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TECHNICAL FIELD
BACKGROUND ART
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
First Exemplary Embodiment
Second Exemplary Embodiment
Third Exemplary Embodiment
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
REFERENCE MARKS IN THE DRAWINGS
The present invention relates to a control method of a robot system when two industrial robots (two sets) that work according to a predetermined program are used and are applied to one object.
Conventionally, in a production site where a welding process is performed, for example, an industrial robot including a welding robot for performing welding work is introduced, and automation and manpower-saving are promoted. Here, “industrial robot” is a generic name for a configuration where a manipulator, a controller, a tool for work, and the other peripheral devices are interconnected. “Welding robot” is a generic name for a configuration where apparatuses and components such as a manipulator, a controller, a welding machine, a welding torch, and a welding electrode, and the other peripheral devices are interconnected. Recently, for improving the efficiency of the welding work, for example, for reducing the time for the welding work, a plurality of industrial robots are used for one object (hereinafter referred to as “work piece” in response to the generic name), and a plurality of industrial robots are apt to be operated simultaneously and collectively.
In such a case, the following coordinative control between robots is often used: a handling robot that grips a work piece firstly changes the attitude of the work piece to a coupling attitude that allows appropriate welding, and a welding robot operates a welding torch to perform welding in coordination with the handling robot. In such an example, it is important to control the relationship in the relative position and relative attitude (hereinafter referred to as “relationship”) between a tool for work (for example, a gripping mechanism for gripping a work piece) of the handling robot that grips the work piece and a tool for work (the tip of a welding electrode in the welding torch) of the welding robot. For example, when the robot that grips the work piece is operated manually, the control is performed so that a robot that grips the welding torch is operated while the relationship is kept. Such control is the so-called “associative movement control”, and is widespread (for example, Patent Literature 1).
Alternatively, an example is known where, one of two robots carries a tungsten inert gas (TIG) electrode, the other robot carries a filler wire, and the electrode is made close to the filler wire and is TIG-welded to it by coordination operation (for example, Patent Literature 2). In this case, the positional relationship between the TIG electrode, filler wire, and a weld line under welding is important. Therefore, Patent Literature 2 discloses the example where the operation trajectory is shifted in response to a signal from the outside while the relative position is kept, and further the relative position is finely adjusted. Such control is also a type of “associative movement control”.
In a considered method of performing the efficiency improvement such as time reduction of the welding process, two welding robots each of which has one electrode are used, and two-electrode welding is performed for one weld line.
A general welding condition for welding includes many parameters such as “welding current”, “welding voltage”, “welding speed”, “weaving method”, and “aiming position for welded joint”. Here, “aiming position for welded joint” indicates the position of the tip of the welding electrode for a welded joint and the angle of the welding electrode with respect to the welded joint.
In the welding by two welding robots, the welding result depends on the relationship between two welding robots. The relationship between two welding robots is specifically the relative position between the tips of two welding electrodes of the two welding robots and the relative attitude between the tips of two welding electrodes. In this case, in addition to “aiming position for welded joint”, “relationship” is also one of parameters constituting the welding condition. In order to perform welding for forming a desired bead with stable arcs without making two arcs generated by two welding electrodes interfere with each other, an appropriate relationship is required.
As the welding condition including many parameters, an appropriate combination is often determined by performing welding many times by try and error while each parameter is changed. The operation is referred to as “welding conditioning work”. For performing “welding conditioning work”, generally, an actual work piece to be welded is not used but a test piece formed by reproducing only the welded joint is used. In the welding by two welding robots, “relationship” is also determined through “welding conditioning work”.
The welding work for an actual work piece to be welded is performed by execution of the predetermined program by the welding robots. The welding work by the welding robots includes many sequential operations, and is performed by controlling an apparatus such as a welding machine as necessary in response to the operations. Therefore, a sequence of commands and data that indicate respective operations required for the welding work and a command and parameter that are required for controlling an apparatus such as the welding machine are registered in the program.
When the program is created, these commands, data, and parameters are stored in a storage medium such as a memory of the controller of the welding robot. The command and data indicating each operation include data indicating the coordinate and attitude for each operation. The welding robot is actually moved to the coordinate and attitude, and the program is created so as to teach the welding robot the work. This operation is referred to as “teach”. Generally, this program creating work is referred to as “teaching work”. The means of the coordinate and attitude of the welding robot is described later.
In the teaching work for the welded joint of the welding part of the work piece, the welding condition obtained by the welding conditioning work is reflected to the program. As numerical parameters such as welding current and welding voltage, of the welding condition, the values obtained by the welding conditioning work are set in the program. Thus, the welding obtained by the welding conditioning work can be relatively easily reproduced. While, regarding “relationship” during welding, the relationship between two robots in the target welding part of the work piece is reproduced and taught by actually operating two welding robots for each operation during the actual welding.
In a considered method for teaching the relationship, “aiming position for welded joint” of one robot is firstly reproduced, and then “relationship” is reproduced by operating the other. Another method may be used where “relationship” is reproduced near the welded joint and then “aiming position for welded joint” is reproduced by operating both robots while the relationship is kept (here, “associative movement control” is used). Among them, as a considered method for reproducing the relationship, the coordinate and attitude in the coordinate system of each welding robot during the welding conditioning work are noted, and the coordinate and attitude are reproduced referring to the note during teaching of the target welding part of the actual work piece. Generally, at that time, the position in the coordinate system of the welding robot is completely different from that in the welding conditioning work, and the direction of the weld line is not always the same. Therefore, the noted values of the coordinate and attitude are converted into the present coordinate and attitude, and the relationship is reproduced with the welding robot. This operation is actually extremely troublesome. The controller of a usual welding robot has a function of displaying the coordinate and attitude of the control point, so that the coordinate and attitude in the coordinate system of each welding robot can be obtained using the function. Generally, the control point is disposed at the tip of the welding electrode.
Once the relationship is established, “associative movement control” where one robot is moved in response to the operation of the other robot while the relationship is established becomes a useful function. The teaching of the welding part is performed by driving “associative movement control” of two welding robots. However, at the start of the control, it is an issue how “relationship” obtained in welding conditioning work is reproduced and established. How the relationship can be easily established before “associative movement control” is a common issue for not only the welding robots but also all industrial robots employing “associative movement control”.
Further, when a work piece to be welded has a plurality of weld lines and a plurality of welded joints must be welded, the welding conditioning work is performed for each welded joint. As a result, a plurality of “relationships” is obtained. In the teaching work, it is required to select one of the plurality of relationships correspondingly to the welded joint for each welding part. In this case, the troublesome work must be performed a plurality of times. Once the relationship is established, “associative movement control” where one robot is moved in response to the operation of the other robot while the relationship is established becomes a useful function. However, at the start of the control, it is an issue how one “relationship” is reproduced and established from the plurality of relationships obtained in welding conditioning work. This issue is also a common issue for not only the welding robots but also all industrial robots employing “associative movement control”.
[PTL 1] Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. H02-271402
[PTL 2] Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. H11-342473
The present invention provides a control method of a robot system that can reduce the time and effort for the operation for establishing “relationship” before “associative movement control”, or select one of a plurality of relationships and reduce the time and effort for the operation for establishing “relationship”. Especially, the present invention provides a control method of a robot system including a welding robot.
a storing step of storing, as one set of information, data indicating the relation of the relative position and relative attitude between the master robot and the slave robot; and
a first operating step of operating the slave robot with respect to the position of the master robot so as to reproduce the relation of the relative position and relative attitude indicated by the one set of stored information in a state where the master robot and the slave robot exist at any positions; or
a second operating step of operating the master robot with respect to the position of the slave robot so as to reproduce the relation of the relative position and relative attitude indicated by the one set of information in a state where the master robot and the slave robot exist at any positions.
In a control method of a robot system of the present invention, for addressing the above-mentioned issues, two industrial robots are used, one industrial robot is used as a master robot, and the other is used as a slave robot. The control method includes the following steps:
In this method, when there are two industrial robots such as welding robots, by storing the relationship between them and reproducing them at any time point, the time and effort for the operation for establishing the relationship between two industrial robots before “associative movement control” can be reduced. Thus, two arcs are generated by two welding electrodes and welding can be performed at a predetermined position where the two arcs do not interfere with each other, so that the bead shape can be optimized. As a result, welding where the coupling strength is sufficient and the reliability is high can be executed.
a storing step of storing a plurality of sets of information each of which has data indicating the relation of the relative position and relative attitude between the master robot and the slave robot; and
a first operating step of operating the slave robot with respect to the position of the master robot so as to reproduce the relation of the relative position and relative attitude indicated by one of the plurality of sets of stored information in a state where the master robot and the slave robot exist at any positions; or
a second operating step of operating the master robot with respect to the position of the slave robot so as to reproduce the relation of the relative position and relative attitude indicated by the one of the plurality of sets of stored information in a state where the master robot and the slave robot exist at any positions.
In a control method of a robot system of the present invention, two industrial robots are used, one industrial robot is used as a master robot, and the other is used as a slave robot. The control method includes the following steps:
In this method, when there are two industrial robots such as welding robots, by storing a plurality of relationships between them, selecting one of the plurality of relationships, and reproducing them at any time point, the time and effort for the operation for establishing the relationship between two industrial robots before “associative movement control” can be reduced. Thus, two arcs are generated by two torches and welding can be performed at a predetermined position where the two arcs do not interfere with each other, so that the bead shape can be optimized. As a result, welding where the coupling strength is sufficient and the reliability is high can be performed.
A welding system in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. Similar elements are denoted with similar reference marks, and the descriptions of those elements are omitted.
FIG. 1
FIG. 1
FIG. 1
is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a welding system in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. shows an example where the welding system is formed of two welding robots having a peripheral device or the like. The connecting method between component apparatuses depends on the specification of the component apparatuses, and the configuration of is one example.
In a practical welding system, often, the welding robot includes the following elements: a shift moving device that has a manipulator for holding a tool such as a welding torch and moves the position of the manipulator; a positioner that has a base material to be welded and changes the attitude thereof; and a fixture for mounting the base material. However, this welding system is not directly related to the contents of the present embodiment, so that this welding system is not drawn and described.
FIG. 1
In , for purpose of illustration, one of the two welding robots is called as welding robot A, and the number and mark of each element of welding robot A have suffix (a). The other welding robot is called as welding robot B, and the number and mark of each element of welding robot B have suffix (b). Thus, the apparatuses and components constituting the two welding robots are individually drawn and described.
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First, the configuration of welding robot A is described. Welding robot A includes manipulator and welding power supply device . Cable is connected to torch terminal disposed in welding power supply device . Base material W is connected through cable to base material terminal disposed in welding power supply device . Wire feeder is attached to manipulator . The operation of manipulator is controlled by controller . When touch sensor unit shown in is used, cable is connected through it to power feeding terminal disposed in wire feeder . When touch sensor unit is not used, cable is directly connected to power feeding terminal
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Wire feeder is connected to single-electrode welding torch through torch cable . Welding electrode as a consumable welding wire passes through torch cable . Cable whose one end is connected to base material W to be welded is connected to base material terminal whose the other end is disposed in welding power supply device
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In welding, an arc is generated by supplying power between welding electrode and base material W with welding power supply device . By generating the arc, a circuit of welding current connected from torch terminal to base material terminal through welding electrode and base material W is formed. Welding current flows in this circuit of welding current.
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By controlling wire feeder with welding power supply device , welding electrode is continuously fed to base material W. By controlling the operation of manipulator with controller , welding electrode moves along the weld line of base material W. Thus, arc welding is performed.
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Controller controls the operation of manipulator based on an operation program previously stored in memory shown in , for example. Further, controller issues a command of welding current or welding voltage to welding power supply device . Welding power supply device controls the welding current or welding voltage according to the command.
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Arc sensor processing section applies a predetermined processing, in response to a demand of controller , to at least one of the welding current and welding voltage measured in one of the inside of welding power supply device and the circuit of the welding current, converts the processing result into data equivalent to the shift from the weld line of the welding position, and feeds the data to controller . Controller controls the operation of manipulator based on the received data equivalent to the shift from the weld line, and corrects the shift from the weld line of the welding position. Arc sensor processing section is not required necessarily, and is used in the first exemplary embodiment.
Welding robot B welds base material W common with welding robot A, and has the same configuration with that of welding robot A. Therefore, the descriptions of individual apparatuses constituting welding robot B are omitted.
FIG. 1
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In , controller is connected to controller through an inter-robot communication cable X.
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In the first exemplary embodiment, welding robots A and B have single-electrode welding torches and , respectively, and two welding electrodes and are arranged near the weld line so as to be close to each other in the welding progressing direction as in conventional tandem arc welding. In the state where one welding electrode progresses in advance of the other welding electrode in the welding progressing direction on the weld line, they generate arcs with welding electrodes and while moving in the welding progressing direction. In other words, movement of the welding electrode by the other manipulator follows movement of the welding electrode by one manipulator. Then, welding is performed while a molten pool is formed by two nearby arcs generated between two welding electrodes and and base material W. Thus, welding such as the conventional tandem welding can be performed. In other words, in , the welding is performed while one molten pool is formed by two arcs: an arc generated between base material W and welding electrode moved by manipulator ; and an arc generated between base material W and welding electrode moved by manipulator . The welding may be performed in two molten pool states by forming two nearby molten pools using two arcs without forming one molten pool using two arcs.
In performing the welding, the processing described in the first exemplary embodiment is performed mainly with the controller of one welding robot. The one welding robot is called a master robot (hereinafter referred to as “master”), and the other welding robot is called a slave robot (hereinafter referred to as “slave”). The processing is performed by the master, so that the program and the parameters such as a welding condition are stored in a memory (not shown) of the controller of the master. Operation required for the processing is also performed through an operation panel (not shown) of the controller of the master.
The master and the slave play different roles, namely the master subjectively performs control and the slave obeys the master. When which welding robot is the master or slave is previously determined before the processing discussed below, any of two welding robots may be set as the master or the slave. Then, essential difference is not required between specifications of the apparatuses constituting two welding robots. In welding control, the master may be leading or following if it is determined.
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In the following description, it is assumed that welding robot A is the master, welding robot B is the slave, and the master is leading. In other words, controller is a leading controller of the master, and controller is a following controller of the slave.
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FIG. 2
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Next, the operation of the welding system shown in is described using . is a diagram showing an operation of the welding system in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The welding for one weld line and the operations of welding electrode and welding electrode before and after the welding are shown in . Here, P, P, P, and P surrounded with broken lines show teach points programmed as the operation of the welding robots. Each teach point includes data (hereinafter referred to as “positional data”) required for specifying the coordinate and attitude (hereinafter referred to as simply “position”) of each of two control points disposed at the tips of welding electrode and welding electrode . Each teach point is a combination of the positions of both welding electrodes and , and is formed of positional data of both welding electrodes and
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Generally, there are various methods of expressing the positional data indicating the position of the industrial robot including a welding robot. For example, there are a method of expressing the data using the position of each operation axis constituting the industrial robot and a method of expressing the data using a matrix determined based on the relationship between respective axes. Either of the methods can be converted into the other method. The method is often used where the tip position of the welding electrode is expressed by the coordinate value in a predetermined rectangular coordinate system, such as coordinate value A:(X, Y, Z), and the attitude is expressed by the Euler angle defined on the rectangular coordinate of the welding electrode, such as Euler angle B:(U, V, W). However, the rectangular coordinate is defined according to individual industrial robot. A plurality of rectangular coordinates can be defined. “Positional data” can be expressed uniquely when only one rectangular coordinate system is used, or when there is a plurality of rectangular coordinate systems but only one of them is used. However, when there is a plurality of rectangular coordinate systems and any rectangular coordinate system of them is used, information for specifying which rectangular coordinate system is used is also required. There are many methods of specifying the rectangular coordinate system. These methods do not show new contents and do not especially concern the first exemplary embodiment, so that the descriptions of them are omitted.
In the following description, a rectangular coordinate system (hereinafter referred to as “robot coordinate system”) disposed at the center of an attaching section of the manipulator is used, and “positional data” of the welding robot is expressed by a combination of position coordinate value (X, Y, Z) at the tip of the welding electrode and Euler angle (U, V, W) of the attitude of the welding electrode.
When the welding robot has a shift moving device and a positioner and there are a shift axis and a positioner axis, information for specifying these positions is also included in “positional data”. However, this is not important in the first exemplary embodiment and is not especially described.
FIG. 2
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In , for example, an execution start signal is input into controller and controller , and the start of the execution of the program is commanded. Then, manipulator whose operation is controlled by controller and manipulator whose operation is controlled by controller start the operations. After a while, welding electrode and welding electrode reach respective positions shown by P. These positions are those before welding, and welding electrode is not required to be close to welding electrode . The operations of manipulator and manipulator continue, and welding electrode and welding electrode reach weld line to be close to each other as shown by P. Then, both welding electrodes start to generate arcs (P is welding start point), and the welding is performed in each specified welding condition. Welding electrode and welding electrode move along weld line at a welding speed specified as the welding condition. When welding electrode and welding electrode reach respective positions shown by P, both welding robots complete the welding (P is welding end point). Then, the welding electrodes evacuate from weld line , the closing state between welding electrode and welding electrode is canceled as shown in P, and they move to separate positions in air.
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One example of the program for performing such operation is shown as PRG in . shows one example of the program for performing the operation of the welding system of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. This program is stored in one of controller and controller , and stored in a storage section (not shown) in controller of the master, for example.
FIG. 3
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In , command L commands that welding electrode and welding electrode move to respective positions shown by P. Command L commands the welding condition used in welding. Command L commands that welding electrode and welding electrode move to respective positions shown by P. Command L commands that welding electrode as the leading electrode starts welding. Command L commands that welding electrode as the following electrode starts welding. Command L commands that two welding electrodes, namely welding electrode and welding electrode , move to respective positions shown by P. Command L commands that welding electrode as the leading electrode completes the welding. Command L commands that welding electrode as the following electrode completes the welding. Command L commands that two welding electrodes, namely welding electrode and welding electrode , move to respective positions shown by P.
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FIG. 4
FIG. 4
As one technical characteristic of the first exemplary embodiment, “storing processing” is performed where “positional data” of both welding robots is stored as information showing the relationship between the control point of the tip of welding electrode and that of welding electrode . “Storing processing” of the first exemplary embodiment is described using . shows the information processing of the first exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 4
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In “storing processing” shown in , predetermined operation α discussed later is performed in a state where the master and slave have relationship obtained by the welding conditioning work. Thus, the processing executed in one of controller of the master and controller of the slave is “storing processing”. The processing may be executed by any of controller and controller , but the processing is assumed to be executed by controller of the master here. Operation α is assumed to be performed with the operation panel (not shown) connected to controller of the master. The operation method and using tool do not directly concern the first exemplary embodiment. This operation is used only for starting “storing processing”, and any operation may be employed for this purpose.
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shows an operation example of the welding robot during the welding conditioning work. One of the purpose of the welding conditioning work is to determine “relationship” required for obtaining a desired welding result during the operation from P to P by adjusting the positional data of both welding robots A and B constituting the teach points of P and P. When appropriate welding is obtained finally, the positional data of both welding robots A and B constituting the teach points of P and P or the positional data of both welding robots A and B during the operation from P to P shows the relationship required for obtaining the desired welding result. In other words, the state where the master and slave have the relationship obtained by welding conditioning work in starting “storing processing” shows state surrounded with the solid line shown in where the operation from P to P is stopped midway. shows the example where operation α is performed in this state and “storing processing” is started.
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Positional data Pa of the master in the view from “robot coordinate system” of the master when “storing processing” is started and positional data Pb of the slave in the view from “robot coordinate system” of the master are described. Positional data Pa and Pb (coordinate value or Euler angle) is positional data in the coordinate system of the positions of the tips of welding electrode and welding electrode surrounded with small rounds as shown in :
:(),():(),().
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FIG. 5
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is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the tips of welding electrodes and of two single-electrode welding torches and of the welding system in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The part surrounded with the round in the left diagram of is enlarged to provide the right-side diagram. The position in the coordinate system of positional data Pa and Pb shows coordinate values (Xpa, Ypa, Zpa), (Xpb, Ypb, Zpb), and the angle between the coordinate system and the straight line along the direction from the positions of positional data Pa and Pb to the arranging part of welding electrodes and shows Euler angles (Upa, Vpa, Wpa), (Upb, Vpb, Wpb).
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As shown in , single-electrode welding torches and can be made to take different attitudes according to the joint, so that convenience in welding is improved. shows the case where a fillet welding joint having a chevron-shaped groove is welded. It is assumed that a fillet welding bead having a certain leg length is required to be disposed on the groove part G. In , leading welding electrode performs first welding W of the groove part G, and following welding electrode performs second welding W of a filler part. In this case, when the inclination of following welding electrode to leading welding electrode is made large, a substantially flat bead shape is obtained.
Not two welding systems but one welding system can weld a narrow part that is difficult to be welded by a plurality of electrodes, so that reduction in automation rate as the whole system can be prevented.
The welding system of the first exemplary embodiment is a typical welding system for performing welding with a single-electrode welding torch without using a special apparatus such as a torch for tandem welding or an attaching mechanism for two-torch welding. Thus, the welding system is constituted by typical apparatuses, so that replacement components are obtained easily and inexpensively and the maintenance property is high.
The periphery of the welding torch can be more compact than that in the case where a special apparatus such as the torch for tandem welding or the attaching mechanism for two-torch welding is used. Thus, when the torch for tandem welding or the attaching mechanism for two-torch welding is used, the welding of a part which abuts on a peripheral member or the like of a welding part to prohibit the welding is allowed, and the convenience becomes high.
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In “storing processing” of the first exemplary embodiment, information such as coordinate values and Euler angles in the coordinate system of positional data Pa and Pb is stored in memory as the storage section of controller of the master in , for example. The storage medium is not necessarily limited to memory of controller of the master, and may be a memory existing in another part. It is required that the information can be stored and used in the process of “reproducing processing” discussed later. The storage medium may be an external memory of a memory card or the like, and may be a memory disposed in controller of the slave.
FIG. 6
FIG. 6
As another technical characteristic of the first exemplary embodiment, the relationship is reproduced by operating one of the master and slave robots for the other robot. The process of “reproducing processing” of the first exemplary embodiment is described using . is a diagram showing the reproducing processing in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
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“Reproducing processing” is executed in a state where the master and slave exist at any positions. This processing is started by predetermined operation β or predetermined operation β in a state where the master or slave exists in a place requiring reproduction of relationship or near that place, for example. Operation β or operation β is assumed to be executed through an operation panel (not shown) connected to controller of the master. As the apparatus of the operation panel, a teaching pendant or the like for teaching or the like of a robot is used, for example. However, the operation method and using tool do not directly concern the first exemplary embodiment. This operation is used only for starting “reproducing processing”, and any operation may be employed for this purpose. Operation β differs from operation β in which robot is used as the reference when the relationship is reproduced. For example, in operation β, the relationship is reproduced with reference to the master. In operation β, the relationship is reproduced with reference to the slave.
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At the time when “reproducing processing” is started, positional data Qa of the master in the view from “robot coordinate system” of the master and positional data Qb of the slave in the view from “robot coordinate system” of the master are expressed by
:(),():(),().
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As shown in , “reproducing processing” is started by performing operation β or β. In step S, firstly, Pa and Pb of the information stored in “reproducing processing” are read from memory of controller of the master.
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In step S of , the difference between positional data Pa and positional data Pb, namely relative position difference Δxyz and relative attitude difference Δuvw, are calculated. Relative position difference Δxyz and relative attitude difference Δuvw are expressed by
Δ=()−()Δ=()−().
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Upb,Vpb,Wpb
Upa,Vpa,Wpa
Next, the process branches in step S according to which robot is used as the reference when the relationship is reproduced. When “reproducing processing” is started by operation β, it is determined that the master is used as the reference in step S, the process goes to step S. In step S, the slave position where the relationship to the master position is reproduced is calculated. In other words, positional data Qab having relative position difference Δxyz and relative attitude difference Δuvw to positional data Qa of the master is calculated as follows:
:()+()+(),()+()−().
50
40
In step S, positional data Qab determined in step S is converted into the positional data of the slave in the view from “robot coordinate system” of the slave. At this time, converting processing using a conversion matrix expressing the positional relationship between the master and the slave is performed, but this converting processing is a known technology and is not especially described here.
60
50
In step S, the slave is operated based on the positional data of the slave determined in step S. At this time, via inter-robot communication cable X, processing such as a transfer of the positional data from the master to the slave and an operation command from the master to the slave is performed.
FIG. 7
FIG. 7
FIG. 7
16
16
a
b
Thus, when the master and the slave exist at any positions, the slave can be operated to the position of the slave where the relationship is reproduced to the position of the master. This operation is shown in . is a diagram showing an example of the reproducing processing based on the master in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In , single-electrode welding torch is the torch on the master side, and single-electrode welding torch is the torch on the slave side.
2
30
80
80
Qba
Xqb,Yqb,Zqb
Xpb,Ypb,Zpb
Xpa,Ypa,Zpa
Uqb,Vqb,Wqb
Upb,Vpb,Wpb
Upa,Vpa,Wpa
While, when “reproducing processing” is started by operation β, it is determined that the slave is used as the reference in step S, the process goes to step S. In step S, the master position where the relationship is reproduced to the slave position is calculated. In other words, positional data Qba having relative position difference Δxyz and relative attitude difference Δuvw to positional data Qb of the slave in the view from “robot coordinate system” of the master is calculated as follows:
:()−()+(),()−()+().
80
100
Positional data Qba determined in step S is the positional data in the view from “robot coordinate system” of the master. In step S, the master is operated to the positional data.
FIG. 8
FIG. 8
FIG. 8
16
16
a
b
Thus, when the master and the slave exist at any positions, the master can be operated to the position of the master where the relationship to the position of the slave is reproduced. This operation is shown in . is a diagram showing an example of the reproducing processing based on a slave in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In , single-electrode welding torch is the torch on the master side, and single-electrode welding torch is the torch on the slave side.
In the first exemplary embodiment, when the relationship allowing a desired welding is obtained by “welding conditioning work”, information showing the relationship at that time is stored. Then, during “teaching work”, the stored relationship is reproduced. Thus, the relative position and relative attitude can be easily established during “teaching work”.
When two welding robots having one welding electrode are used and welding is performed while two welding electrodes are arranged close to each other near the weld line in the welding progressing direction as in the conventional tandem welding, the relationship which is the relative position and relative attitude is important. Therefore, in performing such welding, the first exemplary embodiment is especially effective.
In other words, in a control method of the robot system of the present invention, two industrial robots are used, one industrial robot is used as a master robot, and the other is used as a slave robot. The control method includes a storing step, and a first operating step or second operating step. In the storing step, data indicating the relation of the relative position and relative attitude between the master robot and the slave robot is stored as one set of information. In the first operating step, in a state where the master robot and the slave robot exist at any positions, the slave robot is operated with respect to the position of the master robot so as to reproduce the relation of the relative position and relative attitude indicated by one set of stored information. In the second operating step, in a state where the master robot and the slave robot exist at any positions, the master robot is operated with respect to the position of the slave robot so as to reproduce the relation of the relative position and relative attitude indicated by the one set of information.
In this method, when there are two industrial robots such as welding robots, by storing the relationship between them and reproducing them at any time point, the time and effort for the operation for establishing the relationship between two industrial robots before “associative movement control” can be reduced. Thus, two arcs are generated by two torches and welding can be performed at a predetermined position where the two arcs do not interfere with each other, so that the bead shape can be optimized. As a result, welding where the coupling strength is sufficient and the reliability is high can be performed.
The following method may be used. The master robot is a welding robot for holding one welding electrode, and the slave robot is also a welding robot for holding one welding electrode. One set of information to be stored indicates the relation of the relative position and relative attitude between the welding electrode held by the master robot and the welding electrode held by the slave robot.
In this method, the time and effort for the operation for establishing the relationship between two industrial robots before “associative movement control” can be further reduced.
One set of information to be stored indicates the relation of the relative position and relative attitude between the welding electrode held by the mater robot and that held by the slave robot when an appropriate welding condition is determined. Here, the appropriate welding condition is determined by performing the welding conditioning work of determining the appropriate welding condition by performing welding many times while changing the contents of the items of the welding condition. A method may be employed where the relation of the relative position and relative attitude indicated by the one set of stored information is reproduced when the teaching work of the welding robot is performed.
This method can further reduce the time and effort for the operation for establishing the relationship between two industrial robots before “associative movement control”.
FIG. 9
FIG. 10
FIG. 9
FIG. 10
is a diagram showing storing processing in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. is a diagram showing reproducing processing in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A control method of a robot system of the present invention is specifically described using and . The second exemplary embodiment differs from the first exemplary embodiment in the form of the information stored by “storing processing”.
FIG. 8
xyz
Xpb,Ypb,Zpb
Xpa,Ypa,Zpa
uvw
Upb,Vpb,Wpb
Upa,Vpa,Wpa
The information stored by “storing processing” in the first exemplary embodiment is used for reproducing the relationship by “reproducing processing”. This information is simply required to reproduce the relationship, so that the information is not required to be positional data such as Pa and Pb as shown in the first exemplary embodiment, but may be the calculation result of relative position difference Δxyz and relative attitude difference Δuvw as shown in and expressed by
Δ=()−()Δ=()−().
25
25
30
100
30
100
FIG. 10
FIG. 10
FIG. 6
In the first exemplary embodiment, relative position difference Δxyz and relative attitude difference Δuvw are calculated by “reproducing processing”. In the second exemplary embodiment, however, they are calculated and stored in “storing processing”. Therefore, the process of “reproducing processing” starts in step S in . In step S, the calculation result of relative position difference Δxyz and relative attitude difference Δuvw stored in the memory by “storing processing” is used. The process from step S to step S of is similar to the process from step S to step S of in the first exemplary embodiment, so that the detailed description of the process is omitted.
In the second exemplary embodiment, when the relationship allowing a desired welding is thus obtained by “welding conditioning work”, the information showing the relationship is stored. Then, the information is reproduced during “teaching work”, and hence the relative position and relative attitude can be easily established during “teaching work”. Thus, two arcs are generated by two torches and welding can be performed at a predetermined position where the two arcs do not interfere with each other, so that the bead shape can be optimized. As a result, welding where the coupling strength is sufficient and the reliability is high can be performed.
FIG. 11
FIG. 12
FIG. 11
FIG. 12
is a diagram showing storing processing of a plurality of sets of information in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. is a diagram showing the reproducing processing of a plurality of sets of information in accordance with the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A control method of a robot system of the present invention is specifically described using and . The third exemplary embodiment differs from the first and second exemplary embodiments in that a plurality of sets of information showing the relationship between both robots is stored by “storing processing” and one set of information is selected from the plurality of sets of stored information and reproduced by “reproducing processing”.
In the first exemplary embodiment and second exemplary embodiment, one set of information indicating the relationship between both robots is stored, and the reproduction is performed using it. Here, the information is a combination of positional data Pa and positional data Pb, or a combination of relative position difference Δxyz and relative attitude difference Δuvw. In the third exemplary embodiment, the information showing a plurality of relationships is stored and the relationship is reproduced using one set of information selected from the plurality of sets of stored information.
In the following description, the positional data itself shown in the first exemplary embodiment is stored. However, the relative position difference and relative attitude difference shown in the second exemplary embodiment may be stored.
FIG. 11
FIG. 11
40
10
40
a
a
a
shows “storing processing” of the third exemplary embodiment. Operation α for starting “storing processing” is performed together with setting of identification code n (for example, identification number) for identifying the information to be stored, and a plurality of sets of information is managed so as to be specified with identification code n and stored in memory of controller of the master robot. Identification code n is number “1, 2, . . . ” for example, and is stored in memory in association with the information to be stored. shows this operation, and shows the example where n sets of information are stored (identification code n is 1 through n).
FIG. 12
FIG. 12
FIG. 6
1
2
15
40
20
100
12
20
100
a
In “reproducing processing” of , operation β or operation β for starting “reproducing processing” is performed together with setting of identification code n for identifying the information to be used. Identification code n is described later. In step S of , one set of positional data is selected from the plurality of sets of information in memory in response to identification code n and is used. The process from step S to step S of FIG. is similar to the process from step S to step S of in the first exemplary embodiment, so that the description of this process is omitted.
In the third exemplary embodiment, information indicating a plurality of relationships is stored, and one can be selected from them and reproduced during “teaching work”.
40
1
2
a
For example, when welding conditioning work is applied to a plurality of different welding joints and relationships allowing a desired welding for each welding joint are obtained, these relationships are stored in memory in association with code n associated with each welding joint. When operation β or operation β for starting “reproducing processing” is performed during “teaching work” for a certain welding joint, the relationship appropriate to the welding joint can be reduced by inputting identification code n associated with the welding joint.
In other words, in a control method of the robot system of the present invention, two industrial robots are used, one industrial robot is used as a master robot, and the other is used as a slave robot. The control method includes a storing step, and a first operating step or second operating step. In the storing step, a plurality of sets of information each of which includes data indicating the relation of the relative position and relative attitude between the master robot and the slave robot is stored. In the first operating step, in a state where the master robot and the slave robot exist at any positions, the slave robot is operated with respect to the position of the master robot so as to reproduce the relation of the relative position and relative attitude indicated by one of the plurality of sets of stored information. In the second operating step, in a state where the master robot and the slave robot exist at any positions, the master robot is operated with respect to the slave robot so as to reproduce the relation of the relative position and relative attitude indicated by one of the plurality of sets of stored information.
In this method, when there are two industrial robots such as welding robots, the plurality of relationships is previously stored, one relationship is selected from the plurality of relationships, and the selected relationship is reproduced at any time point. Thus, the time and effort for the operation for establishing the relationship between two industrial robots before “associative movement control” can be reduced. Thus, two arcs are generated by two torches and welding can be performed at a predetermined position where the two arcs do not interfere with each other, so that the bead shape can be optimized. As a result, welding where the coupling strength is sufficient and the reliability is high can be performed.
The following method may be used. The master robot is a welding robot for holding one welding electrode, and the slave robot is also a welding robot for holding one welding electrode. One set of information to be stored is information indicating the relation of the relative position and relative attitude between the welding electrode held by the master robot and the welding electrode held by the slave robot.
In this method, the time and effort for the operation for establishing the relationship between two industrial robots before “associative movement control” can be further reduced.
One set of information to be stored indicates the relation of the relative position and relative attitude between the welding electrode held by the mater robot and that held by the slave robot when an appropriate welding condition is determined. Here, the appropriate welding condition is determined by performing the welding conditioning work of determining the appropriate welding condition by performing welding many times while changing the contents of the items of the welding condition. Then, when the teaching work of the welding robot is performed, the relation of the relative position and relative attitude indicated by one set of stored information is reproduced. The method may be employed where information indicating the relation of the relative position and relative attitude for each of the welding joints required for the weld lines is stored, and information indicating the relation of the relative position and relative attitude for each of the welding joints required for the weld lines is reproduced.
This method allows each reproduction of the relative position and relative attitude for each welding joint.
A control method of an industrial system of the present invention can reduce the time and effort for the operation where the relationship obtained by “welding conditioning work” when tandem welding is performed using two welding robots discussed above is reproduced during teaching work of a program for a welding part of an actual work piece. Further, in the work using two industrial robots, for example when a welding robot welds a work piece gripped by a handling robot or when one work piece is conveyed with two handling robots, the operation load can be reduced in the case where the relationship between two industrial robots is important for the work. This control method is industrially useful.
10
10
a
b
, controller
11
11
a
b
, manipulator
12
12
a
b
, welding power supply device
13
13
a
b
,touch sensor unit
14
14
a
b
, wire feeder
15
15
a
b
, torch cable
16
16
a
b
, single-electrode welding torch
17
17
a
b
, arc sensor processing section
18
18
a
b
, welding electrode
20
weld line
21
state
40
a
memory
121
121
a
b
, torch terminal
122
122
a
b
, base material terminal
123
123
124
124
a
b
a
b
, , , cable
141
141
a
b
, power feeding terminal
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a welding system in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2
is a diagram showing an operation of the welding system in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3
is a diagram showing an example of a program for performing the operation of the welding system in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4
is a diagram showing storing processing in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5
is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the tips of welding electrodes of two single-electrode welding torches of the welding system in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6
is a diagram showing reproducing processing in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7
is a diagram showing an example of the reproducing processing based on a master in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8
is a diagram showing an example of the reproducing processing based on a slave in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9
is a diagram showing storing processing in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10
is a diagram showing reproducing processing in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11
is a diagram showing storing processing of a plurality of sets of information in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12
is a diagram showing reproducing processing of a plurality of sets of information in accordance with the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. | |
Today the advancing globalisation is affecting more companies than ever, including an increasing number of companies which act only on a national level. The growing competition forces companies demand to adapt their internal structures and processes to the dynamic competitive conditions. The selection and implementation of the right competitive strategy is the key to long-term company success. This article tries to find fitting competitive strategies by looking at some classical theories of Porter’s and others.
Strategy on different business levels
As shown in Figure 1, strategies are usually classified into four levels – industry (industrial policy), company (corporate strategy), business unit (competitive strategy) and functional department (functional strategy).
The industry includes associations and governments as well as companies. Any strategy decision made on this level is considered as industrial policy. Typical topics discussed on this level are financial policy, import and export rules and conditions and labour regulations.
Below the industry level is the company level, here strategies define the general orientation of the company such as the target market segments, company organization and integration of the strategic business units.
On the level of the individual business units a competitive strategy directly addresses the market of specific products. Here decisions concerning the scope of the business unit and internal orientation are being made. The chosen competitive strategy has to ensure the long-term success of the business unit in the specific market segment.
The functional departments try to realise the chosen competitive strategy of the business unit by creating and promoting successful products. Individual functional strategies are derived from the competitive strategy for each unit in the value-chain (e.g. procurement, production, marketing and distribution). Successful products following the desired competitive strategy are the key to the long-term success of the company.
Competitive Strategies according to Porter
The classical Porter’s typology of competitive strategies covers the three generic competitive strategies of cost leadership, differentiation and focus. All strategies are intended to give the company a competitive advantage. However, there are also risks to all of these strategies which are also presented below.
Porter first introduced these three competitive strategies in his book entitled “Competitive Strategy” (Porter (1980)). In that edition all three strategy types were regarded as absolutely independent (singular), i.e. as non-combinable. In 1985, Porter revised his typology of these competitive strategies.
In Porter’s new approach focus is no longer an independent strategy. Instead, the fact that a company can survive against the competition only if achieve a cost or differentiation advantage is stressed. The idea of focusing on a narrow market segment to increase profits is used in his current typology merely as a criterion to define the boundaries of the target market segment. The market share is used to decide whether to pursue a more focused (differentiation-focus, cost-focus) or broader (differentiation, overall cost leadership) market approach. Porter continues to reject the possibility of generating hybrid strategies through a combination of differentiation and cost leadership. To justify his typology Porter gives three hypotheses.
Convexity hypothesis
The strategy of cost leadership is usually linked to a high market share as economies of scale can be achieved in the manufacturing process of standardized mass products. One example of economies of scale is the learning process during the production. The growth in experience allows a decrease of the unit cost of 20 – 30% once the cumulative production is doubled.
However, a differentiation strategy is often associated with small market shares because Porter assumes that exclusive brand names are not compatible with high market shares (Porter (1988).
Figure 2 illustrates Porter’s first hypothesis. In this model only a singular strategy can generate a high ROI. The convex shape of the graph is the origin of the term “convexity hypothesis”. In Porter’s typology it is implied that differentiation and cost leadership are not possible with the same market share.
Figure 2: Convexity Hypothesis (Porter, 1988)
Porter’s convexity hypothesis has been questioned by several publications. Studies have shown that a significant learning-curve does not exist in all kinds of processes, especially in established processes which are typical for mechanical engineering. In addition some authors claim that there is only a significant effect in the initial phase of a process and no further reduction of costs is possible (cf. Alchain (1963), Baloff (1966) or Hall/Howell (1985)). Other studies show that the minimum-cost-effective size for a given industrial sector can be as low as 0.2 % market share (Scherer at al. (1975)) which also proves Porter’s convexity hypothesis wrong or at least undermines its universal validity.
Concentration Hypothesis
Porter (1985) introduces the so-called principle of concentration as a further argument for the singularity of competitive strategies. The principle of concentration states that a company has to concentrate its resources, structures and especially its functional strategies on one of the competitive advantage categories (differentiation or cost leadership) in order to reach a leading position. If a company violates this principle by implementing a hybrid strategy, it will meet competitors who, by virtue of their singular competitive strategies, have either a cost or a differentiation advantage. Therefore according to Porter it is not possible to create a profitable business.
Consistency Hypothesis
The combination of both differentiation and cost leadership in a hybrid competitive strategy makes it more difficult to determine and especially implement functional strategies because conflicts of objectives will occur more often. Porter describes this problem in his consistency hypothesis as a third argument for the incompatibility of differentiation and cost leadership.
Competitive Strategies according to Wright
Wright, Pringle and Kroll (1992) have presented a different typology of competitive strategies than Porter. They advocate the existence of hybrid competitive strategies and underline their thesis by several company activities that support both cost leadership and differentiation aspects at the same time:
1. Focus on quality
A consistent, continuous improvement of product quality not only increases the quality but also reduces the cost of disposal, guarantee obligations and after-sales service.
2. Innovative processes
Innovative processes can often bring about cost-efficient production processes. In an ideal case the degree of differentiation can also be increased, for example by increasing flexibility and quality through a new flexible assembly system. Wright et al. (1992) give several examples in their work.
3. Innovative products
Product innovations can have a cost reduction effect, too. New products can for example be easier to manufacture and assemble without losing any of their quality attributes.
4. System innovations
System innovations in the value-added chain are another instrument to support different competitive strategies. Through outsourcing, some companies have managed to achieve a reduction in costs as well as an increase in product quality.
5. Multiplication of advantages through multiple skills
Highly differentiated companies may offer their design and development resources to other companies to reduce fixed costs and reduce their manufacturing costs through outsourcing of the production. Figure 3 below shows the typology suggested by Wright et al (1992).
Wright et al. (1992) believe that a hybrid competitive strategy combining cost leadership and differentiation can be a successful strategy. Their typology has the advantage of taking into account a broader spectrum of competitive strategies. However it becomes more difficult to apply such a hybrid strategy to questions on the functional level of a company.
Competitive strategy as the basis for evaluation
The evaluation of in-company processes has to rely on a typology of competitive strategies. Even though Porter’s typology is not entirely convincing it is a good starting point for the generation of functional strategies in relation to in-company standardisation. Deriving functional strategies from a hybrid competitive strategy can turn out to be extremely difficult. Nevertheless Porter’s typology can also be transferred to companies with hybrid strategies by mixing generic functional strategies. Just like mixing colours it is possible to combine generic functional strategies to a new hybrid strategy. How this is done depends on the individual preferences of the management.
The article has shown that singular competitive strategies facilitate the development of functional strategies. Although Porters’ typology which excludes hybrid competitive strategies is not fully convincing, it can be used to analyse the effect of in-company standardisation on processes and functional strategies. Hybrid typologies can then be generated easily by mixing generic competitive strategies.
Reference:
Porter, M. E., 1980. Competitive strategy: techniques for analyzing industries and competitors. New York: Free Press.
Wright, P., Pringle, C. D. and Kroll, M. J., 1992. Strategic Management: text and cases. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. | https://mbs.edu.mt/knowledge/hybrid-competitive-strategies/ |
The publication of On Qualitative Inquiry: Approaches to Language and Literacy Research marks the introduction of a new set of books co-published by Teachers College Press and the National Conference on Research in Language and Literacy. The set, Approaches to Language and Literacy Research, is part of the ongoing Language and Literacy series published by Teachers College Press and edited by Dorothy S. Strickland and Celia Genishi, and it aims to offer definitive sources of information about different research approaches in language and literacy (p. vii), with future volumes to focus on ethnography, classroom discourse analysis, teacher inquiry, narrative inquiry, and formative experiments. On Qualitative Inquiry clears the ground for this new set of books by addressing a broad and interesting question: What conditions of possibilityideas, discursive and material practices, social and political forceshad to be in place for many and varied forms of qualitative inquiry to emerge, develop, and gain legitimacy when and how they did? (p. 2). This question is formulated and addressed primarily through what authors George Kamberelis and Greg Dimitriadis call a genealogical framework.
With a genealogical logic and organization, Kamberelis and Dimitriadis take their cue from Michel Foucault in tracing, primarily through philosophical and historical contextualization and explication, those conditions of possibility and social processes that have come to define and naturalize the current field(s) of qualitative research. This project is complex, just as these authors suggest is the collective of practices known as qualitative inquiry. The book, as a result, offers a nuanced poststructural reading of the emergence of qualitative research in the last century, with some emphasis on language and literacy research. The authors claim that a genealogical approach is particularly relevant at a currently difficult juncture for qualitative inquiry: Whereas commonsense notions among researchers in literacy studies and education indicate that qualitative research is more widespread than quantitative work, federal policies are nowmore than everdecreeing that qualitative research is not scientific and therefore does not even count as research (p. 5).
The first chapter of the book usefully introduces what the authors call a series of analytical strata for approaching qualitative inquiry. Explicitly avoiding the terms method and methodology because of the imprecision with which these terms are often used, Kamberelis and Dimitriadis alternatively suggest four different strata for conceptualizing the practice of qualitative research.
The first stratum, epistemologies, refers to researchers broad philosophical orientations concerning knowledge and how people come to have knowledge. Examples they proffer are positivism and constructionism. At the next stratum are theories, detours that help us ground our engagement with new problems and allow that engagement to function as a substrate for generating more theory (p. 15). Dismissing facile distinctions between theory and practice, the authors clarify that theories themselves are practices. Not only are they quasi-formal conceptual tools-in-action, they are also processes of trying out ways of making sense of phenomena of interest (p. 15). Here they offer as one example Rosenblatts transactional theory of reading. Forming the third stratum are approaches, systematic yet dynamic . . . social scientific formations that provide loosely defined structures for conceiving, designing, and carrying out research projects (p. 17). Rather than being rigid templates that constitute correct technique for doing research, approaches emphasize research as practice. Ethnography is one example of an approach given by the authors. The final stratum, research strategies, are specific practices and procedures that researchers deploy to collect and analyze data and to report their findings (p. 18), and the authors categorize three basic types: observational, interview, and archival. At the level of strategies, researchers techniques and other technical matters become relevant. One example of a research strategy, according to the authors, is discourse analysis.
This first chapter seems particularly useful for researchers-in-training because the delineation of the four strata emphasizes that when designing and conducting research, one should work hard to develop principled alignments between and among epistemological positions, relevant theoretical frameworks, approaches to research, and strategies for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data (p. 13). The articulation of this viewpoint is particularly timely given the current popularity of the idea of training mixed-method literacy researchers: Discussions on this issue have a tendency to elide the complexities that constitute the practice of being and becoming a researcher and doing research.
With that groundwork laid, the next three chapters launch into more complex historical and philosophical territory. The second chapter articulates four chronotopes of qualitative research. The term chronotope, used by Bakhtin in his examination of the novel, refers to durable structuring structures in space and time. Chronotopes, as understood in this chapter, index durable historical realities that constitute what is common, natural, and expected by collectives of social scientists who conduct particular kinds of qualitative research (p. 25). The authors map out four chronotopes that dominate qualitative inquiry in language and literacy: objectivism and representation (Chronotope I), reading and interpretation (Chronotope II), skepticism, conscientization, and praxis (Chronotope III), and power/knowledge and defamiliarization (Chronotope IV). These four are compared along four dimensions: assumptions about knowledge (i.e. epistemologies), theories of truth, conceptualizations of the subject-object relationship, and theories of language.
A summary of these four chronotopes is warranted, as the authors delineation of them forms the conceptual center of the book. Chronotope I subscribes to a correspondence theory of truth, holds that knowledge is a mirror of nature, believes subjects and objects to be separate and nonconstitutive, and treats language as a neutral vehicle of thought. Chronotope II subscribes to a consensus theory of truth and assumes that knowledge is socially constructed but value neutral. Subjects and objects, although separate, are mutually constitutive, and language is constitutive of thought but remains value neutral. Chronotopes III and IV are more critical, in that they link knowledge with power. For Chronotope III, truth emerges from dialogue within an ideal speech situation, and knowledge, although socially constructed, is linked to relationships of power. As in Chronotope II, subjects and objects are separate, yet mutually constitutive. Rather than being value neutral, language (which also constitutes thought) is a function of existing power relations. Chronotope IV seems to be that favored by, and exemplified in the practice of, the authors. In this chronotope, knowledge is an effect of existing power relations, whereas truth is an effect of power/knowledge. Both subjects and objects are produced within existing relations of power. Language is a force among other forces that produces the real. Although relative claims are made about the merits of each of these four chronotopes (the merits of each are, the authors claim, contingent on the questions the researcher is exploring), a privileged role for the last is suggested by the amount of space for explanation it is given within the chapter (14 pages, in contrast to 8 for Chronotope III, 5 for Chronotope II, and 3 for Chronotope I).
The third and fourth chapters of the book offer selective histories of anthropology and sociology, respectively, operationalizing the four chronotopes in the history of ideas and practices within emerging disciplinary traditions. Important in chapter 3 is the attention given to the ethnography-of-communication tradition, with a particularly insightful genealogical explication of Shirley Brice Heaths groundbreaking work on literacy (Chronotope II). Chapter 4, focused on sociology, is particularly useful for its explanation and contextualization of grounded theory, symbolic interactionism, critical Marxist, and poststructural perspectives. All these perspectives have undoubtedly been influential in configuring the contemporary landscape of qualitative research on language and literacy. I do, however, wish the authors had made a clearer case for why these disciplinary histories, rather than others, are explored in greater depth. For example, although the discipline of linguistics is a peripheral figure in chapter 3 (often braided together with the history of anthropology), I found myself wondering why the authors chose not to devote a full chapter to the emergence of this discipline, given its pervasive influence on language and literacy research in recent years. Further, although these two chapters do usefully map out certain disciplinary conditions of possibility that have supported and shaped emerging strands of qualitative inquiry, that these chapters about disciplinary histories take up nearly half the space of the books text (74 of 158 pp) makes it difficult to wrap ones mind around the meaning of an important claim made in the book: that qualitative inquiry is now a transdisciplinary meta-discourse (pp. 6, 135).
This very notion is elaborated in the books fifth and final chapter, in which the authors suggest that they have provided a principled transdisciplinary language for thinking and talking about qualitative inquiry (p. 138), presumably through the strata of chapter 1 and the chronotopic organization of chapter 2. The final chapter also provides a series of brief annotations of key studies in language and literacy, organized around the following 12 approaches: ethnography of communication, grounded theory, ethnomethodology, discourse analysis/conversation analysis, linguistic anthropology-of-education approaches, narrative and life history approaches, critical Marxist approaches, New Journalism, autoethnography, symbolic interactionism in a new key (p. 150), critical discourse analysis, and genealogy/rhizomatics. One benefit of providing annotations of exemplary studies in language and literacy at this point in the book is that they are situated both within disciplinary traditions (e.g., anthropology and sociology, as discussed in chapters 3 and 4) and chronotopes (i.e., chapter 2) and across these traditions and categorizations. For example, the authors highlight Niko Besniers (1995) exemplary study of literacy on a Polynesian atoll because of its deployment of discourse analysis/conversation analysis. The authors illuminate the transdisciplinary nature of this study by pointing out that although it is situated within the anthropological ethnography-of-communication tradition, the analyses of spoken language owe a large debt to the sociological research tradition of conversation analysis. Moreover, the authors point out that although this study is located primarily within Chronotope II, it also flirts with the impulses of Chronotope IV in its conclusions about gender and identity (p. 144). Although researchers of language and literacy may find reason for dissatisfaction in the necessary limiting of studies for inclusion (e.g., why did the authors choose not to explicate the recent and widely acclaimed study Literacy in American Lives [Brandt, 2001] as exemplary of the grounded theory tradition?), these annotations nevertheless usefully articulate currently available and emerging qualitative approaches in research on language and literacy.
The authors also return in chapter 5 to one of the exigencies prompting this genealogy of qualitative inquiry: Qualitative researchers today face an increasingly hostile research climate in which definitions of research are narrowing, often casting qualitative inquiry as a poor imitation of real science (i.e., randomized experiments). As a result, federal funding (at least in the United States) for qualitative inquiry is dwindling as researchers must struggle to articulate the legitimacy of their practices and findings. While the genealogical work of this book does usefully contextualize and historicize these struggles (e.g., a reminder that the turn to education by Hymes, Heath, and others in the ethnography-of-communication tradition was fueled largely through a crisis of relevance in anthropology), it does little in the way of proposing solutions to the current obstacles facing qualitative researchers, and particularly those just beginning their careers. Also troubling is a problem of relevance that is facing language and literacy studies today: Whereas a metalanguage for qualitative inquiry has increased and research has proliferated, the work of qualitative researchers has exerted too little influence on state and national literacy policies, while also failing to consistently respond to the What shall we do on Monday morning? question. It appears that the Approaches to Language and Literacy Research set is well poised to address these and related challenges facing qualitative researchers of language and literacy.
With On Qualitative Inquiry, Kamberlelis and Dimitradis push at the boundaries of qualitative inquiry, prodding readers to simultaneously think forward and backward about the proliferation of someand the foreclosure of otherpossibilities for qualitative research. Because this book is premised on the work of Foucault and organized genealogically, readers should come to it expecting a particular focus on and preference for the Continental philosophical tradition throughout. The historical and philosophical precision with which the authors execute their excavation task is likely to be particularly useful for researchers in training, especially doctoral students and researchers in language and literacy who are at the beginning of their careers as researchers or who are seeking to further explore or contextualize new approaches or strategies in ongoing research programs. The first four chapters will also be of interest for more general courses on qualitative inquiry, as they are not organizationally tethered to language and literacy research in particular (though most of the exemplary studies discussed are literacy or language studies). The transdisciplinary nature and the sophisticated theoretical structuring of this reading of qualitative inquiry makes this book an important contribution not only to literacy and language research, but also to qualitative research in education more generally.
References
Besnier, N. (1995). Literacy, emotion, and authority: Reading and writing on a Polynesian
atoll. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Brandt, D. (2001). Literacy in American lives. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. | https://www.tcrecord.org/Content.asp?ContentID=11811 |
Inconsistent Medication Purchases Hurting National SectorBy Jan Hogewoning | Wed, 07/08/2020 - 09:47
Q: What steps has ANAFAM taken to guarantee manufacturing and supply during the pandemic?
A: Our sector did not halt activities. However, in the area of raw materials, we did have a few issues in a number of cases. Some countries restricted the export of certain supplies. This was a problem when the supplier was bound to a specific SKU here in Mexico. In these cases, we asked the sanitary authority to authorize imports from a different supplier. These suppliers need to meet certain conditions, however in the case of generics you have different options. COFEPRIS provided some support on the issue but only to a certain extent. There were about 20 cases where imported supplies were at risk. Normally, companies can lean on their inventories and currently they are working to stock up. Thankfully, not one manufacturer ended up without supplies.
Q: Do you expect greater flexibility in adapting imports in the future?
A: We have a problem with the current regulatory situation, which is very complex and does not benefit the industry. During the COVID-19 crisis, the authorities have actually been introducing new regulations that place an even greater burden on companies in Mexico. These regulations do not have to do with COVID-19. Companies that have been waiting for procedures to be completed now have to meet new requirements that set back their plans. Instead of simplifying, the government is making things more and more complicated. We feel the government is not listening to the industry. There are about 48 urgent applications from ANAFAM laboratories that are under review by the government and after 2 months not even one has been approved. The government is taking action without transparency. Before, there was a process where they would tell us what new regulation they had in mind and we could provide input on what impact that would have on the national sector. Now, even when you have a meeting, you do not see any of your suggestions reflected in their decisions. These government officials are not actually inside the industry, they do not always know what is best.
Q: Where does medication development in Mexico stand at the moment?
A: We have some labs that have their raw material manufacturing here. One of our members specifically manufactures only raw materials. For Mexican manufacturers, it is better to focus on a specialized medical product that can be marketed in a smaller volume market at a higher price. This can provide a return without a major investment up front. If we wanted to compete with China or India in the large volume markets, we would need a great deal of capital. The Mexican market is relatively small compared to what these countries already have in terms of global sales. It would be hard to achieve competitive costs. There is an opportunity, however, in the area of specialized medication.
Q: What impact is the government’s approach to buying medication having on the sector?
A: Under previous FTA conditions, the Mexican government would set more requirements for public sector purchasing that would give preference to products that were more strongly integrated in the national productive chain. This was lost with the new free trade negotiations.
We support getting medications from elsewhere if there is no provider in the country. However, with many imports, this is not the case. I believe the government could still handle a not-so-costly mechanism where, in the case of two available providers, the government gives preference to the one with the larger national presence. I do not see this happening, however. López Obrador initially included the idea of strengthening the national sector in his policy plans, but the reality has so far proven quite the opposite. The openness to imported products from anywhere is adversely affecting national production. Products are being bought from countries that have lesser sanitary standards. Apart from a lack of consistency in pharmacovigilance, other countries could be subsidizing their industries, thus creating an unfair competitive advantage over Mexican companies. There is also the loss of taxes and work opportunities if the government decides to support foreign producers instead of Mexican producers.
Q: What actions are you taking to improve this situation?
A: We are filing an amparo against a disposition proposed by the government that lowers the import requirements for many products, particularly in the oncological area. The government is opting for direct purchases without any bidding process. Formerly, things happened according to structured bidding processes. Manufacturers would be informed of the demand from the public sector, which would allow them to plan their production. With the current lack of transparency and long-term announcements, manufacturers in Mexico are deciding to back away from new projects and products. We have also noticed that direct purchases have not led to lower costs than those achieved through the bidding processes, which was the justification provided by the government. We are talking internally to determine what other actions we can take.
Another issue is that there is a lack of clarity on who is responsible for medication purchases. According to new responsibilities, these should be handled by the Administrative Office of the Ministry of Finance, while now in practice it seems they are the responsibility of INSABI. However, INSABI has not really taken the reigns and there are still discussions on which dependency should be responsible for this. I believe the Ministry of Finance should coordinate all entities in the health sector. Right now, there is no clear indication of how companies can participate in new purchases. Not only this, we also do not receive permits to export and therefore we are losing business opportunities.
Q: How has the private sector evolved over the past few months?
A: We have seen a shift in demand from the public sector to the private market. This is particularly the case for chronic diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes. People are willing to pay the full price for a generic medication. Overall, there is growing demand for generics, which are not too expensive. This trend demonstrates that the government is not succeeding in its promise to create accessibility to a wide range of medications through the public sector. | https://mexicobusiness.news/health/news/inconsistent-medication-purchases-hurting-national-sector?tag=anafam |
When looking for a new role, many candidates focus all their energy on promoting their technical skills and experience. Of course, demonstrating relevant experience and industry-specific knowledge is vital, but it isn’t always enough to secure the role.
Featured Jobs
With large numbers of candidates of a similar calibre often chasing one job, most employers carefully evaluate soft skills in order to select the most suitable person for the position and the organisation.
Here are five areas to focus on during the interview process as well as questions to look out for:
1. Show your enthusiasm
It sounds obvious, but don’t suppress your enthusiasm and excitement about a role (within reason of course!) Employers want a candidate who is genuinely interested in the organisation and passionate about what they do. Put all your energy into your interviews and don’t give the impression you’re ambivalent about the position.
Questions to look out for:
- What do you think you could bring to the role?
- Why do you want to work here?
- What draws you to this industry?
These are great opportunities to highlight your enthusiasm for the role and what in particular excites you about the organisation, team or industry. You're looking to build rapport with the recruiter or hiring manager, so take time to learn as much as you can about the company and position, and use this knowledge to express enthusiasm.
2. First-rate communication
An interview is a good opportunity for employers to assess your verbal communication style, and ability to express your ideas. Before an interview, practise talking about your experience out loud. Try to keep answers clear, concise and to the point. Good communication also requires you to be an excellent listener, so always pay close attention to exactly what’s being asked of you.
Questions to look out for:
- Tell me about yourself
- Tell me about your background
Long, rambling answers can come across badly, so it is advisable to have concise responses prepared to basic questions that may come up during the job interview. ‘Tell me about yourself’ is a common question, and having a structured response is important - learn more about how to respond to this question here.
Remember to listen and don't be thrown if the question asked is different to the one you’ve prepared. Take your time to formulate a response and adapt it to the question that has been asked.
3. Prove you're a problem solver
Potential employers look for lateral thinking and an innovative approach to tackling tricky situations. A natural problem solver who takes a creative approach to solving business issues is highly desirable to any employer. Make sure you think of tangible examples to highlight your aptitude for overcoming obstacles and generating successful outcomes.
Questions to look out for:
- What are your strengths?
- How do you go about solving problems?
- Describe a situation in which you dealt with confrontation
Questions such as these allow you to use specific examples to showcase your skills. Consider situations in which you have used your problem-solving skills and explain what you did to reach a positive outcome.
4. Powers of persuasion
Your ability to positively influence those around you is a critically important attribute. Do you negotiate effectively with different teams and individuals? Can you confidently build solid business relationships at all levels of an organisation? Gather examples of how you have achieved this in the past.
Questions to look out for:
- Describe a situation where you worked as part of a team
- Describe a situation in which you influenced or motivated people
Preparing answers where you have positively influenced others are useful for questions that ask you to give an example from your past work. Choose an example that is impressive and best highlights soft skills, such as your ability to persuade and negotiate.
5. Management material
If you’re looking to progress up the ranks, you’ll need to inspire confidence that you have managerial aptitude. You need to prove that you have an inclusive approach, the ability to engage with employees at all levels, and are looking forward to taking on responsibility for the success and wellbeing of others. Most of all, you’ll need to prove your ability to forge effective, lasting business relationships.
Questions to look out for:
- Are you a leader?
- Describe a situation in which you have led a team
- What makes a good team leader?
Use this type of question to showcase your managerial skills and the qualities you believe are needed to make a good leader. If you’ve had experience managing teams or projects, highlight these and explain why you enjoyed the management aspect. By giving examples of times in which you’ve managed tricky situations, it will inspire confidence in your management ability and aptitude.
Remember, technical ability and relevant experience should always go hand-in-hand with great communication, change management and interpersonal skills.
For more interview advice, check out our interview tips here.
Summary
During the interview process, be conscious of promoting your soft skills. Tailor your responses to demonstrate skills such as: | https://www.michaelpage.co.in/advice/career-advice/interview/top-5-soft-skills-demonstrate-interview |
Excellent teamwork skills can help you excel in any academic or professional environment where you need to work with others.
In this article you’ll find a definition of teamwork skills, eight teamwork skills examples, and how to highlight your teamwork expertise on your resume.
What are teamwork skills?
Teamwork skills are the soft skills you need to work well with others to achieve a common goal. You use basic teamwork skills whenever you work on a collaborative project or participate in a group meeting.
Possessing a strong set of teamwork skills makes you an effective team member and can help you advance into leadership roles. Because of this, employers are always looking for candidates with good teamwork skills.
Teamwork soft skills can be an asset even in occupations where work is often performed independently. For example, a custodian needs to be able to coordinate with a custodial team or administrative staff, and an author must be able to communicate with agents and publishers effectively.
8 examples of teamwork skills
Teamwork is one of the best skills to put on a resume, as long as you can demonstrate your ability to work on a team with real-life examples.
Below are some essential examples of teamwork skills that you can highlight on your resume to set yourself apart from the competition.
1. Respect
Respect is a vital characteristic of any healthy team, and provides a strong basis for productive collaboration. Being respectful of your peers helps build relationships and a sense of trust.
Creating an environment of mutual respect allows team members to openly express themselves and confidently share new ideas.
While “respect” is not really a quality you list on your resume, think about how you’ve demonstrated respect for others in the workplace in the past, and use some examples in your work experience section.
2. Communication
Strong communication lays the foundation for good teamwork skills.
Your communication skills determine how effectively you can express yourself and how well you understand others, both of which can greatly impact your ability to work on a team.
The ability to communicate clearly is a critical interpersonal skill that will serve you well in the workplace.
Here are several communication-related teamwork skills to highlight on your resume:
- Active listening – being part of a team means listening to others. Active listening allows you to fully understand what your peers are saying, which will make them feel respected and help form a clear idea of the team’s vision as a whole.
- Verbal communication – the ability to speak clearly with your peers will help you to build connections with them as well as communicate your ideas effectively.
- Digital communication – with so much collaboration taking place online, it’s more important than ever to communicate constructively over digital platforms, whether it’s email, Slack, or Twitter.
- Responsiveness – responding to colleagues in a timely fashion is not only respectful, but demonstrates that you’re a good team player by ensuring others can proceed with their work.
3. Collaboration
The ability to collaborate is useful in any position that involves group projects or working with other departments. If you work in an industry that often requires close collaboration, such as design or marketing, then it’s particularly important to demonstrate your skills by showcasing previous collaborative projects.
If there are any collaboration tools that you have experience with, you should list those on your resume. Here are some examples:
4. Cooperation
Cooperating as part of a group requires putting collective goals above personal goals, which often means learning to compromise. Employers know that workers who are good at cooperating with others will help strengthen their team and boost productivity.
Demonstrate your ability to cooperate by listing group projects on your resume or including times when you had to cooperate with departments outside your own, and what you achieved in the process.
Convincing others to cooperate with you is also an important skill, and one that will definitely make a good impression on employers.
Consider ways you’ve helped foster cooperation and include these in your resume. For example, if you’ve ever organized an event, you’ve also likely had to get multiple people to cooperate with you to make the event happen.
5. Coordination
When every team member has a different task, it can be challenging to keep track of what’s going on. Coordinating a team’s workflow is a skill that ensures efficiency and smooth operation, which is what makes it so valuable to employers.
Coordinating effectively with others often requires some organizational skills, and sometimes even technical skills like using specific productivity software. Here are some examples of skills that can help demonstrate your ability to coordinate:
- Scheduling
- Prioritizing
- Time management skills
- Project planning
- Asana
- Trello
6. Idea exchange
Idea exchange isn’t just for people in creative industries.
If you’re working as part of a team, idea exchange is a great way to solve problems and develop creative solutions. Exchanging ideas can drive a team forward and lead to innovation (which employers love).
A team that’s growing, adapting, and developing innovative solutions is a successful team.
Exchanging ideas with your teammates can be a powerful tool for finding new paths to success. Here are some skills to demonstrate on your resume that show you’re great at exchanging ideas on a team:
- Creativity
- Curiosity
- Brainstorming
- Experimenting
- Questioning
- Inspiration
7. Negotiation
Different perspectives and opinions will inevitably emerge when multiple people are involved in a project. How a team handles these differences determines their ability to move beyond them.
Even on the most cooperative teams, it’s likely that a disagreement will arise at some point. Negotiation is a respectful way to acknowledge each party’s stance and find a way to integrate them so that everyone is satisfied.
Employers want to hire negotiators who can help solve internal conflicts effectively, so highlighting strong negotiation skills on your resume will help you stand out from other candidates.
8. Leadership
Many teamwork strengths are also qualities that make a great leader. Leadership skills require the ability to manage a team and inspire team members.
Here are some examples of teamwork skills that show employers you have what it takes to lead other people:
- Delegation – entrusting team members with tasks that match their individual skill level and work pace helps a team to operate effectively.
- Problem solving – the ability to take responsibility and initiative to solve problems is a key leadership skill.
- Conflict resolution – leading others means managing a group dynamic. You should be equipped to mediate and diffuse an issue when it arises.
If you can demonstrate these teamwork skills on your resume, you’ll convince employers that you’re well suited for a leadership role.
How to put teamwork skills on your resume
If you want to demonstrate your teamwork skills to employers, you need to know the right way to include them in your resume.
Here’s how to effectively highlight teamwork skills throughout your resume:
1. Pinpoint specific teamwork skills most relevant to the position
When including teamwork skills on your resume, you should consider the position you’re applying for and what skills will be most relevant.
The easiest way to figure this out is by looking at the job description.
For example, look at this job ad for a candidate with graphic design skills, with relevant teamwork-related skills underlined in blue:
By picking specific teamwork skills from the job listing and including these on your resume, you’ll grab a hiring manager’s attention by letting them know that you have the exact qualifications they’re looking for in a candidate.
2. Use your work experience section to showcase your top teamwork skills
While the skills section of your resume is a good way to show off your qualifications, it’s not always the best option.
When it comes to showcasing soft skills, it’s always more effective to provide examples of them in your work experience section. Doing this allows you to put the skill in the context of an achievement, making it much more compelling.
For example, if you want to show employers that you’re a team player on your resume, demonstrate it in a work experience bullet point, like this:
- Coordinated with members of marketing and PR teams to generate innovative brand design ideas before collaborating with design team to create and edit illustrations, graphics, and brand content
In this point, the candidate provides a good example of them working in a team. Even though they don’t use the term “team player”, the skill is evident based on their ability to work with multiple teams and across departments.
Including key teamwork skills such as coordinating and collaborating also highlights the candidate’s ability to be a valuable team player.
Demonstrating your skills through examples makes a much stronger impression on employers and helps you avoid listing overused buzzwords on your resume like “team player”. | https://resumegenius.com/blog/career-advice/teamwork-skills |
CROSS REFERENCE PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION #
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Function of the Wing
Function of the Cups
Further Commentary on Methods of Elastic Application
Function of the Curved Sideseam Elastic
Commentary on Supplementary Structural Elements Relative to the Cup and Shoulder Straps
62/497,244
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Generally, the technology behind undergarments designed to support the breast throughout daily wear fall into two broad major categories: the underwire bra and the traditional bralette.
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Most women today wear brassieres containing hard structures made of rigid or semi-rigid material, called “underwire.” The underwire bra () is the most common type of bra worn today—70% of the current market in the United States. This category has several sub-variations, but is described and defined by one element—the presence of an underwire (). This material can consist of steel, bone, plastic, or other rigid materials, normally shaped in a semi-circle extending under the breast from anywhere between the point below the armpit to the sternum, and is incorporated into the cup of a bra by being seamed in. The strip of this material is sewn into the fabric of a bra in a seam (), shaping the bottom portion of the garment's cup (), and intends to encapsulate the wearer's breast. It serves as the main “support structure” of the brassiere, propping up the breast from below, held upwards by an attachment to components of the cup ().
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Additionally, underwire usually serves to separate and shape both cups (). The projection of the cup—referring to how deeply the fabric is able to curve outward, allowing for more volume and space for a breast—is determined by the treatment of fabric on the cup of an underwire bra and its seam placement. Cup projection may be achieved by heat-treating synthetic fabric so it constantly retains volume and depth, or by seaming soft fabrics together. Seam direction can also illustrate points of security and support throughout the cup, providing it in several directions to contain the breasts from different angles of gravity and motion.
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However, even the most advanced underwire presents plenty of problems—bending and warping with time, poking and in some cases injuring the wearer by coming loose at the centerfront gore () or sideseam () near the armpit, ripping and damaging the garment, and generally inducing discomfort and fit problems. The hard structure creates pressure points of discomfort at the sternum, near the armpit, and along the ribcage, depending on the anatomy of the wearer.
The problem is compounded the larger a wearer's breasts are, due to the added weight and stress upon support components. While the support level afforded by underwire is difficult to parallel, most women find it uncomfortable to wear over an entire day, and over extended periods of time, as the structure can wear through fabric, warp its shape, and create a number of fit issues, discomforts, and even injuries, due to the rigidity of the support structure.
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Additionally, to prevent the wire from stabbing into the body of the wearer, underwire bras traditionally have to incorporate an additional piece of fabric between the bra cups, separating the breasts (called the “center gore.”—) This gore can have a variance of widths and heights to accommodate the shape of the bra, or purely for aesthetic quality. However, the variance of this structural component, when paired with the rigidity of its support structure and the varied anatomy of its possible wearers, can preclude wearers from achieving a proper fit from the bra. The gore's size can affect whether the cups will actually sit under the breast tissue or on the breast tissue, based on a variety of factors like breast shallowness vs projection, or natural width and separation.
Solutions to the underwire problem include: the underwire channel with added reinforcement of U.S. Pat. No. 9,717,286, changing the shape of the wire and replacing it with a more flexible material as entailed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,386,808, or replacing or encircling the underwire with a support structure that is thermoformed, comprises a foam structure that “props” the breast, and/or additionally incorporates traditional wiring within this soft structure, as detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,864,549. However, the basic problems involving the rigidity of wires can affect the implementation of these channels, and still make sizing and manufacturing a more difficult process.
Underwire achieves such a precise fit by using materials that are manufactured exactly for each two-point (band and cup) size. The wire's dimensions are dependent on the band measurement, cup measurement, and relative anatomy, as the width and height may vary significantly and drastically affect fit and comfort levels. This makes production of those styles either contribute to widespread discomfort for buyers subject to improperly sized or proportioned wires, may restrict the design possibilities afforded by the proportions of the wires, or may increase manufacturing and production costs as a wider variance of sizes and shapes may require more physical wires specifically created for each size.
In light of these problems, a growing number of women are seeking garments with softer, less constrictive support structures for increased comfort, style, and compatibility with different garments and lifestyles. The bralette or “soft bra” refers to any design that does not utilize underwire or hard structural elements to shape the bottom band & side seam of the cup. Instead, they often rely on elastic elements and/or additional hardware such as closures and strap adjusters to provide qualities of security and support throughout the fit of the garment. Without wire, bralettes often aim to provide a more relaxed and “natural feeling” fit. However, because of the different strategies of construction used, they often fail to account for providing support against different directions of gravity and motion. For brevity, the following explanation of these construction styles will omit certain styles (such as those lacking any form of elastic support structure) that do not provide support and are not designed to.
Some bralettes may not feature cup projection or definition at all. This is counterproductive on multiple levels. Without projection being afforded specifically to the cup, the breast is squashed and the tissue is allowed to compress itself indeterminately among the rest of the torso, providing little to no shaping and support. Without cup definition, breasts may settle improperly, slip out of elastic boundaries of the band, or may just move in a way that is distracting, painful, or annoying to the wearer as the wearer performs normal, everyday tasks such as walking or raising their arms. In general, the support level is inadequate, in particular for wearers who have more than a four inch difference between the circumference of their torso underneath the breast (the “underbust”) and the measurement around the fullest part of their breasts (the “bust”)—these wearers require “full cup” support.
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Some bralettes may feature projected cups, but also lack an additional side seam (.). A very common style, the design features one evenly-sewn line of underbust elastic to provide basic band support, but without delineated side support or a distinct “wing”—the side of the bralette covering the side of the wearer's torso cleanly flows into the edge of the cup, cut from the same piece of fabric—fit problems present themselves. Cup projection may be provided by gathered fabric, seaming, or darts. Therefore, the style may only contain breasts in a slight upward direction from the single line of underbust elastic, leaving the cup inflexible and depriving customers of adequate side support, regardless of how roomy the cups are.
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Some bralette styles, including longline styles, may attempt to add boning at the side seam to provide greater band support, or add a line of straight side seam elastic applied in such a way that it is perpendicular to the band (.) However, the lack of curved seaming and the lack of dynamic stretch-to-fit techniques (such as the one outlined in this patent) applied throughout the elastic structure again brings the issue back to a lack of proper cup definition, which undermines adequate security during daily activities, and once again the wearer is missing out on important diagonal support, which provides adequate shaping.
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Styles may even add a cup with a curved seam along the side and underside (.). However, without additional elastics along the cup edge, the seaming provides inadequate support in relation to other elastic-supported areas throughout the structure of the garment. Therefore, more restriction is provided at the side of the torso, and less support is provided to the breasts themselves. Elastics at the bottom edge of the band only provide a bottom shelf of upwards support. Without elastic on the boundaries of the full cup edge, and without added cup projection, this style of construction provides an inadequate and inappropriate support level for most cups above a 32D & its sister sizes, and little support to smaller sizes.
Furthermore, women are beginning to prefer bralettes because they offer a softer, less constrictive support structure for increased comfort, style, and compatibility with different garments and lifestyles. However, these soft bras & bralettes aren't available or practical to most women. They're often sized using “small/medium/large” sizing, which does not account for the differences between underbust size and bust volume in the way most traditional bra sizes do.
Finally, the problem with most bralettes and soft bras that include underbust elastic can be traced to a construction level. In normal bra & bralette construction, elastic components are cut and applied in one of two ways. They may be cut to match the exact length of the main material that makes up the body of the garment. This method does not utilize the technique of “stretching” an elastic to “fit” a garment. Therefore, it allows only for as much recovery of how much the main material can stretch, even though the elastic is capable of stretching more than the material. This restricts the amount of volume and projection afforded by the material.
Traditional stretch-to-fit methods comprise a material being cut for a given size, with an elastic cut shorter than its corresponding material. In application, the elastic is then stretched to fit around the band (or specified component of the bra) in even increments between given points on the band.
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The points between which stretch-to-fit methods are, in normal construction, evenly applied and stretched in are A (center back) to B (side seam), B (side seam) to C (center front), C (center front) to B (side seam), and B (side seam) to A (center back).
This allows for extra volume throughout the full design. However, the wearer of a bralette doesn't require extra volume throughout the full design. They require extra volume only in the cup, above the band, and in fact require restraint at the side wing to provide support and shaping. The ratio of how much volume needs to be afforded in the cup region will change according to the band size of the wearer, regardless of if the same physical cup size is maintained. This is an additional problem with the construction methods traditionally in usage today, and another reason why women need alternate solutions.
The invention disclosed herein is a novel solution to the problems associated with traditional rigid underwire and thermoformed support structures, as well as the problems associated with traditional bralettes & soft bras. The invention is a method and design for constructing a wire-free, sturdy, yet flexible support structure, the method of application of which inherently accommodates and properly fits a wide combination of band and cup sizes.
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1. A fabric “wing,” () running from the side or back of the torso, the bottom edge () running along the bottom of the garment and one side edge () curving down underneath the breast to meet at any point along the outer side edge or bottom edge of the breast
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2. Another piece of fabric, () at least partially comprised by the bra's “cup,” allowing for the projection of the breast, with one edge () attached to the wing () by a method such as a seam
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3. A piece of elastic, () applied within the seam where the fabric of the “wing” meets the fabric of “cup” () and running along the outer edge and underside of the breast, supporting the cup
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4. At least one additional piece of elastic, attached to the bottom of the garment, known as the band elastic () running along the bottom edge of the wing () and meeting the piece of elastic referenced above at one point
5. A method of sewing the elastic referenced in points 3 and 4 in which the normal technique of stretching an elastic to fit a garment is modified to influence the amount of projection afforded by different pieces of the garment.
Disclosed herein is a flexible support structure for a soft brassiere (), comprising:
Optimally, though not mandatorily, the fabrics referenced in points 1 and 2 should at provide some amount of stretch, such as an elastomeric. mesh. The rest of the bra cup may also comprise other combinations of materials for aesthetic or technical purposes, such as silk, laces, jersey, or other fabrics. This disclosure deals with the application and placement of the elastic inside the seam of the adjoined wing and cup pieces and its relation to the overall structure and support, smoothing, and shaping properties of the garment.
The support of this garment, at its most base and simple application, is provided by multiple components:
Function of the Band
The usage of an elastic material for the base of the band provides breast support.
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The band comprises at least one piece of elastic (). This elastic is most often attached directly to the fabric body of the garment. In cases where it is directly attached, it may be applied directly to the fabric as a trim or accent where it is attached to the underside or front of materials such as elastomeric mesh, jersey, silk, decorative laces, or other fabrics that comprise the body of the garment. It may instead, or additionally, comprise a seam into which elastic is applied.
In another case, it maybe applied into a pocket of fabric, such as jersey, silk, mesh, or another material, which is attached to the body of the garment by a seam. Those fabrics may be gathered around the elastic of the band or simply enclosing it, as long as the elastic can stretch within the material utilized. The allowance of the elastic's stretch and recovery in such an application can be achieved by utilizing gathers or other techniques for allowing nonstretch materials to expand with wear, or the pocket material may consist of stretch materials as well that are cut to recover along with the elastic inside of them as described.
The band runs along the bottom edge of the garment at least from under the cup edge until any point where the back of the garment is truncated by back closures, additional adjustable straps, or closures. However, it may run along any percentage of the materials encompassing the full circumference of the torso on the body. For example, if the garment does not have a back closure that consists of a separate component attached to the band, the band may encircle the entire torso and wrap around the full amount less than once, or one or more times.
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The materials comprising the body of the garment may be cut to any length and cover very little of the wearer's torso, or they may be cut longer and cover more of the wearer's torso such as in a longline style. The material could also be supplemented or shaped by flexible boning () applied in channels encased by fabric throughout any amount of the fabric, running perpendicular to the band elastic. The material may also comprise the wing of the garment, or it may truncate and meet a separate wing material. If it does comprise the wing of the garment, it may truncate at the cup's side or cup's underside where it meets that seam, or it may additionally run underneath the cup, such as in a longline style. The elastic of the band may be applied with any combination of stitches that preserve or contribute to the stretch and functionality of the elastic, such as serged stitches, overlocked, or zig-zagged stitches.
The elastic should be cut to a length smaller than the intended wearer's band measurement (the circumference of the torso) by several inches. This will cause the elastic to attempt to pull itself to a smaller size while still fully encircling the wearer's torso. (The exact method for applying this length relative to the wearer's measurements will be detailed below.) As the elastic tenses around the body and attempts to recover to its natural stretch, it pulls the body in a gathering motion directed mostly to the front of the garment, due to the projection afforded by the cup. This helps pull breast tissue away from the underarm and side of the torso along the wing and into the cup, and furthermore sustains breast tissue above the band from the suspension of the elastic. The tension created by the elastic's natural attempts to recover provides a snug support as the tension pulls “around” the torso towards the front of the garment and as the tension additionally pulls “upwards.” This provides lift and basic shaping.
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The band in total may comprise multiple components that each contribute to this functionality. For example, the main band of the garment may be laterally reinforced with an additional band () also comprised of an elastic material, such as a stretch lace, trim, “pocketed” elastic, or other material that runs parallel to the main band (). This additional band or strapping () helps contribute to the proper support of tissue and directional movement of the tissue in upwards and inwards directions. This additional band and the main band may be attached at various points, for example, they may share connection at the side torso, front, or back with one or more channel(s) of flexible boning () or other material encased in fabric.
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The additional band and main band may also be a continuous loop of fabric () that, when worn, run parallel to each other and share a connection with any back or front closure hardware (), such as hook and eye or other fixtures. The band itself could also comprise multiple elastic channels arranged in a parallel or lattice configuration—at the front or side of the garment, meeting the wing of the garment, made of a stretch material, or meeting directly with the cup's underside; at the back, meeting with the closures of the garment, or alternately the elastic channels may themselves comprise the entire back of the garment. A band comprising these channels of “open” elastic ()—that is, elastic pieces which connect to the rest of the garment at their end points (, ) but are not all fully stitched along a fabric body—may incorporate sliders () or other means of adjusting their length, which give the wearer increased control over the adjustability and security of the fit.
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The wings of the garment ()—pieces of fabric applied to the sides of the torso—are sewn to meet the band of the bralette in such a way that the projection of each wing is restricted by its own level of stretch. That is to say, if the wing of the garment utilizes a stretch material, it will be stretched to fit in accordance with the band so that it will attempt to recover its shape by returning to its original length, much like with the band elastic. This original length measures at a shorter level than the actual area it covers on the side of the body. Therefore, it contains and directs tissue in an “inward” direction, providing smoothing properties and contributing to the overall support structure of the garment. Additionally, when the material used has four-way stretch, it contributes to the upward lift of the garment as a whole. These properties may also be attained by using a material with less stretch or non-multi-directional stretch, but the length of the material used must be altered and other design components become more important or integral in maintaining a proper balance between support/lift and allowance/comfort. A channel of encased “stretch-to-fit” elastic (referred to as “curved sideseam elastic” within a seam lies at the seam between the wing and the cup. ()
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Generally, the cups of the bralette () comprise at least one layer of fabric, which is intended to encompass a portion of the breast. They each comprise at least one curved fabric cut to cover a majority of the breast. Alternately, it could consist of a smaller piece of fabric that is meant to cover or support only a portion of the breast, such as in a demi cup, quarter cup, or shelf style bra.
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The cup may be comprised of just one piece of fabric, such as a stretch mesh, knit jersey, woven silk, or decorative lace with or without stretch properties. Each cup may also comprise multiple layers of fabric, such as a silk or jersey () lined with a stretch mesh or other material (). When the cups of the garment each comprise multiple layers of fabric, the fabric on the outside may cover a smaller area compared to the lining fabric, or they may cover the same area. Additional fabrics such as decorative trims or laces () may be applied to either or both fabrics.
The fabrics utilized for the cup may be applied to each other for a combination of decorative or functional purposes, such as lace trims applied to the cup edges, silks applied to a mesh base, knits applied to a mesh base, mesh lining another material, mesh double-layered for increased opacity, a combination of laces or meshes seamed together along the cup, or other combinations.
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If each cup consists of fabric, it should provide projection for the breast and may utilize one or several techniques to create allowance for the breast to be contained by the projection of the cup. This may entail utilizing stretch materials applied in such a way that projection allowance is afforded, such as with utilizing gathers (). It could also entail using darts (), and greater allowance of projection is often achieved by using both. The room created for each breast to be encompassed by the cup, or to be gathered into the space designated by the cup, allows the tension created by the other components of the bra such as the band () and dynamically stretched-to-fit curved sideseam elastic () to push breast tissue to the front of the body, and additionally allows for the elastic components of the overall garment structure to support this tissue in an upwards direction. The presence or size of projection-affording features such as gathers may vary with the measurement of the wearer, as afforded by the “dynamic stretch-to-fit” method of elastic application detailed below.
The “dynamic stretch-to-fit” method of application used to apply the elastics in the flexible support structure outlined above accounts for sizing differences related to support retained by the volumetric similarity between sizes by instituting a combination of construction techniques that vary across sizes. This application method of the flexible support structure allows for appropriate levels of both cup projection and support level. In combination with the underwing elastic placement, the application makes up a wireless, flexible support system appropriate for any combination of cup and band sizes.
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In the design, the “stretch-to-fit” is distributed in varying amounts throughout the bottom of the band. For equivalent amounts of cup volumes and increasingly smaller band sizes, the elastic that runs along the band () from its ends () to the curved side seam (), is applied with a more severe stretch, so that the tension created by increased stretch is greater for equivalent amounts of cup volumes where the projection is more concentrated to the breast.
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Cup sizes with different amounts of volumetric difference between underbust and bust may utilize different variations of gathered cups along the band to afford for increasing levels of projection. To facilitate this, a gather stitch may be created in from the cup center (). For adequate support, the person must not have extra stretch underneath their breasts (the band should not be cut longer than the amount it actually entails), and they do not need more volume or stretch along the band () from its ends () to the curved sideseam. () However, they require more volume above the band, between the curved sideseam () and the centerfront () of the garment.
In normal construction methods, the elastic is just stretched evenly along the entire band between these points. That application sacrifices needed elasticity, which keeps the band snug under the bust. In the method presented here, the support structure as a whole gains more elasticity, leading to stronger support, and it also provides adequate levels of cup projection, which ensures the band remains under breast tissue, supporting from below. This method retains the support level between “sister sizes”—garments which have the same volumetric needs (that is, the cups of each garment are designed to hold the same volume), but two different band measurements. This support structure assumes extra projection for the person with a larger difference between bust and underbust.
This accounts for a more specific sizing system (and produces more accurately fitted garments) based on multiple measurement points. Because it utilizes a flexible material, the material itself can be adapted to the construction of many different sizes. Its measurement, cutting, and application within the garment provides the specificity of fit required for consumers with large variances between their underbust and bust sizes.
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The shaping and lift is further elevated by the inclusion of the curved sideseam elastic. This seam () connects the wing () of the garment to the garment's cup. () The seam is applied in a curved shape, and elastic is applied within the seam. The elastic, additionally, is applied in a dynamic stretch-to-fit fashion, allowing for differing levels of projection and tension based on garment sizing.
The elastic must be applied with stitches that utilize and accommodate stretch materials, such as any combination of overlocked and zigzagged stitches. For example, the elastic could be applied with a serged seam, and then reinforced and gone back over with a three-point zigzag stitch for added security. This very sturdy application of elastic mimics the function of underwire—its application to the components of the wing and cup helps to contain and support breasts, directing tissue in simultaneous “inward” and “upward” directions. However, being composed entirely of flexible materials, it does not suffer from the breakage, warping, and long-term structural issues presented by underwire.
Supplementing the band elastic (which provides shaping throughout the majority of the garment) with specified cup elastic cut along the contours of the breast allows for the properties of elastic to be utilized to concentrate tension (and therefore support) where it is most required in the garment. It also helps ensure that the elastic follows the contours required for projection in the places where the garment needs more projection (the cups.) The methodology utilized to ensure this is the “dynamic stretch-to-fit” method of construction outlined above.
The components above provide more than enough support for the average wearer and comprise a fully featured support system. However, design variations may incorporate other elements that are decorative, functional, or both. Strap placement is one of these. Shoulder straps may be each applied to a cup and connect with the garment again at a band or central closure on the back of the garment. They may be adjustable utilizing sliders or other hardware for either their full length or only a portion of their length based on other design features. They may fork out at multiple points and reconnect to the band. They may cross each other or run parallel and not meet at all. They may consist of, rather than one elastic strap per side, multiple supplementary shoulder straps of varying widths or uniform widths.
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Additional straps (), either comprising or including elastic materials or materials which may be adjusted with hardware such as sliders or hooks, may run from the shoulder straps to any point on the cups, helping to pull the cup in an upwards direction diagonally and centering the support more on the direct centerfront of the garment. This may enhance or adjust the shaping of the garment. Straps may be applied as two or more pieces of fabric or elastic crossing once and meeting on the edge of the cup opposite of the strap edge they are attached to. They may not cross at all and truncate at the edge of the cup on the same side as the strap edge they are attached to. They may be applied as multiple pieces of fabric or elastic that cross or weave in and out or over or under each other such as in a lattice or other pattern. Straps may also be attached to the shoulder strap or cup and encircle the neck in a halter design, truncating at a closure or continuing to the band or back to another cup. Straps may be attached to the cup's highest point either by being applied directly with stitching or by looping through an o-ring that the cup material also loops through, with both loops of each component completed by being stitched down back to themselves. Other straps may be incorporated as part of the component of band support on the lower portion of the garment, as described in a prior section.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1
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: A depiction of the invention in flat. A fabric wing () runs from the side of the torso to the cup. One edge of this wing () runs along the bottom of the garment and another () curves down underneath the breast. The cup () is attached to the wing () using a seam at their juncture () into which a piece of elastic () is applied. Another piece of elastic () is sewn along the bottom edge of the garment, according to the methods provided in illustrations . and ..
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: Detail showing the application of elastic () applied along the bottom edge of the garment. Here it is applied to the same fabric used in the body of the garment's wing. ().
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: Detail showing another method of band elastic application, where the elastic portion of the band is applied within a pocket of a gathered material which is then attached to the body of the garment.
FIG. 4
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: Detail of a variation of the invention, in which the band comprises a main band () attached to the body of the garment and a supplementary band () that wraps and supports different components. In this example a channel of fabric encasing a flexible boning () attached to both pieces of the band provides additional shaping and security.
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: Detail of a variation of the invention, where the band comprises a continuous loop of fabric () that, when worn, run parallel to each other and share a connection with any back or front closure hardware (), such as hook and eye or other fixtures.
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: Detail of a variation of the invention, where the band comprises multiple channels of elastic () that are unattached to a fabric body, but meet the rest of the garment at their end points (, ). The channels may feature sliders () or other means of adjusting their length, which give the wearer increased control over the security and adjustability of the fit.
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: Detail of the invention highlighting the cup () of a garment, with both darts () and gathers ().
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: Detail of a bralette featuring a demi-cup with supplementary straps. ()
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: Detail of a multi-part bralette cup featuring a material () covering a portion of the cup, lined with a stretch material () and also comprising decorative applications (). The cup shown here also utilizes darts () and gathers () to allow for projection of the breast. The curved sideseam elastic () and dynamic stretch-to-fit application of band elastic () help to contain breast tissue within the cup, along with the according amount of projection provided by it.
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: Illustration depicting the points at which elastic along the band is applied using the dynamic stretch-to-fit method. Extra allowance underneath the breast is eliminated by using a greater ratio of elastic to material, reducing the severity of the elastic stretch, between the band ends () to the seam where*the cup and wing meet (). A more severe stretch is applied between the points of the seam where the cup and wing meet () and the centerfront (), increasing the projection afforded at the cup's center. ()
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: Detail of the curved sideseam elastic, applied with the dynamic stretch to fit method. This elastic is applied at the seam connecting the wing of the garment to the garment's cup. () | |
Ministry issues SOP for conduct of sporting events in country
The circular issued by the Sports Ministry on Saturday stated that the guidelines were formulated in consultation with all the stakeholders and the competitions should be conducted strictly in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs MHA.A COVID Task Force shall be constituted for each sporting competition by the organizing committee to guide and monitor all athletes and Athlete Support Personnel ASPs.
Eyeing resumption of sporting events in the coming months, the Sports Ministry has issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) which allow 50 per cent attendance in venues while prescribing formation of COVID-19 Task Force by organizers of each competition. The circular issued by the Sports Ministry on Saturday stated that the guidelines were formulated in consultation with all the stakeholders and the ''competitions should be conducted strictly in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)''.
''A COVID Task Force shall be constituted for each sporting competition by the organizing committee to guide and monitor all Athletes and Athlete Support Personnel (ASPs). This Task Force shall be responsible for overall implementation of protocols outlines in this SOP and other direction issued by the MHA and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare from time to time,'' the circular stated. The Task Force will also be responsible for closely regulating and monitoring travel of athletes and ASPs.
''The spectators at the sporting event would be in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. For outdoor events, spectators will be allowed upto 50%of the total capacity of the stadium,'' it read. ''CCTV monitoring may be planned for larger events to detect over-crowding at entry and exit gates and seating areas.'' It said that sports events may resume but the final call rests with the respective local authorities where the venue falls.
''The sports competitions may resume, provided no orders of the local authorities prohibit such facilities to resume operation i.e. micro-containment zones and are meant to serve as safety guidelines for organizing the sports competition in consonance with any other guidelines issued by the State Government while granting such permission,'' it said. Besides adhering to COVID-19 appropriate behaviour, including regular hand sanitisation, wearing of face masks, physical distancing, respiratory etiquettes and installation of Aaroghya Setu App, the most notable points of the SOP are the formation of a COVID-19 Task Force and restriction on spectator attendance.
All the athletes and ASPs will have to undergo thermal screening while entering the venue. ''Depending on the risk perception and the scale of events, organizing committee may consider making RT-PCR Testing of athletes and ASPs carried out within 72 hours prior to the event. Only those having negative RT-PCT report shall be allowed to participate in the event,'' it said.
The SOP further prohibits athletes and ASPs living in containment zones from participating in the competition. The SOP also prohibits all ASPs who are at higher risk from mingling directly with athletes, coaches and other employees.
''ASPs who are at higher risk i.e. older, pregnant and those who have underlying medical conditions must take extra precaution. They should preferably not be exposed to any front-line work requiring direct contact with other athletes/coaches/other employees.'' The guidelines also prescribed the support staff whose physical presence is not required to work from home through ''tele-work/video conferencing''. The SOP also stipulated disinfection of common touched surfaces, areas and equipments. | |
Effective immediately, Publix will not issue rainchecks for any items in the sales ad, due to demand over health concerns for the Coronavirus.
Publix is also limiting the number of items you may purchase listed below indefinitely. Therefore even with a raincheck from a previous week, you will be limited to your purchases of these items.
Customers can buy a maximum of two of the following items:
- Hand soaps and hand sanitizers
- Rubbing alcohol
- Facial masks and gloves
- Disinfectant wipes and sprays
- Aerosol disinfectant sprays
- Facial tissue
- Cups/plates/utensils
- Bleach
Lastly, Beginning March 14, all Publix locations will close at 8 p.m. nightly until further notice to better serve our customers, give our store teams time to conduct additional preventive sanitation and restock products on shelves.
Please be kind to Publix employees they are working very hard to keep shelves stocked as best they can. | https://mycouponingbuddy.com/no-rainchecks-purchase-limits-at-publix-due-to-demand-over-health-concerns-for-the-coronavirus/ |
Making and Breaking Governments deals a theoretical argument approximately how parliamentary democracy works. The authors formulate a theoretical version of the way events create new governments and both continue them in workplace or, after a resignation or no-confidence vote, exchange them. the speculation contains strategic interplay, derives results, formulates empirical hypotheses at the foundation of those, and exams the hypotheses with information drawn from the postwar ecu event with parliamentary democracy.
The Cambridge Companion to Samuel Johnson (Cambridge by Greg Clingham
By Greg Clingham
This better half presents a special advent and consultant to the works and lifetime of one of many key figures in English literary historical past. The resource of never-ending regular aphorisms, the compiler of the 1st nice dictionary in English, the best of essayists, and probably the most detailed characters and conversationalists in our literary tradition, Johnson is right here surveyed in his entirety. Chapters at the significant works, his existence, dialog, letters and significant reception look along clean thematic essays, a chronology and a consultant to extra studying.
The Tudor Queens of England by David Loades
By David Loades
POLITICS AND HISTORY IN WILLIAM GOLDING: THE WORLD TURNED by Paul Crawford
By Paul Crawford
Politics and historical past in William Golding offers a far wanted politicized and historicized examining of William Golding's novels as a counter to prior, universalizing feedback. Paul Crawford argues that an figuring out of amazing and carnivalesque modes in Golding's paintings is essential if we're to understand totally his interrogation of twentieth-century lifestyles.
Joyce, Milton, and the Theory of Influence (Florida James by Patrick Colm Hogan
By Patrick Colm Hogan
From the Foreword:"[Hogan's] clean method of the customarily tenuous features of literary impact presents him with a device with which to view either Milton and Joyce anew, and within the strategy bargains literary critics a theoretical approach that may be prolonged to different authors as well.""Fully examines the connection among those giants; it additionally provocatively sketches a cosmopolitan thought of literary impact that avoids the Freudian pitfalls of Bloom at the one hand and the gassy tenuousness of poststructuralist intertextuality at the different. Hogan is a talented author with a full of life and fascinating prose style."--R. B. Kershner, college of FloridaPatrick Hogan examines the complicated and conflicted relation of James Joyce's works--primarily the epic novels Ulysses and Finnegans Wake--to essentially the most very important and influential epics in English, Milton's Paradise misplaced, and to different Milton works. Though Stephen Dedalus expresses his poetic ambition as "rewriting Paradise Lost," although he teaches "Lycidas," and although Milton is abundantly found in Finnegans Wake, almost not anything has been written in this very important literary relationship. Hogan strains the deep structural affinities that hyperlink the writers, arguing that Milton supplied a vital version for Joyce to create his nice "works of mourning," Ulysses and Finnegans Wake. In addition, Hogan units the novels in a bigger culture of eu and center japanese retellings of the autumn of humankind, together with eighteenth- and nineteenth-century revisions of Paradise Lost. From this angle, he analyzes the constitution and means of Ulysses and of Finnegans Wake and translates key passages in a fashion that is helping make those works understandable even to a beginner reader. As a part of his examine Hogan attracts on psychoanalysis, cognitive technological know-how, Sanskrit aesthetics, and cultural materialism to formulate a thought of effect with implications that extend past the research of Joyce and Milton. Patrick Colm Hogan is affiliate professor of English and affiliate head of the dep. of English on the college of Connecticut. he's the writer of The Politics of Interpretation: Ideology, Professionalism, and the learn of Literature and On Interpretation: that means and Inference in legislations, Psychoanalysis, and Literature, and the coeditor of feedback and Lacan: Essays and discussion on Language, constitution, and the subconscious, and Literary India: Comparative reviews in Aesthetics, Colonialism, and tradition.
Victorian Literature and Culture by Maureen Moran
By Maureen Moran
This advisor to Victorian Literature and tradition presents scholars with the correct advent to literature and its context from 1837-1900, together with: - the old, cultural and highbrow historical past together with politics and economics, pop culture, philosophy - significant writers and genres together with the Brontes, Dickens, Eliot, Hardy, Trollope, Thackeray, Conan Doyle, Ibsen, Shaw, Hopkins, Rossetti and Tennyson - concise causes of keyword phrases had to comprehend the literature and feedback - key severe ways - a chronology mapping historic occasions and literary works and extra examining together with web pages and digital resources. | http://wswcgroup.com/pdf/category/british-irish/page/2 |
I was wondering what Lyle thought about timing and nutrients before sparring or training? What type and how much of protein, carbs and fat should be consumed before training and how long before should it be eaten? Thank you
Some Athletes (People) can tolerate food (snack) thirty minutes prior to training, while others require a full hour for digestive comfort. In order to achieve peak performance, food and fluids must or should be consumed in the time frame of thirty minutes to four hours before exercise.
It is important to avoid large servings of food and fluid close to the beginning of a training session, because exercise increases blood flow to the working muscles and decreases blood flow to the digestive tract.
Pre-Workout Food Intake (Guidelines):
- The pre-workout meal should be low in fat, moderate in protein and high in carbohydrates.- A meal should be eaten three to four hours before exercise, and a smaller snack consumed one to two hours before Training.
- 2/3 of the Meal (3-4 hours before Training) should ideally be made up of carbohydrates (whole-grain breads, pasta, rice, creals, fruits, vegetables etc.) The remaining third of the meal should consist of a lean protein source like poultry, fish, egg whites, beans , nuts etc.
Example for the Snack (1-2 hours before Training):Banana with 1 tbsp peanut butter / low-fat yoghurt and fruit/ Trailmix with nuts and fruits
My personal tip for Pre-Workout Snacks:
Take about 2 Tablespoons of (organic) Coconut Flakes about 30 Minutes prior to Training. This will give you great Energy cause of the MCT´s in the Coconut Flakes.Another good snack i think is Nuts with raisins. Raisins will give you a good Workout Boost.A study shows raisins are as good as sport chews for performance:
Fluid Intake (Guidelines):- as a general rule of thumb, try to drink at least 2 cups of water (1/2 Liter) two hours before exercise and then another cup (1/4 Liter) ten to twenty minutes prior.Experiment with timing to determine what feels most comfortable.
Also look that you get enough Water during Exercise.
This is what I personal do and it seems to be good for me. These Guidelines also based upon several different studies.
You should take some kinda some kinda food what a trainer need they usually prefer having stuff which is rich nutritionally.Like meat,fish,shakes,boosters etc.Try to have something natural before 30 minutes of your training/warm up that will give you the required energy and will you in gaining the mass.
Jesus Christ these shills/bots are getting rediculous. It is obvious that Connor is just trying to fluff his post count to give some legitimacy, but yes...try eating meat a half hour before sparring; let us know how that works out for you...
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Closing a Mature Shared Services Center
Transitioning work activities into a new service center is a step that has been completed by hundreds of companies and, with the exception of acquisition or divestiture events, typically occurs in abundance early in the lifecycle of Shared Services. Closing a major regional service center is a significant event that isn’t often planned for, or even considered to be a possibility. For regional centers that process a significant volume of a company’s transactions, the risk of any mistakes in transitioning work activities is greatly magnified. And, where work activities were consolidated a decade or more ago, assembled project teams will lack direct experience in designing and implementing the required work steps to effectively carry out such an effort.
Peeriosity’s Shared Services Leadership research area recently held a PeercastTM discussion that featured a large global company that closed one of two large regional centers in China and transitioned work activities to other centers. Training and key knowledge transfer occurred in three phases:
Phase 1: Training of new hires in the receiving locations on the basics of processing
Phase 2: Key position and specific process documentation in the location being closed
Phase 3: Reverse job shadowing in the receiving location
To support the transition, about 20% of the staff in the location being closed were retained for three months past the transition date as “subject matter experts” to be available to help resolve any problems or issues. About 8% of the staff took advantage of opportunities to relocate to other regional shared service center hubs.
Transition planning and implementation were accomplished entirely with existing company employees and without the support of external consultants or hired experts. Key success factors identified include:
- Budgeting the transition costs early, so there weren’t surprises or issues with approvals
- Retaining an SME team for three months after the site was closed
- Offering relocations to key staff
- Extensive cross-training
- Clearly defined retention and completion bonuses
A supporting iPollingTM question further explored the topic by asking member companies about their experiences with closing an existing location for Shared Services and, if they had experience, what the most significant challenges were for making the transition. The results indicate an even split between companies that have experience in closing an existing location for Shared Services and those with no experience in closing an existing location.
For the 50% of companies with experience, the biggest issue identified by 46% of the companies was the challenge of transitioning processes smoothly while minimizing the impact on the customer. Retaining key staff was also an important challenge, cited as being the most important by 24% of respondents, with the potential of losing key knowledge or resources identified as being most important by 18% of companies. Here are the details:
Below are a few of the comments from iPolling participants:
- There have been shutdowns for both reasons, a) consolidation to another shared service operation, and b) to a different type of organization. In one instance I would say the customer impact and minimizing that was the top issue; however, the people part of the transition was most difficult to plan for and manage, in both cases.
- For the biggest challenge question, it is difficult to pick one answer, as each one is a significant risk factor.
- For us, the biggest challenge was minimizing the customer impact while trying to retain key talent and knowledge during the transition. These two were closely linked because retaining talent and knowledge was an important component of achieving our objective of minimizing customer impact.
- While it is important to clearly define work processes unless you retain key staff your risk of losing key knowledge goes up, and that takes time to recover from.
- When people are uncertain about the future, they will look for other opportunities. It is important to identify key resources early and put retainers in place to keep them.
Has your company ever shut down a mature Shared Services location? If yes, what were your greatest challenges and key success factors?
Who are your peers and how are you collaborating with them?
________________________________________________________________________
“PeercastsTM” are private, professionally facilitated webcasts that feature leading member company experiences on specific topics as a catalyst for broader discussion. Access is available exclusively to Peeriosity member company employees, with consultants or vendors prohibited from attending or accessing discussion content. Members can see who is registered to attend in advance, with discussion recordings, supporting polls, and presentation materials online and available whenever convenient for the member. Using Peeriosity’s integrated email system, Peer MailTM, attendees can easily communicate at any time with other attending peers by selecting them from the list of registered attendees.
“iPollingTM” is available exclusively to Peeriosity member company employees, with consultants or vendors prohibited from participating or accessing content. Members have full visibility to all respondents and their comments. Using Peeriosity’s integrated email system, Peer MailTM, members can easily communicate at any time with others who participated in iPolling.
Peeriosity members are invited to log into www.peeriosity.com to join the discussion and connect with Peers. Membership is for practitioners only, with no consultants or vendors permitted. To learn more about Peeriosity, click here. | https://www.peeriosity.com/shared-services/articles/2014/09/closing-a-mature-shared-services-center/ |
We contribute to the development of cities and regions through beneficial and innovative social, economic and environmental initiatives that seek to improve the quality of life of the population.
We contribute to the development of cities and regions through beneficial and innovative social, economic and environmental initiatives that seek to improve the quality of life of the population.
Our thematic activities cover local and regional development in its broadest sense and include urban and rural development, employment and social integration, training and professional insertion, democracy and citizenship, environment and resource efficiency, support for the competitiveness and internationalization of SMEs and businesses, transition to a low-carbon economy initiatives and the improvement of the research and innovation systems to overcome the gap between society and emerging technologies.
INFODEF contributes to implement the Europe 2020 Strategy at local and regional level through:
Smart growth
Boosting competitiveness by improving performance in:
- education (encouraging people to learn, study and update their skills);
- research/innovation (creating new products/services that generate growth and jobs and help address social challenges);
- digital society (using information and communication technologies).
Sustainable growth
Making a more competitive low-carbon economy that makes efficient and sustainable use of resources. Protecting the environment, reducing emissions and preventing biodiversity loss. Capitalising on Europe’s leadership in developing new green technologies and production methods, harnessing EU-scale networks to give our businesses (especially small manufacturing firms) an additional competitive advantage and improving the business environment, in particular for SMEs.
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Raising employment rates and more and better jobs, especially for women, young people and older workers. Helping people of all ages anticipate and manage change through investment in skills & training. Improve the labour markets and welfare systems. Ensure that the benefits of growth reach all territories and people.
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Interreg Europe helps regional and local governments across Europe to develop and deliver better policy. By creating an environment and opportunities for sharing solutions, we aim to ensure that government investment, innovation and implementation efforts all lead to integrated and sustainable impact for people and place.
Interreg Sudoe
The Interreg Sudoe Programme supports regional development in Southwest Europe financing transnational projects through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The Programme promotes transnational cooperation to solve common problems in Southwest Europe, such as low investment in research and development, weak competitiveness of the small and medium-sized enterprises and exposure to climate change and environmental risks.
Interreg POCTEP
The Cross-Border Cooperation Program INTERREG Spain-Portugal 2014-2020 promotes the development of border areas between Spain and Portugal. This program makes it possible to take advantage of the existing extensive cooperation networks that have been developed since 1989 with the implementation of infrastructure projects, which have been progressively incorporated into other sectors such as tourism, social services, environment, technological innovation, health, Education or culture. The Trans-Border Space of Spain-Portugal is made up of 37 NUTS III belonging to both countries, ensuring the consistency and continuity of the areas established in the previous programming period.
Interreg MED
Partner States from 13 countries are working together in the transnational European Cooperation Programme for the Mediterranean area, The Interreg MED Programme 2014-2020. The transnational setup allows them to tackle challenges beyond national borders, such as the rise of low carbon economy, the protection of natural and cultural resources and the strengthening of innovation.
The main objective of the Interreg MED Programme is to promote sustainable growth in the Mediterranean area by fostering innovative concepts and practices and a reasonable use of resources and by supporting social integration through an integrated and territorially based cooperation approach. | http://infodef.es/local-and-regional-development?lang=en |
Emirates Scientists Council, ESC, announced today the signing of a strategic partnership agreement with Abu Dhabi Polymers Company, Borouge, which aims to support scientists in the UAE and promote scientific research. The agreement comes within the framework of strengthening cooperation between the government, the private sector and the country’s scientific and academic communities.
This partnership will open doors for fruitful collaboration in the field of scientific research and further activates the role of Open Labs – a pioneering initiative that provides UAE scientists with access to the country’s cutting-edge scientific research centres. The platform enables scientists and researchers to utilise the latest equipment to conduct advanced experiments that serve the development of science and which enhance the science sector’s contribution to sustainable development.
The agreement was signed by Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, President of ESC and Ahmed Omar Abdulla, CEO of Borouge.
“The UAE Open Labs initiative reflects the leadership’s vision to support the scientific community in the UAE and to advance research in the country by providing the necessary resources and capabilities for scientists to develop solutions to meet existing and future challenges. Effective partnerships between the government sector, the private sector and the scientific and academic communities within the state is a fundamental pillar for achieving these goals,” Sara Al Amiri said.
Under the partnership agreement, Borouge will lend support to the Open Labs initiative by providing advanced scientific research tools at the Borouge Research and Innovation Centre in Abu Dhabi for researchers from across the UAE, enabling them to conduct leading scientific experiments and studies. UAE researchers can also use the company’s facility to conduct experiments that enhance the use of advanced science in finding practical solutions to challenges. Equipment provided by Borouge for researchers will include infra-red spectroscopy, thermal analysis and light microscopy devices.
“As a leading national company in the field of science and research, it makes us proud to contribute to the scientific development of the UAE by supporting local scientists and researchers and enabling them to access our scientific laboratories and use the advanced equipment in our Research & Innovation Centre,” said Ahmed Omar Abdulla, CEO of Borouge.
The Open Labs initiative is a consortium of leading research institutions in the UAE. It aims to provide an advanced research environment and infrastructure to enhance the country’s scientific and specialised sectors by reducing research and development costs by 30 percent.
Through the Open Labs platform, more than 510 pieces of equipment from ten of the largest research institutions in the country will be available for the researchers’ use. The Open Labs’ institutions include Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, Khalifa University, UAE University, American University of Sharjah, Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, ICBA, NYU Abu Dhabi, Emirates Global Aluminum, Borouge and Zayed University. | http://the-levant.com/emirates-scientists-council-working-polymer-industry/ |
Introduction
A premise which far too many people unquestioningly and unthinkingly accept today is the moral propriety of interracial marriage. Egalitarian propaganda has so efficaciously transformed our minds in the last several decades that even the slightest resistance to it – even a father’s stating a mere preference against it – is deemed the unforgivable sin. But given the historical Christian witness against miscegenation, this Pavlovian moral indignation deserves a new assessment. It deserves an assessment which vindicates the historical Christian belief on these matters, showing how intertwined an anti-miscegenist and anti-racial egalitarian outlook is with the rest of Christian and biblical morality.
The Series’ Overarching Aim
In my previous article on miscegenation, I strove to make the case that interracial marriage has a certain sort of moral presumption (or weight, or preponderance) against it. After noting that the answer to the question can lie anywhere on the continuum between “wrong in all circumstances” and “wrong in no circumstances,” I gave a number of reasons trying to tip the scales further and further towards the “wrong in all circumstances” side, even though I conceded that rare, desert-island scenarios could morally permit extraordinary instances of miscegenation. In that article, I essentially argued that miscegenation is wrong in ordinary circumstances, though I did not explicate very deeply what is meant by that. Therefore, just as David Opperman has contributed some further ethical points on miscegenation as it relates to divorce and polygamy, I would like to extend this argument against miscegenation to defend explicitly a “strong kinist” position, the view that miscegenation is inherently wrong, not merely unwise.1 This aim – to provide good grounds to accept the strong kinist position – will be the primary objective of this entire lengthy series, not merely this article; and another objective, slightly lesser in importance, will be an explication of various principles of Christian ethics. This series, in other words, will not simply cite principles of Christian ethics as they instrumentally bear on the question of miscegenation’s moral status; they will receive further elaboration for the reader’s general edification. (As the title states, a strong weight will be placed on both Christian ethics and interracial marriage.) The first of many of these principles is the idea of an act’s being “inherently wrong.”
Intrinsic Immorality
In my previous article, I mentioned an extraordinary and nigh-impossible scenario to illustrate that there is some kind of circumstance where miscegenation would be permitted, namely, if a man had only two options: an interracial, intrareligious marriage and an intraracial, interreligious one. I ceded that miscegenation would be morally legitimate in that circumstance, but continued to state the irrelevance of that thought experiment to the question of miscegenation’s permissibility in our ordinary lives. Against this concession, however, some zealous pro-white advocates take umbrage at the idea that miscegenation could ever be permissible, perhaps believing that such a concession is a denial of miscegenation’s intrinsic immorality.
While their zeal is appreciated and applauded, it is misguided. Morality by its very nature allows for exemptions in certain circumstances; and this occurs not because God’s law lacks universal validity, but because God’s law accounts for conflicts of moral goods—that is, moral dilemmas. Moral dilemmas occur whenever there are, in God’s providence, decisions whose alternatives all have moral reasons opposing them to some extent.2 For instance, imagine a dreadful situation where a killer has taken a mother’s two sons; the criminal then tells the mother at gunpoint that she must choose to save only one of her two sons or else lose them both, and the mother, unfortunately, is entirely unable to fight back. The mother therefore has the very difficult decision of choosing one (or both) of her own sons to die. Such a situation would be a moral dilemma, for moral reasons resist all three of the options (choosing the first son, choosing the second son, and choosing neither) but one of them must be selected. Choosing a child to die is grievously wrong in ordinary circumstances, but it might be permitted in these very dire circumstances.3
To use a better and less ghastly example of a moral dilemma, consider the Hebrew midwives who lied to Pharaoh in order to save their own people’s babies (Exodus 1:15-20). Lying is ordinarily sinful—there is a strong moral presumption forbidding deception—but here is a circumstance where moral reasons even more strongly forbade truth-telling, since it would have led to the babies’ (and their own) deaths. Lying is an act which would be wrong in normal circumstances, but here it is permitted due to overriding moral concerns. Additionally, consider the practice of divorce. Many Christians hold that divorce is permissible only in cases of adultery and abandonment. According to them, divorce is ordinarily wrong—something that God hates (Mal. 2:16)—but it is permitted by these rarer and overriding moral reasons. (Even then, there are more complicated moral concerns to take into account, since it can also be better for couples to reconcile even after adultery or abandonment has occurred.) While Christians might not all apply the language of intrinsic immorality to divorce, they would still certainly refer to lying (and selecting a child to die) as intrinsically immoral. Nonetheless, without denying these acts’ intrinsic immorality, one can posit exceedingly rare circumstances which morally legitimize instances of these intrinsically immoral acts. This is not a contradiction of the idea that some acts are inherently wrong; it is just a clarification of the idea of an act’s being inherently wrong. Similarly, this is not an idea that God’s law contradicts itself; it is just an affirmation that God’s law accounts for all the complexities and interrelations of competing moral goods in all possible circumstances. The possibility of moral dilemmas does not entail that we must sometimes choose between sin and sin—which is awful and blasphemous to suggest, for God could never force us to sin—but it does mean that our moral choices sometimes will be very difficult and strenuous.
These principles should help us to see the coherence and competency of strong kinism: it is not inconsistent to affirm both that miscegenation is inherently wrong and that miscegenation is permissible in extremely rare and extraordinary circumstances. It is not a denial of the sinfulness of interracial marriage to claim that it is sometimes permitted by overriding moral concerns. The same thought process would deny that there is any intrinsic immorality to such obvious sins as lying. It may be that strong kinism is false; it may be that interracial marriage is not inherently wrong—but even if that is so, the permissibility of miscegenation in extraordinary circumstances cannot be cited as proof.
Wisdom and Sinfulness
While the idea of a strong moral presumption against miscegenation can entail both that it is inherently wrong and that it is permissible in extraordinary circumstances, the question remains of what constitutes that moral presumption. What does it mean to say that an action has a moral presumption against it? I will answer this question in depth more in the second installment of this series, but for now it would be profitable to analyze the difference between weak kinists and strong kinists on this point. While strong kinists oppose miscegenation as intrinsically sinful, weak kinists oppose it as unwise (or inconsistent with right reason, or of unsound judgment, or a bad idea). Yet, initially at least, this seems to be a distinction without a difference. For are we not bound by God’s law to act wisely? The Lord is not indifferent to whether we act with sound judgment, but teaches that whatever is not done in faith and good conscience is sin (Rom. 14:23).
There still is a difference, of course, but it is small. Strong kinists hold that the very nature of the act of miscegenation (that is, miscegenation qua miscegenation, or miscegenation considered in itself) is sinful, whereas weak kinists think that a number of harmful or undesirable consequences (e.g., the pain caused to mixed children) usually attend miscegenation—and since it is sinful to engage in an act while cognizant of its harmful risks and consequences, miscegenation is usually sinful. Nonetheless, since Scripture (as weak kinists contend) does not expressly prohibit miscegenation, what constitutes its sinfulness is not something about the act in itself, as strong kinists hold, but merely the negative consequences which often follow. This, it seems, is an adequate formulation of what weak kinists mean when they say that interracial marriage is “unwise”: strong kinists locate miscegenation’s immorality in the nature of the act; weak kinists in its consequences.
Significantly, however, the weak kinist must inevitably articulate his position in such a way that, statistically speaking, miscegenation is often sinful, even if its sinfulness is due only to consequences. Unless the weak kinist means something by “unwise” that is very different from what is ordinarily meant by the word, then he would also agree that the majority of interracial marriages—those including the harmful consequences which normally are concomitant—are sinful. But if this is the case, then the weak kinist and the strong kinist are in great practical agreement. They may disagree slightly on the underlying theory, but they would both agree in condemning miscegenation in practice. Consequently, weak kinists should be unwilling to accuse strong kinists of terrible legalism, as if the strong kinists were grievously adding to God’s law and tyrannizing over a matter of indifference. Even if the weak kinists are right, that simply means that strong kinists go slightly too far in their opposition to the zeitgeist—which should clearly be tolerated by mindful and kind Christian brothers. (And for those who are alienist to the point that they oppose even the rationale of weak kinism, natural revelation should be sufficient to overthrow their error. Who could deny that miscegenation often has harmful consequences?4)
Conclusion
It is important to better dissect the varying positions a Christian can take on this issue, if only because politically incorrect positions will necessarily be placed under the strictest scrutiny. In particular, the permissibility of miscegenation in fanciful and abnormal circumstances does not provide evidence against the claim that it is intrinsically sinful. Anti-kinists who believe they see an invincible disproof, in addition to overzealous anti-miscegenists who believe they see a theoretical weakness, are both mistaken on this point. Circumstantial qualifications are built into God’s law and part of the very nature of morality.
Also important is realizing the rather small degree of difference separating the weak position from the strong one within the kinist camp. While weak kinists may disagree upon the nature of miscegenation as considered purely in itself, they both nevertheless agree that the vast number of interracial marriages in society are formed sinfully. Practically speaking, this is a small disagreement, one which should not sever racially aware Christians in their desire for white advocacy.5 In upcoming articles, nonetheless, I will further outline reasons to accept strong kinism as representative of a robust Christian ethical stance on race.
Footnotes
Foolish and deluded university professors will think that the “grayness” of moral dilemmas, where a correct choice can be extremely difficult (or even impossible) to identify, shows the falsity of moral absolutism and the truth of moral relativism. But if moral relativism were true, there would be no such thing as objective morality, and therefore no moral reasons weighing for or against an act in the first place. Instead, the “grayness” of certain dilemmas presupposes principles or reasons which are themselves black and white: moral dilemmas require objective morality. ↩
Note from this dilemma that, sometimes, moral dilemmas could have no singular correct answer. I would contend that the right choice of the mother in this situation would be to select one of her two boys to die, rather than leave them both to perish, as grievously and unimaginably painful as that might be; but I clearly could not say that moral reasons favor the choice of one particular son over another. Hence, this moral dilemma would be truly irresolvable: choosing one of her two sons, rather than choosing neither, would be a moral duty of the mother, but there would be no moral reasons favoring the choice of one son over the other. Most moral dilemmas certainly are resolvable (though, again, involving a difficult choice to make), but moral dilemmas do not necessarily need to be so. ↩
Given most people’s blind acceptance of interracial marriage, a lot of people could! And thus, in an article far later in this series, I will also defend this claim: that great harms proceed from miscegenation. ↩
This point is particularly momentous when the reader grasps that certain notable anti-kinists have, in the past, conceded the reality of race and called miscegenation unwise—all while opposing kinism as satanic heresy! ↩
Nil Desperandum is of European descent and resides in the States, eagerly awaiting the re-Christianization of the West. He enjoys studying theology and philosophy, especially epistemology and ethics. He can be reached here or on Facebook.
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The superhero genre was one of the last quasi-traditional genres of American pop culture. Batman, Superman, and the other assorted heroes and villains literally came out of the early twentieth-century[…]
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Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you. When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. - Deuteronomy 32:7-8
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This post is by new Bloody Elbow contributor Jen Flannery. Jen is a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Ryan Hall and the head coach of the Fifty/50 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy's women team. She is also an accomplish competitor on the international grappling circuit.
Recently, I read an article discussing the need or inevitability for female MMA fighters to train with males. (Female MMA fighters training with Men) I find the fact that the question, regarding who is better training for women, still gets posed a bit silly. Why? In my mind, this is no question at all.
In a perfect world, of course women who want to compete against women would only train with women. Why? It's simple. Physiologically this would give them the practice closest to what they will face on the mat, in the ring, or inside the cage.
We don't see female soccer players or basketball players practicing with or against male teams as their primary means of preparation, so why do we see females training with males in the combat sports?
Because we often have no other choice due to the number of women in the sport we chose.
When given the option to train with men or not train at all, all of these athletes (myself included) would much rather train with men. As combat athletes, our primary need to improve our skills is not for good coaches but rather for good training partners. And as anyone who has been in a wrestling room, MMA school, BJJ Academy, or Judo club knows , one of the first things you do when you step onto the mats is scout out your preferred training partners for the day.
How do we evaluate our best training partners if we want to have the best practice we can?
In my opinion, there should be no difference whether you are of the male or female persuasion - provided you train to be the best you that you can be. For example, I evaluate my options based on a number of items: people close to my size, people close to my skill, people who know how to train properly, those who are able to give adequate feedback if I need help with something or to notice if I make a mistake, people a little ahead of me to make me push myself to catch up, those a little below me on which to practice the pieces of my game that I'm working on, and of course those individuals who can give me a hard competitive round that will resemble what I will face in competition. And my number one rule of thumb is to stay away from anyone deemed too dangerous. After six major surgeries due to training/competition injuries; I don't play around with that.
Since we don't live in a perfect world where a female has all of these options rolled into female training partners, we simply run an internal algorithm to help us decide who best fits the bill (or our coach does).
If we are lucky enough to train in a place where females fit any or all of these descriptions, we will climb to the top faster than those who don't. All else being equal that is. Equal coaching, equal determination, equal work ethic, equal physical abilities, equal mental abilities, equal opportunities. Ah, but I forgot something, we live in a little place called reality, where there is no such thing as all else being equal. But should that ever occur, if we had the equivalent of the Olympic training center for BJJ or MMA, no one would be discussing the benefits of training with males or females for competition against females. The answer is much too obvious to warrant discussion.
As a woman, if your primary goal is self-defense, then likely training with women isn't as necessary for you, except to make it easier to execute techniques in the learning stages (although I would postulate that it takes literally years and years of training to get to the point where you can reliably beat your male training partners for real, and even then it would only be possible against those significantly smaller and/or at least two belt levels below you in skill). But if your primary goal is to be a combat athlete competing against women, it makes the most sense to do as much or all of your training with women as possible.
Female combat athletes frequently try to downplay this need, often because they don't have access to it. This reasoning makes perfect sense. Fighting is more mental than physical and when you walk onto the competition stage, be it a mat, a ring, or cage, it is important to believe that you have the best training situation possible to prepare you to win. This is important so that you don't second guess yourself. Because doubt is a "fighter's" worst enemy. And belief is one's most powerful asset.
Besides, for right now, almost all of us are in the same boat lacking training partners.
But the times, they are a changin'. And some women are going to come out ahead because of it.
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Male and female athletes should be payed equal
In my letter I am going to write about equal pay between male and female athletes.
Dear President,
Wouldn't you think that male and female athletes get paid the same? Well that's not true. There have been many reports of this occurring, including the US Women's soccer team. In 2015, they won their third World Cup, beating Japan 5-2, yet the Men's US team were still getting paid more. New York Times wrote a report on the situation saying that the women are only making a quarter of what the men make. The women became furious and decided it was time to do something about the situation. There were wage discrimination complaints made by 5 of the top players that month. Both sides were given an opportunity to make their case, and what they found was a complicated battlefield. Some people were saying that the men's team brings in more revenue than the women's team so it's fair, but studies were shown, that was not true. Because the women won The World Cup that year, they brought in $23 million, $16 million more than they were expecting. US soccer officials have had discussions recently about moving to make the per Diem and appearance payments match immediately. I am really hoping that this issue will be taken care of and male and female athletes will get equal pay.
Sincerely, Lauren Adler
Das, Andrew. "Pay Disparity in U.S. Soccer? It's Complicated." The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/22/sports/soccer/usmnt-uswnt-soccer-equal-pay.html. Apr. 21, 2016. Accessed on Nov. 2, 2016.
Futterman, Matthew. "U.S. Soccer Files Defense Against Equal-Pay Complaint." http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-soccer-files-defense-against-equal-pay-complaint-1464749792 Wisconsin State Journal. Wsj, May 31, 2016. Accessed on Nov. 4, 2016.
TODAYNBC. "U.S. Women's Soccer Team: It's Our 'Responsibility' 'To Push For Equal Pay' l TODAY." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDXuIHe0O2Q. YouTube. YouTube, Mar. 31, 2016. Web. Accessed on Nov. 3, 2016. | https://letters2president.org/letters/11078 |
Protozoa, amoebae and bacteria are 2020-09-22 Multicellular organisms are organisms that consist of more than one cell, in contrast to unicellular organisms. All species of animals, land plants and most fungi are multicellular, as are many algae, whereas a few organisms are partially uni- and partially multicellular, like slime molds and social amoebae such as the genus Dictyostelium. Multicellular organisms arise in various ways, for example … 2018-06-26 Radiolarians Marine planktonic unicellular eukaryotes Present in all oceans at all depths Most species occur solitarily ranging in size between 30 - 300 microm Their diversity and abundance in a geographical region is related to variables such as temperature, salinity, productivity, and availability of nutrients. Highest abundance and diversity of radiolarians is found in the tropical and We all know, that all living things are made up of cells, but many of them are form of a single cell. Living things who made up of more than one cell, are ca Protozoa is called as unicellular because it has only one cell, which has no nucleus and distinct organelles. Protozoa are non-phototrophic, unicellular, eukaryotic microorganisms with no cell walls. This diverse group of over 65,000 species generally share these basic attributes.
Djurriket uppdelad i två underområden: unicellular (protozoer) och multicellular. Figur: 77. Andra skalamöber bor också där - radiolarians (strålar). Till skillnad Multicellular Organic Neural Network Lives in Nitrogen-Oxygen Atmosphere Large-scale rendering of a radiolarian, a microscopic single-celled ocean dweller. Haplontic life cycle — the haploid stage is multicellular and the diploid stage is a single cell, meiosis is "zygotic". Image: Beskriv en haplontisk livscykel. when a common ancestor engulfed a single-celled photsynthetic red alga, Radiolarians are amoebas with threadlike pseudopodia radiating from central body.
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Cells are the basic building blocks of all living things, or organisms. Most cells are too small to be seen.
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Humans are also multicellular.
Multicellular Organism. The unicellular organism’ body is composed of a single cell, whereas the multicellular organism body is composed of more than one cell. Se hela listan på biologydictionary.net
What does multicellular mean? Having or consisting of many cells.
Denis akiyama
Phage lambda, meanwhile, infects bacteria (unicellular organisms). 'Germs' is a bit of a catch-all term. Most infectious organisms are unicellular, bacteria, protists and so on. read more They illustrate how colonial forms could arise from unicellular ones and multicellular forms from colonial ones.
13 Mar 2018 Both unicellular and multicellular organisms share some important similarities like the genetic code. Cells in a multicellular organism must work
5 Aug 2017 Certain unicellular organisms have fabulous abilities to create intricate skeletons.
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The needle-like pseudopodia are used to carry out a process called cytoplasmic streaming which is a means of locomotion or distributing nutrients and oxygen. Two major subclassifications of Rhizaria include Forams and Radiolarians. Forams are characterized as unicellular heterotrophic protists that have porous shells, referred to as tests, which can contain photosynthetic algae that the foram can use as a nutrient source.
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Alla representanter för djurriket består av celler. Rikets djur
By Squirrox. From $1.25 Spyroidea, a (now obsolete) family of Radiolarians Sticker. By Squirrox. Apr 15, 2013 They were long considered to be single celled animals, but are currently As both diatoms and radiolarians use silica structurally they can become Unlike the other groups discussed, ostracods are multicellular anim Fractal symmetry in nature at the macro level - Single-cell Fresh Water Algae ( Multicellular Organic Neural Network Lives in Nitrogen-Oxygen Atmosphere 270 K 'geo-mutants' inspired by radiolaria and diatoms : created by Danilo Arsic . Multicellular Organic Neural Network Lives in Nitrogen-Oxygen Atmosphere Large-scale rendering of a radiolarian, a microscopic single-celled ocean dweller. Djurriket uppdelad i två underområden: unicellular (protozoer) och multicellular.
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Shape: It is irregular in shape. The shape is well-defined. Size: It is small in size. It is comparatively large in size. Nature: Unicellular organisms are Microscopic. Multicellular organisms is Macroscopic. Se hela listan på biologydictionary.net Unicellular organisms are single-celled, having a small size, whereas multicellular organisms are large-sized, containing multiple cells.
Multicellular organisms have more than one cell. On the other hand, unicellular organisms have only a single cell. Therefore, this is the key difference between Which best describes the main job of most cells in multicellular organisms? Unicellular, Unicellular, Multicellular, & Levels of Organization DRAFT. The Search for the First Multicellular Lifeform. Scientists are interested in the unicellular ancestors of plants, fungi and animals because they want to know if each transition into 33 sentence examples: 1. In particular, both corals and giant clams harbour unicellular algae which live within their body cells. | https://skatterhksp.web.app/10042/7281.html |
Q:
Find the height of the triangle
We are given the equation of the following lines:
$$AB: x - 2y + 3 = 0$$
$$AC: 2x - y - 3 = 0$$
$$BC: 3x + 2y + 1 = 0$$
Find the equation of the height corresponding to $BC$ of the $ABC$ triangle.
Here is what I did so far:
Let $h: ax + by +c = 0$ be the equation of the height corresponding to $BC$. Because $h$ and $BC$ are perpendicular, the product of their slopes is $-1$. I got $3a = -2b$.
Now, $h$ contains the point $A(3, 3)$, so $3a + 3b +c = 0$. Plugging in $3a = -2b$, I got $c = -b$.
At this point I have no idea what should be done next.
So, if you know, please help me!
Thank you!
A:
Assume height $h_{BC}$ corresponding to $BC$ of the $ABC$ triangle has equation $y=kx+n$.
Since it is perpendicular on line $BC$ we know that $$(k,-1)(3,2)=0,$$ from where we get $$k=\frac{2}{3}.$$ So height corresponding to $BC$ has equation $y=\frac{2}{3}x+n$.
From condition $A\in h_{BC}$, we get $$3=\frac{2}{3}3+n=2+n$$ and $$n=1.$$
Height $h_{BC}$ has equation $$-2x+3y-3=0.$$
| |
To achieve intensity of expression, Monteverdi used ____ with unprecedented freedom and daring.
answer
dissonance
question
In Monteverdi’s opera, Orfeo, Orpheus goes to Hades in the hope of bringing _____ back to life.
answer
Eurydice
question
True or False? All twelve of Monteverdi’s operas are regularly performed in Europe and America.
answer
False?
question
To evoke angry or warlike feelings in some of his texts, Monteverdi introduced new orchestral effects, including pizzicato and
answer
tremolo
question
Monteverdi’s vocal music was ordinarily supported by a ____ and other instruments
answer
basso continuo
question
A common variation form in the baroque is the
answer
ground bass or basso ostinato
question
Dido and Aeneas, which many people consider the finest opera ever written to an English text, was inspired by
answer
Virgil’s epic poem the Aeneid
question
Some indication of the acclaim and respect given Purcell by his contemporaries in England can be seen from the fact that he is buried in
answer
Westminster Abbey
question
Baroque trio sonatas usually involve _____ performers.
answer
four
question
The sonata in the baroque period was a composition in several movements for
answer
one to eight instruments
question
Which Baroque sonata was intended for performance in church?
answer
sonata da chiesa
question
Corelli’s Trio Sonata in A Minor, Op. 3, No. 10, is scored for
answer
two violins and basso continuo
question
Characteristics of baroque trio sonatas, the second movement of Corelli’s Trio Sonata in A Minor, Op. 3, No. 10, is
answer
fuguelike
question
Corelli was unique among Italian Baroque composers in that he wrote
answer
only instrumental music
question
Vivaldi is closely identified with the musical life of
answer
Venice
question
Vivaldi wrote approximately ______ concertos.
answer
450
question
Vivaldi wrote concertos
answer
for a great variety of instruments
question
Vivaldi was famous and influential as a virtuoso
answer
violinist
question
Vivaldi’s La Primavera mmusically depicts
answer
spring
question
Bach achieves unity of mood in his compositions by using
answer
an insistent rhythmic drive
question
Of Bach’s twenty children, ______ went on to become well-known composers.
answer
four
question
Bach created masterpieces in every baroque form except the
answer
opera
question
Bach’s personal music style was drawn from
answer
Italian concertos, French dance pieces, and German church music
question
Bach was recognized as the most eminent _____ of his day
answer
organist
question
At the end of his compositions, Bach wrote these initials—S.D.G.—which translate as:
answer
“to God alone the glory”
question
The Well-Tempered Clavier features preludes and fugues
answer
written in all 24 major and minor keys
question
Bach probably wrote his B minor mass for what reason?
answer
to show what he could do with this form
question
Baroque suites frequently begin with a
answer
French overture
question
Although all movements of a baroque suite are written in the same key, they differ in
answer
meter, national origin, and tempo
question
Which of the following is not a part of the baroque suite?
answer
waltz
question
The various dances of the baroque suite are usually
answer
in AABB form
question
The French overture has
answer
two sections: slow-fast
question
The ____ is an instrumental composition based on a chorale.
answer
chorale prelude
question
In Bach’s day, the Lutheran church service lasted about ___ hour(s).
answer
four
question
The ____ is a Lutheran congregational hymn tune.
answer
chorale
question
In their use of aria, duet, and recitative, Bach’s cantatas closely resembled the ___ of the time.
answer
operas
question
A sung piece, or choral work with or without vocal soloists, usually with orchestral accompaniment, is the
answer
cantata
question
Oratorios first appeared in
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Italy
question
The first oratorios were based on
answer
stories from the Bible
question
Oratorio differs from opera in that it has no
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acting, scenery, or costumes
question
In oratorio, the story is carried forward by the
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narrator’s recitatives
question
An element of the oratorio that is especially important and serves to comment on participate in the drama is the
answer
chorus
question
George Frideric Handel was born in 1685, the same year as
answer
Johann Sebastian Bach
question
Although Handel wrote a great deal of instrumental music, the core of his huge output consists of English oratorios and Italian
answer
operas
question
Handel’s oratorios are usually based on
answer
the Old Testament
question
In addition to being a composer and opera impresario, Handel was a virtuoso
answer
organist
question
Handel’s Messiah is an example of
answer
an oratorio
question
Handel spent the major portion of his life in
answer
England
question
Which of the following oratorios is not by Handel?
answer
Elijah
question
The focus of a Handel oratorio is usually the
answer
chorus
question
Emotional states like joy, grief, and agitation represented in baroque music through specific musical languages.
answer
affections
question
Abrupt alternation between loud and soft dynamic levels; characteristic of baroque music
answer
terraced dynamics
question
Baroque keyboard instrument in which sound is produced by means of brass blades striking strings, capable of making gradual dynamic changes, but within a narrow volume range
answer
clavichord
question
Baroque accompaniment made up of a bass part usually played by two instruments: a keyboard plus a low melodic instrument
answer
basso continuo
question
Bass part of a baroque accompaniment with figures (numbers) above it indicating the chords to be played
answer
figured bass
question
Piece that sounds fairly complete and independent but is part of a larger composition
answer
movement
question
In Italian, all; the full orchestra, or a large group of musicians contrasted with a smaller group; often heard in baroque music
answer
tutti
question
Compositional form usually employed in the baroque concerto grosso, in which the tutti plays a ritor- nello, or refrain, alternating with one or more soloists playing new material
answer
ritornello form
question
In Italian, refrain; a repeated section of music usually played by the full orchestra, or tutti, in baroque compositions
answer
ritornello
question
Theme of a fugue
answer
subject
question
Second presentation of the subject in a fugue, usually in the dominant scale
answer
answer
question
In a fugue, a melodic idea that accompanies the subject fairly constantly
answer
countersubject
question
Transitional section in a fugue between presentations of the subject, which offers either new material or fragments of the subject or countersubject
answer
episode
question
Compositional procedure used in fugues, in which a subject is imitated before it is completed; one voice tries to catch the other
answer
stretto
question
Single tone, usually in the bass, which is held while the other voices produce a series of changing harmonies against it; often found in figures
answer
pedal point (organ point)
question
Variation of a fugue subject in which each interval of the subject is reversed in direction
answer
inversion
question
Variation of a fugue subject in which the subject is presented by beginning with its last note and proceeding backward to the first
answer
retrograde
question
Variation of a fugue subject in which the original time values of the subject are lengthened
answer
augmentation
question
Variation of a fugue subject in which the original time values of the subject are shortened
answer
diminution
question
(1) Short piece usually serving to introduce a fugue or another composition; a short piece for piano.
answer
prelude
question
Text of an opera
answer
libretto
question
Dramatist who writes the libretto, or text, of an opera
answer
librettist
question
Voice ranges which include coloratura soprano, lyric soprano, dramatic soprano, lyric tenor, dramatic tenor, basso buffo, and basso profundo, among others
answer
voice categories of opera
question
Song for solo voice with orchestral accompaniment, usually expressing an emotional state through its outpouring of melody; found in operas, oratorios, and cantatas
answer
aria
question
Vocal line in an opera, oratorio, or cantata that imitates the rhythms and pitch fluctuations of speech, often serving to lead into an aria
answer
recitative
question
In opera, a piece performed by three or more solo singers
answer
ensemble
question
(1) A group of singers performing together, generally with more than one to a part. (2) In jazz, a statement of the basic harmonic pattern or melody
answer
chorus
question
Person who gives cues and reminds singers of their words pitches during an opera performance. The prompter is located in a box just over the edge of center stage, which conceals him or her from the audience
answer
prompter
question
Short musical composition, purely orchestral, which opens an opera and sets the overall dramatic mood
answer
overture (prelude)
question
Orchestral introductions to later acts of an opera are called
answer
prelude
question
In Italian, fellowship or society; a group of nobles, poets, and composers who began to meet regularly in Florence around 1575 and whose musical discussions prepared the way for the beginning of opera
answer
camerata
question
Male singer castrated before puberty to retain a high voice range; the most important category of vocal soloists in opera during the baroque period
answer
castrato
question
Speechlike melody that is sung by a solo voice accompanied only by a basso continuo
answer
secco recitative
question
Speechlike melody that is sung by a solo voice accompanied by the orchestra
answer
accompanied recitative
question
Aria in A B A form; after the B section, the term da capo is written; this means from the beginning and indicates a repetition of the opening A section
answer
da capo aria
question
From the beginning; an indication usually meaning that the opening section of a piece is to be repeated after the middle section
answer
da capo
question
Variation form in which musical idea in the bass is repeated over and over while the melodies above it continually change common in baroque music
answer
ground bass (basso ostinato)
question
Musical ornament consisting of the rapid alternation of two tones that are a whole or half step apart
answer
trill
question
In baroque music, a set of dance-inspired movements all written in the same key but differing in tempo, meter, and character
answer
suite
question
Common opening piece in baroque suites, oratorios, and operas; usually in two parts: the first slow, with characteristic dotted rhythms, full of dignity and grandeur; the second quick and lighter in mood, often starting like a fugue
answer
French overture
question
Hymn tune sung to a German religious text
answer
chorale
question
Short composition for organ, based on a hymn tune and often used to remind the congregation of the melody before the hymn is sung
answer
choral prelude
question
Vocal solo more lyrical than a recitative and less elaborate than aria
answer
arioso
question
The difference between an english opera and an italian opera was
answer
special affects
question
Who’s in the orchestra ~ Purcell
answer
strings & continuo
question
Sonata da chiesa =
answer
church
question
Sonata da camera =
answer
chamber
question
Corelli =
answer
trio sonata
question
Recitative =
answer
story
question
Aria =
answer
emotion
question
Dido’s Lamont =
answer
ground bass
question
Vivaldi was known for his hair color in which they called him
answer
“the red priest”
question
This piece contained a solor and 2 choruses = ritornello
answer
Primavera
question
Name the two wives of Bach
answer
Maria & Anna
question
How many kids altogether did Bach have?
answer
20
question
Tone the piano equally out of tune so you can play in any key signature
answer
well tempo
question
Monteverdi played performers/choir on opposite sides of the church. This was called
answer
antiphonal
question
The common variation form in Baroque period was
answer
ground bass/basso continuo
question
Abbreviation: OP, stands for ____ which means ____
answer
Opus, work
question
The ____ is a lutheran hymn tune
answer
chorale
question
Handle’s writing seems to be ____ than Bachs
answer
less complex
question
What was the total number of dead people in the river?
answer
6
question
What was the voice type of the boatmen ?
answer
bass
question
What was the color of the stage when Eurydice died? | https://studyhippo.com/music-appreciation-pt-4/ |
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Onset of HD occurs between the ages of 30 and 50 years, although few cases are reported among children and elderly. HD appears to be less common in some populations such as those of Japanese, Chinese, and African descent. Clinical features of HD include motor dysfunction (involuntary movements of the face and body, abnormalities in gait, posture and balance), cognitive impairment (obsessive-compulsive disorder), and psychiatric disorders (dementia). Mutation in either of the two copies of a gene called huntingtin (HTT), which codes genetic information for a protein called “huntingtin (Htt)”, precipitates the disease in an individual. Expansion of cytosine–adenine–guanine (CAG) triplet repeats in the HTT gene results in an abnormal Htt protein. Intracellular neuronal accumulation of the mutated Htt protein (mHtt) causes distinctive erratic movements associated with HD. Further, excessive accumulation of the HTT gene repeats causes abnormal production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the ensuing mitochondrial (MT) oxidative stress in neurons. Since there is neither a cure nor a promising strategy to delay onset or progression of HD currently available, therapeutics are mainly focusing only on symptomatic management. Several studies have shown that MT dysfunction-mediated oxidative stress is a key factor for the neurodegeneration observed in HD. Supplementation of antioxidants and nutraceuticals has been widely studied in the management of oxidative damage, an associated complication in HD. Therefore, various antioxidants are used as therapeutics for managing and/or treating HD. The present review aimed at delving into the abnormal cellular changes and energy kinetics of the neurons expressing the mHtt gene and the therapeutic roles of antioxidants in HD. | https://researchers.mq.edu.au/en/publications/protective-effects-of-antioxidants-in-huntingtons-disease-an-exte |
- Published:
Collaborative energy visioning under conditions of illiberal democracy: results and recommendations from Ecuador
Energy, Sustainability and Society volume 8, Article number: 31 (2018)
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3712 Accesses
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4 Citations
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11 Altmetric
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Abstract
Background
Sociotechnical transitions require pressure to be exerted from inside or outside of the prevailing ‘regime’, without which various path dependencies combine to maintain the status quo. Change agents including policy entrepreneurs within the regime, or civil society voices outside, can be sources of such pressure. However, in illiberal democracies or authoritarian regimes, these voices may be little heard or even suppressed. With the premise that this situation calls for protected transition spaces for policy development that are outside of formal institutions, so that policy windows may be taken advantage of should they arise, this paper applies a transdisciplinary transition management arena (TTMA) process (Noboa and Upham, Energy Res Soc Sci 46:114–124, 2018), whereby civil society and other stakeholders can be engaged in the envisioning of new energy futures.
Results
With an example of such an arena in Ecuador and presenting a rationale and design that draws on transdisciplinary research and transition management theories, problem statements, visions and strategies for a more decentralised energy system were set out, as generated by participants from government, NGOs, business and academia. The visioning process was evaluated and an analytical framework is proposed, by which to guide energy transition policy analysis in similar contexts in the future.
Conclusions
Although compromised in illiberal democracies, sociotechnical transitions benefit from the voices of change agents through the building of new alternative discourses, stimulating policy entrepreneurship and crafting readiness for policy windows. The new alternative energy visions that were produced by participants in the process described here emphasise distributed renewable and sustainable generation, decentralised decision-making at subnational level, participatory energy planning governance and heterogeneous poly-technological solutions at small and medium scales.
Highlights
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Selected concepts from transition management and transdisciplinary sustainability science are blended
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The consequent transdisciplinary transition management arena is applied to the Ecuadorian energy system
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Marginalised voices in Ecuador produced an energy vision emphasising decentralised renewables with temporary large hydro base load
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Participants assessed the transdisciplinary transition management arena as performing well in terms of relevant criteria
Background
‘Energy visioning’ is generally understood as the development of qualitative, energy-focused scenarios, often on a participatory, socially inclusive basis and taking the form of storylines, narratives or other more specific formats . Visioning processes can complement energy planning processes and techno-economic modelling post-hoc or ex-ante, using model results, or can shape modelling according to differing, explicitly normative possibilities, such as alternative levels of consumption or patterns of economic production.
The aim here is to explore the application of a transdisciplinary transition management arena (TTMA) framework whereby multi-sector stakeholders may be meaningfully engaged in the co-construction of new energy futures . The study tests the application of a theoretically grounded rationale for TTMA, particularly under conditions of illiberal democracy in Latin America. That is, whereby civil society and other entrepreneurial but marginalised voices may be empowered through the provision of structured ‘experimental’ fora or platforms in which new networks can be forged, knowledge shared and generated and alternative policies developed. The process is premised on theoretical perspectives that relate to both theory and method. Regarding the first, the TTMA draws on theories of sustainability transitions and transformation, including transition management. For methodological insights, it draws on ideas from transdisciplinary sustainability sciences and action research. For empirical application, the process is applied in the country of Ecuador. The framework and its use in practice have strong commonalities with transition management and transdisciplinary sustainability science processes characteristics, but the rationale is quite different, a key objective being to demonstrate the value of both approaches for other political contexts.
The study gives equal emphasis to the sociotechnical sustainability transitions literature and the transdisciplinary sustainability science (research) literature, approaching these from an action research perspective in order to co-produce actionable knowledge. In so doing, another underlying premise is Kingdon’s theory of policy change via the conjunction of a policy problem with a political window of opportunity for change, with a policy ready to be enacted [3,4,5]. The framework that we apply here is intended to prepare for such policy windows, should they arise, by providing a protected space for energy policy innovation . The applied and assessed process is unofficial and informal in the institutional sense: the focus is on how informally instituted governance processes might lay the ground for subsequent, formal change through empowering network actors, strengthening their network and (as said) preparing alternative policy for readiness in case of opportune policy windows arising, as shown in Fig. 1 . In this way, we aim to create informal institutions and networks away from the domination of vested interests.
Transition management advocates ‘experimental’ fora in which possibilities for sociotechnical change can be explored among multi-sector stakeholders . The approach responds to the way in which sociotechnical systems are complex and adaptive [7, 8], and the way in which transitions management seeks to guide transition processes via experiments and collaborative visioning, coupling this with participatory futures or scenario design processes. Often the latter involves the use of back-casting methods (e.g. ) to identify pathways that guide the development of niche experiments [10, 11].
To date, however, the contexts in which transition management has been applied have predominantly been in developed countries, with relatively well-functioning democracies. Here, a forum suitable for supporting multisector energy-focused sociotechnical change in Latin America is developed and discussed. Latin America has experienced political conditions in recent decades substantially different from those in Europe, where transitions management ideas were developed. This has implications for the design of transition management processes, as new forms of institutionalisation pose a threat to the incumbent regime [12, 13], which, in conditions of illiberal democracy, can meet with a severe response.
The Ecuadorian context provides a test-bed for the socio-political process of transition management in similar countries where some of the following Ecuadorian characteristics may be present: economic vulnerability due to dependency on oil exports and its fluctuating price , oil production approaching a peak, fossil fuel prices being highly subsidised , significant potential for the use of hydropower and/or other renewable energy sources [16, 17], high dependence on knowledge and technology transfer processes , compromised institutions for social and environmental governance and a highly centralised energy system .
With these characteristics in mind, our premise is that empowering civil society and supporting cross-sectoral networking will promote energy system change through the expression of a wider range of values in alternative policy options. Within a sociotechnical frame, alternative visions of the future are conceived of as selection pressures, while associated civic debate and NGO campaigns are conceived of as articulation pressures . In this regard, there can be seen a value in the involvement of academics as facilitators, in effect operating as policy and informal institutional entrepreneurs, helping to catalyse the preparation of alternative environmental policy options .
The transition management design tested in this study draws on features of transdisciplinary research, which are intend to develop socially robust solutions for sustainable transitions via mutual learning, social reflexivity, empowerment and the building of social capital . Transdisciplinary research focuses on the integration of the differing epistemics (ways of knowing) used by scientific researchers and practitioners from different disciplines and with different interests. Both approaches share an acknowledgement of knowledge and the generation of new knowledge as a particularly valuable form of social capital and advocate a view of participatory processes as encouraging social learning and empowerment that can lead to practical change [23, 24]. Accordingly, fora such as the TTMA bring together two allied approaches as a rationale for underpinning niche-protected energy scenario development in the illiberal democracies of Latin America.
The novelty of the study lies in the investigation of the functioning of a forum that blends transition management and transdisciplinary research, in terms of the extent to which this is able to offer new, productive, theoretical and practical policy options in the context of Ecuador. The questions seek to answer concern to the design and functionality of the TTMA framework developed by : how effective such arena is, as assessed in terms of the extent to which compatible visions and actionable knowledge are produced; how satisfied participants were with the process, which is intended to support identification of points of commonality rather than a focus on differences and what lessons there may be for the design of such processes in future.
In terms of the structure, the paper begins with an overview of the energy policy context of Ecuador, contextualised within its political-economic history. Then the theoretical rationale for the transition arena is set out, followed by the case study methods, the results in terms of the energy vision developed through the process and an evaluation, along with recommendations on the design of the analytical framework, intended to guide energy transition policy analysis in similar contexts in future.
Energy and the Ecuadorian political-economic context
Ecuador’s economy operates around the supply of non-renewable natural resources: principally crude oil and to a lesser extent gas and other minerals. In Wallerstein’s terms , it is one of the ‘peripheral’ countries which—for some commentators, in neo-colonial fashion —deliver raw materials to the ‘central’ countries that control trade in finished goods; goods produced with raw materials and labour from peripheral societies and that feed consumer societies .
While countries of Latin America have made considerable and varied progress towards democracy, they continue to struggle with conditions of state and institutional capture and limited civil liberties . One of the consequences of a weak civil society is that insufficient attention has been given the environmental impacts of resource extraction and energy supply. The elites that control non-renewable natural resources at the national level (notably the interest groups linked to oil and mining) have developed an articulated network and an institutionality around the extractive industry that involves clientelism, corruption and state capture . The institutional frameworks are based on coalitions made up of networks of actors (also connected to transnational firms), in which powerful sectors of society participate—government, public and private companies—as well as other beneficiaries of the system. Corresponding rules, norms, laws and standards support the stability of this system and help to resist change .
A key point in time for Ecuadorian energy policy was 1979, when, after a decade of military dictatorship, Ecuador returned to a nominally democratic system. This had a significant impact on every aspect of national governance. Prior to democratisation, formerly nationalistic policies gave way to a political stance that allowed aggressive private, inward investments . Strategic national resources were privatised, including the exploitation of primary energy resources and electricity generation. Crude oil and fossil fuels were given significant incentives for production and trade. The electricity sector pursued a hydrothermal electricity mix, consisting of large scale hydropower and fossil-fuel-based thermal-electric plants [15, 16]. This period of neoliberalism lasted for nearly three decades, from 1979 until 2007. The period was characterised by instability and political change, extensive economic liberalisation policies, with fiscal austerity and deregulation .
In 2008, a new constitution was written. Taking advantage of revenue from oil exports, the new approach intended to return to a state-controlled natural resource management system and the country adopted the objective of making its energy matrix cleaner and more environmentally sustainable . Control of the energy sector passed from a mainly private-owned governed system to a state-owned centralised system . The period 2008 until 2014 has generally been characterised by economic prosperity as a result of high oil prices and the increase of production from mature oil fields in the Amazon. These factors, among others, have further cemented the neo-extractive economic model of the country. The government implemented policies to promote hydropower, and there were failed attempts to boost non-conventional renewable energies . Energy subsidies remained among the highest in the world (having been strengthened during the previous neoliberal period), which inter alia has led to the transport sector becoming the fastest growing sector of the economy in terms of energy consumption . Despite the sustainability aspirations of the reforms, Ecuador both exports crude oil and imports fossil fuels .
The concept of ‘energy matrix change’ or ‘energy transition’ has legitimised the new energy policy by promising a gradual increase of the share of renewable energy [15, 16]. This increase of renewables is intended mainly to be implemented by the electricity sector, by decreasing fossil fuel-based thermal-electric plants and investing in eight new hydropower plants, the latter funded mainly by the pre-sales of crude oil to the Chinese government . The policy discourse has centred on the idea of funding assets of crude oil into large hydropower plants, in the name of climate change, sustainability and a new post-oil period. Nonetheless, the governance structure of the system has remained centralised, controlled by incumbents.
By 2017, Ecuador was expected to attain 90% of its electricity generated through renewable energy sources, mainly hydropower . In principle, this objective might secure a sustainable energy supply for industrial innovation. However, state indebtedness capacity has reached its limit, oil prices have fallen and these have proved significant barriers to the industrial transformation intended to diversify export commodities and reduce the country’s dependence on oil. Moreover, large scale hydropower is highly contentious for its environmental and social externalities . The further centralisation of energy production also threatens to supress the development of other renewable options for decades, stifling diversification, flexibility and local resilience.
Methods
The research design is consistent with the objectives of producing and evaluating a TTMA capable of producing actionable, policy-relevant knowledge for the redesign of the energy system in an illiberal democracy context. In terms of methods, firstly the capacity of the arena to support the co-production of energy policy visions and strategies was documented. Then, evidence on the effectiveness of the arena from the perspectives of the participants is provided.
Rationale for specific design features
In terms of evaluative criteria based on the goals of transition management and transdisciplinary sustainability science, the arena should enable the convening of an empowered constellation of change agents, from different sectors, to co-produce transformative knowledge (including end-state visions), build transformational leadership capacities and jointly contribute to the development of policy options for changing the energy system. It is hypothesised that such knowledge may be of most use and influence at times when policy windows occur . As such, the group and its facilitator(s) may be viewed as policy entrepreneurs following a strategy of preparedness for the combination of elements that suggested are prerequisites for policy change. The latter are namely the conjunction of (a) pre-prepared policy option(s), (b) a problem that fits the pre-prepared policy options or perceived solution(s) and (c) political conditions conducive for change (i.e. the conjunction of three multiple policy streams). The approach reflects particular, pre-identified roles of policy entrepreneurs: coalition building, network management and preparation for windows of opportunity. Figure 2 describes this situation, in which the arena supports the framing of a problem for an agenda opportunity, the creation of a preferred vision for a policy goal and the formulation of collective-action strategies for the opportune implementation in the wider political arena.
The case study country is, as said, Ecuador, as both an instance of illiberal democracy and where the lead researcher has been and is embedded within the national energy policy process in both formally and informally instituted ways. Selection of participants was partly based on a convenience principle of known contacts but also with the intention of representing different sectors. Table 1 provides the affiliations of individuals involved, who had professional affiliations with 30 organisations, agencies and institutions across the government, society civil and business. Together, they constitute an epistemic community of stakeholders who are professionally engaged with energy policy.Footnote 1
Participants were guided through a dialogue process, reflecting on and integrating the knowledge held in the group, plus knowledge provided via presentations and policy documents. The first stage was to create a common understanding of the problems of the energy sector—a shared problem statement; the second stage was to anticipate future challenges, bearing in mind global and local dynamics and the third stage to develop a roadmap for future collective actions—specifically, to create visions for the reinvention of the current energy system. These stages are considered in more detail in the “Phases of the arena process” section, and Fig. 2 summarises the objectives of the arena.
Scholz and Steiner distinguish between different types of knowledge in transdisciplinary processes, reflecting different modes of thought, (inter-)disciplinary, perspectives, interests, systems and (organisational) cultures. Figure 3 summarises the types of knowledge involved in such an arena , where system knowledge refers to the current state of a system and the key social and other factors involved and the capacity of the system to change . Target knowledge refers to the more specific scope of action and problem-solving measures relating to natural constraints, social laws, norms and values within the system, as well as the interests of actors and their individual intentions . Transformation knowledge refers to the practical implications that can be derived from target knowledge, in respect of changes to existing habits, practices and institutional objectives. Transformation (operational) knowledge enables practitioners to evaluate different problem solving strategies and to achieve the competences to foster, implement and monitor progress and to adapt and change behavioural attitudes . Accordingly, the evaluation takes account of the contribution of transdisciplinary research regarding the differing types of knowledge that are helpful for such processes and how capacity building takes place through providing opportunities for shared reflexivity and trust-building. Such processes are intended to take place alongside those of formal institutions, generating alternative policy solutions via the involvement of multiple partners and scientific assistance (Fig. 4).
The arena design is intended to encourage reflexivity as part of consensus building, following . That is, to support critical reflection on participants’ values and orientation as well as the ability to adapt one’s own positions and goals, thereby supporting and enabling capacities for purposive, collective action . This in turn is theorised to involve and develop the capacity to anticipate problems and integrate knowledge, helping to generate the relevant forms of knowledge described above. Figure 5 describes this development of collective capacities.
Another objective of the arena is to promote trust and long-term collaboration among the participants (individual and institutional), resulting from common understandings of the problem, the identification of a shared values and the commitment to organise joint future actions. Figure 6 places these in relation to each other in order to build supportive networks and social capital. Group identity formation is important in engendering a commitment to collective action; hence, refer to the psycho-social normative alignment model of promoting ongoing commitment to collective action via the crafting of a social identity based on norms for emotion, efficacy and action that contribute to a dynamic system of meaning and hence commitment to a cause. Similarly, refer to social identity as shared and relational and as the product of a group’s collective history and present. A shared identity also implies a need for trust building. Harris and Lyon observe that trust among stakeholders is shown to be built by having information on others, prior experience of working together, norms of cooperation and sanctions exerted on those who might transgress norms of behaviour .
Phases of the arena process
The phases of the arena process were sequenced so as to support the above processes and either generate or use particular types of knowledge.
-
(i)
Contextualization (information inputs)
The contextualization phase firstly provides information on the global and national context of the energy sector, and secondly, provides information on the background, objectives and the process of the arena. This included presentations by experts and local authorities about their views of the energy sector’s development towards the future.
-
(ii)
Problem definition
Generating knowledge of the problem was based on a descriptive analysis of the problems of the Ecuadorian energy sector, investigating the lessons from the past and the present, taking into account the perspectives, concern and experience of the different actors. A common understanding of the problem was created by decomposing the elements that make up the socio-technical-ecological, techno-economic and political subsystems of energy and then discussing how they interact and influence (positively and negatively) the continual reconfiguration of the macro system. The sequence of doing this is described in Fig. 6.
-
(iii)
Vision development
The generation of multiple visions consisted of a reflective participatory process through which the values, beliefs and interests of the actors, representing the different sectors of society, could be examined within the framework of the collective construction of common visions. Future visions were generated where conflicts and differences were managed via the generation of ‘preferable’ solutions instead of ‘perfect’ solutions. These used the system knowledge co-produced in phase 2. Key elements and their interrelationships were identified, taking into account the variety of perceptions and how their arguments and reasoning may be contrary or complementary to one another. This process allows participants to identify spaces of consensus whilst emphasising the creativity and experimentation of a reflexive governance process. The development of visions took place in sectoral groups (government, business, academia, NGOs), where each sector had the task of exploring a future scenario in which the most relevant current issues can be solved, proposing a ‘preferable’ vision of the future of sustainable energy in Ecuador. These were then presented to the other sectors, in order to generate new perspectives, facilitate understanding and the co-production of knowledge. Figure 7 illustrates the process.
-
(iv)
Strategy development
The collective production of knowledge about strategies consisted of the formulation of the potential strategies needed to achieve the normative vision proposed in phase 3. Strategies represented the path or roadmap to be followed, taking as orientation the changes required in the elements, subsystems and dynamics to hypothetically achieve a restructuring of the system as a whole. The collective production of transformation knowledge is embodied in the formulation of potential strategies that are needed to achieve the normative vision proposed in phase 3. The strategies represent a roadmap to guide the actions required to hypothetically stimulate change in the energy system’s structure. Figure 8 represents this formulation of multilevel strategies as a collective process of understanding the need for cooperation and linking of the different levels, from the individual contribution, collective action and institutional commitment, to the involvement of decision-makers at a national level.
Through the previous processes of reflection, anticipation of future scenarios and integration of varied perspectives, the participants in the final phase of the participatory process managed to (a) reach a common understanding about the complexity of the energy problem; (b) build a group identity and vision based on common values, beliefs and interests and (c) articulate a group strategy to potentially influence the processes of energy policy formulation. This strategy is enacted through the collaborative generation of knowledge, the construction of an alternative discourse and the strategic cross-sectoral actions which promote transformation towards a sustainable energy system.
In terms of potential windows of opportunity, the arena was implemented between the first round of presidential elections and the second round of presidential elections and in general, such junctures offer situations of policy uncertainty during which alternative policies may find a receptive audience. Another advantage of undertaking this during or close to election periods is that governmental actors who are normally empowered and indeed authoritarian are temporarily in a situation of uncertainty and more inclined to engage with those who are normally disempowered. In other words, they are more open to dialogue with stakeholders and power asymmetries are temporarily reduced. Figure 9 provides additional detail on the wider political juncture relevant during the period of the study.
Regarding data collection and analysis, firstly, ex-ante interviews with the participants were conducted and transcribed; secondly, silent observers recorded and observed the arena process and finally, a post-hoc questionnaire was administered. Themes and issues identified during the session informed the tables and framework below, and further reflection was undertaken via thematic coding of the transcripts in qualitative data analysis software Atlas TI (Fig. 10).
Results
Given our objectives of trialling and evaluating a process, as well as making recommendations regarding any refinements of that process, the results relate to both content and process. The content-based results consist of a conceptual model of the energy system; as it currently is a preferred, long-term vision and a strategy for its implementation.
Process and content
Overall, the arena design supported joint cross-sectoral and inter-organisational effort, enabling the visualisation of alternative futures and the development of policy strategies for realising these. The arena also facilitated a better understanding of the positions held by those in the different sectors, supporting solution-oriented approaches that are complementary rather than competing, based on a common understanding of the current energy problem that included the perspectives and concerns of the different sectors of the society involved. Table 2 summarises this, alongside perceptions of the key features (right hand column) and problems (centre column).
The results presented are a summary and synthesis of perspectives of the different stakeholders on the participatory process. As can be seen in Table 2, the current development path is viewed as over-reliant on a small number of large hydropower plants, with limited opportunity for diversification into other forms and scales of renewable energy supply that might reduce the vulnerability of the power grid, reduce socio-environmental impacts and catalyse new initiatives among small- and medium-sized companies. In terms of ownership, there is a preference for the private sector to have a role, but not to the extent that state monopoly becomes private monopoly or oligopoly: it is diversity that is sought, for its presumed resilience and dynamism.
The participants’ views favour micro, small- and medium-scale energy supply at different subnational levels, paralleling the results of the United Nations Habitat III meeting that was held in Quito-Ecuador in 2016, where the need to decentralise energy systems to municipal levels was highlighted [46, 47]. Stakeholders were similarly concerned about the lack of development of the microgeneration and/or distributed generation to date in Ecuador. The linkages between decentralisation and democracy was also a priority within the discussions, where participants pointed out how decentralised infrastructure can strengthen democratic processes and stimulate the distribution of investments, benefits and wealth around the country and at the same time create a nation-wide industrial constellation by supporting and mobilising the capacities of small and medium enterprises currently trying to promote non-conventional renewable energy supply.
Moreover, the participants proposed a future energy matrix that is a hydro-solar mix, where the existing large hydroelectric supply acts as base load, synchronising and coordinating with micro, small and medium solar-photovoltaic systems that would more fully exploit the solar potential of the equator in locations with suitable conditions, as well as residential solar thermal-water-heaters in Amazonian and coastal regions. Other types of non-conventional renewable energy technologies such as biomass (solid, liquid and gas), wind and geothermal were also consider as part of a preferable future scenario that would replace fossil-based sources at a progressive pace.
The energy matrix diversification according to the participants would, overall, reflect heterogeneous solutions on a multi-level and multi-scale basis, diverse in terms of technologies and plural in terms of decision-making and investment (e.g. public–private partnerships, municipal–private partnerships, etc.). This is reflected in Table 2.
Another key theme in terms of output from the TTMA is the need for attention to the ongoing dependence on and subsidy for fossil fuels in the transport (mobility) sector and residential LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) for cooking and water heating, as well as the lack of policies for encouraging energy efficiency or reduce waste and environmental impacts. The group reflected on the need to reduce and redirect current fossil fuel subsidies towards dynamic incentives that promote renewable technologies in these sectors.
Building on this, participants produced a set of strategies for achieving the vision (Table 3). The latter covered topics including integrated planning and political agendas intersection (water-food-energy nexus), decentralisation of infrastructure and decision making, good governance and participative energy planning, diversification of energy sources, demand side management through education, correct endowment of energy subsidies and transparency in prices, the establishment of a zero fossil fuel target, strengthening of energy security and resilience and sustainability of the system, among others.
Figure 11 summarises the interconnections among the elements of the reconfigured system envisaged.
Figure 12 describes some of the strategies by which the new vision would be reached, encompassing new knowledge co-production and capacity building, networks and coalition articulation and various strategic communication strategies and channels (fostering interface spaces and dialogue, participation and involvement, lobbying, think tanks, policy support, cyber-politics) creating a knowledge and communication loop and a learning and empowering loop.
Evaluation and framework to guide energy transition policy development
In terms of evaluation, the participants concurred that the transdisciplinary transitions arena succeeded in stimulating socio-professional networks that were likely to endure in the medium to longer term. Nonetheless, there is clearly scope for longitudinal study, to assess any changes in the access to power, changes in discourse and understandings of energy sector problems both in the niche and the political arena. Table 4 presents descriptive statistics for selected process evaluation questions, drawing on over 30 such questions, all inviting responses on a 5-point Likert scale. All show a large majority of positive view.
Based on the above rationale, sequenced structure and effectiveness of the arena in the terms described above, an energy transition assessment framework is proposed as follows in Fig. 12. The purpose of this framework is to aid and guide thinking in similar contexts, building on the experience in Ecuador. It begins with development and planning principles for orientation that draw on the principles of transition management and transdisciplinary (sustainability science) research, particularly those relating to the inclusion of a range of stakeholders in the design of policy and practice for sustainability . It also draws on the knowledge-related principles of transdisciplinary (sustainability science) research, which seeks to incorporate and cohere different types and sources of knowledge . Finally, it draws on the systems perspective of sociotechnical transitions thinking in general, in which the different realms of society (politics, economics, resources, technology, etc.) are viewed as inter-related, mutually influencing and hence requiring policy responses that recognise this . As such, the framework lays out and categorises recommended, core elements for consideration in such arenas (Fig. 13).
Discussion
Experience with the transition arena in Ecuador raises a number of inter-related issues. These include the normativity of the transitions management, transdisciplinary sustainability science research and the advocated framework, their generalisability and issues of democratic representation, including the role of civil society and other actors, such as lay publics. These issues are considered below.
Within a sociotechnical frame, alternative visions of the future are conceived of as selection pressures, meaning that these visions compete and present alternative options. The associated civic debate and NGO campaigns are conceived of as articulation pressures, meaning that these are means by which pressure is exerted . Transition management arenas are premised on the view that formal institutions are not themselves capable of generating these types of pressure, that is, that they are not supportive of innovative thought, social and policy experiments— nor to widely cross-sectoral engagement. Formal institutions have path dependencies that maintain the status quo, and formally instituted policy change often has implications for resource distribution; both features mitigate against change and experimentation. In short, those operating within and dependent on a relatively stable sociotechnical regime are unlikely to seek to destabilise it unless they see some purpose to doing so; it is often the need to respond to external pressures that provide this purpose and motivation.
In illiberal democracies, the stability of the status quo is strengthened by features such as state capture, authoritarianism and monopoly or oligopolistic control. Transition management seeks to intervene and disrupt the status quo in non-confrontational ways; though of course, this may well limit its effectiveness in terms of policy change. Nonetheless, it seeks to build a wider policy legitimacy through relatively inclusive participation and hence perceived procedural legitimacy . As a governance perspective, transition management views the engagement of a wide variety of stakeholders in policy development as a necessary element in furthering sustainability through enhanced social learning [52, 53].
The TTMA that is trialled here—and the underpinning, corresponding analytical framework that is advocated—both allow for the explicit definition of particular norms, but only to the extent that these are consistent with the premises of sociotechnical sustainability transitions and transdisciplinary sustainability science research . Within these terms, the framework allows for the expression of different specific norms (e.g. regarding the ongoing use of fossil fuels with carbon capture or large-scale use of biomass and hydropower). As such, therefore, while it can be seen that the TTMA and the proposed analytical framework are somewhat normatively flexible and generalizable, it should be recognised that they do embody norms of liberal democracy.
Moreover, it is also recognised that there are alternative conceptions of sustainability and optimal or preferred sociotechnical routes to similar lower carbon goals. This raises the question of how the arena process, and the framework might accommodate any irreconcilable clash of views within the group. Here, the development of visions deliberately took place in separate sectoral groups (government, business, academia and NGOs), where each sector had the task of developing a future scenario that would address the problems that they perceived as most relevant. These scenarios were then presented to the other sectors, in order to generate new perspectives, facilitate understanding and co-produce a synthesis scenario. This process ‘worked’ because the invited participants were known priori to share compatible views on how the energy system in Ecuador should develop. This is an important success condition. If participants are unable to generate a consensual vision, then a number of variant visions may be required and this should not (in our view) be seen as problematic.
Conclusion
A case for the value of blending aspects of transdisciplinary sustainability and transition management, to form a ‘TTMA’, is advocated, by which to justify and guide the engagement of multi-sector actors in the design of alternative energy futures in illiberal democracies. The rationale for this centres on the premise that outputs from such processes may function as a source of pressure on the sociotechnical regime, should policy windows arise. Here, such a TTMA is described, and its application in Ecuador assessed, with the design being found effective in terms of generating a consensual vision and set of policy-related strategies. A framework for guiding future instances is set out accordingly.
At the same time, it is also clear that such proposals are no panacea for the interconnected political and energy system problems of countries such as Ecuador. Indeed, their location outside of formal institutions can be viewed as a weakness, with no direct input to formal policy processes. Moreover, consensus within such processes cannot always be presumed, especially as policy proposals become more specific. Nonetheless, the development of more than one vision and set of strategies within such contexts is feasible and can be allowed for. Overall, experience with energy-related TTMA outside of developed countries is still limited in extent, and there is significant scope for further empirical and theoretical consideration of how well such concepts transfer to different political and economic contexts.
While transition management experiments have been implemented in Europe and interest is growing in transdisciplinary science approaches, use of these rationales for informal energy planning processes in developing countries, where energy sector planning processes are autocratic or technocratic, state-driven centralised or private-driven centralised, reflecting the characteristics of illiberal democracies and state capture, has been less common. Nonetheless, TTMAs arguably have potential for application in Latin American and developing countries, where the conditions permit the parallel development of non-mainstream policy, awaiting policy windows for change. Indeed, the authors have undertaken a similar exercise in Peru, where the political context is governed by the private sector (state capture). The results were similar, though the scenarios and visions involved more small-scale renewables, multi-pole decentralised governance and distributed generation; transparency was also given a higher priority. There is also experience of participatory modelling and planning in Chile and Argentina, having been promoted by governments and involving civil society, business and academia [56, 57].
Overall, the originality of the study lies in two main contributions. The first is the combination of transdisciplinary research, transition management and multiple streams approach as a rationale; the second is the practical application, trial and evaluation of the approach in a developing country, specifically an illiberal democracy. It was found feasible to articulate a multi-stakeholder group in order to co-produce knowledge about a common problem, a preferable vision and strategies that are amenable to translation to policies. While a TTMA cannot of course guarantee policy implementation, with institutionalisation or adoption of TTMA output being subject to political and decision processes outside of its control, the TTMA at least offers a preparatory stage for transformation, helping to develop supportive knowledge-networks and alternative discourses, for windows of opportunity.
The implications of the above are primarily in the informal rather than formal policy sphere, given that transition management arenas are specifically intended to mitigate against the path dependencies or lock-ins of formal institutions. As stated, the objective of such arenas is to develop alternative or informal policy that is available for application when circumstances permit. The policy objectives and strategies developed through the arena reflect the principles of transition management, which in turn reflect a systems perspective. Hence, they call for policy mixes that are consistent in the sense of being mutually reinforcing despite being applied in different sectors. They call for a more decentralised and liberalised energy system with a multi-scale renewable energy supply.
Overall, there is a strong theme of opening the energy system up to other possibilities than what current state monopolies permit, while at the same time simply avoiding creating private monopolies or oligopolies instead. These possibilities relate to technology types and scales, institutional frameworks and—importantly—governance arrangements. In an illiberal democracy, the latter is at the heart of the problem and informal policy arenas are an attempt to improve on a situation where too few interests are involved in policy shaping. Going forward, it remains to be seen to what extent Ecuadorian energy policy opens up in all senses.
Notes
This particular arena did not involve members of the lay public. Although a case can certainly be made for doing this, the purpose of the arena was to co-produce primarily scientifically and technically informed policy visions.
Abbreviations
- FIT:
-
Feed-in tariff
- LPG:
-
Liquefied petroleum gas
- NGO:
-
Non-governmental organisation
- PPP:
-
Public–private partnership
- SME:
-
Small and medium enterprise
- TTMA:
-
Transdisciplinary transition management arena
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Noboa, E., Upham, P. & Heinrichs, H. Collaborative energy visioning under conditions of illiberal democracy: results and recommendations from Ecuador. Energ Sustain Soc 8, 31 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-018-0173-0
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Endocrine disorders in two sisters affected by MELAS syndrome.
A variety of endocrine and metabolic defects, including hypothalamopituitary hypofunction and diabetes mellitus, has been reported in association with mitochondrial disorders. We describe two sisters affected by mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and strokelike episodes (MELAS) syndrome in whom DNA analysis showed an A-->G transition at the 3243rd nucleotide position on the transfer RNALeu(UUR) gene with 65% and 45% of mutant-type mitochondrial DNA present in the blood cells of the younger and the older sister, respectively. The younger sister had severe involvement of the central nervous system with mental retardation, epilepsia partialis continua, and strokelike episodes. Endocrine investigations showed an extensive neuroendocrine dysfunction with growth hormone deficiency, hypothalamopituitary hypothyroidism, prepubertal gonadotropin levels, and absence of any secondary sexual characteristics at the age of 12 6/12 years. The neurologically normal older sister was affected by diabetes mellitus and had normal hypothalamopituitary function. Our report confirms that the endocrine system can be affected differently by the same mitochondrial DNA mutation, depending on the heteroplasmia phenomenon. A complete endocrine evaluation must be performed in patients affected by mitochondrial disease and the existence of a mitochondrial disorder should be taken into account in patients with endocrine abnormalities, even if neuromuscular signs are lacking.
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Research interests:
- String theory
- AdS/CFT
- Geometry
A physical theory is a mathematical framework together with some rules for extracting quantities that one measures. Different physical theories often make use of very different mathematics. For example, general relavitity, which provides a classical description of gravity, is based on geometry; the quantum field theories that describe particle physics are instead built on algebra (representation theory, Hilbert spaces, etc). In recent years we have come to realize that a given physical system can sometimes have two or more equivalent theoretical descriptions that make use of very different mathematical frameworks. These different physical theories are then said to be dual to each other. Typically, however, each theory is useful in a different physical regime of the system.
One of the most dramatic examples of such a duality is the AdS/CFT correspondence. Broadly speaking, this is a duality between a theory that contains gravity, and thus in an appropriate classical limit is described by general relativity, and a quantum field theory without gravity. What is particularly striking is that these two theories live in different numbers of spatial dimensions! To make the discussion more precise, suppose that the quantum field theory depends on a parameter, that we'll call the coupling constant g. This theory is well-understood mathematically only for g very small, essentially as a power series around g=0. On the other hand, the classical limit of the dual gravitational description, which is well-understood in terms of general relativity, typically corresponds to 1/g being small. Much of the evidence for AdS/CFT relies on the existence of quantities that one can a priori argue are independent of g, and thus should give the same physical answers in both theories. This often leads to remarkable mathematical identities that must hold if the AdS/CFT duality is true; these can then be proven independently. Much of my work has been in this area, essentially building up circumstantial evidence for the conjectured duality, and trying to understand better how physical quantities in each theory should be matched.
Although originally formulated in string theory, the AdS/CFT correspondence has grown into a subject in its own right. In the last couple of years these ideas of duality have even been applied to low-energy systems, such as superconductors and other areas of condensed matter physics. This leads to the exciting possibility that such dualities might be tested experimentally in laboratories. | http://users.ox.ac.uk/~math0391/researchads.html |
Since the 1970s, Earth-observing satellites collect increasingly detailed environmental information on land cover, meteorological conditions, environmental variables, and air pollutants. This information spans the entire globe, and its acquisition plays an important role in epidemiological analysis when in situ data are unavailable or spatially and/or temporally sparse. In this paper, we present the development of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) Public-health Monitoring and Analysis Platform, a user-friendly, web-based system providing environmental data on shortwave radiation, rainfall, soil moisture, the normalized difference vegetation index, aerosol optical thickness, land surface temperature and altitude. This system has been designed so that users would be able to download and utilize data without the need for additional data processing. The website allows interactive exchange, and users can request data for a specific geographic location and time using the information gained for the purpose of epidemiological analysis.
Keywords: earth-observing satellites, infection diseases, environmental information; online database; geospatial data; JPMAP, JAXA
Introduction
Climate change affects human health in diverse ways, including direct impact from extreme weather such as heat, drought, and heavy rain, and indirect impact through natural systems such as vector-borne diseases, water-borne diseases, and air pollution. Climate change also works through human systems, exemplified by occupational strain, malnutrition, and mental stress. These and other types of phenomena have emerged in various regions of the world to threaten human civilization. It follows that the development of an understanding of climate-disease interactions, monitoring of outcomes, and identification of opportunities for mitigating adverse effects are important public-health research issues. The United Nations (U.N.) is well aware of such threats and has developed an agenda of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) tailored to meet these challenges. Among them, SDG No. 3 addresses infectious diseases and seeks to end epidemics caused by malaria, neglected tropical diseases, and water-borne infections by the year 2030, with the ultimate goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.
Infectious diseases occur as a consequence of close interaction between humans, animals, and the environment they live in. Adopting the One Health approach, a collaborative effort of multiple disciplines to work for health across these three domains is essential for the identification of opportunities for health improvement and optimizing mitigation of risk. Although estimates of the health impacts based on this approach require extensive data collection, information on important environmental variables are often missing or sparse with respect to both time and space. Insufficient data on parameters such as temperature, rainfall, land use/land cover, atmospheric pollutants, forest fires, and topography prevent researchers and practitioners from conducting comprehensive investigations.
Earth-observing satellites (EOS) play a vital role in the collection of the above-mentioned environmental factors since they consistently observe the entire globe within rapidly repeated time periods. More than 30 years of archived data, used in epidemiological studies of infectious diseases, are currently available, including knowledge of air-pollution levels and extreme weather conditions related to communicable diseases, such as lung afflictions and heat stroke. The Group on Earth Observations (GEO), the biggest community of this kind, uses satellite-generated in-situ observations to address areas of societal benefit, including public-health surveillance, aiming to provide alerts regarding air quality, weather extremes, water-related illness, vector-borne disease, and assessments regarding access to health facilities.
As many governmental space agencies or enterprises have launched EOSs, a wide variety of satellite-collected environmental data is currently available, and much of this knowledge is provided free of charge via the internet. Available websites include the Copernicus open-access hub maintained by the European Space Agency, the Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (LP DAAC) maintained by the United States (U.S.) National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Geological Survey (USGS), and the Globe Portal System (G-Portal) provided by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. However, to make use of the data downloaded from these sites, additional data processing is generally needed for the desired epidemiological analyses to be carried out. For example, to acquire annual daily rainfall data for a specific area, 365 scenes must first be downloaded, then a subset of areal data must be generated and used to calculate the average rainfall. Further, to acquire surface temperature data in addition to rainfall data, a separate dataset must be downloaded, which may have a different data format since surface temperature and rainfall are retrieved from different sensors on-board different satellites. The risk of this problem not only increases when data are retrieved from different websites, but it can also prevent researchers from utilizing satellite-derived environmental information properly.
Satellite agencies have made significant efforts to develop satellite-based environmental information, including climatic factors, biophysical parameters, topographic data, etc. The values of these variables have been validated with ground-based measurements to ensure accuracy, and they may also have been subjected to inter-comparison of satellite-based measurements from different sensors to refine them. In addition, satellite products are translated into input parameters, e.g., using the numerical crop model. However, there are advantages and disadvantages with each product, and users have to select the products to meet their specific needs carefully, which would be similar to select reanalysis climate data provided by various agencies. We have selected and integrated some validated environmental information distributed via different websites with different formats to construct a new web-based database. Our goal was to develop a user-friendly online system providing satellite-derived environmental information for the purposes of epidemiological analysis. The system presented here enables users to search, visualize, and download data that have been spatio-temporally pre-processed so that the data can be utilized immediately after download without additional processing.
Materials and methods
Overview
Figure 1 shows an overview of JAXA’s Public-health Monitor and Analysis Platform (JPMAP), developed to provide satellite-derived environmental information, including shortwave radiation (solar radiation with wavelengths between 300 nm and 4 μm), rainfall, soil moisture, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), aerosol optical thickness (AOT), land surface temperature (LST), and altitude (Table 1), primarily to epidemiologists. The majority of this satellite-generated information comes from the JAXA Satellite Monitoring for Environmental Studies (JASMES), which provides a wide variety of physical variables retrieved from NASA’s moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard the Terra and Aqua satellites. MODIS and the data it provides was used as the basis for the development of similar physical variables from the Second-Generation Land Imager (SEGLI) on-board the Global Change Observation Mission-Climate (GCOM-C) satellite launched by JAXA on December 23, 2017. SGLI has a finer spatial resolution than MODIS in the visible to thermal infrared bands, with observations every two days, and it will eventually replace MODIS as the data source providing the GCOM-C products for JASMES.
All data are acquired at repeat times ranging from hourly to every other day, except the altitude information, which is displayed only when users select a point reference in the geographic region studied, as a spatial average of the altitude would be useless. The JPMAP archive currently covers the period from 2002 to 2016.
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Available datasets
JPMAP utilizes JASMES products such as shortwave radiation and NDVI, which indicates the amount of green leaf area or green leaf biomass whereby dense vegetation gives a high NDVI value capable of capturing the vegetation phenology by time-series, and AOT acquired through the attenuation of light at the 550 nm wavelength between the ground and the top of the atmosphere, which is closely related to the amount of aerosols in the atmosphere.
The LST data used in the JPMAP system comes from the MODIS LST product MOD11C1 Collection-6 algorithm, obtained from the NASA/USGS site and processed according to a method used by Wan. Four daily LST values observed at 1:30, 10:30, 13:30, and 22:30 (local times) are available and JPMAP utilizes all four. The soil moisture content data were obtained from the G-Portal mentioned above. These data are generated by the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR-E) on-board the U.S. Aqua satellite and the AMSR2 on-board the Japanese GCOM-W satellite. However, soil moisture content data from November 2011 to June 2012 are unavailable due to an operational gap between the AMSR-E and AMSR2 at this time.
The Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation (GSMaP) product (Figure 2), obtained from JAXA, is used for the rainfall data. This represents hourly global rainfall data covering the area between the latitudes 60 South and 60 North retrieved from EOS data. For altitude data, JPMAP uses the Advanced Land Observing Satellite World 3D-30 m (ALOS AW3D30). The AW3D30 was developed using multi-angle (nadir, forward, and backward) observational data from the Panchromatic Remote-sensing Instrument for Stereo Mapping (PRISM) on-board ALOS, a satellite launched in January 2006, completing its mission in May 2011. The AW3D30 was developed using the ALOS PRISM data acquired during this period.
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System architecture
Apart from the structural design shown in Figure 1, the data provided by JPMAP are obtained from different websites via File Transfer Protocol (FTP), a standard used for transfer of computer files between servers and clients. In order to improve data accessibility for epidemiological studies, JPMAP not only collects these datasets, but it also pre-processes them before distribution. Searched results are displayed both graphically (time-series chart) and in text. Time-series and spatial processing are performed on the system interactively based on user queries so that the datasets can be accessed without need for additional processing by the user.
All the satellite-derived environmental information mentioned above is converted to the Network Common Data Form (NetCDF) format and stored on the JPMAP web server. In response to user queries, the system performs spatio-temporal processing of archived data and presents a time-series plot of the results asked for. Spatio-temporal data processing, visualization of searched results, and conversion of these data to the comma-separated values (CSV) format are executed in response to user queries at the website. However, user registration is required for downloading of CSV data. The website and the interactive processing is done using Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and Python.
Spatial averages are calculated when users select rectangles or administrative boundaries for the geographic regions they are interested in. The spatial average of a specific land cover within the selected rectangle, or administrative boundary, is also calculated when users select a specific land cover as an extra option. JPMAP calculates this spatial average by averaging the pixels within, and intersecting with, the selected boundary. Temporal processing is performed when users select daily, half-monthly, or monthly data intervals to get representative values within the specific area chosen. Accumulation is calculated for rainfall, average for shortwave radiation, soil moisture, AOT, and LST, while the maximum value within the period is given for NDVI selections.
As ancillary data, the administrative boundary and land cover data are used to calculate the spatial average. The administrative boundary data (vector format data) were obtained from the Global Administrative Areas database, and land cover data with a spatial resolution of 300 m are obtained from ESA GlobCover.
Graphical user interface
Figure 3A shows a screenshot of the graphical user interface (GUI) of the JPMAP system. Users can make the following selections: geographic region (point, box, or boundary), time period (start and end), interval (daily, half-monthly, or monthly) and product (shortwave radiation, LST, AOT, NDVI, rainfall, or soil moisture content). In addition to these selected products, altitude is displayed automatically, but only when users select a point reference in the geographic region studied, while land cover can be selected as an extra option. When the user selects a box or boundary as the geographic parameter, JPMAP calculates the spatial average of the selected land cover within that region.
An example of a search query result is shown in Figure 3B for the time-series changes of a selected variable. Figure 3C shows the search query result with CSV data. The query result of CSV data for which a box or boundary was selected as the geographic region contains the numbers of total and valid pixels within the selected region and the standard deviation of the valid pixels. The numbers of total and valid pixels in an area occasionally differ if there are missing values, mainly due to cloud cover or an inherent observation schedule.
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Examples of search query results
JPMAP covers almost the entire globe, and users may submit queries to be utilized for epidemiological analyses regarding environmental factor(s) related to specific period(s) and location(s). Figure 4 shows examples of query results regarding specific geographical points (latitude and longitude), e.g., a monthly time-series chart of rainfall around Dhaka, Bangladesh (N 23.823, E 90.414) from 2010 to 2016 (Figure 4A), and a monthly time-series chart of the NDVI in a cropland around Kisum, Kenya (S0.122, E34.293) from 2010 to 2016 (Figure 4B). Rainy seasons are clearly identified as beginning in April or May, and annual variations can also be identified in the first example, while double-cropping is investigated in the second. The latter is strongly related to the NDVI according to the vegetation density. Rain-fed croplands are highly vulnerable to rainfall shortages, as compared to irrigated croplands that enjoy adequate water resources. In addition, a decrease in the harvest can be identified by a low NDVI anomalous compared to that of a normal year. The NDVI captures not only the cropland phenology shown here, but also the existence and phenology of other types of land cover, such as grassland, forest, and wetlands. This range of environmental information about vegetation conditions is commonly used in the study of disease vectors.
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Results and discussion
We present here JPMAP, an online environmental information provision system, which collects, stores, and integrates satellite-derived environmental information distributed by different web or FTP sites, which users can search, visualize, and download. Although there are several sources of satellite data that are open-access and free to the public—primarily from governmental agencies such as NASA, ESA, and JAXA—it can be difficult for general users to utilize these data because they require expertise in remote sensing or image processing. Such expertise is not needed as JPMAP users can utilize the satellite-derived environmental information for epidemiological analyses directly. As many authors have reported, environmental information is closely related to the occurrence of epidemiological diseases. The environmental information provided by JPMAP, which covers almost the entire globe on a daily basis (for soil moisture every other day), is very useful for investigating the relationships between environmental factors and disease, in most cases by considering effects influencing the vectors of these diseases.
JPMAP has, however, some limitations. Parameters such as LST, NDVI, and AOT are unavailable when the target area is overcast, which is an inherent limitation of remote sensing relying on optical sensors. Spatial resolutions can range from 5 to 25 km, which means that their data footprints differ, a fact that must also be considered when using data from various providers and websites. In order to utilize the system effectively, users must understand and take such issues into account. In addition, some datasets are spatially aggregated to a coarser spatial resolution than their original forms due to limitations in data storage and data processing speed.
JPMAP provides seven types of environmental information, but other useful environmental information can also be retrieved from satellite data, such as the cloud cover ratio, wild fire, leaf area index, water surface chlorophyll-a (a specific form of chlorophyll used in oxygenic photosynthesis), water inundation, or snow cover. Some of these parameters may be added to JPMAP based on user feedback. Furthermore, although JPMAP currently covers the period from 2002 to 2016, we plan to add more recent data and functions to update acquired data in near-real time in the near future, which would make the development of early warning systems for diseases possible through interdisciplinary collaboration between epidemiologists working with remotely sensed data. Ten-minute interval data are currently available at multi-spectral bands ranging from the visible to thermal infrared bands, as observed by geostationary satellites. These data will prove useful information for early warning systems given that very high-frequency data provide observations almost in real time. In addition, huge volumes of satellite-derived information could be useful for input in the field of artificial intelligence techniques based on machine learning that are currently under development.
Conclusions
The information obtained from EOS covers the entire globe consistently and periodically. It spans a period of more than 30 years and is available in the form of archived data, even for areas such as developing countries for which in-situ data are sparse. Well-constructed, spatio-temporal environmental information such as rainfall, LST, AOT, and NDVI retrieved from satellites is useful for the characterization of environmental factors in epidemiological studies. JPMAP is a user-friendly environmental information system publicly available via the internet. This system collects, stores, and integrates various satellite-derived environmental information related to epidemiological data and pre-processes the data to improve its accessibility for epidemiological research. JPMAP users need not be familiar with, or trained in, satellite data processing. JPMAP enables users to search the information desired with a simple GUI and utilize downloaded data without any additional image processing.
Acknowledgements
THe GlobCover land cover map was obtained from the ESA GlobCover 2009 Project. The administrative boundary data (vector format data) were obtained from the GADM database. MOD11C1 Collection-6 data were obtained from NASA’s LandProcesses Distributed Active Archive Center located at the USGS EarthResources Observation and Science Center. Rainfall, shortwave radiation, soil moisture, NDVI, AOT, and altitude data were obtained from JAXA.
Contributions
KO wrote the draft of manuscript and designed the study; YM and TT reviewed the multiple versions of manuscript and contributed on study design; RK, YK, and HK contributed on coding and data processing.
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no potential conflict of interest.
References
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- ↑ Bessho, K.; Date, K.; Hayashi, M. et al. (2016). "An Introduction to Himawari-8/9— Japan’s New-Generation Geostationary Meteorological Satellites". Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan 94 (2): 151–83. doi:10.2151/jmsj.2016-009.
Notes
This presentation is faithful to the original, with only a few minor changes to presentation, grammar, and punctuation. In some cases important information was missing from the references, and that information was added. Inline URLs were web-based repositories of data were turned into external wiki links. | https://www.limswiki.org/index.php/Journal:Japan_Aerospace_Exploration_Agency%E2%80%99s_public-health_monitoring_and_analysis_platform:_A_satellite-derived_environmental_information_system_supporting_epidemiological_study |
What is parental consent?
Privacy laws and/or regulations often require that parents (or legal guardians) consent to or are notified prior to their child's personally identifiable information (PII) being disclosed to a third party.
In the field of edtech, this means that teachers and schools must have proven parental consent before students provide any personal information to third parties, like Edpuzzle.
The fact that teachers cannot invite students to their Edpuzzle classrooms without confirming parental consent, combined with the impossibility of creating a student account without a unique class code or link, ensures that Edpuzzle does not collect any data it should not be allowed to collect.
When is it necessary to obtain parental consent?
As a general rule, parental consent may apply to different age ranges depending on state or regional law.
In the United States, student privacy is primarily governed by two federal laws: the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
- FERPA generally prohibits schools from disclosing personally identifiable information from a student's education records to a third party without written consent from the parent (or the student if over age 18). At the same time, however, FERPA allows for exceptions under which student PII may be shared without consent. One of these exceptions is the "school official exception," under which schools may share student PII with designated school officials with a legitimate educational interest. Third parties may be considered school officials if they are performing a service for which the school would otherwise use employees. Schools define who constitutes a school official with a legitimate educational interest in their annual notification of rights under FERPA.
- COPPA protects children under the age of 13 who use commercial websites, online games and mobile apps. While schools have an obligation to make sure the services their students use treat the data they collect responsibly, COPPA ultimately places the responsibility on the online service operator. At the same time, COPPA generally does not apply when a school has hired a website operator to collect information from students for educational purposes for use by the school. In those instances, the school (not an individual teacher) can provide consent on behalf of the students when required, as long as the data is used only for educational purposes.
In the European Union, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) states that the processing of a child's PII is only lawful when the child is at least 16 years old, although it allows for Member States to lower the age provided that it is not below age 13. Currently, the age limits are the following:
- Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Romania and Slovakia: minors under 16.
- France, Czech Republic, Greece and Slovenia: minors under 15.
- Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Spain: minors under 14.
- Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and the UK: minors under 13.
According to the GDPR, schools are considered data controllers and are responsible for ensuring that student data is processed accordingly. In other words, schools from the EU must obtain parental consent prior to disclosing PII to any third-party service provider from children under the age limit determined by each Member State’s law.
In Canada, according to the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), consent is valid only if it is reasonable to expect that the student whose personal information is collected would understand the nature, purpose and consequences of the collection, use or disclosure to which they are consenting. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) has taken the position that, in all but exceptional circumstances, this means anyone over the age of 13. In other words, disclosure of PII of children under age 13 must be previously authorized by the children's parents or legal guardian.
Where do I get it from?
Contacting your IT admin – or anyone at your school responsible for data protection – should be the very first step. If you are not part of a school or in the unlikely event that your school will not take care of parental consent, you should request it for EVERY student that you invite to Edpuzzle.
For more information including templates to request parental consent, check out our article: Obtaining parental consent.
What if I don't need parental consent or am exempt from obtaining it?
If you are not planning to use Edpuzzle with students in the above-mentioned age ranges, parental consent is not required in your case, or any legal exemption applies to the obtainment of parental consent, you can simply select the "No, it’s not required by my local laws (e.g., because of my students' age or legal exemptions)." option when asked if you have parental consent.
Have more questions? Contact [email protected]. | https://support.edpuzzle.com/hc/en-us/articles/360012390292-Parental-consent |
Binge-watching television shows is becoming a less shameful activity, according to a March survey of TiVo users. While 53 percent of respondents in 2013 characterized the activity in a negative light, only 30 percent of recent respondents felt the same. “People who are binge-viewing are feeling better about themselves,” said Jonathan Steuer, chief research officer for TiVo. Interestingly, 92 percent of respondents indicated that they have engaged in binge-viewing at some point, and 32 percent said they often wait to watch an entire season at once.
Additionally, 39 percent of those surveyed said they enjoy watching some shows more when viewed back-to-back, and 45 percent binge-watch episodes they missed after discovering a new show.
“An earlier study commissioned by Netflix in late 2013 found that 61 percent of those who watch TV shows online binge-watch 2-3 episodes at least every few weeks — and 73 percent said they have ‘positive feelings’ about the habit,” reports Variety. | https://www.etcentric.org/survey-stigma-associated-with-tv-binge-viewing-is-declining/ |
One of the greatest physical practices you can engage in is flow creation. We come from a tradition of separation: we separate strength & conditioning from performance, force from flexibility, efficiency from beauty. In the physical, the antidote against this separation is the flow, which is an effort towards integrating all this aspects into a beautiful and powerful physical expression.
Although many schools approach this as “just be spontaneous”, they do not realize spontaneity is something we have lost. Most of us will do something awful if we just try to do contemporary dance, so training with a method is of great help to get to higher levels.
One of this methods comes from Ido Portal. As good as his work is, he is not the best person when it comes to organizing (publicly) or even sharing information, but with time I have come to collect his work around this. It may not be the exact process he teaches today, but it gives a really good idea about it that you can implement right now. Let’s get into it.
There is a lot of secret language to explain here. Some of you may be more familiar with his terminology, but I’ll still explain it.
First of all, the process has three stages: Isolation, Integration and Improvisation, where they go from linearity to non-linearity. This “linearity” is expressed in exercise as proper alignment, which refers to the almost geometrical approach to body form during movements, and it’s negation would be improper alignment. So Isolation is a world of Proper alignment, and as you move towards Improvisation it becomes more of a Improper alignment one.
In the Isolation process you start with “the atom”. The atom is the basic particle of a movement, like the equilibre in a handstand. You can have the straightest line and the greatest strength but, without balancing, there is no handstand. The atom is the sine qua non of a movement, so it’s about finding the most important thing that has to happen for the movement to be. In the “language of the movement”, it would be where you learn the basic vocals and consonants. Weak link training should be tailored to this priority.
Nevertheless, an atom cannot do much without other elements. In the handstand case, you also need arm and scapular strength, good alignment and shoulder flexibility. This other elements join together to create “the molecule”. So in the “language of movement”, this is where you start to play with the letters and understand the logic of their interactions, but you haven’t still created words.
Finally, you come up with Singular movements. In here you have putted the pieces together to create skills, using your strength in an specific scenario. So you have now created complete words or, in this case, movements like the aerial.
If you think about it, this is by itself a process of Isolation (Atom) and Integration (Molecule and Singular movements), but not yet of Improvisation. For that, you will have to repeat this process with other movements and then do the three I’s system on a macro level.
So you have done the Isolation process a number of times and have develop various movements. Let’s say they are Au Cortado, Role, Rotation Into Low Bridge, Squat and QDR (all this come from Floreio and you can check them out here). How do you put them together? You need a Transitional movement. This is a movement where all of the other movements can begin from and end with. This is the diagram Ido Portal uses to explain this:
In this case, each of the movements can be connected because they all start and end with a squat. The transitional movement then has to be thought as allowing this connective nature, and there are some harder than others. For example, in a handstand flow with movements like pike press, straddle position, V-sit and Split handstand the transitional movement that would make more sense would be the handstand. This part is very important because is what impides a Corner or a Bump, which is a moment where the flow cannot continue due to a block, so that at least in theory you can continue flowing forever.
Once you develop the Transitional move, you can start creating Sequences. This is the practice of little combinations, so in our case you create combos like going from a Role-Squat-QDR-Squat, then Rotation into Low Bridge-Squat-Au Cortado-Squat, and so on. You are still not joining them all together but creating mini flows around the transitional move.
You can finally start improvising in a Closed system flow. This is an improvisation between known elements and transitions, so it’s just putting together all of the movements around the transitional move. This is still the integration phase because, as you can see, you are still just playing with known elements, so it’s not improvisation in the widest sense of the word.
After this, you arrive to the improvisation stage. You first develop ‘Fusion movements’, which are changes between one movement to another without going through the Transitional movement. This will create new transitions. So you go directly from an Au cortado to a QDR, without using the squat. You practice this in chunks, and when you have enough practice you get to the final Improvisation step- the Open system flow. In here you are not bound anymore by the known movements or transitions, but you flow between them and introduce movements that are foreign to this flow. So in a sense here is where you integrate this particular flow with the totality of your “movement vocabulary” (read: other flows you have created). This can be done between acrobatics, yoga, dance, capoeira, break dancing and so much more, overcoming the separation between styles to get into your very own embodiment of expression and creativity.
Think of the possibilities. | https://kinemaproject.com/2016/11/16/a-look-into-flow-creation/ |
Words I love to hear are, “Mom, What’s for dinner?”……
I was born and raised in India eating my mom’s scrumptious food. She’s a talented chef and food enthusiast. Her food not only tastes amazing but it’s also a feast for the eyes. Growing up, I remember her cooking with the freshest ingredients and experimenting with delicious recipes. Even though I grew up in a Maharashtrian family, flavors and spices from all over India influenced our meals.
I moved to the US in 1997, over 8000 miles away from my mother’s gourmet cooking. Yet the flavors and aromas of her cooking are still a distinct memory. I didn’t cook while I was in India so as my cravings set in I had to quickly learn with phone calls to my mom. The taste of her food was so vivid in my memory that it was fairly easy to adjust the flavors to be just like hers. With her guidance and precise techniques I was able to recreate her recipes and her methods also helped me to develop my own as well.
Before I knew it, I was spending more and more time in the kitchen, experimenting with different ingredients, cuisines and presentations. My husband, my biggest supporter, is my sous-chef and master taster. He is constantly encouraging me to try new recipes and he is also the driving force behind my new cooking blog and class venture.
I have come full circle since leaving India and I now love cooking for my boys. Words I love to hear are, “Mom, What’s for dinner?” The same words I still say to my mom every time we speak. My boys look forward to our home cooked feasts. It’s what brings us together so many times in one day. We love to try different cuisines and have many family favorites. I am proud to see that my children are growing up eating and appreciating the same food I do.
I may be a software engineer by trade but I am chef mom by heart. | https://ministryofcurry.com/about-2/ |
Recently we published information from Nairn Health Care Group in response to concerns raised in the public domain by the Patients Group - what the practice said can be found in this Gurn article here "Nairn Health Care statement - clarification of communication to Patients Group." The original Patients Group statement is here "PPG promise to keep patients informed." That too, in its turn, was also a response to a response by the NHS and the healthcare group .
Now another press release from the Patients Group has been published on their website. Here's a paragraph from the latest missive:
"Overall, the PPG has been disappointed in the approach of the Practice in dealing with issues, especially when we were prepared to postpone public meetings and make efforts to provide a new partnering agreement. The Practice has not been prepared to place in writing the issues they have articulated to us nor have they provided evidence to support their claims. It is also disappointing that they have not even considered mediation to repair this ‘breakdown in trust’ between the Practice and the Chair. We can only conclude that they were not happy with the way that they were being portrayed in the press and have not had a effective strategy to deal with the press and public. What is even more disappointing is that the PPG could have helped the practice in these matters and indeed offered in private to help. "
More information on the PPG site here including links to copies of documents they have sent to the practice. | http://www.gurnnurn.com/2014/08/patients-group-further-statement.html |
SHOW ME HOW YOU CAN BUILD YOUR OWN MODELS!
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Vaporwave is a genre of vaporwave, a type of music made from samples of old electronic music
mainly of the 1980s and 1990s. Created by
duckz0r, who defines it as “A cross between modern
pop and the musical styles of the 1980s and 1990s.” The
genre is often confused with the vaporwave subgenre,
which is often considered as vaporwave’s direct
antipode.
Created by the ever-creativeQ:
How to export Kendo UI Grid items to a.csv file
I have an ASP.Net MVC application that uses a Kendo UI Grid to display some data.
I need to export the grid to a.csv file so that it can be used in another application. I tried the following: | https://madisontaxservices.com/cszoomhackzoombot |
BACKGROUND
SUMMARY
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for optimizing route planning for vehicles. The invention is especially useful in reducing costs associated the “last mile” of a deliverable, although not limited to such use.
2. Background Discussion
In business and as is used in this disclosure, the “last mile” refers to the process of getting a deliverable (a service or product, e.g.) to a final customer or consumer (e.g. a package from a distribution center to a customer). In this context, the “last mile” does not refer to the last 5,280 feet traveled by the deliverable—the “last mile” of the deliverable may be significantly more or less than a mile. According to the Council of Logistics Management, in average, 28 percent of transportation costs are incurred in this so-called last mile, which greatly impacts a company's bottom line. The last mile is also a major concern to businesses as it strongly influences a customer's perception of a company. Because the last mile includes the final point of contact with customers, it greatly affects a customer's brand loyalty based on that customer's good or bad experience.
To improve the efficiency of last mile delivery, numerous conflicting constraints are involved, e.g., congestion on roads, delivery time requirements for different categories of mail, such as priority post, varying customer needs, real time notification to pick up a packet for upstream while engaged in downstream delivery, and so on. Though a flood of new technologies and services have cropped up in the past 10 years promising to streamline companies' supply chains, few solutions have sufficiently addressed the last mile delivery problem. Given the performance efficiency expected by the customers, versus cost-sensitiveness of the last mile, delivery agencies are quite logically seeking ways to reduce costs precisely at the distribution end. Thus there is a need to search for efficient delivery methods, rendering lower delivery costs, minimum delivery time, employing less number of carriers, and yet offer better service to customers.
Planning an optimum route for travel from an initial location (e.g. a distribution center) to multiple customer locations is an important aspect to reducing costs associated with the last mile. Some businesses where such optimum route planning is pertinent include postal delivery businesses (UPS, USPS, FedEx, DHL etc), other delivery businesses (e.g. WebVan, Sameday.com, for web orders, online grocery delivery, pizza delivery, etc), supply chain management companies, as well as businesses needing to visit multiple customers for solely service and/or sales purposes (e.g., a cable service company).
Many navigation systems for planning an optimum route between locations base calculations solely on static information, for example start and ending points provided by a user, and a database with road map information (fixed on a CD in the vehicle). Such systems are useful for providing directions, but are inadequate for optimizing route travel for many businesses desiring to reduce costs associated with the last mite. Many of these navigation systems do not have an optimum route planning algorithm capable of determining the optimum order of traveling to multiple desired locations, and instead can only choose the route between two locations (the starting location and the ending location). Further, since the route is calculated based on static information (the map information fixed on a CD e.g.), changes which may have occurred to such information (traffic patterns, e.g.) cannot be taken into account when planning the optimum route.
Systems for planning an optimum route using updated information are known. U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,123 relates to a method and a device for transmitting navigation information from a data processing center to an on-board navigation system. The updated navigation information may include information pertaining to, e.g., addition of a new road in the road network infrastructure, road closings due to constructions, parking services, general urban information, and availability of a new restaurants/hotels. Thus because the user receives updates over the air, it reduces the need to replace the entire storage medium (e.g., a purchase of a new CD ROM with an updated digital map).
U.S. Pat. No. 6,028,553 refers to a self-sufficient navigation system in combination with a GSM interface via which a current route can be requested. The self-sufficient navigation system can calculate the route to the desired destination, purely self-sufficiently on the basis of the static data on board. A presumed position at a time of an anticipated reply is transmitted to a central with an inquiry via a mobile radiotelephone network. The central can then check whether it is possible to travel over the indicated path segment. When the central finds that it is not possible to travel over the planned path segments, it calculates the route and a route recommendation is output to the vehicle as data. This is generally a sequence of path segments. Since the method involves transmitting a route's navigation information, it may have the disadvantage that very large volumes of data may be required to be transmitted, congesting a wireless network and incurring associated high wireless service fees.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,334,089 describes a vehicle-based navigation system located in a vehicle, and a central server located outside of the vehicle. The navigation system includes an input device by which at least one destination is input thereto, the central server includes means for determining a route or the vehicle from the at least one destination and means for transmitting the route determined from the at least one destination piecewise to the navigation system. Since the system also involves transmitting a route's navigation information, a large amount of data should be transferred, congesting a wireless network, resulting in high wireless service fees.
In United States Application 20020152018 relates to the problem of congesting wireless networks due to transmission of route information to the vehicle from a control center. Data required for optimized route planning, which must be transmitted from a traffic control center to a motor vehicle navigation system, is reduced to a lesser amount. Essentially only the information necessary for driving an alternative section of the original route is transmitted from a traffic control center to the vehicle navigation system. This information represents only deviations from the route calculated in the vehicle navigation system.
However, the navigation systems noted above are not suitable for many service vehicles as there is no ability of the navigations systems to determine the order of multiple destinations to obtain an optimum route between all of the desired destinations. Further, there is no mechanism taught to dynamically alter the destinations. Finally, there is a concern of congesting wireless networks in the communication of route data from a control center to the vehicle.
The present invention overcomes the various limitations and deficiencies in the background art. An optimized geographical route between multiple destinations is determined on board a service vehicle. According to some embodiments, the optimum route is determined based upon static information and dynamic information which has been received wirelessly. The route is optimized to enhance distribution efficiency and reduce costs associated with last mile delivery, while reducing use of the wireless network.
1. Addressee Information (e.g., Name, Phone Number, email address and/or a Proxy's Name, Phone Number, etc., in cases where an addressee is absent);
2. Delivery Destination Information (e.g., Postal Address);
3. Delivery Requirements (e.g., priority mail, regular, signature required, signature not required/drop at door step, time of delivery, etc.).
According to some embodiments, a deliverer will scan deliverables at a point of origin so as to effectively enter Static Information (SI) into a database of an on board server (OBS) from, e.g., labels of packages or the like. In some embodiments, Static Information can include, e.g.:
4. Real time traffic congestion information on all the routes that correspond to the entered destinations,
5. Real time presence information of the addressees/proxies at the addressed destinations: and
6. Real time feedback received from the addressee/proxy in response to the automatic SMS query pertaining to delivery options (e.g., alternate delivery address requested by the addressee corresponding to his real time present position, alternate time requested by the addressee, care of address, etc.)
According to some embodiments, the on board server is also made capable of receiving Dynamic Information (DI), such as, e.g.:
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In some preferred embodiments, information pertaining to parameters (), by way of example, noted above will be received from a Control Center Server (CCS) and/or from other meshed OBSs belonging to a fleet (such as, e.g., of the same operator using state of the art wireless technologies). In some preferred embodiments, information pertaining to parameter (), by way of example, noted above will be received from, e.g., a 3GPP Presence Server through CCS, and information pertaining to parameter (), by way of example, noted above will be received by an OBS via a direct automatic interaction with the addressee by sending and receiving, e.g., a Query/Response in an automatic pre-formatted text, requiring the addressee/recipient's response in a Binary format.
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In preferred embodiments, making use of above noted information, an Optimum Route Planning Algorithm (ORPA) (such as, by way of example, based on Ant Colony Optimization and Dijkstra algorithms) will be executed in the OBS that would enable the OBS to plan and specify an optimized route involving all destinations prioritized in a manner that would meet the criteria set by parameters , , , , , and above. In some embodiments, the output of the OBS will be informed to a Car (or other vehicle) Navigation System (CNS). Preferably, the CNS will guide the deliverer with driving directions (such as, e.g., according to existing state of art global positioning systems (GPS)) enabling him to deliver packages one by one in a sequential manner.
Among other things, because the route planning can be done by an electronic server taking into account several variables pertaining to SI and DI, compared to human planning, it would be efficient and thus cost effective. Furthermore, since the route planning and navigational computations can be done by an on board server (OBS), it can avoid heavy signaling burdens on, e.g., a wireless network.
In some embodiments, the Optimum Route Planning Algorithm (ORPA) can be performed before leaving a point of origin. Then, during transmit, as the situation changes, such as, e.g., due to changes in dynamic information or dynamic changes in information, the algorithm can be recalculated with a new point of origin considered (e.g., based on the then present position of the vehicle).
In some embodiments, the dynamic information can include information that changes during delivery (such as, e.g., while driving along a delivery route). By way of example, dynamic information can, thus, include a) congestion information (e.g., real-time congestion of traffic along a route), b) weather conditions (e.g., providing route recommendations based on weather conditions), c) information from other peers (e.g., information provided by other peers during driving along a route), d) information related to a job handover and/or interaction with a peer during driving along a route (e.g., whereby deliverers can potentially collaborate during delivery, such as, e.g., to effect a job-handover (such as, e.g., to pass over a package to another vehicle during transmit), such as, e.g., to effect an optimization between plural vehicles concurrently), e) vehicle performance (e.g., fuel efficiencies, driving performance (e.g., sliding of vehicle detected during delivery [e.g., to automatically recalculate a safer route], weight loads and/or other vehicle conditions), f) changes in requests related to deliveries, such as, e.g., customer's calling in for different items for delivery, new orders, cancellation of orders or the like.
In some embodiments, the optimization can be performed so as to optimize, e.g., a) time (such as, e.g., to select a route that minimizes an overall time of delivery, or alternatively such as, e.g., to select a route that minimizes deviations from estimated delivery times at respective destinations or the like), b) distance (such as, e.g., to minimize distances traveled via vehicles); and/or c) costs (such as, e.g., taking into account a variety of costs, such as, e.g., wear and tear on vehicles, fuel efficiencies, costs for operators of vehicles, costs for hours of operations, costs for late deliveries, etc.).
In some preferred embodiments, the algorithm employed can include a forecasting functionality. In this regard, the algorithm can provide, e.g., an optimization including forecasting based on prior examples. For instance, a database can includes e.g., delivery times stored in the database based on similarities of circumstance (e.g., same product delivered, same destination, same time of day and/or the like), such that an estimation of time or the like can be taken into consideration and a determination of a probability based on past experience and data can be achieved. By way of example, in some examples, presence information can be calculated based on probability (e.g., such as, e.g., if on many prior occasions a customer was not present for deliveries).
In some of the preferred embodiments, systems and methods described herein can be advantageously employed in the contexts of, e.g., delivery or providing of a) services and/or b) goods, such as, e.g., for i) package deliveries (e.g., FEDEX: UPS, etc.), ii) commercial deliveries (e.g., store deliveries [e.g., department store deliveries], food deliveries [e.g., pizza deliveries], passenger deliveries [e.g., taxi drop off of plural passengers], newspaper deliveries, routes of repair and/or other service vehicles [such as, e.g., HVAC repairmen, lawn services, plumbing services, etc.].
The above and/or other aspects, features and/or advantages of various embodiments will be further appreciated in view of the following description in conjunction with the accompanying figures. Various embodiments can include and/for exclude different aspects, features and/or advantages where applicable. In addition, various embodiments can combine one or more aspect or feature of other embodiments where applicable. The descriptions of aspects, features and/or advantages of particular embodiments should not be construed as limiting other embodiments or the claims.
While the present invention may be embodied in many different forms, a number of illustrative embodiments are described with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as providing examples of the principles of the various inventions described herein and that such examples are not intended to limit the invention to preferred embodiments described herein and/or illustrated herein.
As used in this disclosure, “services” include the pickup and delivery of products (e.g., packages and/or mail), services which do not provide a product, and salesperson related activities. Further examples of “services∞ include delivery and pickup of packages, groceries, etc, (e.g., UPS [e.g., packages and mail], FEDEX [e.g., packages and mail], PEAPOD [e.g., groceries]), providing car repair and/or towing services, sales of brokerage services, cable television services, and a doctor/nurses/pharmaceutical services to patients to name a few. A service vehicle” generically refers to any vehicle used to provide services. As used in this disclosure, “delivery” and “deliverable” may refer to delivery of services, and does not necessarily require (although includes) delivery of a physical product (e.g., a doctor may deliver her services of a checkup of a patient).
FIG. 1
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Details of one embodiment of the invention will now be described with respect to . In this example, a service vehicle is a delivery van : including a navigation system and a wireless communication system . The navigation system includes an on-board server and a user interface for inputting and outputting information from and to the user. Here the user interface is represented by a display, but may also include a keyboard, mouse, scanner, microphone etc. for input of information, as well as a speaker for voice communications with a user. On-board server includes hardware and software for executing an optimum route planning algorithm. The on-board server communicates with GPS (global positioning system) hardware to determine the location of the vehicle (although the GPS can be integral with the on-board server ). The on-board server is communicatively connected to wireless communication system to receive information transmitted wirelessly and to send information wirelessly outside of the delivery van .
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A control center includes a control center server and a wireless communication system . The control center server may communicate with third party servers, such as traffic monitoring server and presence server , over the internet, for example. The control center server may also communicate with the on-board server wirelessly via wireless communication systems and .
On-Board Server
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1. Addressees information (e.g., name, phone number, email address, a proxy's name, phone number and address in case the addressee is absent).
2. Delivery destination information (postal address).
3. Delivery time requirements for different categories of mail/packages (e.g. in case of FedEx Priority Overnight, the packages are guaranteed to arrive early morning, i.e. around 9 AM, FedEx Priority Standard packages are guaranteed to arrive around noon, and so on).
4. Other delivery requirements (e.g., signature required, signature not required/drop at door step).
The on-board server is capable of determining the optimum route based on several sources of information. The on-board server includes a database with road map information of the relevant delivery area. In addition to this static information, according to the embodiment of present invention, the deliverer will scan the deliverables at the point of origin to enter static information in the database from the labels of the packages. This information may include:
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1. Obtain real time road congestion parameters. Here the control center server obtains real time road congestion information from a third party's traffic monitoring server . In a modification of this embodiment, this road congestion information may be transmitted from other sources, such as other peer delivery vehicles.
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2. Obtain real time presence information of addressees of packages. Here, the control center server receives location information of an addressee from presence server which is part of a third party's cellular network. The cellular network has location information due to a GPS function in the addressees' cell phone.
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3. Communicate GPS parameters of the delivery van in real time.
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4. Update destination information modifying the multiple target destinations of the route of the delivery van, including the addition, subtraction and/or modification of destination information. In this example, the updated destination information may result from a customer placing a new order for picking up a package, canceling an order for pickup, or modifying a destination for delivery of a package. Such updated information may be entered into the control center server database by an operator responding to a customer's call, or may be automatically entered via a customers access to the delivery company's interactive website.
In the preferred embodiments, the on-board server is capable of wirelessly communicating with control center to:
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In some illustrative examples, the on-board server includes software to forecast the delivery time (based on its current location as notified by GPS ) and send an SMS (short message service or text messaging) message to the recipients notifying them an approximated delivery time. In the event the recipient informs the delivery van of his or her unavailability, the on-board server acts accordingly. Specifically, after the on-board server receives notification that an addressee will not be present at a delivery location during the expected delivery time, the on-board server determines if the package associated with such requires a signature for proof of delivery. If so, the on-board server reschedules the delivery according to the recipient's availability. If the package does not require a signature, the package may be dropped off at the appropriate address according to the predetermined route.
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Alternate delivery option information may be received through SMS via a predefined format, so that the responses from the addressee may be interpreted by the on-board server . Numerical responses from depressing a keypad on the addressee's cell phone may be associated with some predefined alternate delivery option. For example, a customer depressing a “1” may indicated to the package delivery van to deliver the package to the addressee's home address, “2” to the customer's work address, and “3” to a proxy (e.g., a neighbor). Preferably, all of these addresses should previously input into an accessible database (erg, within the on-board server or control center server ). In a modification of this embodiment, a computer generated call may be used to automatically notify and possibly reschedule delivery. Alternatively, an operator at the control center or the vehicle driver may perform the notification and any necessary rescheduling.
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Upon receiving updated information (e.g., traffic congestion, new package pickup, cancelled destination, rescheduled delivery, etc.), either from the control center , or directly from a customer via SMS, the on-board server recalculates the optimum route using such updated information, communicates the updated route to the driver of the delivery van via the user interface (preferably a display with voice commands). The driver does not need to be made aware that the route has been updated.
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As will be realized, this would reduce the cost to the shipper through improved delivery density and a reduction in aborted delivery attempts, a significant benefit since it is estimated that a large percentage of U.S. households have no one home during the day. Thus on-board server is capable of using available real time information and adapting/revising the planned delivery route in a way that human planner can not do.
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The on-board server also functions to receive and location information of the delivery van from the GPS . The location information may be used to determine whether or not the service vehicle has visited a desired destination so that any recalculated optimum routes (due to receipt of updated information) may take this into account. The software preferably requires confirmation by the vehicle operator that a delivery has been successfully made at the desired destination. Alternatively, the use of a bar code reader or manual input by delivery personnel may be used to determine whether or not the service vehicle has visited a desired destination.
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The on-board server may also be capable of communicating with a peer on-board server installed on the fleet of the same operator to handover job/responsibility/package, if the delivery meet or plan to meet, or receive any other information that may be used for efficient route planning (e.g., traffic congestion information not available via the control center).
Control Center Server
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1. Resources which maintain/broadcast/announce real time traffic information pertaining to a local area (such as, e.g., geographical zone or area), here shown as traffic monitoring server . This communication may be either wireline or wireless.
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2. Resources with data pertaining to the location of addressees. In this embodiment, the control center communicates with presence server installed in cellular operators networks and defined by 3GPP/3GPP2. This communication may be either wireline or wireless.
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3. With on-board server , as discussed above. This communication is wireless.
In some embodiments, the control center server is preferably capable of communicating with,
The control center server can also be made capable to coordinate other last mile delivery vendors (such as, e.g., WEBVAN, KOZMO, Web delivery orders, on line grocery distributors, SAMEDAY.COM, e-tailors, etc.) who have very low volume of deliveries on any particular route, or any particular day of a week, and consequently can offer delivery service to them. This may be regarded as Inter Company Job Hand-off. This is a good business model for companies with low delivery volumes, consistent utilization within markets, and/or highly specialized delivery needs. These companies may save substantial upfront capital investment, and operating cost (employees' salaries, benefits, vehicle costs and maintenance, and insurance become a financial burden if the fleet is not utilized to capacity).
In case of Web delivery orders real-time pick-up (such as, e.g., from SHOPRITE) and delivery to the customer (without taking the consignment to the warehouse) could also be possible. It would also help the last mile distributor to use physical land space more efficiently. In this case the algorithm can also unicast/multicast its approximate arrival for pick-up.
Optimum Route Planning Algorithm
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1. Real time traffic and congestion information on local routes/highways. This information is transmitted to the on-board server from control center server . In a modification of this embodiment, this information also or alternatively may be transmitted directly or indirectly from other peer delivery vehicles (directly or indirectly).
2. Delivery time requirements for different categories of mail/packages (e.g. in case of FEDEX Priority Overnight, the packages are guaranteed to arrive early morning, such as, e.g., around 9 AM, FEDEX Priority Standard packages around noon, and so on).
3. Updated destination information modifying the multiple target destinations of the route of the delivery van, including the addition, subtraction and/or modification of destination information. In this example, the updated destination information may result from a new order for picking up a package, a cancellation of an order for pickup, or a customer's modification of a destination for delivery of a package.
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4. Presence information from control center server via the control center server . Here, the control center server receives location information of an addressee from the presence server of a cellular network operator. In some examples, the cellular network operator can have location information due to a global positioning system (GPS) function in the addressees' cell phone.
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5. Alternate delivery options. Such alternate delivery option information may be received through SMS via a predefined format, so that the responses from the addressee may be interpreted by the on-board server Numerical responses from depressing a keypad on the addressee's cell phone may be associated with some predefined alternate delivery option. For example, in some illustrative examples, a customer can depress a “1” to indicate to the package delivery van to deliver the package to the addressee's home address, or a “2” to indicate delivery to the customer's work address, or a “3” to indicate delivery to a neighbor.
Optimum Route Planning Algorithm is executed in on-board server . In some illustrative and non-limiting examples, the Optimum Route Planning Algorithm uses the following data for its calculations:
FIG. 2
FIG. 2
In mathematical terms, the topology of the problem as described above can be represented by a weighted graph as shown in . The graph can be considered a mesh where “edges” of the graph are asymmetric. As shown in the illustrative example in , the weighted graph properties include vertices A, B, C, D, and E. Each vertex is connected to all other vertices via an edge, resulting here in edges A-B, A-C, A-D, A-E, B-C, B-D, B-E, C-D, C-E and D-E.
FIG. 2
The cost of traversing an edge is notated along the edge in . Cost traversing and edge can be symmetric or asymmetric. Symmetric cost means the cost in traversing an edge in the forward direction is the same as the cost in traversing it in the reverse direction. Asymmetric means the forward and reverse cost are different (e.g., “11,3” and “3,7” on edges A-D and D-E respectively).
FIG. 2
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In , the delivery van has to visit destinations B, C, D and E with a starting location at A. Each path between two vertices has an associated cost. As will be understood, the delivery van has many options to which order these destinations may be visited. The order of the destinations and thus the optimum route is chosen as the route having the minimum sum of costs associated of all traversed edges of the weighted graph, corresponding to route. When moving from one location (vertex) to another, it has to traverse an edge that has an associated cost within a give direction. The goal is to visit all vertices with the least total sum cost of all traversed edges.
FIG. 2
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An additional consideration for on-board server is that the cost of an edge may change dynamically throughout the route (e.g., changing over the course of the day or the like). In reference to , a given algorithm can compute the optimum round-trip route from a starting point, i.e. vertex A. Such computation can take into account a prediction that a cost of an edge will change throughout the day (e.g., during rush hour, it is predicted that the costs of certain edges may increase). However, during the course of traversing the route, such as, e.g., while visiting a location along the route (vertex), the destinations the delivery van is required to visit and/or the cost of subsequent edges (forward or reverse) may differ from those used during the initial prediction (whether or not the computation predicts a variation of costs or assumes the costs are fixed). The updated information is transmitted wirelessly from the control center to the delivery van (via wireless systems and ). Upon receipt of this updated information, the on-board server recalculates the optimum route, excluding any destinations already visited and take into account that the starting vertex should reflect the current location of the delivery van (e.g., using the current location, or using a predicted location, or only modifying the optimum route after the delivery van has reached the next vertex according to the current optimum route [which is to be updated]). Further, because many existing algorithms for the calculation of an optimum route assume the start and ending vertex are the same, an algorithm should be used which does rely on this assumption or modification of one that does.
There are many optimum route planning algorithms that may be used within the context of this invention. For example, (a) Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) Algorithm, (b) Dijkstra algorithm, and/or (c) a combination thereof may be used as Optimum Route Planning Algorithm. Further details of ACO and how it can be applied to transportation logistics can be found in “Ant Colony Optimization,” by Marco Dorigo and Thomas Stuzle (see, e.g., http://www.aco-metaheuristic.org), and this entire reference is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Details of the Dijkstra algorithm can be found in, e.g., Combinatorial Optimization, Algorithms and Complexity, by Cristos H. Papadimitriou, et al. (ISBN-0486-402584)(see, e.g., Chapter 6.4): the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
FIG. 3
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illustrates an example a method the on board server preferably implements. Locations of multiple destinations are input to the on-board server . As noted above, this may be done with a bar-code scanner scanning packages for a package delivery service vehicle. Using road map data, the on board server then determines the optimum route, including the which order the destinations should be visited as well as the roads the vehicle should take. The optimum route is then communicated to the operator of the vehicle. The on board server then receives updated information via wireless system . Such information may be information regarding traffic congestion or information regarding new, modified or cancelled destinations. After receipt of such updated information, the on-board server re-determines the optimum route using the updated information. When re-determining the optimum route, the on-board server disregards any destinations the vehicle has already visited and takes into account the updated information.
Broad Scope of the Invention
While illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described herein, the present invention is not limited to the various preferred embodiments described herein, but includes any and all embodiments having equivalent elements, modifications, omissions, combinations (e.g., of aspects across various embodiments), adaptations and/or alterations as would be appreciated by those in the art based on the present disclosure. For example, the preferred embodiment was described as including many sources of information to calculate an optimum route. However, many of these sources of information may be replaced or eliminated, or may come from other sources than those described herein. This may depend on a cost-benefit analysis to the user. Also, while this invention has particular applicability to service vehicles, the invention may also be used in a non-commercial setting. As an additional example, many of the functions described in the servers may occur in separate stand-alone systems and be communicatively coupled with the server (e.g., the GPS system and navigation systems in the delivery van may be separate stand alone systems from the on-board server, and may be part of the on-board server).
The limitations in the claims are to be interpreted broadly based on the language employed in the claims and not limited to examples described in the present specification or during the prosecution of the application, which examples are to be construed as non-exclusive. For example, in the present disclosure, the term “preferably” is non-exclusive and means “preferably, but not limited to.” In this disclosure and during the prosecution of this application, means-plus-function or step-plus-function limitations will only be employed where for a specific claim limitation all of the following conditions are present in that limitation; a) “means for” or “step for” is expressly recited; b) a corresponding function is expressly recited; and c) structure, material or acts that support that structure are not recited. In this disclosure and during the prosecution of this application, the terminology “present invention” or “invention” may be used as a reference to one or more aspect within the present disclosure. The language present invention or invention should not be improperly interpreted as an identification of criticality, should not be improperly interpreted as applying across all aspects or embodiments (i.e., it should be understood that the present invention has a number of aspects and embodiments), and should not be improperly interpreted as limiting the scope of the application or claims. In this disclosure and during the prosecution of this application, the terminology “embodiment” can be used to describe any aspect, feature, process or step, any combination thereof, and/or any portion thereof, etc. In some examples, various embodiments may include overlapping features. In this disclosure, the following abbreviated terminology may be employed: “e.g.” which means “for example.” In this disclosure and during the prosecution of this application, “having” and “including” are used synonymously with “comprising”—i.e., all are considered “open ended” terms Only the phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” will be used as “close ended”. | |
(This issue is discussed in a review in PNAS that can be dowloaded here. See the abstract in the next section).
It is well-established that living close to green space reduces overall mortality and cardiovascular disease, and enhances a sense of wellbeing while reducing depressive symptoms. These effects are most striking in people of low socioeconomic status (SES). Why does exposure to green space have this effect?
Some argue that living close to green spaces increases exercise, but this is often untrue. Those living in leafy suburbs may be obliged to take a car to go anywhere at all.
Others argue that the green space may increase social interactions, and so boost “social capital”. This might sometimes be true, but more often multiple other institutions (places of worship, pubs, cafes, community centres, clubs, team sports etc) play this role.
A more common interpretation of the green space effect attributes it to an evolved psychological phenomenon similar to “habitat selection” in other species. We evolved as hunter-gatherers in open spaces, usually following rivers, coast lines and the shores of lakes. Therefore contemplation of such environments might fulfil a psychological need. There is convincing evidence of short term psychological effects following exposure to green spaces. These effects can be proven, not only using psychological testing, but also using portable electroencephalograms, salivary cortisol, blood pressure and a variety of cardiac parameters. So these short-term physiological effects do exist. But are they the crucial explanation for the green space effect?
There are two problems with the psychological work.
First, it is not clear that short periods of “nature-induced” relaxation (even if repeated at intervals) would cause the long-term effects on survival and wellbeing that are undoubtedly associated with proximity to green spaces.
Secondly, and more important, is the lack of essential controls in much of the psychological work. The green space exposure is usually compared with exposure to an urban scene or busy urban street. A second control is needed to prove specificity. In other words, would sitting in a quiet urban bar, listening to soothing music, holding a glass of cold beer have the same effect as the green space?
It could be that the Green Space effect is an additive phenomenon, attributable in part to all three mechanisms suggested above.
However the Old Friends mechanism can add a 4th mechanism that in some ways seems more convincing than the other three, because it can be documented by physiological measures that relate directly to the disorders from which green spaces protect us. We may indeed have evolved to need the psychological input from the natural environment. But just as important, our immune systems have evolved to require inputs from biodiversity of the natural environment, and as other pages explain, this input affects wellbeing, chronic inflammatory disorders, and psychiatric conditions.
Epidemiological studies suggest that living close to the natural environment is associated with long-term health benefits including reduced death rates, reduced cardiovascular disease, and reduced psychiatric problems. This is often attributed to psychological mechanisms, boosted by exercise, social interactions, and sunlight. Compared with urban environments, exposure to green spaces does indeed trigger rapid psychological, physiological, and endocrinological effects. However, there is little evidence that these rapid transient effects cause long-term health benefits or even that they are a specific property of natural environments. Meanwhile, the illnesses that are increasing in high-income countries are associated with failing immunoregulation and poorly regulated inflammatory responses, manifested as chronically raised C-reactive protein and proinflammatory cytokines. This failure of immunoregulation is partly attributable to a lack of exposure to organisms (“Old Friends”) from mankind’s evolutionary past that needed to be tolerated and therefore evolved roles in driving immunoregulatory mechanisms. Some Old Friends (such as helminths and infections picked up at birth that established carrier states) are almost eliminated from the urban environment. This increases our dependence on Old Friends derived from our mothers, other people, animals, and the environment. It is suggested that the requirement for microbial input from the environment to drive immunoregulation is a major component of the beneficial effect of green space, and a neglected ecosystem service that is essential for our well-being. This insight will allow green spaces to be designed to optimize health benefits and will provide impetus from health systems for the preservation of ecosystem biodiversity.
Flandroy L, Poutahidis T, Berg G, Clarke G, Dao M-C, Decaestecker E, Furman E, Haahtela T, Massart S, Plovier H, Sanz Y, Rook GAW. The impact of human activities and lifestyles on the interlinked microbiota and health of humans and of ecosystems. Science of the Total Environment. 2018;627:1018-38.
This paper analyses parallels between the microbiota of humans, other animals, soil and plants, and discusses the ways in which human activity is damaging microbial biodiversity. It also outlines educational and societal measures that we need to adopt to protect this biodiversity. See abstract of the paper on the “Microbial Biodiversity” page.
This paper can be downloaded here.
The health benefits of green space…… psychology or biology?
A paper published by the Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology (CUGE) in issue #11, pages 50-59 of “CITYGREEN”.
The entire issue #11 of CITYGREEN is available from the CUGE site for 15 Singapore dollars.
This paper explores some of the same issues as the PNAS review, but attempts to explain the arguments in terms comprehensible to non-medical and to non-specialist readers.
Another interesting issue is why approximately 1/3 of the organisms in the gut microbiota are spore-forming. There is now excellent evidence that some spore-forming soil organisms are in fact capable of germinating in the human small bowel, and then replicating there before sporulating when they enter the colon...... and then re-entering the environment.
"Microbial "Old Friends", immunoregulation and socio-economic status"
or directly from this website.
Microbial Old Friends, immunoregulation and stress resilience. Enter description here.
Rook GAW, Lowry CA, Raison CL.
Chronic inflammatory diseases (autoimmunity, allergy and inflammatory bowel diseases) are increasing in prevalence in urban communities in high-income countries. One important factor is reduced exposure to immunoregulation-inducing macro- and microorganisms and microbiota that accompanied mammalian evolution (the hygiene hypothesis or ‘Old Friends’ mechanism). Reduced exposure to these organisms predisposes to poor regulation of inflammation. But inflammation is equally relevant to psychiatric disorders. Inflammatory mediators modulate brain development, cognition and mood, and accompany low socioeconomic status and some cases of depression in developed countries. The risk of all these conditions (chronic inflammatory and psychiatric) is increased in urban versus rural communities, and increased in immigrants, particularly if they move from a low- to a high-income country during infancy, and often the prevalence increases further in second generation immigrants, suggesting that critical exposures modulating disease risk occur during pregnancy and infancy. Diminished exposure to immunoregulation-inducing Old Friends in the perinatal period may enhance the consequences of psychosocial stressors, which induce increased levels of inflammatory mediators, modulate the microbiota and increase the risk for developing all known psychiatric conditions. In later life, the detrimental effects of psychosocial stressors may be exaggerated when the stress occurs against a background of reduced immunoregulation, so that more inflammation (and therefore more psychiatric symptoms) result from any given level of psychosocial stress. This interaction between immunoregulatory deficits and psychosocial stressors may lead to reduced stress resilience in modern urban communities. This concept suggests novel interpretations of recent epidemiology, and novel approaches to the increasing burden of psychiatric disease.
Effect of exposure to natural environment on health inequalities: an observational population study Enter description here.
BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that exposure to the natural environment, or so-called green space, has an independent effect on health and health-related behaviours. We postulated that income-related inequality in health would be less pronounced in populations with greater exposure to green space, since access to such areas can modify pathways through which low socioeconomic position can lead to disease. METHODS: We classified the population of England at younger than retirement age (n=40 813 236) into groups on the basis of income deprivation and exposure to green space. We obtained individual mortality records (n=366 348) to establish whether the association between income deprivation, all-cause mortality, and cause-specific mortality (circulatory disease, lung cancer, and intentional self-harm) in 2001-05, varied by exposure to green space measured in 2001, with control for potential confounding factors. We used stratified models to identify the nature of this variation. FINDINGS: The association between income deprivation and mortality differed significantly across the groups of exposure to green space for mortality from all causes (p<0.0001) and circulatory disease (p=0.0212), but not from lung cancer or intentional self-harm. Health inequalities related to income deprivation in all-cause mortality and mortality from circulatory diseases were lower in populations living in the greenest areas. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) for all-cause mortality for the most income deprived quartile compared with the least deprived was 1.93 (95% CI 1.86-2.01) in the least green areas, whereas it was 1.43 (1.34-1.53) in the most green. For circulatory diseases, the IRR was 2.19 (2.04-2.34) in the least green areas and 1.54 (1.38-1.73) in the most green. There was no effect for causes of death unlikely to be affected by green space, such as lung cancer and intentional self-harm. INTERPRETATION: Populations that are exposed to the greenest environments also have lowest levels of health inequality related to income deprivation. Physical environments that promote good health might be important to reduce socioeconomic health inequalities.
We are at a key juncture in history where biodiversity loss is occurring daily and accelerating in the face of population growth, climate change, and rampant development. Simultaneously, we are just beginning to appreciate the wealth of human health benefits that stem from experiencing nature and biodiversity. Here we assessed the state of knowledge on relationships between human health and nature and biodiversity, and prepared a comprehensive listing of reported health effects. We found strong evidence linking biodiversity with production of ecosystem services and between nature exposure and human health, but many of these studies were limited in rigor and often only correlative. Much less information is available to link biodiversity and health. However, some robust studies indicate that exposure to microbial biodiversity can improve health, specifically in reducing certain allergic and respiratory diseases. Overall, much more research is needed on mechanisms of causation. Also needed are a re- envisioning of land-use planning that places human well-being at the center and a new coalition of ecologists, health and social scientists and planners to conduct research and develop policies that promote human interaction with nature and biodiversity. Improvements in these areas should enhance human health and ecosystem, community, as well as human resilience.
Environmental biodiversity, human microbiota, and allergy are interrelated Enter description here.
Hanski I, von Hertzen L, Fyhrquist N, Koskinen K, Torppa K, Laatikainen T, Karisola P, Auvinen P, Paulin L, Makela MJ, Vartiainen E, Kosunen TU, Alenius H, Haahtela T.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 May 7.
Rapidly declining biodiversity may be a contributing factor to another global megatrend-the rapidly increasing prevalence of allergies and other chronic inflammatory diseases among urban populations worldwide. According to the "biodiversity hypothesis," reduced contact of people with natural environmental features and biodiversity may adversely affect the human commensal microbiota and its immunomodulatory capacity. Analyzing atopic sensitization (i.e., allergic disposition) in a random sample of adolescents living in a heterogeneous region of 100 x 150 km, we show that environmental biodiversity in the surroundings of the study subjects' homes influenced the composition of the bacterial classes on their skin. Compared with healthy individuals, atopic individuals had lower environmental biodiversity in the surroundings of their homes and significantly lower generic diversity of gammaproteobacteria on their skin. The functional role of the Gram-negative gammaproteobacteria is supported by in vitro measurements of expression of IL-10, a key anti-inflammatory cytokine in immunologic tolerance, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In healthy, but not in atopic, individuals, IL-10 expression was positively correlated with the abundance of the gammaproteobacterial genus Acinetobacter on the skin. These results raise fundamental questions about the consequences of biodiversity loss for both allergic conditions and public health in general.
Natural immunity. Biodiversity loss and inflammatory diseases are two global megatrends that might be related Enter description here.
von Hertzen L, Hanski I, Haahtela T.
We are witnessing two global and deeply worrying trends that, at first glance, seem unrelated. the first trend is the ongoing decline in biodiversity, which is caused by human actions. It could well become the sixth mass extinction of animal and plant species on Earth, comparable in magnitude with the fifth mass extinction at the end of the cretaceous, 65 million years ago. the second trend is a rapid increase in chronic diseases that are associated with inflammation, especially in developed countries. inflammation is a key attribute in asthma and allergic diseases, autoimmune diseases and many cancers; even depression has been associated with the presence of inflammatory markers. in this article, we argue that these two phenomena are more closely related than commonly thought: declining biodiversity might actually increase the risk to humanity from chronic diseases and thereby cause a major public health problem. | http://grahamrook.net/GreenSpace/greenspace.html |
The opportunity:
The Logistics Manager is responsible for coordinating safe and efficient finishing & shipping operations and logistics in the papermill.
The Logistics Manager communicates performance expectations to team members, monitors production demands, supervises productivity and quality, while managing personnel daily.
How you will impact WestRock:
Communicate mill safety expectations to truck carriers and rail lines.
Supervise, lead, and coach Transportation and Warehousing assistants.
Work with sales department to determine transportation needs.
Qualify carriers for their ability to serve those needs, facilitate preparation and completion of requests for proposals, evaluate and select carriers based on estimation of best total value to the business, implement written agreements as needed, measure carrier performance, provide feedback to carriers, and adjust carrier base as needed.
Responsible for timely movement of freight per customer purchase order requirements, and per requirements dictated by small amount of on-site warehouse storage space.
Analyze and synthesize transportation-related data to determine new and/or alternative courses of action or other improvements (e.g., implementing a trailer pool, carrier mix optimization, etc.). Make recommendations and serve as a member of project teams to design and implement transportation related projects designed to improve safety and business efficiency.
Travel overnight to customer locations, offsite warehouses, carrier offices, or other business-related destinations to assess transportation needs and performance, and/or otherwise to improve the business.
Keep accurate & up to date truck and rail rates in Optivision order fulfillment system. Review and authorize freight invoices that do not match system accruals, determine root cause for differences, and implement changes to prevent future discrepancies.
Prepare and maintain current & estimated freight rates and transit times for use by sales staff to determine potential/account requirements and profitability. · Track all railcars on mill site, including those for both outbound finished goods and inbound raw materials. Keep operating departments appraised of inbound supply cars and arrange with railroad carriers to deliver raw material cars as needed by the mill.
Work with customer service, scheduling, and mill operations to minimize demurrage charges.
Participate and/or lead Kaizen, designed to continuously improve transportation, sales, operations, financial, and/or other business processes.
Work with mill staff to arrange and expedite transportation of inbound/outbound supplies and equipment.
Assist in evaluation and selection of new outside warehouses (including site visits), visiting warehouse locations as required. Establish, execute, and maintain warehouse service agreements, establish review process to monitor warehouse performance, and work with warehouse and sales management to resolve performance issues. Establish new warehouses in software systems.
Review offsite warehouses for aged & obsolete inventory, work with sales to dispose, and adjust target inventory levels, as necessary.
Research and resolve any discrepancies.
What you need to succeed:
Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Transportation, Accounting, Management, Marketing, or related field.
Five years of pulp and paper or related experience.
Ten years of experience in traffic or carrier and/or management, or in another shipping-related field.
Coursework or training in transportation economics, management, accounting, and marketing.
Functional experience with major PC applications/software.
Supervisory experience
What we offer:
Corporate culture based on integrity, respect, accountability, and excellence.
Comprehensive training with numerous learning and development opportunities.
An attractive salary reflecting skills, competencies, and potential.
A career with a global packaging company where Sustainability, Safety and Inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of the daily work. | https://www.cansur.org/job/logistics-manager/ |
Advanced RPO, a division of The Advanced Group, provides talent acquisition solutions to middle market employers. With a laser-focused approach to solving talent acquisition challenges, the organization works to understand each client’s business strategy to ensure an aligned solution. The Advanced RPO team helps clients thrive in today’s fast-paced, talent-driven economy, achieving a competitive business edge through a stronger, more adaptable workforce.
At Advanced Group, our commitment to diversity and inclusion in every part of our organization is crucial to fulfilling our mission and demonstrating our REAL values. A diverse staff allows us to effectively draw on different perspectives and enhance our efficiency and effectiveness. Diversity thereby strengthens the legitimacy and relevance of Advanced Group in delivering services to our clients. We seek talented, creative individuals from a variety of backgrounds and cultures to work with us. It is our priority that our workplace be inclusive, welcoming of diverse ideas and appreciative of valuable experience.
As the CEO, I recognize that individual differences represent a variety of opportunities for Advanced Group. We hold ourselves, our management team and all employees accountable for promoting an environment that values these differences and capitalizes on these opportunities for the ultimate benefit of our clients, talent out working, and employees.
-Leo Sheridan, CEO AdvancedYou can view and apply directly to a job OR you can also submit your resume for general consideration. | https://careers-advancedrpo.icims.com/jobs/intro?hashed=-435714533 |
In 1922, Carl Schmitt, a German political and legal commentator, published a book titled Political Theology. In it, he argued that the law should be suspended in a state of disaster or emergency. According to Schmitt, the law impedes effective action to mitigate or end the disaster, is predicated on normality and therefore cannot produce predictable results in a state of abnormality, and cannot respond to a crisis when the nature thereof is uncertain or evolving. In this setting, a sovereign – who is imbued with the power to declare this state of exception in addition to responding to it in accordance with self-set parameters – is the only effective actor.
The COVID-19 pandemic has ignited debates regarding the extent to which governments should declare this state of exception and the encroachment on fundamental freedoms in the name of responding to it. This tension between executive response to crises and the protection of human rights is clearly demonstrated in policies of mass surveillance and their implications for the right to privacy. While there can be no doubt of the widespread use of surveillance technology pre-COVID, the pandemic has exacerbated fears of these practices being heightened and institutionalised to a point of no return.
A SNAPSHOT OF SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGIES BEFORE AND DURING COVID-19
Surveillance technologies are complex, interoperable, and often discreet or seemingly unobtrusive. They can be broadly understood as any system (including hardware and/or software) designed to collect, retain, process, or share data associated with, or capable of being associated with, a person, with another person or group for a purpose that may or may not be disclosed. Far from being limited to a few authoritarian states, state-sanctioned surveillance technology has become a ubiquitous feature of governments across the political spectrum. There is no shortage of examples, but one need not look further than whistleblower Edward Snowden’s explosive revelations in 2013 to understand the extent of state surveillance (in liberal democracies) and its geopolitical implications. Despite various actors raising concerns at domestic and international levels, including the United Nations General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, surveillance technology shows no sign of slowing down. On the contrary, there has been a significant uptake in big data and artificial intelligence-driven surveillance technologies around the world.
Given this background, it is perhaps not surprising that COVID-19 spurred the deployment of surveillance technologies en masse in a bid to curb the spread of the virus. China capitalised on its advanced capabilities in this arena in order to identify individuals who may be COVID-19 positive and enforce a quarantine. These measures included facial recognition, communication monitoring, drone technology, and smart policing. Russia reportedly installed 100,000 surveillance cameras equipped with facial recognition technology to enforce self-isolation. In Tunisia, robot police were deployed to ensure citizens adhered to lockdown regulations. Mobile contact tracing applications have had an almost universal appeal, with dozens of states around the world adopting it as a voluntary, and in some cases involuntary, tool to locate and track positive cases.
One should avoid hasty conclusions that these technologies are inherently bad or that they are always deployed as means for nefarious ends. Indeed, as an example, the aim of effectively responding to a pandemic can hardly be regarded as an illegitimate purpose. Whether this has actually been achieved with the use of these technologies has been questioned, particularly as regards contact tracing applications. Be that as it may be, a common theme in the international COVID-19 response is that states are leveraging the efficiency and scalability of digital surveillance technologies to combat this crisis. Although these practices are not entirely new, the expansion and entrenchment thereof globally is precedent-setting and may have disastrous consequences – particularly at a time when many people are vulnerable and willing to accept great incursions on their fundamental rights.
THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY IMPERILLED
The use of surveillance technology has the potential to violate many human rights, such as the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of association, and equality. This article focuses on the right to privacy, primarily because other human rights are at risk by virtue of the right to privacy being eroded in this context.
Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “no one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.” Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights echoes this wording, but further provides that the interference or attacks must not be unlawful. Although the concept has a wealth of jurisprudence behind it, privacy can be generally understood “as the presumption that individuals should have an area of autonomous development, interaction and liberty, a ‘private sphere’ with or without interaction with others, free from State intervention and from excessive unsolicited intervention by other uninvited individuals”. To date, there are a myriad of regional and national laws, policy guidelines, and codes that have augmented the right to privacy as enshrined in these instruments and have solidified the international consensus that privacy matters.
Even so, the right to privacy is not unqualified and may be lawfully limited. The international law principles of legality, necessity, and proportionality are yardsticks by which to measure any erosion of the right to privacy in order to assess if it is arbitrary or unlawful, and thus in violation of international human rights law. Moreover, regional and domestic data protection frameworks cater for exceptions to the general rule. For example, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation recognises that special personal data, such as a person’s biometric or health data, may be processed if any of the circumstances stipulated in article 9(2) prevail, such as where processing is necessary “for reasons of public interest in the area of public health”. Although this would not provide exemption from compliance with other processing limitations, there is general acknowledgement that the right to privacy cannot be upheld at the expense of other rights or legitimate interests.
However, much like the pandemic itself, widespread use of surveillance technologies by states may have both foreseen and unforeseen consequences that do not align with national, regional and/or international legal principles as regards the treatment of this fundamental right. First, not all states have robust privacy protection frameworks; in many places the adoption of these frameworks, including the appointment of an independent regulator, are pending. For instance, only 32 out of 55 African states have enacted data privacy laws. Although regional and international instruments do exist, the lack of domestic measures may frustrate effective oversight and remedial action in the event of violations of the right to privacy by both state and non-state actors.
Second, given the nature of the beast, states are seemingly reluctant to share information on surveillance policies, and this creates information asymmetries. This was evident in the roll out of contact tracing applications in South Africa, Indonesia, Poland, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates, among others, which had little-to-no information regarding backend use and privacy controls. While the paucity of information regarding the collection and use of data may be legitimate, necessary, and proportionate in certain circumstances – such as intelligence pertaining to national security threats – it is difficult to imagine how greater transparency regarding the collection, use, and retention of data could harm the COVID-19 response. If anything, it may increase trust in institutions and result in better civilian cooperation.
Third, the expansion of surveillance technologies during the pandemic has sparked fears that these measures will not be pared down in future. There is significant precedent to be concerned about the continued use or repurposing of surveillance methods in the world after COVID-19, including those methods where participation may have been originally voluntary (such as applications). Rasha Abdul Rahim, the deputy directory of Amnesty International’s technology division, reminds us that: “If history has taught us anything in the post-9/11 era, it is that once governments put in place surveillance measures it is very difficult to then roll them back.” The absence of sunset clauses – provisions in law which specify the termination of a law or policy at a specified time – would be concerning in this context. It should be noted that the necessity of an end point applies to the surveillance technology itself, as well as the personally identifiable data gleaned from it. The latter should not be retained for longer than is necessary to achieve the legitimate purpose for which it was originally collected, unless further processing requirements are met (where they exist) under relevant laws.
Fourth, even where national and international laws are complied with in the utilisation of surveillance technologies, the risks of cybersecurity breaches and abuse of data are evident. This was demonstrated in the debates on centralised versus decentralised models of contract tracing applications. Emanuele Ventrella, data protection advisor at Trilateral Research Limited, summarises the distinction thusly:
“Under the centralised approach, the identifiers of the infected user and those of its contacts are stored in a central database, enabling increased visibility of the data by governments and health service. Under the decentralised approach, identifiers are generated by the user’s phone and only the identifiers broadcasted by the infected user are shared with the backend server.”
Notably, the centralised approach has been criticised on the basis that, among other things, the centralised database will become a “treasure trove” for hackers and a tempting surveillance tool for governments beyond the pandemic. While both models use backend servers, in this context, the decentralised approach has been lauded for the unique key created by each user’s phone, which should prevent backend server operators or hackers from being able to associate the data with an identifiable individual.
As is clear from the above, even where the use of surveillance technologies is desirable and permissible, there is a pressing need to guard against the risks associated therewith at all times.
CHECKS AND BALANCES
On 2 April 2020, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and numerous other organisations published a joint statement that reiterated the importance of balancing human rights to protect individuals and societies during the pandemic. This statement called on governments to respond to the pandemic with enhanced digital surveillance only if eight conditions are met. In summary, these conditions are that surveillance measures must: (i) be lawful, necessary, and proportionate; (ii) be time-bound; (iii) be for the purpose of responding to COVID-19 only; (iv) be subject to robust security measures; (v) address the risk of these tools being used to discriminate against people; (vi) be transparent, particularly as regards private-public relationships; (vii) incorporate safeguards against abuse; and (viii) allow for stakeholder engagement. It is encouraging that similar statements, recommendations, and guidelines have been produced at national and international levels to affirm the need for a principled response to the use of surveillance technology during COVID-19.
The aforementioned recommendations are useful guiding principles for states, but consideration must be given to the roles of various stakeholders who can or should be involved in monitoring surveillance measures and holding governments to account. A multi-stakeholder approach is required. Individuals must be fully apprised of the collection, use, and retention of their data, and must be equipped with effective remedies to challenge misuse. Businesses must understand their obligations as regards the right to privacy, and in the context of mass surveillance, must guard against government requests for access to data that do not conform to domestic or international law. Individuals, civic organisations, regulatory and judicial bodies, and law enforcement must interrogate public-private partnerships that enable surveillance systems to ensure that the confluence of corporate and political interest is legitimate in all cases. And lawmakers and regulators must be up to the task of understanding rapidly evolving technologies and their implications to better cater for their regulation where appropriate – during COVID-19 and beyond.
In Carl Schmitt’s state of exception, legal fetters should be abandoned so that the state can efficiently double down on its crisis response. Many consider his writings extreme, in no small part due to his fervent support for Nazism. However, there is support for thinking along these lines, which sees the law (or parts of it) as inhibiting rather than enabling during a crisis. In these uncertain times, it is vital to remember that fundamental human rights are made of stronger stuff and find their application tested most often in times of social turbulence. While legitimate limitations are explicitly accepted, and rights often require careful balancing, no one is above the law, whether during a crisis or not. It is important that countries around the world do not use the COVID-19 state of exception to deepen the hold of mass surveillance in the long run. Robust privacy protection frameworks (including progressive recommendations made during this crisis) and multi-stakeholder involvement are essential safeguards. One can only hope that this critical moment in our history will inspire greater reflection on the mass surveillance architecture established around the world, those who enable it, and why.
Prashanti is an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa, specialising in corporate and commercial law. She is interested in the nexus between law and technology.
This post has been published in collaboration with Human Rights Pulse. Human Rights Pulse aims at building a platform that brings together human rights practitioners, policymakers, campaigners, and students to raise awareness of current human rights issues around the world and to promote solution-oriented discussion. | https://rtlp.in/2020/12/10/a-state-of-exception-surveillance-technology-and-the-right-to-privacy-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/ |
What is the relationship between sociology and social policy?
Sociology is the study of society and of people and their behaviour. Social policy refers to the activities of governments and their agents to meet social needs and solve social problems.
What is the family policy?
All social and economic policies affect families, but the term family policy usually refers to social programs, laws, and public directives designed to promote and enhance marriage, reproduction, and raising children. This entry focuses on policies and social programs initiated by governments. …
Why are reconstituted families increasing?
The reconstituted family is often made up of divorced or widowed people who have re-married and their children from the previous marriage. Such families are on the increase because of divorce, e.g. one in 15 families are step-families; one in 12 children were living in them in 1991.
What function does the family serve?
The family performs several essential functions for society. It socializes children, it provides emotional and practical support for its members, it helps regulate sexual activity and sexual reproduction, and it provides its members with a social identity.
What is perverse incentives sociology?
“A perverse incentive is a term for an incentive that has the opposite effect of that intended. Perverse incentives by definition produce negative unintended consequences.” For example: “Some social welfare programs only give money to people with no job. This effect is called the ‘Welfare trap.
What do postmodernists believe about the family?
Postmodernists believe that there is no longer one dominant family form (i.e. the nuclear family). They believe that there are now a number of options available to people to choose from in terms of family size, structure and relationships. Family diversity is now the norm.
Is the family in decline sociology?
Family decline theory suggests that families as an institution are changing in such a way that they are in a state of decline. It is argued that the overall functions of the family, to have children and to nurture those children into functioning adults, are being threatened by changes in values and norms in society.
What is Marxist view on family?
Marxists argue that the nuclear family performs ideological functions for Capitalism – the family acts as a unit of consumption and teaches passive acceptance of hierarchy. It is also the institution through which the wealthy pass down their private property to their children, thus reproducing class inequality.
What is the new right view of the family?
Like Functionalists, the New Right hold the view that there is only one correct or normal family type. This is the traditional or conventional nuclear family. Again like Functionalists, The New Right sees this family as ‘natural’ and based on fundamental biological differences between men and women.
How do Functionalists see the role of social policies?
The Functionalist View of Social Policy and The Family They see the state as acting in the interests of society as a whole and its social policies as being for the good of all. Functionalists see policies as helping families to perform their functions more effectively and making life better for their members.
Who argues that the welfare state gives perverse incentives that weaken self reliance and encourages a dependency culture?
Charles Murray (1998) Murray argues that welfare policies have undermined the nuclear family and given perverse incentives for people to start single-parent families or to end their marriages and form single-parent families. | https://www.cagednomoremovie.com/what-is-the-relationship-between-sociology-and-social-policy/ |
Why is it hard to breathe when you are mountain hiking?
In order for your lungs to breathe air in without duress, the pressure has to be higher outside your body. But at high altitudes, the outside air pressure is lower than it is inside your lungs, making it more difficult to pull in the thinner air and for your veins to pump oxygen throughout the body.
Why is it more difficult to breathe up a mountain than at ground level?
The air at higher altitudes is colder, less dense, and contains fewer oxygen molecules. This means that you need to take more breaths in order to get the same amount of oxygen as you would at lower altitudes. The higher the elevation, the more difficult breathing becomes.
How do you prepare your lungs for high altitude?
To combat the challenges of high altitude, breathe slowly and deeply to decrease your heart rate and help your body to take in the oxygen it needs. Try to pace your stride with the slow rhythm of your breath and if you really feel like you’re struggling for air, slow down the pace.
How can I hike without getting tired?
Seven Tips for Minimizing Muscle Fatigue While Hiking
- Proper nutrition. Failure to fuel your body before and during a hiking trip can lead to some rough consequences. …
- Stretching. …
- Shorten your stride. …
- Drink water. …
- Practice your form. …
- Wear the right gear. …
- Rest.
Why do I feel better at higher altitudes?
Altitude can also increase your metabolism while suppressing your appetite, meaning you’ll have to eat more than you feel like to maintain a neutral energy balance. When people are exposed to altitude for several days or weeks, their bodies begin to adjust (called “acclimation”) to the low-oxygen environment.
Is it harder to breathe in Colorado?
When you travel somewhere at a much higher altitude, low oxygen levels can cause trouble. … In Colorado, these early symptoms of altitude sickness are usually all that occurs. More serious symptoms, such as mental confusion, trouble walking, and chronic shortness of breath, tend to occur only at even higher elevations.
How do you increase oxygen in high-altitude?
The only way to accomplish this is by breathing oxygen through medical devices (masks, Gamow bags, and tents) or homes with oxygen-controlled rooms like in some mountain homes in Colorado and other mountainous regions. Portable hyperbaric chambers are also used at high altitudes, especially during emergencies .
What is the fastest way to adjust to high altitude?
Here’s how you can adjust to altitude quickly and safely, so you can get on to having an amazing trip.
…
- Drink Lots of Water. …
- Reduce Your Exercise. …
- Get Enough Sleep. …
- Limit Your Alcohol Intake. …
- Increase Your Potassium Levels. …
- Protect Yourself From the Sun.
Is high altitude bad for your heart?
Acute exposure to high altitude can affect the cardiovascular system by decreasing oxygen in the blood (acute hypoxia). It also increases demand on the heart, adrenaline release and pulmonary artery pressures.
Is caffeine bad for altitude sickness?
Myth # 1 – Don’t use caffeine at altitude.
This concern is unfounded unless you drink pots of black sludge coffee a day and little else. In reality, caffeine stimulates your brain, kidneys and breathing, all of which are helpful at altitude. | https://survivalskillstoday.com/for-summer/why-is-it-harder-to-breathe-when-you-climb-a-mountain.html |
My philosophy of teaching includes a goal to establish an active-learning environment. This approach incorporates moderate structure, feedback and interaction, inviting students to participate in constructing their own knowledge rather than passively receiving it (Eddy & Hogan, 2014). This format, with integrated theoretical application exercises, allows students opportunities to engage in collaboration and discourse with peers in a safe environment.
I strive for awareness of my students’ learning styles and maintain a flexible approach to pedagogical technique that relationally assesses students and adapts to include aural, visual, and experiential learning. Semesters when I have taught multiple sections of the same course, I am more acutely aware and reminded that each collective of students has unique class culture. Regardless of the approach, my essential teaching goals are to encourage students to foster and develop career goals and pathways. Additionally, my hope is that they grow their life skills of problem solving, collaboration, ethical decision-making, and social commitment.
I believe in the empowering nature of inclusion. I have had the honor to teach students facing a variety of concerns, including for example, a blind student who enrolled in my photography course, students addressing and overcoming oppressive racial issues, students who have realized that failure can be a starting point for growth, and others who have faced knee-bucking fear and survived. These are some of my most profound experiences of teaching. Yet I also am inspired and encouraged to see student discourse unfold each semester in everyday class discussion, individual reflection, and peer group project navigation. I believe in creating and modeling a culture of inclusion and providing opportunities for students to consider inclusive action in small and large ways.
Regardless of the type of assignment, I strive to offer constructive feedback that highlights areas in which students are excelling, as well as encouraging them to seek out the opportunities in which they can grow and improve. In each course, I wholeheartedly convey to students my support for the incredible campus services available to them (e.g., writing center, counseling services, tutoring). The best-performing students can continue to grow and the students who are struggling the most can find hope.
Personal Growth Plan
As I reflect on my most fulfilling experiences as an instructor and envision my future as a professor; I hope to develop more mentoring relationships with students. Some of the most rewarding teaching experiences have been in courses where semester-long service learning projects have allowed students to engage with their communities and experience new cultures in practical application opportunities.
Crucial to achieving my academic goals is to find a collective of individuals who embody similar ideals of teaching, student mentoring, and service learning. I hope to grow by creating a contagious enthusiasm for lifelong learning, encouraging students to value and cultivate their intellectual curiosity. I believe this can begin with a conscious focus on teaching students to esteem critical thinking and challenging students to ethical living.
Student Evaluations
Aggregate data available upon request. | https://www.lspencer.us/teaching-philosophy |
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Episode 3: Independence, “Odd Groupings Over the Samba,??? Two-Mic Recording, Keller’s Magnum Series Maple Shells, and More
VIDEO LESSON! Progressive Drumming Essentials, Part 2: Demystifying Polyrhythms
VIDEO! Jazz Drummer’s Workshop: Syncopation Revisited, Part 1: Basic Applications (From the June 2014 Issue)
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Geneva, Switzerland, 19 January 2016 – Industry estimates show that non-OECD countries will have to double their investments in electricity by 2040 to keep pace with demand. A new report from the World Economic Forum, released today, offers solutions to improve investment attractiveness of the power sector that would help to bridge this critical investment gap, as the countries face increased competition for capital necessary to invest in power infrastructure.
According to International Energy Agency (IEA), meeting the electricity demands of consumers and businesses in non-OECD countries will require $13 trillion investments by 2040 – outspending OECD markets by a factor of 2 to 1. The report outlines recommendations for fast-growing economies to attract more private investments to the power sector in order to achieve their social and economic objectives, including universal access to reliable, affordable power and environment sustainability.
Related Research on ASDReports.com:
Global Grid-to-Vehicle (V2G) Market 2015-2019
“From 2000-2014, non-OECD countries invested on par with OECD countries – about $240 billion annually. But given the amount of electricity infrastructure that needs to be built in fast-growing countries to serve growing demand, fast-growing countries will not only have to double their investments, but also ensure that these funds are used to develop all parts of the value chain so that none are left stranded or underdeveloped,” said Roberto Bocca, Head of the Energy Industries of the World Economic Forum.
The report analyses best practices in improving investment attractiveness of the power sector and outlines eight recommendations for fast-growing countries:
Policymakers
Pursue the most efficient pathways to policy objectives. Develop long-term roadmaps to ensure the right balance between renewable and conventional, centralized and distributed power generation, while remaining as technology neutral as possible.
Develop integrated policies that ensure balanced development of the power value chain. Policies need to be integrated across the power value chain to ensure that the upstream fuel supply, generation assets, and transmission and distribution (T&D) develop in parallel.
Ride the declining technology cost curve. Capitalize on the declining technology cost curve, and avoid the urge to promote unique technologies that will likely remain at high cost due to a lack of scale.
Regulators
Provide a level playing field for technologies, reflecting carbon abatement and security of supply appropriately. Structure power markets in ways that recognize the full value and costs of technologies, including carbon pricing.
Ensure technically and financially viable operations across the value chain by keeping it clear of financial obstacles. Regulators need to work with suppliers to reduce losses from non-metered supply and ensure that tariff subsidies are fully funded.
Business & Investors
Create effective public-private partnerships to attract private sector capital. Regulations around public-private partners should be transparent and independent to ease investors’ concerns about committing long-term capital.
Nurture favourable investment environment. Put measures in place to reduce risk and decrease the cost of capital, allocating residual risks to the most appropriate market participants.
Actively invest in education and R&D to close knowledge and human capital gaps. Foster the development of universities and research institutes that produce the talent that will innovate, develop and manage the power sector in the decades ahead.
“There is a massive need for power in the developing markets, and over one billion people still lack access to electricity,” said Steve Bolze, President and CEO of GE Power and current chairman of the WEF Energy Technology community. “This need will require a portfolio of power generation and digital solutions that will enable affordable, reliable and sustainable electricity.”
“Fast-growing economies have a great opportunity to define the sustainable energy mix and power market structure they need,” said Ignacio S. Galán, Chairman and CEO of Iberdrola and current chairman of the Forum’s Energy Utilities community. “This will play an essential part in driving the required scale of investment to clean generation, especially renewable, as well as efficient storage and networks, which is essential in the global energy sector.”
“Within the next 25 years, we expect the world’s emerging markets to deploy more renewable generating capacity than their developed counterparts,” said Julian Critchlow, who leads the Utilities and Alternative Energy Sector at Bain & Company, which collaborated with the Forum on the report. “Historically, the public sector has supplied about 70 percent of electricity investment in non-OECD countries, but the game has changed. These governments could fall well short of supplying the necessary funds to meet growing energy demands.”
The Future of Electricity Report is a continuation of the World Economic Forum’s Future of Electricity initiative, which launched at the 2014 Annual Meeting with the aim of providing governments, companies and communities with a platform for dialogue and learning amid the transition to a lower-carbon economy.
Over 2,500 leaders from business, government, international organizations, civil society, academia, media and the arts will participate in the 46th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, on 20-23 January. Under the theme, Mastering the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the programme comprises over 250 sessions, of which over 100 sessions will be webcast live.
Taking a formative role in shaping the discussion at the Annual Meeting 2016 as the Co-Chairs are: Mary Barra, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, General Motors, USA; Sharan Burrow, General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Brussels; Satya Nadella, Chief Executive Officer, Microsoft Corporation, USA; Hiroaki Nakanishi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Hitachi, Japan; Tidjane Thiam, Chief Executive Officer, Credit Suisse, Switzerland; and Amira Yahyaoui, Founder and Chair, Al Bawsala, Tunisia. | http://smartgrid.openapp.ie/en/weblog/2016/01/22/roadmap-new-power-generation/ |
Throughout the summer, I have been reflecting on my passion for expanding programs and resources that prepare K-12 students for careers and entrepreneurship. I have particular interest in working with middle and high school students from low-income communities who have minimal access to relevant resources. My philosophy is simple; Investing in our youth should be part of the discussion on how we can create strong, long-term economic growth.
Furthermore, over the summer, I have had the opportunity of speaking with organizations that are partnering with local businesses to provide career development and summer internship programs for High School students. These organizations develop partnerships with city, state, public, and private industries to fund such programs. Furthermore, one community offers free tuition in 2 and 4 year institutions so that low-income students can further their education. Political stakeholders should use these examples as a model to determine how they can create similar programs.
As mid-terms elections are approaching, I aim to continue my work; not as a campaigner, but as an advocate for stronger policies for our youth. | https://rebuildworkforce.com/2018/09/04/back-to-business/ |
For you who long to connect deeply, to understand clearly, to respond perceptively, and to engage authentically, I welcome you. Empathy is an art, but you are the artist. Thank you for bringing your unique empathic artistry to our waiting world.
Contents Preface: A Note to You PART ONE Welcoming Empathy into Your Life CHAPTER 1 What Is Empathy, and Why Is It Important? CHAPTER 2 Defining and Redefining Empathy An Empathic Approach CHAPTER 3 An Empath’s Guide to Empathy Developing Your Social and Emotional Intelligence CHAPTER 4 An Empath’s Guide to Emotions Why Emotions Arise CHAPTER 5 The Art of Empathy Gathering Your Tools PART TWO Bringing Your Empathy into the World CHAPTER 6 Empaths at Home Creating a Sanctuary Where Empathy Can Flourish CHAPTER 7 Empathic Friendships, Empathic Love Relationships as an Empathic Art Form CHAPTER 8 Empathic Communication Getting into Sync with Others CHAPTER 9 Empathic Mentoring, Empathic Parenting
Nurturing and Supporting Empathy in Children CHAPTER 10 Empathy at Work Excelling in the Art of Emotion Work CHAPTER 11 Empathy for the World The Empathic Art of Social Justice EPILOGUEEnvisioning an Empathic Civilization, Together Acknowledgments APPENDIX A Emotional Vocabulary List APPENDIX B Your Emotional Styles Notes Further Resources Index About the Author About Sounds True Copyright
PREFACE A Note to You WE ALL LONG to be seen and understood, to be valued and honored, and to be loved for exactly who we are. We also want to connect deeply with others, understand them clearly, and respond skillfully to their wants and needs. We want to navigate through difficulties and conflicts with grace, and we want our relationships to be a source of healing, strength, humor, and love. We want empathy, and we want to know how to offer our empathy to others. Luckily, each of us already has an innate talent for empathy, and most of us developed our capacity for fully compassionate and empathic engagement when we were just toddlers (research suggests that our empathic skills can develop before we’re two years old; we’ll explore that research in this book). We humans are a deeply and intrinsically empathic species—we can tune into the emotions, wishes, thoughts, intentions, and hopes of others, and we can make intelligent decisions about how we’ll respond to the information we receive. Through our empathic skills, we can get into sync with others, understand them, and meet their needs in ingenious ways. Empathy helps us witness, engage with, and respond skillfully not only to humans and animals, but also to nature, art, music, ideas, ideologies (such as traditionalism, existentialism, etc.), and even structures (such as buildings, public spaces, and living and working areas). Empathy is everywhere: it’s the air you breathe and the ground you walk on; it makes relationships, communities, and societies work. And yet, empathy can also be something of a mystery. Because empathy is such a central part of everything you do, you can overlook it and almost ignore the processes that make empathy work (or stop working). This is actually an important part of how empathy functions, because you don’t want to have to think about every piece of empathic information you pick up, then catalog all of it, then reflect on each piece, and then plod through all of your possible responses. In fact, it’s good that
empathy is generally hidden from your conscious notice! But when you want to consciously work with your empathy—either to increase it or to calm it down— it’s very important to be able to enter into that hidden world and understand the processes of empathy very clearly. In this book, you’ll learn how to access the often-hidden world of empathy, emotional awareness, and the interactional space that surrounds you. You’ll also learn how to bring skills and organization to your empathy so that it will become a dependable and valuable resource for you and your friends, your family, your loved ones, your colleagues, and our waiting world. But before we begin, we must attend to three pieces of empathic business. First, your health and happiness are important to me. Empathy and emotional sensitivity are essential capacities, but in a relatively insensitive and emotion- averse culture, both can be difficult to manage. This book offers support, ideas, and strategies to help you work with emotions and empathy and to become a healthy and happy empath. But it is important to note that not all aspects of emotional and empathic sensitivity should be addressed through self-help. Therapy, counseling, and (in conditions such as repetitive anxieties, depressions, or rage disorders) medical support are often necessary. Please reach out for the help of professionals if your situation becomes uncomfortable. Second, the health and happiness of the people I’ve worked with are important to me, too. Although this book is based on my lifetime study of emotions and empathy, and by my four decades of empathic work with others, you won’t find stories about those individuals here. My empathic work occurs in a private and strongly enclosed sacred space where all emotions are welcomed. As such, things can get very deep, very quickly, and I’m not there trying to gather anecdotes for my books. My work is clearly deepened and informed by all of the wonderful people I’ve consulted with, but their stories belong to them. As you read, you may notice that I write vignettes about myself, which may seem egocentric; however, I’ve chosen to use myself as an example because mine is the only story I have the ethical right to tell. If I do write about others, I protect their identities or I get their permission, or both. And third, in this post-Internet world, the rules and conventions about using material from blog posts are becoming more formal. Some of the material on empathy and emotions in this book first appeared (in a less detailed form) on my blog at karlamclaren.com or on my author’s page at Facebook. Blogging and status writing are special forms of writing that allow me to quickly sketch out ideas (or answer readers’ questions), and often, those sketches provide an excellent template for the more fully detailed explorations that books allow. In this book, I borrow from and incorporate some of my previous writing; when I
do, I’ll tell you about it. In our work together, we’ll enter into the hidden world of empathy so that you can learn how to become a healthy, happy, and intentional empath who works with emotions instead of working against them—and instead of being worked over by them! I’m happy to tell you that it doesn’t matter where you start, what your empathy training was like in childhood, or where you currently reside on the continuum from low empathy to high empathy. No matter where you are, you’re a member of an extensively empathic and intrinsically emotive species, and the tools you need to become a skilled empath are waiting inside you. Welcome! | https://pdfroom.com/books/the-art-of-empathy-a-complete-guide-to-lifes-most-essential-skill/N7jgkJ3RdMV |
The LCA, Life Cycle Assessment, is an innovative approach that has allowed us to calculate the environmental impact of Anyah’s packaging along its entire life cycle.
Which products analyse the LCA?
The study analyses six packaging, different in weight, type and material origin.
The analysis carries out with the comparison of products two by two, specifically with a standard packaging compared to an equally capacious Anyah packaging and covers all the stages of the product’s life cycle: from the first ones, including extraction and refining of the raw materials, to the production of the different packages, moving to the pollution data of the transport and the disposal. The outcome is shown on the packaging of the cosmetics.
HOW IS LCA REPRESENTED ON THE ANYAH LABEL?
Each product shows the results of the comparison in order to certifyits eco-sustainability.
The CO2 grams emitted during the life cycle of each product and the relative environmental impact percentage difference are declared on the label. | https://anyah.gfl.eu/en-gb/anyah/lca |
I come to The Resilient Activist from a different path.
I have a decades-long passion for wellness, but I am new to activism.
In some ways, the two values of personal wellness and effecting systemic change are seemingly in conflict, but ultimately, I’m exploring the possibility that with deliberate attention, they can serve each other in an upward spiral.
With the support of wellness practices, we can bring our best selves in service of our highest values.
It starts with mindset.
The growth mindset is the core belief that we can improve with sustained effort. Our strengths and talents are not fixed, but rather, can be developed.
Our weaknesses are not done-deals, but rather, a starting point.
A growth mindset is critical for the kind of effort that is needed to make any meaningful change. Otherwise, why bother? This is true on an individual level and on a global scale. If we believe that “this is just what I’m like”, or “this is just how the world is”, then we will not put in the effort. We will not come back from setbacks.
The growth mindset powers our efforts.
We believe change is possible and we act accordingly.
We keep coming back.
We lean into the long view.
We appreciate our progress over time.
We balance self-care with service, effort with ease, and struggle with joy, because that balance is the ongoing path of growth. Without self-care, we may get fired up to serve the greater good for a bit, but the effort is likely not sustainable.
And without serving our highest values, our self-care can turn into an escape.
Community: A Shared Value
A really wonderful way to tie them together is through community.
A community that shares the values of self-care and effecting change can uplift its members and support both aspects. Self-care and activism driven by the growth mindset and in the context of community is the whole shebang. | https://www.theresilientactivist.org/starts-with-mindset-culminates-in-community/ |
Cisco Data Center Network Manager is prone to multiple remote security vulnerabilities because it fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input.
Successful exploits will allow attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of the affected system, manipulate and spoof content, insert a crafted HTTP header into an HTTP response to cause a web page redirection to a possible malicious website, and/or to execute arbitrary HTML or script code in the browser of an unsuspecting user in the context of the affected site, potentially allowing the attacker to steal cookie-based authentication credentials or to control how the site is rendered to the user; this may aid in launching further attacks.
These issues are being tracked by Cisco Bug ID's CSCvf40477, CSCvf63150, CSCvf68218, CSCvf68235 and CSCvf68247. | https://www.securityfocus.com/bid/101996/discuss |
WASHINGTON DC, March 8, 2011 - As the world celebrates the advances of women over the last century, an additional 70 million Latin American women have a job today thanks to improvements in education, health and job opportunities in the last four decades, said World Bank experts.
The region's female labor force participation rate increased from around 35% in 1980 to over 53% in 2007, an increase of 18.5 percentage points or nearly 54%, said the Bank's regional gender coordinator Maria Beatriz Orlando, noting that such an increase is by far the largest than any other region in the world. Increased women's labor force participation and earnings are associated with reduced poverty and faster growth, partly because women tend to spend the money they earn in ways more beneficial to the entire household, for instance by prioritizing children's health and education.
But optimism about such progress -remarkable by all accounts- should take into account many pending issues on the region's gender agenda, Orlando said.
One such issue is that economic opportunity still remains restricted for many women in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).
Women are better trained, and more capable than before to be successful in the job market, but joining the labor force still poses huge challenges for them.
"An unresolved issue for women is how to enter the labor market on an equal footing as their male counterparts, in terms of earnings and working conditions," said Orlando.
Persisting Earning Gap
Citing an upcoming regional labor study, the expert noted that a significant gender earning gap persists in most LAC countries, despite significant narrowing and even a reversal in the gender gap in education.
Job opportunities for women are still linked to family structure and the role of women within such structure the study has found. As a result of this, men experience different transitions and durations across occupational states than married women, but very similar ones to single women, Orlando said.
"Such gender-based occupational segregation is inordinately high in Latin America resulting in women concentrating in low-paying jobs and low-productivity sectors," she noted.
This affects poor women in particular: figures suggest that up to one-fourth of urban poor women in the region work in domestic services. In some countries, women also crowd into the informal sector. According to Bank research, 71 percent of women in Bolivia's urban areas are employed informally compared to only 54 percent of men.
To address these issues the World Bank has developed a Gender Action Plan that includes several initiatives supporting working women such as providing free day care services to mothers, supporting women entrepreneurs and setting up a certification program that recognizes corporations working to close the labor gender gap in LAC.
In Mexico alone, where the certification program has been running since for a few years, more than 250 companies have been recognized by the Bank as leaders in gender best practices. Results include improved work environment, better communication, increased productivity, increased number of women in managerial positions, and reduction in salary gaps. Similar programs are taking place in Chile, Argentina, Colombia and the Dominican Republic.
These encouraging results at country-level will lead to the launch very soon of a Regional Gender Action Plan with economic empowerment as its top priority, Orlando said. Studies and consultations are being concluded for the project that will run for the next three years with funding provided by the Bank and trust-funds, she added. The plan has also identified women in the labor markets, maternal mortality, teenage pregnancy, and gender based violence as areas that need special attention in the coming years.
Current gender-oriented programs in LAC include:
Innovations for Rural Women's Economic Empowerment
In Nicaragua, the World Bank is implementing an initiative to identify best practices for the economic development of rural women. The program is supporting a series of actions on a pilot basis to improve the returns of income generating activities via gender empowerment, labor and financial training, productive cash transfers and improved access to financial services. The project also includes a strong monitoring and evaluation component to compare the impacts, costs and benefits of such interventions; allowing for a thorough understanding of the effectiveness of each program and their potential to be scaledup and replicated.
Regional Caribbean Initiative on Boys at Risk
Recent analytical work shows that early drop-out and underperformance in school are behaviors that directly increase the risk of negative outcomes and engagement in other risky behaviors like crime and violence. Boys' underachievement in education in the Caribbean is a cross-cutting gender issue related to development challenges such as male marginalization, access to the labor market and poverty alleviation. In this context, the World Bank has launched a Regional Caribbean Initiative on Boys at Risk that includes a contest, a conference, adoption of an Action Plan and the development and distribution of materials.
Firms Certified for Social Responsibility in Gender Equity
The World Bank encourages social responsibility measures that improve labor conditions and eliminate practices that discourage women's participation in the labor force. The Firm Certification process provides corporations that aim to offer equal development opportunities for women and men with the steps and tools to do so. The model for gender equity certification in the private sector was developed in Mexico (GEM 2003) and certified 105 private and 70 public institutions between 2003 & 2008. Results include improved work environment, better communication, increased productivity, increased number of women in managerial positions, and reduction in salary gaps.
Involving Women in Rural Water and Sanitation Management Processes
In Peru, the World Bank is financing the Project Rural Water and Sanitation (PRONASAR) implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure.The project initially did not include gender objectives, but workshops with community based organizations for water and sanitation maintenance allowed for a participatory evaluation on gender equity and women's involvement in water management processes. Community leaders discussed their organizations from a gender perspective; drafted action plans to increase female participation; and, shared good practices in gender equity, resulting in valuable inputs for project improvement. | https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2011/03/08/latin-america-70-million-additional-women-jobs-following-gender-reforms |
It is important to frame sanitation not just in terms of toilet use, but as a social and health issue
India’s sanitation journey starts in 2014 with the launch of the flagship Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) – a new sanitation movement aimed at eradicating open defecation in the country by October 2019. As the first phase finishes, it is important to reflect on the successes and pitfalls of the past five years, and consider next steps for sanitation policy to further boost public health outcomes.
Together with World Vision India and Ideas42, we implemented a three year Improving H.A.B.I.T project, studying and understanding rural households’ attitudes and barriers to toilet use in six districts of Bihar. This project was part of a larger initiative, led by the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation, which promoted latrine usage across rural India.
During this work, we introduced behavioural interventions to change people’s attitudes to toilet use. Our findings show a steep increase in reported toilet use, which can be attributed to the efforts of the SBM. However, households’ knowledge about and attitudes towards their toilet infrastructure and sanitation overall still need improving.
Containment issues
We found that the toilet pit size varied widely across households, not necessarily adhering to the SBM standards. More than a third of households reported pits of more than five feet in depth. Household members indicated that pits constructed with government or NGO support tended to be three to four feet deep, whereas privately constructed pits could be considerably deeper. Previous research suggests people’s aspiration for deeper pits is due to their inherent aversion to pit emptying.
In addition, it appears that there is asymmetry in the types of toilets constructed. While the SBM has advocated for twin-pit toilets, several households have single-pit toilets or septic tanks. A recent study suggests that close to 80% of sampled toilets in rural Bihar were either single-pit latrines or septic tanks, while some examples also show that contractor-led toilets were not constructed properly, for instance both pits in a twin-pit model were simultaneously operational.
These findings pose a critical challenge for sustainability of sanitation outcomes in rural Bihar. It is important to understand why the SBM guidelines provide strict instruction around latrine building. The recommended standard sized, properly constructed twin-pit latrine allows for an on-site treatment of faecal matter which can be easily emptied by the household and used as manure. This, however, may be difficult for deeper sized pits, septic tanks, or pits with faulty construction. Given that the significant proportions of rural latrines don’t conform to the recommended design, this raises a major issue for faecal waste management in the area.
In addition, the lack of a faecal waste management plan for rural areas has led to unregulated and private disposal of waste. These practices could have harmful consequences for public health and sanitation. Lack of a designated area for safe disposal or treatment of faecal waste leads people to dispose wet waste from their pits into open canals and fields - a completely counter-productive practice, which negates public health benefits of toilet use.
Sanitation and caste
At the start of this project we found that one of the reasons for low toilet use is because of people’s aversion to self-pit emptying. To combat the feelings of pollution and disgust with the faecal matter, our intervention explained the process of faecal matter decomposition to the targeted households. In addition, during community meetings facilitators handled the decomposed faecal matter to reduce the aversion associated with it.
However, the results of our impact evaluation show that even though households appeared to understand faecal matter decomposition and were at ease with handling the decomposed matter, their aversion to self-pit emptying persists. Most households reported that they would still outsource the pit emptying task, thus largely reiterating caste-based pit emptying practices. This continues to reinforce caste hierarchies and notions of purity and pollution in India’s society, and further excludes an already marginalised community.
Looking ahead
While SBM has been successful in increasing awareness around sanitation and improving toilet usage, further policy engagement is needed to realise the full public health outcomes.
Practice shows that improvements in toilet use are not supported by complementary safe sanitation practices, such as correct disposal of faecal matter. To ensure the sustainability for sanitation policy, we recommend:
- Publishing new nationwide rural sanitation guidelines on faecal waste management
- Empowering local authorities with knowledge and training on low cost and safe technologies for treatment and correct waste disposal
- Enabling states and local bodies to adapt these models to fit the demand, with available funding to build local capacity
- Engaging with the communities to improve understanding about sanitation practices and waste management
The rural sanitation policy needs to consider the inherent caste dynamics and realities of rural India. Change will require active community engagement to battle social taboos, including involving faith leaders, running socially inclusive campaigns, and advocating self-pit emptying for standard twin-pit models or safe de-sludging and disposal practices for other prevalent toilet designs. It is also vital to empower and safeguard marginalised communities involved in caste-based pit emptying and support them with finding alternative employment opportunities. | https://www.opml.co.uk/blog/new-frontier-for-india-s-rural-sanitation-policy |
Poverty is an important indicator of economic well-being. Policymakers often use poverty rates as a key indicator of current economic conditions within communities and to make comparisons across demographic groups. Poverty rates, measured as the proportion of people in poverty, are often used to identify communities in need and to estimate the number of families eligible for various government programs.
Census tracts with poverty rates greater than or equal to 20 percent are designated as "poverty areas" by the U.S. Census Bureau. Researchers have found that low-income families living in a community with high poverty concentrations face a number of economic and social challenges. In recognition of these challenges, some government programs use poverty areas to determine need.
This brief uses the 2005-2009, 2010-2014, and 2015-2019 American Community Surveys (ACS) 5-year estimates, the first ACS instance of three non-overlapping periods, to analyze poverty rates and poverty areas for the nation, states and counties. The percentage of people living in poverty areas by state and change over time is examined. This brief also reviews county poverty rates and changes over the three non-overlapping time periods.
Others in Series
Health Insurance Coverage Among Young Adults Aged 19 to 34 Years: 2018 & 2019
Household Income: 2019
This brief uses the 2018 and 2019 American Community Surveys (ACS) 1-year estimates to report changes in median household income and the Gini index. | https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2020/acs/acsbr20-08.html |
With dollar weakness spurred on by comments from Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin at the World Economic Forum in Davos that suggested the Trump administration might be targeting a weaker currency, gold prices are strengthening.
While the tax reforms passed by the Trump administration have certainly buoyed optimism about the American economy, that optimism also comes with some expectation that inflation may tick up. Gold is a hedge against inflation, and a weakening currency. It’s no surprise investors are taking interest once again in the precious metals market.
More than $8 billion flowed into gold-backed exchange-traded funds in 2017, according to data compiled by the World Gold Council. When coupled with the 14% rise in gold prices, that influx brought the total assets managed by those ETFs to their highest level since September 2016.
Meantime, hedge funds and other speculative investors increased net bets on higher gold prices in the last six weeks through Jan. 23, according to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Net bullish bets are near their 2017 highs from September. | https://www.youngresearch.com/researchandanalysis/currencies-and-gold/gold-strong-dollar-fears/ |
The Evaluation of Hospital Restructuring Efforts: Satisfaction, Quality, and Costs.
Publication/Presentation Date
1-1-1998
Abstract
This article reports on study evaluating the effects of hospital restructuring on patient satisfaction, nurse satisfaction, cost of care, and clinical quality. The restructuring involved facility redesign, telecommunications enhancement, and implementation of patient care processes incorporating multiskilled personnel and case facilitation systems. The results indicate improved patient and nurse satisfaction, decreased length of stay and variable cost per patient day, and good clinical outcomes.
Volume
6
Issue
3
First Page
22
Last Page
34
ISSN
1063-8628
Published In/Presented At
Bryan, Y. E., Hitchings, K. S., Fox, M. A., Kinneman, M. T., & Young, M. J. (1998). The evaluation of hospital restructuring efforts: satisfaction, quality, and costs. Quality Management In Health Care, 6(3), 22-34. | https://scholarlyworks.lvhn.org/medicine/603/ |
With dancing, humor and eagle feathers, this St. Francis man is keeping his Native heritage alive through a one-man storytelling show
Ronnie Preston does it all: He sings, he dances, he tells jokes, and he preserves Indigenous history nationwide.
The 50-year-old St. Francis man, a member of the San Carlos Apache tribal nation, has been touring the country as a Native cultural educator for more than 15 years. Dressed head to toe in tribal regalia, Preston puts on a one-man show that includes Indigenous singing, dancing and storytelling to teach about Indigenous history and break harmful stereotypes.
"I was tired of seeing people come to me with that one-track mind of what Indigenous is," Preston said. " I don't hide behind fairytales. I share stories that are real. And our stories need to be told."
He doesn't just educate on stage. He's also a teacher and activist off stage, and his passion has had a big effect on his community, young and old, Indigenous or not.
'They'll remember Ronnie.'
Preston was born in Milwaukee, but moved to Arizona and Minnesota before settling back in Southeastern Wisconsin, where he met his partner, Deanna Porter. His day-job has changed over the years, but he remains committed to his first passion: education.
"It just makes me happy. I feel grateful," Preston said.
While the stories he tells depend on the crowd and their energy, his shows usually follow the same pattern. Preston performs dances, such as the grass dance, and sings while beating his drum, which he tells the crowd signifies the heartbeat of the earth.
He also makes plenty of time for audience interaction, inviting them on stage. Before the popular hoop dance, he has audience members take colorful hoops. They overlap the hoops one-by-one on the ground, only to lift them and find them connected.
Connection, Preston said, is one of his greatest hopes for the show. By connecting with the audience, he's not just creating loyal fans, but helping to humanize a people group often portrayed incorrectly in the media.
"I always ask people, 'What's your name?' and I tell them my name, and they'll take a picture," Preston said. "When they look at that picture, they won't remember 'that Indian guy'; they'll remember Ronnie, and now I have a name."
Connecting with people isn't all that hard for Preston, according to his friend Angie Twinn, the Milwaukee Center director for the Ho-Chunk Nation Youth Services Division.
The two met when Twinn was looking for educators to help teach Ho-Chunk nation youth in 2015. She now arranges for Preston to teach Ho-Chunk youth statewide.
"He has this special something where he just talks, and captures anyone from the little ones up to the adults," Twinn said. "He's able to put his heart on his sleeve, and show the vulnerability."
Off-stage impact
While Preston isn't quick to brag about his teaching skills, his students are.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Preston was teaching at Indian Community School in Franklin, where he led an after-school program. There, he trained his students in Indigenous dance styles, taught them how to do traditional beadwork and told them stories about their culture and history.
"He describes it in a way I know I'll never forget," said 12-year-old Mariah Johnson, a former student of Preston's.
"He always tries to help the kids as much as they want to learn the Indian ways and everything," said Alonzo Blackhawk, another student from ICS. "He always teaches us new things."
Preston said he misses teaching at the school due to the importance of passing on stories to Indigenous youth, especially now.
Many Indigenous communities, including those in Wisconsin, lost several tribal elders to COVID-19. It was a heavy blow, Preston said, that left many in mourning not just for the people who died, but for the history they took with them.
"Once an elder is lost, the stories they told and what they taught are lost forever," he said.
"I tell my community to not be afraid of the vaccine," he said. "We need to keep our stories going. We need to be alive."
Preston is also an advocate for suicide prevention, and has spoken at several suicide prevention conferences for Indigenous youth. He connects with them through his own story, which he tells with the eagle feathers he wears on his Indigenous headdress.
As the types of feathers and their colors change, Preston explains, so do the hardships one goes through in life, such as drug addiction and abuse, some of which Preston has experienced himself. However, Preston said, he draws his strength from the eagle, a revered animal in Indigenous culture; the feathers are a reminder of that strength, even in hardship.
He even choreographed a dance for the eagle, which he performs with real eagle wings. It's a way to honor the powerful bird, and a reminder that he, and no one else, is really alone.
"These animals, they're no longer living, but when I wear my eagle feathers, I know they're right there with me," Preston said.
You can catch the eagle dance and Preston's storytelling from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 21, when he'll emcee a powwow in Milton Vretenar Memorial Park, 4230 S. Kirkwood Ave., St. Francis. This event is open to the public and free of charge. | |
Here is a PowerPoint presentation that was given at a conference back in October on Saskatoon’s growing infrastructure deficit by Saskatoon Finance manager Kerry Tarasoff.  As you can read from the report, Saskatoon is underfunding its critical infrastructure every year until we are at a point that one slide describes as a “perfect storm” where we have aging under maintained infrastructure and needs for massive capital investment in Saskatoon’s growth.  I am trying to figure out how a “perfect storm” is used as a positive thing…
Of course don’t take her words for it, take a look at the committee notes to the Administration and Finance Committee and read the part about bridges and roads.  Bridges need an increase of $4.5 million dollars a year (we pay $500k right now) and roads need around $25 million a year.
At the current level of funding, bridges start to collapse in the next two decades and if the City of Saskatoon knows one thing, it is bridge failure. Â According to the report under current funding levels.
Under this option, the current annual base contribution to the Major Bridge Repair Reserve of $520,000 per year would be maintained. This level of service is insufficient
to accommodate the 20-year major preservation plan. Structures will need to be closed as deck failures occur, with major closures projected as follows:
- Idylwyld Drive Over Ruth Street Overpass (2025);
- Idylwyld Drive Northbound/Southbound Over 19th Street Overpass (2025);
- Spadina Crescent Bridge (2029);
- Circle Drive Northbound Over 14th Street Overpass (2029);
- 108th Street Over Circle Drive Overpass (2030);
- Idylwyld Drive Northbound Over 19th Street to 1st Avenue Overpass (2030);
- University Bridge (2031); and
- Sid Buckwold Bridge (2032).
Full deck replacements would be required before these structures could be reopened. The estimated cost of necessary deck replacements for these structures is estimated to be $151.4 million. This value does not include additional work required to the remainder of the bridge inventory.
The city administration is asking for involves both fixing and taking proactive maintenance to save us money down the line. Â To start with, we need to start investing $5 million dollars a year (up from the current $500k a year) to our bridge infrastructure fund. Â According to the report
Under this option, the 20-year major preservation program, recommended in the State of the Bridges and Structures 2012 Report, would be followed. The current annual contribution to the Major Bridge Repair Reserve would increase, however, a mix of onetime contributions and borrowing would be required to make up the budget shortfall to ensure that the reserve does not go into a deficit position at any time. If the annual contribution were to be increased to $5 million in 2013, with an annual increase equal to annual inflation, one-time contributions would be required to support the following anticipated additional spending:
- $19.2 million in 2013;
- $7.8 million in 2018; and
- $20.9 million in 2023.
Option 1 – Status Quo (Level of Service “Eâ€)
This option would keep the annual investment in paved roadways at the same level as in 2012, which was $9.5 million. The current backlog will grow and the overall condition of the network will deteriorate. The 2012 funding was made of $6.0 million of base funding from General Reserves and $3.5 million of one-time Neighbourhood Land Development funding.
Notice that the current funding level means that our roads will get worse.
Option 2 – Maintain Assets in Very Poor Condition (Level of Service “Dâ€)
This option would require an annual investment of $15 million. The streets in the worst condition would be given a higher treatment priority than in Option 1. Annual investment opportunities will be missed, as some roadways will still degrade from the “Preservation†to “Restoration†category; and from the “Restoration†to the “Rehabilitation†category. As they move through each category, treatments become more costly, with rehabilitation being the most expensive.
I love the fact that we need a massive increase in investment to get our roads to “Very Poor Condition”.
Option 3 – Maintain the Current Backlog (Level of Service “Câ€)
This option would require an annual investment of $20 million. The current backlog and network condition will remain as at the end of 2012.
Again, the status quo to keep our roads the way they are would require double the investment that we fund now.
Option 4 – Improve Average Condition and Eliminate Backlog in the Future (Level of Service “Bâ€)
This option would require an annual investment of $25 million. The average condition of the roadway network will be better than it is today, and the backlog will be reduced. A level of service “A†is ideal for all assets, as it is the least long term cost to the City. However, it will take several years to eliminate the backlog of very poor streets, and until that occurs, it is not achievable. Funding this level of service would also require a significant increase that would be difficult to achieve.
The City of Edmonton was able to significantly increase their roadway funding in 2008, with the introduction of the Neighbourhood Renewal Program, a dedicated and permanent tax levy for roads, sidewalks and street lights. In addition, Edmonton receives more provincial funding than Saskatoon, they utilize local improvement programs, and they pay approximately three times more per capita in taxation for roads than in Saskatoon. For example, in 2011, the average Edmonton household paid approximately $22 per month for roadways, while in Saskatoon, the average household paid approximately $6 per month. This value was calculated using 2011 roadway funding for each city, divided by the estimated number of households. In 2012, Edmonton’s tax increased by 5.39%, and 72% of the increase was dedicated to their Neighbourhood Renewal Program.
It is the Administration’s opinion that Option 4 is the desirable level of service target. This option will result in an improvement of the average condition of the roadway network and a reduction to the roadway backlog. If immediately achieved, Option 4 would result in an increase of $15.529 million in investment above the allocated 2012 roadway preservation budget.
The treatment of paved roadways is funded from the Infrastructure Surface Reserve with the following capital projects:
- 0835 – Collector Road Preservation;
- 0836 – Arterial Road Preservation;
- 1531 – Local Road Preservation;
- 1890 – Expressway Road Preservation; and
- 2249 – Street Reconstruction.
The Infrastructure Surface Reserve is 100% mill rate funded, and includes additional capital projects for transportation, sidewalks, curbs, and back lanes.  The Administration is recommending that the Committee forward this report to City Council, recommending that the level of service target for the preservation of roadways be established as Level ‘B’, with an annual investment of $25 million.
So we need around $25 million for roads and at least $5 million more for bridges each year. Â The police said last year that they will be back for more officers, leisure services needs more money, and that doesn’t even touch the bad job that we with snow removal.
Of course before we get complaining how much taxes that this will cost us, we need to remember how low our mill rate is compared to all other cities in Canada. Â The idea that we are overtaxed is a myth. Â We pay less in school and property taxes than many municipalities pay in just property taxes so we have some room to grow before we are uncompetitive with other jurisdictions. | http://www.jordoncooper.com/2012/11/a-perfect-storm-of-infrastructure-failure/ |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image processing apparatuses and methods, and media therefor, and in particular, to an image processing apparatus and method that easily implements processing such as three-dimensional editing on a two-dimensionally displayed three-dimensional object, and a medium therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various methods have been proposed that implement various processes on a two-dimensional image and extract information necessary for the processes from the two-dimensional image. Documents describing the methods include James D. Foley, Andries van Dam, Steven K. Feiner, and John F. Hughes, xe2x80x9cComputer Graphics, principles and practicexe2x80x9d, ADDISON-WESLEY PUBLISHING COMPANY, 1996 (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cDocument 1xe2x80x9d), Paul E. Debevec, Camillo J. Taylor, and Jitendra Malik, xe2x80x9cModeling and Rendering Architecture from Photographs: A hybrid geometry-and-image-based approachxe2x80x9d, proceedings of SIGGRAPH 96, pp. 11-20 (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cDocument 2xe2x80x9d), Oliver Faugeras, xe2x80x9cThree-dimensional computer versionxe2x80x9d, The MIT press (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cDocument 3xe2x80x9d), Kenneth P. Fishin, and Brian A. Barsky, xe2x80x9cFamily of New Algorithms for Soft Fillingxe2x80x9d, proceedings of SIGGRAPH 84, pp. 235-244 (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cDocument 4xe2x80x9d), Pat Hanrahan and Paul Haeberli, xe2x80x9cDirect WYSIWYG Painting and Texuturing on 3D Shapesxe2x80x9d, proceedings of SIGGRAPH 90, pp. 215-233 (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cDocument 5xe2x80x9d), Youichi Horry, Ken-ichi Anjyo, and Kiyoshi Arai, xe2x80x9cTour Into the Picture: Using a Spidery Mesh Interface to Make Animation from a Single Imagexe2x80x9d, proceedings of SIGGRAPH 97, pp. 225-232 (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cDocument 6xe2x80x9d), and Michael Gleicher, xe2x80x9cImage Snappingxe2x80x9d, proceedings of SIGGRAPH 95, pp. 183-190 (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cDocument 7xe2x80x9d).
In Document 1, image processing called xe2x80x9ctwo-dimensional paintxe2x80x9d is described in which a computer is used to perform processing in the same way as a designer or the like draws a picture on paper using a paintbrush or airbrushing (a technique that draws a picture by spraying paints on paper).
In this type of conventional two-dimensional paint, even when a three-dimensional object is displayed in an image, the image itself is treated on a two-dimensional plane. Accordingly, when characters are rendered irrespective of the direction of the three-dimensional object in a three-dimensional space which is displayed on the two-dimensional plane, or a figure is added, the image looks unnatural.
For example, in the case where a house-shaped three-dimensional object, as shown in FIG. 1A, is displayed, and characters are rendered on walls of the house without the direction of the characters, the characters do not look as if they are written on the walls, as shown in FIG. 1B. For adding a parallelepiped room to a wall of the house, in the case where a rectangle is rendered on the wall without the direction of the rectangle, the image looks unnatural, as shown in FIG. 1C. In the case where a cylinder is displayed in a two-dimensional image as shown in FIG. 2A, when characters are rendered on the side surface without ignoring the curvature of the side surface, the characters do not look as if they are written on the side surface, as shown in FIG. 2B.
Accordingly, in order that an image may not look unnatural in two-dimensional paint, it is required that a character or figure be rendered being transformed so as to match the direction of a three-dimensional object displayed in the two-dimensional image. Performing operations for the rendering requires a degree of experience.
Therefore, there is a method in which a user uses a ten-key pad or graphical user interface (GUI) to input an angle of inclination of the three-dimensional object displayed on the two-dimensional image so that a computer uses the input to transform a new character or figure to be rendered. In this method, the user must adjust the angle of inclination of the three-dimensional object to be input to the computer while viewing the rendered character or figure so that the rendered character or figure does not look unnatural. The adjustment also requires a degree of experience.
As described above, when the user instructs the rendering of a character or figure ignoring the direction of a three-dimensional object displayed on a two-dimensional image, the computer cannot display the character or figure as it looks natural, in other words, an image looking as if the character or figure was originally positioned cannot be obtained. This is due to lack of information on the position of the three-dimensional object displayed in the two-dimensional image and information (a position at which a landscape or the like was observed in the case where the two-dimensional image was obtained by performing image capture on a picture) on the position of image capture for the two-dimensional image.
Accordingly, there is a method that uses computer vision to find, from a two-dimensional image, the position of a three-dimensional object in a three-dimensional space displayed in the two-dimensional image, and the image capture position of the three-dimensional object.
In other words, in Document 2, a method is disclosed in which a three-dimensional shape such as a parallelepiped is correlated using a GUI with a structure in a plurality of photographs, and the size of the structure and the photographing position are found. In Document 3, other various methods for finding the position of a three-dimensional object and an image capture position on the object are disclosed.
In the above-described methods using the computer vision to compute a three-dimensional object position and an image capture position on the object, the principles of triangulation are used. This requires a plurality of images obtained by performing image capture on the same three-dimensional object from plurality of image capture positions. However, when two-dimensional paint is performed, the images are not always prepared, and when the two-dimensional images are photographs of a picture, the plurality of images is not used in general.
If the plurality of images obtained by performing image capture on the same three-dimensional object from the plurality of image capture positions can be prepared, the corresponding positions (e.g., vertices of the roof, etc., of a structure as a three-dimensional object) of the same three-dimensional object displayed on the images must be designated in order for the computer to compute the position of the three-dimensional object and the image capture position. The operation of designation for the images is complicated, and requires a time. In addition, in the case where based on the position (in the three-dimensional space) of the three-dimensional object displayed in the two-dimensional image and the image capture position, three-dimensionally natural rendering is performed, three-dimensional data, such as three-dimensional coordinates generated when the three-dimensional object is viewed from the image capture position, must be processed, which requires a great amount of operations for the processing.
In Document 4, a method for color processing for two-dimensional paint is disclosed.
In two-dimensional paint, the user uses a GUI to select a color for rendering and to perform rendering using the selected color. The color and brightness of a three-dimensional object displayed in the two-dimensional image vary depending on the positional relationship between the direction of the object surface and illumination. For example, painting an entire surface of the three-dimensional object in the same color (the same RGB levels) causes an unnatural rendering result. Accordingly, for obtaining a natural rendering result, a painting color must be gradationally changed considering the positional relationship between the direction of a surface to be painted and illumination. In particular, in the case where a surface to be painted is curved, pixel levels needs to be sequentially changed so that the rendering result is natural. Thus, a painting color must be selected for, for example, several pixels, which requires a great amount of operations.
Accordingly, in Document 4, a method called xe2x80x9ctint fillxe2x80x9d is disclosed in which in the case where a pixel color is a mixture of two colors and the two colors are known, either color can be changed into another color. The use of tint fill can efficiently cope with an area in which a foreground and a background are mixed, but cannot cope with object shading and light reflected by the object.
In Document 5, a method that transforms and pastes a character or handwritten figure input by operating a tablet or mouse along the surface of a three-dimensional object displayed in a two-dimensional image is disclosed.
Since the method disclosed in Document 5 uses three-dimensional information (e.g., the position of the three-dimensional object in a three-dimensional space, an image capture position, size, inclination, etc.) on the three-dimensional object displayed in the two-dimensional image, the method in Document 5 needs to recognize the three-dimensional information by using computer vision. However, when computer vision is used to recognize the three-dimensional information, a plurality of images are required as described above, and an amount of operations greatly increases.
Although the method in Document 5 can also use a three-dimensional model of a three-dimensional object generated in the computer, it must process three-dimensional data and requires a great amount of operations.
Regarding three-dimensional model generating, Document 2 discloses a technique that includes the steps of using computer vision technology to extract an outline of the shape of a three-dimensional object displayed in the two-dimensional image from the two-dimensional image, pasting a captured image onto the shape surface (performing texture mapping), and using these steps to generate a two-dimensional image viewed from a free viewpoint (captured from a free image capture position). Similar to the above-described cases, this technique requires a plurality of images because it uses computer vision technology to extract, from a two-dimensional image, an outline of the shape of a three-dimensional object displayed in the two-dimensional image.
In Document 6, a method is disclosed in which based on a single two-dimensional image, an image viewed from a viewpoint excluding the image capture position of the two-dimensional image is generated. This method only generates an image viewed from a viewpoint excluding the image capture position, and it is based on the assumption that a three-dimensional object displayed in a two-dimensional image or another adjacent object has a very simple shape of a plate. Accordingly, almost no serious problem occurs when an image viewed from another viewpoint is approximately generated. However, when a character or figure is added to the two-dimensional image, it is impossible to make the rendering result natural. For example, in the case where a cylinder is displayed in a two-dimensional image, a natural image formed by adding a character or figure on the side surface of the cylinder cannot be obtained.
In addition, it is required in many cases that when a two-dimensional image is processed, the user designates predetermined characteristic points (e.g., vertices) of a three-dimensional object in the two-dimensional image. The characteristic points are designated by operating a mouse or input pen, but it is difficult to accurately designate vertices of the three-dimensional object in the two-dimensional image. Accordingly, Document 7 discloses a method that includes the steps of extracting an edge (a portion whose brightness and color greatly change) in the two-dimensional image, and moving a cursor on the edge when the cursor is in the vicinity of the edge. Since all edges in the two-dimensional image are detected in the method in Document 7, sensitive response to noise or a texture in the two-dimensional image occurs, and the cursor may be moved to an unnecessary position.
Although many type of conventional image processing technology have been proposed as described above, a method particularly adapted for editing or processing on a two-dimensional image, such as three-dimensional addition and deletion of a character or figure, movement, transformation, color or pattern change, and illumination change, has not been proposed yet.
According to the above-described conventional methods, three-dimensional editing or processing a degree of experience of operation and a time, or a plurality of images in which the image of the same object is captured from different directions. An amount of computation extremely increases, and a cursor may be unnecessarily moved. In addition, in order to delete a three-dimensional object or the like in a two-dimensional image, it is required that in a region of deletion, the background of the two-dimensional image be reproduced. However, it is difficult for the above-described methods in Documents 1 to 7 to reproduce the background.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and method for easily implementing processing such as three-dimensional editing on a two-dimensional image, and a medium used for the image processing apparatus and method.
To this end, according to an aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object is achieved through provision of an image processing apparatus for generating, from a two-dimensional image, expanded images obtained by expanding, on a two-dimensional plane, a plurality of surfaces constituting a three-dimensional object displayed in the two-dimensional image. The image processing apparatus includes an operating unit for designating shape information on the shape of a surface among the surfaces constituting the three-dimensional object, and characteristic points in the two-dimensional image which are included in the surface, a computing unit for computing, based on the shape information and the characteristic points, a transform expression for transforming each surfaces constituting the three-dimensional object into each expanded image, a transforming unit for transforming, based on the transform expression, each of the surfaces constituting the three-dimensional object displayed in the two-dimensional image into one of the expanded images, and a connecting unit for generating a connected image by connecting the expanded images of the surfaces in accordance with connecting relationship among the surfaces.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object is achieved through provision of an image processing method for generating, from a two-dimensional image, expanded images obtained by expanding, on a two-dimensional plane, a plurality of surfaces constituting a three-dimensional object displayed in the two-dimensional image. The image processing method includes a computing step for computing, based on shape information on the shape of a surface among the surfaces constituting the three-dimensional object and on characteristic points in the two-dimensional image which are included in the surface, a transform expression for transforming each of the surfaces constituting the three-dimensional object into each of the expanded images at the time of designation of the shape information and the characteristic points, a transforming step for transforming, based on the transform expression, each of the surfaces constituting the three-dimensional object displayed in the two-dimensional image into one of the expanded images, and a connecting step for generating a connected image by connecting the expanded images of the surfaces in accordance with connecting relationship among the surfaces.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object is achieved through provision of a computer-readable medium for causing a computer to execute an image-processing computer program for generating, from a two-dimensional image, expanded images obtained by expanding, on a two-dimensional plane, a plurality of surfaces constituting a three-dimensional object displayed in the two-dimensional image. The program includes a computing step for computing, based on shape information on the shape of a surface among the surfaces constituting the three-dimensional object and on characteristic points in the two-dimensional image which are included in the surface, a transform expression for transforming each of the surfaces constituting the three-dimensional object into one of the expanded images at the time of designation of the shape information and the characteristic points, a transforming step for transforming, based on the transform expression, each of the surfaces constituting the three-dimensional object displayed in the two-dimensional image into one of the expanded images, and a connecting step for generating a connected image by connecting the expanded images of the surfaces in accordance with connecting relationship among the surfaces.
According to a still further aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object is achieved through provision of an image processing apparatus for processing an image displaying a three-dimensional object. The image processing apparatus includes a first transforming unit for transforming each of projected images which is displayed in the image to be processed, the projected images obtained by projecting a plurality of surfaces constituting the three-dimensional object, into each of expanded images obtained by expanding the surfaces on a two-dimensional plane, a connecting unit for generating a connected image obtained by connecting the surfaces in accordance with connecting relationship among the surfaces, a processing unit for processing the connected image, a second transforming unit for transforming the expanded image of each surface constituting the processed connected image into the projected image of each surface, and a pasting unit for pasting one of the projected images on the image to be processed.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object is achieved through provision of an image processing method of an image processing apparatus for processing an image displaying a three-dimensional object. The image processing method includes a first transforming step for transforming each of projected images which is displayed in the image to be processed, the projected images obtained by projecting a plurality of surfaces constituting the three-dimensional object, into each of expanded images obtained by expanding the surfaces on a two-dimensional plane, a connecting step for generating a connected image obtained by connecting the surfaces in accordance with connecting relationship among the surfaces, a processing step for processing the connected image, a second transforming step for transforming the expanded image of each surface constituting the processed connected image into the projected image of each surface, and a pasting step for pasting one of the projected images on the image to be processed.
According to a more aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object is achieved through provision of a computer-readable medium for causing a computer to execute an image-processing computer program for processing an image displaying a three-dimensional object. The program includes a first transforming step for transforming each of projected images which is displayed in the image to be processed, the projected images obtained by projecting a plurality of surfaces constituting the three-dimensional object, into each of expanded images obtained by expanding the surfaces on a two-dimensional plane, a connecting step for generating a connected image obtained by connecting the surfaces in accordance with connecting relationship among the surfaces, a processing step for processing the connected image, a second transforming step for transforming the expanded image of each surface constituting the processed connected image into the projected image of each surface, and a pasting step for pasting one of the projected images on the image to be processed.
According to the present invention, expanded images of a plurality of surfaces constituting a three-dimensional object in a two-dimensional image can be easily obtained.
According to the present invention, a plurality of surfaces of a three-dimensional object, displayed in an image, can be easily edited.
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Chong-U Lim is a Customer Engineer at Improbable—responsible for the overall success of game developers who are using SpatialOS to achieve new realities with their games. Prior to joining Improbable, he received his PhD from MIT and worked for Playfish, EA and Kuju.
Why work in Customer Software Engineering at Improbable? The best way I can answer this is by sharing my experiences with you.
I’ve been blessed with the opportunities to have worked in the videogames industry in a variety of ways. I’ve worked with AAA games for PC and consoles, and indie game studios working on web and mobile games. The studios I’ve been at have all been very eventful – Playfish went from a small startup to being acquired by Electronic Arts!
Even my academic studies were heavily skewed toward games too. I worked on the AI for DEFCON (Introversion Software — the developers of Prison Architect). A bulk of my research in the past few years has been with Valve’s Team Fortress 2.
Outside of professional and academic game development, I also worked with games in my spare time. A game I made was shortlisted for a game festival showcase, I’ve submitted to Ludum Dare, I have lots of random stuff on my Itch.io page, I backed and watched all episodes of Double Fine Adventure’s journey to creating Broken Age, and so on.
I guess what I’m trying to say is; being able to work in games development has been quite an important factor to a lot of decisions that I’ve made regarding where I work. And a big factor in choosing Improbable was because I honestly could not think of a company that presented the opportunity to work with:
What I’ve experienced in the past working in game development is that if you are unfortunate enough to have a game cancelled, well, that’s sad in many ways. If you are fortunate enough to work on a successful game, what tends to happen is that you end up spending many, many months (or even years) rolling out content rather than features for games. And if you are fortunate enough to not need a successful game to pay the bills, and still be able to be an independent developer — then that’s fantastic (but very rare!)
Here at Improbable, there are certain aspects of our day-to-day work that means that we work with games, but avoid the pitfalls of those development studios who focus solely on producing games. First, we are not gated by the success of developing a game, so it really gives us creative freedom to explore some exciting concepts with other developers instead. Second, we hope all our customers are successful, but, whatever their outcome, our technology continues to evolve – so as a software engineer you continue to grow. Finally, we’re always busy with endless fascinating development-related tasks – so you will definitely also level up in games development experience, too.
But what would a customer engineer do on a day-to-day basis? Well, it can vary. We might help them solve the technical challenges related to massive, massive games. For example, two of our engineers are working with one of the most successful multiplayer game companies at this moment to prototype a massive multiplayer version of a popular genre.
We might help rapidly prototype features in games using our tech, which because of its novelty, has particular interesting approaches to solving even regular game development paradigms. For example, two of our engineers have just created small demos and prototypes to investigate how rooms and dungeon instancing could work in SpatialOS.
And you might help brainstorm features with game studios and work with them to design their games. For example, we’ve worked very closely with Bossa on Worlds Adrift and Spilt Milk on Lazarus.
These are just some examples of what the Customer Engineering team have been working on. Other teams in the Games Division have worked on: creating a demo using SpatialOS and Unreal Engine 4; creating a VR demo using SpatialOS and Unity; creating a fresh tutorial for using our tech via a Pirates game; and much more.
At the same time, there are aspects of what we do that seem less glamorous. Like everywhere in games, we often find ourselves debugging and troubleshooting our customers’ games – given that SpatialOS is still relatively new, developers are often trying out new things and creating new experiences. I’m not going to sugarcoat it all; it can often be frustrating, especially when dealing with esoteric bugs and edge cases – which inevitably arise when dealing with large-scale and distributed multiplayer games, and which require a unique way of thinking.
That’s why, in Customer Engineering we balance our work between technical support, technical design, on-site visits with customers (getting to see some really cool studios firsthand), and R&D prototyping work. We try to keep things fresh so that both our customers and our engineers are excited and motivated, whatever the challenges that they may face.
And, if you want to work on your own projects, we’re happy. We actually have a weekly “Make Your Videogame” club here at Improbable, where people hang around, order takeaways, and work on their own games (not necessarily SpatialOS games). One of us is working on integrating PhysX into one of their workers, another has been developing a battle tanks game, another is making a card game. I’ve been trying to integrate Phaser and libGDX with SpatialOS.
Anyway, I think it’s safe to say that, even as a technology company, our engineers at Improbable do a LOT of game development – comparable to the kinds of things that games studios do themselves.
I hope that this has at least provided a broad overview of the many things we do here in Customer Engineering, in the Games Division, and at Improbable as a whole.
If you want to follow up on any specific aspect of this, you can find me on the Improbable forums or grab me on Twitter – I’ll be happy to provide answers!
Visit our careers pages to find out what Engineering roles are currently available.
Update – we have announced new Unreal and Unity game developer kits (GDKs) as improved versions of our SDKs. Find out more about the Unity GDK and Unreal GDK. | https://www.improbable.io/blog/why-work-in-customer-software-engineering-at-improbable/ |
Supernatural– Mythical Creatures
Real or Fake?
February 4, 2019
Filed under Opinion
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Do you believe in the supernatural? Do you think that some or all mythical creatures are real? Are you a believer? If not then why? Is it that you only believe by seeing? Do you only believe in certain creatures? Well it’s time to think about it. For me I do believe in the so called supernatural mythical creatures. One of which my belief is so strong in is mermaids. What about you?
Some of these creatures that people believe in are famous, like the giant roc that captured Sinbad, the cyclops blinded by Ulysses, the dragon killed by St. George or the Loch Ness Monster that still supposedly roils the waters of Scotland. While others like the kappa or Sedna or Chupacabra have more local followings and less epic histories.
But mythological beings really know no national boundary, nor, for that matter, any other kind. They appear in oral tradition as if they were a part of the natural world, yet they leave behind no tangible trace other than images in folk art, along with frightening legends and frightened children. Is there a story that you know about a weird creature that you parents told you when you acted up? On the other hand did your parents tell you more of a joyful story about happy creatures living out there in harmony?
The universe has yet to be fully explored just like the ocean. So who is to say what can or can’t exist? My point exactly no one can say that certain things don’t exist because they don’t know for sure that are just some non-believers trying to crush your hopes and dreams. In my opinion, anything can exist whether you believe or not. Most of the universe is unexplored; therefore, don’t lose hope yet. Let’s just say that there is a planet with only mermaids, unicorns and fairies living in harmony and we just didn’t know it yet.
My point is don’t let anyone tell you what can or can’t exist. You can believe whatever you want. So next time someone says witches or something you strongly believe in don’t exist just ask them to prove to you that they don’t and watch what happens. | https://hhshawktalk.com/15378/opinion/supernatural-mythical-creatures/ |
That’s not quite right, I think, because you can run a coal plant irrespective of the weather so a megawatt-to-megawatt comparison is kind of misleading. That said, the point remains that renewable energy is not some outlandishly expensive hypothetical alternative. If the much-poorer United States of 1957 could afford coal power, the much-richer United States of 2007 can afford solar (and wind, etc.) power. And if the rich world decisively commits itself to renewable electricity, the number of firms trying to find cost-effective ways to deliver this sort of electricity will skyrocket, developing the sort of methods and technologies that can be viable on a mass basis in India and China.
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The health care challenges of an aging population cannot be adequately addressed by health care systems and providers without fully integrating the paradigm of frailty. The construct of frailty is both robust and complex, perfectly suited to evolving societal needs in clinical care. A family of frailty measures are available for both case-finding and assessment. Judgment-based measures, physical performance measures, self-report, and the electronic frailty index are well-suited for case-finding. Multidimensional measures are ideal for the further assessment of frailty. The assessing teams should recommend physical exercise, ideally group-based and multimodal. Individuals who live with frailty should be guided with respectful language to develop an integrated plan of care and to consider therapies that are most appropriate to their circumstances and wishes. A... | https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F978-3-319-69892-2_358-1 |
Channing is a collaborative learning community. We provide an excellent and relevant T&L CPD program that inspires all staff and pupils to achieve their full potential. We support the ongoing development of outstanding teaching and learning which stimulates and challenges all pupils.
At Channing, we acknowledge that each teacher has their own style but that pupils make the most progress when teachers plan lessons that focus on learning. We believe that great Teaching & Learning cannot be achieved by following a recipe, but there are some clear pointers in the research to approaches that are most likely to be effective. That is to say there are clear, recognised ‘moves’ of the ‘Expert Teacher’ that make pupil progress and learning more likely.
At Channing we have identified features of lessons where pupils make most progress:
We know that pupils make most progress when they….
- Make connections across lessons
- Learn new ideas by reference to ideas they already know
- Are clear about what they are doing and what success looks like
- Get involved and stay involved
- Acquire new knowledge and skills to a high level
- Draw knowledge from a wide range of sources
- Engage in deliberate practice
- Plan and organise their work effectively
- Develop their knowledge and skills and know how to apply these
- Apply their knowledge and skills across subjects & new situations
- Are made to think hard with breadth, depth and accuracy
- Are clear in independent work about the teacher’s expectations/instructions
- Their attitude to learning is positive
- Are given feedback that is meaningful, manageable and motivating
- Demonstrates and check their understanding and review what they have learnt and challenge their own understanding
- Are given the opportunity and time to respond to feedback
- Know their target and how to progress towards them
Teaching and Learning
- Hypothesise, analyse and synthesis information accurately
- Have high expectations of what they can achieve
- Try more difficult tasks to stretch themselves
- Gain in confidence and take risks
- Ask higher order questions and argue and reason logically.
- Understands what they need to do next
At Channing when planning lessons we encourage staff to think about the following lesson elements (based on research and what we know works at Channing)
- Pupils (Context – What we know of individual pupils)
- Prior Learning (Context – What have they learnt already)
- Knowledge & Skills to be Acquired
- Key vocabulary
- Hook/Engagement
- Learning stages: Pupil and/or teacher(s)
- Learning Outcomes and ongoing assessment opportunities
- Next Steps (the relationship between lessons is just as important as what happens within them)
Spotlight
‘Spotlight’ is Channing Senior School Teaching & Learning publication. It is distributed weekly to staff and focuses on the development of classroom practice and current educational research. All Teaching staff are encouraged to contribute, and it reflects our commitment to being a collaborative, learning community. | https://www.channing.co.uk/senior/teaching-and-learning/ |
Actinodium cunninghamii, also known as the Swamp Daisy, is a small plant that can grow up to 2-5 ft in height. A native to Western Australia, it is an evergreen shrub that is popular for its white and off-white flowers. In rare cases the flowers may bloom in a range of colors including red, crimson and vinous.
This small flower is also popular for its ability to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. It is tolerant of both dry and moderately wet environments. To grow well, Actinodium cunninghameii needs good soil drainage and should be watered regularly. It is tolerant of both full sun and semi-shade but it is important to ensure that it is kept moist in warm climates.
Actinodium Cunninghameii is hardy to USDA Zone 9-11. In cooler climates, it should be planted in a sheltered area to protect it from cold winds and frost. If container planting in a colder climate it is important to keep the soil moist but not too wet. A mulch can be used to help keep the roots from getting too cold in the winter.
Overall,Actinodium cunninghameii is a low-maintenance species that is suitable for a wide range of climates. With good soil drainage and enough sunlight, it will thrive in both warm and cold climates. Its easy to care for nature makes it an ideal choice for gardeners looking to add some colorful variety to their garden. | https://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/actinodium_cunninghamii.htm |
Celestial International Group is on the path of building global R&D Facility to offer off the shelf futuristic concepts to the customers.
Research & Development –“A differentiating factor between the best & the rest”
Our R & D story is illuminating . Scientists unravel the secrets of better and futuristic engineering plastics. We bring to this endeavour not only our wide ranging talents but also the resources of the company devoted to the scientific enterprise . Our efforts are fuelled by a sense of urgency and by the realization that highest purpose of our work is to help the customers exceed all expectations . We believe that the strength of our efforts will lead to the solutions we seek for our customers and clients. | http://www.celestialinternationalgroup.com/Manufacturing/RD.aspx |
Sharks! On Fire! - From Birth To Bad Grades album mp3
Sharks are a British rock band, formed in September 1972, by the ex-Free bass player, Andy Fraser, upon his departure from Free. They were signed to Island Records and were rated by critics, especially for Chris Spedding's tasteful guitar work. The initial line-up consisted of Fraser (bass, piano), Snips (real name, Steve Parsons) (vocals), Spedding (guitar) and an American, Marty Simon (drums).
Hearts on Fire is Baker Gurvitz Army's third and last studio album, released in 1976. Hearts on Fire" (Ginger Baker) – 2:32. Neon Lights" (Mr. Snips) – 4:38. Smiling" (Paul Gurvitz) – 3:16. Tracks of My Life" (Adrian Gurvitz) – 4:30. Flying in and Out of Stardom" (A. Gurvitz) – 2:21. Dancing the Night Away" (A. Gurvitz) – 3:26. My Mind Is Healing" (A. Gurvitz) 3:54. Thirsty for the Blues" (A. Gurvitz) – 5:18. Night People" (A. Gurvitz) – 3:21. Mystery" (Snips) – 4:04.
Album Another Year of Disaster. And as the night settles in covering this city with nothing but darkness Our night has just started to bring back the life to the sharks that we are I howl the moon letting you know that the boys are back Oh shit! we gonna do this right Damn straight! we have to break you down We will slit the throats of everyone. And show you things that happens in the movies
This movie is recommended for those of you who saw Snakes on a Plane and thought, "Hmm, I wonder what it's like to watch Samuel L. Jackson fight sharks instead. STREAM IT. 4. Open Water. The title says it all, but just to make it super clear: Los Angeles gets hit by a cyclone that causes shark-filled water spouts all over the city.
These species give birth to live sharks which they abandon after the delivery. Newborn sharks instinctively know how to survive alone. Shark mothers do not take care of their young. EGGS DEVELOP INSIDE THE MOTHER (OVOVIVIPARITY) Most sharks have ovoviviparous embryonic development, as the eggs hatch within the oviduct of the female although she does not provide any food directly; the young feed on the egg yolk of the yolk sac and the fluids that the walls of the oviduct secrete.
Engagement Ring Guide. Understanding the 4 Cs. The Hearts On Fire Difference. Caring For Your Diamond. Which of the 4Cs Matter Most. Hayley Paige for Hearts On Fire. Shop now. The highest standards.
Most sharks give birth to live young, but some release eggs that hatch later. The gestation period (the time the embryo spends inside the female, developing) can be up to almost two years long (the spiny dogfish shark may have the longest shark gestation period). Baby sharks (called pups) are born with a full set of teeth and are fully ready to take care of themselves. They quickly swim away, even from their mothers who might eat them.
But other sharks practice cannibalism as well, albeit in a slightly more subdued form known as oophagy, which is the eating of eggs that haven't been fertilized. Approximately 14 species of sharks are thought to practice some form of intrauterine cannibalism The number of shark pups in a litter varies among species; the sand tiger shark gives birth to one or two, while the viviparous blue shark has been known to give birth to 134 pups in one litter. The whale shark has given birth to 300, but such high numbers are rare. But whether hatched from an egg or born live, shark pups emerge as miniature versions of the sharks they will become. Shark pups are also very independent, and those that are born live swim away from their mothers as soon as they're born, perhaps to avoid being eaten. | https://music.phoenixrisingmusic.net/200247/sharks-on-fire-from-birth-to-bad-grades-download-album-mp3.html |
NASA’s robotic geophysicist, the InSight Lander has been gathering intel on the evolution of the Red Planet since its landing on the surface in November 2018. I have already written about a couple of important discoveries that it made in the last two years. The first one was the detection of magnetic pulses in 2019, followed by data earlier last year confirming that Mars was seismically active.
Using the previous data, seismologists are using marsquakes to map the red planet’s interior structure. They do this by measuring the two ways in which the seismic energy moves through the ground. This eventually enables them to calculate the depths of the planet’s core, mantle and crust. These fundamental geological layers reveal how the planet cooled over a period of billions of years ago — much like our own planet.
Although the astronomers had measured the interior structures of Earth and the Moon, they didn’t have enough information on Mars to do the same. But with Insight Lander’s new readings, this can be measured as well. According to the data, researchers have now concluded that the Martian surface is also layered — made up of either two or three layers.
“So far, the mission has detected more than 480 ‘marsquakes’… we have enough data to start answering some of these big questions.”
~ Bruce Banerdt, Principle Investigator
The current location of the Insight Lander is near the Martian equator — a smooth plain known as Elysium Planitia. The robotic lander is utilizing a sensitive seismometer to measure geological energy thrumming through the Red Planet. These readings have detected more than 480 ‘marsquakes’ so far, leading researchers to conclude that Mars is less seismically active than Earth, but more so than the moon.
More importantly, it seems that the Martian surface is also divided into sublayers of different types of rock, similar to Earth. Researchers studying the data believe InSight’s data is pointing towards two to three layers. If a three-layered crust is confirmed, it would best fit with geochemical models and studies of Martian meteorites.
Determination of two or three layers eventually would verify if the crust is either 20 or 37 kilometers thick. The thickness is likely to vary at different places around the world but is likely to be less than 70 kilometers on average. For comparison purposes, Earth’s crustal thickness varies from around 5 to 10 kilometers beneath the oceans to around 40 to 50 kilometers beneath the continents.
Astronomers are expected to report more information on the Red planet’s core and mantle, as the InSight Lander digs deeper into Mars. Complete Research work is under consideration for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. | https://neoshare.net/artificial-intelligence/martian-crust-is-also-layered-like-earths/ |
This post is the first in a series that will countdown the top 10 most common violations reported by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Be sure to check back for updates to the series!
Written By: Matthew Day, ARM, AIS
If you have ever navigated through OSHA’s website, you may have come across the annual “Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards,” found under the “Data & Statistics” tab. This resource offers a snapshot of what OSHA’s 2,200 compliance inspectors view as the nation’s top violations.
Since the list rarely changes, one could even argue that the standards listed under the top violations may also be targets for OSHA based on injury and fatality statistics. Either way, if OSHA’s knocking on your door, you may be added to the top 10 statistics for next year if you are not in compliance with these standards.
The purpose of this article series is to give you a starting point and some basic direction on each of these top 10 cited standards. Although this article is not a complete resource on OSHA standards, links to the OSHA standards are provided if you wish to review the standards in more detail.
If you are interested in additional learning opportunities about OSHA standards and compliance, consider taking an OSHA 10 or 30 hour certification course. Courses are available online or in a classroom, whichever best fits your needs.
Now on to the standards…
To start our countdown, we will review violation #10 Machine Guarding. Get out your pen and paper (or tablet for you Millennials) and let’s get started!
#10 – Machine Guarding (29 CFR 1910.212) – 2,704 violations
This standard is “General requirements for all machines” under 1910 Subpart O – Machinery and Machine guarding. OSHA reports that workers who operate and maintain machinery suffer approximately 18,000 amputations, lacerations, crushing injuries, abrasions, and over 800 deaths annually. Severe injuries like amputations often result in permanent disability.
Protect your employees from machinery-related injury or death exposures by complying with this standard. To ensure the safety of your workers, follow these action steps:
1. Inspect each machine to identify moving parts on the equipment and other possible hazards, such as flying debris and stored energy associated with the operation of that equipment. Also make sure fixed equipment is anchored to prevent it from moving while in operation.
2. Once you have identified the hazards with your equipment, use fixed guards and other safeguard device controls to engineer the hazard out of the equation. Other safeguard device controls would include: 2-hand switch operation, laser guards, restraints, and similar engineering technology that prevent your employee from accessing an identified “danger zone.” Remember to consider all moving/rotating equipment hazards. Rotating fan blades less than 7’ above a working area should also be guarded.
3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is important, but it is considered a last resort. Engineer the hazard out of the operations or have clear, effective administration controls in place to prevent a hazard before relying on PPE, such as safety glasses.
4. Train employees operating the equipment to look for hazards and ask them to report any hazards seen. If an employee brings a legitimate concern to you, fix it! Remind your employees that it is their responsible to work in a safe manner and to communicate identified hazardous or unsafe working conditions to management.
5. Test and maintain your existing equipment safeguards, inspect any new equipment before operating to identify “danger zones,” and never assume that people will take the proper precautions without having them clearly explained. Always be proactive in communicating with and training your staff, and inspecting and maintaining the equipment they use.
For an additional training resource on machine guarding, visit: OSHA eTool
What safety measures does your team implement to keep workers safe from injury related to equipment malfunctions or improper use? Share your tips below, or experiences meeting this OSHA standard. | http://losscontrol.westfieldinsurance.com/2014/02/quick-hits-tackling-oshas-top-10-violations-10-machine-guarding-.html |
Researchers at the University of Birmingham have shown that statins are usually prescribed without recording of the QRISK2 cardiovascular risk assessment score recommended by NICE. Even when a score is documented, the majority of high-risk patients do not receive statins.
Samuel Finnikin and colleagues analysed GP prescribing data for 1.4 million adults from 248 practices across the UK between January 2000 and December 2015, to examine the relationship between cardiovascular risk scoring and the initiation of statins in primary care.
Although the researchers found there was a steady increase in the recording of QRISK2 score since 2012, when the tool became available, 72.9% of patients initiated on statins did not have a score recorded. Of those who did, only 35% of patients in the high-risk category were put on a statin. Conversely, one in six statin initiations were in patients in the low-risk category, indicating significant overtreatment in this group.
The researchers also investigated the effect on statin prescribing of the 2014 NICE guidance on lipid modification, which halved the recommended threshold for statin initiation to include patients with a 10% risk of developing cardiovascular disease over 10 years.
When comparing data in the 18 months before and after publication of the guidance, the study found that the rate of statin initiation among patients in the intermediate-risk category increased while the rate among high-risk patients continued to decrease.
‘It is not possible to establish whether those patients who were above the threshold to be prescribed a statin did not receive treatment because they were not offered it or because they declined an offer,’ noted the researchers.
Shared decision
Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chair of the RCGP, called the study 'interesting' but said it 'simplifies the true situation' because it did not consider individual patient circumstances that influence statin prescribing, such as patient preference and comorbidities.
However, she said the study 'emphasises the importance of calculating an accurate risk score which can then help healthcare professionals have an honest discussion with their patients about the benefits and risks which are unique to them.'
'As with any drug, taking statin medication has potential side-effects, and taking any medication long-term is a substantial undertaking for patients who need to be monitored by healthcare professionals. Many don’t want to take statins once they have learned all the facts – and GPs will respect patient choice,’ she added. | https://www.mims.co.uk/infographic-statins-not-prescribed-two-thirds-high-risk-patients/cardiovascular-system/article/1448604 |
As a function of the Central Planning Table (CPT), Subject Matter Working Groups (SMWG) will work to strengthen local capacity to address local workforce development challenges and opportunities through an active consultation with local community, provincial, municipal partners. SMWG will connect key industry, labour and community representatives and their ideas, resources and services to plan employment and training service delivery, generate local labour market knowledge, address the workforce development needs of employers, and help shape changes to the local labour market.
The SMWG will serve as planning tables comprised of key community representatives such as service providers, employer groups, industry associations, and Chambers of Commerce, and different levels of government.
Integrated Planning: Workforce development planning with employers and employer associations. Labour force adjustment planning activities with employers and training institutions to bridge gaps between skills needs and available training and in concert with the CPT serve as a point of contact and key facilitator for linking employers, service providers, other ministries and levels of government and other community groups to identify and respond to labour market and workforce development challenges and opportunities and gaps in employment and training and human and social services, through collaborative planning.
Service Coordination for Employers: Acting as a hub for connecting employers, industry associations, sector groups and other employer groups with appropriate employment and training services to address their workforce development needs.
Supporting cluster development: SMWG are community-based and as such have opportunity to see out expertise and connections to achieve local clusters. SMWG will develop cluster strategy recommendations among potential partners including businesses, educational, and sector-specific and government organizations. | https://durhamworkforceauthority.ca/central-planning-table-cpt/smwg/ |
At the end of 2019, JIPS launched a learning community on measuring durable solutions to displacement. Increasing efforts are being made in this area; however, conducting durable solutions analyses remains a complex undertaking with many challenges both at technical and practical levels. Thus, our objective was to create a dedicated space that would allow us and other experienced practitioners of durable solutions analysis to discuss available tools and tested approaches.
The learning community constitutes part III of the interagency durable solutions project, a multi-stakeholder initiative initiated back in 2015 and led by the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of IDPs. Made possible through generous funding provided by the United States Government, the learning community looks at different tools and approaches operationalising the IASC Framework on Durable Solutions for IDPs. This includes the Interagency Durable Solutions Indicator Library, the Solutions Framework by ReDSS, the Return Index by Social Inquiry and the longitudinal studies on durable solutions by IOM in Iraq, the Multidimensional Local Integration Index by Samual Hall and others. It offers a distinct forum for enhanced peer-to-peer exchange on experiences and lessons learned across contexts and approaches, to help the broader community improve our practice in this area.
Through a Skype group and webinar series, participants engage actively in the often-technical discussions spanning across conceptual, methodological, as well as operational challenges. Diverse questions are being discussed, such as how to combine indicators into a single index in a methodologically sound way or how to meaningfully compare results from durable solutions analyses over time considering the potential mobility of population groups.
The very first webinar of the learning community was organised in collaboration with ReDSS in December 2019 and looked at durable solutions analyses in three different displacement contexts: Somalia, Sudan, and Iraq. Building on the momentum of the newly endorsed International Recommendations on IDP Statistics (IRIS), the second webinar discussed the use of composite measures developed to measure progress towards durable solutions.
Of a more exploratory and informal nature, our third webinar focused on practices and approaches to analyse local integration in displacement situations. We heard from Samuel Hall about the multidimensional local integration index, and discovered the local integration framework for IDPs developed by Social Inquiry. This led to a rich discussion covering topics such as subjective v. objective measures, multidimensional framework of indicators v. composite indexes, missing elements from the IASC framework to measure durable solutions, and the semantic differences between durable solutions, social cohesion, and local (re-)integration.
We hope that the learning community will help effectively advance our collective practice in the area of durable solutions analysis in displacement contexts. The many discussions that are taking place in the Skype group and during the webinars can also provide useful input for global-level initiatives, including the High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement and the GP20.
“We often do not know about each other’s work, so this is a superb forum” – participant in the learning community on durable solutions analysis
“There is a lot we can learn from each others’ work on measuring solutions, and instead of re-inventing the wheel every time, rather build on the lessons and experience each of us brings to the table” – Margarita Lundkvist Houndoumadi, JIPS
We are currently also working on developing an online repository to make the many useful tools and resources on durable solutions analysis shared by members of the learning community accessible in one place. We are also planning another webinar in our series for later this year and are currently discussing in the community what its specific focus should be.
Want to join the learning community on durable solutions analysis? Get in touch with us at [email protected]. | https://www.jips.org/news/learning-community-on-durable-solutions-analysis/ |
Getting to Know Your Cohort
For the past 15 weeks, my cohort has taken our Methods of Math course with the first-year cohort. At first, I wasn’t sure how it was going to work. I imagined a curriculum that was slowed down to accommodate the first-years. I imagined lots of time spent having to explain ideas that I’d already grasped. My imagination was definitely in overdrive. What I found, though, was that it was a very meaningful experience for both myself and the rest of the class.
Our professor, Ava, is truly awesome. She did not slow down the curriculum, but rather she expected that the second-year students act at times as peer teachers. It is true, after all, that the best way to truly understand a concept is to teach it to someone else. Guys, this is the first time I can honestly say that I LOVED a math course that I’ve taken. What a cool feeling.
In addition to the Methods of Math course, the first years were also taking a Math Technology course. (We had ours this summer.) Ava and the cohort invited us to come to their final presentations to see what they had been working on. It was a great night of investigation, play, and discovery! And, it was also truly delightful to see the first-year students on their own and in their element—in essence, really shining.
[flickr id=”8267912983″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”original” group=”” align=”none”]
The presentations started with Ashley and Annie, who showed us how to use Active Vote to enhance a lesson plan. ActiVote syncs with Active Inspire, a system similar to Power Point (but more more interactive) for a classroom Promethean Board. Students are given remotes that allow them to respond to questions throughout the presentation. Their answers are tallied in real time and can be displayed in various graphs on the Promethean Board.
Annie and Ashley walked us through a presentation on how to plant flowers, with a quiz at the end that related to the lesson. The ability to weigh in and see my answers on the board instantly increased my engagement in the activity. They showed a good amount of ease with the system itself and also expressed interest in using the program again in the spring so they would be ready to approach it in their own classrooms. Nothing like actually getting practice to use something that could potentially feel so daunting in the real world![flickr id=”8267911773″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”original” group=”” align=”none”]
Nichelle and Christine also used Active Inspire for their presentation on Geometry and Dance. In addition to working like a Power Point system, Active Inspire gives students the ability to write on the board with a stylus, move images around the screen, and use math tools to take accurate measurements.
Nichelle and Christine displayed various angles on the board and had classmates volunteer to use different tools to measure the degrees. We then all showed different ways we could make the angles with our bodies, and they taught us dance moves that resembled the angles! It was an extremely interactive and arts integrated lesson. I especially loved that students would be simultaneously interacting with the board, moving their bodies, learning new terminology, and solving math problems. Columbia is all about arts integration, and these two really showcased their understanding of how to do it with their presentation.[flickr id=”8267906675″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”original” group=”” align=”none”]
Eliza and TJ presented a lesson that focused on proportional reasoning. Their use of Active Inspire involved creating their own math problems with images that could be manipulated by the students to solve the problems. Their lesson involved a lot of classmate participation, and the time they spent working with grouping images was very impressive. It seemed like they had a really awesome grasp of how to create visual word problems, and it was fun to watch students alternate between writing out numbers with the stylus and actually moving the pieces around to figure out the proportions. Their lesson also included a showcase of a tool within Active Inspire that recognizes shapes as students draw and helps form the lines so they are more accurate drawings. It even does this for handwriting, hence the very lovely Beyonce Triangle![flickr id=”8268971418″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”original” group=”” align=”none”]
Andrew and Antonio rounded out the presentations with a lesson on the effects technology has on sleep. Their math subject was statistics, and I LOVED how they related that to a subject that graduate students consider so important. They first used Active Inspire like a Power Point presentation with very lovely slides, but they also included several survey questions for us to complete as we went through about our own sleep and technology habits. We learned that as we vote we can also be assigned a remote so that the class can see my specific answer! This would be especially useful for a teacher as they could print out classroom results and use it as an assessment. Andrew and Antonio created clever math problems revolving around work and sleep that could all be solved using fractions. It was both meaningful and relative to my work and my own life. Overall, an excellent end-cap to the technology presentations.[flickr id=”8267903109″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”original” group=”” align=”none”]
Cohort 21, y’all seriously rock! Thank you for teaching me how to utilize a Promethean Board in my own classroom. I can’t wait to get my hands on the technology! | https://blogs.colum.edu/marginalia/2012/12/21/getting-to-know-your-cohort/ |
MUMBAI: The Reserve Bank on Friday asked banks to ensure their ATMs are grouted to a wall, pillar, or floor by September-end, except those installed in high secured premises such as airports, to enhance security of the cash vending machines.In 2016, the RBI had set up a Committee on Currency Movement (CCM) to review the entire gamut of security of treasure in transit.Based on the recommendations of the panel, the central bank has now issued the instructions aimed at mitigating risks in ATM operations and enhancing security.As part of the security measures, all "ATMs shall be operated for cash replenishment only with digital One Time Combination (OTC) locks".Also, "All ATMs shall be grouted to a structure (wall, pillar, floor, etc.) by September 30 2019, except for ATMs installed in highly secured premises such as airports, etc. which have adequate CCTV coverage and are guarded by state/central security personnel".Further, banks may also consider rolling out a comprehensive e-surveillance mechanism at the ATMs to ensure timely alerts and quick response, it said.The new measures to be adopted by banks are in addition to the existing instructions, practices and guidance issued by the RBI and law enforcement agencies.The RBI also warned the banks that non-adherence of timelines or non-observance of the instructions would attract regulatory action including levy of penalty.
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The Local Air Quality Management Policy Guidance for Scotland’s local authorities has been updated. The guidance has been revised to take account of changes to industrial emissions legislation and requirements.
The guidance is intended to help local authorities with their local air quality management duties under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995. It sets out:
- the statutory background and the legislative framework within which local authorities have to work;
- the principles behind reviews and assessments of air quality and the recommended steps that local authorities should take;
- how local authorities should handle the designation of Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) and the drawing up and implementation of action plans;
- suggestions for taking forward the development of local air quality strategies;
- suggestions on how local authorities should consult and liaise with others;
- the role of transport-related measures in improving air quality;
- the general principles behind air quality and land use planning;
- the effects of biomass on air quality;
- the relationships between air quality and noise policy.
The guidance is intended for all local authority departments involved in local air quality management (LAQM), including environmental health, corporate services, planning, economic development and transport planning. The guidance complements the information and advice contained in Cleaner Air for Scotland(CAFS), which was published in November 2015.
This policy guidance, along with accompanying technical guidance (TG (16)) and CAFS are the primary guidance documents to which local authorities should have regard when carrying out their air quality review and assessment work. The guidance replaces the LAQM policy guidance published in February 2009.
The guidance can be accessed here. | https://rehis.com/news/local-air-quality-management-policy-guidance-published/ |
Ayurveda is the oldest known continuously practiced system of health care. This ancient tradition has been studied and practiced in India dating back 6,000 years. Over time this approach to health has gained acceptance far and wide. Today it is an acknowledged form of health maintenance by countless millions around the world. The premise of this system is to help the individual maintain a healthy balance of body and mind through a wholistic approach of exercise, diet and lifestyle.
Each person has their own individual signature or dosha. Your dosha is a specific blend of physical, mental and emotional characteristics. Ayurveda has identified three basic types of doshas. In Ayurvedic medicine the medical treatment protocol is based on that dosha. Everyone has either one dominate dosha or a combination of two.
An Ayurvedic practitioner looks at each individual with careful scrutiny. By observation, palpation and answers to specific questions the practitioner can determine the dominate dosha and the best treatment for the imbalance. The practitioner must also have an understanding and be able to link the five primary elements in Indian philosophy (Fire, Water, Earth, Ether, and Air) as they relate to the governing forces of each dosha.
The following is a brief explanation of the doshas and their elements:
Vata controls body motion energy (i.e. blood circulation, respiration, and elimination). The elements are ether and air. In balance the Vata person will feel creative and vital; conversely when out of balance that same person will experience the feelings of fear and anxiety.
Pitta controls body metabolic energy (i.e. digestion, absorption, nutrition and temperature). Pitta’s elements are fire and water. In balance the feelings are contentment and intelligence; conversely out of balance the individual can have ulcers and be quickly aroused to anger.
Kapha controls body growth energy (i.e. cerebral-spinal fluid, intestinal mucosal lining) Kapha’s elements are water and earth. In balance the feeling is love and forgiveness; conversely out of balance the feeling is insecurity and envy.
As confusing as this may seem to the Western mind, a thorough study into these doshas combined with the elements reveals much about the human condition and insight into assisting the client into a balanced and healthful state of being. “Ayurveda holds that health is more than the absence of disease; it is a state of balance and integration of body, mind and spirit.” Deepak Chopra
Challenge:
1. Go to the following site and take a very brief quiz that will tell you your individual dosha.
2. Comment and tell us all about your dosha and your opinion on the correctness of the dosha quiz. http://www.whatsyourdosha.com/quiz/
Resources: | https://clarysagecollege.com/news/ayurveda/ |
job description: Marketing executives aim to maximise profits through developing sales strategies that match customer requirements and by promoting products, services or ideas.
Advertising Marketing Duties and Responsibilities:
Developing services enabling advertising sales success.
Generating case studies and white papers.
Developing effective communication strategy for the advertising sales team.
Interacting with external business development team and customers.
Performing qualitative and quantitative analysis of the marketing campaigns.
Developing and implementing paid search marketing strategies.
Conducting sales reviews on a quarterly and annual basis.
Performing the account portfolio services.
Providing marketing support to the advertising sales team.
Advertising Marketing Skills and Specifications
The job specific skills and specifications required are as follows:
Effective communication and presentation skills.
Effective planning and organizing skills.
Ability to multitask in a fast paced environment.
Ability to coordinate well with the stakeholders and clients.
Proficient in basic computer skills.
Strong mathematical and analytical skills. | https://dujobs.net/jobs/looking-for-female-marketing-advertising-executive-dubai/ |
Preprints are early versions of research articles that have not been peer reviewed. They should not be regarded as conclusive and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Studying Anti-Social Behaviour on Reddit with Communalytic
preprintposted on 2020-06-16, 20:59 authored by Anatoliy GruzdAnatoliy Gruzd, Philip Mai, Zahra Vahedi
The chapter presents a new social media research tool for studying subreddits (i.e., groups) on Reddit called Communalytic. It is an easy-to-use, web-based tool that can collect, analyze and visualize publicly available data from Reddit. In addition to collecting data, Communalytic can assess the toxicity of Reddit posts and replies using a machine learning API. The resulting anti-social scores from the toxicity analysis are then added as weights to each tie in a "who replies to whom" communication network, allowing researchers to visually identify and study toxic exchanges happening within a subreddit. The chapter consists of two parts: first, it introduces our methodology and Communalytic’s main functionalities. Second, it presents a case study of a public subreddit called r/metacanada. This subreddit, popular among the Canadian alt-right, was selected due to its polarizing nature. The case study demonstrates how Communalytic can support researchers studying toxicity in online communities. Specifically, by having access to this additional layer of information about the nature of the communication ties among group members, we were able to provide a more nuanced description of the group dynamics.
Funding
This work was made possible in part by an award from the Digital Ecosystem Research Challenge, funded in part by the Government of Canada.
History
Declaration of conflicts of interestThe authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Corresponding author [email protected]
Lead author countryCanada
Lead author job roleHigher Education Researcher
Lead author institutionRyerson University
Human ParticipantsNo
Comments
Log in to write your comment here... | https://advance.sagepub.com/articles/preprint/Studying_Anti-Social_Behaviour_on_Reddit_with_Communalytic/12453749/1 |
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Mercy Ships
ship, Africa Mercy, , Belgium
Title: OR Sterilizer
Reports To: Operating Theatre Manager
Department: Health Care Services
Date Modified: 01-Mar-2007
Summary Description
Clean and sterilize surgical instruments and medical equipment. Maintain inventory as directed by Operating Theatre Manager.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities (include but not limited to)
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
* 1. Follow Universal Precautions by wearing the appropriate protective attire while working in the Disinfection area.
* 2. Decontaminate surgical instruments and other medical equipment as needed.
* 3. Utilize appropriate cleaning detergents and agents by reading directions.
* 4. Inspect all instruments for cleanliness, proper function, and breakage by viewing the instruments before assembly.
* 5. Assemble and wrap trays, supplies, and single-pack instruments for sterilization according to tray listings and with appropriately sized packaging.
* 6. Sterilize instruments and surgical trays by following prescribed policies and procedures upon request.
* 7. Operate the autoclaves and safely and correctly to ensure sterility of the supplies, using monitoring systems appropriately.
* 8. Monitor, read, document, and interpret, all parameters of sterilizers to insure proper function.
* 9. Maintain a sufficient stock of sterile supplies and instruments to meet daily operating needs.
* 10. Routinely clean and maintain the autoclaves.
* 11. Maintain a clean working environment, sanitizing workstation at the end of each day.
* 12. Distribute all sterile supplies to appropriate storage location.
* 13. Order and put away supplies as needed.
* 14. Maintain departmental policies and procedures by reviewing the manuals.
Prefer a long term commitment. Contact for more specific requirements if interested.
To apply for this job opening, please first post your resume.
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Mercy Ships
Mercy Ships is the leader in using hospital ships to deliver free world-class health care and community development services to the forgotten poor. We welcome those who have the time to devote to the work of bringing hope and healing to the world's poorest peoples. We are accepting applications for both our International Operations Center near Tyler, Texas and the Mercy Ship, Africa Mercy which serves primarily in West Africa. Mercy Ships has both paid and volunteer postions, which require individuals to raise their pown support. Volu More... | http://www.christianjobs.com/job/16899/ |
Clashes in Ethiopia's Tigray region force thousands to flee to Sudan
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is working with authorities in Sudan to provide lifesaving assistance to more than 7,000 refugees from Ethiopia, who have fled across the border in the past two days.
The women, children and men reaching Sudan are seeking safety after a week of fighting between the Ethiopian federal government and the Tigray regional government forces.
Inside Sudan, arriving refugees are being temporarily sheltered in transit centres located near the border entry points of Ludgi in Gederef and Hamdayet in Kassala state. Water and meals are being provided. UNHCR and local authorities are jointly screening and registering people.
Expecting more refugee arrivals in the neighbouring countries, UNHCR is stepping up emergency relief preparedness in the region working with governments and partners to put in place measures to respond to additional displacements as the situation evolves.
“We are urging governments in the neighbouring countries to keep their borders open for people forced from their homes,” said UNHCR Regional Bureau Director, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, “While at the same, asking the Ethiopian authorities to take steps that will allow us to keep providing assistance in safety to refugees and internally displaced within Tigray.”
With thousands of refugees arriving at the Sudanese border in the space of 24 hours, and with the conflict appearing to escalate, the number is likely to rise sharply. This will require a significant mobilization of resources to address the needs of those seeking asylum.
Inside Ethiopia, UNHCR is deeply concerned for the more than 96,000 Eritreans living in the four refugee camps and the host community living alongside them, as well as the 100,000 people in Tigray who were already internally displaced at the start of the conflict.
Roads are blocked and electricity, phone and Internet are down, making communication nearly impossible. There is a shortage of fuel, and banking services have halted resulting in a lack of cash.
While camps are not in the immediate conflict zone, UNHCR remains worried about the safety of refugees and humanitarian workers due to the relative proximity of the camps to the fighting and the deteriorating situation. Access to refugees and others affected by the conflict remains a concern, including lack of access to border areas.
For more information on this topic, please contact: | https://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2020/11/5fabe9fd4/clashes-ethiopias-tigray-region-force-thousands-flee-sudan.html%C2%A0 |
Putin, Abe to discuss Russia-Japan peace treaty in Moscow on Jan 22
MOSCOW. Jan 14 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who will pay a working visit to Russia at Putin's invitation, will meet in Moscow on January 22, the Kremlin press service said.
"It is planned to discuss the current state and prospects of boosting bilateral cooperation in the political, trade and economic, and humanitarian areas. The interlocutors are expected to consider issues related to the conclusion of a peace treaty between the two countries in order to expand agreements reached at the previous meetings in Singapore and Buenos Aires," the press service said in a statement.
"It is also planned to exchange opinions on certain pressing problems from the international and regional agenda," it said.
The meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled for the evening on January 22 in Moscow, Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Takeshi Osuga said.
"The agreement was reached to hold talks between the two countries' leaders [Shinzo Abe and Vladimir Putin] on the evening of January 22 in Moscow," Osuga said at a press briefing at the Japanese embassy on Monday.
Earlier on Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after talks with his Japanese counterpart Taro Kono that the next Russian-Japanese summit is expected this month, and the two leaders will be briefed on the progress made toward the conclusion of a peace treaty.
"We agreed that our deputies - as was envisaged by our leaders when they agreed to intensify work on the peace treaty on basis of the 1956 Declaration - will continue concrete communication, clarifying their positions with one another," Lavrov said.
"Before the next summit between President [Vladimir] Putin and Prime Minister [Shinzo] Abe, which is expected this month, we will report on how their instructions are being implemented," he said. | https://interfax.com/newsroom/top-stories/21628/ |
Xiaomi introduced the draft MACE
Xiaomi company, announcements of new products which in the most different categories we have long been accustomed, has announced a new open source project based on artificial intelligence system, called MACE.
MACE is abbreviatory phrase Mobile AI Compute Engine, which the manufacturer was first mentioned in December of last year. This initiative was intended to optimize and add support for heterogeneous computing systems in a mobile system on a chip Qualcomm, MediaTek and other manufacturers that are used in smartphones, the company Xioami. Now Xiaomi is using the initiative to improve the capability of the camera, adding a portrait mode, scene recognition, and so on.
Vice President of Xiaomi, which is responsible for the direction of cloud computing and artificial intelligence, said that the project MACE has an important role in the future development of Xiaomi because the company understands the role in the coming years will play an artificial intelligence, cloud computing and big data.
Xiaomi hopes that the MACE project will help the development of Chinese industry of artificial intelligence and will strengthen the position of the country in this direction on the world market. | http://pixelplus.com.ua/xiaomi-introduced-the-draft-mace |
A correction to an article about the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in Plessy v. Ferguson is presented.
- Race, Color Blindness, and the Democratic Public: Albion W. Tourgee's Radical Principles in... Elliott, Mark // Journal of Southern History;May2001, Vol. 67 Issue 2, p287
Focuses on the historical context of the Plessy versus Ferguson Supreme Court case in 1896, which marked the last efforts to establish an interracial democratic public in the United States. Reconciliation of white supremacy with an amendment to protect from race discrimination; Understanding of...
- In Defense of Dissents. Holding, Reynolds // Time;2/26/2007, Vol. 169 Issue 9, p44
This article reports on the Jackson concurrence, a function of the U.S. Supreme Court born by Justice Robert Jackson. Justice John Roberts allegedly believes that the court should strive to achieve unanimity whenever possible. The case of Plessy v. Ferguson and Justice John Harlan are offered as...
- DO PRECEDENTS TAKE PRECEDENCE? STARE DECISIS AND OREGON CONSTITUTIONALISM. Landau, Jack L. // Albany Law Review;2014, Vol. 77 Issue 4, p1347
Oregon Supreme Court approach to follow the doctrine of stare decisis for statutory construction. Topics discussed include legal issues between state constitutionalism and stare decisis, decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in Plessy v. Fergusson and several decision of the Oregon Supreme Court in...
- Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). Wynn, Linda T. // Freedom Facts & Firsts: 400 Years of the African American Civil ;2009, p176
Information about the civil rights case of Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 in the U.S. is presented. The case was a test case on the intrastate travel law in most of the southern states in the country, which legalized racial segregation in public transportation and facilities. The U.S. Supreme Court...
- JUDGING IN A VACUUM, OR, ONCE MORE, WITHOUT FEELING: HOW JUSTICE SCALIA'S JURISPRUDENTIAL APPROACH REPEATS ERRORS MADE IN PLESSY V. FERGUSON. Edelson, Chris // Akron Law Review;2012, Vol. 45 Issue 2, p513
The article presents information on the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in Plessy v. Ferguson. The decision acts as a reminder that the nation's most prestigious legal institution favored a system of racial segregation for a century after the Civil War and passage of the Fourteenth Amendment...
- Lochner for the Executive Branch: The Torture Memo as Anticanon. Kaufman, Andrew // Harvard Law & Policy Review;2013, Vol. 7 Issue 1, p199
The article discusses the U.S. Supreme Court cases of Dred Scott v. Sandford, Lochner v. New York and Plessy v. Ferguson, regarding legal torture memo on interrogation techniques encompassing mental and physical torture and coercion. It also explores literatures regarding anticanon law and the...
- Separate but Equal? Price, Sean // New York Times Upfront;02/19/2001, Vol. 133 Issue 12, p23
Part II. Recalls the United States Supreme Court decisions about race. Background information on so called 'Jim Crow' laws; Historic change of mind by the Court in 1954; Precedent set by 'Plessy v. Ferguson' and 'Brown v. Board of Education.'
- SCHOOL SEGREGATION IN THE USA. Rathbone, Mark // History Review;Dec2010, Issue 68, p1
The article discusses the history of school segregation in the United States, with particular reference to famous court cases. Topics discussed include: the 1849 Massachusetts case "Roberts v. City of Boston"; the 1896 U.S. Supreme Court (USSC) case "Plessy v. Ferguson"; the 1954 USSC case... | http://pdc-connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/3122713/plessy-v-ferguson |
Humans have always been fascinated by Space. Since ancient times, we have wondered about a world beyond ours. With Mars, that search, it seems, have come to a conclusion. A planet which is very similar yet distinguishes from Earth is human's new obsession. Many missions were done to study the Red Planet. The result was the discovery of possibility of water and life in a distant past. The possibility that there can be two planets supporting life increases the human's curiosity.
With development in Rocket Science and growing Technology,
seems very likely that in near future there will be a human base on the fourth planet. With so much knowledge about our neighbor, one would assume that there is very less to do now. Yet, many mysteries of the planet are unknown that would play a major role in Human Settlement.
This project is to design a propulsion system that will carry a certain payload to the Mars orbit from LEO. Our aim is to develop a efficient system that can achieve the task of carrying the scientific instruments as payload. | https://teamevolon.sserd.org/page3.html |
Yugasa is a mobile app development company in Gurgaon providing services related to requirements including AI, IoT, and mobility needs. As per the official website, the company showcases more than 50 experienced mobile app developers helping businesses in getting their mobile app developed.
They also have helped 250+ startups as mentioned on their portfolio website with a list of all their major clients. Some of the technologies that they use to build robust software solutions are PHP, Android, Magneto, Angular, Java, WooCommerce, ReactJS, WordPress, and more.
Yugasa has shared multiple case studies of their past works and you can learn more about them here.
Some of their recent blogs are:
- The top 5 app development trends you should follow in 2021
- The app-development life cycle: understanding the most important steps
Yugasa has shared another location on their website as:
9920 Pacific Heights Blvd., Suite 150, San Diego, California, 92121, USA
Services Provided: | https://keevurds.com/agency/yugasa/ |
This payment will occur on completion of the project i.e. 2 years after planning phase is over. Effectively this payment occurs at 18 + 24 = 42 months from now. Hence, n = 42.
Interest rate = 4.25% per annum
Hence, discount rate = r= interest rate per month = 4.25% / 12 = 0.3542%
Present value (PV) of an future payment (FV) is g...
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Q: Robinson's has 46,000 shares of stock outstanding with a par value of $1 per share and a market pric...
A: The firm announces the stock split of 2-for-1. | https://www.bartleby.com/questions-and-answers/b.this-2mile-length-of-4lane-divided-roadway-project-is-estimated-to-require-2-years-to-complete-fol/71012cde-1ecf-4002-8819-2381528274ec |
The ability to assemble electronic building blocks consisting of individual molecules is an important objective in nanotechnology. An interdisciplinary research group at Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) is now significantly closer to achieving this goal. The team of researchers headed by Prof. Dr. Sabine Maier, Prof. Dr. Milan Kivala and Prof. Dr. Andreas Görling has successfully assembled and tested conductors and networks made up of individual, newly developed building block molecules. These could in future serve as the basis of components for optoelectronic systems, such as flexible flat screens or sensors. The FAU researchers have published their results in the journal Nature Communications.
Lithographic techniques in which the required structures are cut from existing blocks are mainly employed at present to produce micro- and nano-electronic components. 'This is not unlike how a sculptor creates an object from existing material by cutting away what they do not need. How small we can make these structures is determined by the quality of the material and our mechanical skills,' explains Prof. Dr. Sabine Maier from the Chair of Experimental Physics. "We now have something like a set of Lego bricks for use in the nanoelectronic field; this enables us to fabricate the required objects 'bottom-up', in other words, we start from the base and place the tiny units one on top of the other."
The researchers can now use these building blocks to produce the smallest one-dimensional structures -conductors - and two-dimensional structures -networks - under precision-controlled conditions. The structures are characterised by their extreme regularity with no structural flaws. Flawless structures of this kind are essential for producing minuscule nanoelectronic components with various properties.
The basis of these synthetic organic semiconductors - the Lego bricks as it were - was synthesised at the Institute for Organic Chemistry at FAU. 'Our basic building block is a triangle consisting of 21 carbon atoms with one nitrogen atom at its centre, with either hydrogen, iodine or bromine deposited at the corners depending on the desired structure' clarifies Prof. Dr. Milan Kivala from the Chair of Organic Chemistry I. The FAU researchers attach the corresponding molecules to a carrier surface made of gold and this is then heated to 150 - 270°C. This process initially forms hexagons or chains. When the samples reach a temperature of 270°C, the molecular building blocks form chemically bound, flat and honeycomb-like meshes that are similar in structure to that of the Nobel Prize-winning material graphene.
The research group has already managed to determine one of the major electrical properties - the so-called 'band gap'. 'We have established that the band gap of two-dimensional structures is smaller than that of one-dimensional arrangements of the same molecular building blocks,' adds Prof. Dr. Andreas Görling from the Chair of Theoretical Chemistry. 'These insights will help us in the future to predict the properties of these structures and adjust them to the desired values for specific optoelectronic applications.'
This research has opened up the possibility of fabricating ever-smaller nanoelectronic components. The current lithographic techniques used in the commercial production of microchips can only create structures larger than 14 nanometres. The conductors generated in Erlangen are only a little wider than one nanometre and therefore around fifty thousand times thinner than a human hair. However, a number of additional developments are necessary before they can be used in technological applications. For example, it is still necessary to find a suitable electrically non-conductive carrier material.
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The results stem from an interdisciplinary collaboration within the Cluster of Excellence 'Engineering of Advanced Materials' and the Collaborative Research Centre 953 'Synthetic Carbon Allotropes' which has been published in an open access article entitled "Hierarchical on-surface synthesis and electronic structure of carbonyl-functionalized one- and two-dimensional covalent nanoarchitectures" in the scientific journal Nature Communications 8, 14765 (2017). (doi: 10.1038/ncomms14765). | https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/532792 |
The hexadecimal color code #111e2a is a very dark shade of cyan-blue. In the RGB color model #111e2a is comprised of 6.67% red, 11.76% green and 16.47% blue. In the HSL color space #111e2a has a hue of 209° (degrees), 42% saturation and 12% lightness. This color has an approximate wavelength of 479.25 nm.
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Painting is a means of self-enlightenment.
<p style="color: #111e2a">…</p>
The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider's web.
<p style="background-color: #111e2a">…</p>
Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. | https://encycolorpedia.com/111e2a |
Stub axle to suit the following Ford models with a 35mm wheel bearing spindle (C): 2310, 2610, 3610, 3910, 4110.
Measurements:
A = 32mm
B = 37mm
C = 35mm
D = 300mm
Please Note: this part is not for the listed models when they have a 32mm wheel bearing spindle.
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Have you purchased Stub Axles to suit Ford 2310 to 4110 from us? Let others know about your experience. | https://www.yellowdogindustries.com.au/stub-axles-to-suit-ford-2310-to-4110 |
In this short article, we will exhibit you how to enhance a eating table applying 10 suggestions. From choosing the ideal accessories to arranging them in the right way, you will understand quite a few appealing factors from this piece.
How to Adorn a Eating Table at Dwelling?
Test out these 10 Unique strategies which will encourage you to embellish your dining table:
1. Declutter the Table:
2. Opt for Great Fabric for Chairs:
3. Hang a Chandelier:
4. Include fresh new bouquets or Vegetation:
5. Put Some Candles:
6. Completely transform the Background:
7. Lay a Really Tablecloth:
8. Use Stylish Coasters and Mats:
9. Decide on a Desk Runner:
10. Organize Napkins and Cutlery:
Individuals are the 10 Most effective Ideas that tutorial you on how to embellish a dining desk at household? The solution to a best-hunting dining table is to experiment with various things and see what functions for your home. Also, make it a routine to clean up the desk each day to enhance its lifespan and make improvements to its appearance. | https://belidisitu.com/10-tips-to-decorate-your-dinner-table-everyday-beautifully.html |
Children are at the heart of all we do
As a Trust, DEMAT pledges to give our children a high-quality education and the best life chances.
We believe every decision should be taken in the best interests of children
While we have achieved many successes, we are not complacent and have a vision. We will always seek to improve our performance, adapting to the changes and challenges we encounter.
Our vision is for every child to flourish, be introduced to the richness of human experience and understand and question the world around them. As a result, we will have high expectations and seek to exhaust all solutions to support children.
There are many children, often those who are vulnerable or disadvantaged, but not precluding the highest-attaining, who require us to do more.
We will support them by having the best curriculum, taught by well-trained education professionals. In short, we will maximise the achievement of every child.
A rich curriculum assures children have life chances and life choices and forms part of our DEMAT entitlement for all children.
We recognise the value of a rounded and holistic education; an education built upon an aspirational curriculum, underpinned by our Christian distinctiveness.
How shall we achieve this vision?
1.1 Rich curriculum
1.2 Quality in the classroom
1.3 Supporting children
1.4 Raising standards
How shall we achieve this?
All children should expect and will receive a broad and balanced curriculum.
They will secure a solid foundation in knowledge and understanding of the world and the vocabulary to describe it.
We will work across our schools to enhance our existing curriculum. Our curriculum will ignite a love of learning.
It will rely on our leaders’ ability to promote excellence, explore spirituality, cultivate challenge and encourage all to embrace the struggle and joy inherent in learning.
Above all, learning must never be too easy or its rewards lose value and its comprehension lacks permanence.
All DEMAT schools will enhance their English and mathematics provision to ensure all children have this core knowledge.
This curriculum will be academic, well-sequenced, designed by subject-specialists and delivered by well-trained teachers.
Raising achievement rests on what happens in the classroom. Teaching is key to delivering this strategy, led by a carefully crafted curriculum.
To this end, we will promote and share excellence through the development of subject communities and sharing evidence of effective pedagogy.
And we will address any unacceptable variability, because all DEMAT children must receive the highest quality of education.
Our strong leadership of teaching and learning is a key factor in our success. Trust-wide improvement requires that our leaders can accurately recognise any deficits and effectively gauge how to resolve them.
Teachers will have freedom to be excellent.
As a result, they will provide regular feedback that enables students to recognise what they can do, what they can’t yet do and how they can improve.
We are fully inclusive and welcome all children.
To build further on this already strong provision, we will establish a DEMAT Inclusion Network.
It will offer a wide range of additional support including educational psychologists, speech and language therapists and mental health practitioners.
We will continue to develop our expertise and the monitoring and intervention of all groups of students. And, specifically, for our most vulnerable students.
Continuing the improvement of performance and pupil outcomes in all year groups will remain our most important measure.
This will ensure that, academically, our children are ready to access the secondary curriculum in neighbouring schools.
We shall ensure we offer the highest levels of pedagogy in reading, writing and mathematics as well as in the broader curriculum.
We know this is hugely important in developing cultural and personal capital in our pupils.
As a Trust, we will increase capacity to support headteachers in driving further improvements within their schools.
And we will work closely with both Diocesan and community schools within our community to raise standards through collaboration. | https://demat.org.uk/core-strand-one-demat-vision/ |
In speaking about Water by the Spoonful, playwright Quiara Alegria Hudes said, “A lot of the piece grapples with harmony and discord.” Indeed, Yaz spends much of scene 3 talking about dissonance and when she first noticed dissonance in music.
What do you remember as your first impactful experience with dissonance?
For our purposes, this is not musical dissonance, but personal/family dissonance—which is also something this play grapples with.
Respond to this post with a comment, detailing an impactful experience with dissonance in your life.
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Who is? Brain Teaser & Riddles
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Game information
Game title: Who is? Brain Teaser & Riddles
Category: Puzzle
Game description:
Do you love intellectual challenge? Then you’re at the right place! This awesome game contains some serious tasks for you to solve. There are tons of them and they are quite different, so you won’t be able to use the same approach every time. To come up with the right answer, you have to think carefully and use your imagination. Some puzzles will really make your head explode, in a good way! If you keep playing this game on a daily basis, you can actually feel your brain grow inside your skull! | http://gameroze.com/who-is-brain-teaser-riddles/ |
A 2:1 honours degree or equivalent qualification in either a life science or mathematical/physical science.
Months of entry
September
Course content
It’s widely recognised by modern neuroscience that taking a systems approach to exploring the brain is vital to understanding brain function.
Systems neuroscience focuses on the interactions between neural structures in networks that give rise to sensori-motor control and information processing, and it’s these interactions that provide us with a foundation for understanding the relationship between brain structure and brain function in the context of the cognitive, perceptual and motor mechanisms that underpin behaviour.
To develop our understanding of this relationship we need to integrate experimental and theoretical approaches. That’s why the MSc Systems Neuroscience course has been designed to provide you with interdisciplinary training in cutting-edge approaches to understanding how brain cells interact in networks to contribute to function and behaviour.
Teaching
Teaching is through lectures, seminars, laboratory classes and individual projects.
Assessment
You’ll be assessed through formal examinations and coursework which may include essays, poster presentations and a dissertation.
Please see our University website for the most up-to-date course information: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/courses
Information for international students
Overall IELTS grade of 6.5 with 6.0 in the other components, or equivalent. | https://www.prospects.ac.uk/universities/university-of-sheffield-3976/department-of-psychology-14596/courses/systems-neuroscience-123559 |
Feb. 19 (UPI) -- The USS Donald Cook and ships from NATO's Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 2 entered the Black Sea on Tuesday, with their movements tracked by Russian vessels.
The U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer departed Batumi, Georgia, where it conducted an exercise with two of the nation's coast guard ships, according to the U.S. Navy.
"Each visit here affords us the unique opportunity to work with our regional maritime partners," Cmdr. Matthew Powel, commanding officer of Donald Cook. "The crew and I look forward to experiencing the rich history and culture in this region."
The Arleigh Burke-class ship, which is forward-deployed in Rota, Spain, was last in the Black Sea on Jan. 28.
This time the ship will "conduct maritime security operations and enhance regional maritime stability, combined readiness and naval capability with our NATO allies and partners in the region," the U.S. Sixth Fleet press office said.
Because allied nations border the Black Sea, NATO regularly conducts exercises and operations in the Black Sea "to maintain a credible and capable defensive capability," NATO said in a news release.
Since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, NATO said it has increased its presence in the Black Sea. NATO Maritime Groups patrols increased in 2018 to 120 days from 80 days in 2017.
Russia's Orekhovo-Zuevo missile corvette and the Ivan Khurs naval reconnaissance ship are monitoring the situation.
"Russia's Black Sea Fleet assigned forces and means to continuously monitor the actions of the American destroyer," the Russian National Defense Control Center said in a statement published by Sputnik News.
Also entering the Black Sea on Tuesday were the German Navy replenishment oiler FGS Werra and Turkish minesweeper TCG Akçakoca from NATO's SNMCMG2. In the Black Sea, they were joined by Bulgarian mine hunter BGS Tsibar, while the Romanian minesweeper ROS Lt. Lupu Dinescu also is scheduled to arrive there.
NATO's contingent will go to Varna, Bulgaria, from Thursday and Feb. 25 before heading to Constanța, Romania.
Bulgarian Navy Rear Adm. Mitko Petev, commander of the Tsibar, said the exercises demonstrate the alliance's commitment to each country.
"So, that's not extraordinary. It is not dictated by any military or political necessity," Rear Admiral Mitko Petev said in an interview with bTV. "SNMCMG2 is the most prepared group of NATO's Response Force, the standards in this group are extremely high."
In early March, Romania and Bulgaria will host the mine countermeasure exercise Poseidon 2019.
"Maritime missions with various scenarios will be carried out. Including countering asymmetric threats and mine countermeasures in a given area," Petev said. | https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2019/02/19/US-destroyer-Cook-NATO-ships-enter-Black-Sea-ahead-of-exercise/1791550596670/?ts_=22 |
The Next Growth Engine To Enable Digital Transformation Across Enterprises In recent years, India has been moving towards becoming a digital economy. The digital space in India has seen a lot of transformation and the Internet of Things (IoT) is a recent phenomenon. The growing adoption of Cloud in IoT services, shifting of...
eHealth to Strengthen Delivery of Care for Non-Communicable Diseases in Africa
84 pages • By Frost & Sullivan
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Strategic Analysis of the European OES Channel
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Start-ups Disrupting Global Connected Truck Market, 2016–2017
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Adhesives for Microfluidics- Technology Assessment
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Global Care Assistance and Automation Robots Market, Forecast to 2021
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Robot-based Hospital Automation and Augmented Quality of Care for Elderly and Disabled Offer High-yield, Early-stage Investment Opportunities for First MoversThe global care assistance and automation robots market is expected to achieve rapid adoption with a CAGR of 36% through 2021. As doctors and care providers pay more attention...
Advances in Material Technologies for Personal Care
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Innovations in Implantable Electronics
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The North American Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) Market
53 pages • By Frost & Sullivan
Managing and Securing Today's Explosion of Data and Devices The North American EMM market is in a state of flux, rapidly evolving from standalone mobile device management (MDM) and now transitioning into an expansive unified endpoint management (UEM) experience that also encompasses desktop computers, wearables, and select smart...
Smart Cities of West Africa, Forecast to 2030
86 pages • By Frost & Sullivan
Analysis of the Development of Greenfield and Brownfield Smart Cities Across Africa, According to Initiatives Based on 8 Frost & Sullivan Smart City Parameters This study focuses on giving an in-depth overview of the profiled cities, according to the development of initiatives aligned to 8 Smart City parameters. These parameters...
Integrated Food Traceability—Implementation and Impact on Processing Equipment in North America, Forecast to 2020
30 pages • By Frost & Sullivan
Sanitary Design of Processing Equipment Emphasized by the Proactive Role in Food Safety with the Implementation of FSMA This market insight covers the growth opportunities for the process equipment companies in the North America region. It covers the regional analysis of how the changing landscape in the Food Traceability industry...
Rise of FoodBots is Increasing Efficiency and Safety in Global F&B Industry, Forecast to 2020
27 pages • By Frost & Sullivan
Rising Adoption of Automated Solutions to Offer a More Lean and Clean Operating Environment that Supports Foodbotics The aim of this private market insight is to evaluate the opportunities in the food and beverage industry by assessing the trends in food robots across the industry during the study period.This market insight...
Power Retail Tariff and Reliability Benchmark in Southeast Asia, 2010–2016
38 pages • By Frost & Sullivan
State-owned Retailers Show Supply Reliability Improvements with Increasing Tariff ASEAN has a diverse electricity supply market structure with varied levels of de-regulation, tariff, subsidies, and tariff structure. A few countries have de-regulated wholesale power markets without fuel subsidies and others have a single-buyer...
North American Variable Refrigerant Flow Systems Market, Forecast to 2022
47 pages • By Frost & Sullivan
Commercial and Educational Facilities Gain with Benefits of VRF TechnologyThis research service presents the analysis of the North American variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems market. In North America, the heat recovery VRF units segment is the largest, compared to heat pump VRF units. The commercial and educational verticals...
Strategic Overview of the Adhesives Market in India, Forecast to 2020
54 pages • By Frost & Sullivan
End-user Industries and Technological Advancements to Drive GrowthThe study aims to analyse the adhesives market in India for 2015 and the trends until 2020.Research Scope- Global market overview- India market analysis and end-user outlook- Classification of adhesives and new emerging applications-...
Australian Fintech, Forecast for 2020
130 pages • By Frost & Sullivan
Mobile Apps, Robo-Advice, Customised Analysis Algorithms, and Blockchain will ensure a CAGR of 76.3%Australian FinTech revenue will grow at a CAGR of 76.3% and exceed A$4 billion by 2020, driven by reduced taxes on investments in startups, steady increase in mobile payments, and rise of Tech-savy digital natives. The Australian...
African Pharmaceuticals Market, Forecast to 2020
66 pages • By Frost & Sullivan
Assessing Market Potential with a Focus on Kenya and NigeriaThe pharmaceuticals market in Africa is expected to reach a business opportunity of $45 billion in 2020, propelled by a convergence of changing economic profiles, rapid urbanisation, increased healthcare spending and investment, and increasing incidence of chronic lifestyle...
Turkish Medium and Heavy Duty Truck Market, 2012–2021
111 pages • By Frost & Sullivan
From 2016-2021, Growth of the Medium Duty Truck Market at 7.9% and Heavy Duty Trucks Market at 1.5% Will Help OEMs to Expand Volume This research service presents a detailed analysis of the truck market in Turkey and focuses on medium and heavy duty truck segments. This study assesses the market from 2012 to 2021. The market...
Uzbekistan Automotive Market, Forecast to 2020
101 pages • By Frost & Sullivan
Sales Volume of Passenger Vehicles, Commercial Vehicles, Buses and Minibuses to Reach 202,000 Units by 2020The study aims to research, analyze, and forecast the automotive market in Uzbekistan according to 3 segments: passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and buses and minibuses.Research ScopeMacroeconomic...
APAC Home Health Monitoring Market, Forecast for 2020
139 pages • By Frost & Sullivan
Vendor Business Model Evolution to Usher New Paradigms in Chronic Disease ManagementAPAC’s home health monitoring market is set to generate nearly $2.2 billion by 2020. Local and international vendors should identify the long-term market progression and opportunity within home monitoring for both acute and chronic care in this...
Europe Private Vehicle Leasing Market Strategic Analysis
72 pages • By Frost & Sullivan
Strong Market Growth Expected as Leasing Companies Turn Focus to Untapped Retail Segment and Increasing Customer Demand for Hassle-free Mobility SolutionsThe retail automobile market in Europe is undergoing a transformation in terms of the vehicle ownership model. The need of the current generation is moving toward mobility...
Asia-Pacific Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Systems Market, Forecast to 2021
128 pages • By Frost & Sullivan
Growing Prominence of Cloud Computing and Large Data Centers will Drive Market Growth The Asia-Pacific uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) systems market, currently in the growth stage, is expected to grow at a single digit CAGR between 2015 and 2021. The market is expected to reach just under $2.00 billion by 2021. The growing...
Australian Precision Agriculture Market, Forecast to 2020
128 pages • By Frost & Sullivan
Farmer Interest Yet to Catch Up to Industry EnthusiasmThis study looks at the fast-developing precision agriculture market in Australia. Sketching an overview, it looks at the overall size and growth rates of the market and discusses key drivers and restraints. The study provides insights into both global and domestic technology...
Market Analysis of Emerging Cardiac Therapies in the United States and Western Europe, Forecast to 2020
124 pages • By Frost & Sullivan
With Double Digit Growth Rates and Strong Product Pipeline, the Emerging Cardiac Devices Market will Witness a Transformation in the Next 5 YearsThe biggest challenge for emerging cardiac procedures is adoption barrier and reimbursement. The long-term clinical evidence gathered through clinical studies and the technological...
Optic Fiber Communication Networks (OFC) in India—Opportunities for Cable Multiple System Operators (MSOs), Forecast till 2020
39 pages • By Frost & Sullivan
Regulation and Policy Challenges Linger, but Digital India and Digitization of TV Services Boost the Growth of the OFC Market in India In India, the trends of increasing smartphone users, OTT video adoption and increased data usage has resulted in telecom operators to improve networks to provide uninterrupted quality of service....
Future Opportunites for 3D Integrated Circuits
68 pages • By Frost & Sullivan
3D Stacked Memory and 3D MEMS Driving Opportunities in Consumer Electronics and Communication Markets 3D Integrated Circuit technology enables the development of high performing microchips with small form factor and low-power consumption capability. With the growing demand for miniaturization in industries like consumer electronics...
Strategic Analysis of Major Global Airlines
132 pages • By Frost & Sullivan
Return to Profitability Brings Opportunities and Challenges to Airline SuppliersThis research service focuses on the competitive profiling of 15 global airline and airline groups that include 4 from the United States, 4 from Europe, 1 from Russia, 2 from the Middle-East, and 4 from Asia. The 10-year profiling of these airlines...
Global Laboratory Products Purchasing Trends, 2016–2017
88 pages • By Frost & Sullivan
An End-user Perspective on the Purchasing Process, Product Budgets, and Top Companies for Laboratory ProductsReaders of Lab Manager Magazine were invited to participate in an online survey in July 2016. To qualify for survey participation, readers had to play a role in their laboratory’s purchasing process, be familiar with... | https://www.reportbuyer.com/publisher/1470/frost-sullivan.html |
KNIGHTHOOD IN THE DIOCESE OF THE WEST
Early in 2013 the Bishop Rt. Rev. Felix Orji, promoting Discipleship and evangelism in Anglican Diocese of the West, met with few people and decided to recognize and honor members of the laity who have distinguished themselves and wish to do so in service to the Church and Society. Such important and highly honored office of the laity in the Church of God Anglican Communion is that of the Knighthood. Knights support their Bishop and under his authority.
Knighthood is an honor bestowed on men and women distinguished for personal character and notable accomplishments for the good of humanity. In the Church, recipients are persons who have conducted themselves in an exemplary manner in the past and have equally been available for services to the Church and to Church authorities.
Knighthood is a mission of sacrifice and should not simply be regarded as a reward for a job well done but rather as a new call for greater responsibility in the Church. Knighthood is not a status symbol, it is not a secret cult, and it is certainly not a social club where people gather to seek or have fun. IT IS A CALL TO SERVE GOD AND MAN.
A night must be:
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A Born Again Christian.
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Committed and participating Anglican in good standing and of proven moral integrity.
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They must be full active members of their home Anglican churches.
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Married to one wife. (1 Corinthians 9:5)
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Blameless in Conduct. (1 Timothy 5:7; 6:14)
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Given to Hospitality. (Titus 1:8; Romans 12:13)
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Not member of secret society.
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Not given to too much wine. (1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7)
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A communicant in good standing.
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A generous financial contributor to the Diocese.
A Knight is someone who has distinguished himself/ herself in service to the Church and Society that the Church decides to bring him/ her to the center rank. The true essence of knighthood is not so much of what you think, it is what others see in you through your ways life and conduct, the good impact you make in people’s lives, your family, community and your diocese/church. What actually makes a knight is not the dressing. Remember the old saying; “The hood does not make a monk” it is the SPIRITUAL IMPACT the individual knight makes in his immediate and remote environment that actually makes him/her a Knight.
In the olden days as well as the present, priests and kings are anointed to set them apart to work for which they are called. In the same way, knight is not just clad in the military outfit/sword, he/she is anointed set apart, empowered spiritually not to fight as combatant soldiers but as soldiers of the cross. A Knight is to wage war against anything evil.
The anointing possessed by the knight enables him/her to fight not with bare hands or empty heart, but to be spiritually combat-ready with the following weapons, Truth, Righteousness, Faith, God's word (sword of the spirit) and prayer. (Ephesians. 6: 13-18) A Christian knight must PRAY. Christian knight must be instruments in the hand of God and give prayer support for Missions and Evangelism. Remember Jesus said; Apart from me you can do nothing. All the Knights must shun pride, sexual immorality, arrogance and insubordination. You must see yourselves as soldiers of Christ and a burden bearer. | https://www.adotw.com/knights-of-st-christopher |
Close friends have been shown to influence adolescent problem behaviors, especially alcohol abuse (Urberg, Degirmencioglu, and Pilgrim, 1997). The degree of influence, however varies as a function of individual characteristics such as peer acceptance (Laursen, Hafen, Kerr, and Stattin, 2012) and age (Popp et al., 2008). The present study examines whether differences in influence extend to perceptions of friendship quality. Using a sample of 764 Swedish adolescents involved in stable samesex reciprocal best friend relationships that lasted at least one year, analyses used distinguishable dyad actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) analyses (Kenny, Kashy, & Cook, 2006) to track influence over two years of the friendship. More satisfied friends were more influential than less satisfied friends on intoxication frequency and truancy. The findings of this study indicate that influence accompanies perceptions of quality. Those with higher perceptions of quality exhibit more influence on friends who perceive relatively lower quality.
Best friend influence over adolescent problem behaviors: the role of perceived friendship quality. | http://fau.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/fau%3A13069 |
The purpose of this role is to lead teams within an IT customer service focused environment in accordance with the scheduled resource plans and processes; analysing operational performance, trends and insights to improve resolution of IT incidents and improved customer satisfaction, responding to day to day requirements.
As part of our exciting plans, the IT operations team structure is growing to strengthen and increase our in-house capability and capacity. The areas of expertise we're looking for, are focused on the end to end service management of our IT services (using the ITIL V3 frame work). This is a chance for you to work in our innovative creative office space where you will be able to visually demonstrate your skills, ideas and insights openly. This is a challenging role which requires you to help deliver the best next generation services to all our customers.
You will set individual targets that meet the overall operational goals and maximise performance.
You will ensure that people are deployed effectively.
You will provide governance of the skills framework through ensuring fair assessments and the addressing of gaps and needs.
You will support, motivate and coach Team Leaders / Trainers to perform to their full potential.
You provide constructive feedback based on operational insight and experience You will engender empowerment, efficiency, engagement and excellence.
You will act as an accessible and responsive escalation point for IT customer issues resolution, adopting fair and consistent application of policy and guidelines.
You will monitor process performance and take on opportunities for improvement supporting the Continuous Service Improvement Process.
You will provide constant monitoring and management of quality standards and consistency, utilising all available data sources to provide balanced and effective reporting and informed actions.
You will be part of the Change process.
You will manage the handover process from Service Transition to ensure adequate knowledge and training is given to the service desk as new or enhanced IT services are introduced.
You will manage the continuous review of Knowledge Scripts with the 3rd party providers to improve the effective incident resolution time.
You will support the incident Managers in the effective incident work flow management of 3rd party suppliers and participate in supplier Service Level Reviews.
The successful candidate must have worked in an IT Service Desk environment and have experience of managing a team of up to 12 and Project Management is desirable. You will possess an ITIL v3 Foundation Certification and have working Experience of Service Now or other ITSM tool. You will have excellent problem solving skills within a complex, high volume business and have a track record of improving performance in people and process. You will be customer service focused, dynamic, and creative, demonstrating adaptability, flexibility and patience to deliver challenging goals and to set and manage targets.
This permanent position will be based in our head office in Reading town centre working 36 hours a week covering a 24/7 rotating shift pattern. We are offering a salary between £40,800 to £53,000. Our competitive salary package includes an excellent contributory pension and holiday scheme and a wider benefits scheme which includes an annual pay review, season ticket loans and loyalty awards for continuous service plus discounts at a wide range of retailers via Benefits on Taps. We also offer 2 paid volunteering days per year. | https://www.ex-militarycareers.com/job/it-service-desk-team-leader-1014669.htm |
The concept of photoautotrophic micropropagation is derived from the research that revealed relatively high photosynthetic ability of chlorophyllous cultures such as leafy explants, cotyledonary stage somatic embryos and plantlets in vitro. While studying the environmental conditions of tissue culture vessels containing leafy green plantlets of Caiathea, Spatihphyllum, Phirodendron imbe Nepenthes, Dracaena, Cymbidium, Limonium, Syngonium, Cordyline, Ficus lyrata, Fujiwara et al. (1987) found that in vitro plantlets could not fully achieve their photosynthetic ability during the light period because the CO2 concentration in the closed vessels were too low in most of the light periods. Therefore, they concluded that the tissue cultured plantlets can be grown photoautotrophically (to be able to photosynthesise) during and after the multiplication stage by improving the CO2 and light environments in the culture vessels. In the following year (1988) several studies were reported in which photoautotrophic micropropagation, that is, growing plantlets in vitro in sugar-free medium was achieved. First of all, Kozai et al. (1988) successfully cultured potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plantlets in sugar-free medium with a goal to develop an automated mass propagation system for producing diseasefree seed-potato tubers and disease-free potato plantlets. In another study, Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) plants have been grown successfully under photoautotrophic conditions by Kozai and Sekimoto (1988). Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) (Kozai and Iwanami, 1988) and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants (Pospisilova et al., 1988) were also grown photoautotrophically in the same year (1988). The concept of growing plantlets in a large vessel under photoautotrophic conditions with forced ventilation system was first successfully implemented by Fujiwara et al., (1988). The vessel, volume of 19 L (58 cm long, 28 cm wide and 12 cm high) with an attached air pump for the forced ventilation, was used to enhance the photoautotrophic growth of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) explants and/or plants during the rooting and acclimatization stages. This was an aseptic micro-hydroponic system with a nutrient solution control system. Since then the trend of developing protocols for the in vitro growth of plants under photoautotrophic conditions started and is still continuing and so far nearly 50 different plant species have been reported to grow successfully under photoautotrophic conditions. Among these potato plant has been studied most extensively by many authors (Kozai et al., 1988; Takazawa and Kozai, 1992; Kozai et al., 1992 and 1995b; Tanaka et al., 1992; Miyashita et al., 1997; Kitaya et al., 1995c and 1997a; Fujiwara et al., 1995; Hayashi et al., 1995; Miyashita et al., 1995 and 1996; Roche et al., 1996; Niu. and Kozai, 1997; Niu et al., 1997; Zobayed et al., 1999a; Kim et al., 1999; Xiao et al., 2000; Pruski et al., 2002) followed by sweetpotato (Nagatome et al., 2000, Kozai et al., 1996; Ohyama and Kozai, 1997; Niu et al., 1998; Afreen et al., 1999; Zobayed et al., 1999; Afreen et al., 2000; t Zobayed et al., 2000; Heo and Kozai, 1999; Wilson et al., 2000; Kubota et al., 2002). | https://arizona.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/plant-species-successfully-micropropagated-photoautotrophically |
Fort Collins tax collections far exceed expectations
The city of Fort Collins has collected $16.5 million more in sales and use taxes than it budgeted through November, but that doesn’t mean there’s going to be an end-of-year spending spree at city hall.
Due to volatility in construction and car sales, city budget-makers are intentionally conservative when they estimate how much Fort Collins might collect in use taxes paid on building permits, vehicles purchased outside city limits and investments companies make in equipment.
But given the city’s building boom and high-dollar projects like the redevelopment of Foothills Mall and Woodward Inc.’s expansion of its global headquarters, the city knew it would collect far more in use taxes than the $14.4 million it budgeted for this year.
Thus far, the city has collected $11.4 million more in use taxes than its 2014 budget projected. It has also collected $5.1 million more than anticipated in sales tax revenue, according a report released Wednesday.
After what started as a pretty modest year-over-year gain in the first four months of the year, sales tax collections have accelerated in the past four months. November collections, which reflect sales taxes paid on October purchases, were up 10.5 percent from November 2013.
“We didn’t anticipate all of that,” Fort Collins Chief Financial Officer Mike Beckstead said.
The additional tax revenue has already been included in the 2015-2016 budget as a fund balance from this year and would be available for use next year and the year after.
What to do with the money is up to City Council, said Beckstead, who plans to update council on the city’s revenue picture — “what’s really available and what the impact might be on Building on Basics, or BOB” priorities — on Tuesday.
“These are one-time funds,” he said, and could be used to pay for community priorities eliminated from potential BOB tax funding. Or they could sit in the general fund until the next budget cycle, which begins in 2016. “It’s council’s call,” Beckstead said.
Through November, sales tax collections are up 8.3 percent from 2013, with use tax collections up nearly 48 percent.
The only major category showing a year-over-year drop in tax collections is clothing and accessories, a tough category given the decline of Foothills Mall as it awaits redevelopment.
In November, the general merchandise category, which includes stores such as Walmart and Target, declined nearly 7 percent, the largest monthly drop in a year.
The dip reflects the loss of Sears, which closed in October, and the opening of Costco in Timnath, which saw thousands of shoppers checking out the new warehouse store during the month.
The decline totaled less than $58,000.
“Overall, sales tax revenue was up 10.5 percent,” said Jessica Ping-Small, director of the city’s sales tax office. The drop in general merchandise “didn’t affect the aggregated numbers at all.”
Tax collected on marijuana sales continue to strengthen the city’s bottom line. Lumped in with pharmacies, salons and laundry services, the category grew 26 percent in November and is up 18.5 percent for the year. Year to date, the category saw $61 million in sales, up from $52 million a year ago.
The city won’t separate out sales at recreational marijuana shops because there are only three shops open and sales numbers are considered proprietary. The city will likely divulge how much recreational pot stores generate when more stores open.
The city's 10 medical marijuana stores generate about $500,000 in sales per month, resulting in about $20,000 in monthly sales tax revenue, according to the city.
The first recreational retail shop, Organic Alternatives on East Mountain Avenue, didn't open until mid-June; a second shop, Infinite Wellness, opened in September. A third opened at the end of October.
Fort Collins sales and use tax
Monthly and year-to-date increases from 2013: | https://www.coloradoan.com/story/money/2014/12/10/fort-collins-tax-collections-far-exceed-expectations/20219521/ |
During our January professional development day, York House faculty had the pleasure of hosting Ron Ritchhart, author and Senior Research Associate of Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
His presentation, “Making Thinking Visible” focused on the introduction to cultures of thinking and the use of thinking routines. Ron’s work with us focused on empowering teachers to create learning environments that empower intellectual stimulation; where students are encouraged to think, plan, create, question, and engage independently as learners.
Ron engaged teachers in actively practising visible thinking and questioning routines. His interactive session enabled teachers from JK to Grade 12 to consider the following questions as it pertains to their subject and grade levels:
- What are thinking dispositions
- How do teachers help students develop powerful thinking dispositions?
- How do we assess thinking dispositions?
Since Ron’s visit to our school, it has been a pleasure to work alongside many of our teachers as they deepen their understanding and application of thinking routines that support our girls in:
- Making connections;
- Describing their learning;
- Building explanations;
- Considering different viewpoints and perspectives;
- Capturing the heart and making conclusions; and
- Reasoning with evidence.
At York House School, we continue to empower girls to think critically and to not only solve problems, but also to find them. Such skills and competencies are essential as we prepare them for post-secondary studies and future employment opportunities. We will continue to expand our learning and apply instructional strategies that enable our girls to bring their creative thinking to new heights both in the classroom and beyond. | https://blog.yorkhouse.ca/2016/02/18/creating-a-culture-of-thinking/ |
noun. ['kənˈdɪʃənɪŋ'] a learning process in which an organism's behavior becomes dependent on the occurrence of a stimulus in its environment.
Synonyms
- counter conditioning
- operant conditioning
- acquisition
- experimental extinction
- learning
- classical conditioning
- extinction
Antonyms
- illiteracy
- activity
- action
- active
Featured Games
Words that Rhyme with Operant Conditioning
- reconditioning
- transitioning
- repositioning
- decommissioning
- partitioning
- positioning
- petitioning
- commissioning
- auditioning
Example sentences of the word operant-conditioning
1. Noun Phrase
Reinforcement is a term coined by behavioral psychologists who developed the theory of operant conditioning.
2. Noun Phrase
Teachers looking to use behavioral techniques to reinforce learning are more likely to use operant conditioning techniques.
3. Noun Phrase
However, it often can work alongside operant conditioning to reinforce learning.
2. operant
adjective. ['ˈɑːpɝənt'] having influence or producing an effect. | https://www.synonym.com/synonyms/operant-conditioning |
This is a complete list of Go! Retail Group locations along with their geographical coordinates. Go! Retail Group operate the largest pop-up retail toy stores in the world. Their stores include toys, games, shirts, calendars, and much more. The data includes addresses and store hours for each location.
PLEASE NOTE: This company’s store count has changed due to COVID-19 related circumstances. For a list of stores that were open prior to this change, please contact our Customer Service Team at [email protected].
Here's what you get:
Record Count:
< 100Record Count range based on most recent data extraction. Actual store count will be available upon purchase.
Last Updated:
08/13/2020
Country:
United States
Category:
Included Fields: | https://www.aggdata.com/toys_and_games_retail_group_locations/go_retail_group |
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