the third lighting arrangement between the output side of the taper and the third two-dimensional image generator . The prism is used to deviate light emitted in the first beam direction at the output side of the taper in the direction of the third two-dimensional image generator . To this end, the prism has an interface that totally reflects the light coming from the output side of the taper in the direction of the third two-dimensional image generator .
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At the third two-dimensional image generator , the light coming from the prism is reflected while being deviated by each image point formed respectively by a micromirror either in a second beam direction back in the direction of the prism , or in a different direction. The light deviated in a different direction may, for example, be absorbed at an absorber. Light reflected in the second beam direction to the prism , however, can pass through the prism , it striking the interface at an angle at which total reflection does not occur. The light reflected by the third two-dimensional image generator in the second beam direction is two-dimensionally modulated by the array of micromirrors.
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Following the prism in the second beam direction , the third lighting arrangement again has an optical projection element that projects the light reflected in the second beam direction by the third two-dimensional image generator into an environment, of the third lighting arrangement , to be illuminated by the third lighting arrangement , for example, onto a road in the vicinity of a motor vehicle.
10
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The first lighting arrangement , the second lighting arrangement and the third lighting arrangement may be used as headlamps, in particular as front headlamps, of a motor vehicle. This application requires merely emission of monochromatic light. This advantageously makes it possible to configure the first two-dimensional image generator of the first lighting arrangement , the second two-dimensional image generator of the second lighting arrangement and the third two-dimensional image generator of the third lighting arrangement as monochromatic image generators. The image generators , , can thus advantageously be configured particularly simply, robustly, compactly and inexpensively. Another advantage of monochromatic image generators , , is that they lead only to low light losses.
100
10
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The light sources of the first lighting arrangement , of the second lighting arrangement and the third lighting arrangement also advantageously need to generate only monochromatic light when the lighting arrangements , , are used as headlamps of a motor vehicle so that the light sources can also be configured simply, compactly and inexpensively.
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The two-dimensional image generators , , of the first lighting arrangement , of the second lighting arrangement and the third lighting arrangement may respectively have the same resolutions in both mutually perpendicular spatial directions. The individual image points (pixels) of the two-dimensional image generators , , may, for example, be configured with a square shape. It is, however, also possible respectively to configure the two-dimensional image generators , , with different resolutions in the two mutually perpendicular spatial directions. The image points of the two-dimensional image generators , , may, for example, be configured with a square and non-square shape.
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When the lighting arrangements , , are used as adaptive headlamps of a motor vehicle, it may, for example, be favorable to configure the two-dimensional image generators , , with a higher resolution in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction, for example, with a resolution which is at least two times, or preferably at least three times, as high. The vertical direction in this case refers to that direction of the two-dimensional image generator , , corresponding to the direction away from the motor vehicle in the projection through the optical projection element .
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The two-dimensional image generators , , of the first lighting arrangement , of the second lighting arrangement and the third lighting arrangement may respectively have constant resolutions over their entire surface. In this case, the individual image points of the two-dimensional image generators , , are all of equal size. It is, however, also possible to configure the two-dimensional image generators , , of the lighting arrangements , , with variable resolutions over their surface. In this case, the image points of the two-dimensional image generators , , may, for example, have different sizes in central regions of the two-dimensional image generators , , than in outer regions of the two-dimensional image generators , , . In particular, the image points of the two-dimensional image generators , , may have smaller sizes in the central regions of the two-dimensional image generators , , than in the outer regions of the two-dimensional image generators , , so that there is a higher resolution in the central regions. When the lighting arrangements , , are used as headlamps of a motor vehicle, central regions of the illumination generated by the lighting arrangements , , can be varied more finely than edge regions of the illumination generated by the lighting arrangements , , .
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It is also possible to configure the light-emitting diodes , arranged as a two-dimensional array, of the light-emitting diode light source of the first lighting arrangement , of the second lighting arrangement and the third lighting arrangement with different sizes in the two spatial directions or with variable sizes over the surface of the two-dimensional array. For example, the light-emitting diodes may have a smaller size and a higher density in the vertical direction of the two-dimensional array of light-emitting diodes of the light-emitting diode light source than in the horizontal direction. In addition or as an alternative, the light-emitting diodes may have a smaller size and a higher density in the central region of the two-dimensional array of the light-emitting diode light source than in outer regions of the two-dimensional array of the light-emitting diode light source .
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It is possible that, during operation of the first lighting arrangement , of the second lighting arrangement and the third lighting arrangement , not all light-emitting diodes of the two-dimensional array of light-emitting diodes of the light-emitting diode light source are in operation simultaneously. This may be the case in particular when the first lighting arrangement , the second lighting arrangement and the third lighting arrangement are used as headlamps, in particular as front headlamps, of a motor vehicle. In this case, depending on a current driving situation of the motor vehicle, different adaptive illumination of an environment of the motor vehicle may be generated for which different parts of the two-dimensional array of light-emitting diodes of the light-emitting diode light source are used, but all light-emitting diodes of the light-emitting diode light source are never used simultaneously. This makes it possible to dimension an electricity supply of the light-emitting diode light source such that it is never capable of supplying all the light-emitting diodes of the light-emitting diode light source simultaneously. In this way, the electricity supply can be configured particularly compactly, inexpensively and economically.
My arrangements have been illustrated and described in detail with the aid of the preferred examples. This disclosure is nevertheless not restricted to the examples disclosed. Rather, other variants may be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the protective scope of the appended claims.
This application claims priority of DE 10 2013 215 374.0, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
LIST OF REFERENCES
FIG. 1
shows a view of a first lighting arrangement.
FIG. 2
shows a view of a laser diode light source of a lighting arrangement.
FIG. 3
shows a view of a light-emitting diode light source of a lighting arrangement.
FIG. 4
shows a view of a second lighting arrangement.
FIG. 5
shows a view of a third lighting arrangement.
10
first lighting arrangement
20
second lighting arrangement
30
third lighting arrangement
100
light source
110
first beam direction
200
taper
210
input side
220
output side
300
retardation plate
400
polarization-dependently reflecting sheet
500
first two-dimensional image generator
600
optical projection element
700
polarization beam splitter
710
splitter plane
720
second beam direction
800
prism
810
interface
820
second beam direction
1100
laser diode light source
1110
laser diode
1120
optical element
1130
diaphragm
1140
diaphragm opening
1150
mirroring
1160
converter
2100
light-emitting diode light source
2110
light-emitting diode
2120
converter
1500
second two-dimensional image generator
2500
third two-dimensional image generator | |
Very nice piece by Harold Bloom in the popular press (NYTimes), where he summarizes recent cognitivist-nativist research on morality. He claims, for instance that:
“A growing body of evidence (…) suggests that humans do have a rudimentary moral sense from the very start of life. With the help of well-designed experiments, you can see glimmers of moral thought, moral judgment and moral feeling even in the first year of life. Some sense of good and evil seems to be bred in the bone. Which is not to say that parents are wrong to concern themselves with moral development or that their interactions with their children are a waste of time. Socialization is critically important. But this is not because babies and young children lack a sense of right and wrong; it’s because the sense of right and wrong that they naturally possess diverges in important ways from what we adults would want it to be.”
Throughout the article he tries to present a moderate position that recognizes cultural variation in moral codes and the necessity of social experience for moral development, but claims that there is an innate core of morality, a cognitive starting point shared by all humanity. This innate aspect constitutes a basic moral sense (in a sense similar to which Stan Dehaene talks about the number sense). So, for instance, he acknowledges the relevance of the convincing studies by Joseph Henrich (this one, among others) yet asserts that those cultural codes are built upon the firm base of our innate capacity for feeling empathy, compassion, and for distinguishing aggressive (“evil”) agents from cooperative ones.
Thus, when commenting on Tomasello’s research that seems to imply an innate capacity for cooperation, he argues:
“Is any of the above behavior recognizable as moral conduct? Not obviously so. Moral ideas seem to involve much more than mere compassion. Morality, for instance, is closely related to notions of praise and blame: we want to reward what we see as good and punish what we see as bad. Morality is also closely connected to the ideal of impartiality — if it’s immoral for you to do something to me, then, all else being equal, it is immoral for me to do the same thing to you. In addition, moral principles are different from other types of rules or laws: they cannot, for instance, be overruled solely by virtue of authority. (Even a 4-year-old knows not only that unprovoked hitting is wrong but also that it would continue to be wrong even if a teacher said that it was O.K.) And we tend to associate morality with the possibility of free and rational choice; people choose to do good or evil. To hold someone responsible for an act means that we believe that he could have chosen to act otherwise.”
To present morality as a list of features, however, does not help us understand what is distinctive about morality in opposition to innate cognitions: its normative nature. So, when Bloom asserts that “the morality of contemporary humans really does outstrip what evolution could possibly have endowed us with” I couldn’t agree more (and I am happy to notice that a nativist like Bloom has the intellectual courage to make this point); but his very theoretical framework doesn’t help him to clarify in exactly what way cultural morality is different from a biological tendency to process information in a certain way.
“The aspect of morality that we truly marvel at — its generality and universality — is the product of culture, not of biology (…) A fully developed morality is the product of cultural development.” Yes, I agree. But: what is culture? How does exactly culture build the normative, universal, deontic discourse that we call morality on top of our innate capacities? That is the question. | https://mind-cult.com/2014/06/16/on-blooms-the-moral-life-of-babies/ |
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This blog was written by Ian Scoones and first appeared on Zimbabweland.
The land reform story in Matabeleland has been under-researched, but now there are some new findings being published. This blog profiles two papers focusing on Matobo district, also one of our study areas.
The first by Adrian Nel and Clifford Mabhena traces the historical ‘echoes’ of the land reform experience. The paper focuses on research in wards 23 and 24, where both A1 and A2 farms were established after land reform. Most new settlers were from nearby communal areas and towns, but around 40% were from further afield, including Bulawayo town, Insiza district and even Masvingo and beyond. The initial lower uptake of land reform sites in this area compared to other parts of the country can be explained by people’s need for grazing not land for cropping, combined with reticence about joining a land reform programme with unknown outcomes, especially in areas where the opposition was strong. Land reform has been more protracted in these areas, with some only signing up much later as the political temperature dropped. Quite a few white farmers held on to their land for a long time, and there have been some high-profile attempted grabs of these farms, some resisted by local people.
Historical echoes: living with variability
The title of the paper plays on Terry Ranger’s classic book ‘Voices from the Rocks’ on the history of the area. As the paper shows, the struggles to set up farms echoes the experience of earlier settlers in the area in the colonial era. Afrikaaner farmers for example were criticised by the authorities as long ago as 1939 for failing to establish farm and managing cattle and cropping in a haphazard and informal manner. The new settlers have been similarly-accused, but just as in 1939 getting farms going in a very dry area with limited resources is exceptionally difficult. Diversification is imperative, and the data from A1 farms today show how livestock, and especially cattle, become the mainstay of a stable income stream. Although there are episodic die offs due to drought or disease on average households in the A1 farms had around nine beasts, rising to 13 among the richer wealth categories.
Livestock are combined with opportunistic cropping. In most years, crops produce little, sometimes failing completely; but once in a while there is a bumper crop, and grain is stored for years and investments are made. In the five years for which cropping data is reported in this paper there was one year where farmers produced on average around two tonnes of grain per household. In most years, the total was below what is sufficient to provide for a family, and farming had to be complemented with off-farm income. Again, the experiences from past years echo through the years. Ranger comments on the importance of vleis (wetlands) and riverbanks as the source of food security in the early twentieth century in the hilly areas nearby.
In the past, the white farmers who made use of this land largely concentrated on ranching, with limited arable plots, fruit orchards and irrigated gardens near homesteads. They too had to respond to the high variability of rainfall and the sudden lack of grazing during droughts provoking high mortalities. The historical record is replete with examples of such events, with farmers going bust, moving off to do other things, and coming back as herds built up.
The same type of strategy has to be followed by the new A2 farmers on the same land. They have been allocated much smaller farm sizes making managing herds in a confined space even more challenging. This means a variety of strategies for extending feed provisioning in drought periods, including deals with neighbours, including A1 and communal farmers, and buying feed, as many A2 farmers continue with jobs elsewhere. With many farms many of which have seen significant herd growth since land reform, there are now stock numbers comparable to the pre-land reform period. This is a far-cry from the complaints of earlier periods, when officials complained that ranches were understocked.
The movement of animals across multiple properties and land use types requires a particular type of negotiation, but is essential for maintaining herds in such a ‘non-equilibrium’ landscape. For both A1 and A2 farmers there are reinventions of past arrangements for stock sharing and movement, such as lagisa and miraka. Compared to the classic land reform areas in wetter areas focused on fixed plots and farms, the arrangements in Matobo have to be more flexible and informal, allowing movement and combining income streams from multiple sources, both local and agrarian and off-farm, including of course cross-border migration, which is a major historical feature of this area.
Conciliatory strategies: white farmers in Matobo
In another paper, also based on research from Matobo, Adrian Nel explores what white farmers have done since land reform. Compared to other parts of the country during the land invasions there were more ‘protected’ farms, with farmers being allowed to stay. This emerged because such farmers had good relationships with local communities through on-going projects and being members or leaders of the same Christian church communities.
This again is different to some other parts of the country where white farming was often very separated, geographically, economically and politically. The greater integration in Matabeleland reflects the struggles for establishing livelihoods in a harsh environment and the need for collaboration and alliance making. As the paper explores, these forms of accommodation have persisted since land reform among some farms. As in the past, there were others who dropped out as the economics of farming post 2000 became too challenging and others. Also some have pushed back against the land reform, pursuing various legal cases as part of the more militant section of commercial farmers.
The paper concentrates on those who have adapted, accommodated and developed conciliatory approaches. Some label them as ‘sell-outs’ or ‘enablers’, but they are seen to be pragmatic, committed to farming and the communities they live with. When one farm was targeted for grabbing by a security official from outside the area, the locals resisted and in the end the white farmer, who had a large Christian led community project on his farm, combined with outreach activities and a huge contract broiler project, was allowed to stay thanks to interventions from the highest level.
Others have abandoned their farms (some with great relief given the travails) and taken up new business activities linked to local farming activities, very often moving up the value chain to set up abattoirs, butcheries, feedlots and other wildlife/hunting businesses. As one large operator explained he continues to run some animals through rental agreements, but mostly sources from local producers and fattens animals in a large feedlot for his abattoir and butchery, which is much easier and more profitable he explains than producing yourself.
With Andrew Hartnack, Rory Pilosoff and others, the paper argues for the need to go beyond a simplistic ‘homogenising’ view of whiteness. Those who remained distance themselves from other whites, and need to build new local alliances to survive. This results in new ‘becomings’ linked to diverse subjectivities, reconstituting the imaginary of whiteness as collaborative and conciliatory. Like their black neighbours, their identity is centrally-focused on making a living in a harsh environment, sometimes reinforced by strong and shared Christian religious values.
Living with and from uncertainty
The agrarian landscape of Matabeleland has changed massively since 2000. But there are important continuities with the past. Making a living in this area is tough, and requires flexibility, innovation, movement and diversification. As in the past, this requires collaboration and alliance-building in ways that allow all people – whether small-scale A1 plot owners, A2 medium-scale farmers or remaining white farmers – to live with and from uncertainty. | https://www.future-agricultures.org/blog/land-reform-in-matabeleland-the-challenges-of-living-in-a-harsh-variable-environment/ |
Harriman pursues creative partnerships to design relevant and innovative solutions to human needs. Our work is based on the belief that design is a collaborative human endeavor centered on knowledge, ingenuity, and beauty. Through practicing the art of architecture and the science of engineering, we create environments that honor context, embrace wisdom, and enhance well-being.
Harriman is also an innovative multi-disciplinary planning and design firm headquartered in Auburn, Maine. With a legacy dating back to the firm’s founding in 1870, nearly 150 years ago, Harriman has deep roots in many of Maine’s bucolic cities and towns. Applying a holistic approach, our diverse practice blends planning, urban design, landscape architecture, architecture and engineering to provide our clients with solutions that translate their distinct strategic goals and respond to complex economic, regulatory, and community considerations.
A philosophy of “putting places together” underpins our practice, harnessing the power of our team’s diverse skill sets to solve the challenges facing today’s communities. The integrated nature of our practice means we apply a holistic approach that is based on collaborative teamwork and a commitment to service — an approach verified by the number of repeat clients, and an on-time, on-budget track record. Our clients are able to realize the potential of their buildings, towns, cities, developments, parks and open spaces because they are better planned, better designed, and better engineered. | https://harriman.com/architecture/ |
PurposeTo conduct research on a topic related to communication and media. An important part of the process of social science inquiry is reporting the results of your research. You have a responsibility to do this in a formal, structured written report that will be evaluated by your instructor according to a set of rubrics similar to those used to evaluate such works by journals for publication (only, not as strict!).Research Report Tasks (summative assessment):The Research Report should be prepared in strict accordance with the current edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association accessible via: http://www.apastyle.org. Sexist language is prohibited, including gendered pronouns.Use your word-processing software to add a header that will appear at the top of every page that includes the report title (everything before the colon!) and the page number. The header appears within the top margin, not below it.You are allowed (encouraged!) to use tables, graphs and charts in reporting your findings, but no more than four (4) and no larger than half a page in sizetables, graphs and charts will NOT beincluded in the Research Reports word-count.Your Research Report should have the following content and section headings in the specified order as presented below (note: no table of contents required):A. Title and Title Page:Title should identify the studys variables and/or theoretical issues under investigation and relationship between them. On the title page include all authors and their affiliation (in this case, each students specialization).EXAMPLE:The Influence of Social Networking Sites on Political Behavior: Modeling Political Involvement via Online and Offline ActivityTonghoon Kim, Doctoral Candidate, Dept. of Communication, University of ConnecticutDavid J. Atkin, Professor, Dept. of Communication, University of ConnecticutCarolyn A. Lin, Professor, Dept. of Communication, University of ConnecticutB. Abstract: Write an abstract of approximately 100 words. It should be included on the same page as the title page but below author(s). The abstract should:Summarize the studys focus and intent.Identify the problem under investigationIdentify the study participants and/or observations and sample size or number of observationsIdentify the data/information gathering procedures and research designIdentify the major findingsIdentify the conclusions and implications of the studyC. Introduction: Write an introduction that includes:Importance of the problem (theoretical &/or practical implications)Review of relevant scholarship (your studys relation to previous work; i.e., your literature review)Specific research questions and/or hypotheses and/or objectivesHow research questions and/or hypotheses and research design relate to one anotherD. Method: The method must:Include a description of the participant and/or observation(s) characteristics including eligibility and exclusion criteria and major demographic and/or descriptive characteristics.Explain how sample size was determined and what sampling procedures were used for selecting participants and/or observations.Explain what was the intended sample size and the actual sample size if different from intended.Explain the type of research instrument and/or procedure used, how was it used and in what setting/location.Explain how ethical standards were met.E. Results: The research results must include:Total number of participants and/or observations and dates defining the period of data collection.Information concerning problems with quantitative and/or qualitative assumptions and/or data distributions that could affect validity of findings.Statistical software program used and/or means of analyzing qualitative data.Report all analyses performed and describe the results.F. Discussion: The discussion includes:A statement of support or nonsupport of all original research questions and/or hypotheses and/or objectives. Distinguish between primary and secondary research questions and/or hypotheses and any post hoc qualitative explanations.Similarities and differences between result and the work of others (from your literature review).Sources of potential bias and/or other threats to internal validity.Limitations and/or identifiable post hoc weaknesses of the study.Generalizability (external validity) of the findings, taking into account the target population and/or other contextual issues related to understanding the communication topic under examination.Concluding paragraph, discussing implications for possible future research.G. References: All works cited in the Research Report are to be listed in alphabetical order in APA Style with a hanging indent, single-spaced, with a line break between references.Write the paper well (check your grammar, spelling & punctuation). Work from an outline!
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This double-blind, placebo-controlled study examines the role of probiotic administration in the prevention of C. difficile-associated diarrhoea (CDAD) in elderly patients receiving antibiotic therapy.
Results showed that Lab4 probiotics reduced the incidence of Clostridium difficile diarrhoea in these patients.
46% of patients supplemented with Lab4 probiotics were positive for Clostridium difficile toxin compared to 78% of patients in the placebo group
Aim
Method
• Cholesterol lowering ability and bile salts hydrolase (BSH) activity in Lab4 probiotics was assessed using in vitro models
• The effect of Lab4 probiotics on cholesterol transport was assessed in an in vitro Caco-2 cells intestinal model
Results
Cholesterol removal
• Cholesterol levels in bacterial culture media were lowered in the presence of Lab4 probiotic mixture (#P=0.076)
Bile salt hydrolase activity
• A white precipitate was observed when Lab4 probiotic mixture was grown in the presence of bile salts, which is indicative of BSH activity.
Cholesterol transport
• Lab4 probiotic mixture significantly reduced the expression of cholesterol transporter NPC1L1, which is critical for the uptake of cholesterol (**P<0.001)
• Lab4 probiotic mixture significantly reduced the efflux of intracellular cholesterol from intestinal epithelial cells into the basolateral (tissue) compartment (*P=0.004)
Summary Proposed Mechanism of Action
1. CHOLESTEROL REMOVAL [cholesterol is bound or metabolised by Lab4 and subsequently excreted in faeces]
2. BILE SALT HYDROLASE ACTIVITY [deconjugation (modifying) of bile acids leads to their reduced re-absorption and places an increased demand on the liver to synthesize more bile acids from circulating cholesterol in blood to replenish intestinal bile acids lost in faeces]
3. REDUCTION OF CHOLESTEROL TRANSPORT ACROSS THE INTESTINAL EPITHELIUM [3a – reduced expression of the NCP1L1 cholesterol transporter; 3b- reduction in the efflux of intracellular cholesterol to the basolateral compartment (tissue) and reduced expression of the ABCA-1 cholesterol transporter; 3c – no change on the intracellular cholesterol efflux back into the apical (intestinal lumen) compartment]
Conclusion
Lab4 probiotics showed promising cholesterol lowering potential. | https://provendev.co.uk/home/our-research/other-studies/lab4-and-cholesterol-study |
- Zeitschrift:
- BMC Public Health > Ausgabe 1/2012
Wichtige Hinweise
Electronic supplementary material
The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2458-12-167) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors' contributions
Study design: JH, JvdB; data collection JH; analysis and interpretation of the data JH, MCK, WSW, JvdB; manuscript preparation JH, MCK, WSW, NK, HJGB, JvdB. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Background
The Diabetes Control and Complication Trial and the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study demonstrated that strict glycemic control significantly decreases the risk of long-term diabetes complications. In order to obtain good glycemic control, self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is essential in insulin-treated patients with diabetes [3–5]. SMBG includes an assessment of the capillary glucose concentration (self-measurement) as well as the interpretation of and responding to the readings (self-regulation). The goal of SMBG is to achieve blood glucose levels as near to normal as possible in order to prevent long-term complications, to be able to take adequate decisions in relation to diet, exercise, and medication, to evaluate the effects of these decisions, and to detect hypo- and hyperglycemia [6, 7].
Many patients, however, monitor their blood glucose less than is recommended by their healthcare provider [8–10]. Quantitative research shows several barriers to SMBG. These include a longer duration of the disease, pain, low self-efficacy, low self-esteem, increased anxiety and depression, alcohol abuse, smoking, complex treatment regimes, decreased social supports, poor communication between patients and health care providers, lack of education, and lack of health insurance [8, 10–16]. Qualitative research on patients' perspectives on SMBG, including the barriers and facilitating factors is scarce[17–20]. In these studies other barriers to SMBG have also been identified such as an increased awareness of their diabetes, physical discomfort, not understanding the relationship between SMBG values and the behavior of the patient, not knowing how to correctly respond to the glucose readings, and being in poor glycemic control. However, in most of these studies the focus is mainly on patients with type 2 diabetes, not treated with insulin.
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More qualitative research is needed to increase the insight into perspectives of SMBG in insulin-treated patients with diabetes. These insights can help professionals support the patients in their self-management regarding SMBG [16, 20, 21].
The objective of this qualitative study is to investigate the perspectives of patients with type 1 and insulin-treated type 2 diabetes regarding SMBG, including the barriers and facilitating factors in performing SMBG, and whether differences in perspectives exist between patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Methods
Our intent was to move beyond description and to identify and explain factors which affected the patients' perspectives of SMBG. The grounded theory approach provides a methodological framework to develop theory, including a model, that interprets the data [22–24].
Patients
Patients with type 1 diabetes were recruited from the outpatient clinic of a general hospital in the Netherlands, and patients with type 2 diabetes from general practices in the same region (Isala Clinics Zwolle, the Netherlands). Eligibility criteria were: a diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes, treated with insulin, SMBG carried out for a minimum of one year, Dutch speaking, and over the age of 18.
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The initial selection focused on building a patient population with as much variation as possible in the factors relating to SMBG. Physicians and diabetes specialized nurses were asked to select patients who differed in age, gender, living status, education, type of diabetes, insulin therapy, duration of SMBG, and employment. When the patient expressed an interest in participation, printed information was provided. The researcher then followed up by telephone to answer any remaining questions and to make an appointment with the patient. The patient population ultimately consisted of 28 patients, 13 patients with type 1 and 15 patients with type 2 diabetes. The demographic and background characteristics of the patients are presented in Table 1.
Table 1
Characteristics of the patients
Description
DM 1 (n = 13)
DM 2 (n = 15)
Male
5
8
Age (years)
45 (40-58)
71 (60-76)
Marital status
Married/cohabiting
11
11
Single
2
4
Education:
Lowa
3
10
Middleb
8
5
Highc
2
HbA1c (mmol/mol)
57 (55-63)
58 (53-66)
Diabetes duration (years)
19 (13-28)
11 (5-16)
Type of insulin therapy:
1 insulin injection per day
7
2 insulin injections per day
3
4 insulin injections per day
3
5
insulin pump
10
Duration of SMBG (years)
19 (13-24)
8 (4-13)
The patients were informed that their anonymity was guaranteed and that all information gathered would be confidential by disassociating the patient name from the data. Each patient received a research number, and the data were saved under this number. Approval for the study was obtained from the Medical Research Ethics Committee of the Isala Clinics in Zwolle (NL 27433.075.09). All patients provided written informed consent.
Data-collection
Data were collected through the conduction of one-time open in depth interviews, guided by a topic list. This topic list was compiled based on literature, including the General Self-management Model which is based on the Chronic Care Model [25, 26] as well as topics gathered during two focus group meetings. These meetings were held with patients who attended the same outpatient diabetes clinic in a hospital setting. The first group consisted of eight patients with type 1 diabetes: five men and three women with a median age of 52 years (Interquartile range (IR):37-61), and a median diabetes duration of 25 years (IR:5-39). The second group consisted of eight patients with type 2 diabetes: four men and four women with a median age of 68 years (IR:48-76), and a median diabetes duration of 10 years (IR:9-16). The focus group interviews were led by the principal researcher (JH) and a psychologist (WSW). These interviews also increased the principal researcher's preparedness to conduct the individual interviews. Focus group patients were not included in the individual interviews.
The following topics were incorporated in the individual interviews: the frequency of SMBG, its goals, the effect on daily life, knowledge, patient skill level, confidence in self-care, living with diabetes, the patient's contribution to treatment, the role of relatives, the role of healthcare providers, as well as any barriers and facilitators for performing SMBG.
The question posed to the patients to initiate the in depth, open interviews was: 'What does it mean to you to perform SMBG?' A non-judgmental atmosphere was strived for with a clear emphasis placed on the fact that the investigator was there to learn from the patients. As the study progressed, the focus of the interviews shifted toward the specific issues which were identified throughout the data analysis. Theoretical sampling continued until no new ideas arose which were of value to the developing theory, and saturation was reached.
The interviews were held either at the patient's home, at the Isala Clinics or at the general practice according to the patient's preference. They were conducted by the principal researcher, an experienced nurse specialized in diabetes (JH). She had had no prior professional contact with the patients.
Data-analysis
Interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. MAXqda 2007 was used for the analysis of the interview data. The data-analysis consisted of three phases of coding [22–24]: initial coding by breaking down the data (open coding), reconnecting the broken data into categories (axial coding), and interconnecting the categories into a model that represents the factors related to the patients' perspectives of SMBG (selective coding). The coding and categorising involved constant comparison. The principal researcher coded and categorised the data. Three other researchers individually read the interviews and the coding results, and/or were involved in developing the theory. The researchers had different backgrounds and therefore contributed to alternative perspectives, thereby preventing going native. During meetings, consensus about the coding, categories and the developing theory was achieved. This researcher triangulation procedure served to increase the depth of the analysis and established increased validity. Memos were used in which the ideas were written down about the evolving theory. Validation was enhanced by member check and peer review. Four of the respondents were asked to verify the written summary of their interviews. All four confirmed that the summaries were a fair representation of their perspectives. Provisional conclusions and theoretical insights were discussed with a person from the Dutch Diabetes Association and a diabetes specialized nurse.
Results
The respondents' perceptions, their goals, and several personal and contextual factors were identified as important factors which affected the patients' perspectives of SMBG. These factors led to a wide variety of performances, and did prove to be interrelated. In Figure 1, a SMBG model is presented which represents the respondents' perspectives, the influencing factors and how they interrelate. Our analysis revealed that the difference in perspectives between men and women was that feelings of shame towards health care providers about 'poor' readings were only reported by women. First, a description of SMBG in daily practice is provided followed by a review of the factors.
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Variety in SMBG performance in daily practice
The individual performance of SMBG differed with respect to frequency, timing, the actual measurement, interpretation of the readings, the resulting action taken, and an evaluation of the outcome. The respondents made their own choices regarding the performance, and they had their own reasons and logic for the choices they made. A wide variety in SMBG performances was seen in this study as a result. 15 respondents reported that their frequency of SMBG use was according to the recommendations provided by their health care provider, 3 respondents reported a lower frequency, 3 respondents reported a higher frequency, and 7 respondents reported that they had received no specific recommendations. In addition, a majority of all the respondents reported that their frequency and timing of SMBG varied from day to day.
'I measure my blood sugar every morning. If it's a bit low, around 6 or so, and I know that I don't have a lot planned for the day, then I don't worry about it. If we are going out somewhere, however, then I think about what we are going to do, and I measure it more often, and I will already have an extra slice of bread in the morning. I think ahead. I don't like feeling hypoglycemic. I want to prevent that. Even, if I am just going somewhere by car, I will do an extra measurement. Imagine if I was to get an hypoglycemia. There are already enough people in the ditch.'
Respondents differed in their interpretation of the readings, the subsequent actions taken, and their evaluation of the outcomes of these actions. For example, a high glucose concentration could lead the patient to adjust the insulin dosage, change the food intake, contact the health care provider or to take no action and adopt a wait-and-see policy.
'I had the self monitoring glucose meter, but I didn't do a lot with it. I figured that things were actually going pretty well. I measured my blood sugar about once per month, and if the results were good, then I thought: things are fine. If the results were not good, then I thought: well, what can I do about it? I don't know. I was being followed by both my family doctor and a nurse specialized in diabetes. My weight was good, I didn't have too much belly fat,... so I figured that things were going all right. So I just waited to see what the next month's results would bring.'
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The perception of SMBG: a continuum between 'friend' and 'foe'
Some respondents perceived SMBG as a 'friend', giving them confidence, freedom, certainty and peace of mind. It helped them to achieve their personal goals including good glycemic control, autonomy, control of their diabetes, and the ability to lead a normal life.
'I measure my blood sugar to see if it stays somewhere between 5 and 8. And it is the expectation that you check your own levels once a week. That is the agreement. That gives me a good feeling. Some people get very anxious when they have to prick their finger. Not so for me. On the contrary, it gives me a feeling of security.'
In respondents who were no longer familiar with the symptoms of hypo- and hyperglycemia, SMBG was felt to be helpful in prevention and detection. Most respondents, who perceived SMBG in a positive way, reported that it had become a habitual part of their daily lives.
Other respondents perceived SMBG more as a 'foe'. They mentioned many experiences to support this perception. For example, the finger prick can be painful and can lead to callous and hard spots.
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'It is not easy to get a drop of blood. I have got hard black marks on his hand. The marks are so conspicuous. I sometimes find that I am confronted by them. When I am 60 or 70 years old I worry that I won't be able to get through the skin at all! And the idea that your fingers will be totally covered with callous...'
Some respondents felt obliged to monitor their glucose levels with SMBG. When they decreased the frequency of SMBG, their glucose regulation worsened, and they had a higher risk of developing an unnoticed hypo- or hyperglycaemia. Furthermore, when the readings were not in accordance with the expectations, especially unexpected 'poor' readings, respondents reported feeling frustrated, anxious, ashamed, or helpless. Some respondents felt that they were never free from their diabetes, always feeling that they had to focus on it. According to these respondents SMBG required a lot of organizational effort and interruption of their regular activities. They felt they had to carry a lot of things with them whenever they would go out in order to be able to measure their glucose concentration.
'Always having to think: did I remember this? Did I remember that? My pockets are always stuffed full of all kinds of things. It's annoying. My purse is like a moving van. I can't ever go out with a small neat purse. Not even when I go to the opera house.'
The respondents' perception of SMBG appeared to be a dynamic factor. For example, adjustments in materials e.g. another kind of finger-pricking device, could make blood glucose testing easier and less painful. This led to a more positive perception. The perception of SMBG as a friend or a foe was related, to some extent, to the frequency of measurement. Respondents who perceived SMBG as a foe, did not always measure their blood glucose concentration less often than those who perceived SMBG as a friend, but they did encounter more difficulties with the measurements.
Personal goals: tension between good glycemic control and quality of life
From the interviews, it became clear that the respondents were not only focused on good glycemic control. They were also focused on maintaining their quality of life.
To achieve the desired glycemic control in order to prevent complications, respondents reported that they had to measure their glucose concentrations frequently in order to make the required adjustments in insulin dose, food intake, and lifestyle. Furthermore, these frequent measurements were necessary for the prevention and detection of hypoglycemia.
'My sugar levels are regularly on the low side. If you are tightly controlled, that's what happens. I am hypoglycemic at least once per day. I would rather live this way with a lower average than be hypoglycemic less often with a higher average. I always think that if your levels are high then the disease keeps nibbling pieces off of your blood vessels. It's like a time bomb which you can't give too many chances. The price is that you are then hypoglycemic with some regularity.'
Respondents described their quality of life in terms of maintaining autonomy, living a normal life, enjoying life, not having to always focus on their diabetes, not being considered a patient, and not wanting to be a burden to their relatives. The influence of quality of life on the frequency of SMBG was less clear than the influence of good glycemic control. It depended on how the respondents individually interpreted quality of life. For example, the concept of living a normal life could mean that the respondent did not want to focus exclusively on the diabetes, which would lead to measuring the blood glucose concentrations less often. However, it could also mean that the respondent would measure the blood glucose more frequently in order to keep the diabetes under control so that he/she would be able to do the activities he/she was used to doing.
Many respondents set their own personal target values with the goal of preventing either a hypoglycemia or a hyperglycemia. Many respondents experienced a hypoglycemic state as being quite distressing. They felt that it kept them from living a normal life and from having their diabetes under control. These respondents were willing to accept higher glucose readings. Other respondents primarily wished to prevent a hyperglycemia to prevent complications. They accepted being hypoglycemic more often.
'When I am hypoglycemic, I feel wretched. I even notice that I can become quite aggressive. I don't really have a problem with high sugar levels, but the low ones are quite bothersome. I really try to avoid attacks of hypoglycemia. I become quite anxious about them. You also don't want to get aggressive. It's very unpleasant and actually you totally don't want that.'
Achieving a good quality of life and satisfactory glycemic control were sometimes in alignment with each other. For example, respondents reported feeling better when their glucose levels were better. However, a majority of the respondents experienced tension between achieving both these goals simultaneously. They tended to deliberately make their own choices regarding the goals of SMBG, and tailored their performance of SMBG to these goals. They were aware of the discrepancies between their decisions and the recommendations they had received from their health care providers.
Personal and contextual factors: barriers or facilitators
Personal and contextual factors may act as barriers or facilitators in the performance of SMBG, depending on the respondents' perspective. Furthermore, these factors could result in goal adjustments and a shift in the perception of SMBG rendering it more positive or negative for the patient.
Personal factors
Personality
Respondents explained that their performance of SMBG was a result of their personality make-up including such things as perfectionism, being down to earth, or being easily worried. Some respondents reported that these traits were influenced by their upbringing, such as not being allowed to complain. Their personality influenced their goals, their perceptions and their SMBG performance.
'I'm a bit of a perfectionist, and I aim for really good glucose levels. And then I'm really scared that if, one time, I do forget, that my sugar level will shoot up. So then you start self-monitoring again...'
Acceptance
Some respondents mentioned that they had trouble performing SMBG as it forced them to confront and accept their diabetes in a concrete and visible way. One respondent reported that psychological factors played a role, as he did not want to have to make changes in his life or give things up. As a result, he measured his blood glucose less frequently.
Depression
Some respondents reported having been depressed. This did not always directly influence their SMBG behaviour, but it did influence the goals surrounding their measurements. They did tend to accept higher glucose concentrations. They strived for keeping control of their diabetes by preventing hypo- and hyperglycemic symptoms. They were not able to strive for optimal glycemic control.
'In that period of depression I was just happy when I felt good and that things were moving again, and that I could do my job again and things like that, and for me that was enough. The diabetes just wasn't that important for me. I actually made the choice to just let it be there for what it was. Not that I became negligent about it, absolutely not, but... well, slowly but surely, as my life got back on track and other things became more normal again, then I could start refocusing on the diabetes.'
Awareness of hypo- and hyperglycemic symptoms
The loss of awareness of hypo and hyperglycemic symptoms acted both as a barrier and a facilitator in the measurement of glucose levels. Some patients reported that they were no longer aware of the symptoms. They found that performing SMBG helped them to prevent and detect any extreme states. In this case the lack of awareness acted as a facilitator.
'It is difficult for me to estimate how high my glucose levels are. Some people do this perfectly, but I definitely cannot. So, I can guess, and just do whatever. But if my estimate is far off, and the level is either much higher or much lower, then it is no good to me. So, I keep measuring five times per day.'
Other respondents reported that they did not have hypo- or hyperglycemic symptoms. They did not feel the need to test because they felt good. These respondents could have no hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. But it could also be a lack of awareness. Awareness of the symptoms showed a similar duality. There were respondents who used SMBG as a check to confirm their symptoms, where the awareness acted as a facilitator. Other respondents did not need confirmation, because they already felt the symptoms.
'When things are fine in the morning, and I feel good that day, I don't worry about testing. I go with how I'm feeling. And that works for me.'
Knowledge, including misconceptions
According to the respondents, their knowledge regarding self-monitoring had increased as a result of their own experience, education, reading the provided literature, and listening to the anecdotal experiences of other patients. Some respondents reported that the initial phase was of particular importance as it formed the foundation for their goals and perceptions.
'I was told: you can live a normal life with diabetes. That's why I wasn't focused on properly regulating my blood sugar and doing my own monitoring. For me I felt it was a license not to be focused on my diabetes. This effect may persist for a long time.'
It became clear from the interviews that experiential knowledge played an important role in the use of SMBG. Most of the respondents had been using SMBG for a number of years. They felt that they were unique in the way that they reacted to it. They had learned from their experiences and knew what was realistic for them. They did not feel that their results were comparable to others. This could lead to frustration.
'But the stories you hear such as be careful with exercising because your blood sugar can go down as much as one point. Then you'll see that with me, it actually goes up. Everything is different than what I hear. That is also what frustrates me so much. I can't explain it.'
For other respondents this uniqueness led to resignation to their current situation. Better glycemic control was not possible for them.
'The doctor told me: "all right, your glucose concentrations are now between 10 and 15 mmol/l. Just try to get the readings between 6 and 10 or 11. That would be quite an improvement." But that is quite a step forward. Some days everything is going all right and I have good glucose concentrations. But I just accept that this is not always the case. I just know that for me it is difficult to achieve good glycemic control. I do not try to get better readings. It will never be perfect and it is better to accept that.'
There were some respondents who mentioned that they had had misconceptions. For example, what constituted a good value? In almost every public advertisement for a blood glucose meter, a value of approximately 5.8 mmol/l was depicted on the meter. Although other target values had been discussed with the health care provider, several of the respondents reported that they nonetheless wanted to achieve these published values which led to a high frequency of glucose monitoring. They then felt frustrated when they were not able to achieve these results. Others were able adjust their expectations once they had consulted with their health care provider.
Life-events
Major life-events, such as having a baby, can cause patients to be more concerned about their glycemic control, which in turn leads to a higher frequency of glucose monitoring. Other events, such as a serious illness in the family, can act as distractors from the diabetes, leading to a decreased frequency of monitoring.
Contextual factors
Social support
The social support desired by many of the respondents was described as 'being concerned without intervening'. Diabetes is part of the respondents' personal lives. They have to deal with it themselves. Because they do not want to burden the people in their social environment, they use SMBG to keep the diabetes under control. They would like support in the form of recognition of the impact of having diabetes and having to perform SMBG. Furthermore, although contact with other patients with diabetes was sometimes found helpful, there were also respondents who did not relate to the perceptions and behaviours experienced by other patients.
Contact with healthcare provider: discrepancies in perspectives
'They really want you to do everything to achieve good glycemic control. The stricter the better. But then I think: That all sounds pretty good on paper, but for me it's like well, ok, you feel better with somewhat higher sugar levels? Yes, actually I do. Well, then I'll do it this way.'
Many respondents reported feeling a certain tension between their goals and perceptions of SMBG and that of their health care providers. According to the respondents, professionals focused more on strict glycemic control, whereas the respondents had to balance glycemic control with their quality of life. Respondents mentioned that professionals could support them in their self-monitoring practices by paying attention to the patients' goals, perceptions, and their readings (not only to HbA1c levels). If the health care professionals were to recognize the uniqueness of the individual patient and tailor the care and the design of glucose regimens to them, the patient would feel better supported.
Some respondents reported feeling ashamed that they did not meet the goals set for them by their health care provider, and that they were obtaining 'poor readings', despite the effort they were putting into it. Sometimes they did not report their results, because they were afraid of the negative response they would receive from the health care provider. Others did not discuss their measurements and did not bring up questions and concerns, as they were afraid that they would have to change their lifestyle as a result. Other respondents claimed to be nonchalant, and accepted that their measurements would not be discussed.
'I'm bad at keeping track. I measure, but I don't keep track. So when I visit the doctor, I come without a record. The doctor only looks at the average values and those are good. Whereas I know, and I think I've mentioned it to the doctor, that it's because of the peaks and valleys that the average ends up good. But nothing was done with this information. Nothing changed until the moment that I, myself, started saying, come on guys, something has to be done. Then things started happening, and they started thinking along with me. Before now, I left things as they were as well. I was pretty nonchalant. I figured, if the average value was good, and I had the feeling that the morning began well, and the evening ended well, everything was okay. If everything was approximately correct, no harm was being done.'
The respondents recognized that they were responsible for their health and for taking care of their diabetes including self-monitoring. Health care providers could, however, provide support, but when the respondents were not satisfied with the delivered care, they seldom discussed it with the health care provider, because they wanted to preserve a positive atmosphere.
Differences between patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes
There were a number of similarities between the respondents with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, but the emphasis on separate factors was sometimes different.
Respondents with type 2 diabetes were less focused on adjusting the insulin dose. They were more focused on adjusting food intake and their lifestyle, including exercise. Usually, they only changed their insulin dose in consultation with the health care provider. They were more sensitive to the advice of their health care providers, and they were more attentive in general. Furthermore, their glucose monitoring showed more variation in both timing and frequency. They were more likely to report that they wanted to enjoy their lives without having to continually focus on their diabetes. Respondents with type 1 diabetes performed SMBG with greater regularity and an increased frequency when compared to the patients with type 2 diabetes. The diabetes was also more of an integral part of their lives.
Respondents with type 2 diabetes experienced more complications associated with their diabetes, although this did not seem to have a great effect on the frequency with which they monitored their blood glucose. They also experienced more frustration, not understanding unexpected readings when they monitored their blood glucose. Respondents with type 1 diabetes seemed to be more resigned to their glycemic control. Finally, respondents with type 1 diabetes reported more often that they were no longer aware of hypo- and hyperglycemic symptoms. As result, they felt more dependent on SMBG for feedback about the status of their diabetes.
Discussion
SMBG from the patients' perspective
This study investigated the patients' perspective of SMBG. The outcomes of our study show that there is a wide variety in the performance of SMBG, as a result of a complexity of factors. These factors include the patients' perception, his/her goals, and personal and contextual factors. Patients did not always perceive SMBG as a positive tool, which would enable them to achieve good glycemic control. Patients mentioned many experiences which support a negative perception of SMBG, which made it more difficult to perform SMBG. They also felt that health care providers were predominantly focused on good glycemic control. The patients experienced the tension between achieving good glycemic control and quality of life. As a result, the patients tailored the performance of SMBG to their perceptions and personal goals. Personal and contextual factors were identified as being either barriers or facilitators to SMBG depending on the patients' perspective. Most of these factors proved to be dynamic, as they were apt to change over time, sometimes as the result of an intervention by the health care provider. We developed an SMBG model which gives a representation of all the identified influencing factors and their interrelations.
The SMBG model is a specialized version of the General Self-management Model, which gives a representation of the factors, which must be considered when discussing self-management . The SMBG model gives additional information and more practical content to the factors. Furthermore, the factors are arranged in a different way. For example, in the general model, the interaction between the patient and the health care provider plays a central role. In the SMBG model, this relationship is only one of the contextual factors which influences the patients' perspective.
Factors identified in our study such as pain, frustration, depression, knowledge level, treatment complexity, social support, and contact with the health care provider have also been reported in previous studies, including the recent study of Fisher et al. [8, 10, 12–21, 27, 28]. Fisher has investigated the knowledge and behavioural skills in more detail . He concluded that more research is necessary to understand the factors, especially among patients with type 2 diabetes. Our study does offer a broad perspective and more insight into the influencing factors and the relationship between them among patients with type 1 and insulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes. For example, we show that whereas patients with depression tend to tailor their self-monitoring goals to their life situation, the frequency of SMBG did not always change. In our study, the patients' perception of SMBG is described as a separate factor, and is presented as occurring on a continuum from positive to negative. We investigated the deliberate choices made by patients regarding the goals and performances of SMBG, and looked at the logic which governed their decisions.
In other studies, factors have been reported as being either barriers or facilitators to the performance of SMBG. Our study revealed that there are additional nuances which must be considered. Personal and contextual factors had either a positive or a negative effect, depending on the patients' perspective.
SMBG: small effort, great pleasure?
SMBG is not only positively presented in professional guidelines [6, 7, 29, 30]. Manufacturers also present SMBG as a tool with which diabetes may be controlled, thereby allowing patients to live a normal life. In their advertisements, the readings on the glucose meters usually give values of approximately 5.8 mmol/l while people in the commercial are smiling, looking relaxed and are enjoying life. The meters appear user friendly, the results are almost instantaneous, and apparently almost anybody can use them. Our findings agree with those reported in other studies, including one study in children with diabetes, that SMBG in daily practice is not just a small effort, and it does not always guarantee the pleasure seen in the commercials [13, 31]. From the patients' perspective, SMBG is more complex, and the diabetes is often considered difficult to manage. These overly positive representations do not do justice to the visible and invisible work that patients with diabetes have to do nor do they acknowledge the unexpected and sometimes negative readings with which the patients are sometimes confronted despite their efforts. Patients with diabetes need recognition for these efforts and recognition for the impact that SMBG has on their daily lives.
Contact with the health care provider: duel or duet?
Increasingly, in health care, persons with a chronic disease are given a more central role in their treatment. The patient is responsible for the way in which he/she deals with the disease process. He/she is co-director of his/her own care plan, and is expected to be actively involved. This includes being able to discuss his/her own interests and needs and organizing his/her own care. With an individual care plan, mutually agreed goals and a treatment plan should be outlined with shared responsibilities. This approach should result in improved health care outcomes and lower costs [8, 29–34].
However, in our study, as well as in Dedding's study, a discrepancy in perspectives was found between the patients and the health care providers . According to the respondents, health care providers sometimes set unachievable goals, and persisted in trying to motivate them to attain these goals. While many patients accepted that better glucose concentrations were not feasible for them. Furthermore, the advice did not always concur with the patients' needs. As a result, patients ended up making their own choices regarding blood glucose monitoring. Patients tend not to discuss the poor support or the dissatisfying aspects of their treatment as they are afraid that it would negatively influence either the atmosphere or the treatment itself. Health care providers need to be aware of this so that they can take into account the patients' need to preserve the provider-patient relationship [31, 35].
Differences between patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes
Vincze et al. reported that patients with type 1 diabetes are more adherent to SMBG than patients with type 2 diabetes. Patients with type 2 diabetes may be less convinced that regularly testing blood glucose levels would lead to positive outcomes . Our study shows that patients with type 1 diabetes were not specifically more adherent to blood glucose monitoring, but they did seem more resigned to their situation, and were more likely to view SMBG as an integral part of their lives. Additionally, more factors were identified which influenced the patients' perspectives of SMBG. For example, patients with type 2 diabetes experienced more frustration when they obtained unexpected results.
Implications for daily practice
In daily practice, health care providers also have to find a balance between achieving good glycemic control and quality of life. Glycemic control is recommended in the guidelines, it helps prevent long term complications, and is an important indicator for the quality of health care. The patient's quality of life is equally as important. The challenge for the health care provider is to set, in discussion with the patient, glycemic goals which are as strict as possible while maximizing the patient's quality of life. It is not a matter of only listening to the patient's perspective, including his/her goals and needs, but it is a starting point.
The SMBG model can help professionals and patients to understand and discuss each other's perspectives in order to be able to set mutually agreed upon, realistic, and achievable goals. Furthermore, it is important that professionals discuss both the positive and the potentially negative aspects of SMBG from the very start including how to deal with SMBG on a daily basis. This will serve to enhance the patient's feelings of personal control and help to cope with the inevitable disappointments, thereby enhancing positive perceptions of SMBG [16, 21, 36–38]. The performances can also be individually tailored to the patient. This will allow an optimization of SMBG use and will prevent both unnecessary measurements and costs. After all, there is no evidence supporting a specific frequency of SMBG, which has led to a variety of recommendations in the literature [6, 29, 30]. SMBG is not a goal in and of itself, but a tool which should be used to achieve optimal glycemic control in an effort to prevent long term complications . Education and training will likely be necessary before the health care providers can optimize their use of this approach and attitude .
Regular follow up and evaluation is important as most of the factors affecting the SMBG model are dynamic.
Finally, a new study is started to develop and validate a clinical measurement tool of patients' perspective of SMBG.
Strengths and limitations of the study
Our patient population consisted of native Dutch patients, therefore the results can not be extrapolated to patients of different ethnicities. Although we followed the principles of purposeful and theoretical sampling, the study participants were asked to participate by their own health care provider which may have led to a selection bias. On the other hand, we were able to select a widely diverse sample. The maximum variation of relevant characteristics made it possible to make full use of comparative analysis theory. Our study not only confirms what has been reported in previous studies, but provides a deeper insight into the perspectives of insulin treated patients with diabetes.
Conclusions
According to the patients, professionals are positive about the use of SMBG as a tool in order to achieve strict glycemic control. Patients can also, however, perceive SMBG in a negative light. They have to find a balance between achieving glycemic control and maintaining acceptable quality of life. As a result, the patients' use of SMBG is not always in concordance with the recommendations from the health care provider. Patients with type 1 diabetes appeared to be more resigned to their situation and monitoring their blood glucose was a more integral part of their lives than it was for patients with type 2 diabetes. Gaining insight and discussing all the factors involved with SMBG, including personal barriers and facilitators, will help health care providers and patients mutually agree on realistic and achievable goals while tailoring the performance of SMBG on an individual basis. This should result in a more optimal use of SMBG, an improved quality of life, and improved clinical parameters.
Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge Jelly Meyer from the Dutch Diabetes Association and Jolanda Hensbergen, diabetes specialized nurse for their contribution. The authors acknowledge Sanofi Aventis for the financial support. Furthermore, the study was supported by a grant from the Dutch Diabetes Research Foundation.
This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors' contributions
Study design: JH, JvdB; data collection JH; analysis and interpretation of the data JH, MCK, WSW, JvdB; manuscript preparation JH, MCK, WSW, NK, HJGB, JvdB. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. | https://www.springermedizin.de/perspectives-of-patients-with-type-1-or-insulin-treated-type-2-d/9490944?fulltextView=true |
We are inclusive, confident and enterprising learners who are brave, curious, optimistic and kind. We are ready to embrace the future.
Welcome to Hyde Park Infant School.
Our aim is to provide an inclusive, warm, caring and stimulating environment where every child can gain self-confidence and learn to become independent. It is important that the children are not only encouraged to have self-respect but that they are given the opportunity to appreciate the value of others. Each individual child is helped to develop his/her own personality within a secure environment whilst always being aware of the needs of others.
We firmly believe that children learn effectively in a secure, caring atmosphere where they have access to a wide range of first hand situations in which they can show initiative, self-reliance and consideration. Opportunities are given for working co-operatively with other children and adults as well as on individual tasks.
We have high expectations of the children and encourage them to set themselves high standards of work and behaviour. Our broad and balanced curriculum meets and extends the requirements of the National Curriculum, providing continuity and progression; this means that we are concerned with the acquisition of knowledge, the understanding of concepts, the skills of problem solving, aesthetic appreciation, physical development and the application of these to every day situations. We are committed to a child centred educational approach, which enables the individual to develop their own potential so that they may become independent, responsible, useful, thinking, confident and considerate members of the community.
This list is by no means complete but might go some way to show the enormous task we willingly undertake. It is important to remember that children are individuals and do not all develop at the same pace and that they must be valued for what they are not for what they have achieved. We recognise the crucial role which parents play in their children’s education and make every effort to encourage parental involvement in the educational process in a partnership style. | https://horizonmat.com/our-schools/hyde-park-infant-school/ |
Scoring takes place in real-time. For example, a narrative essay on equal pay for women that was written by a well-paid executive would not contain the same facts as an essay written by an underpaid, blue-collar employee who had just learned her male counterparts make more money. افراد و روش ها: در اين مطالعه كه يك طرح نيمه آزمايشي مداخله اي بود، از بين مراجعه كنندگان به كلينيك تخصصي تغذيه و رژي م درماني، 3 زن مبتلا به اضافه وزن به روش نمونه گيري تصادفي انتخاب شدند و ب ه طور تصادفي در دو گروه آزمايشي و يك گروه كنترل قرار گرفتند. Objective: This is a follow-up study of a pilot project first reported on in 2006. This article will review current research on narrative therapy and discuss why a broader research base has yet to be developed. The humble beginnings of Narrative Therapy emerged as Michael White and David Epston were influenced by the ideas of Michel Foucault.
They look for unique outcomes: positive events that are in contrast to a problem-saturated story. Implications for future research using this model of analysis are discussed. Six families were treated using several Narrative Therapy techniques including externalisation, relative influence questioning, identifying unique outcomes and unique accounts, bringing forth unique re-descriptions, facilitating unique circulation, and assigning between-session tasks. Each of these methods has different advantages and disadvantages which are mentioned separately. A working definition of qualitative inquiry is offered and various descriptions of several major features of qualitative inquiry are provided. Computer, Distance education, Education 1050 Words 4 Pages Pros and Cons of Gated Communities When you think of a gated community, what comes to mind? As beneficial to our world as this may be, everything has its drawbacks.
Because of this, humanistic therapy is usually ineffective at developing specific treatment techniques for the specific problems of a patient. In light of these settings the technique of externalising problems sets the stage for fostering creating positive interactions and transforming negative communication or responses into a more accepting , non-judgmental and meaningful exchanges. We heard their stories and they touched our hearts. Therapists help clients re-author their life stories. So keen… 2 days, 11 hours ago.
Clinical psychology, Doctor-patient relationship, Mental disorder 1364 Words 5 Pages punishment, I personally think that the disadvantages of corporal punishment far outweigh the advantages and for that reason I really think it should be abolished everywhere. Learning Disabilities Research and Practice, 21, 30—43. Potential Disadvantages of Narrative Therapy No approach to psychotherapy is perfect or without limitations. Self-narrative reconstruction in Psychotherapy: Looking at different levels of Narrative development. Evril Silver, Alison Williams, Fiona Worthington, and Nicola Phillips 1998 Journal of Family Therapy, 20, 413—422. The independent evaluation found: Did this project work? By Kathie Crocket, Wendy Drewery, Wally McKenzie, Lorraine Smith, John Winslade 2004 International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work, 3 , 61—66. The essence is to make individuals be able to rewrite the negative bits of their lives in a way that brings about healing.
Journal of Psychology and Theology, 32 3 , 221-231. Many aspects of the therapy remain as theoretical constructs but further development of this therapy will turn these theories into therapeutic practices, assisting in providing clear treatment plans and guidelines when practising this form of therapy. The relevance of qualitative research to clinical practice is highlighted. Two recommendations for research and practice involve the use of narrative therapy without a team and the use of narrative therapy in addressing issues of family violence. Although, bed reduction had no significant change in access to care, but, it was reduced inpatient days and increased discharge rate ,. Will give advice based on personal experiences. Also under review will be the evidence base for psychotherapeutic interventions, and a review of the narrative therapy approach.
Narrative therapy was a group therapy that consisted of 12 sessions and each session last 50 minutes that performed twice a week. View of Emotional Disturbance Narrative Therapy views each client as possessing their own story. Narrative therapy explains that untold stories have the potential to allow movement towards change. A Brief History of Narrative Therapy Narrative therapy was developed back in the 1980s by two family therapists with backgrounds in psychiatric social work: Michael White, from South Australia, and David Epston, from New Zealand. Narrative therapists ask for stories and evidence from the past to prove that the person was actually competent and strong but did not always realize this. The Dulwich Centre in Adelaide, Australia, co-founded by Michael White currently offers narrative therapy training programs including online training all over the world via members of its staff. There are some relating evidences about downsizing strategies in literature: 47% bed reduction in Finland and at least 10% in other western European countries, reducing the number of hospitals from 305 to 65 and the number of beds from 14.
Conclusions: Pre- to post-treatment effect sizes for completers in both groups were superior to benchmarked waiting-list control groups. Educational objectives: 1 to describe and explain to readers the process of narrative therapy, with special attention to the use of definitional ceremonies; 2 to provide detail regarding the clinical processes involved with a specific definitional ceremony with one client; 3 to have the reader appreciate the specific importance of involving outsider witnesses in the therapy process; 4 to discuss the outcomes of the use of this particular definitional ceremony. First, titles of all articles were reviewed and 491 articles were excluded due to inconsistency with study aims, and 23 articles were omitted because they were duplicated among three databases Pub Med, Science Direct and Google Scholar. This enables them to engage more openly and proactively in the therapy process. The early history of strategic family therapy was marked by clever, intricate, even at times somewhat abstruse interventions.
It seems necessary to promote efficient management of hospitals by implementing various strategies. And this, of course, is the best recipe for building what can be thought of as resistance in the client worker relationship, trying to get clients to do things that they have not yet decided to do. Downsizing is a necessity, because, its results is positive and it limits needed resource and helps preservation of health. Narrative Therapy understands that there is power in language, in the way we speak of things, the way we word and phrase things, the way we tell our story can change our reality. Respect and non-blaming is essential: The therapist is expected to respect the client and their stories no matter how provoking or shocking it may be.
Building conversations and collaboration: These are integral aspects in Narrative Therapy. This is a retrospective audit of the therapy outcome of 108 children with soiling and their families. Over time, we hope that this repository will be a place that people can turn to access information about the evidence base in relation to narrative practices. Therefore, international experts recommend to stopping hospital beds spreading and other interventions. Downsizing is one of these ways. Lenses are created through different experiences, and impacts whether self-stories are repressed or neglected. The effects of the programme were measured using a self-awareness scale, the Nowotny Hope Scale, the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale.
Another con of life extension is. The treatment group received fourteen 90-min sessions of narrative therapy twice a week. Censorship is the control of information and ideas in a society. Downsizing is one of strategies. Is empowered to identify their problems as separate from themselves and thereby disempower the problem. Narrative therapists are said to hold a very limited perspective of agency Lee, 2004. This creates a problem and may risk doubt or lack of confidence in the therapist knowledge and expertise as many individuals from different cultural groups view professionals as the expert who provides direction and solutions to their problem Corey, 2014. | http://openchatbot.community/disadvantages-of-narrative-therapy.html |
Theodore M Davis
Theodore M. Davis (1837-1915) was a wealthy American financier and lawyer and one of the key figures in the history of archaeological exploration in the Valley of the Kings. He had the reputation of uncovering a new tomb every season, and his finds now fill a gallery in the Cairo Museum.
Theodore M. Davis (1837-1915) was a wealthy American financier and lawyer and one of the key figures in the history of archaeological exploration in the Valley of the Kings. He had the reputation of uncovering a new tomb every season, and his finds now fill a gallery in the Cairo Museum. See less
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MSF continues to witness the significant challenges that patients in our medical operations face to secure access to affordable medicines and vaccines. Today, the lack of needs-based innovation and affordable medicines affects all countries, including some of the wealthiest countries in Europe.
There are clear measures all governments can take to address the failures of our current approach to medical innovation. There is need for greater transparency along the whole R&D process -- from the cost of research and development, manufacturing, and the final price of the medicine. Like in other regions, WHO can promote and provide technical assistance for the use of TRIPS flexibilities to ensure affordable medicine prices in the EURO region – many countries today are unwilling or unable to use these legal rights. And we need new approaches to research and development that meet patient needs effectively and efficiently, especially ending the reliance on the expectation of high prices and monopolies to pay for innovation.
We are concerned that these clear recommendations, backed by numerous expert groups, including the UN High Level Panel on Access to Medicines, are under threat by industry-generated ideas –in particular a value-based approach for pricing.
This is the wrong policy model to use to establish prices for life-saving medicines or achieve cost containment; such a model is often used for consumer goods which are priced according to their perceived value (as well as the highest price the market can pay for them) rather than cost of production plus a reasonable profit. Life-saving medicines are per definition invaluable, and adopting such a policy directly leads to the very high prices those European patients and Member States pay for their medicines.
High prices are not the only challenge European patients face. TB continues to pose a major health threat to the WHO EURO region, with 32,000 TB deaths in 2015 and a mounting epidemic of drug-resistant TB; one in five multidrug-resistant TB cases globally in 2015 occurred in the European region, most of them in Eastern Europe. It is the moment for countries to embrace new R&D approaches which can deliver better and affordable treatments faster, including creatively combining push, pull and pool incentives that promote collaborative and open research efforts to address unmet health needs, for example the 3P project to develop an improved short-course TB regime.
Finally, we hope that any future WHO strategy to promote innovation and access ensures coherence between different WHO initiatives, supporting and building upon the Global Strategy and Plan of Action, the Consultative Expert Working Group and the UN High Level Panel on Access to Medicines. | https://msfaccess.org/msf-statement-67th-session-who-regional-committee-europe |
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6 Steps to Writing a Great SOP for Retail - YRC
Standard Operating Procedures or SOPs in business management have become an indispensable tool for management of a company or a retail enterprise to smoothly execute its various processes including the retail function.
1. Identification of Retail Processes
Some of the most common and important processes in a retail function are inventory management, merchandising, staff and vendor management, facilities management, cash and payment management, customer service, store security, and audit. These processes are executed by almost every retail business enterprise in different magnitudes. Without the effective and efficient execution of these integrated processes, a retail function will not yield the desired results – which could be in terms of footfall targets and conversion rate, sales targets, revisits etc.
2. Identification of Operations
Each process in a retail function comprises of several operations. These operations are carried out by employees with or without the assistance of an ERP application. For example, various operations involved in an inventory process include purchase and reorder of stock, quality inspection, the return of goods, storage and warehousing, transportation, recording inventory transactions, process stock requisition etc.
3. Identification of Operational Activities
Each operation in a retail process is made up of activities which must follow a logical step-by-step (either-or) sequence or a procedure to move towards conclusive outcomes. This flow of work shall depend on the control measures a retail enterprise wants to impose at every stage. For example, the decision to purchase fresh stock may be authorized only by a designated authority (say purchase manager) and such authorization request is sent only when the stock reaches the reorder level. When authorization is granted, the executive can proceed with placing the purchase order.
4. SOP Format Selection
There is no hard and fast rule for selection of SOP format. The ideal solution is customization. As highlighted above, a flowchart format is a good way to present the pilot view of the full cycle of flow of work. This pilot chart can be accompanied by a procedural form. For example, in executing a purchase decision, when the stock reaches or falls below the reorder level, a purchase procedure form can be put in place. This form shall comprise of all the necessary details and conditions to be fulfilled (reorder level, purchase quantity, a name of supplier, authorization etc) before the purchase order can be executed.
5. Identification of the People Involved
Different operational activities or procedures are executed by different employees depending on the size and structure of an organization. In retail SOP design, it is important to identify and associate the people involved in each procedure. This helps in assigning responsibilities, authority and accountability to the concerned employees. It also helps in providing retail SOP training and communicating policy and resultant SOP changes to the target employees.
6. Training and Communication
Once the SOPs are designed or modified, the next necessary step is communicating the changes in the SOPs or providing relevant training to employees, as the case may be. SOP training is also important in a case of new appointments, transfers and promotions. The primary responsibility for SOP training usually rests with the HR, training cell and the concerned functional head. Whenever there are changes in policies, there could be effective changes in procedures as well which should be communicated to the concerned departments and employees.
Writing retail SOPs require professional and domain knowledge and expertise. If casually designed and implemented, it will not serve its purpose and could end up with duplication of work, procedural bypassing, high carrying costs and low inventory turnover and most importantly, it will create an unprofessional work culture and environment. | https://www.prlog.org/12764254-6-steps-to-writing-great-sop-for-retail-yrc.html |
1924. Minnesota. Game and Fish Department, Gould, James F., and McGill-Warner Co. Scale approximately 1:1,900,000. Insets: Mesabi Range. Scale [1:633,600] -- Cook County, northeastern Minnesota -- St. Paul-Minneapolis and vicinit... | https://geodata.mit.edu/?f%5Bdc_creator_sm%5D%5B%5D=McGill-Warner+Co.&f%5Bdct_provenance_s%5D%5B%5D=Minnesota&f%5Bsolr_year_i%5D%5B%5D=1924&sort=solr_year_i+desc%2C+dc_title_sort+asc |
[The importance and approaches of physicochemical properties analysis of active compounds of traditional Chinese herbs in development of new medicine].
Biological activity and physicochemical properties are two key factors to screen active compounds of traditional Chinese herbs during early discovery phases. As a great number of the compounds are got in the world, a new strategy is developed to research the physicochemical properties of the compositions of herbs, so that the election of active compounds from the compositions has become more effective and more economical than before. The new strategy and associated technology have emerged and it was used extensively. The physicochemical properties of the compounds of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) relate to pharmaceutical and ADME (Absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination), and development, clinical effect and safety are evaluated with the properties. Therefore, the physicochemical properties are important in the development of TCM.
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Our intent in Computing is to provide our pupils with the best possible opportunity to use and understand modern day technologies in an effective and safe manner. Pupils will be guided not only to develop their understanding of the skills and knowledge within Computing, but how to develop their own resilience in the modern world and make positive choices to support their own mental well-being.
Implementation
Our Computing curriculum is designed to progressively develop pupil’s skills and knowledge in Computing and Online Safety, through regular, discretely taught lessons. Children are taught how not only to identify and use modern technologies effectively, but how to use technology safely and in a way which challenges their thinking. As our pupils progress, their ability to problem solve, work collaboratively and build resilience also progresses, meaning we provide our pupils with the best possible and safest start to their lives in an ever-growing technological world.
We have invested in a progressive scheme, which is closely linked to the National Curriculum’s Programme of Study. Purple Mash Computing Scheme provides clear progression of skills and knowledge, as well as recommending methods of inclusion, challenge, Online Safety and relevant resources. Lastly, it offers a clear assessment guidance, which is clear, thorough and again, linked to the National Curriculum’s Programme of Study. Each class will complete 2/3 units from the scheme per term – all skills, and knowledge, linked the NC PoS are covered throughout relevant key stages.
Key drivers within Computing units are:
- Teaching of subject specific vocabulary
- Ensuring that our children have a good understanding of how to stay safe online and use technologies effectively and safely, knowing how to report issues when they don’t feel safe
- Revisit to aid long term memory
Impact
The learning challenges used, to plan and teach Computing, ensure that children are accessing work at age related expectations, with regular opportunities to be challenged through higher-level objectives. Children are assessed according to age related expectations in line with National Curriculum requirements for KS2. This is done in line with the Purple Mash assessment procedures. This information is recorded and monitored by the subject manager through Purple Mash assessment tools. | https://www.grangeparkprimary.co.uk/curriculum-1/curriculum/e-safety |
'No evidence' of abuse cover-up
A review of the Home Office's handling of paedophile ring allegations in the 1970s, 80s and 90s has found no evidence of a cover-up - but warned it is impossible to draw any firm conclusions.
The report - by NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless and barrister Richard Whittam QC - looked at how the Government department dealt with information handed over by the late Conservative MP Geoffrey Dickens, as well as other allegations in 114 missing, lost or destroyed files.
The 10-week probe had not uncovered "any evidence of organised attempts by the Home Office to conceal child abuse", the report said.
However, it said: "It is very difficult to prove anything definitive based on imperfectly operated paper records system at 30 years remove."
And added: "It is, therefore, not possible to say whether files were ever removed or destroyed to cover up or hide allegations of organised or systematic child abuse by particular individuals because of the systems then in place. It follows that we cannot say that no file was removed or destroyed for that reason."
Home Secretary Theresa May said she has asked Mr Wanless and Mr Whittam QC to examine what was done with any material passed on to the Security Service, MI5, as well as to take a further look at the role of police and prosecutors.
Reacting to the findings of the Wanless report, Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk said: " Theresa May has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address child abuse failings of the past. But so far all we've seen are whitewash reports and hopeless attempts to manage and contain an historic child abuse inquiry."
Mr Wanless and Mr Whittam QC submitted the report to the Home Office on October 15.
A new Home Office file had come to light as a result of "heightened awareness" of the subject in the department, it said.
"Crime Particular Offences. Common Assault and Violence Against the Person: The Brighton Assaults" contained correspondence between Home Office officials and ministers related to meetings between Mr Dickens MP and the-then Home Secretary.
The file contains briefing notes for a subsequent meeting between the two men, in which Mr Dickens is recorded as having handed over two letters containing specific allegations.
However, it adds there is no mention of "prominent politicians or celebrities".
Mrs May ordered the investigation as part of her commitment to uncover the truth about long-standing claims of child sex abuse by powerful figures.
Mr Wanless's findings will be used by the wider Hillsborough-style inquiry into paedophile activity linked to public bodies and institutions.
But the hunt is still on for a chairman for that inquiry after Fiona Woolf became the second candidate to step aside from the job.
The Home Secretary said: "I am determined that appalling cases of child abuse should be exposed so that perpetrators face justice and the vulnerable are protected."
After publication of the report, Mrs May told the House of Commons she was not able to say the Home Office had not been involved in a cover-up during the 1980s on the basis of the report.
She said: "There might have been a cover-up, that is why we have set up the inquiry into child abuse and we are determined to get to the truth."
Mr Wanless and Mr Whittam QC also found nothing to support claims that controversial group the Paedophile Information Exchange (PIE), which campaigned for the age of consent to be lowered, was funded by the Home Office.
On a visit to Rochester and Strood ahead of the by-election, Mr Cameron said it showed "conspiracy theorists" would have to "look elsewhere".
"There will be lessons to learn from this report and people should study it closely," he said. "But I think it is important that it says there was not a cover-up. So some of the people who have been looking for conspiracy theories I think will have to look elsewhere."
Mr Wanless said the Prime Minister was "wrong" to say the report found there was not a cover-up.
"He can only say that in relation to the registered filing system of the Home Office and we made very clear that we can't make a wider conclusion than that based on the task we were given and the information available to us," he told BBC radio 4's PM programme.
Asked if that meant Mr Cameron was wrong, he said: "He is wrong." | http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/no-evidence-of-abuse-coverup-30734830.html |
Folegandros although is a small island has a lot of beaches and many small bays. The access to our beaches is achieved by car, by boat or with paths. There are not organizing beaches in the island. Chochlidia, Livadi , Agali and San Georgio are the only beaches where there are places to buy water. The direction and the speed of the wind will indicate to you in which beaches will not have waves to enjoy your bath. Finally, our island has beautiful bays in which still has not achieved any access and you can, only, admire them doing the tour of the island with our boats.
Chochlidia
Livadi
Livadi is located in distance of 1,2km from the port and somebody can be reached there following by car a side street that is located on the right side of the main road going from Chora to the port of karavostasis. The beach is pretty great in extent, is covered by sand and small pebbles. There is, also, there the camping of the island.
Vardia
Catergo
Catergo is not visible from the port but is located in a close distance from it. The access is achieved by boat from the port (around 15 min) or with a path that starts from the beach of Livadi (around 40 min). The beach is covered by small pebbles and has not shade. Note that the path that leads in the beach requires attention.
Voreina
The beach of Voreina is located outside of Chora at a distance of about 7 min from her. When someone arrive with car or with bus in the point of the main street which indicate by the sign post should descend on foot a path as the sea for 25 min approximately. The beach is small, is covered by small pebble and sand and the visitor, there, can admire the green rocks of the island.
Agali
At a distance of 3,5km from the town (Chora) on the south side of the island is located one of the most beautiful beaches of Folegandros, Agali (otherwise Deep bay). The beach is covered by sand and small pebbles and the bottom is half sandy. In Agali someone can arrive with its own vehicle or with the bus. There is, also, from there access in other bays.
Fira
Fira is a small beach to the left of Agali with pebbles from which the sun disappears in the late afternoon. The access to Fira is achieved only by foot from a path which begins from Agali or from another path which begins shortly after the village of Chora but the distance is increased in about 50 min of walking.
Galifos
Agios Nikolas
San Nikolas is located after the beach of Galifos and in distance of 25 min from Agali. The access is achieved either by foot either by small boats that depart daily from the small port of Agali all day long (the distance with the boat is reduced to 5 min. The beach of San Nikolas is covered by small pebbles and sand and has trees for shade. There are, in the area, two restaurants.
Livadaki
Livadaki is located southwest and this beach mark out the wild beauty of the place. Is covered by pebbles and on the sides there are smooth rocks, above of them the swimmers can enjoy the sun. In Livadaki someone can arrive either taking the small boat from Agali(around 15 min), either walking out from a path that starts after the terminal bus stop in Ano Meria (around 50 min).
Ampeli
Ampeli is a very small beach with small pebbles and is located in southwest side of the island. After the end of the village of Ano Meria there is a road –at a percentage earth road- that someone arrives by car as the beach (around 15-20 min), walking this distance is harder because of the steep ascents.
Agios Georgios
San Georgios is located at the almost northernmost tip of the island. San Georgios is a beach with sand, thin pebbles and has a small harbor where fishing boats dock. There is a road for cars after the end of the village of Ano Meria –the most part is earth road- that leads to the beach (around 20 min). There is, also, a path that is indicated by sign post some meters before the end of the village. Going to the beach with car, someone can stop to swim in the small beach of Lygaria where is located just before San Georgio. | http://agiamarinarooms.gr/en/folegandros-island/beaches.html |
Personalisation was a key element in reform to the Adult Social Care system in England, exploring long-term funding options in response to demographic change where people are increasingly living longer with complex conditions and needs (Department of Health, 2007). Self-directed support is central to this reform to enable recipients of social care to choose and commission their own services. Reform was not expected to require structural reorganisation but local authority leadership was anticipated to promote genuine partnerships between social care providers, users and their carers as well as the wider community. However, there is potential for a shift in power to service users which goes beyond collaboration, especially where there is scope to build long-term relationships around long-term needs.
This study is based on one local authority partner’s innovative development of local communities’ social capital around personal budgets for vulnerable adults, which set out to grasp the potential that personalisation offered in enabling different ways of service delivery that were nearer to what service users and their carers wanted. Although now being addressed, there has been less research into the impact of personalisation on the crucial role of carers than on any other group, which is fundamental to the personalisation agenda reaching its real objectives. The study considers the role played by the local authority in this agenda in the light of claims that reforms are increasingly shrinking the role of the state. Taking an asset-based approach to informal care via social networks, this local authority partner was able to empower a community-run organisation in one of its most deprived and diverse wards by brokering support for vulnerable residents and embracing a neighbourhood perspective to examine collective as well as individual solutions. Conclusions reflect on the importance of the role of the state in achieving community capital.
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Full article
Introduction
This paper is the product of case study research into a neighbourhood innovation that sought to address service provision in Adult Social Care within the policy context of personalisation and community empowerment. Carers are vital to the successful implementation of personalisation because the delivery of adult social care could not be sustained without the 6.4 million people who voluntarily fulfil this role (Larkin and Dickinson, 2011). The personalisation agenda in England evolved with a strong sense of inter-sector collaboration although it has been more recently contextualised within the volunteering of Big Society rhetoric.
An urgent need for a new adult care system was demonstrated in research conducted by the Labour Government from 2000 onwards with a total of 150 Councils with Social Services responsibilities for referrals, assessments and support packages (Department of Health (DoH), 2005). Since 2005 national legislative directives have taken this forward (HM Government, 2008; DoH, 2008; ODI, 2008). National and local leadership working with the local NHS, third and private sector providers, users and carers as well as the local community was considered essential to achieve system-wide transformation (DoH, 2007). Personal budgets for service users and their carers have been mandatory within care plans since 2012 (Miller and Larkin, 2013) so those assessed by local authorities as eligible for Adult Social Care support are at the centre of this reform.
One of the main challenges when assessing the positive and negative impacts of self-directed support is the complexity of local authority systems. While there is evidence that the needs of carers are neglected there is an emerging knowledge base regarding personalisation and carers that indicates there is potential for more choice and control (Miller and Larkin, 2013). According to a European-wide study, carers can experience many adverse consequences, including disrupted employment, lost income, poor health and stress, (Mansell et al., 2007) yet family carers and frequently friends and local neighbours play a largely unacknowledged role in helping vulnerable adults find their way through the bureaucratic and complex system of social care provision (Larkin and Dickinson, 2011; Edwards, 2012). The potential for change lies in collaborative redefinition of care needs; in revised forms of delivery and in developing and sustaining long-term timescales to meet long-term needs (Bovaird, 2007; Needham and Carr, 2009; Dickinson and Glasby, 2010). Miller and Larkin’s recent research (2013: 6) suggests a need for a whole systems approach, integrating all dimensions and aspects of service provision and delivery, reflecting new organisational culture to meet the challenge.
The case study is based on a project in the West Midlands led by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (MBC) in the Soho/Victoria ward of Smethwick: Sandwell set out to bring the personalisation and empowerment agendas together using the ‘Friends and Neighbours’ initiative to increase social capital by taking an asset-based approach, which simply means “instead of viewing residents as ’problems’, where action is seen as compensating for a deficit, communities and residents are seen as being rich in talents and abilities” (Edwards, 2012: 2).
Research methodology was based on a process-focused strategy of evidence gathering from the case study to capture the power dynamics evident in causal relations that can relocate power from service provider to user. It concludes that the role of the local authority as a necessary broker is indispensable in this process contesting the proposition of ‘Big Society, small State’.
The personalisation agenda
Personalisation is an international phenomenon with a significant history and intent that is broader than mere political intervention (Larkin and Dickinson, 2011). More recently it is “the means through which a number of debates over the relationship between citizen and state have been conducted” (ibid 2013: 5). It underpinned reform to Adult Social Care in England based on the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review in response to demographic challenges; increased longevity complicated by conditions such as dementia and chronic illnesses; changing family structures and people’s aspirations to receive care in their own home for as long as possible. Founded on collaboration between central and local Government, professionals and service users, the reform set out to be the first public review reform programme to be “co-produced, co-developed and co-evaluated” (DoH, 2007:1). It intended to bring community-based health provision together with wider issues of benefits advice, education, training, employment and housing. Reports set out to revise the role of social workers engaged in assessments within personalisation to achieve social change, well-being, human rights and social justice (Lymbery, 2012).
In 2011 the Commission for Funding of Care and Support headed by Andrew Dilnot made a series of recommendations to the Coalition Government based on the same conclusion that the existing provision needed urgent reform. One of the major problems identified in the report was that people were unable to protect themselves against very high costs, making their long-term future for care uncertain. The report recommended reforms to achieve national eligibility, portable entitlements and emphasised the importance of information, advice and advocacy (Dilnot, 2011). This reform was generally supported although seen by some as not going far enough as there is little mention of service users and user-led organisations when it is well-known that a voice for carers and users is central to ensuring that change is “truly rooted and cost-effective” (Beresford, 2011: 1).
The difference in emphasis between the previous and current Government policy on personalisation regarding the role of the state is apparent (Lymbery, 2012: 786). The Labour Government stressed, “the state should empower citizens to shape their own lives and the services they receive” (DoH, 2008: 4). The Coalition Government emphasised the purpose of the policy as allowing “people to have the freedom to choose the services that are right for them” (DoH, 2010: 4). Big Society is a concept that is open to “as many interpretations as there are ideological positions” (Albrow, 2012: 107) yet the counterparts to Big Society being ‘small state’ leaves little room for partnership working between local authority and constituent communities. The ‘Friends and Neighbours’ asset-based approach allows us to explore the role of the state in the empowerment process at local level.
Asset-based approach to community capital
Sustainable community involvement has been part of a growing movement for two decades. Primary building blocks include local assets in the form of residents’ skills and abilities and the supportive functions of local institutions (McKnight and Kretzmann, 1993; Mathie and Cunningham, 2003; Hufford et al., 2009; Russell, 2011). This is in sharp contrast to the alternative problems-orientated needs-mapping approach to deprived and troubled neighbourhoods that has had a devastating effect in some inner city areas. As a result of the latter approach it can be argued that some neighbourhoods have now become:
environments of service where behaviours are affected because residents come to believe that their well-being depends upon being a client with special needs that can only be met by outsiders (McKnight and Kretzmann, 1993: 2).
However, an asset-based approach to such neighbourhoods in terms of social care is likely to find that contrary to the problematisation of needs-mapping, many people are already providing informal care for each other and there is potential to “increase the ‘social capital’ which results from informal exchanges and interactions between residents” (Edwards, 2012: 2).
Approaches to community involvement can best be located within the theory of social capital (Putnam, 2000; Lowndes, 2000; Harper, 2001; Farr, 2004; Szreter and Woolcock, 2004; Fine, 2007). Putnam (2000) categorised two forms of social capital; ‘bonding’ capital, that is, the trust and co-operation that exists between members of a network group with the same or similar identities; and ‘bridging’ capital that relates to mutual respect and collaboration that develops between people who are not from the same social identity grouping. Szreter and Woolcock (2004) argued the necessity of a third category of social capital, adding a community dimension to social capital theory – that of ‘linking’ capital to address the inequality of power between collaborative partners:
(J)ust as health outcomes can be improved by expanding the quality and quantity of bonding social capital (among friends, family and neighbours) and bridging social capital (trusting relations between those from different demographic and spatial groups), so, too, is it crucial to facilitate the building of linking social capital across power differentials (Szreter and Woolcock, 2004: 655).
In relation to public service provision, Big Society thinking about the centrality of civic participation is at the forefront of this debate where harnessing social capital is considered key to the Government’s localism agenda of locating communities centre stage (Cabinet Office, 2010).
Although Putnam conceptualises social capital as contributing towards the quality of relationships between citizens in an effectively governed society, Szreter (2002, 2012) argues there is a missing discourse about the role of the state in this analysis. Furthermore, within Big Society thinking, the voluntary sector working through local communities is promoted as the agency of social recovery, “from state power to people power” (Cameron, 2010). Szreter (2012: 39) asks the fundamental question: “what is the role of local government in all this?”
This conceptualisation of ‘social capital’ helps to portray a shift in power to service users via collaboration that acts as a conduit for challenging ideology, access and control over resources and in transforming institutional relations (Batliwala, 2007). It is also an effective term when considering approaches to capacity building associated with community empowerment in collaborative working. What needs to be recognised is that an asset-based approach demands that capacity building works both ways. Within the theoretical framework of bonding, bridging and linking capital there is a gap in applied research identifying the often overlooked element of agency within the dynamics.
As detailed in the context below the ‘Friends and Neighbours’ case study is uniquely positioned, and at a critical stage of development, to enable productive examination of the process of relocation of power from service providers to the community and to identify the role of the local authority as an agent of change.
Case study context
During 2009 the Department of Health commissioned the Stamford Forum, an international, change-orientated partnership organisation, to look at alternative solutions to the challenge of combining personalisation with community empowerment. The Stamford Forum was conceived in early 2009 to consider some of the key issues and unspoken deficits in modern politics and led the Developing and Empowering Resources in Communities Initiative (DERIC) to pilot an asset-based model to personalisation in Leeds, Belfast and Sandwell.
The magic of this possibility is clear: vulnerable people would become community assets instead of a problem… This, surely, lies at the heart of the community empowerment and individualisation agendas – local people incentivised to help their vulnerable neighbours and value each others’ presence (Brazil, 2009).
Sandwell is located in the Black Country which was at the heart of the industrial revolution where people lived in close knit neighbourhoods often connected to mines, iron foundries, steelworks, local coking operations and factories. Although the heavy industry has gone, there is still a proud tradition of manufacturing. The Borough has seen a small population growth reversing the long-term decline since the 1960s. Sandwell’s communities are now much more diverse, but local networks through work, faith, schools and neighbourhoods are valued. “Community cohesion is good. Sandwell seems to have the scope to challenge the assertion that ‘social capital’ is on the decline” (Edwards, 2012: 2).
The DERIC pilot is taking place in the Soho/Victoria Ward where statistics1 show it houses the highest proportion of BAME population for the Borough and the highest proportion of people of working age registered as seeking employment. When long-term illness and poor general health statistics are taken together it scores the highest percentage for the Borough. Interestingly it also displays a higher than average percentage of people qualified to degree level and above and at the same time has a higher than Borough average percentage of people with no qualifications at all.
Sandwell’s challenge is targeting individual neighbourhoods and understanding local priorities. The Council is aware that “the more people feel their priorities drive local improvement, the better perceptions are of local public service providers” (Wright, 2010: 8). The refreshed Anti-Poverty Strategy 2010-2013 identified personalisation as a significant issue and proposed key actions that increased social capital through new, mutually beneficial schemes. This conceptual approach aims to improve the quality of life for older and disabled residents as well as cultivate community-based volunteering and employment opportunities (Edwards, 2010).
‘Friends and Neighbours’
‘Friends and Neighbours’ developed within a neighbourhood where approximately half the housing is provided by social landlords and the rest via private, mostly rented sector provision. Due to low turnover and high demand there is very little movement within the social-rented sector. The area is particularly diverse: Local authority housing management officers estimate there are 12,000 residents from 71 different countries living in 3,400 properties. The mix includes Black and White British, established BAME; economic migrants; and refugees and asylum seekers.
The ‘Friends and Neighbours’ Community Interest Company (CIC) is underpinned by an innovative financial model. Direct cash payments for those eligible for Fair Access to Care Services (FACS) are central to the personalisation agenda in bringing more control over service users’ support packages. Once assessment has been made, Personal Budgets are allocated and have been rolled out since 2008. Users can either take their Personal Budget as a direct payment, leave the Council with the responsibility to commission the services or have some combination of the two. Personal Budgets have been critiqued by bodies such as the New Economics Foundation: “Personal budgets were never intended… to replace relationships with market transactions. But when they are used by policy-makers instead of rebuilding social networks, this can be the outcome” (Stephens et al., 2008: 16).
Case study assessments are done very differently in three ways; they are completed with everyone needing care not just those eligible for Personal Budgets; they are not individualistic but include all family and friends (often neighbours) involved with the users and they are designed as ‘living plans’ rather than ‘support packages’ to reflect the long-term holistic approach.
Value is added and costed through volunteers working at different levels; good neighbours, community support and training and development to develop a pool of ‘Community Supporters’. Much is done in partnership, for example with the local Hospital that plans to set up a training hub in the disused Neighbourhood Office to enable skill sharing and career progression. The ‘Friends and Neighbours’ CIC is developing a business plan and will have autonomy in consultation with all members of the community over what to do with surplus revenue.
Methodology
A process-focused research approach has been adopted to examine the particular and add depth, richer description and fuller understanding to an already established theoretical or empirically founded proposition (Bergen and While, 2000; Stake, 2003). The strength of this approach into the ‘Friends and Neighbours’ initiative has been early development of a conceptual structure of this case study, revolved around the simple proposition that collaboration in the policy context of the personalisation agenda enables a shift in power from service providers to service users.
In this way it becomes possible to generalise at the level of theory as long as a theoretical framework is developed between data from different sources to enable causal relationships to be examined (Yin, 1984; 1989; 1994). Perakyla (2004: 297) suggests an alternative to looking for generalisability when identifying the outcome of case study research is in being able to test the notion of different “possible social practices”. She argues that this works “even if the practices are not actualised in similar ways across different settings.” For Sandwell, therefore, rolling out the ‘Friends and Neighbours’ is an approach and not a blueprint. It does not mean ‘one size fits all’; so communities in other localities can influence local responses and possible social practice differently.
Participants were personally invited to take part in the study and free to withdraw their contribution at any time. Methods involved active listening techniques to enable a co-creational approach to data gathering during a series of unstructured interviews and focus groups conducted with staff; resident Board members; local voluntary organisations and other stakeholders. Observations were conducted by invitation during Board and Steering Group meetings.
A grounded theory approach to content analysis of transcripts, documentation from previous meeting and records of events was undertaken to identify whether there was a perceived shift in ideology, resource distribution and institutional relations to build on the theory of asset-based approaches to community empowerment. The size of the case study means individual contributions can easily be identified and some have been particularly frank following reassurances (at the start of the interview) that they will not be personally attributed. Therefore, quotations have been anonymised to protect confidentiality.
If the branding of ‘Friends and Neighbours’ is to be rolled out by Sandwell Council as anticipated to other areas of the Borough, there may be further research opportunities to examine replication and discover whether the initial theory needs further revision and retesting elsewhere.
Findings
In an attempt to capture the dynamics at play, themes based on an understanding of community empowerment emerged through a grounded analysis of the causal relationships between respondents and were endorsed in terms of their significance to the study with key participants. Themes comprised the policy and polity context where local contingencies and policy innovation collide; trust, that was much in evidence from data gathered from different perspectives; capacity building evolved from within the theoretical framework of asset-based approaches to community capital; and reference to some of the tension management, which related closely to the final theme of relocation of power, evidencing the existence of dynamic change within the case study arena.
Policy and polity context
The link between policy and polity is an interesting one within this case study and the dynamic impact on the case study was evident on interlinking levels and colliding timescales. At the same time that the Department of Health was engaging the Stamford Forum to study the connection between community engagement and personalisation under the banner of capacity building, there was activity at local authority level around officer recruitment and new council leadership that influenced the choice of Sandwell as a pilot site.
The recently appointed Anti-Poverty Manager prompted a broad anti-poverty strategy consultation to refresh the approach. This was a tangible exercise to establish issues and practical needs with vulnerable residents. What emerged from wide-ranging discussions with those in receipt of Adult Social Care within the local community was a “frustration with systems and bureaucracy hence people turned to friends and neighbours for support” (Local Authority officer). This key finding evidenced the first indication of an empowered collective voice identified by Dickinson and Glasby (2010) and by Beresford (2011) as a gap in the Dilnot reform. The approach was brand-named using the words of local people to establish the ‘Friends and Neighbours’ initiative.
The initiative grew organically from previous Council-led community development and neighbourhood management work where a steering group of residents from diverse backgrounds and communities had been galvanized to look at aspects of neighbourhood planning in the area. The ‘Friends and Neighbours’ CIC was co-developed with residents from a previous Council-led project through the Working Neighbourhoods Fund.
A further positive contribution to the polity context linked to this policy was the election of a new political leadership. From a network perspective, the new Council leader and local Ward Councillor was previously the Cabinet Member for Social Care and is a community health professional who understands what the challenges entailed. He provided, “someone in that strategic position who understands what it is we are trying to do” (Resident Board Member). Another local Councillor acted as a resident Director to give the initiative “political legitimacy” (Resident Board Member).
Trust
Trust is essential to relational empowerment and nurturing trust is an important activity in developing community capital. Three years of outreach work had built up trust with local residents, making this neighbourhood an ideal choice for the DERIC pilot. Importantly, links had been built within the neighbourhood planning learning process at the same time that the national personalisation agenda was emerging. Residents had been involved in recruitment and selection of masterplanners and an independent tenants’ advisor. Trust-building had been done systematically with all stakeholders involved:
The challenges are around changing mindsets. Two or three people were very cynical and it goes up the project. You have to start with the community. At an initial meeting about what ‘Friends and Neighbours’ could be and how it could be shaped some reacted saying ‘We’ve heard it all before”, so confidence building and assurances were developed by working things through with people. We needed to show that what’s been discussed at this meeting will be taken on board and affects the next meeting and the next meetings (Community Participation Officer).
Local Council officers were acutely aware that mutual trust was at the core of meaningful engagement. Subsequently there was an understanding of the basis for lack of trust in officialdom when home visits are made to assess initial needs:
Trust comes into it and that’s why I don’t rush assessment. When we first visit they think we’re coming to take something away they’re not used to being given something. The first thing they say is ‘I’ve got no money left’ (Assessment Officer).
Conversely, there was also evidence of the need for officialdom to trust the community to define needs realistically:
Sometimes they (the bureaucracy) imagine that if people are allowed to ask for anything they will ask for large and unimaginable things but what we find is people ask for low level things, for example, someone to pop in just for half an hour to have a chat (Resident Board Member).
Trust in staff was evident in the way they were selected for their maturity and experience and given an unhampered remit. Certainly “expert staff on the ground” was considered essential by one local voluntary sector organisation that also engaged in outreach. This was a realization that grew with the approach:
Previously the Project had a student placement but wanted somebody ‘more formed in social care already and more mature’, someone who would have a better grounding (Voluntary Organisation Member).
The most significant indication of trust in staff was evident in the lack of corporate, prescriptive and directive instructions for a priori outcomes, targets, milestones and project planning as this participant endorsed:
It was quite interesting having had many years experience in similar jobs but it was the first time that I had been given a blank piece of paper… to work with the community to create an agenda and because we didn’t have pressure of having to deliver someone else’s outcomes under the microscope we were able to go out into the community and start to build there (Community Participation Officer).
Capacity building
There appeared to be a close link between the “blank-sheet” approach taken to trusting experienced and seasoned staff members to do the work and the way they were then permitted to operate. One local authority officer described the approach as:
the kind of community development we would have adopted twenty years ago about identifying local needs and working with local people to come up with solutions.
It was evident that sustained capacity-building had a positive effect on cross-community collaboration: “One of the keys of ‘Friends and Neighbours’ is that it’s not attached to any one section of the community or any one community or tenure” (Resident Board Member).
Subsequently the Board is made up of diverse members with a range of talents and professions. One Board meeting demonstrated mutual learning between members where the Chairperson encouraged discussion. Despite differences of opinion, mutual respect was obvious between seasoned activists from the Tenants’ and Residents’ movement; newcomers from voluntary refugee support organisations; senior professional managers; and local BAME leaders. One Board Member captured their collective aim as creating “proof that we can succeed as professionals where professionals are failing”.
Where the Board provides leadership, all residents in the area are eligible to take part in decision-making procedures. Abilities in the area are extremely wide-ranging:
While some have been workless for two, three and even sometimes four generations and might need pre-basis skill training, some of the newcomers have high skill levels that we are only just discovering. For example, a number of Albanian women who come from farming communities have lace making skills. We have a radiographer who has relocated from London; a number of doctors; and some residents have languages ‘coming out of their ears!’ (Resident Board Member).
The approach demanded open-mindedness and a clear mandate that the CIC would be the vehicle to pull all these strands together. One perception of the future development of the initiative entailed fundamental change in Adult Social Care package provision where a “disjointed” service has been delivered in “isolation in a siloed system” (Assessment Officer). The approach allows for matching clients with Community Supporters based on local knowledge of people’s needs and personalities:
for example we have a couple where the man is frail but very lively and his wife suffers from dementia. They have been matched with a feisty young woman who is ideal for the situation because she can join in with banter as well as deal with different needs within the family (Assessment Officer).
Neither are those in receipt of care excluded from contributing to the system of community support: “we have a carpenter with health problems but he is contributing support to a local youth centre” (Resident Board Member).
Tension management
Power redistribution is often fraught with tension and conflict yet disagreement at Board and Steering Group meetings was considered healthy and normative so “that conflict and debate is very upfront where resolve can be pursued” (Resident Board Member). Records indicated that debate ranged from membership eligibility; election of Directors; confidentiality issues and the necessary skill-sets of volunteers. The creation of a forum either at steering group meetings or CIC Board meetings appeared, from previous minutes, to facilitate conflict resolution and provide the means for creating mechanisms to counter tension in the future. For example at one CIC Board meeting there was much discussion about individual members having been “put on the spot” by outside bodies asking them for comment and contribution in wider forums. Following a robust discussion the Board decided to formulate a Communications Protocol that meant all invitations to promote or disseminate their work would go through the Chair to allow for constitutional consideration at the next Board meeting.
One indication of inter-sector tension between the local authority and the Community Interest Company appeared to be part of the process of relocation of power. It entailed the role of the Council in relation to the CIC and surfaced at a Board meeting where independence and autonomy were being widely debated. It was clear there were different perceptions about the nature of partnership relations with the Council. Later discussions with individual participants demonstrated that the nuanced difference between ownership and control was going to be an on-going debate where the CIC may come to realise the advantages of recognition and legitimacy that a continued partnership with the Council would bring:
People round that group are astute and there is a level of understanding of wider politics that’s growing. We wouldn’t be where we are without the support of the leader of the Council – it would be very naive not to acknowledge that contribution (Resident Board Member).
It is difficult to assess how significant tensions are within this case study as it is in an early stage of development and conflict and resolution are integral to its evolution. There was a perception that the CIC had “ruffled feathers” (Voluntary Organisation Member) of some of the local voluntary organisations but another participant attributed the tension to “misinformation and the misconception that the CIC will become the preferred care provider of the Council” (Voluntary Organisation Member). The longer-term thinking involved a process of “changing mindsets” and an understanding that there was a political dimension to the response to economic change exacting the kind of organisational cultural change cited by Larkin and Dickinson (2011). A future tension was anticipated surrounding the impact of working within timescales where the approach was built on allowing sufficient time for engagement, capacity and cohesion to “evolve” (Community Participation Officer) before rolling the model out Borough-wide.
Relocation of power
One of the recurrent themes throughout the case study was the redefinition of established concepts to change the culture of Adult Social Care. Clinical definitions, for instance, of ‘vulnerability’ were opened to reinterpretation:
People needed to determine what ‘vulnerability’ meant and we found that it was not just the elderly and frail but also those from newer communities/single parents and people with for instance drink and drugs problems that were considered vulnerable by local residents. It was clear that the concept was quite different to the Adult Social Care model of vulnerability (Assessment Officer).
There was a strategic effort to redefine the notion of volunteering (Woods, 2010), to reflect the stepped opportunities that residents may want to take advantage of within a series of options:
To get involved as a good neighbour; to get involved and develop onto the Carers’ Programme; to get involved and pursue training and development career-wise”. By calling them ’Community Supporters’ we wanted to change the old ideology of what a volunteer was (Resident Board Member).
Central to the approach was the attempt to tackle the personalisation agenda at assessment stage. The present system was criticised as being narrow, disjointed and wasteful of resources. For example:
A man might receive FACS but his wife’s needs as a carer are overlooked (Resident Board Member).
…both people within a couple receiving FACS with agencies visiting at different times without any coherence. It looks at individuals in isolation only and can only deal with the care aspect of people’s lives (Assessment Officer).
The review of concepts, attitudes and service parameters served to develop a different way of working that achieved wider recognition and increased influence for people around the recipient of personal budgets. For example:
One family, there was three members I worked with and another there were five members in there but each one of those people I’d find out something about them to see how they linked in together. If they were removed from that equation what then would the support package look like? We try to look at everybody’s input for example what impact would it have if that person had to go and have knee surgery? (Assessment Officer).
Conclusions
Undoubtedly the carers’ role is fundamental to the realisation of the personalisation agenda but this case study suggests this huge body of community capital cannot personify the rhetoric of Big Society on its own. Sandwell did not set out to ratify the role of the state in releasing capital, rather its aim was to “challenge the assertion that social capital is on the decline” (Edwards, 2012: 2) exemplified in the asset-based approach taken to development of the community capital of the multiple and diverse communities living within the area. Findings suggest that this ethos drove the process at national, local and neighbourhood level. In bringing together national consultancy, local political leadership and voluntary and resident organisations a forum was created where brokerage, negotiation around power differentials and change could take place and multiply as envisaged by the Stamford Forum, in replicable form (Brazil, 2009). This process occurred within the context of the Department of Health’s (2007: 1) broadly shared vision of a transformation of Adult Social Care that depended on winning the “hearts and minds of all stakeholders”.
The value placed on “suitably skilled staff” (Mansell, et al., 2007: 9) assisted in a return to the kind of community development practices in place “twenty years ago”. This was evident in practical ways such as care assessments which asked “residents to think more widely about what would help improve their quality of life; looking at options which include collective as well as individual solutions” (Edwards, 2012: 3). Findings in this case study regarding the relationship between personal budget holders, other vulnerable residents, formal and informal carers, family members, neighbours and visiting social workers reflected Lymbery’s (2012) and others’ vision of social work with the capacity to co-design ‘living plans’ in the pursuit of sustainable well-being and social change. The demand for longer timescales to build not only mutual trust but also long-term relationships to meet long-term needs (Bovaird, 2007, Stephens, et al., 2008) was implicit in this approach.
Literature suggests that relocation of power can be evidenced by a change in ideology, resource distribution and institutional organisation. Evidence showed that redefining and rebuilding of concepts through the collective communities’ voice created a serious attempt to challenge the “market logic that applies to narrow deliverables” (Stephens, et al., 2008: 8). It is apparent that this case study directly addresses concerns that some commentators have found troubling regarding: “The extent to which the policy has become inseparable from neo-liberal notions of consumerism and individualisation and directly challenges the transformational rhetoric with which it was introduced” (Lymbery, 2012: 790).
By identifying tensions, findings evidenced where power dynamics are likely to be relocated between residents, elected members and the voluntary, community and local authority sectors. One Resident Board Member was particularly insightful about future representation and accountability:
There will come a time if we’re successful when there could be a perceived threat to the political status. It is inevitable with progressive community development where you achieve a shift in power. The question then is who are the elected representatives? The Board will progressively be elected by local people and the evolving differences between that and political representation will prove an interesting time.
Findings illustrated the asset-based approach to front-line staff as well as residents; and the dynamic leadership and synergy at national, Borough, ward and neighbourhood level. Community development work proved transformational as staff were liberated to work with the ‘bonding’ capital to be found within communities of identity and interest in the area to ‘evolve’ bridging capital between communities taking an asset-based approach to their diverse abilities and talents as well as putting a high value on the “core economy” instead of a “bifurcated world where all social problems are relegated either to paid professionals or to volunteers whose role is typically restricted to functioning as free labour within the silos of the non-profit world” (Stephens et al., 2008: 3).
Finally, this study addresses Szreter’s question about the role of the state within the volunteering of Big Society rhetoric. The local authority is material in creating the necessary linking capital for the ‘Friends and Neighbours’ CIC to operate. It devises a legal framework; lends political legitimacy; recognises latent value and demonstrates brokerage between social, voluntary and professional networks so that they can take on:
A democratic and empowering character where those involved are endeavouring to achieve a mutually agreed beneficial goal (or set of goals) on a basis of mutual respect, trust, and equality of status, despite the manifest inequalities in their respective positions (Szreter, 2002: 379).
Notes
1 Source: NOMIS, Census 2001 and Mid-year estimates. Cited from: http://sandwelltrends.info/custom/themedpages/memberportal/FactsMain/atlas.html?select=Abbey
* Correspondence address: Dr Tricia Jones, Third Sector Research Centre, University of Birmingham. Email: [email protected]. Tel: 0121 575 7711 / 07411456535.
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Happy Wellness Wednesday!
Most of us know that we should be incorporating a self-care regime into our daily lives. Yes, DAILY lives. But actually implementing it and making it happen, isn’t always as easy.
This morning on Global News, I shared tips and tricks on how to create a self-care routine you’ll stick to. Summer slacking is coming to an end, and if you’re a parent, the kids are also heading back to school… it’s therefore the perfect time to return to you. Our loved ones should see that our hobbies and passions also matter, and deserve to live on the family calendar too.
You matter.
Every day.
So, quit making excuses why you should be constantly doing for everyone around you, all the while walking around with a depleted tank. You can’t give from an empty cup, dear friend.
Here we go. The segment from this morning, plus Time-Management Guru and Best sSelling author, Laura Vanderkam weighed in to my segment especially for our viewers. | https://ericadiamond.com/how-to-create-a-self-care-routine-that-youll-stick/ |
Because the hydrostatic assumption made in formulating the typical quasi-static system of equations tends to distort small-scale motions such as turbulence and convection, it is desirable in some applications to utilize a non-hydrostatic system of equations. The anelastic system - one designed to filter sound waves without invoking hydrostatic balance - was utilized at Colorado State University to develop a dynamical core based on a geodesic grid. To test this dynamical core, the baroclinic instability test case designed by Jablonowski and Williamson (2006) was modified for use in the anelastic sytem and performed here. During the perturbation version of the test, errors associated with grid seams developed and caused the expected baroclinic wave to distort and break prematurely. Similarly, an error with wavenumber 5 developed in the mid-latitudes during the steady state version of the test, suggesting this error is associated with the underlying model grid. Using an optimized grid reduced this error but did not eliminate it. These results indicate that further work is necessary to refine and improve the anelastic dynamical core used here. | https://ams.confex.com/ams/91Annual/webprogram/Paper180796.html |
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'The puppy was found safe and due to irresponsible owners, it has left me no choice to find it a safe, caring home.
'Please count yourself lucky you have not been reported to the RSPCA.'
Ms Baylis said she 'can't stop worrying' about Nelly since her disappearance, adding the dog had only been with the family for a week before she went missing.
The teenager initially thought the puppy had escaped through a gap in the fence, but later realised the space was far too small. Pictured: Nelly
'We found out that she was not in the house on Saturday just before 12pm', she said.
'I rang the police and they said we had no evidence about her being stolen so it couldn't be reported. I went around and checked my estate and everywhere.'
The teenager had taken a picture of her garden the day before the puppy went missing. She noticed that the following day, a bin had been moved into a different place.
'The only gap that she could have got through was only about three fingers wide,' she added.
'I shared about her being missing on Facebook and then the woman sent my mum the message. I'm unsure as to whether it was a false account.
'She just sent that one message and then nothing was going through. She deleted her account and we couldn't get in touch so we rang the police again.
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A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson confirmed an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
In a statement, they said: 'At around 2.30pm on Saturday 21 November 2020, police were called to reports that a puppy had been stolen from a garden on Marlborough Street in Ashton-Under-Lyne.
'No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing.'
A spokesperson from the RSPCA said: 'This sounds very distressing for the owner of the puppy. As an animal welfare charity the RSPCA doesn't deal directly with pet theft - leaving criminal matters such as this to the expertise of police.
'We'd urge all dog owners to take extra precautions to protect their pooches from thieves by neutering their pets, ensuring they are microchipped with up-to-date contact details registered, ensuring they wear a collar with contact details embroidered or an engraved ID tag.
'We'd also advise that owners never leave their pets tied up outside shops or alone in cars, ensure their gardens are secure with gates locked, and ensure their pet has a good recall and doesn't stray too far when off-lead on walks.
'Anyone who suspects their dog may have been stolen should immediately alert police, contact their microchip company to register their pet as stolen and inform local rescue groups, vets, dog walkers and neighbours.'
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting incident number 1698 or 21/11/20; or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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Chronic traumatic encephalopathy: a neurodegenerative consequence of repetitive traumatic brain injury.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that develops as a result of repetitive mild traumatic brain injury. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is characterized by a unique pattern of accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau in neurons and astrocytes. The tau abnormalities begin focally and perivascularly at the depths of the cerebral sulci, spread to the superficial layers of the adjacent cortex, and eventually become widespread throughout the medial temporal lobes, diencephalon, and brainstem. Abnormalities in 43 kDa TAR DNA-binding protein are also found in most cases of CTE. To date, CTE can only be diagnosed by postmortem neuropathological examination, although there are many ongoing research studies examining imaging techniques and biomarkers that might prove to have diagnostic utility. Currently, the incidence and prevalence of CTE are unknown, although great strides are being made to better understand the clinical symptoms and signs of CTE. Further research is critically needed to better identify the genetic and environmental risk factors for CTE as well as potential rehabilitation and therapeutic strategies.
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Obama uses Memorial Day speech to rehabilitate Vietnam War
By Bill Van Auken
30 May 2012
President Barack Obama chose the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC as the site for a Memorial Day speech in which he sought to rehabilitate the Vietnam War.
The speech was timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the first time US forces were deployed in a major combat operation inside the country in 1962, and served to kick off what is projected as a 13-year-long commemoration of that war. The commemoration, mandated by the US Congress, is being orchestrated by the Defense Department.
The appearance dovetailed with the Obama campaign’s efforts to identify the Democratic president with the armed forces and militarism in order to outflank his Republican rival from the right. It served a deeper purpose, however. Exorcising the ghosts of Vietnam has been a burning objective of America’s ruling class for nearly four decades.
At the heart of Obama’s speech was the hoary and reactionary myth that the approximately 1.5 million troops who saw combat in Vietnam were treated as pariahs and excoriated as war criminals and “baby killers” by the broad sections of the population that opposed the war.
“You were often blamed for a war you didn’t start, when you should have been commended for serving your country with valor,” Obama told the crowd, which included a number of Vietnam veterans, assembled in front of the wall bearing the names of nearly 60,000 US troops killed in the war.
“You came home and sometimes were denigrated, when you should have been celebrated. It was a national shame, a disgrace that should have never happened. And that’s why here today we resolve that it will not happen again,” the president continued.
The “national shame” and “disgrace” that earned the United States the hatred of hundreds of millions of people around the world was the war itself, a genocidal enterprise that took the lives of some 4 million Vietnamese.
In a flight of rhetorical fancy, Obama insisted that America must “celebrate” key battles of Vietnam on a par with the Normandy invasion or the battle for Iwo Jima during World War II. Among the specific episodes he cited was “Rolling Thunder,” the 1965 to 1968 bombing campaign against North Vietnam that dropped 864,000 tons of high explosives on the impoverished former colonial country. It killed, according to the CIA’s undoubtedly conservative estimates, 90,000 Vietnamese, 72,000 of whom were civilians. This savage bombardment, which destroyed schools, hospitals and villages, was one of the many war crimes perpetrated by US imperialism in over a decade of war.
Obama’s narrative ignored the reality that large numbers of US troops in Vietnam opposed the war. Among those who returned, not a small number joined the massive demonstrations demanding the withdrawal of US troops. Deep-going dissension among the troops in Vietnam led to widespread incidents of “fragging” [grenade attacks] on overly zealous commanding officers and other acts of overt rebellion that hastened the war’s end, as Washington feared losing control of its own army.
The lie that the mistreatment of veterans was the fault of a misguided public, or more pointedly of the antiwar movement, serves to cover up the reality that the government itself was to blame. Having subjected troops sent into combat to horrific conditions, it received the hundreds of thousands who returned suffering physical and mental wounds with callous indifference and inadequate support.
Obama insisted that “because of the hard lessons of Vietnam” we “take care of our veterans better.” However, the principal lesson learned by the US ruling establishment was that a conscript army posed unacceptable dangers of popular democratic and antiwar sentiments seeping into America’s war machine. It therefore moved to an “all volunteer” military. Volunteer or conscript, however, both then and now, troops have been treated as cannon fodder and disposable commodities.
Among the indices of the supposedly “better” conditions for US military personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan is an unemployment rate last year of 12.1 percent, with the jobless rate of those recently returned at nearly 30 percent. Some 75,000 veterans are homeless on any given night, while 1.5 million live in poverty. An estimated 300,000 veterans of America’s two most recent wars are returning home with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injuries. On average, 18 veterans a day are taking their own lives.
Obama said the 50th anniversary commemorations he was inaugurating with his speech would give Washington “another chance to set the record straight” on Vietnam. “This is one more way we keep perfecting our Union—setting the record straight.”
On the contrary, Obama’s aim is to facilitate the falsification of history so as to whitewash the crimes of American imperialism.
The official campaign will not provide some new insight into the past or a more truthful account of the Vietnam War and its horrors. It will instead seek to exploit sympathy for veterans to exonerate the criminals in the White House, the CIA and the Pentagon responsible for slaughtering millions. For nearly 40 years, the US ruling class has sought to bury and sanitize a history that ties it to the worst war crimes since the fall of the Nazis.
It is also an attempt to shatter the deep-seated hostility to wars of aggression that was the key domestic legacy of US imperialism’s debacle in Vietnam. This has been an objective of US presidents from Richard Nixon on: to erase the memory of a US imperialist defeat under conditions of mass opposition and social struggles at home. It was George H.W. Bush who, at the end of the 1991 Gulf War, triumphantly proclaimed, “By God, we've kicked the Vietnam syndrome once and for all!"
The two wars launched in the aftermath of 9/11, however, proved such triumphalism to be unjustified. Hostility to both wars grew steadily, and today polls show popular opposition to the war in Afghanistan at 66 percent, just above the record high of 65 percent against the Vietnam War in 1971.
Toward the end of his remarks, Obama declared that “honoring Vietnam veterans” means “never forgetting the lessons of that war.”
What are those lessons? According to Obama, they are the need for “a clear mission,” a “sound strategy,” giving the military “the equipment they need to get the job done,” and the resolve that when sending troops to fight, “We will have their backs.”
These are the conclusion of a Democratic president who was swept into office largely on a wave of hostility to the wars begun by his Republican predecessor, George W. Bush. They suggest that had the US military been equipped with the proper mission, strategy and equipment—nuclear weapons?—it could have prevailed in Vietnam. There is the clear implication that the US defeat resulted from a “stab in the back” by an unworthy population and defeatist politicians—an echo of the infamous theory promoted by the Nazis after Germany’s defeat in World War I.
For decades, the Democratic Party has beat a cowardly retreat in the face of Republican accusations that its anti-war wing was responsible for the defeat in Vietnam. Obama, it appears, is determined to adopt the Republican indictment as his own.
Obama’s Memorial Day speech makes it clear once again that his administration is an instrument of Wall Street and the US military and intelligence apparatus. The deeply reactionary and dishonest speech must be taken as a warning. If America’s ruling establishment is determined to rehabilitate the Vietnam War it is because it wants to prepare public opinion for even bloodier wars and more horrific crimes.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention relates to a method for processing video data for display on a display device having a plurality of luminous elements corresponding to the pixels of a picture, wherein the time of a video frame or field is divided into a plurality of sub-fields during which the luminous elements can be activated for light emission in small pulses corresponding to a sub-field code word of n bits used for encoding the p possible video levels lighting a pixel, comprising the steps of: performing cell-based, pixel-based or multi-mask dithering for reducing a quantization error, said dithering outputting a dither value “1” or “0” for each pixel or cell, a cell being a luminous element of a pixel, and performing an error diffusion for each pixel or cell for reducing the quantization error. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a corresponding device for processing video data.
A PDP utilizes a matrix array of discharge cells, which can only be “ON”, or “OFF”. Also unlike a CRT or LCD in which grey levels are expressed by analogue control of the light emission, a PDP controls the grey level by modulating the number of light pulses per frame (sustain pulses). This time-modulation will be integrated by the eye over a period corresponding to the eye time response. Since the amplitude video is portrayed by the number of light pulses, occurring at a given frequency, more amplitude means more light pulses and thus more “ON” time. For this reason, this kind of modulation is also known as PWM, pulse width modulation.
This PWM is responsible for one of the PDP image quality problems: the poor grey scale portrayal quality, especially in the darker regions of the picture. This is due to the fact, that displayed luminance is linear to the number of pulses, but the eye response and sensitivity to noise is not linear. In darker areas the eye is more sensitive than in brighter areas. This means that even though modern PDPs can display ca. 256 discrete grey levels, quantization error will be quite noticeable in the darker areas.
Cell-Based dithering (EP1269457)and its enhanced version: Multi-Mask dithering (EP1262947), which improves grey scale portrayal but adds high frequency low amplitude dithering pattern (e.g. checker pattern). The content of both documents is incorporated herein by reference. This concept of dithering is based on the spatial and temporal eye integration function. In other words, it is possible to display levels located between the value 1 and 2 by simply mixing these values spatially and temporally. However, it is not possible to render more than 3 additional bits with this method without introducing disturbing low frequency flickering. The major advantage of this concept is that the unnatural dithering pattern introduced by this method is quite invisible at a normal viewing distance. Moreover, this method is independent of the picture content.
Error-Diffusion: it improves grey scale portrayal and generates no dithering pattern. This method is based on a distribution of fractional parts to the neighbouring cells. But it adds a noise mainly in the darker areas (which becomes more noticeable for static pictures without temporal noise). In theory it is possible to render more bits with this method but after a certain limit the gain is no more visible but the noise increases. Finally, it can be said that this method has the disadvantage of adding noise visibly even at a normal viewing distance but it is more natural for moving pictures. Furthermore, this method is dependent on the picture content.
To achieve a better grey scale portrayal, within the internal data processing a dithering signal is added to a processed video signal, before truncation to the final video grey scale amplitude resolution. Dithering is a well-known technique from the technical literature, used to reduce the effects of quantization noise due to a reduced number of displayed resolution bits. Dithering, by adding artificial levels in-between, improves grey scale portrayal, but adds high frequency low amplitude dithering noise, perceptible to the human viewer only at a small viewing distance. There are mainly two kinds of dithering used for PDP:
In the following, the necessity of dithering is pointed out in detail. As mentioned before, plasma uses PWM (pulse width modulation) to generate the different shades of grey. Contrarily to CRTs where luminance is approximately quadratic to applied cathode voltage, luminance is linear to the number of discharge pulses. Therefore an approximately digital quadratic degamma function has to be applied to video before the PWM.
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Due to this degamma function, for smaller video levels, many input levels are mapped to the same output level. In other words, for darker areas, the output number of quantization bits is smaller than the input number, in particular values smaller than 16 (when working with 8 bit for video input) are all mapped to value 0 (this corresponds to four bit resolution which is actually unacceptable for video). Indeed, the output value corresponding to an input video level of 11, is:
in the case of a gamma value of 2.2 (standard video). However, a 8-bit display like a PDP will not be able to render the fractional part. Therefore, if nothing special is done, the low input levels are all mapped to 0 and so on.
However, as already said, dithering is a known technique for avoiding losing amplitude resolution bits to truncation. It only works if the resolution is available before truncation, which is the present case (if more bits are used for degamma). Dithering can in principle bring back as many bits as those lost by truncation. However dithering noise frequency decreases, and therefore becomes more noticeable, with the number of dithering bits.
1 bit of dithering corresponds to multiply the number of available output levels by 2, 2 bits of dithering multiply by 4, and 3 bits of dithering multiply by 8 the number of output levels.
<math overflow="scroll"><mrow><mrow><mn>255</mn><mo>×</mo><msup><mrow><mo>(</mo><mfrac><mn>1</mn><mn>255</mn></mfrac><mo>)</mo></mrow><mn>2.2</mn></msup></mrow><mo>=</mo><mrow><mrow><mn>0.00129</mn><mo></mo><mstyle><mtext> </mtext></mstyle><mo></mo><mi>and</mi><mo></mo><mstyle><mtext> </mtext></mstyle><mo></mo><mn>0.00129</mn><mo>×</mo><msup><mn>2</mn><mn>10</mn></msup></mrow><mo>≥</mo><mn>1.</mn></mrow></mrow></math>
The required amount of fractional bits mandatory to render the first input video level (1) is 10 bits since
FIG. 1
(Cell-based dithering adds a dithering pattern that is defined for every cell of the panel and not for every pixel (3 cells) of this panel. A panel pixel is composed of three cells: red, green and blue. This has the advantage of rendering the dithering noise finer and thus less noticeable to the human viewer. The difference can directly be seen in .
0
Input between x.000 and x.125→mask (mask full of 0)
1
Input between x.125 and x.250→mask
2
Input between x.250 and x.375→mask
3
Input between x.375 and x.500→mask
4
Input between x.500 and x.625→mask
5
Input between x.625 and x.750→mask
6
Input between x.750 and x.875→mask
7
Input between x.875 and 1→mask
The multi-mask dithering represents an improved version of the cell-based dithering by using different kinds of dithering functions depending of the fractional part to be rendered. For instance, for 3 bit dithering able to render 8 different fractional parts of the value x, 8 different masks will be used (cf. EP 1 262 947) as described below:
1
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5
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7
Frame 1
Frame 2
Frame 3
Frame 4
Level 1/8
line 1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
line 2
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
line 3
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
line 4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
Level 1/4
line 1
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
line 2
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
line 3
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
line 4
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
Level 3/8
line 1
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
line 2
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
line 3
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
1
line 4
1
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
Level 1/2
line 1
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
line 2
0
1
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
1
0
line 3
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
line 4
0
1
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
1
0
Level 5/8
line 1
1
1
0
1
0
1
1
1
1
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
line 2
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
1
1
line 3
0
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
1
line 4
1
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
0
Level 3/4
line 1
1
0
1
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
1
0
line 2
0
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
0
1
line 3
1
1
1
0
1
1
0
1
0
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
line 4
1
1
0
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
1
1
0
1
1
1
Level 7/8
line 1
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
1
line 2
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
line 3
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
line 4
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
Some examples of masks are given in the following table, wherein each frame or mask covers 4×4=16 cells. Mask is the mask defined for the level 1/8, mask is the mask defined for the level 1/4, mask is the mask defined for the level 3/8, mask is the mask defined for the level 1/2, mask is the mask defined for the level 5/8, mask is the mask defined for the level 3/4, mask is the mask defined for the level 7/8.
These patterns have been chosen in order to reduce the size of the noisy static patterns, line flicker, and also the noise introduced by asymmetries between the different dithering patterns. The main advantage of the solution is that the masks are fix and do not depend on the video content of the picture. However, only 3 bits can be rendered, which corresponds to the minimum input value of 8 (all values between 0 and 8 are lost, as can be gathered from the above equation of the degamma function).
“An adaptive algorithm for spatial greyscale” in Proc. Soc. Information Display,
e
e
e
e
e
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In contrast to dithering, error diffusion is a neighbourhood operation that quantizes the current pixel signal for example by keeping the integer part of the signal value) and then transfers the quantization error (fractional part) onto future pixels. Formally, Floyd and Steinberg (1976, vol 17, no. 2, pp. 75-78) define the output pixel y[n] by adjusting and rounding the pixel signal, i.e. the input pixel x[n] such that:
y[n]=int(x[n]+x[n]) where x[n] is the diffused error (fractional part) accumulated during previous iterations as
where y[n] represents the various fractional parts such as y[n]=(x[n]+x[n])−y[n]
Although error-diffusion images are very pleasant to the eye (introduced noise being similar to natural video noise), the algorithm does generate some unwanted textures (depending on picture content) that can be very objectionable and that never happens with a matrix solution like the multi-mask dithering.
The error diffusion process itself consists of three steps. First, a modified input is formed as the sum of the original input value and the diffused past errors (located above and left of the current pixel). In the second step, this modified error is rounded to yield the output. As the last step, the quantization error (rest of fractional part) is calculated as the difference between the modified input and the final output. Then, this quantization error will be spread to the neighbouring pixels by weighting it with a coefficient that can be chosen in various ways.
FIG. 2
illustrates this principle. At the first stage of the example, the value of the current pixel is 4.5. Then, this value is rounded to 4 generating an error of 0.5. This error will be diffused on three neighboring pixels using three different coefficients (0.5 for the right pixel, 0.3 for the bottom right and 0.2 for the bottom one). Normally, the coefficients are chosen in order to keep the energy constant (sum of coefficient is 1). This is mandatory to keep a good stability in the picture. After these steps, the values of three pixels have changed:
4.85+0.5×0.5=5.1 4.55+0.5×0.3=4.7 5.10+0.5×0.2=5.2
Then, the process will continue with the current pixel having the value 5.1.
The main disadvantage of the concept is its dependency from the picture content. Indeed the spread error depends on the value of the current pixel and its effect is only visible on its neighbors and is thus picture dependent. Moreover, the rendition of very low levels is based on some spread pixels far from each other since the spread error is too small to have rapid effect. Finally the effect is more a noise on a low level than a real visible level.
On the one hand, there is a multi-mask cell-based matrix dithering able to render 3 bits of fractional part in a quite invisible way, on the other hand up to 10 bits are mandatory to have a greyscale quality similar to CRT standards. Moreover, the error diffusion alone is able to render more levels but in such a noisy way that the final picture quality is not enhanced as it could be: the results will be only good at a very long viewing distance that is not the main application for very large screens today.
A combination of error diffusion and multi-mask dithering might help to render more bits of fractional part if one can keep the major advantages of both concepts: quite invisible dithering pattern with more bits (8 bits will be studied as example in the following parts of this document).
FIG. 3
A simple possibility for combining these algorithms is shown in
The general representation “8.8 bits” means 8-bit integer and 8-bit fractional part. Since the 8 bits of the fractional part shall be handled differently, they will be decomposed in the 3 MSBs followed by 5 LSBs described as “3.5”. Finally, the 16-bits of information are described under the form 8.3.5 bits.
FIG. 3
1
1
2
2
3
4
4
5
6
7
In the case of , the 8 bits of video information are forwarded to a degamma block . This block will perform the quadratic degamma function with 16 bits resolution in order to deliver 8.3.5 bits of information. The 5 lowest bits will be diffused in block following a standard error diffusion principle as explained before. Therefore, after this block , there are only 8.3 bits of information (5 LSBs being diffused before, symbolized by adder ). The 3 bits of the fractional part are used to select the appropriate mask from the multi-mask dithering function , , which will be applied to the picture depending on the frame number, pixel position and colour (R, G or B). At this position, the output value of the mask is either 000 (corresponding to value “0”) or 111 (corresponding to value “1”) that is added to the current 8.3 bit value. After that a simple truncation will deliver a standard 8-bit integer to the display .
The concept described here is simple and obvious. However, it does not work properly. Indeed, in this concept both ditherings are applied independently one after the other. This lies in some kind of interferences on the screen in the form of vertical or diagonal periodical structures. These periodical structures are quite annoying and disable a great part of the dithering function so that finally, the rendition of the fractional part does not achieve the 8 target bits.
In view of that it is the object of the present invention to provide a method and a device for processing video data which guarantee a better picture quality.
According to the present invention this object is solved by a method for processing video data for display on a display device having a plurality of luminous elements corresponding to the pixels of a picture, wherein the time of a video frame or field is divided into a plurality of sub-fields during which the luminous elements can be activated for light emission in small pulses corresponding to a sub-field code word of n bits used for encoding the p possible video levels lighting a pixel, comprising the steps of: performing cell-based, pixel-based or multi-mask dithering for reducing a quantization error, said dithering outputting a dither value “1” or “0” for each pixel or cell, a cell being a luminous element of a pixel, and performing an error diffusion for each pixel or cell for reducing the quantization error, wherein the error diffusion for a pixel or cell, during error diffusion, is added to the value of said pixel or cell if the dither value is equal to “1”.
Furthermore, there is provided a device for processing video data for display on a display device having a plurality of luminous elements corresponding to the pixels of a picture, wherein the time of a video frame or field is divided into a plurality of sub-fields during which the luminous elements can be activated for light emission in small pulses corresponding to a sub-field code word of n bits used for encoding the p possible video levels lighting a pixel, comprising: dithering means for performing cell-based, pixel-based or multi-mask dithering in order to reduce a quantization error, said dithering outputting a dither value “1” or “0” for each pixel or cell, a cell being a luminous element of a pixel, and diffusion means for performing error diffusion also in order to reduce the quantization error, wherein an output signal of said dithering means is fed to said diffusion means so that the error diffusion for a pixel or cell is added to the value of said pixel or cell if the dither value is equal to “1”.
Advantageously, the error diffusion is applied under the control of the cell-based pixel-based or multi-mask dithering. Thus, a annoying artefacts can be avoided.
The error diffusion for a pixel or a cell is performed if the value of dithering is “1”. Since the values of dithering usually are“0” or “1” these values can also be used as switching bits.
The code words should be processed with more than n bits, so that fractional parts of code words can be formed, and the error diffusion is applicable on all bits of a fractional part. However, best results are obtained, if the result of a cell-based, pixel-based or multi-mask dithering is used as switching parameter for switching on and off the error diffusion.
Particularly, the highest bit or a couple of the highest bits of a fractional part may be used for determining the value of the cell-based, pixel-based or multi-mask dithering. Thus, only larger quantization errors initiate an error diffusion, whereas the error diffusion for smaller quantization errors may be accumulated for one cell or one pixel. Thus, error diffusion can be performed depending on the content of the picture. If an error is not diffused it may be stored for a future pixel.
The error to be added to a pixel or a cell by error diffusion may be limited to a maximum error. Preferably, such maximum error is 1. This limitation guarantees that the error does not increase unduly.
The present invention will now be described in more detail along with the following drawings, showing in:
FIG. 1
the principle of pixel-based and cell-based dithering;
FIG. 2
the principle of error diffusion;
FIG. 3 a
block diagram of the combination of multi-mask dithering and error diffusion;
FIG. 4 a
block diagram of an improved combination of multi- mask dithering and error diffusion according to a first embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 5 a
block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention
FIG. 4
The main issue of combining the error diffusion with the multi-mask/cell-based dithering should be to achieve a rendition of more bits of fractional part while keeping the advantage of a structure of dithering similar to the multimask. According to the present invention this is achieved by a diffusion of all 8 bits of fractional part but the error will only be applied on cells having their multi-mask value at 1. In order to determine the value of the multi-mask, the three highest bits of the fractional part will be chosen.This concept is illustrated in .
1
1
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1
4
8
4
3
2
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2
e
e′
<math overflow="scroll"><mrow><mrow><msubsup><mi>x</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>′</mi></msubsup><mo></mo><mrow><mo>[</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>]</mo></mrow></mrow><mo>=</mo><mrow><mo>{</mo><mrow><mrow><mtable><mtr><mtd><mrow><mrow><mrow><msub><mi>x</mi><mi>e</mi></msub><mo></mo><mrow><mo>[</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>]</mo></mrow></mrow><mo></mo><mstyle><mtext> </mtext></mstyle><mo></mo><mi>if</mi><mo></mo><mstyle><mtext> </mtext></mstyle><mo></mo><mi>multi</mi><mo></mo><mstyle><mtext>-</mtext></mstyle><mo></mo><mi>mask</mi><mo></mo><mstyle><mtext> </mtext></mstyle><mo></mo><mi>value</mi></mrow><mo>=</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mrow><mn>0.0</mn><mo></mo><mstyle><mtext> </mtext></mstyle><mo></mo><mi>else</mi></mrow></mtd></mtr></mtable><mo></mo><mstyle><mtext></mtext></mstyle><mo></mo><mi>and</mi><mo></mo><mstyle><mtext></mtext></mstyle><mo></mo><mrow><msubsup><mi>y</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>′</mi></msubsup><mo></mo><mrow><mo>[</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>]</mo></mrow></mrow></mrow><mo>=</mo><mrow><mrow><msub><mi>y</mi><mi>e</mi></msub><mo></mo><mrow><mo>[</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>]</mo></mrow></mrow><mo>+</mo><mrow><mo>{</mo><mtable><mtr><mtd><mrow><mrow><mn>0</mn><mo></mo><mstyle><mtext> </mtext></mstyle><mo></mo><mi>if</mi><mo></mo><mstyle><mtext> </mtext></mstyle><mo></mo><mi>multi</mi><mo></mo><mstyle><mtext>-</mtext></mstyle><mo></mo><mi>mask</mi><mo></mo><mstyle><mtext> </mtext></mstyle><mo></mo><mi>value</mi></mrow><mo>=</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mrow><mrow><msub><mi>x</mi><mi>e</mi></msub><mo></mo><mrow><mo>[</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>]</mo></mrow></mrow><mo></mo><mstyle><mtext> </mtext></mstyle><mo></mo><mi>else</mi></mrow></mtd></mtr></mtable></mrow></mrow></mrow></mrow></mrow></math>
The input 8 bits of video information are forwarded to the degamma block . This block will perform the quadratic function with 16 bits resolution in order to deliver 8.3.5 bits of information. The complete information is input into an error diffusion block thereby passing an adder ′. The 3 MSBs of the fractional part of the output from the degamma block are used to define the output of the multi-mask dithering ′, this being 1 or 0. A swith is controlled by the output of the multi-mask block ′. In case of 1, the error diffused to this pixel is accepted and added by adder ′to the pixel before going to the error diffusion block . If the output of the multi-mask ′is 0, the diffused error is refused, and will be re-injected via switch inside the error diffusion block . The resulting diffused error x′and the fractional part yare:
FIG. 4
The error diffusion will only be applied in a multi-mask matrix manner keeping all advantages of this concept. On the other hand, the value applied in a multi-mask manner, is 8-bit fractional and follows the error diffusion principle. As illustrated in the error diffused can be up to 1.8 bits since the error can be accumulated on a higher number of iterations (if often rejected).
1
Input between x.000 and x.125→mask (mask corresponding to level 1/8 in the table of the preamble)
2
Input between x.125 and x.250→mask (mask corresponding to level 1/4 in the table of the preamble)
3
Input between x.250 and x.375→mask (mask corresponding to level 3/8 in the table of the preamble)
4
Input between x.375 and x.500→mask (mask corresponding to level 1/2 in the table of the preamble)
5
Input between x.500 and x.625→mask (mask corresponding to level 5/8 in the table of the preamble)
6
Input between x.625 and x.750→mask (mask corresponding to level 3/4 in the table of the preamble)
7
Input between x.750 and x.875→mask (mask corresponding to level 7/8 in the table of the preamble)
8
Input between x.875 and 1→mask (mask full of 1)
If we use the masks defined by the table given in the preamble of the present specification, a circular permutation should be done in order to add the error at the right place
FIG. 5
FIG. 5
2
9
An improved embodiment of the invention is shown in . Since the error diffused to one pixel can be, depending on the multi-mask value, re-injected inside the error diffusion block , it is easy to understand that the error can increase a lot. Therefore, an improvement of the concept will be to limit the error that can be added to the current pixel to a maximum by a limiter . The rest being re-injected again inside the error diffusion block as shown in .
2
<math overflow="scroll"><mrow><mrow><msubsup><mi>x</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>′′</mi></msubsup><mo></mo><mrow><mo>[</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>]</mo></mrow></mrow><mo>=</mo><mrow><mo>{</mo><mrow><mrow><mtable><mtr><mtd><mrow><mrow><mrow><msubsup><mi>x</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>′</mi></msubsup><mo></mo><mrow><mo>[</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>]</mo></mrow></mrow><mo></mo><mstyle><mtext> </mtext></mstyle><mo></mo><mi>if</mi><mo></mo><mstyle><mtext> </mtext></mstyle><mo></mo><mrow><msubsup><mi>x</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>′</mi></msubsup><mo></mo><mrow><mo>[</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>]</mo></mrow></mrow></mrow><mo>≤</mo><mn>1.0</mn></mrow></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mrow><mn>1.0</mn><mo></mo><mstyle><mtext> </mtext></mstyle><mo></mo><mi>else</mi></mrow></mtd></mtr></mtable><mo></mo><mstyle><mtext> </mtext></mstyle><mo></mo><mi>and</mi><mo></mo><mstyle><mtext></mtext></mstyle><mo></mo><mrow><msubsup><mi>y</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>′′</mi></msubsup><mo></mo><mrow><mo>[</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>]</mo></mrow></mrow></mrow><mo>=</mo><mrow><mrow><msubsup><mi>y</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>′</mi></msubsup><mo></mo><mrow><mo>[</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>]</mo></mrow></mrow><mo>+</mo><mrow><mo>{</mo><mtable><mtr><mtd><mrow><mrow><mn>0</mn><mo></mo><mstyle><mtext> </mtext></mstyle><mo></mo><mi>if</mi><mo></mo><mstyle><mtext> </mtext></mstyle><mo></mo><mrow><msubsup><mi>x</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>′</mi></msubsup><mo></mo><mrow><mo>[</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>]</mo></mrow></mrow></mrow><mo>≤</mo><mn>1.0</mn></mrow></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mrow><mrow><msubsup><mi>x</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>′</mi></msubsup><mo></mo><mrow><mo>[</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>]</mo></mrow></mrow><mo>-</mo><mrow><mn>1.0</mn><mo></mo><mstyle><mtext> </mtext></mstyle><mo></mo><mi>else</mi></mrow></mrow></mtd></mtr></mtable></mrow></mrow></mrow></mrow></mrow></math>
The updated concept is similar to the previous one, excepted the fact that the error added to the pixel is limited to 1.0, the rest being re-injected again in the error diffusion block as described below:
The above described embodiments are directed to a PDP. However, any other kind of digital display may profit from the present invention. | |
Which behavioural characteristics make a cow a good grazer? At Dairy Campus individual behavioural differences in cows are being examined in relation to grazing behaviour.
The major aim of behavioural study - at Dairy Campus - is to investigate the underlying behavioral characteristics affecting dairy cow behaviour during grazing. This work involves a group of 60 cows grazed on pasture during the day but kept indoors in a cubicle house at night. They are milked with a robot situated in the cubicle house, but are free to roam to and from the cubicle house (e.g. to visit the milking robot) while on pasture.
Recordings of behaviour
During the summer, detailed recordings have been made of the behaviour of the cows at pasture, explains Wageningen UR researcher Kees van Reenen. “We have focused specifically on distances between cows on pasture (inter-individual distances), synchrony levels of behaviour and on timing and frequency of visits to the milking robot. In addition, we assessed the social dominance ranks within the herd, based on indoor behavioural observations. Furthermore, each cow is equipped with two sensors, one recording rumination, and another to detect standing and lying behaviour. Data provided by these sensors complements data from live behavioural observations.”
Behavioural tests
This autumn, when the cows are housed continually indoors, each animal will be subjected to two behavioural tests: one so-called ‘novel environment test’ and one so-called ‘social runway test’. Individual differences in behavioural responses to these tests are assumed to reflect differences in underlying temperamental traits, such as ‘activity’ and their need to be close to conspecifics or ‘sociability’ trait.
Objectives
Our main objective is to examine relationships between the various behavioural measures obtained in the present study, between, on the one hand, behaviour at pasture (including visits to the milking robot) and, on the other hand, social dominance rank and responses to the behavioural tests. This is a first step in attempting to understand the extent to which cows differ in behaviour during grazing (and in other parameters such as visits to the milking robot and milk production during grazing), and those factors influencing these differences.
Ultimately, we hope that this type of research will help us to identify the essential behavioural characteristics of a good grazer. This knowledge has the potential to provide important information to aid improvements in grazing efficiency through tailor-made breeding programmes. | https://www.wur.nl/nl/nieuws/Identifying-the-essential-behavioural-characteristics-of-a-good-grazer.htm |
Southern Colorado Is Home To Some Great Musicians. Here Are 10 Songs To Check Out
Ryan WarnerVicky Gregor has been the music coordinator at KRCC in Colorado Springs for nearly three decades.
According to KRCC's Vicky Gregor, Southern Colorado's music scene has "exploded" in recent years. In recent years artists from Colorado Springs, Pueblo and beyond have found bigger audiences at venues like The Black Sheep and Lulu's Downstairs. They've also found new ways to release music via independent labels like Blank Tape Records.
Gregor, the music coordinator at KRCC, has had her finger on the pulse of Southern Colorado's music scene for nearly three decades and shared 10 of her favorite songs by local artists. Her picks range from brooding indie rock to country-blues to experimental electronica.
Colorado has the country's 5th highest rate for fatal law enforcement shootings. CPR News created and analyzed a database of every shooting in which a suspect was injured or killed in the past six years. The database offers insight into trends that has surprised people throughout the criminal justice system.
Beginning March 2, CPR and KRCC will be aligning daytime weekday schedules to provide public radio listeners with a consistent listening experience along the entire I-25 corridor. As part of that change, Fresh Air returns to CPR at 2 p.m. Learn more. | |
Reviewing documents is definitely not the most interesting part of conducting audits. At least for me. But it is a very necessary part. We review documents because it gives us information and helps us verify other information in order to produce evidence. As an auditor, we need to review documents as we audit, not just to give us information to verify against, (i.e. Does the operator follow steps 1, 2 & 3 correctly?) but we have to critically review each document as well. I like to use the basics and use them well. For reviewing documents, I like to use the 5Ws and H, just like we learned in school.
Who – A document must clearly identify responsibilities for every task. I don’t know how many procedures I have read, that clearly describes the task, but no where does it indicate who is suppose to do it. “It’s obvious, it’s suppose to be operator ABC!” Obvious to the writer, not the reader. Procedures are for the readers, who are usually new to the task or job and use the procedure for training.
What/How – The tasks or steps in a procedure need to be logically documented. Make sure critical steps are not missed. Can the procedure be written in a better format (i.e. flowchart versus straight text)? Does it address all of the required information? When it comes to EHS audits, a lot of the time, legal requirements must be considered, and therefore specific requirements may be required to be included. For example: activities being carried out above a specific height may require fall arrest equipment to be worn.
Where – It must be clear that the scope of the activities in the procedure is clearly defined. Is the procedure applicable to the entire site or just the maintenance department?
When – The triggers for a procedure need to be defined. Is the task based on a regular schedule (i.e. monthly) or is this activity only occur after another one is finished (i.e. New Chemical review procedure is only required when someone decides to being in a new chemical).
Why – There needs to be a clear purpose for the procedure. The procedure may not necessarily document the purpose within the procedure, but when reading it, there needs to be a clear purpose. Because if there is no purpose to having this document, then it’s a waste of time and energy for everyone. Because all documents must be controlled and regularly reviewed and revised as necessary. | https://strategies4enviro.com/2011/reviewing-documents/ |
CBSE has released the answer keys for the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET). Candidates can submit challenges against the CTET answer key till July 26.
Answer keys and answer sheets of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) were released on July 24. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) released the scanned images of the answer sheets and the provisional answer key online at the official website ctet.nic.in. As per the data shared by CBSE more than 14 lakh out of the 21 lakh registered candidates took the CTET on July 7. Candidates can verify the scanned images of the CTET answer copies and can also raise objections to the answer key.
Candidates who wish to challenge the official answer key have to deposit Rs 1000 per question through credit or debit card. "If the challenge is accepted by the Board i.e. if any mistake is noticed by the subject experts in the answer key, a policy decision will be notified on the website and the fee shall be refunded," the Board said.
"Candidates can also seek a photocopy of their OMR Sheet of CTET along with calculation sheet by paying fee of Rs.500 per OMR, by way of Demand Draft in favour of Secretary, Central Board of Secondary Education drawn on any Nationalized Bank and payable at Delhi," it added.
Candidates should note that the records of CTET including OMR Answer sheet is preserved upto two months from the date of declaration of result in accordance with CBSE Examination Weeding out rules.
As per the schedule announced by the Board the CTET result is expected within August 18. | |
College of Earth, Ocean, & Environment
From the deep sea to outer space (and everywhere in between) come join us and learn about the exciting frontiers we're exploring to uncover the mysteries of our blue planet! At the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment (CEOE), our mission is to advance the knowledge, understanding, and wise use of ocean, earth, and atmospheric resources through programs of interdisciplinary research, outreach, and education in the physical, chemical, biological, geological and social sciences.
As a graduate student in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment, you may undertake one of the following graduate degree programs in one of our three academic units (School of Marine Science and Policy, Department of Geological Sciences or Department of Geography).
There are also courses and other opportunities for you to explore Earth, Ocean, and Environment at the University of Delaware!
• Course Catalog With Descriptions of Course Offerings
Geography (GEOG)
Geological Sciences (GEOL)
Marine Science & Policy (MAST)
Environmental Justice
Coral Reef Starter Kit
Fossil Aquifers
Tracking ocean pollution
Stemflow study
Horseshoe Crabs and Artificial Bait
Advancing the understanding, stewardship, and conservation of estuarine, coastal, and ocean environments.
Discovering how geological processes have operated over various time scales to create and influence the planet’s surface environments.
Providing a unique spatial perspective that seeks to explain patterns of differences and commonality across the human and natural environment. | https://www.ceoe.udel.edu/academics/for-prospective-graduate-students/degrees-courses-offered |
Make yourself at home in one of the 129 air-conditioned guestrooms. Complimentary wired and wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and satellite programming provides entertainment. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include phones, as well as laptop-compatible safes and desks.
Facilities
Pamper yourself with a visit to the spa, which offers massages, body treatments, and facials. You can take advantage of recreational amenities such as a health club, an indoor pool, and a spa tub. Additional amenities at this hotel include complimentary wireless Internet access, concierge services, and wedding services.
Dining
Enjoy local cuisine at Laguna Kitchen and Bar, a restaurant where you can enjoy drinks at the bar/lounge and dine alfresco. Or stay in and take advantage of the 24-hour room service. Buffet breakfasts are available daily from 7 AM to 10 AM for a fee. | https://luxuryescapes.com/gb/partner/park-plaza-cardiff/034d5844-6710-425c-8334-84f1c9825646 |
Good Morning – rise and shine. Today is National Blueberry Muffin Day. Did you know that Blueberry Muffins are the most popular among Americans? Blueberry muffins are so loved in Minnesota, that a law was passed recognizing them as the official State Muffin.
While blueberries are high in vitamin C and offer a variety of health benefits such as dieses-fighting antioxidants, baked into a muffin is not the healthiest of choices. Most muffins are high in fatty ingredients such as butter and milk as well as refined sugars. You could make your muffins with skim milk, bran or wheat flour, butter substitutes and other healthy alternatives. I say you could, meaning I won’t. I’ve never been one to take something like a muffin and make it healthy. It’s like eating a fat-free cake. Just a contradiction in terms.
It’s impossible to say how the blueberry muffin came to be, but one theory is adaptation through necessity. In Europe, muffins, cakes and other baked goods relied upon bilberries. Upon arrival in the New World, they found that bilberries were not available. However; wild blueberries were plentiful, and so the muffin evolved.
I don’t know what it is about lemons and blueberries that just naturally pop together. All I know is that they do. Blueberries are like Mother Nature and Lemons her sunshine kiss.
Lemon Zested Blueberry Muffins
Lemon Zest Topping
2 tablespoons Sugar
1 Lemon, zested
In a small bowl, combine sugar and lemon zest using your fingers. Set aside.
Blueberry Muffins
1/4 cup Butter
1-1/2 cups Flour
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/2 cup Sugar
1 Egg
1/2 cup Milk
1 cup fresh Blueberries
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners, set aside. Melt butter, set aside to cool completely.
In a mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the sugar, stir well and set aside.
In a small bowl, beat egg and milk until combined. Add butter to egg mixture. Stir wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until combined. Be careful you don’t over-mix the batter — it will be lumpy. Gently fold in the berries. Spoon batter into prepared muffin tin. Fill each cup about 2/3 full.
Sprinkle muffins evenly with zest topping. Bake in the heated oven for about 18 to 20 minutes, or until golden and a cake tester inserted in the center of a muffin comes out mostly clean. Let muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes before moving to a cooling rack. Let cool another 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Serve warm with plenty of sweet butter. | https://rosemarieskitchen.website/2020/07/11/start-the-day-with-a-kiss-of-sunshine/ |
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC70421
|Title:||The European reference condition concept: A scientific and technical approach to identify minimally-impacted river ecosystems|
|Authors:||PARDO Isabel; GÓMEZ-RODRÍGUEZ Carola; WASSON Jean-Gabriel; OWEN Roger; VAN DE BUND Wouter; KELLY Martyn; BENNETT Cathy; BIRK Sebastian; BUFFAGNI Andrea; ERBA Stefania; MENGIN Nicolas; MURRAY-BLIGH John; OFENBOECK Gisela|
|Citation:||SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT vol. 420 p. 33-42|
|Publisher:||ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV|
|Publication Year:||2012|
|JRC N°:||JRC70421|
|ISSN:||0048-9697|
|URI:||http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969712000691|
http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC70421
|DOI:||10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.01.026|
|Type:||Articles in periodicals and books|
|Abstract:||One objective of the European Union (EU)'s Water Framework Directive (WFD: Directive 2000/60/EC) is for all European surface waters to achieve ‘good status’ by 2015. In support of this objective, the EU has facilitat- ed an intercalibration exercise to ensure harmonized definitions of the status of water bodies, reflecting the deviation of their properties (mainly biotic assemblages) from a minimally disturbed state, termed the “ref- erence condition”. One of the major challenges of the WFD has been to find common approaches for defining reference conditions and to define the level of anthropogenic intervention allowed in reference sites. In this paper we describe how river reference sites were selected in the Central-Baltic region of Europe. A list of pressure criteria was provided and 14 Member States (MSs) categorized each criterion according to the method (i.e. measured, field inspection, etc.) used for reference site screening. Additionally, reference land- use and water-chemistry thresholds were agreed among countries in order to base reference site selection on objective criteria. For land-use criteria, a reference threshold and a rejection threshold were established. Sites with all criteria below the reference threshold were considered to be reference sites; sites having most criteria below the reference threshold and only some parameters between the reference and rejection threshold were “possible reference sites”. These sites were retained only after carefully checking the cumu- lative effects of the pressures using local expertise, and a posteriori water-chemistry evaluation was neces- sary. In general, the most widespread method for defining a reference site was the measurement of pressures, followed by field inspections and expert judgment. However, some major pressures (e.g. hydro- morphological alteration) were evaluated in a number of different ways (e.g. measured, field inspection, ex- pert judgment). Our meta-analyses reveal a need to reinforce standardization in the application of pressure criteria by Member States. The pressure criteria identified in this exercise should be refined and tested with biological data to help in the further validation of minimally disturbed sites (i.e. the WFD “reference condi- tion”) and to provide a firm foundation for ecological status assessment. This in turn would ensure that there is pan-European comparability when evaluating the achievement of environmental objectives.|
|JRC Directorate:||Sustainable Resources|
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Items in repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated. | https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC70421 |
It is the news Norwich City fans will have been waiting for ever since Jamal Lewis scored the last goal in front of a crowd at Carrow Road.
Pending the government’s official green light, a limited number of supporters will be able to return to the stadium again from the Preston North End tie on Saturday, September 19.
The club unveiled its plans on Monday evening, confirming that it plans to welcome crowds of 8,000 to the first four home games of the season.Now, season ticket holders have been written to with further details of just what matchdays will look like for the time being - and this handy guide will tell you all you need to know.
• How will tickets be allocated?
The club has set four windows in which supporters can apply to secure seats at the game - in a system designed to guarantee all season ticket holders are able to attend at least one out of the four games if they choose.
From 9am on Monday, season ticket holders will have until 5pm on Tuesday to apply for their chosen game. Then, on Wednesday, September 16, they will then be able to make their second choice known.
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A third window on Thursday, September 17 will allow home and junior members to apply for seats before any leftover tickets go on general sale in the fourth window, between 9am and 5pm on Friday, September 18.
• Will I get to sit in my usual seat?
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Due to social distancing measures, season ticket holders will be unable to choose their usual seat - or any specific other. Instead, they will be able to specify a stand and a block of preference, with seats then allocated on a “best available” basis.
Due to these measures, only a limited number of spectators will be allowed in each area of the ground and therefore applicants are by no means guaranteed to be sat in their stand and block of choice.
• Will I be able to sit with my friends and family?
The club has put measures in place to allow people in the same social bubble to be seated together. In order to do this supporters must have their club accounts linked as friends and family. This can be done through the ticket office or the ticketing section of the club’s website.
The club has capped the maximum number of tickets in one social bubble to 24 and while bubbles will be put in the same section if possible, it remains to be seen whether members will be allow to sit directly next to one another or spread out.
• Will I use my season ticket to get in?
No, for these four fixtures new paper tickets will be issued to supporters. However, season ticket cards will retain their validity when the stadium returns to full capacity.
• How can I access the ground?
Ordinary turnstiles will not be in use - instead supporters will be asked to access the ground through four allocated access points. These will be opened 90 minutes before kick-off and supporters are encouraged to arrive as early as possible. Those who arrive within 30 minutes of kick-off are warned they may not get in.
One way systems will be in place around the ground and crowd control measures used to ensure people can get in promptly and safely.
• Will I need to bring a face covering?
Yes, face covering will be compulsory for arrival and all indoor areas of the ground, including the concourse, toilets and bar areas. However, fans will be permitted to remove their masks once in their seats.
• Do I need to bring anything else?
Along with matchday tickets and face covering, supporters are required to bring a form of photographic ID. This may be a driver’s licence, passport or any other photographic form of identification. This is to allow to club to carry out track and trace measures, in line with government recommendations.
One thing you will not need to bring is cash, with all matchday refreshments accepting cashless payments only.
• Will I be able to move seats once I’m in the ground?
With the seating carefully allocated to ensure social distancing can be observed, no supporter will be permitted to move seats once they are inside the ground. Supporters who do move face the risk of being ejected and missing the match.
• What will happen after the game?
Following the match, there will be staggered exits from the ground, with each section informed of when they can leave via the public address system. This has been designed to prevent bottle necks of people and allow supporters to leave in a safe and secure manner.
• Is there anything else I need to know about attending?
Lifts will not be in operation in the ground, therefore access to upper tiers will be limited. Anybody who ordinarily sits in upper tiers but has limited mobility will need to bear this in mind when selecting their area.
• Will I get my money back if I do not wish to attend?
Yes, the club has confirmed that any season ticket holder that does not wish to attend games, or that can not attend, will be given a pro-rata rebate.
This will be paid in the form of credit on your supporter account, which can either be used to purchase future match tickets - such as a potential play-off final - or can be withdrawn as credit to your bank account.
• Can somebody come in my place if I can not make it?
Match tickets can be transferred, however, the club’s ticket office must be informed of this ahead of time on 01603 721902.
• How else can I watch the games?
Season ticket holders that are not able to attend the games will be given free passes to watch matchday coverage through the club’s iFollow channel. This will also apply to any mid-week away fixtures until full capacity can be restore.
However, away fixtures on weekends can only be viewed by purchasing £10 match passes.
• Are these arrangements set in stone? And what will happen after the four games?
All the arrangements, which have been put in place by the club and its safety advisory group, are pending the government’s official approval.
The club says it is expecting a further announcement from Westminster in the coming days, which will also set about what could happen after this period.
• What are the four games and when are they?
City’s first four home games are as follows:
• Saturday, September 19 (3pm) - Preston North End
• Saturday, October 3 (3pm) - Derby County
• Tuesday, October 20 (7.45pm) - Birmingham City
• Saturday, October 24 (3pm) - Wycombe Wanderers
READ MORE: What will football be like when fans return?READ MORE: What is it like being a socially distanced football fan? | https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-returning-to-carrow-road-1585154 |
The purpose of this year’s study is to determine what effects does human cloning have on society and how people react to human cloning. The most commonly cited ethical and moral arguments against human cloning seem to originate from religious perspectives. These religious arguments can even be made by politicians and scientists with religious sympathies. Many religious philosophies teach, for example, that human life is unique and special and should be created, determined and controlled only by their deities. Many religions believe in the existence of, and in the individuality of, a human soul.
Many Christians, for example, will be concerned about whether it will be possible to clone the human soul, along with the human. If it is possible to clone the soul, what will this “mean”? In contrast, if a person is cloned, but not their soul, what will this “mean”? Can a clone without a soul be destroyed and not offend moral or religious beliefs? Cloning will be divined by many as humans assuming the powers, the providence, and the jurisdiction their deities or other spiritual powers of their supernatural universe. (Watson 98) Cloning is the production of a human or animal part that is genetically identical to the original.
The cloning of cells from human embroyos is a specific process using stem cells, the very earliest forms of cells, which later develop into the 216 different cells that make up adult humans. At this early stage, these embryonic cells are flexible and could potentially be used to create any kind of human cell – hence their value to the scientific community. If the nucleus, the control centre of an adult cell, is transplanted into one of these stem cells, it could produce the correct human tissue desired. (Potonn 99) The new tissue could be used to treat disease.
Transplant patients would no longer have to wait for someone else’s tissue that their bodies might reject. They can have themselves cloned to produce perfect match tissue. This would do away with the powerful anti-rejection drugs needed to tame the immune systems of transplant patients. Some experts believe it may be possible one day to “grow” whole replacement organs in the laboratory. Likewise, “body repair kits” could be produced in which every newborn baby in the country has a supply of cloned cells in case a transplant is needed in later life.
Possible cures for diseases would be any degenerative disease where one cell type has gone wrong. This includes Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Huntingdon’s Chorea, diabetes and cancers. New muscle could also be produced to repair damaged hearts. Therapeutic cloning could eventually heal injuries such as burns. It would also end the long search for the right bone marrow donor in leukaemia cases, as perfect-match bone marrow could be created from a patient’s own skin cells. Scientists estimate that 100m people could benefit worldwide. (Woodward 97) The embryo that was cloned, would be destroyed.
However, scientists plan to remove cells before the embryos are 14 days old, stopping short of creating a cloned embryo that develops beyond a week. They hope this will circumvent ethical concerns about the creation of a cloned adult. (Bailey 97) The Catholic church objects to any research which involves the overproduction and then destruction of human embryos. It says any human embryo – including the small clump of cells produced for this research – is sacrosanct. Anti-abortion groups are suspicious that scientists want to develop therapeutic cloning for reproductive purposes.
The pressure group, Life, has voiced fears that embryos would be cloned, implanted into a surrogate mother, allowed to develop for a full pregnancy, then killed for their hearts and other organs. Some argue that it is possible to remove so-called stem cells from adults and is therefore not necessary to produce cells from embryos. But although research has shown that adult bone marrow cells can be transformed into liver cells, scientists believe that only embryonic stem cells could produce a complete range of tissue types. (Oliver 97)
Cloning by nuclear transfer also has the potential for direct human applications-the production of embryos or even persons as a result of human cloning. These uses, however, are much more controversial, for they require the production of an embryo, fetus, or child with the same DNA as another. Such uses lie at the center of the current debate over the acceptability of human cloning and public policy toward it. . Cloning of embryos to treat infertility. – One likely use would be the cloning of embryos to enhance the fertility of couples, with viable egg and sperm going through in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment for infertility.
Cloning might occur by embryo splitting or by removing the cell or blastomeres of one or more embryos and placing them into enucleated eggs to create additional embryos. The purpose here either would be to assure the creation of enough embryos to start a pregnancy in cases when only one or two eggs are produced or to eliminate the high costs and physical burdens of additional hyperstimulated cycles and surgical retrieval. Cloning embryos in these ways would produce one or more embryos with the same genome (although mitochondrial DNA will differ, except in the case of embryo splitting).
If they were placed in the uterus at the same time, they might produce two or more offspring with the same genome, resulting in the novelty of deliberately created twins. More problematic situations arise if a child is born from the first transfer, and the couple later thaws and transfers the other cloned embryos in order to have additional children. The result could be one or more children born at different points in time with the same genome. (Why Files 97) Based on the above literature the researcher hypothesizes that the majority of people will belive that human cloning should not be allowed, and not to be tampered with. | https://monsterliterature.com/human-cloning-essay/ |
Scrabble?! EURYTHERMICIs eurythermic valid for Scrabble? Words With Friends? Lexulous? WordFeud? Other games?
Definitions of EURYTHERMIC in various dictionaries:
A eurytherm is an organism, often an endotherm, that can function at a wide range of ambient temperatures. To be considered a eurytherm, all stages of an organism's life cycle must be considered, including juvenile and larval stages. These wide ranges of tolerable temperatures are directly derived from the tolerance of a given eurythermal organism's proteins. Extreme examples of eurytherms include Tardigrades (Tardigrada), the desert pupfish (Cyprinodon macularis), and green crabs (Carcinus maenas), however, nearly all mammals, including humans, are considered eurytherms. Eurythermy can be an evolutionary advantage: adaptations to cold temperatures, called cold-eurythemy, are seen as essential for the survival of species during ice ages. In addition, the ability to survive in a wide range of temperatures increases a species' ability to inhabit other areas, an advantage for natural selection. Eurythermy is an aspect of thermoregulation in organisms. It is in contrast with the idea of stenothermic organisms, which can only operate within a relatively narrow range of ambient temperatures. Through a wide variety of thermal coping mechanisms, eurythermic organisms can either provide or expel heat for themselves in order to survive in cold or hot, respectively, or otherwise prepare themselves for extreme temperatures. Certain species of eurytherm have been shown to have unique protein synthesis processes that differentiate them from relatively stenothermic, but otherwise similar, species.
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There are 11 letters in EURYTHERMIC ( C3E1H4I1M3R1T1U1Y4 )
To search all scrabble anagrams of EURYTHERMIC, to go: EURYTHERMIC?
Rearrange the letters in EURYTHERMIC and see some winning combinations
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Anagrammer is a game resource site that has been extremely popular with players of popular games like Scrabble, Lexulous, WordFeud, Letterpress, Ruzzle, Hangman and so forth. We maintain regularly updated dictionaries of almost every game out there. To be successful in these board games you must learn as many valid words as possible, but in order to take your game to the next level you also need to improve your anagramming skills, spelling, counting and probability analysis. Make sure to bookmark every unscrambler we provide on this site. Explore deeper into our site and you will find many educational tools, flash cards and so much more that will make you a much better player. This page covers all aspects of EURYTHERMIC, do not miss the additional links under "More about: EURYTHERMIC" | https://www.anagrammer.com/scrabble/eurythermic |
Raza, M., Salleh, S. B. M. and Shaari, H. (2019). Factors Influencing Brand Loyalty of Customers in Aviation Sector of Pakistan. Journal of Policy Research, 5(3), 8-14.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship of brand experience and brand image with brand loyalty of customers. The proposed model is conceptualized in context of Pakistan aviation sector. Brand loyalty is viewed as strengthen of relationship between brand and customers. Here an attempt made to probe into behavior of customers’ preference to buy services repeatedly. The investigation of this study highlights the factors which compels customers to be loyal with brand. In aviation sector of Pakistan, the issue of brand loyalty has been observed and valuable suggestion being provided to cop this issue. The theoretical framework will help future researcher to get better understand of constructs and base to apply in other services contexts. | https://rfh.org.pk/paper/factors-influencing-brand-loyalty-of-customers-in-aviation-sector-of-pakistan/ |
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READING AND DEVELOPING SPEAKING
⇐ ПредыдущаяСтр 11 из 33Следующая ⇒
Ex. 8. Insert the missing letters:
C_ver; l_ning; ti_sue; basem_nt membrane; epit_elium; s_rface; conne_tive; matri_; sm_oth; dive_se; adi_ose; atta_h; ri_id.
Ex. 9. Translate the following words and word-combinations into Ukrainian:
Spinal cord; gland; define; penetrate; ligament; tendon; attach; connective tissue; to cover the surface; diverse; pump; lining; conduct; adipose; smooth muscle; dermis; rigid.
Ex. 10. Read the following words and word-combinations:
Matrix; grouped; epithelial; muscular; nervous; classified; extracellular; surface; secrete; adipose; striated; voluntary; attach; cover; wall of artery; liquid; neuron.
Ex. 11. Read the following text:
TISSUES
Cells are grouped into tissues, and each tissue type is specialized to perform specific functions. The four basic tissue types are epithelial, connective, muscular, and nervous tissues. Epithelial and connective tissues are the most diverse of the four tissue types and are components of every organ. They are classified according to the structure. Muscular and nervous tissues are defined mainly according to their functions.
Epithelium consists of cells that have very little extracellular material between them. Epithelium covers surfaces, e.g., the outside of the body and the lining of the digestive tract, the vessels and many body cavities. It also forms structures, e.g., glands. Most epithelia have basement membranes. The basement membrane is a specialized type of extracellular material. It is secreted by the epithelial cells and attaches the epithelium to the underlying tissues. Blood vessels do not penetrate the basement membrane to reach epithelium. Epithelia are classified according to the number of cell layers and the shape of the cells.
Connective tissue consists of cells separated from each other by nonliving extracellular matrix. The extracellular matrix results from the activity of specialized connective tissue cells. Connective tissue is classified according to the type of protein and proportions of protein and fluid in the matrix. Connective tissue is subdivided into adipose tissue (fat), fibrous connective tissue, bone, and blood. Connective tissue forms the dermis of the skin, inner portion of the skin, bones, tendons, ligaments, the walls of large arteries, bone marrow, liver and others. Blood is somewhat unique among the connective tissues because the matrix between the cells is liquid. Thus, although the cells of most other connective tissues are more or less stationary within a relatively rigid matrix, blood cells are free to move within a fluid matrix.
Muscular tissue has the ability to contract. The three types of muscular tissue – skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle – are classified according to both structure and function. Skeletal (striated voluntary) muscles attach to bone and are responsible for body movement. Cardiac (striated involuntary) muscles are responsible for pumping blood through the circulatory system. Smooth (nonstriated involuntary) muscles form the walls of hollow organs, the pupil of the eye, and other structures.
Nervoustissue is characterized by the ability to conduct electrical signals. It consists of neurons, or nerve cells, which are responsible for conductive ability, and support cells (neuroglia). Neuroglia (nerve glue) is the support cells of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.
Ex. 12. Translate the following words and word-combinations into English:
Прикріплювати, зв'язувати; визначати, давати визначення; епітелій; поверхня; тканина; нагнітати; спинний мозок; проводити; різноманітний, різнотиповий (різний); залоза; дерма; зв'язка; жорсткий, твердий; сполучна тканина; покривати; слизова оболонка.
Ex. 13. Translate the text "Tissues" into Ukrainian.
Ex. 14. Answer the following questions:
1. What is the tissue? 2. What types of tissue do you know? 3. What is the epithelium composed of? 4. What does the connective tissue consist of? 5. What groups is connective tissue subdivided into? 6. What types of muscular tissue are there? 7. What is the nervous tissue characterized by?
Ex. 15. Crossword:
1. One of the types of tissue, which can be simple, stratified, pseudostratified, and transitional.
2. Noncellular substance surrounding the cells of connective tissue.
3. Bone-forming cell.
4. One of the types of muscular tissue.
5. Cells in the nervous system other than neurons.
6. The fundamental unit of every living organism.
Ex. 16. Write out key words of the text "Tissues".
Ex. 17. Compose the plan to the text "Tissues".
Ex. 18. Speak on:
Epithelial tissue;
Connective tissue;
Muscular tissue;
Nervous tissue.
Ex. 19. Memorize the following terms:
Classification of Epithelium
NOTES:
Ex. 20. Read and translate the following sentences:
1. The major types of epithelia are simple and stratified squamous epithelia, simple and stratified cuboidal epithelia, simple, pseudostratified and stratified columnar epithelia, and transitional epithelium. 2. Simple epithelium generally is involved in diffusion, filtration, secretion, or absorption. 3. Squamous cells function in diffusion and filtration. 4. Cuboidal or columnar cells secrete or absorb. 5. Connective tissue cells are blast cells (form the matrix), cyte cells (maintain it), and clast cells (break it down for remodeling). 6. The cells' names end with suffixes according to the cells' functions as blasts [bla:sts], cytes [saIts], or clasts [klxsts]. For example, fibroblasts are cells that form fibrous connective tissue, and chondrocytes are cells that maintain cartilage (chondro- means cartilage). Osteoblasts form bone (osteo- means bone), osteocytes maintain it, and osteoclasts break it down.
Ex. 21. Translate the following sentences into English:
1. Тканини – це спільність клітин і позаклітинної речовини. 2. В організмі людини виділяють чотири типи тканин: епітеліальну, сполучну, м’язову і нервову. 3. Епітеліальні клітини можуть бути плоскими, кубічними і стовпчастими, або циліндричними. 4. Простий стовпчастий епітелій вистилає внутрішню поверхню тонкої та товстої кишок та жовчного міхура. 5. Лускатий епітелій вистилає поверхню очеревини, плеври, осердя. 6. Простий плоский епітелій покриває зсередини кровоносні та лімфатичні судини. 7. Простий кубічний епітелій вистилає канальці (tubule) нирок та деякі бронхи.
Ex. 22. Read and memorize the following words:
Ex. 23. Read the following text and get ready to narrate it:
TISSUES AND ORGANS
Epithelial tissue is necessary for protection, diffusion, filtration, secretion, absorption and others. Simple epithelium with its single layer of cells is found in organs in which the principal functions are diffusion (lungs), filtration (kidneys), secretion (glands), or absorption (intestines). The selective movement of materials through epithelium would be hindered by a stratified epithelium, which is found in areas where protection is a major function. The multiple layers of cells in stratified epithelium are well adapted for a protective role. Damaged cells are replaced by cells from deeper layers and a continuous barrier of epithelial cells is maintained in the tissue. Stratified squamous epithelium is found in areas of the body where abrasion can occur such as the skin, mouth, throat, esophagus, and anus. Cells involved in diffusion and filtration are normally flat and thin. For example, simple squamous epithelium forms blood and lymph capillaries, the alveoli of the lungs, and parts of the kidney tubules.
Connective tissue is found in tendons, ligaments, cartilages, bones, dermis of skin, arteries, spleen and others. This tissue produces new blood cells, allows growth of long bones, connects different structures, provides great strength and support for bones, transports oxygen, carbon dioxide, hormones, nutrients, waste products and has some other functions.
Muscular tissue has the ability to contract. Muscles contract to move the entire body, to pump blood through the heart and blood vessels, and to decrease the size of hollow organs such as the stomach. Skeletal muscles represent a large portion of the human body's total weight. Skeletal muscle attaches to the skeleton and by contracting causes the major body movements. Cardiac muscle is the muscle of the heart. The contraction of the cardiac muscle is responsible for pumping blood. Smooth muscles are widespread throughout the body and are responsible for a wide range of functions such as movements in the digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems.
Nervous tissue conducts impulses all over the body. Nerve cells, or neurons, located in the brain, spinal cord, and cell processes, conduct not only impulses and store "information", and in some ways integrate and evaluate data. Neuroglia support neurons and form a selectively permeable barrier between neurons and other cell types.
Ex. 24. Answer the following questions:
1. What is the function of epithelial tissue? 2. Where is connective tissue located? 3. What is the function of connective tissue? 4. What is cardiac muscle? 5. Where are nervous cells located? 6. What is the function of nervous tissue?
Ex. 25. Read the data of the following table and speak on the location and functions of different tissues:
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Q:
What does this fstab configuration line mean?
I am trying to mount a RAID array on my computer, and I found a guide on the Internet that told me to add this file to /etc/fstab:
/dev/md0 /mnt/raid/ext4 defaults 0 0
What does /dev/md0 and 0 0 mean in this line? Or, can you break down and explain the line a little better, explaining what each part of the line is?
A:
This looks like an /etc/fstab entry, but it's missing a filesystem type.
Let's split your line into its relevant parts, and analyze individually.
More info on fstab lines can be found in the manpage for fstab. (this link is for Xenial's manpage on fstab)
Note: I believe this line is typoed, and that you really meant to use this line:
/dev/md0 /mnt/raid/ ext4 defaults 0 0
First Field: /dev/md0
This indicates the block device to mount. In this case, /dev/md0, which is a special file indicating the device/partition to the system.
Second field: /mnt/raid/ext4
This indicates where on the Linux system this device file is to be mounted. In this case, in the folder path it specifies.
Given the next section, and my quote-box above indicating that I think you've typoed, I believe this should be /mnt/raid.
Missing Third Field: Filesystem Type
When using fstab for mounting things, we always have some type of filesystem declared in the third item. In your fstab string, this is being skipped, which can cause this to not function right.
Going solely by what appears to be a typo in the mount path, and my quote-box above indicating that I believe you typoed, it seems this should be ext4, but I do not know whether this is the case for you. Determine the filesystem in use on your RAID array, and specify it, adding right before 'defaults' what filesystem to use.
Fourth Field: defaults - Mount Options to use.
Borrowed from my Other Answer on a different question, defaults indicates a default set of mount options:
defaults - passes default mount options (rw - read/write, suid - allow set-user-identifier or set-group-identifier bits to take effect, dev - interpret character or block special devices on the filesystem, exec - permit execution of binaries, auto - allows mounting with the -a option of mount, nouser - prohibits a user from mounting, async - permit asynchronous I/O with the filesystem.)
Fifth field: 0
This field is used by dump to determine which filesystems need to be dumped; 0 indicates this is not needed on this filesystem.
Sixth field: 0
This field is used by fsck to determine the order in which filesystem checks are done at boot time. A 0 here indicates that the filesystem should not be checked by fsck when an at-boot filesystem check is done.
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As Floridians prepare for Hurricane Dorian, I am reminded of a biblical story of how Jesus and his disciples faced an unexpected storm.
Mark 4:36-41 (NLT), tells us...
36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).
37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.
38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion (pillow). The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”
39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.
40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”
Just like Jesus and his disciples, sometimes, unexpected storms will arise in our lives. Even though our natural response to uncertainty and discomfort is fear, we must not be afraid.
Jesus taught us eight important lessons about being in a storm.
We will experience unexpected storms, whether or not we want them.
We must remain calm during a storm and make decisions from a place of tranquility, not a place of fear.
We must be careful of who we listen to while in the storm. The voice of faith will say, “Be still! Trust God! You’re okay, you’ll get through this!” But the voice of fear will torment you into making wrong decisions. It will say, “God doesn’t care about you! You’re all alone in this storm! You won’t make it out alive!”
We are not alone during the storm—Jesus is with us!
We can rest in Jesus, just as he rested on a pillow during the storm.
We won’t sink or suffer any loss during the storm.
We don’t have to be afraid of the storm. God has given us power over the fierce and boisterous winds in our lives.
We can speak to the storm and command it to be quiet, just as Jesus did.
Conclusion
While we wait on God’s divine intervention to protect us from this storm, let us continue to pray that it will downgrade and dissipate. Please be safe everyone! If your city asks you to evacuate, do so—without hesitation. | https://www.lifechangersglobal.org/post/do-not-fear-the-storm |
While planting is right around the corner, there’s still time to make a nutrient management plan for crop fields, especially with the potential for drought weighing on many producers’ minds in the Northern Plains.
Tryston Beyrer, crop nutrition lead for The Mosaic Co., says there are a lot of things to consider this season: “The drought and dry weather we’ve experienced in 2021 and if we’ll experience that again this year.”
He advises growers to start with a plan for success. “Evaluate all past crop management inputs, and make sure that based on your four-year yield trend, that you are feeding the crop the nutrients that it needs and making sure that your soils are not low in nutrient supply,” he says.
And soil testing is an imperative management tool with many benefits, especially in dry years. “One of the things we’ll oftentimes find is that when you are in drier conditions, soil nutrient levels actually need to be built up a little bit higher than is typically recommended as optimum, specifically for potassium,” he says.
In drier field conditions, the plants require moisture to allow potassium and phosphate to get into the plant after moving through the soil. Beyrer says with less available moisture, higher nutrient levels will allow for greater plant nutrient uptake.
“If you don’t have ample soil moisture, it makes it more difficult for plants to get the required nutrients, as nutrients are tied more tightly or fixed to the soil particles, so this higher concentration can effectively feed the plant with a smaller amount of water,” he says.
Nutrient focus
Depending on management in 2021, extra fertility may be left out in fields to utilize in 2022. “That little bit of fertility left out there can be helping producers in the long term — whether it’s nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium or even micronutrients,” Beyrer says.
So which nutrients may be most important for 2022? “I’d prioritize nutrients that are low, based on soil tests,” he says. “But in dry years, focusing extra on potassium and boron is important when it comes to helping overcome short-season moisture stress.” These nutrients, specifically potassium, assist plants with effective water usage, he adds.
Potassium “acts as a cooling agent where it helps keep the stomata pores within the plants open and able to operate, helping plants efficiently exchange oxygen and move water throughout the plant,” Beyrer says. These nutrients can play a vital role in all crops; however, in grass crops, including corn and pastures, they show “interesting” nutrient interactions within the soils.
“A lot of times dry and warm conditions result in greater activity of the ammonium form of nitrogen to be converted over to nitrate, and then the plants can utilize the nitrate within the soil when there is adequate positively charged potassium in the soil to balance the negative charge of nitrate,” Beyrer says.
Boron’s role
Where does boron fit into your crop nutrition plan? Even as a micronutrient, boron’s role is just as important as many macronutrients.
“Getting boron into the soil, ideally during preplant application, can allow for it to be in better proximity to soil moisture throughout the season, so it is available to be taken up throughout the life cycle of the crop,” Beyrer says. | https://www.farmprogress.com/soil-health/proper-nutrition-helps-crop-get-through-dry-times |
In continuation of our previous article, we are now mentioning some more famous temples in Bangladesh. Since Bangladesh was previously a part of India a lot of these temples are very ancient. Let us read and know more about them.
Adinath Temple
Adinath Temple, Maheshkhali– Adinath Temple, is located on the summit of the Mainak Hill on Maheshkhali Island off the coast of Cox’s Bazar. One of the famous temples of Bangladesh, it is dedicated to the Hindu God, Shiva. Another form in which Shiva is worshiped is Adinath. The temple is famous for the annual fair held at the foot of the Mainak Hill in the month of Phalgun as per the Bengali calendar. The fair, which lasts 13 days, draws thousands of Hindus from across Bangladesh.
Dhakeshwari Temple-Ðhakeshshori Jatio Mondir is one of the Hindu temples in Bangladesh. It is state-owned, giving it the distinction of being Bangladesh’s ‘National Temple’. The name “Dhakeshwari” means “Goddess of Dhaka”. Since the destruction of Ramna Kali Mandir in 1971 by the Pakistan Army during the Bangladesh Liberation War, the Dhakeshwari Temple has assumed status as the most important Hindu place of worship in Bangladesh.
Joy Kali Temple-The Temple of Joy Kali in Dhaka, Bangladesh, is situated between Thathari Bazar and Wari at 24 Joy Kali Temple Street. Joy Kali Temple is a Hindu temple devoted to Goddess Kali Ma. People of Hindu religion of every age come to this temple in Bangladesh to worship Goddess Kali. The statue of Goddess Kali is of great significance to the Hindus. The visitors and committee members of this temple gather money for occasions, where sweets are later distributed among them which are called ‘Prasad’.
The Ramna Kali Mandir– Also known as the Ramna Kalibari was one of the most famous Hindu temples of Bangladesh. It was believed to be over a thousand years old and was situated in Dhaka, on the outskirts of the Ramna Park, now renamed as Suhrawardy Udyan.The temple was bulldozed by the Pakistan Army on 27 March 1971 as it commenced its genocide during the Bangladesh Liberation War.
There are now several temples in the boundary of Ramna Kali Mandir and Ma Anandamoyi Ashram- Ramna Kali Mandir, Ma Durga Mandir, Radha Krishna Mandir are in almost full shape. There are some other on-going Temples to be built e.g. Baba Loknath Temple, Ma Anandamoyi Temple, Shiva Temple, and Temple of Sri Harichad Thakur etc.
Dhamrai Jagannath Roth– One of the interesting temples in Bangladesh this is a chariot temple, a Roth. It is dedicated to the Hindu God Jagannath and is located in Dhamrai, Bangladesh. The annual Jagannath Roth Jatra is a famous Hindu festival attracting thousands of people. The Roth Jatra in Dhamrai is one of the most important events for the Hindu community of Bangladesh. Sri Jagannath (Lord of the World) is believed by the Hindus to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, one among the Holy Hindu Trinity of Gods (Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer). Lord Jagannath is also believed to be a deity form of Lord Krishna.
Kantanagar Temple– Commonly known as Kantaji Temple or Kantajew Temple at Kantanagar is a late-medieval Hindu temple in Dinajpur. The Kantajew Temple is one of the most magnificent religious temples in Bangladesh belonging to the 18th century. The temple belongs to the popular Hindu Kanta or Krishna and this is most popular with the Radha-Krishna cult in Bengal. This beautiful temple is dedicated to Krishna and his wife Rukmini. Built by Maharaja Pran Nath, its construction started in 1704 CE . It boasts one of the greatest examples of terracotta architecture in Bangladesh and once had nine spires. However all were destroyed in an earthquake that took place in 1897.
Boro Kali Bari -This is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Bangladesh. The temple is dedicated to the goddess Kali.The main festival is Kali Puja, which is celebrated every year. The temple is located 10-minute rickshaw pull from the center of the city. Mostly Hindu devotees can visit this temple during the morning to night. However, the daily puja usually starts after sunset. Different types of sweets are available to purchase near the Kali temple.
This concludes our listing of the major temples in Bangladesh. Do let us know what you think about it? | https://www.sadhana108.com/2017/04/12/hindu-temples-in-bangladesh-part-2/amp/ |
What Is a Budget Checklist?
A budget checklist is a comprehensive checklist that is intended to help an individual or organization properly budget and manage their finances based on their needs and monetary goals.
According to an article by the Ascent, Americans spend an average of $610 on food each month. The same article also reported that the average single person spends $329 more each year than their take-home pay.
Financial Tips for Beginners
If you are a total newbie when it comes to finances, don’t fret. There are a number of ways you can begin your journey towards better financial health. You do not have to be an economist or financial expert to learn practical money-saving tips. In this case, the little steps are what matter and gradually building good money habits is the way to achieving financial literacy.
Examples of Budget Checklists
You can budget essentially anything that’s important to you. Whether it is for personal or professional reasons, a budget checklist can make all the difference in your financial planning and preparation. The following examples are just some common ways a budget checklist can be applied.
How to Create a Budget Checklist
To create a budget checklist, you need to establish what kind of budget you want first. If you are looking for ideas, browse the sample templates from the collection above. Choose one that meets your needs and follow the step-by-step guide below.
Step 1: Objective
The first step in making a budget checklist is to establish your objective. There can be several reasons why someone would need or want a budget checklist. If you have a specific reason, it might be a good idea to jot it down to remind yourself of the end goal. Sticking to a budget can be challenging especially if unexpected issues occur. But with a clear end goal in mind, you can plan better and anticipate problems with more confidence and clarity. In addition to being specific, you want to keep your objective brief and straightforward as well. One or a couple of lines or bullet points should do.
Step 2: Income
The next step is to identify your sources of income. A basic budget should consist of both income and expenses. In order to craft an accurate and practical budget, enumerate all revenue streams or channels. Whether active or passive income, make sure to include it in the checklist. The most common and obvious source of income is active employment. No matter how much you earn in a month, it is still important to know how to budget effectively. To avoid spending excessively or wasting your hard-earned money on needless wants, it is important to learn how to track and manage your income.
Step 3: Expenses
Along with income, expenses are a crucial part of a budget. You need to have a firm understanding of where your earnings go. What do you spend your money on? Are these expenses essential or non-essential? Which of these expenses are fixed or flexible? These are the types of questions you must ask in order to create a comprehensive budget checklist. It might also help to categorize or classify your expenses according to type or importance. Again, keep in mind that prioritization is key. Once you know what expenses you can do without or with less, then you can make the necessary adjustments and changes to your budget.
Step 4: Actual Amount and Monitoring
The work does not end with an accounting of your income and expenses. A budget checklist is a work-in-process. You must have a monitoring or tracking mechanism in place to see if you are following through with your budget. The premise being that a budget mostly entails planning and preparation; however, it does not mean that the budget plan is always followed. Sometimes, you can go over budget or underspend. Regardless, it is important to note this in your document. This is crucial so that you can compare and properly track your finances.
FAQs
How do I make a budget checklist?
To make a budget checklist, you need to have an adequate assessment or accounting of both your income and expenses. Refer to the previous section for more detailed instructions on how to create a budget checklist.
What is the 50 20 30 budget rule?
The basic rule is that 50% of your monthly income should go to needs or essential expenses; the other 30% to wants and the remaining 20% ought to be kept for savings.
What are the 5 basic elements of budgets?
According to Harvest Financial Planning, the five basic elements of a budget are income, fixed expenses, flexible expenses, unplanned expenses and savings.
If you are looking for a simple way to start taking your finances seriously, creating a budget checklist is a step in the right direction. Browse the sample templates above, select a sample checklist that suits your needs and start budgeting today! | https://www.sample.net/budget/budget-checklist/ |
The drama surrounding the US »travel ban« underlines the importance of separation of powers. Wikipedia:
Separation of powers is a political doctrine originating in the writings of Montesquieu in The Spirit of the Laws where he urged for a constitutional government with three separate branches of government. Each of the three branches would have defined abilities to check the powers of the other branches. This idea was called separation of powers. This philosophy heavily influenced the writing of the United States Constitution, according to which the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches of the United States government are kept distinct in order to prevent abuse of power. This United States form of separation of powers is associated with a system of checks and balances.
This principle will, no doubt, be stress-tested under president Trump.
Donald Trump might be impulsive and be shooting from the hip. This is problematic, as both Democrats and Republicans have granted the President extensive powers. (E.g. killing and detaining people, including US citizens, without due process.)
Those powers ought to be limited. But still, the larger picture is that there is a separation of powers and that the system is working. For now.
And this is where we should be vigilant. President Trump might do stupid and dangerous things. Mainly, these are issues for the everyday political discourse. But if he will try to limit the separation of powers – he will pass a red line. Then, the issue at hand will concern a cornerstone of democracy itself.
This is what is really important, interesting and worrying about the travel ban drama: A new president challenging the separation of powers from start. | https://hax.5july.org/category/trump/ |
Yesterday, during the 27th session of the Human Rights Council, Professor Surya P. Subedi presented his last report as the United Nations (the “UN”) Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia.
The work of the Special Rapporteur involves independently investigating the human rights situation by visiting Cambodia biannually, and reporting to the UN Human Rights Council. At the conclusion of the twelfth reporting period, from 1 July 2013 – 24 July 2014, and after fulfilling the maximum six-year term, the Special Rapporteur has a deep understanding of the challenges facing Cambodia. The candid and honest nature of the report is unsurprising following his press conference at the conclusion of his last visit to Cambodia in June.
The report expresses that overall the human rights situation is generally heading in a positive direction. The Special Rapporteur praises the Royal Government of Cambodia (the “RGC”) for adopting some of his recommendations, and for willingly meeting with him. He further powerfully asserts that:
‘The year 2013 was the year in which the Cambodian people found their voice, and the Special Rapporteur is convinced that Cambodia has embarked on a new path from which there is no turning back.’
Despite this, the report raises significant concerns and recommendations. The prime recommendation is to establish an independent national human rights institution in compliance with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles). The envisaged institution would monitor human rights, advise the government, and investigate individual complaints. This would address the critical issues that are raised in almost every other element of the report: the lack of accountability, the lack of transparency and the lack of effective dispute resolution mechanisms that currently plague Cambodia. As the Special Rapporteur highlights,
‘The continued nexus between powerful business elites, political figures and the military, combined with the absence of an independent judicial system and ineffective dispute resolution mechanisms, continues to deny many ordinary Cambodians redress for violations of their fundamental rights or judicious settlement of disputes.’
He expresses considerable concern regarding the independence of the judiciary. Of particular concern is the enactment of laws on the organization of courts, on the status of judges and prosecutors, and on the Supreme Council of the Magistracy that were promulgated into law in July 2014. The provisions are ‘detrimental to the independence of the judiciary and the doctrine of the separation of powers’. The report also highlights the need for Parliament to be more transparent and open to consultations.
The Special Rapporteur praises the largely peaceful manner in which the elections to the National Assembly in July 2013 were conducted, and the free exchange of information that accompanied them, calling it ‘a sign of maturing democracy in Cambodia’. However, he condemns the use of excessive force against protestors, and the arbitrary ban on demonstrations lasting from January-August 2014. He recommends the need for electoral reform, in order to ensure that democracy functions smoothly and to increase public confidence in the system.
Finally, despite the implementation of positive land policies, the Special Rapporteur is concerned about the continuation of land disputes, and calls on the RGC to immediately resolve the existing disputes.
Other issues include minimum wages, racism, the return of migrant workers from Thailand, the relocation of refugees from Australia to Cambodia, cybercrime laws, and the failure of the RGC to fully embrace the recommendations of the 2014 Universal Periodic Review of Cambodia.
So where does such a powerful report leave us? If fully implemented, the recommendations would overturn the fundamental power structures that underpin Cambodian society. Reform of the judiciary, the parliament, and electoral procedures, and end the culture of impunity, would be a leap towards restoring balance to Cambodian society. While those at the top have a vested personal interest in maintaining the status quo, and it is clear that the path to reform will not be easy, the journey has unquestionably commenced. It will be interesting to see which elements and recommendations of the report the RGC does embrace.
The Special Rapporteur has played a fundamental role in speaking the truth to both Cambodia and the world regarding the human rights situation, and it will be exciting the see the incoming Special Rapporteur undertake this challenge.
Sami Shearman, CCHR International Intern, contributed to this blog post. | https://blog.sithi.org/2014/09/25/special-rapporteur-presents-his-final-call-for-change/ |
Marman Developments is a builder of fine homes. We are based in Vancouver, BC. We operate both as a Developer that builds and markets our own projects on a speculative sale basis, and as a Project Manager serving the needs of clients looking to custom-build their dream homes. Regardless of the role we take on, we take pride in delivering homes that share the following qualities:Functionality – We believe that a home must first and foremost be practical in serving the lifestyle needs of the occupants. We pay special attention to the layout design to ensure optimal flow and that every square-foot has purpose.Value – We aim to make the most out of any budget given to a project. In our capacity as developer, we must be mindful in making choices that generate a positive return on our investment. We carry this same mentality with our custom-build clients, treating their investment as our own and ensuring that they receive the most possible from their budget.Cost of Ownership – Energy, water, and maintenance can represent significant ongoing costs to a homeowner. We aim to minimize these costs through thoughtful design and selection of building materials and systems.We are a licensed Residential Builder with the Homeowners Protections Office. Our new homes are covered by the 2-5-10 Home Warranty Program. | https://www.marman.ca/about-c1enr |
AIEEE Chemistry SyllabusEngineering Entrance Exam » AIEEE »
|Kind Attention to AIEEE Aspirants : AIEEE under New Format. AIEEE Conducted by CBSE would now be known as JEE Main. CBSE has announced the detailed information about JEE Main 2021 Entrance Exam.
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Further details please visit the following link JEE Main 2021.
Important : JEE Main 2021 will be conducted on
Session 1 – February 23 to 26, 2021 Session 2 – March 15 to 18, 2021 Session 3 – April 27 to 30, 2021 Session 4 – May 24 to 28, 2021 by the JEE Apex Board for admission to Undergraduate Engineering Programs in NITs, IIITs, other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions, participating State Government Institutions etc..
Click to know details about JEE Main 2021 Chemistry Syllabus
AIEEE Chemistry Syllabus of 2021 : – Page 1, Page 2
Unit 15 : P – Block Elements :
Group – 13 to Group 18 Elements General Introduction : Electronic configuration and general trends in physical and chemical properties of elements across the periods and down the groups; unique behaviour of the first element in each group.
Groupwise study of the p – block elements
Group – 13 :
Preparation, properties and uses of boron and aluminium; properties of boric acid, diborane, boron trifluoride, aluminium chloride and alums.
Group – 14 : Allotropes of carbon, tendency for catenation; Structure & properties of silicates, and zeolites.
Group – 15 : Properties and uses of nitrogen and phosphorus; Allotrophic forms of phosphorus; Preparation, properties, structure and uses of ammonia, nitric acid, phosphine and phosphorus halides, ( PCl3, PCl5 ); Structures of oxides and oxoacids of nitrogen and phosphorus.
Group – 16 : Preparation, properties, structures and uses of dioxygen and ozone; Allotropic forms of sulphur; Preparation, properties, structures and uses of sulphur dioxide, sulphuric acid ( including its industrial preparation ); Structures of oxoacids of sulphur.
Group – 17 : Preparation, properties and uses of chlorine and hydrochloric acid; Trends in the acidic nature of hydrogen halides; Structures of Interhalogen compounds and oxides and oxoacids of halogens.
Group – 18 : Occurrence and uses of noble gases; Structures of fluorides and oxides of xenon.
Unit 16 : d – and f – Block Elements : Transition Elements General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence and characteristics, general trends in properties of the first row transition elements – physical properties, ionization enthalpy, oxidation states, atomic radii, colour, catalytic behaviour, magnetic properties, complex formation, interstitial compounds, alloy formation; Preparation, properties and uses of K2Cr2O7 and KMnO4.
Inner Transition Elements Lanthanoids – Electronic configuration, oxidation states, chemical reactivity and lanthanoid contraction. Actinoids – Electronic configuration and oxidation states.
Unit 17 : Co – Ordination Compounds : Introduction to co – ordination compounds, Werner’s theory; ligands, co – ordination number, denticity, chelation; IUPAC nomenclature of mononuclear co – ordination compounds, isomerism; Bonding – Valence bond approach and basic ideas of Crystal field theory, colour and magnetic properties; Importance of co-ordination compounds ( in qualitative analysis, extraction of metals and in biological systems ).
UNIT 18 : Environmental Chemistry : Environmental pollution – Atmospheric, water and soil. Atmospheric pollution – Tropospheric and stratospheric Tropospheric pollutants – Gaseous pollutants: Oxides of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur, hydrocarbons; their sources, harmful effects and prevention; Green house effect and Global warming; Acid rain; Particulate pollutants: Smoke, dust, smog, fumes, mist; their sources, harmful effects and prevention.
Stratospheric Pollution – Formation and breakdown of ozone, depletion of ozone layer – its mechanism and effects. Water Pollution – Major pollutants such as, pathogens, organic wastes and chemical pollutants; their harmful effects and prevention.
Soil Pollution – Major pollutants such as: Pesticides ( insecticides, herbicides and fungicides ), their harmful effects and prevention. Strategies to control environmental pollution.
Section – C :
Organic Chemistry :
Unit 19 : Purification and Characterisation of Organic Compounds : Purification – Crystallization, sublimation, distillation, differential extraction and chromatography – principles and their applications.
Qualitative analysis – Detection of nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorus and halogens. Quantitative analysis ( basic principles only ) – Estimation of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, halogens, sulphur, phosphorus. Calculations of empirical formulae and molecular formulae; Numerical problems in organic quantitative analysis.
Unit 20 : Some Basic Principles of Organic Chemistry : Tetravalency of carbon; Shapes of simple molecules – hybridization ( s and p ); Classification of organic compounds based on functional groups : – C = C – , – C ? C – and those containing halogens, oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur; Homologous series; Isomerism – structural and stereoisomerism. Nomenclature ( Trivial and IUPAC ) Covalent bond fission – Homolytic and heterolytic : free radicals, carbocations and carbanions; stability of carbocations and free radicals, electrophiles and nucleophiles.
Electronic displacement in a covalent bond – Inductive effect, electromeric effect, resonance and hyperconjugation. Common types of organic reactions – Substitution, addition, elimination and rearrangement.
Unit 21 : Hydrocarbons : Classification, isomerism, IUPAC nomenclature, general methods of preparation, properties and reactions. Alkanes – Conformations : Sawhorse and Newman projections ( of ethane ); Mechanism of halogenation of alkanes.
Alkenes – Geometrical isomerism; Mechanism of electrophilic addition: addition of hydrogen, halogens, water, hydrogen halides ( Markownikoff’s and peroxide effect ); Ozonolysis, oxidation, and polymerization. Alkynes – Acidic character; Addition of hydrogen, halogens, water and hydrogen halides; Polymerization.
Aromatic hydrocarbons – Nomenclature, benzene – structure and aromaticity; Mechanism of electrophilic substitution: halogenation, nitration, Friedel – Craft’s alkylation and acylation, directive influence of functional group in mono – substituted benzene.
Unit 22 : Organic Compounds Containing Halogens : General methods of preparation, properties and reactions; Nature of C – X bond; Mechanisms of substitution reactions. Uses; Environmental effects of chloroform, iodoform, freons and DDT.
Unit 23 : Organic Compounds Containing Oxygen : General methods of preparation, properties, reactions and uses. ALCOHOLS, PHENOLS and ETHERS Alcohols : Identification of primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols; mechanism of dehydration.
Phenols : Acidic nature, electrophilic substitution reactions: halogenation, nitration and sulphonation, Reimer – Tiemann reaction.
Ethers : Structure. Aldehyde and Ketones: Nature of carbonyl group; Nucleophilic addition to >C=O group, relative reactivities of aldehydes and ketones; Important reactions such as – Nucleophilic addition reactions ( addition of HCN, NH3 and its derivatives ), Grignard reagent; oxidation; reduction ( Wolff Kishner and Clemmensen ); acidity of ? – hydrogen, aldol condensation, Cannizzaro reaction, Haloform reaction; Chemical tests to distinguish between aldehydes and Ketones. CARBOXYLIC ACIDS Acidic strength and factors affecting it.
Unit 24 : Organic Compounds Containing Nitrogen : General methods of preparation, properties, reactions and uses. Amines : Nomenclature, classification, structure, basic character and identification of primary, secondary and tertiary amines and their basic character. Diazonium Salts: Importance in synthetic organic chemistry.
Unit 25 : Polymers : General introduction and classification of polymers, general methods of polymerization – addition and condensation, copolymerization; Natural and synthetic rubber and vulcanization; some important polymers with emphasis on their monomers and uses – polythene, nylon, polyester and bakelite.
Unit 26 : Bio Molecules : General introduction and importance of biomolecules.
Carbohydrates – Classification : aldoses and ketoses; monosaccharides ( glucose and fructose ), constituent monosaccharides of oligosacchorides ( sucrose, lactose, maltose ) and polysaccharides ( starch, cellulose, glycogen ).
Proteins – Elementary Idea of ? – amino acids, peptide bond, polypeptides; Proteins: primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure ( qualitative idea only ), denaturation of proteins, enzymes.
Vitamins – Classification and functions. Nucleic Acids – Chemical constitution of DNA and RNA. Biological functions of nucleic acids.
Unit 27 : Chemistry in Everyday Life : Chemicals in medicines – Analgesics, tranquilizers, antiseptics, disinfectants, antimicrobials, antifertility drugs, antibiotics, antacids, antihistamins – their meaning and common examples.
Chemicals in food – Preservatives, artificial sweetening agents – common examples. Cleansing agents – Soaps and detergents, cleansing action.
Unit 28 : Principles Related to Practical Chemistry :
Detection of extra elements ( N, S, halogens ) in organic compounds; Detection of the following functional groups: hydroxyl ( alcoholic and phenolic ), carbonyl ( aldehyde and ketone ), carboxyl and amino groups in organic compounds.
Chemistry involved in the preparation of the following : Inorganic compounds : Mohr’s salt, potash alum. Organic compounds : Acetanilide, p – nitroacetanilide, aniline yellow, iodoform.
Chemistry involved in the titrimetric excercises – Acids bases and the use of indicators, oxalic – acid vs KMnO4, Mohr’s salt vs KMnO4.
Chemical principles involved in the qualitative salt analysis: Cations – Pb2+ , Cu2+, AI3+, Fe3+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Ca2+, Ba2+, Mg2+, NH4+. Anions – CO32-, S2-, SO42-, NO2-, NO3-, CI-, Br, I. ( Insoluble salts excluded ).
Chemical principles involved in the following experiments :
- Enthalpy of solution of CuSO4
- Enthalpy of neutralization of strong acid and strong base.
- Preparation of lyophilic and lyophobic sols.
- Kinetic study of reaction of iodide ion with hydrogen peroxide at room temperature.
To view details of JEE Main 2021 Entrance Exam please Click Here.
NIFT Admissions
Online Application 14 December 2020 to 21 January 2021.
JEE Main
Application Form Submission 16 Dec 2020 to 16 Jan 2021. | http://www.winentrance.com/engineering_entrance_exam/aieee/aieee-chemistry-syllabus1.html |
In Universe Sandbox, two objects in a simulation will exert an attracting force on each other due to gravity. This force will affect their motion over time.
Physics
The strength of the gravitational force depends on the mass of each object, M1 and M2, the distance between the objects, d, and the gravitational constant of the simulation, G, according to the following equation:
This force will affect each object's velocity. The acceleration, or change in velocity over time, of each object depends only on the other object's mass, not its own. For example, the acceleration of object 1 due to gravity would be
The effects of gravity on the motion of objects in a simulation is simulated by Universe Sandbox's N-body simulation, which calculates the forces acting on each object at every time step, the accelerations that these forces would cause, and the movement of the objects as a result.
Special Cases
For performance reasons, not all objects in Universe Sandbox simulate the effects of gravity. Objects that are non-attracting, such as fragments, will not exert a gravitational force on other objects. Object that are non-attracted, such as supernova clouds, will not feel the gravitational force of other objects. | https://universesandbox.gamepedia.com/Gravity?veaction=edit§ion=1&printable=yes |
Too often we get into the habit of failing to celebrate our victories. We focus on the negative and miss out on some great opportunities to learn and improve on our successes. Last week we had an awesome in school tournament. Our competitors did a fantastic job of persevering and fighting through adversity. I watched one little boy who was crying. He had just taken third place in a strong field of competitors. Finishing in the top 3 is a solid achievement. He had some victories in his competition, but others had more. Instead of celebrating his success he was choosing to focus on how he had not finished first.
Think about times you have had success, but had hoped for more. A lot of times athletes hope for a personal record, then they have a great workout or competition, but they missed that performance measure. Instead of celebrating what they achieved, they become upset because they missed the ultimate goal. They should be celebrating their victories and focusing on the next victory. Each little victory makes you a little better and takes you a little further. Remember great victories are achieved by small victories, even some failures that build up to overwhelming success. Celebrate your victories and move forward toward even more success. | https://www.pmaninja.com/media/2015/3/9/celebrate-your-victories |
Fondazione Leonardo Civiltà delle Macchine organized a two-day international conference to discuss the ethical and legal implications of the growing use of AI. The conference took place on November 21 and 22 at the Camera dei Deputati.
The conference stimulated a debate on the ethical code of AI in Italy, stressing the need and benefits of a more formalized legal framework. A new technological humanism that preserves the centrality of man in the era of machines passes through the creation of rules that the public authority must build together with the producers and users of the digital economy.
The conference was structured through four round tables that studied the ethical and legal implications of AI in the sectors of security, finance, healthcare and justice. Each round table saw the participation of Italian academics, international experts, representatives of institutions and companies in the hi-tech sector.
Conferenza "Statuto Etico e Giuridico dell'Intelligenza Artificiale"
The manifesto follows in the footsteps of other international documents, from the Asilomar Principles to the most recent Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy A.I. of the European Commission's Committee of Experts. The document was drafted by a large group of researchers working in the fields of information technology, the philosophy of new technologies and law, integrating scientific rigour with an open humanistic perspective.
I tre paper presentati dalla Fondazione nel corso della Conferenza sono disponibili online sulla rivista BioDiritto al seguente link
La Rivista di BioDiritto – BioLaw Journal, edita dall'Università di Trento, è una rivista giuridica online e peer reviewed, che approfondisce i rapporti tra diritto e scienza in prospettiva comparata.
Il primo numero del 2020 è un focus dedicato allo spazio, alle questioni giuridiche derivanti dalla diffusione di nuovi soggetti coinvolti nel settore spaziale, alle problematiche relative alla sicurezza, alla sostenibilità legata alla presenza di un alto numero di satelliti in orbita, nonché alle opportunità di crescita della Space Economy. | https://fondazioneleonardo-cdm.com/en/news/statuto-etico-e-giuridico-dellintelligenza-artificiale/ |
Lilly Povey
Ms. Cesana
Honors English 10
8 November, 2012
Antigone EssayTragic heroes have certain requirements they need to fulfill in order to be considered a tragic hero. For example, they need to have stature or greatness, but also have a tragic flaw that leads to a tragic mistake. In the tragedy Antigone, by Sophocles, Creon does not want people to bury a traitor named Polyneices, and when he is buried by Antigone, Creon sentences her to death. In the story Antigone, there is some debate about whether Creon or Antigone is the real tragic hero of the play. Creon is the true tragic hero of Antigone because he shows the tragic hero traits better than Antigone does.
One reason Creon is the tragic hero is because he has stature and greatness. “But now at last our new King is coming: Creon of Thebes, Menoikeus' son” (Episode 1, line 1-3). This quote is describing Creon coming out of the palace to say what he has decided as King to do about Polyneices, the anarchist that rebelled against Creon. The quote shows that Creon is important because the person saying the quote, the Choragos, addresses him as King of Thebes. Creon being the king also shows he has more stature than Antigone because he is a king, whereas Antigone is only a princess. Creon's high stature as King also contributes to his personality of being very prideful.
Creon is also a better tragic hero than Antigone because of his tragic flaw, which is that he's very hubristic, or has an excessive amount of pride. “My voice is the one giving orders in this city!” (Episode 3, line 104-105). Creon is arguing with Haimon about Antigone's sentence, and Creon believes that he shouldn't have to take orders from his own son, and that he is the one making the rules in Thebes, not Haimon. The quote is important because Creon believes that he is right, even when Haimon is telling him that the gods believe otherwise. Creon is putting himself above the gods' law because the information is coming from a boy...
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Gigi finds his inspiration from the high-altitude meadows of the passo Giau.
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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/24369
|Title:||Measurement of the top quark mass using events with a single reconstructed top quark in pp collisions at √s = 13 TeV|
|Authors:||Tumasyan, A|
Adam, W
Andrejkovic, JW
Bergauer, T
Chatterjee, S
Dragicevic, M
Escalante Del Valle, A
Frühwirth, R
Jeitler, M
Krammer, N
Lechner, L
Vanlaer, P
Vannerom, D
Wezenbeek, L
Cornelis, T
Dobur, D
Knolle, J
Lambrecht, L
Mestdach, G
Niedziela, M
Roskas, C
Samalan, A
Skovpen, K
Tytgat, M
Verbeke, W
Vermassen, B
Vit, M
Bethani, A
Bruno, G
Bury, F
Caputo, C
David, P
Delaere, C
Donertas, IS
Giammanco, A
Jaffel, K
Jain, S
Lemaitre, V
Mondal, K
Prisciandaro, J
Taliercio, A
Teklishyn, M
Tran, TT
Vischia, P
Wertz, S
Alves, GA
Coldham, K
Cole, JE
Khan, A
Kyberd, P
Reid, ID
Teodorescu, L
Zahid, S
Liko, D
Mikulec, I
Paulitsch, P
Pitters, FM
Schieck, J
Schöfbeck, R
Spanring, M
Templ, S
Waltenberger, W
Wulz, CE
Chekhovsky, V
Litomin, A
Makarenko, V
Darwish, MR
De Wolf, EA
Janssen, X
Kello, T
Lelek, A
Rejeb Sfar, H
Van Mechelen, P
Van Putte, S
Van Remortel, N
Blekman, F
Bols, ES
D’Hondt, J
De Clercq, J
Delcourt, M
El Faham, H
Lowette, S
Moortgat, S
Morton, A
Müller, D
Sahasransu, AR
Tavernier, S
Van Doninck, W
Van Mulders, P
Beghin, D
Bilin, B
Clerbaux, B
De Lentdecker, G
Favart, L
Grebenyuk, A
Kalsi, AK
Lee, K
Mahdavikhorrami, M
Makarenko, I
Moureaux, L
Pétré, L
Popov, A
Postiau, N
Starling, E
Thomas, L
Vanden Bemden, M
Vander Velde, C
|Keywords:||hadron-hadron scattering (experiments);Top physics|
|Issue Date:||22-Dec-2021|
|Publisher:||Springer Nature on behalf of SISSA|
|Citation:||CMS collaboration., Tumasyan, A. et al. (2021) 'Measurement of the top quark mass using events with a single reconstructed top quark in pp collisions at √s = 13 TeV', Journal of High Energy Physics, 2021, (12), 161, pp. 1-57. doi: 10.1007/JHEP12(2021)161.|
|Abstract:||Copyright CERN, for the benefit of the CMS Collaboration. A measurement of the top quark mass is performed using a data sample enriched with single top quark events produced in the t channel. The study is based on proton- proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1, recorded at s = 13 TeV by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2016. Candidate events are selected by requiring an isolated high-momentum lepton (muon or electron) and exactly two jets, of which one is identified as originating from a bottom quark. Multivariate discriminants are designed to separate the signal from the background. Optimized thresholds are placed on the discriminant outputs to obtain an event sample with high signal purity. The top quark mass is found to be 172.13−0.77+0.76 GeV, where the uncertainty includes both the statistical and systematic components, reaching sub-GeV precision for the first time in this event topology. The masses of the top quark and antiquark are also determined separately using the lepton charge in the final state, from which the mass ratio and difference are determined to be 0.9952−0.0104+0.0079 and 0.83−1.35+1.79 GeV, respectively. The results are consistent with CPT invariance. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].|
|Description:||A preprint version of the article is available at arXiv (https://arxiv.org/abs/2108.10407).|
|URI:||https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/24369|
|DOI:||https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP12(2021)161|
|ISSN:||1126-6708|
|Other Identifiers:||161|
|Appears in Collections:||Dept of Electronic and Computer Engineering Research Papers|
Files in This Item: | https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/24369 |
---
abstract: 'We propose a path-based approach to program repair for imperative programs. Our repair framework takes as input a faulty program, a logic specification that is refuted, and a hint where the fault may be located. An iterative abstraction refinement loop is then used to repair the program: in each iteration, the faulty program part is re-synthesized considering a symbolic counterexample, where the control-flow is kept concrete but the data-flow is symbolic. The appeal of the idea is two-fold: 1) the approach lazily considers candidate repairs and 2) the repairs are directly derived from the logic specification. In contrast to prior work, our approach is complete for programs with finitely many control-flow paths, i.e., the program is repaired if and only if it can be repaired at the specified fault location. Initial results for small programs indicate that the approach is useful for debugging programs in practice.'
author:
- Heinz Riener$^1$
- 'R[ü]{}diger Ehlers$^{1,2}$'
- 'G[ö]{}rschwin Fey$^{1,3}$'
bibliography:
- 'ref.bib'
title: 'Path-Based Program Repair'
---
Introduction
============
Debugging is one of the most frequent and challenging activities in software development. In order to fix a faulty program without introducing new bugs or subtle corner cases, an in-depth understanding of the source code is required. Error hints and counterexamples produced by static analysis or model checking tools are only of little help: they typically report a symptom of a failure but do not point to the actual cause or provide a repair for a program. Manually correcting a faulty program based on this information is hard and often becomes an iterative trial-and-error process driven by a developer’s intuition.
Automatic program repair techniques aim at reducing this manual burden by utilizing a refuted logic specification to automatically compute a repair for a faulty program. Existing approaches mainly suffer from two problems: 1) they do not scale well to large programs or 2) they rely on structural restrictions of the considered repairs. The two problems are orthogonal. Scalability issues originate from the fact that correctness of the entire program is modeled. Structural restrictions allow for the enumeration of potential repairs and make the repairs more readable [@Koenig11]. The choice of the “right” structure for a repair, however, is left to the user or guided by a brute-force search. Bad choices cause an exclusion of suitable repairs.
In this paper, we take program repair one step further and address these two problems with a novel approach, called *path-based program repair*. The approach combines symbolic path reasoning and software synthesis. We present a repair framework to automatically correct a faulty imperative program based on an iterative abstraction refinement loop, assuming that the location of the fault is known. For instance, the location may be guessed by a user or computed using a fault localization approach, e.g., [@Jose11; @Riener12].
In each iteration of the loop, a model checker computes a symbolic counterexample. Symbolic counterexamples keep the data-flow symbolic but the control-flow concrete. Symbolic path reasoning then infers verification conditions in the local context of the faulty program part. The inferred verification conditions are used to formulate a synthesis problem. The faulty program part is then re-synthesized in order to exclude all symbolic counterexamples found so far. Consequently, the synthesized candidate repair corrects the program with respect to the considered symbolic counterexamples. The loop terminates when no further symbolic counterexamples are found and is guaranteed to converge for programs with finitely many control-flow paths (provided that the model checker and the synthesis procedure do not diverge).
The appeal of the idea is two-fold: 1) our approach lazily repairs a faulty program by inferring verification conditions from counterexamples utilizing symbolic path reasoning and 2) the repairs are derived from the refuted logic specification using software synthesis. Symbolic path reasoning, on the one hand, has been effectively used to cope with scalability. Software synthesis, on the other hand, does not restrict candidate repairs to have a predefined structure [@Koenig11; @Bloem12], such as linear expressions over program variables.
Path-based program repair establishes a framework for fixing faulty programs, building on existing ideas, but tunes them to specifically address program repair. Naïvely combining prior work is problematic: applying predicate abstraction [@Flanag02] leads to coarse abstractions that are just good enough to either verify the program or refute its correctness along one of its executions. Thus, the abstraction is insufficient to subsequently find a “good” repair for the program, which should work for most, if not all, cases. Recent software synthesis approaches, e.g., those for the *Syntax-Guided Synthesis* (SyGuS) [@Alur13] problem, cannot decide realizability, which is crucial for termination in case the initially given fault locations cannot be repaired.
**Contribution.** The contribution of the paper can be summarized as follows:
1. an iterative abstraction refinement approach for program repair combining symbolic path reasoning and software synthesis, called path-based program repair;
2. a prototype implementation of the repair framework utilizing domain finitizing and synthesis based on [*Binary Decision Diagrams*]{} (BDD), which allows deciding realizability;
3. initial experimental results for our prototype on a small ANSI-C program.
The remainder of the paper is structured as follows: in \[sec:bg\], we describe the necessary background and in \[sec:pbrepair\], we present path-based program repair. \[sec:eval\] is dedicated to our prototype implementation utilizing domain finitizing and BDD-based synthesis. We also give experimental results for a small ANSI-C program. \[sec:conclusion\] concludes the paper.
Background {#sec:bg}
==========
Program and Specification {#ssec:program}
-------------------------
We focus on sequential, finite-state systems described in a high-level programming language like ANSI-C. Let $\Stmts$ be the set of all statements, a program corresponds to a finite-state automaton over $\Stmts$, called *program automaton*, with control locations as nodes and program operations as edges. Without loss of generality, we assume that each program automaton has a distinguished entry node and a distinguished exit node denoting the program’s entry and the program’s exit.
Our approach to program repair is dedicated to static analysis of individual *control-flow paths* of a program. A control-flow path is a consecutive sequence of nodes starting at the entry node and ending at the exit node, i.e., a word in the language of the program automaton, which corresponds to a terminating execution of the program and respects the semantics of the statements. Loops are unrolled and decisions at branching points in the program are modeled, e.g., `if` or `while` statements are replaced with respective assumption statements. More formally, a control-flow path $\pi = s_1
s_2 \cdots s_n$ is a sequence of side-effect free statements given in *Static Single Assignment* (SSA) form, where each $s_i$ is either an *assumption statement* or an *assignment statement*. Along a fixed control-flow path, computing SSA form is straightforward because the costly placement of $\phi$-nodes to assemble the control-flow from different control-flow paths is not necessary. An assignment statement is of form , where $v$ is a program variable and $e$ is an expression over program variables and constants. An assumption statement is of form , where $c$ is a condition over the program variables and constants. We assume that the concatenation operation $\cdot$ is defined for a control-flow path $\pi = s_1 s_2 \dots s_n$ in the usual form such that the control-flow path can be represented as $\pi = \pi_A \cdot
s_n$, $\pi = s_1 \cdot \pi_A$, or $\pi = \pi_A \cdot \pi_B$.
A (program) state $\sigma$ is a valuation of all program variables, i.e., a mapping from the program variables to values within the respective domains. The specification is given as a precondition and a postcondition. The precondition defines the set of program states initially possible at the program’s entry. The postcondition defines the set of program states allowed at the program’s exit. We say that a program $P$ is *correct* *if and only if* (iff) all executions starting in a state $\sigma$ specified by the precondition reach a state $\sigma^\prime$ on termination that fulfills the postcondition. Otherwise we say that $P$ is *faulty*.
In the following, sets of states are symbolically represented utilizing *First-Order Logic* () formulæ. Let $\phi \in
\FOL$, we write $\Vars(\phi)$ and $\FV(\phi)$ to denote the variables and the free variables of $\phi$, respectively. In several parts of the descriptions, we explicitly show that a formula $\phi$ depends on a specific variable $v$ by writing $\phi[v]$ and generalize this notation to show the dependence on a list $\overline{v}$ of variables by writing $\phi[\overline{v}]$. As usual, we call a formula $\phi$ *satisfiable* iff an assignment to $Vars(\phi)$ exists that makes the formula and *unsatisfiable* otherwise. Moreover, we say a formula $\phi$ is *valid* iff $\phi$ is equivalent to , i.e., $\phi$ is for all assignments to $\Vars(\phi)$. Lastly, $\phi[x/y]$ denotes $\phi$ where each free occurrence of variable $x$ is replaced by variable $y$.
Symbolic Path Reasoning {#ssec:propagation}
-----------------------
\PY{c+c1}{// $\mathbf{\varphi :\Leftrightarrow \{x=0\}}$}
\PY{l+m+mf}{1.} \PY{k}{assume}\PY{p}{(}\PY{n}{x} \PY{o}{\PYZlt{}} \PY{l+m+mi}{2}\PY{p}{)}\PY{p}{;}
\PY{c+c1}{// $\{x=0 \wedge x<2\} \Leftrightarrow \{x=0\}$}
\PY{l+m+mf}{2.} \PY{n}{x} \PY{o}{=} \PY{n}{x} \PY{o}{+} \PY{l+m+mi}{1}\PY{p}{;}
\PY{c+c1}{// $\{x=1\}$}
\PY{l+m+mf}{3.} \PY{k}{assume}\PY{p}{(}\PY{n}{x} \PY{o}{\PYZlt{}} \PY{l+m+mi}{2}\PY{p}{)}\PY{p}{;}
\PY{c+c1}{// $\{x=1 \wedge x<2\} \Leftrightarrow \{x=1\}$}
\PY{l+m+mf}{4.} \PY{n}{x} \PY{o}{=} \PY{n}{x} \PY{o}{+} \PY{l+m+mi}{1}\PY{p}{;}
\PY{c+c1}{// $\{x=2\}$}
\PY{l+m+mf}{5.} \PY{k}{assume}\PY{p}{(}\PY{o}{!}\PY{p}{(}\PY{n}{x} \PY{o}{\PYZlt{}} \PY{l+m+mi}{2}\PY{p}{)}\PY{p}{)}\PY{p}{;}
\PY{c+c1}{// $\{x=2 \wedge \neg(x < 2)\} \Leftrightarrow \{x=2\}$}
\PY{c+c1}{// $\{true\}$}
\PY{l+m+mf}{1.} \PY{k}{assume}\PY{p}{(}\PY{n}{x} \PY{o}{\PYZlt{}} \PY{l+m+mi}{2}\PY{p}{)}\PY{p}{;}
\PY{c+c1}{// $\{true\}$}
\PY{l+m+mf}{2.} \PY{n}{x} \PY{o}{=} \PY{n}{x} \PY{o}{+} \PY{l+m+mi}{1}\PY{p}{;}
\PY{c+c1}{// $\{(x<2) \rightarrow x\leq{}1\} \Leftrightarrow \{true\}$}
\PY{l+m+mf}{3.} \PY{k}{assume}\PY{p}{(}\PY{n}{x} \PY{o}{\PYZlt{}} \PY{l+m+mi}{2}\PY{p}{)}\PY{p}{;}
\PY{c+c1}{// $\{x+1 \leq 2\} \Leftrightarrow \{x\leq{}1\}$}
\PY{l+m+mf}{4.} \PY{n}{x} \PY{o}{=} \PY{n}{x} \PY{o}{+} \PY{l+m+mi}{1}\PY{p}{;}
\PY{c+c1}{// $\{\neg(x<2) \rightarrow x=2\} \Leftrightarrow \{x\leq{}2\}$}
\PY{l+m+mf}{5.} \PY{k}{assume}\PY{p}{(}\PY{o}{!}\PY{p}{(}\PY{n}{x} \PY{o}{\PYZlt{}} \PY{l+m+mi}{2}\PY{p}{)}\PY{p}{)}\PY{p}{;}
\PY{c+c1}{// $\mathbf{\psi :\Leftrightarrow \{x=2\}}$}
We use Floyd/Hoare style computation to propagate predicates along a control-flow path. This is done by applying standard predicate transformers like weakest precondition and strongest postcondition to control-flow paths. A predicate transformer is a function $\mathop{pt} : \FOL \times \Stmts \rightarrow \FOL$ that maps a formula $\phi \in \FOL$ and a statement $s \in \Stmts$ to a formula $\mathop{pt}(\phi,s) \in \FOL$.
Given a statement $s \in \Stmts$ executed on state $\sigma$ to produce state $\sigma^\prime$ and a predicate $\phi \in \FOL$, the weakest precondition transformer $wp$ and the strongest postcondition transformer $sp$ compute
- the weakest predicate $wp(\phi,s) \in \FOL$, called *weakest precondition*, that guarantees if and
- the strongest predicate $sp(\phi,s) \in \FOL$, called *strongest postcondition*, that guarantees if , respectively.
Let $\phi \in \FOL$ and $s \in \Stmts$, we define the usual mechanic rules to compute the weakest precondition and the strongest postcondition for the two types of statements that occur in a control-flow path, respectively, $$\begin{aligned}
wp(\phi,\mbox{assume(c)}) &\Leftrightarrow c \rightarrow \phi\\
wp(\phi,\mbox{v := e}) &\Leftrightarrow \forall v^\prime . (v^\prime = e \rightarrow \phi[v/v^\prime]) \Leftrightarrow \phi[v/e]\\
sp(\phi,\mbox{assume(c)}) &\Leftrightarrow c \wedge \phi\\
sp(\phi,\mbox{v := e}) &\Leftrightarrow \exists v^\prime . (v = e[v/v^\prime] \wedge \phi[v/v^\prime]),\end{aligned}$$ and naturally generalize them to sequences $s_1 s_2 \cdots s_n$ of statements, $$\begin{aligned}
wp(\phi,s_1 s_2 \dots s_n) &\Leftrightarrow wp(wp(\phi,s_n), s_1 s_2 \cdots s_{n-1})\\
sp(\phi,s_1 s_2 \dots s_n) &\Leftrightarrow sp(sp(\phi,s_1), s_2 s_3 \cdots s_n).\end{aligned}$$
Since loops are already unrolled, no loop invariants have to be found, and thus computing strongest postconditions and weakest preconditions along control-flow paths is decidable if the logic in use admits quantifier elimination. Moreover, note that computing the weakest precondition of an assignment statement amounts to replacing a variable by an expression. Thus, the application of costly quantifier elimination procedures is not necessary in this case.
We refer to the application of $wp$ and $sp$ to a given control-flow path $\pi = s_1s_2 \dots s_n$, i.e., a sequence of statements that respect the semantics of a program, and to a formula as *backward propagation* and *forward propagation*, respectively.
In Fig. \[Fig:Propagation\], we apply forward propagation and backward propagation, respectively, to a control-flow path $s_1 s_2
\dots s_5$. Forward propagation (on the left) uses the precondition $\varphi \Leftrightarrow \{x=0\}$ and the backward propagation (on the right) uses the postcondition $\psi
\Leftrightarrow \{x=2 \}$.
\[def:hoare\] Let $\pi$ be a control-flow path with precondition $\varphi$ and postcondition $\psi$. We say that a Hoare triple $\{\varphi\} \pi
\{\psi\}$ holds iff the two equal conditions $\varphi \rightarrow
wp(\psi,\pi)$ and $sp(\varphi,\pi) \rightarrow \psi$ are valid. Otherwise, we call $\pi$ a (symbolic) *counterexample* for $\varphi$ and $\psi$.
This definition differs from the standard connotation of a counterexample given by a concrete input assignment returned by a model checking procedure. However, a symbolic counterexample in our sense can directly be determined after model checking by interpreting the program on the concrete input assignment and logging the corresponding control-flow path; thus, control-flow is concrete but data-flow symbolic.
Software Synthesis {#ssec:synthesis}
------------------
We use synthesis to repair faulty programs and treat a synthesis procedure as a black box that derives program terms from a logic specification. The logic specification is a predicate $\phi[\overline{x},\overline{y}] \in \FOL$, where $\overline{x}$ is a set of uncontrollable variables, $\overline{y}$ is a set of controllable variables, and $\FV(\phi) \subseteq \overline{x} \cup
\overline{y}$. A synthesis procedure computes terms over $\overline{x}$ such that replacing all occurrences of $\overline{y}$ in $\phi$ by their respective term yields a valid formula.
\[def:synthesis\] A (software) synthesis procedure computes terms $\overline{T}$ from a given predicate $\phi \in \BV$ and variables $\overline{x} \subseteq
\FV(\phi)$ such that $$\begin{aligned}
\forall \overline{x} . \phi[\overline{y}/\overline{T}]\end{aligned}$$ is valid, where $\overline{y} = FV(\phi) \backslash \overline{x}$.
A synthesis procedure may choose not to compute a term or may not terminate. If this can only happen if such a term replacement does not exist, i.e., if $$\forall \overline{x} \exists \overline{y} . \phi$$ is valid, we call a synthesis procedure *complete*. We also say that a complete synthesis procedure which always terminates is able to *detect unrealizability*.
Note that this formulation defines a *software synthesis* problem [@Kuncak10; @Hamza10], where we search for a piece of terminating code that satisfies a given logic specification. This is in contrast to works on *reactive synthesis*, where a finite-state machine is to be synthesized that executes for an unbounded duration of time and satisfies a specification in some temporal logic, i.e., that reasons about the behavior of the finite-state machine over time.
Synthesis corresponds to quantifier elimination and synthesis procedures have been provided for relations expressed in different decidable logics, e.g., Boolean logic, linear arithmetic and sets [@Kuncak13], unbounded bit-vectors [@Hamza10], term algebras and the theory of integer-indexed arrays with symbolic bounds on index ranges [@Jacobs13].
Path-Based Program Repair {#sec:pbrepair}
=========================
The Framework
-------------
The overall approach is described as pseudo code shown in \[alg:pbrepair\]. Additionally, \[tab:pbrepair\] gives a description of the main components used in the algorithm, and \[fig:pbrepair\] describes the interaction between them.
The input to is a faulty program $P$, a logic specification given as a pair of a precondition and a postcondition $(\varphi,\psi)$, and an fault region $e$ to be repaired, where $e$ contains assignment statements to a set of variables $\overline{v}$. The algorithm returns a repaired program $P^\prime$ which is a copy of $P$ but in which the code within the fault region $e$ has been replaced by assignment statements to the variables $\overline{v}$ such that $P^\prime$ is correct with respect to $\varphi$ and $\psi$.
The algorithm can be seen as an iterative abstraction refinement loop guided by the counterexamples provided by a model checker. The algorithm maintains a set $\Pi$ of counterexamples and modifies a copy $P^\prime$ of the program (line 1). In each iteration, three steps are performed: firstly, the program is model checked with respect to its logic specification (line 2). If verification succeeds, then the algorithm terminates with the currently considered program $P^\prime$ as output. Otherwise, a (symbolic) counterexample $\pi$ is provided by the model checker and added to $\Pi$ (line 3).
Secondly, a synthesis procedure is invoked with the predicate $\Phi
\in \FOL$ and a set of variables $\overline{y} \subseteq Var(\phi)$ to be synthesized (line 5). The predicate $\Phi \in \BV$ accumulates the verification conditions by propagating the precondition $\varphi$ and the postcondition $\psi$ to the local context of the fault region $e$ for all counterexamples $\pi~\in~\Pi$ (line 4). For a counterexample $\pi= \pi_A \cdot e \cdot \pi_B$ we use the strongest postcondition transformer $\mathit{sp}$ to propagate $\varphi$ forward and the weakest precondition transformer $\mathit{wp}$ to propagate $\psi$ backward until reaching the fault region. The variables $\overline{y}$ are fresh variables replacing $\overline{v}$ in $\mathit{wp}(\psi,\pi_B)$ and otherwise do not occur in $\Phi$. The terms $\overline{T}$ produced as a result of synthesis are a repair for the fault region $e$ in program $P$ considering all counterexamples in $\Pi$. If $\Phi$ is unrealizable (line 6-8), then the algorithm terminates with an error indicating that the program cannot be repaired in the considered fault region $e$. For instance, this may happen if the initial fault region $e$ has been provided by a user or an unsound fault localization algorithm. Otherwise, synthesis yields a list of terms $\overline{T}$ that are used to repair the program.
Thirdly, if the terms $\overline{T}$ could be computed (line 5), assignment statements to the variables in $\overline{v}$ are generated as a repair to the program in the syntax of the programming language in use. In $P^\prime$, the assignment statements replace the statements within the fault region (line 9). The program $P^\prime$ is correct (by construction) with respect to $\varphi$, $\psi$, and all counterexamples $\pi \in \Pi$. The algorithm loops until a correctly repaired program is found or the non-existence of a repair is detected.
$\Pi := \emptyset$, $P^\prime := P$ $P^\prime$
![: high-level overview of path-based program repair.[]{data-label="fig:pbrepair"}](pbrepair)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --
**Name &\
*Input & Source code of a program $P$, a precondition $\varphi$, and a postcondition $\psi$.\
*Output & A counterexample if $P$ is faulty and otherwise.\
*Description & Model checks the source code of $P$ assuming $\varphi$ and asserting $\psi$ and returns a (symbolic) counterexample $\pi$.\
**Name &\
*Input & A predicate $\phi$ and a vector $\overline{x} \subseteq \FV(\phi)$ of controllable variables.\
*Output & A vector $\overline{T}$ of terms if $\phi$ is realizable with respect to $\phi$ or throws an exception.\
*Description & Computes a vector $\overline{T}$ of program terms on termination, such that $\forall \overline{x} \exists \overline{y} . \phi \rightarrow \forall \overline{x} . \phi[\overline{y}/\overline{T}]$ becomes valid. If $\forall \overline{x} \exists \overline{y} . \phi$ is not valid, i.e., is unsatisfiable, an exception is thrown which indicates that the synthesis problem is unrealizable.\
**Name &\
*Input & Source code of program $P$, a fault region $e$, and program terms $\overline{T}$.\
*Output & A repaired copy $P^\prime$ of program $P$, where all changes are applied to fault region $e$.\
*Description & Transforms the program terms $\overline{T}$ into source code in the programming language in use and replaces them for the right-hand side of the assignment statements in fault region $e$ in $P^\prime$.\
***************
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --
: A description of the main components used in \[alg:pbrepair\].[]{data-label="tab:pbrepair"}
Correctness and Termination
---------------------------
\[ref:iter\] Let $\pi = \pi_A \cdot e \cdot \pi_B$ be a counterexample to precondition $\varphi$ and postcondition $\psi$, where $e$ is a list of assignment statements ${\tt v_i := e_i}$ that is known to be faulty and $\pi_A$ and $\pi_B$ are known to be correct, then $\{\varphi\}
\pi_A \cdot r \cdot \pi_B \{\psi\}$ holds for the assignment statements $r$ of form $r:{\tt v_1 := T_1 \ldots v_n := T_n}$, where $\overline{v} = [v_1, \ldots, v_n]$ and $\overline{T} = [T_1, \ldots,
T_n]$ is the result of performing synthesis on the specification $
sp(\varphi,\pi_{A}) \rightarrow
wp(\psi,\pi_{B})[\overline{v}/\overline{y}]$ for the output variables $\overline{y}$.
The control-flow path $\pi = \pi_A \cdot r \cdot \pi_B$ is correct with respect to precondition $\varphi$ and postcondition $\psi$ iff $\{\varphi\} \pi_A \cdot r \cdot \pi_B \{\psi\}$ holds. Let $\Gamma_1, \Gamma_2 \in \FOL$ be the verification conditions that hold immediately before and immediately after the execution of the statements $r$, respectively, such that $\{\varphi\} \pi_A \cdot r
\cdot \pi_B \{\psi\}$ decomposes to the three Hoare triples $H_1:~\{\varphi\} \pi_A \{\Gamma_1\}$, $H_2:~\{\Gamma_2\} \pi_B
\{\psi\}$, and $H_3:~\{\Gamma_1\} r \{\Gamma_2\}$. Since $\pi_A$ and $\pi_B$ are correct, $H_1$ and $H_2$ hold, and only $H_3$ has to be proven. The Hoare triple $H_3$ holds iff (i) $\Gamma_1 \rightarrow
wp(\Gamma_2, r:{\tt v_1 := T_1 \ldots v_n := T_n})$ is valid (Def \[def:hoare\]), which further simplifies to $\Gamma_1
\rightarrow \Gamma_2[\overline{v}/\overline{T}]$. The Hoare triples $H_1$ and $H_2$ hold iff (ii) $sp(\varphi,\pi_A) \rightarrow \Gamma_1$ and (iii) $\Gamma_2 \rightarrow wp(\psi,\pi_B)$ hold (Def \[def:hoare\]), respectively. We use (ii) to weaken the left-hand side of (i) and (iii) to strengthen the right-hand side of (i), and obtain (iv) $sp(\varphi,\pi_A) \rightarrow
wp(\psi,\pi_B)[\overline{v}/\overline{T}]$. The term replacements $\overline{T}$ guarantee the validity of implication (iv) (Def \[def:synthesis\]), and thus $H_3$ and $\{\varphi\} \pi
\{\psi\}$ hold.
Let $P$ be a program with finitely many control-flow paths, $(\varphi,\psi)$ be a pair of a precondition and a postcondition, and $e: {\tt v_1 = w_1; \ldots v_n := w_n}$ be a fault region in $P$, then algorithm $\PBRepair(P, \allowbreak \varphi, \allowbreak \psi,
\allowbreak e)$ returns on termination either a program $P'$ correct with respect to $\varphi$ and $\psi$ if $P$ can be repaired in $e$ or otherwise throws an error.
Since $P$ is faulty with respect to the specification, model checking in the first step produces a counterexample $\pi$ on termination. If the model checking procedure does not terminate, then does not terminate. If the fault region $e$ is not contained in $\pi$, then terminates with an error indicating that $P$ cannot be repaired within the fault region $e$. This may happen when multiple faults are considered. Otherwise, a synthesis procedure is invoked to repair the program $P$ at $e$. If the procedure does not terminate, does not terminate. If the synthesis procedure reports unrealizability of the specification, no repair exists to make $P$ correct in $e$ and throws an error. Otherwise, according to Lemma \[ref:iter\] program terms $\overline{T}$ are synthesized such that the counterexample is removed. In each iteration, at least one counterexample is removed. Since the verification conditions of the counterexamples are accumulated, monotonicity is enforced, i.e., previously corrected counterexamples cannot become faulty again. Since $P$ has only finitely many control-flow paths, terminates after finitely many iterations if for all iterations, model checking and synthesis terminate. The finally produced program has no counterexamples and thus is correct with respect to $\varphi$ and $\psi$.
Implementation and Experimental Results {#sec:eval}
=======================================
The repair framework presented in the previous section is generic in the sense that the framework can be instantiated with different model checkers and synthesis procedures abstracting from programming and specification languages. In this section, we present a prototype implementation of the repair framework for ANSI-C utilizing domain finitizing and give some initial experimental results indicating that path-based program repair can be useful for repairing real programs.
The specification, i.e., the precondition and postcondition, and all other logic formulæ are expressed in the SMT-LIB2 logic QF\_BV, i.e., the quantifier-free fragment of first-order logic modulo bit-vector arithmetic. The manipulation of logic formulæ for computing weakest preconditions and strongest postconditions has been implemented using the API of the theorem prover Z3 [@Moura08].
Symbolic counterexamples are computed by leveraging CBMC [@Clarke04] in combination with a self-implemented execution tracer. CBMC model checks the program with respect to the given specification. When verification fails, an input assignment is extracted from CBMC’s logfile. The execution tracer then re-simulates the program with this input assignment and dumps the statements executed in a textual representation similar to \[Fig:Propagation\].
For synthesis, logic formulæ are bit-blasted to Boolean functions, more particularly *And-Inverter Graphs* (AIGs), by replacing each word-level variable by individual bit-level variables and each bit-vector operator by a corresponding Boolean circuit. After bit-blasting, a BDD-based synthesis procedure is applied to obtain a gate-level repair for the program. The synthesis procedure is complete, guarantees termination, and thus detects unrealizability. Basing the main synthesis work on BDDs has many advantages — they can perform the quantifier elimination step needed for synthesis in a natural and efficient way. Also, the question of how to compute an implementation from an input/output relation that is represented as a Boolean function is well-researched, so that we can apply this work.
In the last step, the gate-level repair is transformed to ANSI-C code in a straight-forward way: for each circuit gate $o = AND(a,b)$, a fresh variable $o$ is introduced and assigned to the ANSI-C expression $(a~\&~b)$, where $a$ and $b$ are either other variables introduced by this conversion or input bits extracted from existing word-level program variables.
\[Fig:minmax\] shows [minmax]{}, a simple fragment of an ANSI-C program that determines the largest and the smallest value of three given inputs. All variables in the program fragment are of integer type. The logic specification $\varphi$ and $\psi$ annotated to the source code is complete, so that all possible faults are observable during model checking and can be repaired by our approach assuming the “right” fault region is provided as input. To improve scalability of synthesis, the bit-widths of integer variables are reduced to 2 bit.
\PY{c+c1}{// $\mathbf{\varphi :\Leftrightarrow \{true\}}$}
\PY{l+m+mf}{1.} \PY{n}{most} \PY{o}{=} \PY{n}{input1}\PY{p}{;}
\PY{l+m+mf}{2.} \PY{n}{least} \PY{o}{=} \PY{n}{input1}\PY{p}{;}
\PY{l+m+mf}{3.} \PY{k}{if} \PY{p}{(}\PY{n}{most} \PY{o}{\PYZlt{}} \PY{n}{input2}\PY{p}{)}
\PY{l+m+mf}{4.} \PY{n}{most} \PY{o}{=} \PY{n}{input2}\PY{p}{;}
\PY{l+m+mf}{5.} \PY{k}{if} \PY{p}{(}\PY{n}{most} \PY{o}{\PYZlt{}} \PY{n}{input3}\PY{p}{)}
\PY{l+m+mf}{6.} \PY{n}{most} \PY{o}{=} \PY{n}{input3}\PY{p}{;}
\PY{l+m+mf}{7.} \PY{k}{if} \PY{p}{(}\PY{n}{input2} \PY{o}{\PYZlt{}} \PY{n}{least}\PY{p}{)}
\PY{l+m+mf}{8.} \PY{n}{least} \PY{o}{=} \PY{n}{input2}\PY{p}{;}
\PY{l+m+mf}{9.} \PY{k}{if} \PY{p}{(}\PY{n}{input3} \PY{o}{\PYZlt{}} \PY{n}{least}\PY{p}{)}
\PY{l+m+mf}{10.} \PY{n}{least} \PY{o}{=} \PY{n}{input3}\PY{p}{;}
\PY{c+c1}{// $\mathbf{\psi :\Leftrightarrow \{}$}
\PY{c+c1}{// $\mathbf{ (most=input1 \vee most=input2 \vee most=input3) \wedge}$}
\PY{c+c1}{// $\mathbf{ (most\geq{}input1 \wedge most\geq{}input2 \wedge most\geq{}input3) \wedge}$}
\PY{c+c1}{// $\mathbf{ (least=input1 \vee least=input2 \vee least=input3) \wedge}$}
\PY{c+c1}{// $\mathbf{ (least\leq{}input1 \wedge least\leq{}input2 \wedge least\leq{}input3) \}}$}
In order to allow repairing conditional statements of form `if(c){...}`, where the guard condition $c$ may be a complex or compound expression, in a preprocessing step, the conditional statement is replaced by `t = c; if(t){...}`, where $t$ is a new temporary program variable.
Table \[Tab:PBRepair\] lists some initial experiments, where faults have been seeded into [minmax]{} and is applied to repair them. The table is built as follows: each line corresponds to one seeded fault. The first column shows the line number in which a fault was seeded, the second column lists the type of the erroneous statement, the third column gives the number of iterations needed by to terminate and the fourth column lists the examined control-flow paths as bit strings for all iterations and the size of the corresponding candidate repair counted in AND gates in squared brackets. Each bit string $g_1 g_2 g_3 g_4$ denotes the evaluation of the guard conditions, where $g_1$, $g_2$, $g_3$, $g_4$ correspond to the code lines 3, 5, 7, 9, respectively. The value $0$ and $1$ indicate that the respective guard condition evaluated to and , respectively, when executed. The last column gives the run-time in seconds. All experiments have been conducted on Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2520M CPU @ 2.50GHz with 8GB RAM. The run-time was mainly spend in synthesizing the repair and the time required for model checking was negligible.
Line Type Iterations Control-Flow Path \[AND gates\] Time \[s\]
------ ------------ ------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------
1 Assignment 7 0000\[2\] 0100\[2\] 0011\[16\] 0110\[17\] 1010\[12\] 0010\[18\] 0001\[7\] 2
2 Assignment 4 1001\[2\] 0100\[3\] 0000\[2\] 1000\[2\] 3
3 Condition 4 1110\[1\] 0000\[3\] 1010\[6\] 0001\[8\] 4
4 Assignment 2 [1]{}000\[3\] [1]{}001\[6\] 3
5 Condition 2 0101\[1\] 0000\[5\] 6
6 Assignment 2 0[1]{}10\[3\] 0[1]{}00\[6\] 4
7 Condition 5 0001\[1\] 1010\[3\] 0100\[9\] 0000\[11\] 1110\[8\] 4
8 Assignment 3 01[1]{}1\[2\] 00[1]{}0\[5\] 01[1]{}0\[4\] 4
9 Condition 6 0111\[1\] 0000\[1\] 1001\[4\] 0011\[8\] 1000\[18\] 0010\[20\] 5
10 Assignment 2 001[1]{}\[2\] 000[1]{}\[14\] 4
: Path-Based Program Repair applied to [minmax]{}[]{data-label="Tab:PBRepair"}
The repair framework proposed is fully automated and does not need any human intervention. Our initial experiments indicate that can be used for repairing simple ANSI-C programs; i.e., the prototype implementation of proposed was able to determine a repair for each of our seeded faults in only a few seconds. However, before applying our repair procedure to [minmax]{}, the bit-width of integers was manually reduced. Otherwise, quantification on up to 160 BDD variables is necessary which is challenging for today’s BDD-based procedures. We claim that automated bit-width abstraction refinement for synthesis is in reach such that a synthesize-and-generalize approach is possible: first bit-widths are abstracted to a small number of BDD variables, a repair is synthesized from the abstraction, generalized to the full bit-widths, and subsequently verified considering the context of the program.
Conclusion {#sec:conclusion}
==========
In this paper, we presented a path-based abstraction refinement approach to program repair which combines symbolic path reasoning and software synthesis. A prototype implementation of the repair framework has been presented utilizing domain finitizing and BDD-based synthesis. In contrast to other synthesis approaches, this allows for deciding realizability. Initial experimental results for our prototype on a small ANSI-C program have been presented.
The repair framework uses off-the-shelf model checking and synthesis tools, and thus inherits their scalability strength and barriers. In case of the BDD-based synthesis the limiting factor is the number of input and output variables after bit-blasting, which were manually reduced for our experiments. We conjecture that a customized bit-width abstraction refinement approach will substantially improve scalability, while allowing to keep the completeness and unrealizability detecting capabilities of BDD-based synthesis. A challenge that remains in this context is to foster readability of the computed implementation parts. We leave these improvements to future work.
**Acknowledgements:** This work was supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG, grant no. FE 797/6-1) and the Institutional Strategy of the University of Bremen, funded by the German Excellence Initiative.
| |
Horizon hits oil in second Beibu Gulf well, Offshore China
Horizon Oil advises that drilling of the second of a two exploration well program in the Beibu Gulf Block 22/12 has been completed. The WZ 12-10-2 well is located is located in 36 m of water 1.6 km east northeast of the existing WZ 12-8W platform and about 3.2 km west southwest of the recently drilled WZ 12-10-1 oil discovery (see map below). The well spudded at 2300 hrs China Standard Time on 3 October 2014 with the COSL Rig HYSY 935.
The current exploration well, WZ 12-10-2, discovered high porosity net oil pay of ~11 m true vertical depth in the Jiaowei T42 formation. The well was drilled to a total measured depth of 1,590 m (1,382 m TVDSS), where granite basement was intersected, as prognosed.
Wireline evaluation logging programs, including pressure measurements, fluid sampling, formation imaging and sidewall coring, have been run and confirmed the oil pay in the Jiaowei T42 reservoir has favourable reservoir porosities of about 31% and oil gravity of approximately 29 deg API.
The well has been plugged and abandoned and the rig will be released shortly. The 2014 Beibu exploration drilling program has been successfully completed with no safety or environmental incidents.
Further work will now be undertaken to evaluate both the extent of the structure and reserves, and assess the most effective route for integrating these additional oil resources into the existing Beibu project.
Horizon Oil’s Chief Executive Officer, Brent Emmett, commented-:
“This is a very pleasing result, being the second discovery in a two well exploration campaign. Horizon Oil’s view is that it is likely that the WZ 12-10-2 oil accumulation will be able to be developed from the WZ 12-8W platform development facilities, thereby taking advantage of the existing development facilities. In the same way, the WZ 12-10-1 discovery will support the future integration of the proposed WZ 12-8-E development. As a result, we expect the new discoveries to deliver favourable economics and to extend the life of the Beibu Gulf project. | https://oilandgaspress.com/oil-and-gas-news/horizon-hits-oil-in-second-beibu-gulf-well-offshore-china/ |
In this two-part class for beginners, students will make a chunky scarf with fringe from start to finish. Whether you've never picked up a set of knitting needles in your life, or you've tried to learn on your own with little success, this class is for you. Finally learn that skill you've been wanting to try!
Class one will teach skills like casting on; knit stitch and binding off on scrap yarn. Towards the end of class one, students will cast on their actual scarf project and take it home to practice their stitches. Students will need to return to class two with the body of their scarf at least partially completed.
Class two will address finishing the scarf. The body of the scarf will be completed and bound off, then students will learn how to add fringe.
Students will be required to do homework in between the two classes.
Required Materials
- 2 skeins of super-chunky yarn, we recommend our Sugarbush Chill yarn (available here) or Cloud9 Vivace yarn (available here).
- Knitting needles, we recommend size 19 (available here).
Please note it is important to buy the specific materials available in the store for this project to ensure your success!
We have modified our classes to comply with the CDC guidelines and NJ Executive Order 152. This class will be limited in size, their stations will be at least 6 feet away from each other and whilst they are able to maintain social distancing students are not required to wear a mask, however where social distancing cannot be maintained (e.g. moving around the classroom) masks will be required, so please ensure you bring one. The instructor will be wearing one.
We cannot wait to introduce you to knitting!!!! | https://www.urbansewciety.com/module/class.htm?classId=359038 |
Stefan Karlssor and Gabriel Malikian were selected for the 2012 UCLA Poetry Awards. The have been invited to read their works at the Hammer Museum’s last poetry series event of the school year.
Hammer Poetry Reading
Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
Hammer Museum, FREE
By Gillian Hughes
May 31, 2012 11:54 p.m.
When people ask Gabriel Malikian why he decided to pursue creative writing, the answer is simple.
“I guess it’s the one thing I believe in the most,” said the fourth-year English student, who is concentrating in creative writing.
Malikian and five other UCLA students were selected for the 2012 UCLA Poetry Awards and were invited to read their work this Wednesday at the Hammer Museum’s last poetry event of the school year. Malikian received a Fred Weld Herman Memorial Prize offered by the Academy of American Poets.
Originally intending to study medicine in England, Malikian said he did not expect he would become a writer. He began pursuing poetry after he and his family moved to the United States.
“Reading poems moves me in a way that nothing else does,” he said. “To study that and to approach creating that is, in my mind, the best use of my time.”
Ivone Alexandre, a fourth-year film and television student, said she remembers working alongside Malikian on a film set and having long conversations about poetry.
“It was all either of us would ever talk about,” Alexandre said.
While condensed language sets poetry apart from other forms of writing, Alexandre said it is especially prevalent in Malikian’s work. Lines from his award winning poem, “Fixing My Father’s Bandsaw,” particularly show his terse style: “The bandsaw stutters then / shudders under its own drive. / Then the sound of steel giving way / under tremendous tension.”
“Gabriel’s poetry is minimal and intense,” Alexandre said. “He has some of the most fury I have ever seen in a person, but he tries to hold it back.”
Malikian said he would like to call his poetry musically inspired by the sound and rhythm of words.
“I think some people kind of overlook the fact that poetry is music,” Malikian said, “just composed with words instead of notes.”
According to Stefan Karlsson, a third-year English student with a creative writing concentration, the musical side of poetry is what makes it so universally enjoyable. Like Malikian, Karlsson is another winner of the 2012 UCLA Poetry Awards and will also be reading his poetry at the Hammer on Wednesday.
“I always think it’s funny when people say that they don’t like poetry,” Karlsson said. “People like music so they must like the rhythm of language. I think poetry is something just natural.”
Karlsson said he tries to write his poems with humor but roots them in something personal. Many of his poems, including some he will read at the Hammer, are about friendship. However, both poets said their work frequently changes topics during the writing process.
“If I begin talking about the roots of a tree,” Malikian said, “it may become something else where I’m no longer talking about that tree, but who I saw that tree with the first time or the mole underneath the tree.”
In the same way, Karlsson said his poems change their courses with the new ideas he has while writing. He said his award-winning poem “So Long Frank” came from several different inspirations and preoccupations of the time.
“When I began I was thinking about a friend of mine. … Then, for some reason, I got this line by Thomas Wyatt stuck in my head, and it ended up making its way into the poem … and I was thinking about trout fishing for some bizarre reason,” Karlsson said. “My mind was just sort of all over the place.”
The reading this Wednesday could bring their poems to life in a new way. While Malikian is concerned most with accuracy and speaking with the sound and pace he originally intended, Karlsson takes a different approach. | https://dailybruin.com/2012/05/31/awardwinning_student_poets_bring_their_natural_rhythms_to_the_hammer_museum |
- Denne begivenhed er allerede afholdt.
Seminar med Miriam Cutler
december 2, 2021 @ 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Seminar #4 | Nordic Film Music Days and Danish Film and Media Composers in cooperation with the American Embassy in Denmark | What are the composers talking about ?
December 2nd 2021 17-18:30 | Koda huset, 5 sal | eller på Zoom
Emmy nominated Composer, Miriam Cutler is passionate about scoring documentaries, among them Emmy winning, Sundance, and Oscar nominated films: TIL KINGDOM COME, FLANNERY, RBG, DARK MONEY, LOVE GILDA, A PLASTIC OCEAN, FINDING KUKAN, ETHEL, LOST IN LA MANCHA, THIN, POSTER GIRL, KINGS POINT, GHOSTS OF ABU GHRAIB, AMERICAN PROMISE, VITO, DESERT OF FORBIDDEN ART, SCOUTS HONOR, LICENSE TO KILL, ONE LAST HUG. Miriam Co-Produced and scored ONE LUCKY ELEPHANT and DARK MONEY.
She has served often as Lab Advisor for the Sundance Institute Documentary Composers Lab, on documentary juries including Sundance, Independent Spirit Awards, IDA Awards. She has been a guest instructor at California Institute for the Arts, USC, Loyola Marymount, Columbia College Chicago, UCLA, International Documentary Association, and more. She has co-produced two Grammy-nominated live jazz albums on PolyGram/Verve for Joe Williams, and albums for Nina Simone, Shirley Horn, and Marlena Shaw plus her own music.
Miriam is an Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Documentary Executive Branch member, TV Academy Executive Music Branch committee member, a founding member of the Alliance For Women Film Composers, TV Academy Music Branch Executive Committee, and a long time board member of The Society of Composers and lyricists.
In this short seminar Miriam Cutler will give a talk about her personal experiences of working as a composer and will introduce her toolbox of how to collaborate and network as an independent and finding a mutual language. A special focus will be on Music Story Arc.
I have been focusing on scoring documentaries since 1997 and have worked with many filmmakers in all kinds of scenarios. The most common thing they tell me: I don’t know anything about music. But that is not true! | http://filmkomponister.dk/event/seminar-med-miriam-cutler/ |
STANFIELD — Josie Goodrich was 3 years old the first time she rode in the arena at the Farm-City Pro Rodeo in Hermiston.
Her father, Brad, had won the all-around title at the FCPR and he took Josie along for the victory lap.
Josie got to make her own run at the Farm-City Pro Rodeo on Aug. 13, competing in the barrel racing event for the first time. What made it more special was that her mom, Jodi, also ran the barrels on the same night.
“This is very special,” Josie said before the race. “I have waited my entire life to rodeo here with my mom. Now it’s finally my turn.”
Josie turned in a time of 17.79 seconds on her horse Keeper.
“I was pretty nervous to compete at the Hermiston rodeo for the first time, but I’ve also never been so excited for a rodeo, especially since I’ve grown up watching my parents compete here, and it’s my hometown rodeo,” Josie said after her trip around the barrels. “I was hoping I would do a little better, but my horse tripped on the second barrel, but Keeper did really good considering that. The fans and the committee were amazing. I can’t wait to compete here again next year.”
Farm-City is just one of many rodeos Josie and Jodi Goodrich have been to over the past several months.
During the winter, mother and daughter spent some time competing in Texas and other southern states.
“This has been very fun,” Jodi said. “I have enjoyed every minute of it and watching her succeed.”
Josie, who is competing on her permit this season, filled her permit early on during the rodeo season, and will be able to purchase her Women’s Professional Rodeo Association card next season.
“That was a goal of hers and our family, and she did it,” Jodi said. “This time next year, she will have her rookie card.”
In her first pro rodeo in early July, Josie placed third at Sedro-Woolley in breakaway roping, and earned a check in Toppenish in the barrels. She didn’t fill her permit her first weekend out, but almost.
“Between barrels and breakaway, I filled it in less than a month,” Josie said.
Jodi and her horse Bug had success early in the year. They split fifth/seventh place at the Sandhills PRCA Rodeo Jan. 13-16 in Odessa, Texas, earning $2,382.
A few days later, Bug pulled a ligament in his leg, putting him on the sidelines this spring and summer.
“He’ll be good this fall,” Jodi said. “I have been riding him and getting him in shape. I’m going back to Texas in October to get a jump on the 2022 standings.”
While Jodi and Josie have gone on some trips together, others they have had Brad and Gator, 16, tag along.
“It’s really neat that Josie and Gator are competing,” Jodi said. “It’s truly a family affair. She can’t wait to come home (from college) and compete. Gator tore his meniscus in April and now he’s entered in three rodeos this weekend (Tygh Valley, Heppner and Goldendale).”
Brad, who recently had shoulder surgery, should be back roping by the first of the year.
A family rodeos together
The Goodrich family has a deep rodeo background, and Josie and her younger brother, Gator, have really taken to the sport.
Brad is a six-time qualifier for the National Finals Rodeo in tie-down roping, and a past tie-down champion at the Pendleton Round-Up and Farm-City Pro Rodeo.
Gator, who won the ribbon roping title at the National Junior High Finals Rodeo in 2019, placed fourth at state in 2020 to earn a trip to the High School National Finals Rodeo.
But it has been Josie who has risen to the top the past couple of years.
In the spring of 2020, she won the Oregon High School Rodeo Association barrel racing title and earned a trip to nationals with a little help from Keeper.
Josie, who competes for Washington State University, earned a trip to the College National Finals Rodeo in June in barrel racing. She finished second in the Northwest Region, just 65.5 points out of first. She also was third in the all-around standings.
“They have embraced it,” Jodi said. “It’s fun for us, and fulfilling knowing that they enjoy doing it and want to do it.”
Josie is back at WSU, where she is a member of the Kappa Delta Sorority.
She recently received a $10,000 scholarship from Kappa Delta, and combined with her other scholarships, her school bill is taken care of for the year.
“She had a 4.0 GPA last year,” Jodi said. “We are very proud of her. Not only is she rodeoing, but she worked this past year and her grades were outstanding. That is a confidence booster for her.”
Mom and daughter will be back on the rodeo trail next week. They are up in slack Tuesday, Aug. 24, in breakaway roping at the Horse Heaven Roundup in Kennewick, and will be in the night performance Aug. 28 in Ellensburg in breakaway roping.
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We report the distribution of planets as a function of planet radius, orbital period, and stellar effective temperature for orbital periods less than 50days around solar-type (GK) stars. These results are based on the 1235 planets (formally 'planet candidates') from the Kepler mission that include a nearly complete set of detected planets as small as 2 R ⊕. For each of the 156,000 target stars, we assess the detectability of planets as a function of planet radius, R p, and orbital period, P, using a measure of the detection efficiency for each star. We also correct for the geometric probability of transit, R /a. We consid'r first Kepler target stars within the 'solar subset' having T eff = 4100-6100K, log g = 4.0-4.9, and Kepler magnitude Kp < 15 mag, i.e., bright, main-sequence GK stars. We include only those stars having photometric noise low enough to permit detection of planets down to 2 R ⊕. We count planets in small domains of R p and P and divide by the included target stars to calculate planet occurrence in each domain. The resulting occurrence of planets varies by more than three orders of magnitude in the radius-orbital period plane and increases substantially down to the smallest radius (2 R ⊕) and out to the longest orbital period (50days, 0.25AU) in our study. For P < 50 days, the distribution of planet radii is given by a power law, df/dlog R = kRR α with kR = 2.9+0.5 - 0.4, α = -1.92 ± 0.11, and R ≡ R p/R ⊕. This rapid increase in planet occurrence with decreasing planet size agrees with the prediction of core-accretion formation but disagrees with population synthesis models that predict a desert at super-Earth and Neptune sizes for close-in orbits. Planets with orbital periods shorter than 2days are extremely rare; for R p > 2 R ⊕ we measure an occurrence of less than 0.001 planets per star. For all planets with orbital periods less than 50days, we measure occurrence of 0.130 ± 0.008, 0.023 ± 0.003, and 0.013 ± 0.002 planets per star for planets with radii 2-4, 4-8, and 8-32 R ⊕, in agreement with Doppler surveys. We fit occurrence as a function of P to a power-law model with an exponential cutoff below a critical period P 0. For smaller planets, P 0 has larger values, suggesting that the 'parking distance' for migrating planets moves outward with decreasing planet size. We also measured planet occurrence over a broader stellar T eff range of 3600-7100K, spanning M0 to F2 dwarfs. Over this range, the occurrence of 2-4 R ⊕ planets in the Kepler field increases with decreasing T eff, with these small planets being seven times more abundant around cool stars (3600-4100K) than the hottest stars in our sample (6600-7100K). | https://eprints.usq.edu.au/32141/ |
Words That Are 12 Letters And Contain "le" - You Go Words!
12 Letters and Contain "le"
Twelve letter words, and word contains the letters "le". List of 696 words that are 12 letters and contain "le". Add length, consonants, vowels, syllables, origin, spelling and more. View word search examples.
Trying to solve a word puzzle or decoding words? Finding words that contain le is easy! Use the search bar and include a dash or underscore where letters are missing in your puzzle. Such as "solve pu__le", "contains ap__e". Example: 8 letter word puzzle _a_t_i_a. For large sets of characters, use the unscrambler.
12 letters and contain "le" was last updated on April 24, 2019. | http://www.yougowords.com/spelled-with-le/12-letters |
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
2. Description of Related Art
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-117719 filed on Jun. 15, 2017 including the specification, drawings and abstract, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device.
Electric power steering system includes a motor serving as a source of generating an assisting force. The motor is driven by a drive circuit, for example. The drive circuit includes a switching element group that is disposed on a substrate and generates three-phase AC power.
FIG. 6
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-495219 discloses a drive circuit in which field effect transistors (FETs) as the components of drive circuits of respective phases (U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase) are disposed on a substrate. When arranging FETs on a substrate, drive circuits of respective phases are usually disposed adjacent to each other on one side of the substrate (see for a comparative example). In this case, power supplied from, for example, a battery is transmitted to a motor via the drive circuit of the U-phase and then is transmitted to ground via the drive circuit of the W-phase. With this path, the length of the path (wiring loop) through which a current flows is maximized, so that interlinkage flux with respect to the wiring loop is increased. When the interlinkage flux of the drive circuit is increased, the surge voltage at switching is increased. Also, the torque ripple is increased. There is therefore a need for a method that reduces the interlinkage flux of the drive circuit.
Reducing interlinkage flux has a significance not only in the case where the wiring loop is maximized, but also in the case where power supplied from, for example, a battery is transmitted to a motor via a drive circuit of the U-phase, and then is transmitted to ground via a drive circuit of the V-phase. This is because, even in such a case, the surge voltage at switching can be reduced.
An object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device with reduced interlinkage flux.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor device including: a substrate; and a plurality of half bridges disposed on the substrate and each including an upper switching element and a lower switching element connected in series, the upper switching element being connected to a power supply, the lower switching element being connected to ground; wherein the plurality of half bridges are connected in parallel; wherein at least one of the upper switching elements is disposed on a first surface of the substrate, and the lower switching elements are disposed on a second surface of the substrate opposite to the first surface; and wherein the substrate includes a path electrically connecting the upper switching element and the lower switching element belonging to a same one of the half bridges, the path having a portion extending through the substrate.
Hereinafter, a first embodiment will be described in which a drive circuit as a semiconductor device is applied to a vehicle drive device.
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FIG. 1
A drive device illustrated in supplies power to a motor (power supply target) for applying an assisting force to a steering system of a vehicle. The motor used herein is a three-phase (U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase) brushless motor. The drive device includes a drive circuit that supplies power to the motor , a microcomputer that controls the operation of the drive circuit .
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The drive circuit includes a plurality of switching elements. The drive circuit converts DC power from a battery mounted on the vehicle into three-phase AC power by turning ON and OFF the plurality of switching elements. The switching elements used herein are metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect-transistors (MOS-FETs).
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The drive circuit includes first to third upper MOSs Hu, Hv, and Hw connected to the battery side, and first to third lower MOSs Lu, Lv, and Lw connected to ground. The drive circuit is formed by connecting first to third switching arms and in parallel, each including two switching elements. The first switching arm includes the first upper MOS Hu and the first lower MOS Lu connected in series. The second switching arm includes the second upper MOS Hv and the second lower MOS Lv connected in series. The third switching arm includes the third upper MOS Hw and the third lower MOS Lw connected in series.
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Drain electrodes de of the first to third upper MOSs Hu, Hv, and Hw are connected to the battery via drain interconnects and . respectively. Source electrodes se of the first to third lower MOSs Lu, Lv, and Lw are connected to ground via source interconnects and respectively. Further, source electrodes se of the first to third upper MOSs Hu, Hv, and Hw are connected to drain electrodes de of the first to third lower MOSs Lu, Lv, and Lw via intermediate interconnects and respectively. Further, the intermediate interconnects and (midpoints of the first to third switching arms , and ) are connected to motor coils and of the respective phases via power lines and respectively.
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The microcomputer is connected to gate electrodes ge of the first to third upper MOSs Hu, Hv, and Hw and the first to third lower MOSs Lu, Lv, and Lw, via gate interconnects and and gate interconnects and , respectively. The microcomputer obtains the state quantities such as steering torque and rotation angle of the motor , detected by various sensors mounted on the vehicle, and generates a motor control signal (voltage signal) based on these state quantities. Then, the microcomputer applies the motor control signal to each gate electrode ge, thereby controlling ON and OFF of the first to third upper MOSs Hu, Hv, and Hw and the first to third lower MOSs Lu, Lv, and Lw. The first to third upper MOSs Hu, Hv, and Hw and the first to third lower MOSs Lu, Lv, and Lw are turned ON and OFF in accordance with the motor control signal. Thus, DC power of the battery is converted into three-phase AC power. The three-phase AC power is supplied to the motor via the power lines and
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The drive circuit further includes first to third motor relays and The first to third motor relays and are provided in the middle of the power lines and respectively. The first to third motor relays and used herein are MOS-FETs, for example. The first to third motor relays , and are normally maintained in an ON state. The first to third motor relays , and are switched to an OFF state in the event of a disconnection failure, a short-circuit failure, or the like, in the drive circuit , for example. When the power supply path. (power lines and ) between the drive circuit and the motor is blocked, power supply from the drive circuit to the motor is blocked. Gate electrodes ge of the first to third motor relays and are connected to the microcomputer via gate interconnects and respectively. The microcomputer applies and stops applying a voltage signal, thereby controlling ON and OFF of the first to third motor relays and
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To detect a current actually applied to the motor , first to third shunt resistors and are respectively provided between the first to third switching arms and of the respective phases and ground. The microcomputer detects the voltages across the respective first to third shunt resistors and , thereby detecting the values of the currents actually flowing through the respective phases of the motor .
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FIGS. 2A and 2B
FIG. 2A
FIG. 2A
Next, the schematic configuration of the drive circuit will be described with reference to . For illustration purposes, in , interconnects as the components of the drive circuit disposed on the front surface (first surface) of a substrate B are drawn larger than the components of the drive circuit disposed on the back surface (second surface) of the substrate B. Further, in , the components of the drive circuit on the front surface when the substrate B is viewed from the front surface side are indicated by continuous lines, and the components on the back surface are indicated by dashed lines.
FIG. 2A
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As illustrated in , the components of the drive circuit , that is, the first to third upper MOSs Hu, Hv, and Hw, the first to third lower MOSs Lu, Lv, and Lw, the first to third motor relays and and the first to third shunt resistors , and are disposed separately on both surfaces of the substrate B. The substrate B used herein is a printed circuit board, for example. Note that the U-phase part of the drive circuit is referred to as a LI-phase drive circuit the V-phase part is referred to as a V-phase drive circuit and the W-phase part is referred to as a W-phase drive circuit
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FIG. 2A
The U-phase drive circuit the V-phase drive circuit and the W-phase drive circuit are arranged in a Y direction of the substrate B (vertical direction in ). The U-phase drive circuit and the V-phase drive circuit are disposed adjacent to each other, and the V-phase drive circuit and the W-phase drive circuit are disposed adjacent to each other, in the Y direction.
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FIG. 2A
When the substrate B is viewed from the front surface side, the components of the U-phase drive circuit that is, the first upper MOS Hu, the first lower MOS Lu, the first motor relay and the first shunt resistor are arranged in an X direction (horizontal direction in ), and are electrically connected to each other. Specifically, the first upper MOS Hu and the first motor relay are arranged in the X direction on the front surface of the substrate B, while the first lower MOS Lu and the first shunt resistor are arranged in the X direction on the back surface of the substrate B. Similarly, each of the V-phase drive circuit and the W-phase drive circuit has its components arranged in the X direction and electrically connected to each other.
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FIGS. 2A and 2B
FIG. 2A
FIG. 28
Next, the drive circuit (and ) will be described in detail with reference to . Note that the first to third upper MOSs Hu, Hv, and Hw, the first to third lower MOSs Lu, Lv, and Lw, and the first to third motor relays and have their drain electrodes de and source electrodes se on their surfaces on the substrate B side. For simplicity of the drawings, the drain electrodes de, the source electrodes se, and the gate electrodes ge are omitted in , and the gate electrodes ge are omitted in .
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FIGS. 2A and 28
First, the W-phase drive circuit will be described in detail. As illustrated in , on the front surface of the substrate B, interconnects Wmw, Wpw, and Wpw are arranged in this order from the left. The interconnect Wmw is connected to a motor terminal Tm of the motor corresponding to the W-phase. Note that the interconnect Wmw forms a part of the power line The interconnect Wpw is connected to a power supply terminal Tp on the path that is connected to the battery and through which DC power flows. Note that the interconnect Wpw forms a part of the drain interconnect The third upper MOS Hw is disposed between the interconnect Wpw and the interconnect Wpw. The drain electrode de of the third upper MOS Hw is connected to the interconnect Wpw, and the source electrode se of the third upper MOS Hw is connected to the interconnect Wpw. The third motor relay is disposed between the interconnect Wpw and the interconnect Wmw. The drain electrode de of the third motor relay is connected to the interconnect Wpw, and the source electrode se of the third motor relay is connected to the interconnect Wmw. Note that the interconnect Wpw forms a part of the intermediate interconnect and the power line
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On the back surface of the substrate B, interconnects Wgw, Wgw, and Wgw are arranged in this order from the left. The interconnect Wgw is connected to a ground terminal Tg. Note that the interconnect Wgw forms a part of the source interconnect The third shunt resistor is disposed between the interconnect Wgw and the interconnect Wgw. The third lower MOS Lw is disposed between the interconnect Wgw and the interconnect Wgw. The drain electrode de of the third lower MOS Lw is connected to the interconnect Wgw, and the source electrode se of the third lower MOS Lw is connected to the interconnect Wgw. Note that the interconnect Wgw forms a part of the source interconnect
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FIG. 2A
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The third lower MOS Lw is disposed to overlap the interconnect Wpw (face the interconnect Wpw with the substrate B interposed therebetween) when the drive circuit is viewed from a Z direction (direction of the paper surface of ) orthogonal to the front surface of the substrate B. The third upper MOS Hw is disposed to overlap the interconnect Wgw when the drive circuit is viewed from the Z direction. The third shunt resistor is disposed to overlap the interconnect Wpw when the drive circuit is viewed from the Z direction. The third upper MOS Hw, the third lower MOS Lw, and the third motor relay are disposed such that the orientations of the respective source electrodes se and drain electrodes de match each other in the X direction.
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The substrate B has a via Vw electrically connecting the interconnect Wpw and the interconnect Wgw. Thus, the source electrode se of the third upper MOS Hw and the drain electrode de of the third motor relay are electrically connected to the source electrode se of the third lower MOS Lw by the via Vw. The via Vw is a through-hole via, for example. The via Vw is a circular hole extending through the substrate B in the Z direction, and the inner wall surface of the hole is subjected to copper plating treatment to electrically connect the interconnect Wpw and the interconnect Wgw. The via Vw is provided in plurality in order to increase the conductivity between the interconnect Wpw and the interconnect Wgw.
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Next, the U-phase drive circuit will be described. The configuration similar to that of the W-phase will not be described in detail herein. On the front surface of the substrate B, interconnects Wmu, Wpu, and Wpu are arranged in this order from the left. The interconnect Wmu is connected to a motor terminal Tm (U-phase). The interconnect Wpu is connected to the power supply terminal Tp. The first upper MOS Hu is disposed between the interconnect Wpu and the interconnect Wpu. The first motor relay is disposed between the interconnect Wpu and the interconnect Wmu. On the back surface of the substrate B, interconnects Wgu, Wgu, and Wgu are arranged in this order from the left. The interconnect Wgu is connected to the ground terminal Tg. The first shunt resistor is disposed between the interconnect Wgu and the interconnect Wgu.
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The substrate B has a via Vu electrically connecting the interconnect Wpu and the interconnect Wgu. That is, the source electrode se of the first upper MOS Hu and the drain electrode de of the first motor relay are electrically connected to the source electrode se of the first lower MOS Lu by the via Vu.
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Next, the V-phase drive circuit will be described. On the front surface of the substrate B, interconnects Wmv, Wpv, and Wpv are arranged in this order from the left. The interconnect Wmv is connected to a motor terminal Tm (V-phase). The interconnect Wpv is connected to the power supply terminal Tp. The second upper MOS Hv is disposed between the interconnect Wpv and the interconnect Wpv. The second motor relay is disposed between the interconnect Wpv and the interconnect Wmv. On the back surface of the substrate B, interconnects Wgv, Wgv, and Wgv are arranged in this order from the left. The interconnect Wgv is connected to the ground terminal Tg. The second shunt resistor is disposed between the interconnect Wgv and the interconnect Wgv.
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The substrate B has a via Vv electrically connecting the interconnect Wpv and the interconnect Wgv. That is, the source electrode se of the second upper MOS Hv and the drain electrode de of the second motor relay are electrically connected to the source electrode se of the second lower MOS Lv by the via Vv.
FIG. 3A
FIG. 3A
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As illustrated in , the third upper MOS Hw and the third lower MOS Lw are disposed in positions shifted from each other in the X direction as viewed from the Y direction. The shift width between the third upper MOS Hw and the third lower MOS Lw is set to be greater than or equal to a thickness of the substrate B (predetermined shift amount). This is because, as indicated by the dashed lines in , heat transferred from the third upper MOS Hw and heat transferred from the third lower MOS Lw to the substrate B are assumed to be diffused at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the front surface and the back surface of the substrate B, respectively. Heat generated in the third upper MOS Hw is diffused by the thickness of the substrate B when transferred from the front surface to the back surface of the substrate B. However, since the third upper MOS Hw and the third lower MOS Lw are disposed in the positions shifted by a distance greater than or equal to the substrate thickness, the heat generated in the third upper MOS Hw is assumed not to be transferred to the third lower MOS Lw. Also, heat generated in the third lower MOS Lw is diffused by the thickness of the substrate B when transferred from the back surface to the front surface of the substrate B, but is assumed not to be transferred to the third upper MOS Hw. Further, on the substrate B, the heat diffused from the third upper MOS Hw and the heat diffused from the third lower MOS Lw are assumed to be prevented from overlapping in (being transferred to) an area. Accordingly, by setting the shift width between the third upper MOS Hw and the third lower MOS Lw to be greater than or equal to the substrate thickness, the heat diffused from the third upper MOS Hw and the heat diffused from the third lower MOS Lw can be prevented from overlapping in an area.
FIG. 29
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Note that as illustrated in , the third shunt resistor is also placed in a position shifted with respect to the third upper MOS Hw in the X direction as viewed from the Y direction. The shift width between the third shunt resistor and the third upper MOS Hw is set to be greater than or equal to the substrate thickness.
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Next, the third lower MOS Lw will be described in detail.
FIG. 4A
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illustrates the back surface (surface on the substrate B side) of the third lower MOS Lw. The third lower MOS Lw includes a main body portion including a semiconductor element (MOS-FET), and a plurality of terminals and extending from the main body portion . The main body portion is packaged by covering the semiconductor element with insulating resin. For example, the terminals correspond. to a drain electrode de, and the terminals correspond to a source electrode se. Note that some of the plurality of terminals may correspond to a gate electrode ge and the other of the plurality of terminals may correspond to a drain electrode de. Further, one or more of the plurality of terminals may correspond to a gate electrode ge and the other of the plurality of terminals may correspond to a source electrode se. The terminals and may be disposed on the surface of the main body portion on the substrate B side or the surface on the side opposite to the substrate B. Note that the other switching elements, such as the third upper MOS Hw, have the same structure as the third lower MOS Lw.
FIG. 5A
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As illustrated in , the third lower MOS Lw is mounted on the substrate B such that the terminals (source electrode se) is in contact with the interconnect Wgw and the via Vw. The third lower MOS Lw is disposed on the substrate B such that each terminal at least partially overlaps the via Vw when the substrate B is viewed from the Z direction. Similar to the third lower MOS Lw, the other switching elements in the vicinity of the vias Vu, Vv, and Vw are disposed such that the terminals of the switching elements overlap the vias Vu, Vv, and Vw, respectively, when the substrate B is viewed from the Z direction.
The advantageous effects of the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 6
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(1) First, a discussion will be made on a case illustrated in as a comparative example in which drive circuits of a U-phase, a V-phase, and a W-phase are disposed adjacent to each other on the same plane of the substrate B. The following describes the case where the wiring loop is assumed to be maximized. Specifically, the following describes interlinkage flux in the case where power supplied from the battery via the power supply terminal Tp is transmitted to the motor via the U-phase upper MOS and the U-phase motor relay, passes through the W-phase motor relay, the W-phase lower MOS, and the W-phase shunt resistor, and then is transmitted from the ground terminal to ground.
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FIG. 1
In this case, a current I flowing from the U-phase power supply terminal to the U-phase motor terminal via the U-phase upper MOS and the U-phase motor relay has a direction opposite to that of a current I flowing from the W-phase motor terminal to the W-phase ground terminal via the W-phase motor relay, W-phase lower MOS, and the W-phase shunt resistor. The path through which the current I flows and the path through which the current I flows are spaced by a distance L. The distance L is a relatively long distance. This is because the connection points between the intermediate interconnects and and the power lines and of need to be formed on the same plane of the substrate B, and therefore the U-phase, lower MOS is disposed in the position shifted from the U-phase upper MOS in the Y direction, for example. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the length of the U-phase drive circuit in the Y direction is assumed to be about that of one MOS-FET. Meanwhile, in the comparative example, the length is assumed to be about that of two MOS-FETs, and thus the U-phase drive circuit is increased in size in the Y direction. Similarly, the V-phase drive circuit and the W-phase drive circuit are assumed to be increased in size in the Y direction, so that the distance L is increased.
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2
When the currents I and I flow, magnetic fields M and M are produced. The directions of the magnetic fields M and M correspond to the directions of the currents I and I and hence are opposite to each other. Accordingly, the magnetic fields M I and M are in a mutually canceling relationship. However, the magnitude of a magnetic field is inversely proportional to the distance, and therefore the magnetic fields M and M cannot completely cancel each other even when their magnitudes are equal. As the magnetic fields M and M cannot fully cancel each other, the interlinkage flux is increased. Also, the inductance as the proportionality coefficient between the interlinkage flux and the current flowing through the drive circuit is increased. Note that the magnitude of the interlinkage flux is related to the wiring loop length and the size of the area of the drive circuit as viewed from the Z direction. This is because the area of the drive circuit as viewed from the Z direction can be considered as the area at the time when the interlinkage flux is interlinked with the drive circuit . As the wiring loop is increased, that is, as the area of the wiring loop when the substrate B is viewed from the Z direction is increased, the interlinkage flux is increased. The interlinkage flux is the magnetic flux interlinked with the interconnects, among magnetic flux produced by supplying power to the drive circuit . As the interlinkage flux is increased, the surge voltage at switching is increased. When the interlinkage flux is increased, ringing is more likely to occur. Further, when the interlinkage flux is increased, torque ripple, that is, variation of motor torque upon rotation of the motor is increased.
3
3
3
u,
v,
w
FIG. 6
Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, the components of each of the U-phase drive circuit the V-phase drive circuit and the W-phase drive circuit are disposed separately on both surfaces of the substrate B. The following describes interlinkage flux in the case where the wiring loop is assumed to be maximized as in the case of .
FIGS. 7A and 7B
11
2
12
14
2
14
12
21
u.
w,
w.
As illustrated in , power supplied from the battery via the power supply terminal Tp is transmitted to the motor via the first upper MOS Hu and the first motor relay After that, the power supplied to the motor is transmitted to ground via the third motor relay the third lower MOS Lw, and the third shunt resistor
13
12
14
14
14
12
21
3
4
1
1
2
17
17
17
18
18
18
12
12
12
12
3
3
3
3
1
2
u
w,
w
u,
v,
w
u,
v,
w
u
u
v
w
FIG. 1
In this case, a current flowing from the power supply terminal Tp to the motor terminal Tm via the first upper MOS Hu and the first motor relay has a direction opposite to that of a current flowing from the motor terminal Tm to the ground terminal Tg via the third motor relay the third lower MOS Lw, and the third shunt resistor . The path of the current I and the path of the current I are spaced by a distance L. The distance L is less than the distance L. This is because even when the connection points between the intermediate interconnects and and the power lines and of need to be formed, in the case where the first upper MOS Hu is disposed on the front surface of the substrate B, it is possible to place the first lower MOS Lu in almost the same position as the first upper MOS Hu in the Y direction by placing the first lower MOS Lu on the back surface of the substrate B. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the length of the U-phase drive circuit in the Y direction is about that of one MOS-FET. Thus, the U-phase drive circuit is prevented from being increased in size in the Y direction. Similarly, the V-phase drive circuit and the W-phase drive circuit are also prevented from being increased in size in the Y direction. Therefore, the distance L is less than the distance L.
3
4
3
4
3
4
3
4
3
4
3
4
1
3
4
2
3
4
3
When the currents I and I flow, magnetic fields M and M are produced. The directions of the magnetic fields M and M correspond to the directions of the currents I and I and hence are opposite to each other. Accordingly, the magnetic fields M and M are in a mutually canceling relationship. In this case as well, the magnetic fields M and M cannot completely cancel each other. However, since the distance L between the path through which the current I flows and the path through which the current I flows is less than the distance L, the magnetic fields M and M cancel each other to a greater extent. Therefore, the inductance of the drive circuit can be further reduced, so that the interlinkage flux can be further reduced.
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
u,
v,
w
In the present embodiment, the length of the drive circuit in the Y direction can be reduced. However, since the components of each of the U-phase drive circuit the V-phase drive circuit and the W-phase drive circuit are disposed on both surfaces of the substrate B, the length of the drive circuit in the Z direction is increased. Even in this case, depending on the size of the MOS-FET and the thickness of the substrate B, the wiring loop length of the drive circuit is reduced, and therefore the interlinkage flux is further reduced. Further, even in the case where the wiring loop length of the drive circuit is increased due to the size of the MOS-FET and the thickness of the substrate B, the interlinkage flux can be further reduced. This is because although the front surface and the back surface of the substrate B are conducted to each other through the vias Vu, Vv, and Vw, the Z-direction component of the interconnects of the drive circuit does not greatly affect the interlinkage flux. The vias Vu, Vv, and Vw have physical lengths, but are provided for conduction in the Z direction, and therefore do not affect the area of the drive circuit as viewed from the Z direction.
3
As described above, since the components of the drive circuit are disposed separately on both surfaces of the substrate B, interlinkage flux can be reduced.
FIG. 4A
31
32
12
12
12
(2) As illustrated in , each MOS-FET has the terminals and corresponding to its source electrode se and drain electrode de. In the case where the vias Vu, Vv, and Vw are provided, the first to third lower MOSs Lu, Lv, and Lw are disposed to overlap the vias Vu, Vv, and Vw in the X direction, and thus can be arranged in the vicinity of the vias Vu, Vv, and Vw, respectively.
FIG 5A
12
32
12
14
3
3
w
As illustrated in , the third lower MOS Lw is fixed such that the terminal is in contact with the via Vw. Thus, the clearance between the MOS-FETs (for example, between the third lower MOS Lw and the third motor relay when the drive circuit is viewed from the Z direction) can be reduced in the X direction. Accordingly, the area of the drive circuit as viewed from the Z direction can be reduced, and interlinkage flux can be reduced.
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
(3) Heat transferred from the first to third upper MOSs Hu, Hv, and Hw and heat transferred from the first to third lower MOSs Lu, Lv, and Lw to the substrate B are assumed to be diffused at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the front surface and the back surface of the substrate B, respectively. By setting the shift width between the first to third upper MOSs Hu, Hv, and Hw and the first to third lower MOSs Lu, Lv, and Lw to be greater than or equal to the thickness of the substrate B, respectively, the heat diffused from the first to third upper MOSs Hu, Hv, and Hw and the heat diffused from the first to third lower MOSs Lu, Lv, and Lw can be prevented from overlapping in an area.
12
12
12
21
21
21
12
12
12
21
21
21
u,
v,
w
u,
v,
w
Further, the first to third upper MOSs Hu, Hv and Hw are disposed in positions shifted from the first to third shunt resistors and by a distance greater than or equal to the thickness of the substrate B. Accordingly, the heat diffused from the first to third upper MOSs Hu, Hv, and Hw and the heat diffused from the first to third shunt resistors and can be prevented from overlapping in an area.
3
With the features described above, heat generated from each component of the drive circuit is prevented from being concentrated on a specific area, so that it is possible to perform heat radiation more efficiently.
12
12
12
12
12
12
14
14
14
3
3
u
v,
w
(4) Each of the MOS-FETs (first to third upper MOSs Hu, Hv, and Hw, the first to third lower MOSs Lu, Lv, and Lw, and the first to third motor relays , and ) is disposed such that the direction of the drain electrode de and the source electrode se thereof matches the direction of the corresponding interconnect. Accordingly, the wiring length of the drive circuit can be further reduced, so that the interlinkage flux can he further reduced. For example, if the direction of each interconnect is orthogonal to the direction of the source electrode se and the drain electrode de of the corresponding FET, the wiring length of the drive circuit is increased, so that the interlinkage flux is increased.
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
u,
v,
w
u,
v,
w
(5) The U-phase drive circuit the V-phase drive circuit and the W-phase drive circuit are arranged in parallel to each other. Accordingly, lengths of the U-phase drive circuit the V-phase drive circuit and the W-phase drive circuit in the Y direction can be reduced. Thus, the wiring length of the drive circuit can be reduced, and the interlinkage flux can be further reduced.
3
2
(6) Since the interlinkage flux of the drive circuit is reduced, the surge voltage at switching can be reduced, and the occurrence of ringing can be reduced, Since the torque ripple of the motor can be reduced, it is possible to perform motor control with high followability and stability, and to ensure an improved steering feeling.
Hereinafter, a second embodiment will be described in which a drive circuit as a semiconductor device is applied to a vehicle drive device.
FIGS. 8A and 8B
12
12
12
9
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
3
12
12
12
12
12
12
3
As illustrated in , the first to third upper MOSs Hu, Hv, and Hw are disposed on the front surface of the substrate , and the first to third lower MOSs Lu, Lv, and Lw are disposed on the back sur ace of the substrate B. The first to third upper MOSs Hu, Hv, and Hw are disposed to face the first to third lower MOSs Lu, Lv, and Lw, respectively, with the substrate B interposed therebetween. That is, the first to third upper MOSs Hu, Hv, and Hw and the first to third lower MOSs Lu, Lv, and Lw may be disposed in the same positions, respectively, when the drive circuit is viewed from the Z direction. Note that the first to third upper MOSs Hu, Hv, and Hw and the first to third lower MOSs Lu, Lv, and Lw may be disposed to slightly overlap, respectively, when the drive circuit is viewed from the Z direction.
12
12
12
12
12
12
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
The first to third upper MOSs Hu, Hv and Hw are not shifted from the first to third lower MOSs Lu, Lv, and Lw in the X direction, and hence the lengths of the interconnects Wpu, Wpv, Wpw, Wgu, Wgv, and Wgw in the X direction can be reduced. Further, the length of the drive circuit in the X direction can be reduced, and the mounting area of the components of the drive circuit as viewed from the Z direction is reduced. Accordingly, the area of the drive circuit as viewed from the Z direction can be reduced, so that the interlinkage flux is also reduced.
Note that the above embodiments may be modified as described below. Also, embodiments described below may be combined with each other as long as no technical inconsistency arises.
3
3
3
3
u,
v
w
In the above embodiments, the U-phase drive circuit the V-phase drive circuit , and the W-phase drive circuit are disposed in this order in the drive circuit . However, this order may be changed.
14
14
14
u,
v,
w
The first to third motor relays and do not have to be provided.
21
21
21
21
21
21
u
v
w
u,
v,
w
In the above embodiments, the three-shunt system using the first to third shunt resistors , , and is employed. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a single-shunt system using only a single shunt resistor may be employed. Further, the current detection system does not have to use a shunt resistor. That is, the first to third shunt resistors and do not have to be provided.
In the above embodiments, a MOS-FET is used as a switching element. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, For example, an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) may be used instead.
3
3
In the above embodiments, the drive circuit is a three-phase drive circuit. However, the drive circuit only needs to be a drive circuit of two or more phases.
3
Two drive circuits may be arranged adjacent to each other to provide redundancy.
FIG. 4B
FIG. 5B
12
32
30
12
32
12
14
3
3
w
As illustrated in , the third lower MOS Lw (each MOS-FET) may be provided such that the terminal covers the back surface (surface on the substrate B side) of the main body portion . In this case, as illustrated in , the third lower MOS Lw is disposed on the substrate B such that the terminal entirely covers the vias Vw. Thus, the distance between the MOS-FETs (for example, between the third lower MOS Lw and the third motor relay when the drive circuit is viewed from the Z direction) can be reduced. Accordingly, the area of the drive circuit as viewed from the Z direction can be reduced.
12
12
12
The terminals of the first to third lower MOSS Lu, Lv, and Lw may be disposed not to overlap the vias Vu, Vv, and Vw when the substrate B is viewed from the Z direction.
FIG. 4C
30
12
12
As illustrated in , a radiation pad may be provided on the front surface (surface on the side opposite to the substrate B) of the main body portion of the third lower MOS Lw (each MOS-FET). In this case, heat generated in the third lower MOS Lw is radiated from not only the substrate B side but also the radiation pad.
3
12
14
12
21
3
3
3
4
u,
u
u
w
u.
FIGS. 7A and 7B
In the above embodiments, in the U-phase drive circuit the first upper MOS Hu and the first motor relay are disposed on the front surface of the substrate B, and the first lower MOS Lu and the first shunt resistor are disposed on the back surface. In this case, the W-phase drive circuit has the same arrangement as the U-phase drive circuit Referring to , the current I flows through the front surface of the substrate B, while the current I flows through the back surface of the substrate B.
3
3
12
21
12
14
3
12
14
4
14
12
21
3
3
3
4
u
w
w
w
u
w,
w
w
u,
While the U-phase drive circuit has its components arranged in the manner described above, the W-phase drive circuit may have the third lower MOS Lw and the third shunt resistor on the front surface of the substrate B, and the third upper MOS Hw and the third motor relay on the back surface. In this case, the current I flowing from the power supply terminal Tp to the motor terminal Tm via the first upper MOS Hu and the first motor relay passes through the front surface of the substrate B. Further, the current I flowing from the motor terminal Tm to the ground terminal Tg via the third motor relay the third lower MOS Lw, and the third shunt resistor also passes through the front surface of the substrate B. Accordingly, in the W-phase drive circuit that is the most distant from the U-phrase drive circuit the currents I and I pass through the same surface of the substrate B. Therefore, the length of the wiring loop can be reduced by the thickness of the substrate B, and the interlinkage flux can be further reduced.
12
12
12
12
12
12
14
14
14
21
21
21
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
21
12
21
12
21
u,
v,
w,
u,
v,
w
w
w
w
FIG. 3B
In the first embodiment, the first to third upper MOSs Hu, Hv, and Hw, the first to third lower MOSs Lu, Lv, and Lw, the first to third motor relays and and the first to third shunt resistors and are disposed in positions shifted from each other as viewed from the Z direction. However, if heat does not matter much, the first to third upper MOSs Hu, Hv, and Hw and the first to third lower MOSs Lu, Lv, and Lw may be disposed to slightly overlap, respectively, as viewed from the Z direction. Further, for example, as illustrated in , if both the third lower MOS Lw and the third shunt resistor are disposed on the back surface of the substrate B, the heat diffused from the third lower MOS Lw and the heat diffused from the third shunt resistor are likely to overlap. Even in this case, if heat does not matter much, the third lower MOS Lw and the third shunt resistor may be disposed close to each other.
12
12
12
12
12
12
21
21
21
u,
v,
w,
In the first embodiment, the first to third lower MOSs Lu, Lv, and Lw are disposed between the first to third upper MOSs Hu, Hv, and Hw and the first to third shunt resistors and respectively, as viewed from the Z direction. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.
FIGS. 9A and 9B
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
21
21
21
u,
v,
w.
As illustrated in , if heat does not matter much, the positions of the first to third upper MOSs Hu, Hv, and Hw and the positions of the first to third lower MOSS Lu, Lv, and Lw may he switched in the X direction without changing the surfaces on which these individual components are disposed. In this ease, the first to third lower MOSs Lu, Lv, and Lw are adjacent to the first to third shunt resistors and
3
3
3
3
u,
v,
w
In the above embodiments, each of the U-phase drive circuit the V-phase drive circuit and the W-phase drive circuit has its components on both surfaces of the substrate B. However, only one of the phases of the drive circuit may have its components on both surfaces of the substrate B.
The substrate B may be made of any insulating material such as resin. Each of the vias Vu, Vv, and Vw may be a through-hole with its inner surface of the hole subjected to plating treatment, or may be a hole filled with conductive paste. That is, each of the vias Vu, Vv, and Vw may be any via as long as the via serves as a path that provides conductivity between the two surfaces of the substrate B.
3
3
3
2
The drive circuit of each embodiment is a three-phase drive circuit for a three-phase brushless motor. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the drive circuit may include half bridges for a plurality of phases, each including an upper switching element and a lower switching element. The target to which the drive circuit supplies power is not limited to the motor , and may be any target.
According to a semiconductor device of the present invention, since the wiring loop of the semiconductor device is reduced, interlinkage flux can be further reduced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of example embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals are used to represent like elements and wherein:
FIG. 1
is a circuit diagram illustrating the schematic configuration of a vehicle drive device using a drive circuit of a first embodiment;
FIG. 2A
is a structure diagram illustrating the schematic configuration when the drive circuit of the first embodiment is viewed from the upper surface of a substrate;
FIG. 2B
FIG. 2A
is a cross-sectional view of , schematically illustrating a cross-section of a W-phase drive circuit;
FIG. 3A
illustrates the positional relationship between an upper MOS and a lower MOS disposed on the substrate;
FIG. 3B
illustrates the positional relationship between a lower MOS and a shunt resistor disposed on a substrate in a comparative example;
FIG. 4A
is a structure diagram illustrating the schematic configuration of a switching element of the drive circuit of the first embodiment;
FIG. 4B
is a structure diagram illustrating the schematic configuration of a switching element of a drive circuit of another embodiment;
FIG. 4C
is a structure diagram illustrating the schematic configuration of a switching element of a drive circuit of another embodiment;
FIG. 5A
is a structure diagram illustrating the structure of mounting a lower MOS in the vicinity of a via on a substrate in the drive circuit of the first embodiment;
FIG. 5B
is a structure diagram illustrating the structure of mounting a lower MOS in the vicinity of a via on a substrate in a drive circuit of another embodiment;
FIG. 6
is a top view illustrating the magnitude of interlinkage flux generated in a drive circuit of a comparative example;
FIG. 7A
is a top view illustrating the magnitude of interlinkage flux generated in the drive circuit of the first embodiment;
FIG. 7B
FIG. 7A
7
7
b
b
is a schematic partial cross-sectional view illustrating a U-phase drive circuit and the W-phase drive circuit taken along the line -of ;
FIG. 8A
is a structure diagram illustrating the schematic configuration when a drive circuit of a second embodiment is viewed from the upper surface of a substrate;
FIG. 8B
FIG. 8A
is a cross-sectional view of , schematically illustrating a cross-section of a W-phase drive circuit;
FIG. 9A
is a structure diagram illustrating the schematic configuration when a drive circuit of another embodiment is viewed from the upper surface of a substrate; and
FIG. 9B
FIG. 9A
is a cross-sectional view of , schematically illustrating a cross-section of a W-phase drive circuit. | |
1. How do I log into my Library Account?
To log in to your library account, first click on the catalogue tab located along the top of the library's home page. Next, click on the log in icon located near the top right corner of the screen. Enter your card number located on the back of your library card. Contact the library staff for your PIN/Password.
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To find books, movies, and other items that are available for loan to members of the Parry Sound Public Library, click on the catalogue tab. Once in the catalogue screen, you will see a blank search field located to the right of the words "all fields." In this space you can enter a search term, such as the title of the book you are searching for or the book's author. To change the terms of your search, click on the arrow beside the words "all fields." If you change the terms of your search, you can search in a more specific way.
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To get a library card at the Parry Sound Public Library, patrons must visit the 29 Mary Street location and request to join the library. Membership is free of charge to residents of the Town of Parry Sound and contracting municipalities: McDougall, Carling, and the Archipelago. Residents of these areas must present photo identification as well as proof of their Parry Sound, McDougall, Carling or Archipelago address to library staff.
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Taking the Guesswork Out of Coin Tosses
Coin tosses, a perennial technique for generating random outcomes, are now under question. Researchers at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada asked 13 medical students to flip a coin 300 times and try to influence the way it landed. The results were shocking: with just two minutes’ practice, the students could make the coin land on the side they chose on average 54 per cent of the time. Seven of the 13 came up with “significantly more heads” than tails. One of the participants achieved heads 68 per cent of the time. According to leading researcher there are many techniques that can be used to influence the result of a coin toss.
The side of the coin which is uppermost before it is flipped is marginally more likely to land facing upwards, they found. The disk does not spin symmetrically in flight, but rather tips towards the side beginning up. The biggest influences on which side the coin lands are the height, the angle of launch and the catch. By practicing to gain consistency, the tosser can have an effect on the outcome. | https://theroguenews.com/1891/home/taking-the-guesswork-out-of-coin-tosses/ |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermoplastic resin composition excellent in softness and stability of surface properties.
SOLUTION: An olefin copolymer of which X defined by equation (1): X=[A(T2M)-A(T2C)]/[|(T2A-T2B)|] [wherein A(T2M), A(T2C), T2A, and T2B are each a value obtained by using measurement results of pulse NMR measured about an olefin copolymer, a specific polypropylene resin, and a resin composition for evaluation comprising the olefin copolymer and the specific polypropylene resin] satisfies the condition represented by formula (2): X≥0.020 is used. The wt.ratio of the olefin copolymer to the polypropylene resin in the resin composition for evaluation is 20/80, 40/60, 60/40, or 80/20.
COPYRIGHT: (C)2002,JPO | |
For contingency tables, we start with the heart attack data. If you have not worked with this data before you can find a description here. This is a very large data set and so is provided as zip files. (You may need a program such as winzip to unzip them). Available are plain text (with tabs separating entries), Excel versions of the data. If possible, download and unzip the Minitab version of the heart attack data and open it in your version of Minitab. (It may be too big for student versions.) We would like to see if the mortality rate is different between men and women.
To get 2x2 contingency table Select Data > Pivote Table and Pivote charts next select two columns of Sex and Died, click on next and then choose Layout, then drag the variable Sex and place into the ROWS, similarly drag the variable Died and place into the COLUMNS, also drag any of the variables Sex or Died and place into DATA, then double click and select count. Finally click on finish. You will get following table.
|DIED|
|SEX||0||1||Grand Total|
|F||4298||767||5065|
|M||7136||643||7779|
|Grand Total||11434||1410||12844|
Now we will find expected value from the above table. Formula for expected value = (Row Total)*(Column Total)/Grand Total. Let's first find the expected value for first cell. For first cell we have row total is 5065 and Column total is 11434 and grand total is 12844. Therefore Expected value = 5065*11434/12844 = 4508.97 like this find for all cell. Then we get the matrix as follows:
DIED SEX 0 1 Grand Total F 4508.97 556.03 5065 M 6925.03 853.97 7779 Grand Total 11434 1410 12844
Select Insert > Function> Statistical CHITEST then in actual range select the 2x2 observed value matrix and in expected range select the 2x2 expected value matrix, finally click Ok. We get the p-value for the Chi-square test = 3.75555E-34 = 3.75*10-34. Here p-value is less than 0.05 (level of Significance). Therefore we will reject H0 at 5% of level of significance.
With 12,844 observations, getting the table is a lot more work than computing chi-square, and it is best to let the computer do it. If you have an existing table, then no need to go pivot table just find the expected value and follow the steps as given above. For example, here are some data from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center reported in De Veaux, Velleman and Bock, Stats.: Data and Models 2nd ed., 2008, Addison Wesley, Boston. (It's the last example in Chapter 26, p.645.) The disease hepatitis C can be transmitted through needle pricks including those involved in tattoos. The goal here was to compare infection rates between people with differing tattoo status. A summary of their data is
|Hepatitus C||No Hepatitus C|
|Tattoo from parlor||17||35|
|Tattoo from elsewhere||8||53|
|No tattoo||22||491|
We get expected value matrix is as follow:
|Hepatitus C||No Hepatitus C|
|Tattoo from parlor||3.90||48.10|
|Tattoo from elsewhere||4.58||56.42|
|No tattoo||38.52||474.48|
When you go this route you have no control over what gets printed and have to put up with this congested table. In this case, the information in that crowded table is useful. A rule of thumb is that for the approximations in using the continuous chi-squared distribution for discrete counts to work well we should have expected counts above 5 in each cell. Here we have two violations out of six cells. One reason we check this is that because expected counts go into the denominator in computing the sample chi-squared, they could inflate the result. One common after-the-fact remedy is see if there are some rows in the table we can combine is a rational way. In this case we could concede that we do not have enough data to answer questions about where people got their tattoos and pool the two sources together to get a new table with these entries.
|25||88|
|22||491|
The analysis is left as an exercise but the conclusion is that the hepatitis rates are quite different for the tattoo vs. no tattoo groups. | http://courses.statistics.com/software/Excel/XLchisq.htm |
- GoI has launched the first across the river survey in the Ganga river to assess the population of marine life, including the endangered Gangetic dolphin.
- Survey will create a baseline scientific data for governments to take up suitable measures to enhance the river water quality, according to the National Mission for Clean Ganga.
- The first stretch of the survey was launched on March 1 from Narora in UP to Bijnor (covering around 165 km to establish the number of national marine animals).
- The enumeration in the stretch from Allahabad to Varanasi is around 250 km in length.
- Fish species composition in the 2525 km long river has been started from Harshil in Uttarakhand.
- The authority is conducting the survey through Wildlife Institute of India, an autonomous institution of Environment and Forest Ministry, under Namami Gange Programme.
- The disappearance of Gangetic dolphins, one of 4 freshwater dolphins in the world, stretches from Narora to Kanpur due to the pollution.
- Study will locate stretches where dolphins are habitating, what conditions there are and levels of threat faced by the species in a particular belt.
- Besides this, numerous dolphins, ghariyals and turtles in the river will also be ascertained after summer sets in completely as nesting takes place then and the counting will continue till October in 2017.
- Besides populace count, the study will also assess the distribution pattern of aquatic life in the river, extent of threat level faced and habitat conditions.
Gangetic Dolphins: Know More
- The South Asian river dolphin is a freshwater or river dolphin found in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan.
- It is split into two subspecies, the Ganges river dolphin and Indus river dolphin.
- Scientific name: Platanista gangetica
- Rank: Species
- Higher classification: Platanista
Points to Remember:
- India has declared Ganga Dolphin as the National Aquatic Animal of India.
- There are various conservation works going on the Sanctuary Areas to protect the National Aquatic Animal of India. Vikramshila Gangetic dolphin sanctuary is the only the only protected area for the endangered Gangetic dolphins in Asia. It is located in Bhagalpur District of Bihar, India.
- Guwahati is the first Indian city to have an animal Mascot as Gangetic river dolphin, It is the first city in India to have a city animal. River dolphin is locally known as Sihu and is on the verge of extinction along with Softshell Turtle and Adjutant Stork.
- The species has crystalline eye lens and is partially blind. But can make way through light. Navigation and hunting are carried out using echolocation.
- The diet includes a variety of fish and invertebrates, namely prawns, clams, catfish, freshwater sharks, and carp.
- Listed by the IUCN as endangered on their Red List of Threatened Species.
- India has declared dolphins as ‘non-human persons’ and hence forbids their captivity for entertainment purposes. | https://www.iasabhiyan.com/goi-launched-first-across-river-survey-ganga-river/ |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
2. Description of the Related Art
The present invention relates to a system to wheel multiple pieces of luggage simultaneously and, more particularly, to a system to wheel multiple pieces of luggage that allows a user to effectively and efficiently transport multiple luggage, bags, and the like.
Several designs for a system to wheel multiple pieces of luggage simultaneously have been designed in the past. None of them, however, include a luggage coupling device comprising connecting straps along the bodies of the luggage. Furthermore the, coupling devices link the wheels of the luggage together to form one system. Additionally, the system includes a track assembly that is mounted on to the back end of each luggage. The track assembly allows for a user to easily transport the luggage system up and down a staircase. The system further includes a battery pack to allow a user to charge their mobile devices as they are transporting their luggage. It is known that individuals often travel with multiple bags of luggage in order to carry all the appropriate belongings needed when traveling. It is also known that individuals often have a need to simultaneously carry all the luggage to be able to quickly maneuver around locations such as airports. Therefore, there is a need for an efficient and effortless system to wheel multiple pieces of luggage simultaneously.
Applicant believes that a related reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 9,585,448 for a self-stabilized rollable luggage assembly and corresponding assembly method. Applicant believes that another related reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,439 issued for a dual point auxiliary luggage attachment system. However, these references differ from the present invention because the references fail to address the issue of being able to efficiently transport more than two luggage bags as well as additional bags without wheels simultaneously in one system. The present invention addresses this issue be providing a strap assembly including straps and coupling devices configure to be attached to the wheels of multiple luggage wheels. The present invention further includes a tension buckle to allow a user to secure bags without wheels on top the system of luggage. Additionally, the present invention includes a track assembly that aids a user in transporting the luggage system along a staircase.
Other documents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a system to wheel multiple pieces of luggage simultaneously that allows a user to effortlessly and efficiently transport multiple pieces of luggage together.
It is another object of this invention to provide a system to wheel multiple pieces of luggage simultaneously that provides a tension buckle to allow a user to secure multiple bags on top of the luggage to allow a user to efficiently transport bags absent of wheels.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a system to wheel multiple pieces of luggage simultaneously that includes a strap assembly to provide a user with an efficient means of attaching several pieces of luggage together.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a device that is inexpensive to implement and maintain while retaining its effectiveness.
Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1
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represents an isometric view of a system to wheel multiple pieces of luggage simultaneously in an operational setting in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2
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shows an enlarged view of strap assembly depicting strap locks and connecting straps in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3
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illustrates an enlarged view of carry-on luggage depicting coupling strap in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4
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is a representation of a rear isometric view of luggage pieces depicting track assembly mounted thereon.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
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Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral , it can be observed a luggage coupling system including a strap assembly and a track assembly .
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Strap assembly includes strap locks mounted on each wheel of luggage pieces . In one embodiment, strap locks is mounted onto an outer surface of the wheel. Additionally, strap locks may be a hook like member that is made of a metal material. The strap locks may include a rectangular base with a circular anchoring member attached thereon. In one embodiment, strap locks are provided as an integral connection to the wheels of the luggage pieces . In another embodiment, strap locks are provided as a removable attachment using known means in the art such as fasteners, adhesives and the like. This allows strap locks to be removed and attached to various existing luggage pieces. Other embodiments may feature strap locks having different configurations of anchoring members. Base assembly further include connecting straps which include a first end A and a second end B. Connecting straps are then coupled to strap locks to then create a secure connection system of luggage pieces . In one embodiment, connecting straps are made of a durable leather material that may withstand a significant amount of pulling force. Additionally, connecting straps may also be made of a stretchable cloth material to withstand a significant amount of pulling force. In one embodiment, connecting straps are also rectangular in shape.
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Furthermore, first end A and second end B each have a snap lock mounted thereon. In one embodiment, snap lock may be made of a durable metal material to then latch onto snap locks . In one embodiment, snap locks are provided as an integral part of connecting straps . In another embodiment, snap locks are provided as a removable component of connecting straps . This allows a user to then mount snap locks onto connecting straps of their desired length. As a result, a user may build the best connecting system that is suitable for their luggage. Luggage pieces may further include a carry-on luggage mounted onto a top end of the luggage system. In one embodiment, carry-on luggage is a bag absent of wheels. Carry-on luggage is then secured to the luggage pieces through coupling strap including a tension buckle A. In one embodiment, coupling strap is made of a cloth material and tension buckle A is made of a plastic material. Additionally, tension buckle A as known in the art allows a user to adjust the length and tension of coupling strap in order to properly secure carry-on luggage onto the luggage pieces . Base assembly further includes a connector used to couple a row of wheels from luggage pieces . In one embodiment, connector is an elongated stretchable strap having an oval shape. Connector is then wrapped around snap locks to create a secure attachment. In on embodiment, connector is mounted to each set of wheels for luggage pieces . The combination of the strap locks , the connecting straps , and connectors allows the luggage pieces to work as one system to create a luggage train. As a result, a user may then transport multiple pieces of luggage through means of one system. This alleviates stress for a user and makes traveling a more comfortable experience.
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Track assembly includes a track that is mounted to a back end of each piece of luggage pieces . In one embodiment, two of tracks are mounted to the back end of luggage pieces. Additionally, tracks may be mounted in a vertical configuration along the back end of luggage pieces . In one embodiment, tracks are located entirely within the back end of luggage piece . In another embodiment, tracks extend onto an outer area of the back end of luggage pieces . Other embodiments may feature track positioned in other configurations along luggage pieces . In one embodiment, only one track may be provided. Track includes pulleys mounted thereon in a horizontal configuration. In one embodiment, pulleys are made of a metal material to withstand a significant amount of impact and have a durable lifespan. Additionally, pullets may be a solid cylindrical member that is mounted onto track . Track assembly further includes a conveyer belt that is wrapped around an outer surface of pulleys . In one embodiment conveyer belt is made of a silicon material to improve traction on an outer surface. In one embodiment, conveyer belt is a slider bed conveyer belt. In another embodiment, conveyer belt is a horizontal slat conveyer belt. In the present embodiment, conveyer belt aids a user in transporting luggage pieces up and down a set of stairs. The conveyer belt will then come into contact with the outer edge of the stairs to then aid a user in pulling the luggage up and down the stairs. In one embodiment, conveyer belt is powered by an internal motor within the luggage pieces to then further aid a user in maneuvering the luggage pieces up and down the stairs. The luggage coupling system further includes a battery bank that may be used to charge a user's mobile device.
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In one implementation of the present invention, button locks may be added to the front end and back end of a luggage. These button locks may then be coupled to each other in order to create an effective connection between multiple luggage. The button locks from the back of a luggage receive the buttons locks located on the front of another luggage. As a result, a row of luggage is joined to form a luggage train. These button locks may be used in conjunction with strap assembly or it may be used independently from strap assembly . Although button locks provide an effective coupling method, other forms of suitable locks may also be used.
The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense. |
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