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My team and I huddled on the couches to watch the latest batch of movies — videos really — of users testing out our product. For several weeks during the most recent product redesign at Quip, we ran tests on UserTesting — a virtual user testing lab that lets you get videos of real people sharing their thoughts as they test out your product. Watching these user videos became a core part of our workflow and quickly evolved into one of our highest-leverage activities.
Our project team developed a healthy cadence where we would iterate on a part of the user experience based on some hypothesis, deploy the changes to production, and then run a user test on the new version. Within the hour, we’d receive detailed feedback from real people and watch 30-minute long videos of people making sense of — or failing to make sense of — our changes. Based on our learnings, we’d brainstorm solutions to eliminate sources of friction and confusion and repeat the cycle. At our peak, we ran up to 12 user tests in a single week.
This technique of continuous user testing, where we would aggressively and iteratively run user tests to validate hypotheses, played a key role in guiding our redesign. We’d ask ourselves, “What’s the next piece of functionality where we would learn the most by testing on users?” And then we’d hone in on those areas. The tests confirmed promising design choices and surfaced areas – sometimes surprising ones – that people found confusing. Ultimately, the technique helped us to confidently ship a redesign to simplify core aspects of Quip’s living documents, and the launch largely received positive feedback.1 And it’s a technique that can benefit other teams as well.
The Power of Continuous User Testing
User testing is by no means a new concept. When I worked on search quality at Google, our team would periodically run tests in the usability lab. In a typical test, a researcher would guide a paid volunteer through a list of tasks, and the team could either observe through a two-way mirror or watch the recorded video afterwards. Eye-tracking lasers followed a participant’s gaze as it danced across pages, and overlaying this optical data later over the recorded screen provided valuable insights into where people focused their attention. Once, instead of running a lab test, we even drove out to volunteers’ homes to observe how people used Google in their natural habitat.
These user tests often surprised us. Who would have known that some people copied and pasted search results into Word documents and printed them out when doing online research? That’s not an insight any amount of team discussion would have revealed. But while useful, the overhead involved in scheduling and running a test often meant that user testing rarely became an integrated part of a team’s development workflow. Many teams would conduct tests only as an afterthought, after they had already invested substantial amounts of engineering and design work.
Outside of Google, the teams that actually run user tests continuously as part of their workflows tend to be ones that are scrappy and have low numbers of users — traits that you’d find in early startup teams. For example, when Akshay Kothari and Ankit Gupta were initially building the Pulse News reader app (acquired by LinkedIn in 2013 for $90M),2 they would set up camp in a Palo Alto café and invite visitors to test out new prototypes on an iPad. Based on the usability issues that people hit, they would then make hundreds of small iterations per day — from fixing interaction patterns to adjusting button sizes. Within a couple weeks, people went from calling it “crap” to asking if it was preloaded on the iPad. 3
The advent of virtual usability labs and the speed with which you can get results change this dynamic, making these types of workflows accessible to more teams. The tight feedback loop enables teams to iterate more incrementally than a more traditional build-and-launch approach and, when applicable, much faster than running A/B tests.
Continuous user testing also affords two other key benefits. First, it provides a powerful channel to quickly validate and build confidence that you’re moving in the right direction. Driving a product forward based on vision and intuition is important, but we’re oftentimes so immersed in our own mental models of how something works that we can become fairly disconnected from someone less familiar to the product. Gathering feedback from real users helps ground our reality.
Second, the persuasiveness of data from real users helps resolve discussions. How often have we spent hours in heated design discussions over the hypothetical benefits of various approaches, only to move forward based on some line of argument that doesn’t necessarily have everyone’s buy-in? We often spend our energy debating because we don’t have enough data, and continuous user testing gives us another tool to collect that data. And that means we can focus on results and ship what actually works rather than what hypothetically works.
When to Leverage Continuous User Testing
Continuous user testing isn’t free — the time spent conducting and learning from user tests is time not spent writing software. But when we consider all the time we spend tweaking and perfecting features that never get the adoption we want, it’s clear that the earlier we can make course corrections, the less effort we’ll waste and the bigger the impact we’ll create. So when does it make sense to use this technique?
A good starting point is where A/B testing falls short. Dan McKinley, a former principal engineer at Etsy, has shared how some teams there have successfully used continuous experimentation to drive product development. 4 They decompose large product changes into a series of hypotheses (e.g., “casual users don’t understand that they can search different marketplaces using a dropdown menu next to the search box”) that they then verify with A/B tests of small, measurable changes (e.g., “does surfacing handmade and vintage items outside of the dropdown increase findability?”).
We’ve used continuous experimentation as well to make product changes at Quip, and I used it previously to direct growth projects at Quora. The strategy works very well when the desired impact is quantifiable and easy to measure. But sometimes the interactions we’re trying to understand are too complex to distill into a single number. Or perhaps measuring it would take a significant amount of time and traffic to detect any meaningful difference. How much of the core product do new users understand after going through a short tour? How obvious are the interactions required to accomplish a common task? It’s tough to get deep answers to these questions with an A/B test.
Continuous user testing can help in these situations. By observing where users succeed and stumble as they work through a series of tasks, we can gain a deeper understanding of user behavior that isn’t captured through high-level metrics. That understanding can validate your intuition and your hypotheses, as well as surface unexpected sources of friction.
Interactions where users don’t require a significant amount of context to understand what’s going on generally work better for rapid user tests. For more complex, power-user features for Quip, we’ve relied more heavily on internal dogfooding or beta tests with customers — we’re building a new class of productivity tool, so we’ll iteratively deploy changes to employees or customers so that we can gather more data about what works and what doesn’t.
The many hours that we spent watching users understand and work with Quip introduced a level of confidence in our redesign that we wouldn’t have otherwise. Many of the ideas we tried didn’t pan out, but continuous user testing let us focus and ship the ones that did.
Special kudos to my teammates and fellow movie watchers Nate Botwick and Belinda Gu.
Quip Inbox, Product Hunt. ↩
Frederic Lardinois, “LinkedIn Acquires Pulse For $90M In Stock And Cash”, TechCrunch, April 11th, 2013. ↩
Tom Kelley and David Kelley, Creative Confidence, p109 - 114. ↩
Dan McKinley, “Design for Continuous Experimentation: Talk and Slides”, December 22nd, 2012. ↩
“A comprehensive tour of our industry's collective wisdom written with clarity.”
— Jack Heart, Engineering Manager at Asana
“Edmond managed to distill his decade of engineering experience into crystal-clear best practices.”
— Daniel Peng, Senior Staff Engineer at Google
“A comprehensive tour of our industry's collective wisdom written with clarity.”
— Jack Heart, Engineering Manager at Asana
“Edmond managed to distill his decade of engineering experience into crystal-clear best practices.”
— Daniel Peng, Senior Staff Engineer at Google
Grow Your Skills Beyond the Book
Listen to podcast interviews with top software engineers and watch master-level videos of techniques previously taught only in workshops and seminars. | http://www.effectiveengineer.com/blog/continuous-user-testing-at-quip |
Engelbertina Neumann Pantry Cabinets, 2020-04-22 07:25:18. Assessing cooking and entertaining habits, collections, and bulk storage needs is a vital step toward achieving a pantry that harmonizes with the hum of a household. Whether it functions in full view or obscurity, attention to detail can affect not only its appearance, but also its practicality. A pantry that keeps foodstuffs safe, collections secure, and users well fed successfully fulfills its historic legacy.
Engelbertina Neumann Pantry Cabinets, 2020-04-22 00:47:36. When located along an outside wall, food pantries benefit from the inclusion of a window, a design detail Vitzthum highly favors: “It allows you to see items in natural light.” Instead of doors, keeping a pantry open to the kitchen allows for quick access as well as free flow of light between the spaces.
Waldo Gaertner Pantry Cabinets, 2020-04-21 15:34:27. Although kitchen staff is a rarity now, the butler’s pantry still functions like its namesake, organizing serving trays, glassware, ice, wine, and other beverages for large parties and fulfilling guests’ needs.
Landra Schuster Kitchen Islands, 2020-04-21 23:05:45. Incorporating sinks or stovetops into the surface of the island is one way to spread the workflow throughout the kitchen. Installation can be tricky, so pay attention to details like ventilation and plumbing. This will require running downward (most common in islands) or overhead venting (which can be expensive), and allocating extra space to in-cabinet pipes.
Darek Seidel Kitchen Cabinets, 2020-04-21 15:07:02. One easy way is by making the island a different finish color than the perimeter cabinets. Since the island is more like a piece of furniture, it’s an easy breakaway piece that you can feel comfortable being bold. We are seeing lots of black, navy, and chocolate brown at this station. But don’t just limit yourself to just those options. If you want to take it a step further, you could try mixing two stark colors like black and white or what about going green? As long as there is a wood element in the space you can’t go wrong. However, this may require neutral colors for the countertop, walls, and flooring. Like with most other areas of the house, homeowners are looking to create personal styles with bold statements rather than use boring cookie cutter designs. This trend is just an expression of the desire for more personality.
Clotilda Fischer Kitchen Cabinets, 2020-04-21 15:22:57. Basically, homeowners are seeking out unique colors that not only stand out but work specifically for their kitchen. If you are ordering custom made cabinets, you can choose any color you want. If you already have cabinets and want to renovate them, either get a professional painter or get ready for some extensive DIY painting work.
Winola Ziegler Kitchen Cabinets, 2020-04-21 16:57:22. Although minimalism and rose gold appliances were huge for 2018, this year is all about bringing new wild ideas for the heart of the home. With this project, you can choose to express yourself by choosing kitchen cabinet colors that best match your personality.
Landra Schuster Kitchen Cabinets, 2020-04-21 19:46:48. But as you mix and match all these elements, think about their individual colors and styles. Try to create a harmonious look that minimizes the risk of clutter that comes with open shelving. For small kitchens, be careful not to overload the wall shelving. Keep only the bare essentials and place the rest in your items in the base cabinets. Not only will it make it easier to keep everything well organized, it will help you maintain a sharp look.
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What is Static Testing?
Do you know what is Static Testing? what are the Static Testing tools we need to use? If your answer is no! Please stick to the post to learn more about Static Testing and Static Testing tools.
Static testing is a form of software testing where the software is not actually used. This is in contrast to dynamic testing. It is generally not detailed testing but checks mainly for the sanity of the code, algorithm, or document. It is primarily syntax checking of the code or and manually reading of the code or document to find errors.
This type of testing can be used by the developer who wrote the code, in isolation. Code reviews, inspections, and walkthroughs are also used. From the black box testing point of view, static testing involves the review of requirements or specifications.
This is done with an eye toward completeness or appropriateness for the task at hand. This is the verification portion of Verification and Validation.
Bugs discovered at this stage of development are less expensive to fix than later in the development cycle.
In software development, static testing also called dry run testing, is a form of software testing where the actual program or application is not used. Instead, this testing method requires programmers to manually read their own code to find any errors. Static testing is a stage of White Box Testing.
Static testing involves three major steps. They are
- Review
- Inspection
- Walkthrough
Review:
The review is “A process or meeting during which artifacts of the software product are examined by project stockholders, user representatives, or other interested parties for feedback or approval “.
Software Review can be on technical specifications, designs, source code, user documentation, support and maintenance documentation, test plans, test specifications, standards, and any other type of specific to work product, it can be conducted at any stage of the software development life cycle.
The purpose of conducting the review is to minimize the defect ratio as early as possible in the Software Development life cycle. As a general principle, the earlier a document is reviewed, the greater will be the impact of its defects on any downstream activities and their work products.
The magnitude cost of defect fixing after the release of the product is around 60 – 100x. The review can be formal or informal. Informal reviews are referred to as walkthrough and formal as Inspection.
A thorough review of the processes and design of the product/ application. Subject matter specialists and designers perform this exercise. Architectural, Development and Implementation issues are discussed and frozen at this point in time.
Our QA architects get involved at this stage to determine the potential influence of architecture and design on the QA process, platform, and tools selection.
Inspections
An inspection is a formal, rigorous, in-depth group review designed to identify problems as close to their point of origin as possible. Inspection is a recognized industry best practice to improve the quality of a product and to improve productivity. Inspections are a formal review and generally need is predefined at the start of the product planning.
The objectives of the inspection process are to:
- Find problems at the earliest possible point in the software development process.
- Verify that the work product meets its requirements.
- Ensure that the work product has been presented according to predefined standards.
- Provide data on product quality and process effectiveness.
- Inspection advantages are to build technical knowledge and skill among team members by reviewing the output of other people.
- Increase the effectiveness of software testing.
IEEE 1028 recommends three following roles in an Inspection:
Inspector Leader
The inspection leader shall be responsible for administrative tasks pertaining to the inspection, shall be responsible for planning and preparation, shall ensure that the inspection conducted in an orderly manner and meets its objectives, should be responsible for collecting inspection data.
Recorder
The recorder should record inspection data required for process analysis. The inspection leader may be the recorder.
Reader
The reader shall lead the inspection team through the software product in a comprehensive and logical fashion, interpreting sections of the work product and highlighting important aspects.
Author
The author shall be responsible for the software product meeting its inspection entry criteria, for contributing to the inspection based on a special understanding of the software product, and for performing any rework required to make the software product meet its inspection exit criteria.
Inspector
Inspectors shall identify and describe anomalies in the software product. Inspectors shall be chosen to represent different viewpoints at the meeting (for example, sponsor, requirements, design, code, safety, test, independent test, project management, quality management, and hardware engineering).
Only those viewpoints pertinent to the inspection of the product should be present. Some inspectors should be assigned specific review topics to ensure effective coverage. For example, one inspector may focus on conformance with a specific standard or standards, another on syntax, and another for overall coherence. These roles should be assigned by the inspection leader when planning the inspection.
All participants in the review are inspectors. The author shall not act as an inspection leader and should not act as a reader or recorder. Other roles may be shared among the team members. Individual participants may act in more than one role. Individuals holding management positions over any member of the inspection team shall not participate in the inspection.
Inspection Process
Following are review phases:
- Planning
- Overview
- Preparation
- Examination meeting
Planning
Inspection Leader performs the following tasks in the planning phase.
- Determine which work products need to be inspected.
- Determine if a work product that needs to be inspected is ready to be inspected.
- Identify the inspection team.
- Determine if an overview meeting is needed.
The moderator ensures that all inspection team members have had inspection process training. The moderator obtains a commitment from each team member to participate.
This commitment means the person agrees to spend the time required to perform his or her assigned role on the team. Identify the review materials required for the inspection, and distribute materials to relevant stakeholders.
Overview
The purpose of the overview meeting is to educate inspectors; the meeting is lead by Inspector lead and is presented by the author, the overview is presented for the inspection, this meeting normally acts as optional meeting, purpose to sync the entire participant and the area to be inspected.
Preparation
The objective of the preparation phase is to prepare for the inspection meeting by critically reviewing the review materials and the work product, participant drill down on the document distributed by the lead inspector and identify the defect before the meeting.
Examination meeting
The objective of the inspection meeting is to identify the final defect list in the work product being inspected, based on the initial list of defects prepared by the inspectors [ identified at
the preparation phase and the new one found during the inspection meeting.
The Lead Auditor opens the meeting and describes the review objectives and area to be inspected. Identify that all participants are well familiar with the content material, Reader reads the meeting material and the inspector finds out any inconsistency, possible defects, and improvement suggestions to the author.
The recorder records all the discussion during the inspection meeting, and mark actions against the relevant stakeholders. The lead Inspector may take the decision that if there is a need for a follow-up meeting. The author updates the relevant document if required on the basis of the inspection meeting discussion.
Rework and follow – up
The objective is to ensure that corrective action has been taken to correct problems found during an inspection.
Walkthroughs
Method of conducting informal group/ individual review is called walkthrough, in which a designer or programmer leads members of the development team and other interested parties through a software product, and the participants ask questions and make comments about possible errors, violation of development standards, and other problems or may suggest improvement on the article, walkthrough can be pre-planned or can be conducted at-need basis and generally people working on the work product are involved in the walkthrough process.
The Purpose of walkthrough
- Find problems
- Discuss alternative solutions
- Focusing on demonstrating how work product meets all requirements.
IEEE 1028 recommends three specialist roles in a walkthrough:
- Leader
- Recorder
- Author
Leader
A leader is who conducts the walkthrough, handles administrative tasks, and ensures orderly conduct (and who is often the Author).
Recorder
A recorder is who notes all anomalies (potential defects), decisions, and action items identified during the walkthrough meeting, normally generate minutes of session meeting at the end of the walkthrough session.
Author
An author is who presents the software product in step – by – step manner at the walkthrough meeting, and is probably responsible for completing most action items.
Walkthrough Process
The author describes the artifact to be reviewed to the reviewers during the meeting. Reviewers present comments, possible defects, and improvement suggestions to the author. The recorder records all defect, suggestion during the walkthrough meeting.
Based on reviewer comments, the author performs any necessary rework of the work product if required. Recorder prepares minutes of meeting and sends the relevant stakeholders and leader is normally to monitor overall walkthrough meeting activities as per the defined company process or responsibilities for conducting the reviews, generally performs monitoring activities, commitment against action items, etc.
What is Static testing tools?
Program testing is the technical procedure used to recognize the correctness, completeness, stability, and high quality of made computer system software package. Software program testing is executed to test quality-linked facts about analyzed merchandise. Software program testing is a critical portion of application high-quality assurance.
Some of the typical high-quality attributes of products a tester seems for functionality, trustworthiness, performance, portability, maintainability, compatibility and usability. An excellent test not only brings out problems, but it also displays fascinating information new to an undertaking neighborhood.
Computer software testing performs a crucial strategic part in transporting the high-quality of the item higher in the hierarchy in the application progress method. It also underlines the consumer’s specifications all the way via the item cycle.
Some of the vital computer software testing methods concerned in testing a product are useful testing, destructive testing, shopper circumstance testing, worry tests, overall performance testing, scalability testing, intercontinental tests, and much more. The sole function of software testing is to ensure that consumers acquire optimum products of good quality.
Some of the prevalent forms of testing an exam engineer look at while tests a solution are Black box testing, white-box tests, incremental integration testing, user testing,
program tests, conclude-to-finish testing, sanity testing or smoke tests, regression tests,
acceptance testing, acceptance testing, overall performance testing, usability exam, uninstall testing, recovery testing, failover testing, protection testing, exploratory tests, ad-hoc testing, mutation testing and additional.
Although all assignments are profited from testing, some tasks frequently do not require unbiased examination staff members. The necessity of test stuff depends on the size and context of the task, the pitfalls, the advancement methodology, the developer’s ability and experience and additional.
A short expression, minimal risk job managed by skilled programmers employing device tests or test-to start with advancement will not need check engineers. Taking into consideration the distinctive plans in application tests, distinct roles are founded for program testers. They are examination direct / manager, tester, take a look at designer, test automated / automation developer and take a look at administrator.
Static Testing Tools:
Static testing tools play a greater role in software development and testing. It was having higher importance during the waterfall model of development. Nowadays when we are migrating to an agile way of developing software, It also shifted left in the model.
The business and operation employees take a huge role while testers and developers use them less. However, it is worth knowing the Static Testing tool from the ISTQB examination standpoint and for knowledge purposes.
Review tools
Review tools (also known as review process support tools) may store information about review processes, store and communicate review comments, report on defects and effort, manage references to review rules and/or checklists and keep track of traceability between documents and source code.
They may also provide aid for online reviews, which is useful if the team is geographically dispersed.
Static analysis tools (D)
Static analysis tools support developers, testers and quality assurance personnel in finding defects before dynamic testing. Their major purposes include:
- The enforcement of coding standards.
- The analysis of structures and dependencies (e.g. linked web pages).
- Aiding in understanding the code. Static analysis tools can calculate metrics from the code (e.g. complexity). Which can give valuable information, for example, for planning or risk analysis?
Modeling tools (D)
Modeling tools are able to validate models of the software. For example, a database model checker may find defects and inconsistencies in the data model; other modeling tools may find defects in a state model or an object model.
These tools can often aid in generating some test cases based on the model (see also Test design tools below). The major benefit of static analysis tools and modeling tools is the cost-effectiveness. Of finding more defects at an earlier time in the development process.
As a result, the development process may accelerate and improve by having less rework. | https://www.techtravelhub.com/what-is-static-testing/ |
Field
Background
Summary
Brief Description of the Drawings
Detailed Description of Embodiments
Industrial Practicability
This invention relates to a spray gun used for irrigation, and more specifically, to a controllable variable spray gun used for central-pivot sprinkler.
Currently central-pivot sprinkler has been widely used in many countries and regions. Compared with other sprinklers, this equipment has the advantages of high degree of automation, large control area, strong adaptability to crops and topography, good spraying uniformity, water-saving and energy-saving, etc, but at the same time, it also appears obvious defects, namely, four land corners of the square land parcel cannot be irrigated, resulting in low land utilization. All of the existing solutions to the problem of missing land corners in irrigation have appeared various disadvantages which failed to well solve the problem of missing land corners in irrigation existing in the central-pivot sprinkler.
The above information disclosed in the background technology section is only used to strengthen understanding of the background of the present disclosure. Therefore it may include information that does not constitute the prior art known to an ordinary skilled person in the art.
The technical problem to be solved by this invention is to provide a controllable variable spray gun and central-pivot sprinkler used for central-pivot sprinkler. With the central-pivot sprinkler, land corners of a square land parcel can be evenly irrigated.
In order to solve the above technical problem, the technical solution adopted by this invention is as follows.
In accordance with one aspect of this invention, there is provided a controllable variable spray gun used for a central-pivot sprinkler, comprising a spray gun main body, a booster pump and a spray gun connecting pipe; the water inlet of the booster pump is connected with the sprinkler pipeline of the central-pivot sprinkler and the water outlet of the booster pump is connected with the water inlet of the spray gun main body via the spray gun connecting pipe; the forepart of the spray gun main body is provided with a nozzle and the tail portion of the spray gun main body is installed on the end of the central-pivot sprinkler crossing-body via a spray gun horizontal-rotation mechanism.
In accordance with an embodiment of this invention, the spray gun main body is arranged to be upward tilted and the nozzle faces to the outward side of the sprinkler crossing-body.
In accordance with an embodiment of this invention, the spray gun horizontal-rotation mechanism comprises a hollow base, a drive output, a worm, a spray gun rotating motor and a standpipe; the base is fixed on the water outlet of the spray gun connecting pipe and the two are seamlessly connected, the standpipe is arranged into the base, and the upper port of the standpipe is connected with the water inlet of the spray gun main body; the drive output is arranged between the standpipe and the base, and the outer wall of the standpipe and the inner wall of the drive output are fixedly connected, the drive output engages the worm via a pass groove arranged on the wall of the base and the worm is fixedly connected with the output shaft of the spray gun rotating motor.
In accordance with an embodiment of this invention, the tail portion of the spray gun main body is fixedly connected with a spray gun variable cross-section drive motor, the output shaft of the spray gun variable cross-section drive motor is fixedly connected with the tail portion of the variable section adjusting lever running through the center of the spray gun main body, the head of the variable cross-section adjusting lever is of a tapering cone and the head of the cone is inserted into the nozzle.
In accordance with an embodiment of this invention, the upper side of the tail portion of the spray gun main body is fixedly connected with a water allocation lever drive motor, the output shaft of the water allocation lever drive motor is fixedly connected with the tail portion of a water allocation lever arranged on the upper side of the spray gun main body and the forepart of the water allocation lever is arranged with a water allocation slice facing the nozzle.
In accordance with one aspect of this invention, there is provided a central-pivot sprinkler comprising a central pivot and a sprinkler crossing-body one end of which can be reelingly installed on the center pivot. The central-pivot sprinkler further comprises the controllable variable spray gun in accordance with this invention, and the controllable variable spray gun is installed on the other end of the sprinkler crossing-body.
In accordance with an embodiment of this invention, a control system is further comprised. The control system issues commands to the controllable variable spray gun of the central-pivot sprinkler based on a time signal and a position signal of the sprinkler crossing-body to cause the spray gun variable cross-section drive motor and the spray gun rotating motor to spray out required amount of water in a specified area.
In accordance with an embodiment of this invention, the angle of the sprinkler crossing-body 1 is 0° when the sprinkler crossing-body is vertical with any border line of a square land parcel, and the angle between the spray gun main body and the sprinkler crossing-body gradually changes from 90° to 180° when the sprinkler crossing-body's angle changes from 0° to 90°; the angle between the spray gun main body and the sprinkler crossing-body gradually changes from 180° to 90° when the sprinkler crossing-body's angle changes from 180° to 90°.
In accordance with an embodiment of this invention, the spray gun variable cross-section drive motor adjusts the nozzle's cross-sectional area for gradually increasing from 0 to the maximum area of the pre-installed nozzle when the sprinkler crossing-body changes from 0° to 90°; the spray gun variable cross-section drive motor adjusts the nozzle's cross-sectional area for gradually decreasing from the nozzle's maximum cross-sectional area to 0 when the sprinkler crossing-body changes from 90° to 180°.
The beneficial effects of adopting the above technical solutions lie in as follows.
This inventive device, installed on the tail end of the central-pivot sprinkler, automatically operates synchronously along with the operation of the sprinkler. When the central-pivot sprinkler operates and arrives to different positions, the spraying angle of the spray gun main body can be automatically adjusted by the preset program, so that four land corner areas of the square land parcel which the sprinkler's irrigation is missed can be evenly irrigated, thereby improving the land utilization without affecting physiognomy surrounding the land parcel.
This invention achieves the purpose of adjusting spraying area and flow amount by adjusting the cross-sectional area of the nozzle and the spay flow's horizontal included angle with the sprinkler pipeline, resulting in high uniformity of irrigation, reduced material cost and operating cost, saved man power and material resources and an increased irrigation area by 16% in square land parcel by the central-pivot sprinkler.
The preferred embodiments are set forth below with references to the accompanying drawings. This invention's above and other purposes, features and advantages will become more apparent.
Figure 1
is a structural schematic diagram of a controllable variable spray gun for a central-pivot sprinkler in this invention;
Figure 2
is a structural schematic diagram of a horizontal-rotation mechanism in a controllable variable spray gun for a central-pivot sprinkler in this invention;
Figure 3
is an example application diagram of this invention.
figures: 1
In the . Sprinkler Crossing-body; 2. Spray Gun Main Body; 3. Central Pivot; 4. Irrigation Area of a Central-pivot Sprinkler; 5. Irrigation Area of a Controllable Variable Spray Gun; 6. Missing Area in Irrigation; 7. Booster Pump; 8. Water allocation Lever Drive Motor; 9. Spray Gun Variable Cross-section Drive Motor; 10. Water Allocation Lever; 11. Variable Cross-section Adjusting Lever; 12. Nozzle; 13. Water Allocation Slice; 14-1. Standpipe; 14-2. Spray Gun Rotating Motor; 14-3. Worm; 14-4. Worm Wheel; 14-5. Base; 15. Sprinkler Pipeline; 16. Spray Gun Connecting Pipe.
Example embodiments will now be described in detail with reference to the appended drawings. However, the example embodiments can be implemented in many forms and it should not be understood to be limited to the manner of implementation described here. On the contrary, these embodiments are provided to make this disclosure full and complete and to comprehensively convey the idea of the example embodiments to the skilled person in the art. In the drawings like reference numerals are used to designate like or equivalent elements, detailed description will be therefore omitted.
Figure 1
As shown in , this invention discloses a controllable variable spray gun used for a central-pivot sprinkler, comprising a spray gun main body 2, a booster pump 7 and a spray gun connecting pipe 16. The water inlet of the booster pump 7 is connected to a sprinkler pipeline 15 of the central-pivot sprinkler, and the water outlet of the booster pump 7 is connected to the water inlet of the spray gun main body 2 via the spray gun connecting pipe 16. The spray gun main body 2 is upward tilted, the forepart of which is provided with a nozzle 12. The nozzle 12 faces to the outward side of the sprinkler crossing-body 1. The tail portion of the spray gun main body 2 is installed on the end of the central-pivot sprinkler crossing-body 1 via a spray gun horizontal-rotation mechanism. The horizontal rotation of the spray gun main body 2 can be achieved through the spray gun horizontal-rotation mechanism.
The booster pump 7 pressurizes the water flow in the sprinkler pipe 15 on the end of the sprinkler crossing-body 1 to a required water pressure so as to supply spray gun main body 2 with water, thereby the nozzle 12 sprays for irrigation. The tail portion of the spray gun main body 2 is fixedly provided with a spray gun variable cross-section drive motor 9, the output shaft of the spray gun variable cross-section drive motor 9 is fixedly connected with the tail portion of the variable cross-section adjusting lever 11 which goes through the center of the spray gun main body 2. The head of the variable section adjusting lever 11 is of a tapering cone and the head of the cone is inserted into the nozzle 12.
The spray gun variable cross-section drive motor 9 adjusts the range and flow of the spray gun. With the spray gun variable cross-section drive motor 9 driving variable cross-section adjustment lever 11, the purpose of changing the size of cross-sectional area of the water outlet of the nozzle 12 is achieved. The water allocation lever drive motor 8 is fixed on the upper side of the tail portion of the spray gun main body 2, and the output shaft of the water allocation lever drive motor 8 is fixedly connected with the tail portion of the water allocation lever 10 which is set on the upper side of the spray gun main body 2. The forepart of the water allocation lever 10 is provided with a water allocation slice 13 facing the nozzle 12 to ensure the uniformity of irrigation within the irrigation area.
Figure 2
As shown in , the spray gun horizontal-rotation mechanism 14 of this invention comprises a hollow base 14-5, a worm wheel 14-4, a worm 14-3, a spray gun rotating motor 14-2 and a standpipe 14-1. The spray gun rotating motor 14-2 controls the spraying direction of the spray gun, the base 14-5 is fixed on the water outlet of the spray gun connecting pipe 16 and they are seamlessly connected. The standpipe 14-1 goes in the base 14-5, and the upper port of the standpipe 14-1 is connected with the water inlet of the spray gun main body 2. The worm wheel 14-4 is arranged between the standpipe 14-1 and the base 14-5, and the outer wall of the standpipe 14-1 is fixedly connected with the inner wall of the turbine 14-4. The worm wheel 14-4 engages the worm 14-3 via a pass groove arranged on the wall of the base 14-5. The worm 14-3 is fixedly connected with the output shaft of the spray gun rotating motor 14-2.
Figure 3
2
2
2
In , the center pivot 3 of the central-pivot sprinkler is immobilized. The sprinkler crossing-body 1 takes the center pivot 3 as the center of the circle for circumferential motion, and only the circular Area 4 in the square land parcel can be irrigated. The spray gun main body 2 makes appropriate actions along with the motions of the sprinkler crossing-body 1, and Area 5 can be irrigated. Area 6 is the area where the range of the spray gun is not covered. Assume that the side length of the square land parcel is 580m, the sprinkler crossing-body 1 is 290m, the maximum range of the controllable variable spray gun is 60m, the total area of the square land parcel is 336,400m, the area irrigated by the sprinkler crossing-body 1 is 264,208m, the land utilization without controllable variable spray gun is 78.54% and when the controllable variable spray gun operates synchronously, the irrigation area is increased by 56,770m and the land utilization is increased by 16.88%.
The control system of this invention issues commands and instructions to the spray gun based on time signal and position signal of the sprinkler crossing-body 1, and the spray gun variable cross-section drive motor 9 and the spray gun rotating motor 14-2 act accordingly to spray the required amount of water in the specified area. The water flow sprayed out of the nozzle 12 is influenced by the rotating water allocation slice 13. By adjusting the revolving speed of the water allocation lever drive motor 8, the time of the water allocation slice 13 influencing on the water flow is controlled, so as to make the water flow of the nozzle 12 evenly scattered within the range, thereby ensuring the irrigation uniformity of the land corners.
Taking the angle of the sprinkler crossing-body 1 as 0° when the sprinkler crossing-body 1 is vertical with any border line of the square land parcel, when the sprinkler crossing-body 1 rotates counterclockwise and the angle changes from 0° to 90°, the angle between the spray gun main body 2 and the sprinkler crossing-body 1 gradually changes from 90° to 180°. At the same time, the cross-sectional area of the nozzle 12 is gradually increased from 0 to the maximum cross-sectional area of pre-installed nozzle. When the sprinkler crossing-body 1 changes from 90° to 180°, the angle between the spray gun main body 2 and the sprinkler crossing-body 1 gradually changes from 180° to 90°, and at the same time, the spray gun variable cross-section drive motor 9 adjusts the cross-sectional area of the nozzle 12 as gradually reducing from the maximum cross-sectional area of pre-installed nozzle to 0, and the rough orientation of the controllable spray gun main body 2 is always adjacent the land corners of the land parcel.
This inventive device, installed on the tail end of the central-pivot sprinkler, automatically operates synchronously along with the operation of the sprinkler. When the central-pivot sprinkler operates and arrives to different positions, the spraying angle of the spray gun main body can be automatically adjusted by the preset program, so that four land corner areas of the square land parcel which the sprinkler's irrigation is missed can be evenly irrigated, thereby improving the land utilization without affecting physiognomy surrounding the land parcel. This invention achieves the purpose of adjusting spraying area and flow amount by adjusting the cross-sectional area of the nozzle and the spay flow's horizontal included angle with the sprinkler pipeline, resulting in high uniformity of irrigation, reduced material cost and operating cost, saved man power and material resources and an increased irrigation area by 16% in square land parcel by the central-pivot sprinkler.
Although this invention has been described with references to several embodiments, it should be understood that, the terms used are illustrative, exemplary and nonrestrictive terms. Because this invention can be implemented in multiple forms without departing from the spirit or substance of the invention, it should be understood that, the above embodiments are not limited to any of the foregoing details; rather, they should be widely explained within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Therefore, all modifications and variations within the scope of the claims or equivalents should be covered by the appended claims. | |
In an effort to raise the American public’s awareness of the seriousness of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), the CHEST Foundation has launched its OneBreath Initiative.
Made possible by funding from Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc, OneBreath aims to improve lung and heart health by providing valuable prevention resources, raising public awareness, and encouraging healthy behaviors.
The month-long awareness effort features a series of online resources developed by the American College of Chest Physicians to help educate those who have or who are interested in learning about DVT. | https://rtmagazine.com/products-treatment/industry-regulatory-news/association-news/chest-foundation-increasing-awareness-of-dvt-and-pe/ |
A trailblazer for women’s rights in Africa and one of the pioneering representatives of UN Women’s predecessor organization, UNIFEM, UN Women remembers Jacqueline Ki-Zerbo, who passed away in December. Born in Mali, Ms. Ki-Zerbo attended high school and received her Bachelor’s degree in Senegal before working there and in Burkina Faso as an English teacher for several years. As the first African woman Director of the Teacher’s Training School for Girls in Burkina Faso, she was instrumental in pushing for legislation to allow pregnant girls to return and continue their studies. Prior to joining UNIFEM, she worked as the first National Coordinator for a joint Government, UNESCO and UNDP pilot project for equal access of women and girls to education.
With UNIFEM, Ms. Ki-Zerbo served as the first Director of UNIFEM in West and Central Africa, in the organization’s first field office in Dakar, Senegal. She was instrumental in spreading knowledge about fuel-saving cookstoves during the Sahel drought of the early and mid-1980s.
“The late Jacqueline Ki-Zerbo played a crucial role in the evolution of UNIFEM on the ground as well as in spearheading the entire mainstreaming of women in development approach that the Africa programme at UNIFEM led,” said Olubanke King-Akerele, former colleague of Ms. Ki-Zerbo’s at UNIFEM and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.
“The first-ever effort to mainstream gender in development took place at the Chad UNDP Round table when Jacqueline participated on behalf of UNIFEM… [It incorporated] the gender dimension—a first!” said Ms. King-Akerele. “[She] deserves highest recognition from not only her African sisters but from the women movement world-wide.”
The recipient of many prizes and awards for her work, Ms. Ki-Zerbo will be remembered as a steadfast African leader and global proponent for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. | http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2016/3/former-unifem-representative-remembered |
Introduction
============
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common chronic inflammatory disease characterized by persistent airflow limitation, which is both preventable and treatable.[@b1-copd-8-453] The burden of COPD is considerable and increasing.[@b2-copd-8-453],[@b3-copd-8-453]
The severity of COPD is influenced by exacerbations and comorbidities.[@b4-copd-8-453] Spirometry has remained the standard method for confirming a clinical diagnosis of COPD and for assessing COPD severity,[@b5-copd-8-453] but it is now accepted that forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV~1~) is an inadequate marker of the severity of breathlessness, exercise limitation, and health status impairment,[@b1-copd-8-453],[@b4-copd-8-453] although it remains important in the confirmation of a clinical diagnosis of COPD.
The Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) strategy document, updated in 2011 and 2013, has proposed a new, multidimensional approach to assess patients with COPD. It recommends that COPD management and treatment should consider both disease impact, determined by assessment of symptoms and activity limitation, and future risk of exacerbations, determined from airflow limitation or exacerbation history.[@b5-copd-8-453],[@b6-copd-8-453] This combined assessment of COPD results in the grouping of patients into one of four categories: (A) low risk, fewer symptoms; (B) low risk, more symptoms; (C) high risk, fewer symptoms; (D) high risk, more symptoms.
For assessing symptoms, GOLD advises utilizing either the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) or the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale. The CAT is a simple tool for quantifying the symptoms and impacts of COPD[@b7-copd-8-453],[@b8-copd-8-453] that has been shown to distinguish between different severities of COPD, is highly correlated with the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ)[@b7-copd-8-453] and has been validated in Japan.[@b9-copd-8-453]
In Japan, the name recognition of COPD is low, and the majority of these patients have not been diagnosed or appropriately treated.[@b10-copd-8-453] The prevalence of COPD is also underestimated in Japan.[@b11-copd-8-453],[@b12-copd-8-453] These findings highlighted the urgent need for improvements in COPD diagnosis and management in general practice. Most diagnosed patients are treated with bronchodilators such as long-acting β~2~ agonists (LABAs) or long-acting antimuscarinics (LAMAs) as monotherapy, and remain symptomatic.[@b13-copd-8-453] It has now been recognized that monotherapy may not enable many patients to achieve the goals of pharmacologic therapy for COPD, namely to control symptoms, improve health status, and reduce the frequency of exacerbations.[@b1-copd-8-453] Guidelines on COPD management recommend the combined use of long-acting bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) to optimize outcomes, especially exacerbations, in patients with COPD that is inadequately controlled with monotherapy.[@b1-copd-8-453] It has been demonstrated that, in some patients, TRIPLE therapy, in which an anticholinergic is added to an ICS and LABA, has been associated with greater improvements in lung function and quality of life and with reduced rates of hospitalization compared with anticholinergic therapy alone.[@b13-copd-8-453]--[@b17-copd-8-453]
The aim of this innovative study is to assess the control of COPD using a symptom and exacerbation risk-based treatment strategy according to GOLD 2011. This study has been named the "COPD Symptom-based Management and to Optimise treatment Strategy in Japan" (COSMOS-J) and has been designed to reflect clinical practice in Japan. Unlike a "traditional" randomized controlled trial, treatment in this study is flexible as it tries to reflect clinical practice. This will demonstrate whether the treatment approach outlined in the GOLD strategy document can be used to improve the current management of COPD in Japan. New Japanese guidelines are also anticipated in 2013, which may improve clinical practice. Optimal management of COPD, determined by assessing symptoms using CAT and by assessing the frequency of exacerbations, will be assessed in patients who have been randomized to receive treatment with either salmeterol/fluticasone propionate combination (SFC) or with tiotropium bromide. If optimal management is not achieved on one of these two treatments and patients remain symptomatic or experience an exacerbation, patients have the option to step up to treatment with both drugs, ie, TRIPLE therapy. This paper summarizes the methodology of the study in advance of the publication of the results.
Methods
=======
Study design
------------
This study is a 24-week, multicenter, randomized, parallel-group study. Initial study treatments will be double-blind and double-dummy. This study will include a switch treatment strategy for those not adequately controlled on randomized medication. The study aims to recruit 400 patients with moderate-to-severe COPD; 200 patients per treatment arm. After a 4-week run-in period, during which patients will remain on their usual treatment for COPD, patients will be randomized to receive SFC (Adoair™, GlaxoSmithKline KK, Tokyo, Japan) 50/250 μg twice daily delivered via the Diskus™ (GlaxoSmithKline KK) inhalation device, or tiotropium bromide (Spiriva™, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH and Co, KG Ingelheim, Germany) 18 μg delivered once daily via the Handihaler™ inhalation device (Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH and Co), for 24 weeks. SFC 50/250 μg is the licensed dose in Japan. Within the double-dummy study design ([Figure 1](#f1-copd-8-453){ref-type="fig"}), patients in both groups also receive placebo medication via a matched-placebo inhalation device. Subjects treated with TRIPLE therapy will receive open-label medication. During the run-in, regular treatment with any COPD medications is allowed, except for systemic corticosteroids and antibiotics used for COPD exacerbation. The use of other COPD medication such as antitussives, expectorants, and mucolytics is permitted throughout the study at the investigator's discretion. Salbutamol for use on an as required basis for relief medication, short-term oxygen therapy for treatment of COPD exacerbation, and short-term courses of systemic steroids and/or antibiotics for a COPD exacerbation or adverse event (AE) will also be allowed. No ICS, LABAs, leukotriene antagonists, phosphodiesterase (PDE)-4 inhibitors, anticholinergics, and regular or long-term oxygen therapy (≥12 hours oxygen use per day) will be allowed, except for randomized study treatment. If a moderate or severe exacerbation occurs more than once or the CAT score is increased by more than four points after switching to TRIPLE therapy, regular use of COPD medications other than systemic steroids, ICS, β~2~-agonists, and anticholinergic agents is permitted.
Study protocol
--------------
Post-randomization, patients will be reviewed every 4 weeks to assess their symptom level and the occurrence of any exacerbations ([Figure 1](#f1-copd-8-453){ref-type="fig"}). This will be done using the CAT, and asking whether there have been any noticeable changes since the last visit and whether an exacerbation has occurred. FEV~1~ and forced vital capacity (FVC) will also be measured at each visit.
Based on the CAT score and presence or absence of exacerbations, at each visit the investigator will ask the subject questions in accordance with the guidance for optimization of COPD treatment ([Table 1](#t1-copd-8-453){ref-type="table"}). Randomized treatment will be switched to TRIPLE therapy if necessary, having taken the subject's answers and his/her medical course into consideration and having obtained their agreement. The necessity of switching treatments to TRIPLE therapy should be assessed at unscheduled visits, if any, as well as at scheduled visits.
At the first scheduled visit after switching to TRIPLE therapy, TRIPLE therapy should be continued to the next scheduled visit even if there is no improvement in symptoms, since benefits may take more than 1 month to develop.
At the second scheduled visit after switching to TRIPLE therapy, if COPD symptoms are not improved, or if the subject is unsatisfied with the study treatment in spite of switching to TRIPLE therapy, or they have developed side effects due to the added treatment, the investigator should consider changing treatments back to the double-blinded randomized medication. Following a switch back from TRIPLE to the randomized treatment, the physician can return to TRIPLE, if the patient's COPD symptoms justify it or if the subject is unsatisfied with the randomized treatment.
In cases when patients are changed to TRIPLE because of a moderate or severe COPD exacerbation, TRIPLE therapy should be continued throughout the course of the study. The investigator should consider adding other COPD medications or suitable treatment if an exacerbation has occurred more than once during the study or the CAT score has increased more than four points despite switching to TRIPLE therapy.
Patient participation
---------------------
Patients will be aged 40--80 years with an established clinical history of COPD as defined by the GOLD guidelines,[@b4-copd-8-453] with a current or former smoking history of ≥10 pack years, a post-bronchodilator FEV~1~ of ≥30% to ≤80% of the predicted normal value, a post-bronchodilator FEV~1~/FVC ratio of \<70%, and a grade of ≥1 on the mMRC scale.[@b18-copd-8-453] Exclusion criteria for entry to the study include a medical diagnosis of predominant asthma or a respiratory disorder other than COPD that might interfere with the study, lung transplantation and/or lung volume reduction, and a requirement for regular or long-term oxygen therapy. Patients on long-term oxygen therapy would be unlikely to be able to complete the study, with long-term oxygen therapy defined as ≥12 hours of oxygen a day. Other exclusion criteria include a plan to start or change to a pulmonary rehabilitation program during the study period, regular treatment with oral, parenteral, or depot corticosteroids, a chest X-ray indicating a diagnosis other than COPD, or any other serious, uncontrolled disease likely to interfere with the study. Patients who have received any other investigational drug within 4 weeks of the study are also excluded from the study. As with other anticholinergic drugs, patients with a medical diagnosis of narrow-angle glaucoma, prostatic hyperplasia, or bladder neck obstruction should only be entered at the investigator's discretion.
Randomization is remote and concealed from centers and uses a 1:1 allocation ratio. The primary population for analysis is the modified intent-to-treat (m-ITT) population, which will include all patients randomized to treatment who have received at least one dose of trial medication.
The study is being conducted in accordance with the International Conference on Harmonisation Good Clinical Practice and the 2008 version of the Declaration of Helsinki. All patients must provide a written informed consent form prior to participation. The ethics and review boards of all participating institutions have approved the protocol (GSK study code: SCO116717; NCT01762800).[@b19-copd-8-453]
Efficacy assessments
--------------------
The primary efficacy endpoint is the proportion of patients who are able to remain on the randomized therapy. Secondary and other efficacy endpoints are listed in [Table 2](#t2-copd-8-453){ref-type="table"}.
Exacerbations
-------------
A COPD exacerbation is defined as a sustained worsening of COPD symptoms beyond normal day-to-day variations. The investigator will record all COPD exacerbations throughout the study period in accordance with the classification of exacerbation severity.
- An exacerbation will be classified as a mild exacerbation if treated with relief medication only.
- An exacerbation will be classified as a moderate exacerbation if treated with systemic corticosteroids and/or antibiotics.
- An exacerbation will be classified severe exacerbation if hospitalization is required for treatment of the exacerbation.
In this study, both reported and unreported COPD exacerbations will be assessed using the EXAcerbations of Chronic Pulmonary Disease Tool (EXACT).[@b20-copd-8-453]--[@b22-copd-8-453] Unreported exacerbations will be determined from symptoms recorded by patients on daily record cards. After the screening visit, subjects will record their respiratory symptoms and physical condition every day. Use of relief medication will also be recorded on the daily record cards.
Safety assessment
-----------------
Safety will be measured by recording any AEs and COPD exacerbations.
Statistical analysis
--------------------
Assuming a 10% to 60% switch rate from the initial treatment group, a 15% difference will be detectable with 86% to 99% power by log-rank test using the planned sample size of 400 subjects.
For the primary comparison of interest, the proportion of patients remaining on randomized therapy (=1-TRIPLE switch rate) and time to switch to TRIPLE will be estimated by Cox's proportional hazard model. A Kaplan--Meier plot will be prepared.
Descriptive statistics of FEV~1~ and CAT scores will be presented. AEs will be coded according to the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) and summarized by body systems and preferred terms. Serious AEs, drug-related AEs, and events leading to withdrawal will also be summarized.
The primary analysis population will be the m-ITT, which will consist of randomized subjects who received at least a single dose of the investigational product.
Discussion
==========
It is now recognized that the treatment of COPD should involve more than improving lung function since the impact of lung function impairment varies greatly between individual patients. Exacerbations and symptoms also have a significant impact on the health status of these patients.[@b4-copd-8-453],[@b23-copd-8-453]--[@b25-copd-8-453] As a result, the GOLD 2011 Strategy Document, updated in 2013, has produced a treatment algorithm based on the assessment of symptoms and exacerbations with the aim of enabling more effective treatment of COPD.[@b5-copd-8-453],[@b6-copd-8-453] However, this strategy has not been tested in a clinical trial, and it is also not clear what proportion and what type of patients can be managed on a single therapy and which should receive multiple therapies. This study will attempt to clarify aspects of this and to determine whether this strategy can improve the management of COPD, particularly in a Japanese setting.
This strategy cannot easily be tested in a usual randomized clinical trial design since this does not reflect real clinical practice (eg, withdrawal from a study often occurs when the study treatment to which the patient is randomized in a blinded manner is judged to be insufficiently effective). Moreover, subject withdrawals from randomized clinical trials are usually the sickest patients who, in real clinical practice, are those who need the most help.[@b26-copd-8-453] A further complication of withdrawals in randomized clinical trials is that this risks a significant study bias.[@b27-copd-8-453] It is known that long-term trials in COPD present difficult problems of design and statistical analysis.[@b27-copd-8-453]
In order to test the GOLD strategy, a new type of study design has therefore been introduced. It starts like a usual type of clinical trial with two randomized, blinded arms of appropriate COPD treatments. At each visit, the investigator then assesses the effectiveness of the treatment by assessing symptoms (checking the CAT score, asking the subject how they feel about their treatment using formal study-designed questions, and checking for exacerbation events). The Japanese version of the CAT has been shown to have high reliability and validity for precise assessment of the health status of Japanese patients with COPD.[@b9-copd-8-453] It is important to note that lung function measurements are not used as criteria for treatment change in this study. The primary efficacy endpoint is the proportion of patients who are controlled and able to remain on the randomized therapy. At each assessment point, if the treatment is judged to be satisfactory, the patient's treatment remains unchanged. However, if the treatment is not felt to be effective, instead of the patient having to withdraw or continue on the same therapy but under-treated in terms of their symptoms, the investigator can increase the treatment. This process will occur at each visit and, depending on treatment response, there are options in this study design to maintain, increase, or reduce the treatment as appropriate, thus mimicking clinical practice as far as possible.
TRIPLE therapy, which adds an LAMA to ICS/LABA combinations, has been associated with greater improvements in lung function and quality of life and reduced rates of hospitalization compared with anticholinergic therapy alone.[@b13-copd-8-453]--[@b17-copd-8-453] While the efficacy and tolerability of TRIPLE therapy have been evaluated in clinical trials, the effect on COPD outcomes of TRIPLE therapy relative to LAMA and SFC alone has not been assessed outside the confines of a controlled clinical trial.
The strengths of this study design are that a level of treatment flexibility is allowed, which better reflects real clinical practice than a randomized clinical trial and this should also ensure that the sicker patients are not lost from the study. This makes it possible to test the hypothesis behind the GOLD 2011 treatment strategy. The principal weakness in the study design is that when treatment is increased, the blinding will be lost. However, there has to be a compromise to achieve the study objectives and this is probably the best solution. An additional limitation is that the only valid options for treatment are an LAMA or combined LABA/ICS therapy, and that the next obvious step is TRIPLE. However, adding an LABA to an LAMA (without an ICS) may be a valid option for patients not controlled with an LAMA alone in terms of symptoms.
If this study design is successful, the methodology can be used for future studies with new therapies and may complement the standard fixed treatment approach of randomized clinical trials for drug registration purposes. The results of this study will also help physicians to understand if TRIPLE therapy is more effective in controlling symptoms and exacerbations in patients with moderate to severe COPD when compared with either treatment strategy alone. This study will also help physicians to understand the GOLD recommendation work in Japan when communicating with their patients and with using the available medications.
The authors are grateful to United BioSource Corporation, the developer of the EXAcerbations of Chronic Pulmonary Disease Tool (EXACT). The authors are indebted to the sponsor's project staff for their support and contributions throughout the protocol development. We are grateful to all teams of GSK for their contribution to this study, especially Yu Jincho, Tomoyuki Hayamizu, Hideo Kikkawa, and Kazuyoshi Tenjinbaru for protocol development. The authors thank Diana Jones (Cambrian Clinical Associates Limited) for medical writing and manuscript coordination, which was funded by the study sponsor.
**Author contributions**
Professor Tomoko Betsuyaku, Dr Motokazu Kato, Professor Keisaku Fujimoto, Dr Gerry Hagan, Hideki Hitosugi, Mark James, Paul W Jones: COSMOS-J steering committee members, protocol development. Akihiro Kobayashi: statistical contribution for protocol development. All authors were involved in the acquisition and analysis of data, drafting and critical revision of the manuscript, and the final approval of the proof to be published.
**Disclosure**
GlaxoSmithKline KK (GSK) is the funding source and is involved in all stages of the study protocol development. GSK also took in charge all costs associated with the development and the publishing of the present manuscript. All authors took final responsibility for submitting for publication.
Paul W Jones discloses that his university has received honoraria and research grants from the commercial entity that sponsored the study. Tomoko Betsuyaku discloses having received honoraria/paid expert testimony and her university having research grants from the commercial entity that sponsored the study. Keisaku Fujimoto discloses receiving consulting fees from GSK for participating on the steering committee of the study. Motokazu Kato discloses having received consulting fees from GSK for participating on the steering committee of the study and having received consultancy fees from other pharmaceutical companies. Gerry Hagan discloses having received a consultancy fee from GSK and reports ownership of GSK stock options. Hideki Hitosugi, Akihiro Kobayashi, and Mark James are employees of GlaxoSmithKline and report ownership of GSK stock options.
{#f1-copd-8-453}
######
Guidance for COPD control on randomized therapy
CAT/exacerbation Guidance
-------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAT \<10 "Your score suggests you are doing well. Are you satisfied with your current treatment?"
10≤ CAT ≤15 "Your score suggests your chest trouble is causing you some problems because \[\...\]. Are you satisfied with your current treatment?"
CAT \>15 "Your score clearly suggests your chest problem is having a big effect on you. We have an option to increase treatment. Do you want to try it?"
Moderate or severe COPD exacerbation Switch to TRIPLE therapy
**Abbreviations:** CAT, COPD Assessment Test; SFC, salmeterol/fluticasone propionate; Tio, tiotropium bromide; TRIPLE, SFC twice daily and Tio once daily; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
######
Secondary endpoints
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proportion of patients who switched to TRIPLE therapy
Proportion of patients controlled by TRIPLE therapy
Proportion of patients controlled by randomized therapy plus TRIPLE therapy
Time to switching to TRIPLE therapy
Time to first exacerbation
Proportion of exacerbation confirmed by EXACT
Proportion of exacerbations detected by EXACT not diagnosed
CAT score change
Change in FEV~1~
Use of relief medication
Proportion of patients who decreased treatment from TRIPLE therapy
Proportion of patients who required additional treatment to TRIPLE therapy
Proportion of patients who dropped out
Patient's judgment of treatment efficacy
Physician's judgment of treatment efficacy
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
**Abbreviations:** CAT, COPD Assessment Test; EXACT, EXAcerbations of Chronic Pulmonary Disease Tool; FEV~1~, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; SFC, salmeterol/fluticasone propionate; TRIPLE, SFC twice daily and tiotropium once daily; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
| |
No. 1 probably won't surprise you, but No. 6 might! What do you think of this list?
When it comes to choosing a vacation destination, it’s easy to start dreaming of far-flung tropical beaches and ancient towns nestled in the European countryside.
But we Americans are lucky to live in a country with an abundance of travel options within our borders. From the beaches of Hawaii to the mountains of Colorado, we’ve got options—great ones. It’s just that, well, not each and every state in our great United States holds quite as much pull as the next.
Colorado, for example, is one of Americans’ top five states to visit on vacation. But neighboring Utah, with equally stunning vistas and mountain activities, ranks further down the list at No. 31. Keep reading to find out where your favorite state ranks.
The Simplemost/Don’t Waste Your Money 2017 Travel Survey was an audience survey of nearly 8,000 respondents collected between June 13 and July 7, 2017 via Simplemost and our sister site, Don’t Waste Your Money. We sought to find out more about where people like to travel, with whom they prefer to travel, how they like to get to there, the ways they save money on vacation and more.
We asked people to tell us their favorite states to travel to for vacation. Each respondent was able to choose his or her top five. The results? An interesting look at Americans’ most and least favorite U.S. states to visit for vacation.
Keep reading to find your state—ranked here from least to most favorite—and to see the full map.
Note: The list starts at No. 49 because there were two instances of states receiving the same number of votes and therefore tying for a position, plus the survey included Washington D.C.
Prairies, sandhills and views of rock formations are just some of what you’ll find in the Cornhusker State, which comes in last on the list (hey, some state had to be last). The cities you may find yourself visiting are Lincoln, a university town buzzing with student life, and Omaha, where you’ll find the Durham Museum.
Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Delaware River and Delaware Bay, there’s plenty of seafood, fish and water views to enjoy while you’re in Delaware. Clearly the beautiful beach scene has stayed under the radar, however, as Delaware comes in second to last on the list.
Rolling hills and corn fields make up most of the scenery in The Hawkeye State, which is third to last on the list.
Known as the state of Great Plains, that’s exactly what this place has to offer. Scenic views abound!
With miles of plains all around, this middle-of-America state is great if peace and quiet is what you seek. If you want to squeeze in some museum tours during your trip, there’s always The Museum of World Treasures in Wichita for you to visit.
This state of Connecticut offers coastal cities with a small town feel, and Rhode Island has incredible coastal views as well. Between them, the two states are home to Yale and Brown University. Coincidentally, these tiny neighboring states tied for No. 44 on the list.
No. 43 on the list, the Magnolia State has shores along the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico, plus plenty of history and Southern cooking to enjoy.
Botanical gardens and zoos are just some of the activities you might find yourself participating in when you book a ticket to the Sooner State. Sports fans—you’ll enjoy basketball games courtesy of the Oklahoma City Thunder, too.
Boise sits at the base of the Rocky Mountains and the Boise River, providing opportunities for great photos and even better fishing. And those are just a couple of reasons to pay this state a visit.
Forests, lakes and winter sports are the main attractions New Hampshire has to offer. Keep your eyes peeled for moose and black bears along the Appalachian Trail when you pay a visit.
With its mountain views, hot springs and caves, there’s plenty of exploring to do in the great state of Arkansas, yet it ranked No. 39 on the list.
This state is full of living history museums, marks the spot for a famous Civil War-era raid and is sure to keep history- and nature-lovers very busy.
As this TV commercial for Indiana theme park Indiana Beach asserted several years back “there’s more than corn in Indiana!” Indianapolis has many noteworthy attractions including the Indianapolis 500, monuments and museums, and more, plus there are a number of lake destinations that are a draw to vacationers as well.
New Jersey takes up a large amount of the eastern coastline and is easily accessed from New York. So, whether you’d like to spend your time on the shore or in a big city, there’s a way to make it happen in New Jersey, which comes in No. 36 on the list.
Waterways and coastlines make this state a nautical dream come true. If you love being near the water, a visit to No. 35 Maryland is for you.
State parks and Mt. Rushmore offer sites you just won’t see anywhere else, so a visit here will likely scratch a couple of things off of your travel bucket list.
The Green Mountain State offers hiking, skiing and plenty of maple syrup.
From the “Twin Cities” of Minneapolis and St. Paul to the great outdoors, Minnesota has much to offer—just perhaps not in the dead of winter.
From the Gateway Arch to the Mississippi River, there are plenty of special, history-laden spots to visit in this Midwestern state.
The Great Salt Lake and beautiful mountainous landscape are major draws for this state, despite it landing on the second half on the list.
Despite the pull of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and the Spanish colonial architecture throughout, this state’s not quite as popular as neighboring Arizona (No. 9 on the list). But if you’re looking for under-the-radar, New Mexico just may be your place.
Wide open spaces, unbeatable landscapes and some great spots to ski all add to the pull of Big Sky Country as a vacation destination.
Skiing, hiking trails and the views from Yellowstone National Park are all a draw for the Equality State, which ranks just past the halfway point of the list.
Martin Luther King’s church and the Rosa Parks Museum are located in the state, so if you’re looking to honor the activists, you’ll swing by this southern state. Be sure to stay for a meal or two while you’re there or take a visit to the coast.
Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and the famed Philly Cheesesteak are just a few of the reasons to make a pit stop in Pennsylvania, meanwhile breweries, museums and lake access make Wisconsin a great spot for all types of tourists. These two states tied for the No. 25 spot.
Farmland, lakes and the famed Kentucky Derby are a few of the reasons people choose the Bluegrass State as a getaway.
Considering the culture, food and music scene of New Orleans alone, you might be surprised that the Bayou State didn’t land higher on the list.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Lake Erie are just a few of the draws for tourists to the Buckeye State.
This state stretches from the Appalachian Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay and has a lot of stops in between—Monticello and Charlottesville Plantation, just to name a couple—all of which landed Virginia at No. 21 on the list.
With beach towns dotting the coast and plenty of colonial history, a stay in the Bay State will be full of must-see attractions.
Between the “Windy City” of Chicago and the draw of Lake Michigan, the Land of Lincoln ranked 19 on the list.
Mountain ranges, rivers, lakes and the artsy city of Portland make this state a major draw for tourists.
Lighthouses, rocky beaches and plenty of fresh lobster is enough to make this a go-to summer destination, and its No. 17 spot on the list is enough to prove it.
From the U.S. Capitol to the White House, you’ll find many landmarks of our great nation at every turn in D.C. History buffs likely helped the District land its No. 16 spot on the list!
This Pacific Northwest state has everything from lush forests and great coffee, so whether you’re looking for a relaxing trip or an adrenaline-rushing adventure, the state of Washington will deliver.
The big city of Atlanta, the Atlantic Ocean and a whole lot of history—this state has a lot to offer as far as vacations go.
You may go for the music scene, but you’ll stay for the food. It’s where Tex-Mex was invented, after all.
Ah, the state of Great Lakes. If you like the idea of boating or relaxing on a float, with nature as your backdrop, you’re going to want to chose Michigan as a vacation spot.
The frigid temperatures may have been what knocked this state out of the top 10 list, but as far as the views are concerned—including glaciers, forests and adorable mountain towns—they’re absolutely unbeatable.
The promise of unbeatable entertainment in Las Vegas likely had a little something to do with this state’s top 10 slot.
If the Grand Canyon and the dry, warm weather wasn’t enough of a draw, the offerings of Tucson, Phoenix, Scottsdale and smaller towns like Sedona landed Arizona ninth on the list.
The Palmetto State offers hospitality, history and good ol’ cooking, so it’s no wonder it’s among the top 10 most-loved states for a getaway.
North Carolina’s known for its coast as well as the Appalachian Mountain Range, so no matter what type of gorgeous view you’re into—you’ll find it here.
Whether it’s the draw of the Smoky Mountains, the whiskey or the Nashville vibe, Tennessee ranks as the sixth favorite state for a vacation.
Mountains, lakes, rivers and a laid-back culture landed Colorado as the No. 5 favorite vacation spot.
The pull of the Big Apple plus all the other offerings of the Empire State can’t be denied. New York ranked fourth on the list of favorite states for vacation.
A set of tropical islands that is also a U.S. state? No wonder Hawaii’s third on the list of most favorite states to visit on vacation!
With everything from redwoods to Hollywood, beaches, mountains and wine country, California is the No. 2 favorite state to visit on vacation.
The Sunshine State topped the list as the No. 1 vacation destination. From Disney World to beaches to the cultural offerings of cities like Miami, it’s easy to understand why.
Can you solve this riddle that's stumping Facebook? | https://www.simplemost.com/most-least-favorite-us-states-vacation/4/ |
It is a misconception to define holography as 3D photography as it depends on hologram theory. Hologram is basically a resulting light field which has a varying intensity. It is a phenomenon which occurs when a part of the light scattered from an object or objects falls on a particular medium which records it. It results to an interference between the two beams which actually creates the light field. However, photographic film is one of the different recording materials available.
Construction of hologram and hologram theory
The construction of a simple hologram requires superimposing of two plane waves which has the same light source. It is due to interference which occurs due to the superimposition of one or more wavefronts. The phenomenon is used to construct simple holograms when the reference beam strikes the photographic plate normally along with the object beam, which hits the plate at a certain angle. As the two beams interfere to form a interference pattern it results to a change in the relative phase. The maxima and the minima of the fringe pattern is the relative phase of the object and the reference beam after it is encoded. Then comes the role of diffraction, which takes place whenever a wavefront comes in contact with an object. The fringe pattern acts as a diffraction grating and as the reference beam gets diffracted at a certain angle when it is incident upon the photographic plate along with the original beam, which is also incident. As the two waves interferes, it causes diffraction grating which reconstructs the object beam creating a hologram.
A complicated hologram can be made by using a point source of light when an object beam and a plane wave is used as a reference beam. It creates an interference pattern which is formed in curves of decreasing separation and increasing separation from the centre.
Hologram from complex object
An hologram of complex object can be made with the help of a beam splitter as it splits the laser beam. As a result the object is illuminated by one beam and the other illuminates the recording medium. Each point in the object acts a point source of light which interferes with the reference beam. The hologram gets illuminated even when the object is not there as diffraction grating diffracts the reference beam to reconstruct the wavefront. As each of the wavefronts add together to reconstruct the whole of the object beam, it creates a wavefront, same to the wavefront, which the object scattered, thus creating a virtual image. This is how transmission holograms work. | http://hologramproject.com/tag/holography-theory/ |
Electrical and Thermal Conductivity?
High
Melting Point?
High
Brittle? Malleable? Ductile?
Malleable and ductile
Tensile Strength
High
Ferromagnetic Metals
Fe, Co, Ni
Reason for Physical Properties of Transition Metals
Strong metallic bonding and large number of delocalised electrons, 3d and 4s electrons are close in energy and all involved in bonding, smaller atomic radii (than s-block)
Chemical Properties of Transition Metals
Different from s-block metals
Compounds that can be formed with transition metals
Complex ions, coloured compounds, act as catalysts when elements of compounds, compounds have more than one oxidation number
d-block elements that are NOT a transition metal
Sc, Zn
Ligand
A molecule or ion containing a non-bonding lone pair of electrons that can form coordinate covalent (dative) bonds with a metal ion to form a complex ion
Examples of Ligands
NH₄⁺, NH₃, Cl⁻, H₂O
Coordination Number
The number of lone pairs bonded to the metal ion
Factors Affecting Colour of Transition Metal Complexes
Identity of transition metal, oxidation state of transition metal, identity of ligand
Polydentate Ligands
Act as chelating agents
Example of Polydentate Ligand
Ethylenediaminetetracetic Acid (EDTA⁴⁻)
Functions of Chelates
Removes transition ions from solutions and inhibits enzyme-catalysed oxidation reactions, used as food additive
THIS SET IS OFTEN IN FOLDERS WITH... | https://quizlet.com/140994111/131-first-row-d-block-elements-chemistry-flash-cards/ |
The answer is simple – save early and often. However, the application of this simple advice can be difficult. What’s the best method of saving? What if you didn’t start saving early, is it too late? How much will you need in retirement? How much should you be putting away?
While my advice varies based on each woman’s specific financial situation and objectives, I’ve found the following tips to be a good start toward helping women plan for retirement.
Women Planning for Retirement
1. START EARLY AND HAVE A PLAN.
A runner preparing for a marathon doesn’t begin training a week before the race. Preparation is key. It’s important to have a financial plan that includes specific retirement goals and to begin working toward those goals as soon as possible. Develop monthly saving targets and stick to them. While it may be difficult in the short term to make sacrifices to save, small changes today can add up to big savings in the future.
2. BE INVOLVED.
In a marriage, spouses often need to divide responsibilities in order to accomplish everything necessary. However, financial planning should be a shared task. Be sure you understand your financial picture, where your accounts are held and how to access those accounts. It is also important to know your household income and spending habits, where any legal documents such as trusts and wills are held, and any insurance policies that may apply.
3. FACTOR IN YOUR PRIORITIES.
Planning for retirement is more than saving. As you plan for the future, it’s important to cover all your bases. We suggest you consider the following:
- Set up a will.
- Ensure you have adequate insurance, both health and life.
- Set specific goals related to other savings priorities – college education for your children, supplemental income and/or disability insurance should you or your spouse be out of the workforce for a period of time, additional savings should you be concerned about taking care of aging parents, etc.
- Don’t forget about healthcare. If applicable and available, establish a health care savings account (HSA) to help you save more.
4. ESTABLISH YOUR OWN FINANCIAL IDENTITY.
Don’t count on your spouse’s 401(k) for your retirement savings. Maximize your annual contributions to your own 401(k) account, if possible, or establish an IRA in your name. If you inherit money from a family member, leave it in your name. Having your own savings, separate from your spouse’s and family’s accounts, helps ensure an adequate income stream, even when unexpected events occur.
5. REVISIT YOUR FINANCIAL PLAN AND SAVINGS GOALS REGULARLY.
Saving for retirement isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it strategy. As your life and financial circumstances change, it’s important to check in on your retirement goals to help ensure they remain on track. If you’ve experienced setbacks, it may be necessary to step up your monthly savings goals. If you’ve encountered a life event, it could be time to revisit your objectives. Working with a wealth advisor to discuss your goals and develop retirement projections can help you stay on track over the long term.
The key to planning for a successful retirement is to become educated and empowered. Your wealth advisor can help you achieve the strategy and discipline necessary to achieve your retirement goals.
This document is for informational use only. Nothing in this publication is intended to constitute legal, tax, or investment advice. There is no guarantee that any claims made will come to pass. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but Mariner Wealth Advisors does not warrant the accuracy of the information. Consult a financial, tax or legal professional for specific information related to your own situation.
Mariner Wealth Advisors (“MWA”), is an SEC registered investment adviser with its principal place of business in the State of Kansas. Registration of an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training.MWA is in compliance with the current notice filing requirements imposed upon registered investment advisers by those states in which MWA maintains clients. MWA may only transact business in those states in which it is notice filed or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from notice filing requirements. Any subsequent, direct communication by MWA with a prospective client shall be conducted by a representative that is either registered or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from registration in the state where the prospective client resides. For additional information about MWA, including fees and services, please contact MWA or refer to the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website. Please read the disclosure statement carefully before you invest or send money. | https://www.marinerwealthadvisors.com/insights/life-transitions-helping-women-prepare-for-retirement/ |
I've had a concept in my mind based on the Wardancers of the Warhammer Fantasy Wood Elf army, and wanted to just slightly increase their mystical nature (Ie: some spells, in addition to their enchanted blades). Since they are dual-wielding types I was bending over backwards trying to create a multi-class fighter/wizard(or sorcerer) creation when I finally just decided to hybrid them, and the more I hybrided them, the more Magus they seemed... so I tried an Archetype instead. I -think- it's balanced, but would like some input from others, since I've not played anything like a Magus in quite a long time (Not since the Kineticists came out). Tried to take away more than I added, but not sure I'm objective enough on this.
Elven Blade Master
Elven blade masters are a group of noble born warriors of Xoth Sarandi, trained in both the martial arts of the blade as well as in the mystical arts. The difference between them and other members of the Magus class is that they see the weapon as the tool of the martial aspects, and keep it separated from the mystical aspects of their training. They use a pair of blades and perform katas that appear almost like a dancer, allowing them to flow through a battle much as water flows through a sand barrier.
Class Skills: Elven blade masters gain Perform [Dance] (Cha) as a class skill. This modifies the class skills of the magus.
Diminished Spellcasting
Due to their martial focus, they do not learn to project spells towards living targets, and instead focus most of their spell casting on themselves. When generating the Difficulty Class to resist a spell, the elven blade master always treats her intelligence bonus as 0.
Arcane Pool (Su)
When calculating the amount of arcane points in his pool, an elven blade master uses his whole level rather than half his level, however when using the reservoir of mystical energy to fuel and enhance his weapons, he must spend 2 points from his arcane pool, but gains the benefits onto both of his weapons when doing so. This ability modifies the arcane pool ability of the magus class.
Two Weapon Fighting (Ex)
Elven blade masters start the game with the Two-Weapon Fighting feat as a bonus feat, however, she must meet the requisite of the feat to gain the benefits the feat. This ability replaces Spell Combat.
Two Bladed Defense (Ex)
At second level, an elven blade master gains +1 shield bonus to her AC anytime that she is wielding two light bladed weapons, and wearing light or no armour. This increases by another +1 every 5 levels after 2nd level. The elven blade master may spend one point from their arcana pool to add the enhancement bonus of a single weapon they are wielding to their AC. Note: this is an enhancement bonus, so would not stack with the enhancement bonus of magical armour. This ability replaces spellstrike, medium armour and heavy armour.
Magus Arcana
At third level, the elven blade master gains the dual bladed magus arcana automatically (See below), in place of the Arcana she would otherwise receive at 3rd level. This alters the magus arcana ability of the magus class and replaces the improved spell combat as well as the greater spell combat of the class.
Bonus Feats
Elven blade masters do not gain the bonus feats that other members of the magus class receive, rather they receive Improved Two Weapon Fighting at 8th level as a free bonus feat, and Greater Two Weapon Fighting at 16th level as a free bonus feat. They must still meet the prerequisites of the feats to benefit from them.
Elven Blade Master (Su)
At 20th level, you gain a +2 circumstance bonus to all attacks made when wielding two light bladed weapons. This ability replaces the true magus ability of the magus class.
Magus Arcana:
Dual Bladed (Su)
Benefit: When wielding 2 light bladed weapons, she may spend a single point from her arcane pool to use Dexterity instead of Strength in determining damage with her primary hand. This effect lasts for one minute. At 7th level, she may add her dexterity bonus to her damage rolls for both weapons rather than just the primary weapon during this effect, this raises the cost to two points from her arcane pool.. | https://paizo.com/people/Sphynx/threads |
Dinosaurs, elementary school, and the secret to success? Today, I’m telling you how I learned the most important key to being successful in an ever changing world… adaptability!
Today, I’m going to tell you the secret to success, like the true, real secret to success. And it was a lesson that I learned way back in elementary school when I was studying dinosaurs. That’s right. Dinosaurs. As a young man I was really really excited about dinosaurs. I love dinosaurs. I used to want to pet triceratops when I was a kid.
I used to go to the Boston Natural History Museum, where they had a reconstructed a big T-Rex kind of dinosaur. I absolutely love dinosaurs. So in elementary school, when it came time to study dinosaurs, I was super duper excited about dinosaurs. And I remember the teacher, a woman named Mrs Sullivan, was teaching this topic. And we were kind of getting on with learning about dinosaurs
and she said that the dinosaurs went extinct as a result of an asteroid hitting the planet. And I was fascinated by that language. That as a result of an asteroid hitting the planet, she didn’t say like the asteroid killed the dinosaur. She said, as a result of the asteroid hitting the planet. So I raised my hand,
like, what do you mean by that? And she said, it wasn’t actually the asteroid hitting the earth that caused the extinction. It was the asteroid hitting the earth that changed the environment and the dinosaurs failed to adapt to the new environment. And that’s why they became extinct. And the number one skill of success in a species is adaptability.
You have to be able to adapt. And, uh, I’ve been thinking about that a lot recently because you know, on March 12th of this year, an asteroid hit earth, right? Because the landscape of earth, as a result of this pandemic changed, completely changed. And anybody who could master the skill of being adaptable is going to be able to have more success.
So if you could do what you do, but do it online or do it in a distance way, If you could re-conceive and re-configure what your plans are and what your outcome you’re pursuing is, you’re much more likely to be successful. But even in a Solution Focused context, that kind of resonates with me because, and this is part of why I don’t believe in the static nature of diagnosis,
like, you have schizophrenia or depression or bipolar or whatever. I don’t know that I buy that concept of like the static nature of mental illness. And the reasons is because oftentimes what we’re doing when client come to our office, they are struggling to adapt to their new environment. Right? That’s what grief is like. There are people who are close to me over the past couple of years who had passed away.
One of them has my Uncle Jeffrey, rest in peace, my Uncle Jeffrey. And he’s very close to me and I struggled to adapt to a world without Jeffrey for a bit. And sometimes I think when we’re doing therapy with our clients, we have to, we have to not think about them in, in a very static, rigid way. We have to think about them as finding their way towards adaptation.
And if we can ask questions in the session that helped the client think about new pathways forward, think about new ideas moving forward, then we’re helping them to adapt to the new reality. Maybe it’s the new reality after a relationship ends or after losing a loved one or after losing a job or after moving to a new place or after experiencing a trauma. But the number one skill in the world is adaptability and it’s our job to help our clients adapt.
Hey, thank you so much for watching that video. I really appreciate you guys listening to me share my thoughts and ideas about Solution Focused Brief Therapy and as I try to make you very best Solution Focused Brief Therapist that you could possibly be. If you could please help me share the word, ‘like’, ‘share’ and ‘subscribe’ to my YouTube Channel. Help me spread the word of this amazing Approach.
‘Hit’ the bell on my YouTube channel to get notifications when I post new content. Head on over to www.elliottconnie.com where I post all kinds of free content, free training materials and updates on my courses and events. And I hope to see you in the next video. Thank you. | https://thesfu.com/the-secret-to-success/ |
Klarinet Archive - Posting 000505.txt from 2004/08
From: Tony Pay <[email protected]>Subj: Re: [kl] The making of K. 581Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2004 17:12:54 -0400On 17 Aug, "dnleeson" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Tony Pay and I have been having a discussion about the first printed
> edition of K. 581. He suggests that since the first printed edition has few
> editorial markings, that it is probably reasonably close to Mozart's
> intentions. And his argument is from a clever and observant point of view.
>
> He says, what most editors do is put stuff in, not take stuff out. So if
> the first edition has few of the things that editors normally put in to
> show their involvement, the absence of them suggests that there were not
> many editorial markings put into the music in the first place by Mozart.
>
> I suggest that the first printed edition is AT LEAST two generations away
> from the manuscript and probably three, and at each of these stages, done
> by different people (of unknown skills) at different times, things happened
> that cause a complete collapse of authority to that first edition.
My first remark is that if what we have is 'a complete collapse', then I see
no evidence of that collapse. In what we have of K581 I see a visionary work
that has its own logic and consistency.
I know that Dan will say that that's 'just my opinion'.
So, just as an aside, I would like to defend this 'just my opinion'. If I
were asked to justify my view that K581 is a 'visionary work that has its own
logic and consistency', I would have a number of arguments to support it.
And I say that such arguments are what our world is constructed from.
Dan makes great play with what is 'scientific'. But what constitutes our
scientific view is simply *the best arguments we have at the moment*.
Science isn't made out of facts. It's made out of explanatory theories that
include and aren't yet contradicted by those facts.
So I don't apologise for including arguments that support this opinion of
K581. It then has the status, not of an opinion, but of a theory.
> ...things happened that cause a complete collapse of authority to that
> first edition.
>
> First generation: the creation of a set of performance parts from the
> manuscript in Mozart's hand. On the basis of the typical work of an 18th
> century music copyist, it is wrong to assume that those performance parts
> represented an accurate picture of what Mozart wrote. I don't know what
> they said, but I can make an educated guess that there were wrong notes,
> incorrect placement of dynamics, incorrect intensity of dynamics,
> miswritten rhythms, a goodly number of errors in both articulation types
> and pattern, and finally an uncountable number of changes in phrase shapes.
You have no knowledge of the extent to which these parts were (a) miscopied,
(b) corrected after miscopying. The piece was played by Stadler and others.
That fact argues against your 'educated guess' that they were riddled with
errors. Why wouldn't they have been accurate?
> Second generation: these performance parts, presumably used to play the
> work and thus would have many penciled markings in them, were then used by
> someone to produce something else, which itself was used to engrave the
> plates that made the first printed edition in 1803.
Again, we know nothing of how the 1803 edition was produced. What evidence
do you have that the process was as you describe?
> Because the manuscripts of both the concerto and the quintet were said...
...but on what authority?
> ...to have been lost by that time, it is wishful thinking to presume that
> anything other than the manuscript parts were used in this effort to make
> engraved plates, no matter what the AMZ suggests (which is no better a
> guess than I can make).
I'd say that the authority of the AMZ reviewer is considerable. His
description of, and complaint about, the alterations to the Concerto is
consistent with our understanding of what the piece is 'about' with regard to
the extended register, as well as with the Winterthur manuscript. That makes
what else he says more believable.
> But it gets worse. The clarinet part of the quintet had to be modified,
> and someone was paid to make those modifications.
On your terms, we don't know that. There isn't any real evidence that the
work is for basset clarinet.
Of course, I think it was, from internal evidence -- but you wouldn't accept
that because it's only an *opinion*.
> If it was not modified, who would buy the work? Who could play the work?
> What is the market estimate for a composition that cannot be played by any
> clarinetist other than Stadler, because it required a special instrument?
> So the clarinet part, at least, was modified to an unknown degree, and this
> was probably done in the creation of a score (made from the performance
> parts) which was input to the engraving process.
Nah. Too many assumptions. You can make quite an educated guess as to what
the modifications are, as with the concerto, by following what I called
above, "internal evidence".
> If that is the case, we have THE THIRD GENERATION, namely, the making a
> score from which the engraved plates were made (which can be thought of as
> a fourth generation). How many of you look like your great grandfather?????
Well, if you think that, then the Winterthur MS wouldn't look anything like
the first edition of the Concerto.
BUT IT DOES!
> It is inconceivable to me that these two, maybe three, and possibly four
> generations of work took place leaving the first printed edition as
> representing much of what Mozart wrote, at least in terms of articulations
> and phrase shapes.
Well, I don't agree. It seems to me that you underestimate the probable
intelligence of the people -- perhaps Stadler's colleagues -- that did
whatever work was required -- IMO less work than you claim -- as well as
overestimating the number of generations involved.
> While Tony's argument is very strong about editors not taking things out,
> but rather putting them in, it fails on two counts. First is the two,
> three, or four generation problem spoken above. And second it fails because
> Mozart's scores were very much complete.
What we have of K581 is complete by the standards of very many Mozart MS.
Since you mentioned it, compare K498, the MS of which you posted here. There
are very few dynamics, and certainly not the sudden 'f' markings that appear
in editions and are such a problem for modern players to interpret.
(But that's for another post:-)
> If the first printed set of parts of 581 are barren of editorial markings,
> then this anomolous situation did not arise from the absence of those
> markings in the original manuscript score as Mozart wrote it.
Well, thanks for the opinion.
Tony
--
_________ Tony Pay
|ony:-) 79 Southmoor Rd [email protected]
| |ay Oxford OX2 6RE http://classicalplus.gmn.com/artists
tel/fax 01865 553339
... Me, indecisive? I don't think I am, do you? | http://test.woodwind.org/Databases/lookup.php/Klarinet/2004/08/000505.txt |
Tuba, which one? Which key?
I'm not a brass player, I'm a violinist. I'm just writing for myself with MuseScore, trying to build my composition and orchestration skills. How do you decide which tuba to use in compositions? Wikipedia says that some tubas are more commonly used in UK, the other is more commonly used in US. If I ever have a real player to write for, then I'll write for that persons instrument. Until that happens, can you give me any suggestions, comments etc? (I posted one of my composition exercises , with a tube, to this group, it's the variations on Swanee river) Thanks.
First upload
Please listen and tell me what you think. I want to know if I should keep writing or not.
https://musescore.com/user/27822968/scores/5206133
What horn and what metal?
I was thinking about trying to get money to buy a new, professional horn, and I was wondering what kind of horns are the best. I know that the Berlin Phil plays on Alexander 103s, and they always seem to get good reviews, so I would definitely look at those, but I also know that there are other fantastic instruments and the Alexander might not be the best fit for me. Right now I play a Holton H179, and it works quite well for me, but I have college auditions next year and then college itself, and I think that a better horn would be beneficial.
I was looking online at alexander 103s, just for fun, and I saw that there are several different metals that they use. Each has its pros and cons, but I couldn't find which most people prefer.
If it helps at all, I prefer playing high horn (1st or 3rd).
Sheet Music Request *Please Important*
Can someone please transpose the 1st ending of My Hero Academia? It's called "Heroes-Brian The Sun" I have searched everywhere on the internet, and no one has done it. If you know of someone who has the sheet music for it, please link it in the comments. Please help, and thank you. Heres a link to the song-
https://youtu.be/YRU7MZWDmgg
[article] Sax as a transposing instrument and writing music for saxophone
Saxophone (no matter what type we are talking about: alto,tenor, soprano, bari or some less used ones) is so-called “transposing instrument”. It means that you are “in a different key” than “concert pitch” instruments, such as piano, guitar, (double) bass, etc. If you are not familiar with the “transposing instruments” thing, I suggest that you read the first section of the wiki article before continuing with this review, it is pretty well explained there:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transposing_instrument
So, to get the pitch you need when writing some sax part, you need to transpose it up (from concert pitch):
- For soprano sax: a major 2nd
- For alto sax: a major 6th
- For tenor sax: a major 9th (1 octave + major 2nd)
- For bari sax: a major 13th (1 octave + major 6th)
As you can see the difference between soprano and tenor is one octave (as well as the difference between alto and bari).
Soprano and tenor saxes are called "Bb instruments", it means that for the “C” note in these instruments’ part the actual sounding pitch will be “Bb”.
Alto and bari saxes are called “Eb instruments”; so if you write the “C” note in some part for this instruments, you will actually get the sound of “Eb” concert pitch once it is played.
All this stuff seems to be quite complicated for someone that has never dealt with transposing instruments before, but using MuseScore notation software you can quickly make parts for saxophones even if you do not know all this transposing instruments theory (though this knowledge is vital for composers). There is a quick video tutorial on the topic, I'll post a link in the end of this post.
One more thing to remember: once you have written some sheet music for saxophone, check the range - the saxophone part (make sure that it is not shown in concert pitch, so unpress the “concert pitch” button in MuseScore editor while viewing the part) should have pitches only inside this range (from small octave “Bb” to 3rd octave “F”) :
The only exception is bari sax - it has the additional low “A” note, which, by the way, sounds pretty cool. Good arrangers, like Gordon Goodwin, often use this feature of bari saxophones. Of course, there are also altissimo pitches, but that is a separate topic for conversation.
If you wish, you can check the whole sax family at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxophone#Saxophone_family
This table from wikipedia is really “true to the fact”. Sopranino and sopranissimo saxes sound “higher” than concert pitch instruments: I mean that the first-octave “C” notated in sheet music for these instruments will actually sound as 1st-octave Eb and Bb respectively. All other saxes sound “lower than written”, just remember this rule. However, the most used saxes have been already mentioned before, so other ones are pretty rare,I should say.
And one more thing to be aware of when writing a piece for sax ensemble: saxophones and saxophonists are not perfect, and an arranger, especially writing for an amateur/student sax ensemble, or even for big band, should try not to overuse (I write the pitches that occur in sax part, not in concert pitch, of course) notes higher than 3rd octave C# (high notes tend to sound out-of-tune-high) and lower than 1st octave D (on some medium quality saxophones it’s hard to play those pitches, especially if saxophone is not in a perfect condition).
Don’t hesitate to add some thoughts and more tips on the topic in comments.
SoundFont
Wich soundfont do you recommend for string quartet?
Thank you
I need an easy-intermediate Hymn violin solo.
If anyone has any that sound good I would really appreciate it!
Don't you worry 'bout a thing arrangement.
Hey guys,
So I have a problem with the arrangement I am making for a Sax Trio. The song is called Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing by Stevie Wonder, but for this trio I wanted to transpose the Tori Kelly version from the movie Sing.
Unfortunately, I don't know all of the notes since there are no other sheets of this version on the internet. I'd hope that some of you could help me with finishing this piece of music.
Thanks to those who would like to help!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI5VmfngnNQ
You can find my score in my profile ;)
How many instruments do you play?
I play 14 how many in total do all of you play?
Silence - Marshmello ft.Kahlid
Hi Looking for this violin sheet music for my Daughter. anybody could help in this regard,
I need an easy-intermediate Hymn violin solo.
If anyone has any that sound good I would really appreciate it!
Thank you!
Looking for a a talented composer
A personal request for a song that wont be shared on musecore.
Horn struggles
Who here loves the French Horn but absolutely hate the spit getting into your horn and struggling to get it out?
Range?
Hello there! I was wondering about what everyone's range was. I am so self conscious that I have a tiny range. I also find that for big concerts where we play 10-12 pieces I can barely hit high notes at the end. I was looking for tips on how to expand range and build better endurance. Anything will help!
Help with Sax sound
Hi everyone!
New to the alto sax and i have a quick question, when i go to play i have about one or two seconds of just air and then the sound comes out fine - is this caused by my breathing, embouchure or reed? I have no idea? I just want a clean sound to come out the moment I begin. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! :)
2nd piece
spare a second for my second piece https://musescore.com/user/29366295/scores/5188929
Cellist looking for intermediate music
Hi, I'm a cellist. I need new music, and I don't want easy music, but not hard either. Please post links of Musescore compositions for cello solos that fit this description!
Starting A Song?
I'm having a hard time starting another song. Any ideas on how to start a song? | https://musescore.com/community/main/index?text=&instruments%5B0%5D=20&instruments%5B1%5D=30&instruments%5B2%5D=23&instruments%5B3%5D=17&instruments%5B4%5D=33&instruments%5B5%5D=14&instruments%5B6%5D=9&from=sheetmusic&page=47&categories%5B0%5D=3 |
When should I see a doctor about hair loss?
You should talk with your doctor if you notice that you are losing excessive amounts of hair or if your scalp is itchy or irritated. Your hair loss may be indicative of hereditary baldness or it might be a symptom of a larger systemic condition such as lupus.
Should I go to the doctor if I have hair loss?
Hair loss can be a sign of male-pattern baldness, a fungal infection or something more serious, such as a thyroid condition. If you have hair loss that you feel is abnormal, it’s best to see your doctor about it, especially if you notice a rash or pain on your scalp.
When should a woman see a doctor for hair loss?
“If you feel like you’re losing an excessive amount of hair, talk to your doctor. You’ll need an evaluation,” she says. More than half of all women experience noticeable hair loss over time.
How do I know if I’m losing too much hair?
9 Ways To Tell If You’re Losing Too Much Hair
- Your scalp is more noticeable. …
- You see lots of hairs trends on your pillow in the morning. …
- Several hair strands come out when you pull or run your fingers through your hair. …
- Your part looks wider than it used to. …
- There’s hair all over your shower.
How can I find out why my hair is falling out?
Causes of hair loss
- Hereditary hair loss. Both men and women develop this type of hair loss, which is the most common cause of hair loss worldwide. …
- Age. …
- Alopecia areata. …
- Childbirth, illness, or other stressors. …
- Hair care. …
- Hairstyle pulls on your scalp. …
- Hormonal imbalance. …
- Scalp infection.
Why am I suddenly losing so much hair?
Possible causes of hair loss include stress, poor diet, and underlying medical conditions. Everyone experiences hair shedding, and it happens to each of us every day. Most people lose 50 to 100 hairs per day as part of this natural cycle, more on days you wash your hair.
Can your hair fall out from Covid?
Temporary hair loss is normal after a fever or illness
Fever is a common symptom of COVID-19. A few months after having a high fever or recovering from an illness, many people see noticeable hair loss. While many people think of this as hair loss, it’s actually hair shedding.
What is the best vitamin for hair loss?
The 5 Best Vitamins for Hair Loss Prevention, Based on Research
- Biotin. Biotin (vitamin B7) is important for cells inside your body. …
- Iron. Red blood cells need iron to carry oxygen. …
- Vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential for your gut to absorb iron. …
- Vitamin D. You might already know that vitamin D is important for bones. …
- Zinc.
What kind of doctor do you see if your hair is falling out?
Dermatologists are the experts in diagnosing and treating hair loss. A dermatologist can tell you whether it’s FPHR or something else that is causing your hair loss. Other causes of hair loss can look like FPHL, so it’s important to rule out these causes.
How much hair loss is normal in the shower?
The average person loses 50 to 100 hairs a day, but it really depends on length and thickness of the hair. People with shorter or thinner hair appear to shed less. On days when people with long or thick hair wash it, they could shed between 150 and 200 hairs. | https://nhtdelhi.com/alopecia/best-answer-should-i-go-to-doctor-about-hair-loss.html |
|Mini color study, “Sky Art at the Museum”, 3×4 oil on paper|
A few months after moving to North Carolina, I was finally feeling just settled enough to do some exploring, and one of the first places on my list was the North Carolina Museum of Art. In addition to a great collection of paintings, the museum is located on a huge piece of land with outdoor sculptures and walking paths. I love how they’ve blended the experience of fine art with nature and created a very holistic experience. It’s hard not to feel uplifted and more centered after a visit there.
During this first visit, the weather was too warm to be walking outdoors for very long, but I did get to see some nice fluffy clouds and great vistas. For this value thumbnail I wanted to create a lighter, more airy sky, consistent with what I felt when I was actually there. The photo I took makes the clouds look darker and heavier than I remember them, and the land is overly dark as well.
I simplified my clouds and used colors to create a peaceful, dreamy quality…with no sense of urgency, as if you have all the time in the world to watch the clouds pass by and there’s nowhere you’d rather be. To convey the warmth of the day, the colors of the trees and grasses have a warm, somewhat hazy quality. I feel like I could do an infinite number of studies just on clouds, playing with the color of the light and shadows to express different ideas.
A couple of things I’d do differently next time: make the distant trees a little lighter so they separate from the closer mass of trees and are the same value as the grass area, and connect the sky to the land more by bringing color from one into the other.
|Reference photo from the North Carolina Museum of Art|
|Value thumbnail of simple shapes|
I handled the values in this study a bit differently from how I normally do it by keeping the light and mid light close together on the scale, and the mid dark and dark close together. I like how this gave me more room to play in the sky while keeping the land areas simpler by lowering the contrast there. I’d like to explore this style of value relationships more and remember that the values don’t have to step evenly up the scale. | https://amylamp.com/2019/05/22/30-days-of-value-thumbnails-day-21/ |
The President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nottingham, Professor Shearer West, invites applications for the position of Provost of the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC). This role is an exciting, challenging and rewarding leadership position in global higher education.
As our Provost, you will be responsible for the leadership and management of the University of Nottingham Ningbo Campus (UNNC), you will report to the UNNC Board, and play a crucial role in carrying on our unique heritage whilst ensuring our future success in one of the world’s most dynamic and competitive higher education landscapes. You will also be a Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Nottingham, reporting directly to the President and Vice-Chancellor. As the successful candidate, you will be able to further develop our existing strengths in research and education whilst identify new opportunities emerging from the expansion of China’s higher education sector and thriving industries.
You will have the ability to bring a contemporary style of leadership, vision, empowerment and determination with a deep commitment to advancing opportunity, equality, integrity and impact. You will be in charge of an excellent and cohesive senior team, who together will shape the future direction of UNNC, while embodying the values and culture of the University of Nottingham as a whole.
As our next Provost, you will be accountable for the delivery of excellent student outcomes, an outstanding education and fulfilling student life along with research of global significance, together with the efficient and effective operation of our institution. You will deliver this against the backdrop of greater global competition and changes in technology, which will undoubtedly shape the direction of the UNNC in the years to come.
We became the first foreign university anywhere in the world to establish an independent campus in China in 2004. The University of Nottingham Ningbo China is located in the historic and prosperous city of Ningbo on China’s eastern seaboard, close to Shanghai.
Fifteen years since our inception, we are an institution that continues to accelerate. Our reputation within China as a destination for some of the nation’s brightest students continues to grow along with our reputation as a hub and conduit for the University of Nottingham world-class research and knowledge exchange. This has unlocked unprecedented investment from local government and business in the development of Nottingham’s solutions to the challenges that face China and Ningbo.
Today, UNNC is embedded, established and highly engaged in its host community, city and nation, with a thriving global alumni family who act as ambassadors and advocates for both the University, and Ningbo, as they develop their careers in China and across the globe. This is fundamental to what we believe makes the University of Nottingham committed to delivering public value through its activities across the world.
We want you to shape our vision for the future of UNNC’s next fifteen years. You will have the ability to drive the next phase of UNNC’s prosperity and operations, with credibility to act as a representative, not just of the University of Nottingham, but also of Sino-British relations and the positive impact provided by higher education.
For this appointment process we have partnered with the executive search firm Perrett Laver, who will guide and support you through the process. When contacting Perrett Laver please quote reference 3948.
This post is offered on a fixed-term basis for 5 years.
The deadline for applications is Sunday 3rd March 2019.
Interviews will be held in the UK at our Nottingham Campus, the date is to be confirmed. | https://wonkhe.com/job/provost-of-the-university-of-nottingham-ningbo-china-and-pro-vice-chancellor-of-the-university-of-nottingham/ |
9th: Introduction to Design—Students dig deep into the engineering design process, applying math, science, and engineering standards to hands-on projects. They work both individually and in teams to design solutions to a variety of problems using 3D modeling software, and use an engineering notebook to document.
10th: Principles of Engineering—Through problems that engage and challenge, students explore a broad range of engineering topics, including mechanisms, the strength of structures and materials, and automation. Students develop skills in problem solving, research, and design while learning strategies for design process documentation, collaboration, and presentation.
11th or 12th: Environmental Sustainability- Students investigate and design solutions in response to real-world challenges related to clean and abundant drinking water, food supply issues, and renewable energy. Applying their knowledge through hands-on activities and simulations, students research and design solutions to these true-to-life challenges.
11th or 12th: Computer Science Principles—Using Python as a primary tool and incorporating multiple platforms and languages for computation, this course aims to develop computational thinking, generate excitement about career paths that utilize computing, and introduce professional tools that foster creativity and collaboration. Students develop programming expertise and explore the workings of the Internet. Projects and problems include app development, visualization of data, cybersecurity, and simulation.
11th or 12th: Computer Science A AP—Students collaborate to create original solutions to problems of their own choosing by designing and implementing user interfaces and Web-based databases, as well as creating a game for their friends or an app to serve a real need in their community.
Biomedical Pathway
9th: Principles of Biomedical — Students explore concepts of biology and medicine to determine factors that led to the death of a fictional person. While investigating the case, students examine autopsy reports, investigate medical history, and explore medical treatments that might have prolonged the person’s life. The activities and projects introduce students to human physiology, basic biology, medicine, and research processes while allowing them to design their own experiments to solve problems.
10th: Human Body Systems— Students examine the interactions of human body systems as they explore identity, power, movement, protection, and homeostasis in the body. Exploring science in action, students build organs and tissues on a skeleton, use data acquisition software to monitor body functions such as muscle movement, reflex and voluntary action, and respiration; and take on the roles of biomedical professionals to solve real-world medical cases.
11th: Medical Interventions— Students follow the life of a fictitious family as they investigate how to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease. Students explore how to detect and fight infection; screen and evaluate the code in human DNA; evaluate cancer treatment options; and prevail when the organs of the body begin to fail. Through real-world cases, students are exposed to a range of interventions related to immunology, surgery, genetics, pharmacology, medical devices, and diagnostics.
12th: Biomedical Innovations—Students build on the knowledge and skills gained from previous courses to design their own innovative solutions for the most pressing health challenges of the 21st century. | https://liberty.kernhigh.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1121634&type=d&pREC_ID=1394406 |
Un, Elif M.
Erberik, Murat Altuğ
Askan Gündoğan, Ayşegül
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This study aims to present an integrated method in a probabilistic manner for seismic performance assessment of Turkish residential buildings, which can be used as a tool to estimate earthquake losses due to structural damage. In particular, the objective is to determine the performances of different types of residential buildings for predicting the potential seismic loss in terms of casualties (death toll) for a highly populated city in northwestern Turkey. The main phases of this study are seismic hazard, building performance in terms of fragility functions, and loss in terms of damage states of buildings and total number of casualties. To quantify the regional hazard, a probabilistic seismic hazard assessment approach is adopted. For different types of building structures, probabilities of satisfying predefined performance levels for a given hazard level are determined using appropriate fragility curve sets produced by using local characteristics. The results are expressed as expected losses in 50 years in terms of number of casualties obtained as a function of the estimated performance of building types under concern. (C) 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
Subject Keywords
Casualty
,
Fragility
,
Seismic hazard
,
Loss estimation
,
Performance assessment
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/11511/32942
Journal
JOURNAL OF PERFORMANCE OF CONSTRUCTED FACILITIES
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)cf.1943-5509.0000547
Collections
Department of Civil Engineering, Article
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COLLAPSE FRAGILITY ANALYSIS OF REINFORCED CONCRETE TALL BUILDINGS
Budak, Erhan; Çelik, Ozan Cem; Sucuoğlu, Haluk; Department of Civil Engineering (2022-9-02)
Seismic performance of a 253 m tall reinforced concrete core wall building in Istanbul, designed according to performance-based seismic design principles, was assessed to determine the response parameters that control the serviceability, safety and collapse performance limit states. An ambient vibration test of the building was performed to identify its dynamic properties, including the damping properties for service loads. A three- dimensional linear elastic finite element structural model of the building ...
Seismic vulnerability assessment using regional empirical data
Yakut, Ahmet; Yucemen, M. Semih (2006-08-01)
This article presents a procedure developed for the seismic performance assessment of low- to mid-rise reinforced concrete buildings in Turkey. The past performance of reinforced concrete buildings during major earthquakes have been compiled and analysed comprehensively using statistical procedures in order to study the empirical correlation between the significant damage inducing parameters and the observed damage. A damage database of nearly 500 representative buildings experiencing the 1999 Kocaeli and D...
Vulnerability assessment of reinforced concrete moment resisting frame buildings
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A detailed seismic performance assessment procedure has been developed for reinforced concrete (RC) frame buildings with masonry infill walls. The procedure is based on member damage functions, in terms of interstory drift ratios. These functions are developed for the primary components, namely, columns, beams, and infill walls. For developing these functions, analytical investigations to determine the influence of several parameters on the damageability of components were combined with experimental data. A...
Performance evaluation of a three-storey unreinforced masonry building during the 1992 Erzincan earthquake
Sucuoğlu, Haluk; Erberik, Murat Altuğ (1997-03-01)
Seismic performance of a three-storey unreinforced masonry building which survived the 1992 Erzincan earthquake without damage is evaluated. Mechanical properties of the masonry walls have been determined experimentally by using identical brick and mortar used in construction. An accurate material model is developed for masonry and employed in a computer program for the non-linear dynamic analysis of masonry buildings. The analytical results based on measured material properties indicated that masonry build...
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In performance-based seismic design methodology, intensity measures are thought to be key parameters of ground motion records that relate the seismic hazard levels with the structural response or damage. Therefore, it is important to identify efficient intensity measures that are capable of reducing the variability in seismic demand predictions. There exist several simple-to-advanced scalar and vector ground motion intensity measures; however, the literature is limited in the number of comparative studies i...
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E. M. Un, M. A. Erberik, and A. Askan Gündoğan, “Performance Assessment of Turkish Residential Buildings for Seismic Damage and Loss Estimation,”
JOURNAL OF PERFORMANCE OF CONSTRUCTED FACILITIES
, pp. 0–0, 2015, Accessed: 00, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://hdl.handle.net/11511/32942.
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You can transmit your request, problems about OpenMETU. | https://open.metu.edu.tr/handle/11511/32942 |
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is increasing across all sectors of the economy, which raises important and pressing questions for regulators. This report presents the results of research into how regulators can meet the challenge of regulating activities transformed by AI and maximise the potential of AI for regulatory innovation. The report also investigates whether regulators perceive a need for common capacity in AI — mechanisms and structures that enable coordination, knowledge sharing, and resource pooling — to advance AI readiness across the UK’s regulatory landscape.
The study was commissioned by the Office for AI and produced by The Alan Turing Institute’s public policy programme. The Regulators and AI Working Group, convened by the Information Commissioner’s Office, provided essential input and feedback throughout all stages of the research. The report draws on interviews with staff across regulatory bodies of different sizes and sectoral remits.
Key findings
1. AI technologies are expanding in scale, scope, and complexity, resulting in a diverse range of applications with relevance to all areas of social and economic life. This has major implications for regulators along two dimensions:
- The Regulation of AI. Regulators need to understand the nature and implications of AI uses that fall within their regulatory remit and to assess the adequacy of regulatory arrangements in relation to them. Ensuring that regulatory regimes are “fit for AI” is essential to address AI-related risks and to maintain an environment that encourages innovation. Certainty about regulatory expectations, public trust in AI technologies, and the avoidance of undue regulatory obstacles are crucial pre-conditions for the uptake of AI technologies.
- AI for Regulation. Regulators might also turn to AI themselves, in order to make their work more innovative, effective, and efficient. International evidence illustrates the large and diverse number of AI-based innovations that can transform the ways in which regulatory bodies pursue their missions.
2. Interviews with representatives from across the UK’s regulatory landscape show that there are significant readiness gaps in both the Regulation of AI and AI for Regulation. The gaps exist at three levels: system-level readiness, organisational readiness, and participant readiness.
Despite an increase in AI-related initiatives across the regulatory landscape, many regulatory bodies are at an early stage in their “AI journey” and all face shared difficulties in making progress towards AI readiness. Common obstacles include limitations in knowledge and skills, insufficient coordination between regulators, issues of leadership and management of organisational and attitudinal change, and resource constraints.
3. The shared nature of obstacles faced by regulators calls for a joined-up approach to increasing AI readiness that enables coordination, knowledge generation and sharing, and resource pooling.
Echoing the Government’s recently published National AI Strategy and Plan for Digital Regulation, our interviews revealed an urgent need for increased and sustainable forms of coordination on AI-related questions across the regulatory landscape. Such coordination is essential for ensuring that regulatory regimes and interventions are coherent, effective, proportionate, efficient, and informed by developments at the international level. Our research findings also highlight that joined-up approaches to developing and sharing knowledge and resources can play a transformative role by enabling regulators to learn from each other and increase their collective capacities in ways that leverage synergies and efficiencies.
4. The research identified common challenges and opportunities presented by AI which show that the areas of Regulation of AI and AI for Regulation are critically linked. Any strategy to build capacity for regulation and AI should cover both.
Interviewees stressed the need to capitalise on the synergies between the Regulation of AI and AI for Regulation. They perceived a need for the development of a shared vocabulary in relation to AI technologies. They outlined the usefulness of a mapping exercise to identify the uses of AI across regulators, the risks posed by the use of AI in different sectors, and any regulatory gaps. They considered that there is a need to determine ways to address regulatory gaps, to anticipate future risks, and to adapt to the speed of technological change. They saw the value of sharing knowledge and best practice in the use and management of AI. They noted the difficulties in attracting and retaining talent, and the usefulness of shared training and skills development programmes as well as AI tools.
5. The research highlighted the need for access to new sources of shared AI expertise. A common pool of expertise would stimulate and maintain AI readiness across regulators, while avoiding duplication in a crowded landscape.
Interview participants highlighted the significance of existing relationships and fora for collaboration and exchange between regulators, but also noted their limitations. They cater only to a subset of the needs identified, cover only parts of the UK’s regulatory landscape, and are constrained by a lack of robust and sustainable resourcing. The research pointed to the need for new sources of expertise to fill gaps and act as a catalyst for developing regulatory readiness in AI. The solution should avoid unnecessary duplication by capitalising on existing structures. It should involve strong incentives for regulatory bodies to participate but operate on a voluntary basis. It should take account of differences in requirements between larger and smaller regulators and ensure that shared resources are accessible and beneficial to regulators of all sizes and sectors. The solution should be politically independent and facilitated by a neutral, but respected, authoritative, and well-established organisation with recognised expertise in both technical and non-technical dimensions of AI.
6. The most promising avenue towards building common capacity emerged as the creation of an AI and Regulation Common Capacity Hub (ARCCH), convened by an independent and authoritative body in AI. The Hub would provide a trusted platform for the collaborative pursuit of common capacity while consolidating existing initiatives and avoiding unnecessary additional crowding of the landscape.
The proposed ARCCH represents the only approach to developing common capacity that is aligned with all the considerations raised by our interviewees. To act as a trusted partner for regulatory bodies, ARRCH would have its home at a politically independent institution, established as a centre of excellence in AI, drawing on multidisciplinary knowledge and expertise from across the national and international research community.
The newly created AI and Regulation Common Capacity Hub would:
- Convene, facilitate, and incentivise regulatory collaborations around key AI issues;
- Cultivate state-of-the-art knowledge on the use of AI by regulated entities;
- Conduct risk mapping, regulatory gap analysis, and horizon scanning;
- Provide thought leadership on regulatory solutions and innovations;
- Develop proofs of concept and build shared AI tools for regulators;
- Supply training and skills development;
- Build up and facilitate sharing of human and technical resources across the regulatory landscape;
- Act as an interface for regulators to interact with relevant stakeholders including industry and civil society.
7. Realising the full potential of common regulatory capacity for AI requires support and commitment.
Achieving common capacity will require action from across the regulatory landscape. Government will need to resource and support the establishment of the new hub, as well as other forms of cross-regulator initiatives. Regulatory bodies will need to evaluate, strengthen, and renew regulatory collaborations; commit organisational resources to engaging with ARCCH; promote strategies to increase organisational agility, adaptivity, and ingenuity; and pursue an inclusive and participatory approach that includes civil society. | https://www.turing.ac.uk/research/publications/common-regulatory-capacity-ai |
Cardinal Peter Turkson said the Holy See aims to shine a light on the “catastrophic impact” of nuclear deterrence, mutually assured destruction and the arms race have in society, while renewing the Pope’s call for a world free of nuclear weapons. Source: Crux.
“On international relations and within the new multipolar order, a climate of fear and mistrust and opposition prevails,” the head of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development told a Vatican-sponsored webinar on nuclear weapons last week.
“The danger is also posed by non-state actors and terrorist groups that are becoming more and more violent, especially if we consider the danger posed by nuclear and biochemical weapons that sometimes fall into their hands.”
Cardinal Turkson’s address to the webinar came during the presentation of A World Free from Nuclear Weapons, published in August. The volume contains the papers from a major symposium held by the Vatican in 2017 to relaunch efforts towards creating a world free of nuclear weapons.
Two of the deepest longings of the human heart, Cardinal Turkson said, are peace and stability, and the possession of nuclear arms and other weapons of mass destruction are not the answer to these desires. | https://cathnews.com/cathnews/39976-top-vatican-official-calls-for-end-to-nuclear-weapons |
PLEASE NOTE: The doctor will review your treatment needs and answer any and all questions you may have prior to initiating treatment. The appropriate condition and treatment will be check-marked at that time.
I have been informed that a local anesthetic (“novocaine”) and radiographs (‘X-rays) will be used.
I have been informed of the prognosis and the benefits of these procedures. I have been informed of possible alternative methods of treatment, including no treatment at all.
I am aware there are certain inherent and potential risks in any treatment plan or procedure. I understand that these risks for the treatment I will receive include, but are not limited to: Swelling; sensitivity; bleeding; pain; infection; numbness and/or a tingling sensation in the lip, tongue, chin, gums, cheeks, and teeth, which is transient but on infrequent occasions may be permanent; reaction to injections and anesthetics; changes in occlusion (biting); jaw muscle cramps and spasms; temporomandibular joint difficulty; referred pain to ear, neck and head; delayed healing; sinus communication; complications resulting from the use of dental instruments (broken instrument, perforation of the root); bruising of the face; tooth discoloration; loosening of teeth; loosening or fracture of crowns or bridges requiring the fabrication of new ones; reactions to medications which may include drowsiness and lack of coordination; Allergic reactions to any materials and medications used; inhibition of the effect of birth control pills (if taking antibiotics); treatment failure.
I understand that when this treatment is completed, I will need to see my general dentist within the following few weeks for continued treatment which will include a permanent restoration (post and core / buildup / Crown / bridge / filling), crown lengthening surgery (when indicated), and routine dental care.
For patients who are currently receiving Bisphosphonate treatment or have in the past – I was informed of the short and long-term risks associated with my drug treatment.
I was given the opportunity to ask any questions and bring up any concerns regarding the nature of treatment, the inherent risks of the treatment, and the alternatives to this treatment.
I was given ample time to read this consent form. I have read this consent form and voluntarily consent to the performance of the above procedure(s) upon me.
Please turn the page over. | http://dentisty.org/consent-for-endodontic-treatment-and--or-surgery.html |
DHMH Proposed Revised Consent Form to Authorize Minor Use of Tanning Devices
The form has been revised as follows:
· The language has been simplified.
· The statement concerning risk and the consensus of the medical community about tanning for minors has been strengthened, including noting that indoor tanning can cause skin cancer.
· The parental/guardian consent section has been clearly separated from the section identifying the minor who is the subject of the form.
· The form requires presentation of an official government-issued identification as part of the verification process.
· The form expires after six months.
State law enacted in 2008 prohibits tanning facilities from allowing minors to use tanning devices without written consent from a parent or legal guardian. The proposed revisions to the form were made after the Secretary in 2012 sought initial comments on the current regulations and the consent form currently in use. Information about the comments received and the new proposed consent form is available here: http://phpa.dhmh.maryland.gov/OEHFP/EH/SitePages/tanning-for-minors.aspx .
Secretary Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein stated, “The original 2008 law was passed in large part to give parents information about and control over the tanning of their children. As we have learned more about the risks of indoor tanning devices, especially for minors, the Department wants to be sure that parents are given clear, unambiguous information about the potential hazards of using artificial tanning devices.” | https://www.worcesterhealth.org/news/743--dhmh-proposed-revised-consent-form-to-authorize-minor-use-of-tanning-devices |
Mineral systems based on the number of species-defining chemical elements in minerals: their diversity, complexity, distribution, and mineral evolution of Earth's crust
Krivovichev V. G., Charykova M. V., Krivovichev S. V.
Zapiski RMO (Proceedings of the Russian Mineralogical Society). 2020. V. 149. N 1. P. 1-22
https://doi.org/10.31857/S0869605520010062
Full text is available on eLIBRARY.RU
Language: Russian
Abstract
The chemical diversity of minerals can be analyzed in terms of the concept of mineral systems, defined by the set of chemical elements essential for defining a mineral species. Only species-defining elements are considered to be essential. According to this approach, all minerals are classified into ten types of mineral systems with the number of essential components ranging from 1 to 10. For all known minerals, only 70 chemical elements act as essential species-defining constituents. Using this concept of mineral systems, various geological objects may be compared from the viewpoint of their mineral diversity: for example, alkaline massifs (Khibiny, Lovozero, in Russia, and Mont Saint-Hilaire, in Canada), evaporate deposits (Inder, in Kazakhstan, and Searles Lake, in the USA), fumaroles of active volcanoes (Tolbachik, in Kamchatka, and Volcano, in Sicily, Italy) and hydrothermal deposits (Otto Mountain, in the USA, and El Dragon, in Bolivia). Correlations between chemical and structural complexities of minerals were analysed using a total of 5240 datasets on their chemical compositions and 3989 datasets on crystal structures of minerals. Statistical analysis shows that there are strong and positive correlations (R2 > 0.95) between chemical and structural complexities and the number of different chemical elements in a mineral. Analysis of relations between chemical and structural complexities provides strong evidence that there is an overall trend of increasing structural complexity together with increase of the chemical complexity. Following R.Hazen, there were considered four groups of minerals representing four stages of the mineral evolution: (I) “Ur-minerals”, (II) minerals from chondrite meteorites, (III) Hadean minerals, and (IV) contemporary minerals. Obtained data have showed that the number of species-defining elements in minerals and their mean contents are increasing regularly and significantly from the stage I to stage IV. Analyses of mean chemical and structural complexities in these four groups demonstrate that both are gradually increasing in the course of mineral evolution. The increasing complexity follows an overall trend: the more complex minerals were formed with passage of the geological time, without replacing the simpler ones. Observed correlations between chemical and structural complexities understood in terms of the Shannon information suggest that the chemical differentiation is the major force driving the increase of complexity of minerals in the course of geological time. | https://zrmo.org/archives/2020/issue-1/mineral-systems-based-on-the-number-of-species-defining-chemical-elements-in-minerals-their-diversity-complexity-distribution-and-mineral-evolution-of-earths-crust.html |
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a rust inhibitor, a rust inhibitor composition containing the rust inhibitor, a coating formation material, a coating obtained from the rust inhibitor, the rust inhibitor composition, or the coating formation material, and a metal component having the coating.
BACKGROUND ART
On the surface of a metal member (for example, members of iron such as steel and cast iron; members of non-ferrous metal such as copper, sine, aluminum, and alloys of these metals), rust such as an oxide, a hydroxide, or a salt such as carbonate is easily generated due to moisture, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and the like in the atmosphere. In addition, corrosion proceeds from the surface to the inside, so that the metal member is easily chemically deteriorated.
In order to prevent generation of such rust, a rust inhibitor is used. Examples of the rust inhibitor are known including organic rust inhibitors such as organic amine salts, carboxylic acid-based compounds, carboxylate salt-based compounds, sulfonate salt-based compounds, and heterocyclic compounds; and phosphorus rust inhibitors such as phosphate salt and phosphate ester.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an aqueous rust inhibitor composition obtained by blending a carboxylic acid having a specific polyoxyethylene structure with an aromatic carboxylic acid.
Patent Document 2 discloses a detergent, composition for a steel plate containing an alkaline agent, a chelating agent, a surfactant, a specific amine compound, and water (component E).
Patent Document 3 discloses a rust inhibitor composition containing a vaporizable rust inhibitor, phospholipid, and a solvent.
PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS
Patent Document
Patent Document 1: JP-A-2016-148095
Patent Document 2: JP-A-2018-104752
Patent Document 3: JP-A-2015-124392
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
In recent years, for the purpose of weight reduction and the like, metal components in which an iron member and a non-ferrous metal member are combined are often used, and a practical rust inhibitor having high rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance and capable of preventing rust and corrosion over a long period of time is required for the combined metal components.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a rust inhibitor which has excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members, and can prevent rust and corrosion over a long period of time, a rust inhibitor composition containing the rust inhibitor, a coating formation material, a coating obtained from the rust inhibitor, the rust inhibitor composition, or the coating formation material, and a metal component having the coating.
Means for Solving the Problems
Effect of the Invention
As a result of intensive studies, the present inventor has found that the above problem can be solved by the following rust inhibitor or the like.
The present invention relates to a rust inhibitor comprising at least one kind of a compound represented by a Chemical Formula (1):
1
2
1
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
wherein Ris a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 33 or less carbon atoms, Ris an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 33 or less carbon atoms, a total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 1 or more and 34 or less, X is a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 5 or less carbon atoms, and one of Aand Ais —OH and the other is —O—CH—CH(OH)—CHOH or —O—CH(—CH—OH).
Also, the present invention relates to a coating formation material comprising at least one kind of a compound represented by a Chemical Formula (1):
1
2
1
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
wherein Ris a hydrocarbon atom or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 33 or less carbon atoms, Ris an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 33 or less carbon atoms, a total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 1 or more and 34 or less, X is a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 5 or less carbon atoms, and one of Aand Ais —OH and the other is —O—CH—CH(OH)—CHOH or —O—CH(—CH—OH).
The present invention provides a rust inhibitor, a rust inhibitor composition containing the rust inhibitor, a coating formation material, a coating obtained from the rust inhibitor, the rust inhibitor composition, or the coating formation material, and a metal component having the coating.
The rust inhibitor of the present invention has excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance, and can prevent rust and corrosion over a long period of time. In addition, since the rust inhibitor of the present invention has excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members, the rust inhibitor can prevent rust and corrosion over a long period of time even for metal components in which an iron member and a non-ferrous metal member are combined.
It is considered that the conventional rust inhibitor is easily detached from the surface of metal components, so that dew condensation is adsorbed on the surface of the metal components from which the rust inhibitor has been detached to cause rust and corrosion. On the other hand, it is considered that since the rust inhibitor of the present invention has a glyceryl ether group and a hydroxyl group, the rust inhibitor is firmly bonded to the surface of metal components to form a coating which is hardly detached from the surface of the metal components. In addition, since it is considered that the rust inhibitor of the present invention has an aliphatic hydrocarbon group at the molecular terminal, the rust inhibitor is excellent in the effect of eliminating water molecules, and can suppress adhesion of dew condensation to the surface of metal components. As a result, it is considered that the rust inhibitor of the present invention has excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance, and can prevent rust and corrosion over a long period of time. The mechanism by which the effect of the present invention can be obtained is only a presumed mechanism, and is not limited to the presumed mechanism.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
shows element mapping before and after treating an Fe substrate or an Al substrate using a rust inhibitor composition prepared in Example 1-2.
MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Rust Inhibitor
Rust Inhibitor Composition
Coating Formation Material
Coating
Metal Component having Coating
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Hereinafter, a detailed described is made of the present invention.
The rust inhibitor of the present invention contains at least one kind of a compound represented by the following Chemical Formula (1). In addition, the rust inhibitor of the present invention may be composed of a compound represented by the following Chemical Formula (1). In addition, the rust inhibitor of the present invention may be composed of one or more kinds of a compound represented by the following Chemical Formula (1).
1
2
1
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
(In Chemical Formula (1), Ris a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 33 or less carbon atoms, Ris an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 33 or less carbon atoms, a total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 1 or more and 34 or less, X is a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 5 or less carbon atoms, and one of Aand Ais —OH and the other is —O—CH—CH(OH)—CHOH or —O—CH(—CH—OH).
1
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1
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1
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1
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Ris a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 33 or less carbon atoms, or from the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members, and from the viewpoint of stability when blended in the rust inhibitor composition, preferably an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 33 or less carbon atoms. Ris an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 33 or less carbon atoms. Each of the aliphatic hydrocarbon groups of Rand Ris preferably a linear alkyl group or a branched alkyl group (also referred to as a branched chain alkyl group), more preferably a linear alkyl group. Each of the aliphatic hydrocarbon groups of Rand Rmay have a substituent such as a halogen group, a hydroxy group, a ketone group, a carboxyl group, an aryl group, or an alkoxy group as long as the effect of the present invention is not impaired. Rand Rmay be the same aliphatic hydrocarbon groups as each other or different aliphatic hydrocarbon groups from each other. In addition, the total number of substituents of Rand Ris preferably 5 or less, more preferably 3 or less, further preferably 1 or less, still more preferably 0 (that is, having no substituent) from the viewpoint of solubility in solvent.
1
2
The total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 1 or more and 34 or less, or from the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members, preferably 12 or more, more preferably 14 or more, further preferably 16 or more, still more preferably 18 or more, and preferably 30 or leas, more preferably 20 or less from the viewpoint of solubility in solvent.
X is a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 5 or less carbon atoms, or from the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members, preferably a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 3 or less carbon atoms, more preferably a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 2 or less carbon atoms, further preferably a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 carbon atom, still more preferably a single bond.
1
2
The total number of carbon atoms of R, Rand X is 1 or more and 39 or less, or from the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members, preferably 12 or more, more preferably 34 or more, further preferably 16 or more, still more preferably 18 or more, and preferably 30 or less, more preferably 28 or less, further preferably 26 or less, still more preferably 25 or less, still more preferably 24 or less, still more preferably 22 or less, still more preferably 20 or less.
When X is the aliphatic hydrocarbon group, X is preferably a linear alkyl group or branched alkyl group, more preferably a linear alkyl group from the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members, and production efficiency and ease of production.
From the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members, and production efficiency and ease of production, X is preferably
2
n
*—(CH)—* (n is 0 or more and 5 or less, and * represents a binding site),
wherein n is preferably 0 or more, preferably 3 or less, more preferably 2 or less, further preferably 1 or less, still more preferably 0, that is, a single bond.
1
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2
From the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members, and production efficiency and ease of production, the rust inhibitor preferably contains two or more kinds of the compound, between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of Rand Rare the same, but the numbers of carbon atoms of Rand the numbers of carbon atoms of Rare each different.
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From the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members, and production efficiency and ease of production, the rust inhibitor preferably contains two or more kinds of the compound, between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of R, Rand X are the same, but the numbers of carbon atoms of Rand the numbers of carbon atoms of Rare each different.
1
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2
From the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members, and production efficiency and ease of production, the rust inhibitor preferably contains two or more kinds of the compound in which X is a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 3 or less carbon atoms, and between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of Rand Rare the same, but the numbers of carbon atoms of Rand the numbers of carbon atoms of Rare each different.
1
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2
From the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members, and production efficiency and ease of production, the rust Inhibitor preferably contains two or more kinds of the compound in which X is a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 3 or less carbon atoms, and between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of R, Rand X are the same, but the numbers of carbon atoms of Rand the numbers of carbon atoms of Rare each different.
1
2
1
2
From the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members, and production efficiency and ease of production, the rust inhibitor preferably contains two or more hinds of the compound in which X is a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 2 or less carbon atoms, and between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of Rand Rare the same, but the numbers of carbon atoms of Rand the numbers of carbon atoms of Rare each different.
1
2
1
2
From the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members, and production efficiency and ease of production, the rust inhibitor preferably contains two or more kinds of the compound in which X is a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 2 or less carbon atoms, and between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of R, Rand X are the same, but the numbers of carbon atoms of Rand the numbers of carbon atoms of Rare each different.
1
2
1
2
From the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members, and production efficiency and ease of production, the rust inhibitor preferably contains two or more kinds of the compound in which X is a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 carbon atom, and between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of Rand Rare the same, but the numbers of carbon atoms of Rand the numbers of carbon atoms of Rare each different.
1
2
1
2
From the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance non only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members, and production efficiency and ease of production, the rust inhibitor preferably contains two or more kinds of the compound in which X is a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 carbon atom, and between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of R, Rand X are the same, but the numbers of carbon atoms of Rand the numbers of carbon atoms of Rare each different.
1
2
1
2
From the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members, and production efficiency and ease of production, the rust inhibitor preferably contains two or more kinds of the compound in which X is a single bond, and between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of Rand Rare the same, but the numbers of carbon atoms of Rand the numbers of carbon atoms of Rare each different.
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
When the rust inhibitor contains two or more kinds of the compound in which X is a single bond and between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of Rand Rare different, the total content of two or more kinds of the compound selected from a compound in which the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 12, a compound in which the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 14, and a compound in which the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 16 is preferably 75 mass % or more, more preferably 85 mass % or more, further preferably 95 mass % or more, still more preferably 100 mass % from the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members.
1
2
1
2
1
2
When the rust inhibitor contains two or more kinds of the compound in which X is a single bond and between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of Rand Rare different, the total content of a compound in which the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 14, and a compound in which the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 16 is preferably 75 mass %, or more, more preferably 85 mass % or mere, further preferably 95 mass % or more, still more preferably 99 mass % or more, still mere preferably 100 mass % from the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members.
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When the rust inhibitor contains two or more kinds of the compound represented by the Chemical Formula (1) between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of Rand Rare the same, but the numbers of carbon atoms of Rand the numbers of carbon atoms of Rare each different, the content ratio of the compound in which the number of carbon atoms of Ris 5 or more and the number of carbon atoms of Ris 5 or more is preferably 10 mass % or more, more preferably 20 mass % or more, further preferably 30 mass % or more, and preferably 90 mass % or less, more preferably 80 mass % or less, further preferably 70 mass % or less from the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members, and production efficiency and ease of production.
1
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The method for producing the compound represented by the Chemical Formula (1) is not particularly limited. For example, the compound can be produced by oxidizing the double bond in an internal or terminal olefin with a peroxide such as hydrogen peroxide, performic acid, or peracetic acid to synthesize an internal or terminal epoxide, and reacting the obtained internal or terminal epoxide with glycerin. In the case of a mixture in which the total numbers of carbon atoms of internal or terminal olefins are constant but the double bonds are present at different positions, the compound represented by the Chemical Formula (1) obtained by the above producing method is a mixture of a plurality of compounds in which X is a single bond and between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of Rand Rare the same, but the numbers of carbon atoms of Rand the numbers of carbon atoms of Rare each different. The compound represented by the Chemical Formula (1) obtained by the above producing method is usually a mixture of a compound 1 in which one of Aand Ais —OH and the other is —O—CH—CH(OH)—CHOH (hereinafter, also referred to as ether alcohol 1) and a compound 2 in which one of Aand Ais —OH and the other is —O—CH(—CH—OH)(hereinafter, also referred to as ether alcohol 2).
The internal olefin used for the production of the compound represented by the Chemical Formula (1) may contain a terminal olefin. In this case, the content of terminal olefin contained in olefin is, for example, 0.1 mass % or more, 0.2 mass % or more, and 5 mass % or less, 3 mass % or less, 2 mass % or less, 1 mass % or less, 0.5 mass % or less.
When the rust inhibitor contains the ether alcohol 1 and the ether alcohol 2, the content of the ether alcohol 1 is preferably 1 mass % or more, more preferably 30 mass % or more, further preferably 40 mass % or more, still more preferably 50 mass % or more, end preferably 99 mass % or less, more preferably 90 mass % or less, further preferably 80 mass % or less with respect, to the total amount of the ether alcohol 1 and the ether, alcohol 2, from the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members. From the same viewpoint, the content is preferably 1 to 99 mass %, more preferably 30 to 99 mass %, further preferably 40 to 90 mass %, still more preferably 50 to 80 mass %.
The rust inhibitor, can be obtained as one hind of the compound represented by the Chemical Formula (1), a mixture of two or more kinds of the compound represented by the Chemical Formula (1), or a mixture of the above compound and a trace component other than olefin contained in the raw material olefin and a derivative thereof.
The rust inhibitor is used, for example, as a raw material for a cutting oil, a rust preventive oil, or a detergent. In addition, the rust inhibitor is used as a forming material for a coating with which the surface of various metal components is coated. Since the rust inhibitor has excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members, the rust inhibitor is preferably used as a forming material for a coating with which the surface of metal components in which an iron member and a non-ferrous metal member are combined is coated.
The rust inhibitor composition of the present invention contains at least the rust inhibitor.
The content of the rust inhibitor in the rust inhibitor composition is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.01 mass % or more, more preferably 0.1 mass % or more, further preferably 1 mass % or more from the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members, or is preferably 15 mass % or less, more preferably 10 mass % or less, further preferably 5 mass % or less from the viewpoint of reducing the added amount of a solubilizing agent or the like.
The rust inhibitor composition of the present invention can contain water. The content of water in the rust inhibitor composition is preferably 10% or more, more preferably 30% or more, further preferably 50% or more from the viewpoint of ease of application and the like, and preferably 99.9999% or less, more preferably 99.999% or less, further preferably 99.99% or less from the viewpoint of rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance. In addition, the content of water in the rust inhibitor composition may be the balance exclusive of the contents of the rust inhibitor and the other components (other than the rust inhibitor and water). Examples of the water include ion-exchanged water, distilled water, RO water, and tap water.
The rust inhibitor, composition may contain a solubilizing agent for dissolving the rust inhibitor. Examples of the solubilizing agent include methanol, ethanol, propyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether acetate, glycerin, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, neopehtyl glycol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, pentaerythritol, and sorbitol. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds thereof.
The content of the solubilizing agent in the rust inhibitor composition is not particularly limited, but is preferably 3 mass % or more, more preferably 5 mass % or more, further preferably 10 mass % or more from the viewpoint of dissolving the rust inhibitor, and is preferably 80 mass % or less, more preferably 50 mass % or less, further preferably 30 mass % or less, still more preferably 20 mass % or less from the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance riot only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members.
In addition, the rust inhibitor composition may contain an acid component and/or an alkali component from the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention, performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members, and from the viewpoint of dissolving the rust inhibitor. The acid component and the alkali component may partially form a salt to exist in the rust inhibitor composition, or may all form a salt.
The acid component is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include aliphatic carboxylic acids such as acetic acid, propionic acid, butanoic acid, pentanoic acid, hexanoic acid, heptanoic acid, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, undecanoic acid, dodecanoic acid, tridecanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid, pentadecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, heptadecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid, propanedioic acid, butanedioic acid, pentanedioic acid, hexanedioic acid, heptandioic acid, octanedioic acid, nonanedioic acid, decanedioic acid, undecanedioic acid, dodecanedioic acid, tridecanedioic acid, tatradecanadioic acid, pentadecanedioic acid, hexadecanedioic acid, heptadecanedioic acid, octadecanedioic acid, nonadocanodioic acid, citric acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, crotonic acid, oleic acid, fumaric acid, and maleic acid; and aromatic carboxylic acids such as benzoic acid, p-toluic acid, p-ethylbenzoic acid, p-isopropylbenoic acid, p-tert-butylbenzoic acid, xylylic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, salicylic acid, cinnamic acid, toluic acid, hemimellitic acid, trimellitic acid, trimesic acid, hydroxybenzoic acid, dihydroxybenzoic acid, and trihydrobenzoic acid. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds thereof. The acid component is preferably an aliphatic carboxylic acid, more preferably an aliphatic carboxylic acid having 4 to 12 carbon atoms, further preferably an aliphatic carboxylic acid having 6 to 8 carbon atoms.
The content of the acid component in the rust inhibitor composition is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.5 mass % or more, more preferably 1 mass % or more, further preferably 2 mass % or more from the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members and from the viewpoint of dissolving the rust inhibitor, and is preferably 20 mass % or less, more preferably 15 mass % or less, further preferably 10 mass % or less from the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members.
The alkali, component is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include inorganic alkalis such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and ammonia; and organic alkalis such as tetramethylammonium hydroxide, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, methylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, methylethanolamine, dimethylethanolamine, methyldietylanolamine, ethylethanolamine, diethylethanolamine, ethyldiethanolamine, cyclohexylamine, and triisopanolamine. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds thereof. The alkali component is preferably an organic alkali.
The content of the alkali component in the rust inhibitor composition is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.5 mass % or more, more preferably 1 mass % or more, further preferably 2 mass % or more from the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members and from the viewpoint of dissolving the rust inhibitor, and is preferably 20 mass % or less, more preferably 15 mass % or less, further preferably 10 mass % or less from the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members.
The pH of the rust inhibitor composition is not particularly limited, but is preferably 3 or more, more preferably 5 or more, further preferably 7 or more, and preferably 12 or less, more preferably 10 or less, further preferably 9 or less from the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members.
The rust inhibitor composition may contain, in addition to the rust inhibitor, a base oil such as mineral oil or synthetic oil; an oily agent such as oil and fat or ester; and an additive such as a surfactant, an extreme pressure agent, a defoamer, a preservative, an antioxidant, a coupling agent, or a pH adjuster.
The rust inhibitor composition is used as, for example, a cutting oil, a rust preventive oil, and a detergent, and contains the respective components depending on the use. That is, the rust inhibitor composition may be a cutting oil, a rust preventive oil, or a detergent, and may contain the compound represented by the Chemical Formula (1).
When the rust inhibitor composition is used as a detergent, the temperature of the rust inhibitor composition is preferably 10° C. or higher, more preferably 30° C. or higher, further preferably 40° C. or higher, and preferably 90° C. or lower, more preferably 70° C. or lower, further preferably 60° C. or lower from the viewpoint of detergency and handleability.
In addition, the rust inhibitor composition can be used as a coating formation material for forming a coating on the surface of various metal components.
When the rust inhibitor composition is used as the coating formation material, the rust inhibitor composition preferably contains water. The content of water in the rust inhibitor composition is not particularly limited, but is preferably 60 mass % or more, more preferably 90 mass % or more, further preferably 95 mass % or more, and preferably 99.9 mass % or less, more preferably 93 mass % or less, further preferably 98 mass % or less from the viewpoint of having excellent rust prevention/corrosion prevention performance not only for iron members but also for non-ferrous metal members and from the viewpoint of forming a uniform coating.
The coating formation material of the present invention contains at least one kind of the compound represented by the Chemical Formula (1). In addition, the coating formation material of the present invention may be composed of the compound represented by the Chemical Formula (1). In addition, the coating formation material of the present invention may be composed of one or more kinds of the compound represented by the Chemical Formula (1). The description regarding the compound represented by the Chemical Formula (1) is as described above. The coating formation material of the present invention is useful as the rust inhibitor. Examples of the use of the coating formation material of the present invention include uses as a out ting oil, paint, an antifogging agent, an antifouling agent, and an anti-icing agent.
The coating of the present invention can be obtained from the rust inhibitor, the rust inhibitor composition, or the coating formation material. Examples of the method for forming the coating include a method including directly applying the rust inhibitor or the coating formation material to a metal member or the like, and a method including immersing a metal member or the like in a liquid containing the rust inhibitor composition or the coating formation material.
The thickness of the coating of the present invention is preferably 1 nm or more, more preferably 3 nm or more from the viewpoint of having rust prevention/corrosion prevent ion performance.
Examples of the use of the coating of the present invention include uses as a protective coating and a paint coating for metal components end the like such as a rust preventive coating, an antifogging coating, an antifouling coating, and an anti-icing coating.
The coating of the present invention is obtained from the rust inhibitor, the rust inhibitor composition, or the coating formation material. A metal component having the coating can be produced, for example, by spraying, dropping, or applying the rust inhibitor, the rust inhibitor composition, or the coating formation material to the surface of the metal component, or immersing the metal component in the rust inhibitor, the rust inhibitor composition, or the coating formation material, and then drying the metal component as necessary.
The metal component is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include metal components made of an iron member such as steel and cast iron; metal components made of a non-ferrous metal member such as copper, zinc, aluminum, and an alloy of these metals; and metal components in which the iron member and the non-ferrous metal member are combined.
The metal component having the coating is used in, for example, an automobile industry, a machine industry, a metal industry, an electric and electronic industry, and a chemical plant.
The present invention and preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below.
A rust inhibitor comprising at least one kind of a compound represented by a Chemical Formula (1):
1
2
1
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
wherein Ris a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 33 or less carbon atoms, Ris an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 33 or less carbon atoms, a total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 1 or more and 34 or less, X is a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 5 or less carbon atoms, and one of Aand Ais —OH and the other is —O—CH—CH(OH)—CHOH or —O—CH(—CH—OH).
A rust inhibitor, comprising at least one kind of a compound represented by a Chemical Formula (1):
1
2
1
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
wherein Ris a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 33 or less carbon atoms, Ris an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 33 or less carbon atoms, X is a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 5 or less carbon atoms, a total number of carbon atoms of R, Rand X is 1 or more and 39 or less, and one of Aand Ais —OH and the other is —O—CH—CH(OH)—CHOH or —O—CH(—CH—OH).
1
The rust inhibitor according to <1> or <2>, wherein Ris an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 33 or less carbon atoms.
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <3>, wherein each of the aliphatic hydrocarbon groups is preferably a linear alkyl, group or a branched alkyl group, more preferably a linear alkyl group.
1
2
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <4>, wherein a total number of substituents of Rand Ris preferably 5 or less, more preferably 3 or less, further preferably 1 or less, still more preferably 0.
1
2
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <4>, wherein a total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris preferably 12 or more, more preferably 14 or more, further preferably 16 or more, still more preferably 18 or more, and preferably 30 or less, more preferably 20 or less.
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <6>, wherein X is preferably a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 3 or less carbon atoms, more preferably a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 2 or less carbon atoms, further preferably a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 carbon atom, still more preferably a single bond.
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <5>, wherein
1
2
preferably a total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 12 or more and 30 or less, and X is a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 3 or less carbon atoms,
1
2
more preferably a total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 14 or more and 20 or less, and X is a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 2 or less carbon atoms,
1
2
further, preferably a total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 16 or more and 20 or less, and X is a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 carbon atom,
1
2
still more preferably a total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 18 or more and 20 or less, and X is a single bond.
1
2
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <8>, wherein a total number, of carbon atoms of R, Rand X is preferably 12 or more, more preferably 14 or more, further preferably 16 or more, still more preferably 18 or more, and preferably 30 or less, more preferably 28 or less, further preferably 26 or less, still more preferably 25 or less, still more preferably 24 or less, still more preferably 22 or less, still more preferably 20 or less.
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <9>, wherein when X is the aliphatic hydrocarbon group, X is preferably a linear alkyl group or branched alkyl group, more preferably a linear alkyl group.
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <9>, wherein X is preferably
2
n
*—(CH)—* (n is 0 or more and 5 or less, and * represents a binding site),
wherein n is preferably 0 or more, preferably 3 or less, more preferably 2 or less, further preferably 1 or less, still more preferably 0, that is, a single, bond.
1
2
1
2
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <11>, comprising two or more binds of the compound in which X is a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 3 or less carbon atoms, and between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of Rand Rare the same, but the numbers of carbon atoms of Rand the numbers of carbon atoms of Rare each different.
1
2
1
2
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <11>, comprising two or more binds of the compound in which X is a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 3 or less carbon atoms, and between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of R, Rand X are the same, but the numbers of carbon atoms of Rand the numbers of carbon atoms of Rare each different.
1
2
1
2
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <11>, comprising two or more kinds of the compound in which X is a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 2 or less carbon atoms, and between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of Rand Rare the same, but the numbers of carbon atoms of Rand the numbers of carbon atoms of Rare each different.
1
2
1
2
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <11>, comprising two or more kinds of the compound in which X is a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 2 or less carbon atoms, and between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of R, Rand X are the same, but the numbers of carbon atoms of Rand the numbers of carbon atoms of Rare each different.
1
2
1
2
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <11>, comprising two or more kinds of the compound in which X is a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 carbon atom, and between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of Rand Rare the same, but the numbers of carbon atoms of Rand the numbers of carbon atoms of Rare each different.
1
2
1
2
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <11>, comprising two or more kinds of the compound in which X is a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 carbon atom, and between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of R, Rand X are the same, but the numbers of carbon atoms of Rand the numbers of carbon atoms of Rare each different.
1
2
1
2
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <11>, comprising two or more kinds of the compound in which X is a single bond, and between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of Rand Rare the same, but the numbers of carbon atoms of Rand the numbers of carbon atoms of Rare each different.
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
The rust inhibitor, according to any one of <1> to <11>, wherein when the rust inhibitor contains two or more kinds of the compound, in which X is a single bond and between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of Rand Rare different, the total content of two or more kinds of the compound selected from a compound in which the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 12, a compound, in which the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 14, and a compound in which the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 16 is 75 mass % or more.
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <12>, wherein when the rust inhibitor contains two or more kinds of the compound in which X is a single bond and between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of Rand Rare different, the total content of two or more kinds of the compound selected from a compound in which the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 12, a compound in which the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 14, and a compound in which the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 16 is 85 mass % or more.
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <31>, wherein when the rust inhibitor contains two or more kinds of the compound in which X is a single bond and between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of Rand Rare different, the total content of two or more kinds of the compound selected, from a compound in which the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 12, a compound in which the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 14, and a compound in which the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 16 is 95 mass % or more.
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <11>, wherein when the rust inhibitor contains two or more kinds of the compound in which X is a single bond and between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of Rand Rare different, the total content of two or more kinds of the compound selected from a compound in which the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 12, a compound in which the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 14, and a compound in which the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 16 is 100 mass %.
1
2
1
2
1
2
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <11>, wherein when the rust inhibitor contains two or more kinds of the compound in which X is a single bond and between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of Rand Rare different, the total content of a compound in which the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 14, and a compound in which the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 16 is 75 mass % or more.
1
2
1
2
1
2
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <11>, wherein when the rust inhibitor contains two or more kinds of the compound in which X is a single bond and between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of Rand Rare different, the total content of a compound in which the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 14, and a compound in which the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 16 is 85 mass % or more.
1
2
1
2
1
2
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <11>, wherein when the rust inhibitor contains two or more kinds of the compound in which X is a single bond and between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of Rand Rare different, the total content of a compound in which the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 14, and a compound in which the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 16 is 95 mass % or more.
1
2
1
2
1
2
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <11>, wherein when the rust inhibitor contains two or more kinds of the compound in which X is a single bond and between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of Rand Rare different, the total content of a compound in which the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 14, and a compound in which the total number, of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 16 is 99 mass % or more, preferably 100 mass %.
1
2
1
2
1
2
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <18>, wherein when the rust inhibitor contains two or more kinds of the compound represented by the Chemical Formula (1) between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of Rarid Rare the same, but the numbers of carbon atoms of Rand the numbers of carbon atoms of Rare each different, the content ratio of the compound in which the number of carbon atoms of Ris 5 or more and the number of carbon atoms of Ris 5 or more is 10 mass % or more and 90 mass % or less.
1
2
1
2
1
2
The rust inhibitor, according to any one of <1> to <18>, wherein when the rust inhibitor contains two or more kinds of the compound represented by the Chemical Formula (1) between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of Rand Rare the same, but the numbers of carbon atoms of Rand the numbers of carbon atoms of Rare each different, the content ratio of the compound in which the number of carbon atoms of Ris 5 or more and the number of carbon atoms of Ris 5 or more is 20 mass % or more and 80 mass % or less.
1
2
1
2
1
2
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <18>, wherein when the rust inhibitor contains two or more kinds of the compound represented by the Chemical Formula (1) between which the total numbers of carbon atoms of Rand Rare the same, but the numbers of carbon atoms of Rand the numbers of carbon atoms of Rare each different, the content ratio of the compound in which the number of carbon atoms of Ris 5 or more and the number of carbon atoms of Ris 5 or more is 30 mass % or more and 70 mass % or less.
1
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <29>, comprising a compound 1 in which in the Chemical Formula (1), one of Aand Ais —OH and another is —O—CH—CH(OH)—CHOH, and a compound 2 in which in the Chemical Formula (1), one of Aand Ais —OH and another is —O—CH(—CH—OH).
The rust inhibitor according to <30>, wherein a content of the compound 1 is preferably 1 mass % or more, more preferably 30 mass % or more, further preferably 40 mass % or more, still more preferably 50 mass % or more, and preferably 99 mass % or less, more preferably 30 mass % or loss, further preferably 80 mass % or less with respect to a total amount of the compound 1 and the compound 2.
The rust inhibitor according to <30>, wherein a content of the compound 1 is preferably 1 to 93 mass %, more preferably 30 to 99 mass %, further preferably 40 to 90 mass %, still more preferably 50 to 80 mass %.
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <32>, using as a raw material for a cutting oil, a rust preventive oil, or a detergent.
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <32>, using as a forming material for a coating with which a surface of a metal component is coated.
The rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <32>, using as a forming material for a coating with which a surface of a metal component in which an iron member and a non-ferrous metal member are combined is coated.
A rust inhibitor composition comprising the rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <35>.
The rust inhibitor composition according to <36>, wherein a content of the rust inhibitor in the rust inhibitor composition is preferably 0.01 mass % or more, more preferably 0.1 mass % or more, further preferably 1 mass % or more, and preferably 15 mass % or less, more preferably 10 mass % or less, further preferably 5 mass % or less.
The rust inhibitor composition according to <36> or <37>, comprising water, wherein a content of water in the rust inhibitor composition is preferably 10% or more, more preferably 30% or more, further preferably 50% or more, and preferably 99.9999% or less, more preferably 99.999% or less, further preferably 99.99% or less.
The rust inhibitor composition according to <36> or <37>, comprising water, wherein a content of water in the rust inhibitor composition is a balance exclusive of the contents of the rust inhibitor and the other components (other than the rust inhibitor and water).
The rust inhibitor composition according to any one of <36> to <39>, further comprising a solubilizing agent.
The rust inhibitor composition according to <40>, wherein a content of the solubilizing agent in the rust inhibitor composition is preferably 3 mass % or more, more preferably 5 mass % or more, further preferably 10 mass % or more, and preferably 80 mass % or less, more preferably 50 mass % or less, further preferably 30 mass % or less, still more preferably 20 mass % or less.
The rust, inhibitor composition according to any one of <36> to <41>, further comprising an acid component and/or an alkali component.
The rust inhibitor composition according to <42>, wherein the acid component is preferably an aliphatic carboxylic acid, more preferably an aliphatic carboxylic acid having 4 to 12 carbon atoms, further preferably an aliphatic carboxylic acid having 6 to 3 carbon atoms.
The rust inhibitor composition according to <42> or <43>, wherein a content of the acid component in the rust inhibitor composition is preferably 0.5 mass % or more, more preferably 1 mass % or more, further preferably 2 mass % or more, and preferably 20 mass % or less, more preferably 15 mass % or less, further preferably 10 mass % or less.
The rust inhibitor composition according to any one of <42> to <44>, wherein the alkali component is an organic alkali.
The rust inhibitor composition according to any one of <42> to <45>, wherein a content of the alkali component in the rust inhibitor composition is preferably 0.5 mass % or more, more preferably 1 mass % or more, further preferably 2 mass % or more, and preferably 20 mass % or less, more preferably 15 mass % or less, further preferably 10 mass % or less.
The rust inhibitor composition according to any one of <36> to <46>, wherein pH of the rust inhibitor composition is preferably 3 or more, more preferably 5 or more, further preferably 7 or more, and preferably 12 or less, more preferably 10 or less, further preferably 9 or less.
The rust inhibitor composition according to any one of <36> to <47>, being a cutting oil, a rust preventive oil, or a detergent.
The rust inhibitor composition according to <48>, wherein when the rust inhibitor composition is used as a detergent, a temperature of the rust inhibitor composition is preferably 10° C. or higher, more preferably 30° C. or higher, further preferably 40° C. or higher, and preferably 90° C. or lower, more preferably 70° C. or lower, further preferably 60° C. or lower.
The rust inhibitor composition according to any one of <36> to <47>, being a coating formation material for forming a coating on a surface of a metal component.
The rust inhibitor composition according to <50>, wherein when the rust inhibitor composition is used as the coating formation material, the rust inhibitor composition contains water.
The rust inhibitor composition according to <51>, wherein a content of water in the rust inhibitor composition is preferably 80 mass % or more, more preferably 90 mass % or more, further preferably 95 mass % or more, and preferably 99.9 mass % or less, more preferably 99 mass % or less, further preferably 98 mass % or less.
A coating formation material comprising at least one kind of a compound represented by a Chemical Formula (1):
1
2
1
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
wherein Ris a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 33 or less carbon atoms, Ris an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 33 or less carbon atoms, a total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 1 or more and 34 or less, X is a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 5 or less carbon atoms, and one of Aand Ais —OH and the other is —O—CH—CH(OH)—CHOH or —O—CH(—CHOH).
A coating formation material comprising at least one kind of a compound represented by a Chemical Formula (1):
1
2
1
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
wherein Ris a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 33 or less carbon atoms, Ris an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 33 or less carbon atoms, X is a single bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 5 or less carbon atoms, a total number of carbon atoms of R, Rand X is 1 or more and 39 or less, and one of Aand Ais —OH and the other is —O—CH—CH(OH)—CHOH or —O—CH(—CHOH).
The coating formation material according to <53> or <54>, being a rust inhibitor.
A coating obtained from the rust inhibitor according to any one of <1> to <35>, the rust inhibitor composition according to any one of <36> to <52>, or the coating formation material according to any one of <53> to <55>.
The coating according to <56>, wherein a thickness of the coating is preferably 1 nm or more, more preferably 3 nm or more.
A metal component comprising the coating according to <56> or <57>.
The metal component according to <58>, in which an iron member and a non-ferrous metal member are combined.
EXAMPLES
Method for Measuring Double Bond Distribution in Olefin
Metal for Measuring Content Ratio of Structural Isomer
Production of Internal Olefin
Production Example A1
Production of Internal Olefin having 16 Carbon Atoms (Internal Olefin 1)
Production Example A2
Production of Internal Olefin having 13 Carbon Atoms (Internal Olefin 2)
Production Example A3
Production of Internal Olefin having 14 Carbon Atoms (Internal Olefin 3)
Production of Internal Epoxide
Production Example B1
Production of Internal Epoxide having 16 Carbon Atoms (Internal Epoxide 1)
Production Example B2
Production of Internal Epoxide having 13 Carbon Atoms (Internal Epoxide 2)
Production Example B3
Production of Internal Epoxide having 14 Carbon Atoms (Internal Epoxide 3)
Production of Reactant of Epoxide and Glycerin (alkyl glyceryl ether, AGE)
Production Example C1
Production of Reactant of Internal Epoxide 1 and Glycerin (AGE1)
Production Example C2
Production of Reactant of Internal Epoxide 2 and Glycerin (AGE2)
Production Example C3
Production of Reactant of Internal Epoxide 3 and Glycerin (AGE3)
Production Example C4
Production of Reactant of C16 Terminal Epoxide and Glycerin (AGE4)
Production Example C5
Production of Reactant of C18 Terminal Epoxide and Glycerin (AGE5)
Examples 1-1 to 1-13, Comparative Examples 1-1 to 1-4
Water Resistance Test (Aluminum)
Water Resistance Test (Iron)
Example 2
Example 3
Rust Inhibitor Treatment of Steel Plate (Fa Substrate)
Rust Inhibitor Treatment of Aluminum Alloy Plate (Al Substrate)
Element Mapping
Hereinafter, a specific description is made of the present invention with reference to Examples. The content of each component is expressed in mass % unless otherwise indicated in Tables. Various measuring methods are as follows.
The double bond distribution in olefin was measured by gas chromatography (hereinafter, abbreviated as GC). Specifically, dimethyl disulfide was reacted with olefin to form a dithioated derivative, and then respective components were separated by GC. The double bond distribution in olefin was determined from respective peak areas. The apparatus used for measurement and analyzing conditions are as follows.
GC apparatus: Trade name HP6890 (manufactured by Hewlett-Packard Company)
Column: Trade name Ultra-Alloy-1 HT capillary column 30 m×250 μm×0.15 μm (manufactured by Frontier Laboratories, Ltd.)
Detector: Hydrogen flame ion detector (FID)
Injection temperature: 300° C.
Detector temperature: 350° C.
Oven: 60° C. (0 min.)→2° C./min.→225° C.→20° C./min.→350° C.→350° C. (5.2 min.)
1
Measurement was performed by H-NMR for a mixture of 0.05 g of alkyl glyceryl ether, 0.2 g of trifluoroacetic anhydride, and 1 g of deuterated chloroform. Measuring conditions are as follows.
Nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus: Agilent 400-MR DD2, manufactured by Agilent Technologies, Inc.
Observation range: 6410.3 Hz
Data point: 65536
Measurement mode: Preset
Pulse width: 45°
Pulse delay time: 10 sec
Cumulative number: 120 times
A flask equipped with a stirrer was charged with 7000 g (28.9 mol) of 1-hexadecanol (Product name; KALCOL 6098, manufactured by Kao Corporation) and 700 g (10 wt % with respect to the raw material alcohol) of γ-alumina (STREM Chemicals, Inc.) as a solid acid catalyst, followed by reaction at 280° C. for 32 hours under stirring with circulation of nitrogen (7000 mL/min) in the system. The alcohol conversion after completion of the reaction was 100%, and the purity of C16 olefin was 59.6%. The obtained crude C16 internal olefin was transferred to a distiller, followed by distillation at 136 to 160° C./4.0 mmHg to yield an internal olefin 1 having an olefin purity of 100%. The double bond distribution in the obtained internal olefin 1 was 0.2% at the C1 position, 15.8% at the C2 position, 14.5% at the C3 position, 15.7% at the C4 position, 17.3% at the C5 position, 16.5% at the C6 position, and 20.0% at the C7 position and the C8 position in total. (0070)
A reactor equipped with a stirrer was charged with 800 kg (3.0 kmol) of 1-octadecanol (Product name: KALCOL 8098, manufactured by Kao Corporation) and 80 kg (10 wt % with respect to the raw material alcohol) of activated alumina GP-20 (Mizusawa Industrial Chemicals, Ltd.) as a solid acid catalyst, followed by reaction at 280° C. for 16 hours under stirring with circulation of nitrogen (15 L/min) in the system. The alcohol conversion after completion of the reaction was 100%, and the purity of C18 olefin was 93.7%. The obtained crude C18 internal olefin was transferred to a distiller, followed by distillation at 163 to 190° C./4.6 mmHg to yield an internal olefin 2 having an olefin purity of 100%. The double bond distribution in the obtained internal olefin 2 was 0.3% at the C1 position, 13.3% at the C2 position, 12.6% at the C3 position, 13.9% at the C4 position, 14.8% at the C5 position, 13.7% at the C6 position, 12.6% at the C7 position, and 18.8% at the C8 position and the C9 position in total.
An internal olefin 3 was obtained in the same manner as in Production Example A1 except that 23.3 mol of 1-tetradecanol (Product name: KALCOL 4038, manufactured by Kao Corporation) was used in place of 23.9 mol of 1-hexadecanol (Product name: KALCOL 6038, manufactured by Kao Corporation) for Production Example A1. The double bond distribution in the obtained internal olefin 3 was 1.3% at the C1 position, 31.3% at the C2 position, 23.8% at the C3 position, 21.0% at the C4 position, 8.5% at the C5 position, and 13.6% at the C6 position and C7 position in total.
A flask equipped with a stirrer was charged with the internal olefin 1 (800 g, 3.56 mol) obtained in Production Example A1, 107 g (1.78 mol) of acetic acid (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.), 15.6 g (0.15 mol) of sulfuric acid (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.), 415.7 g (4.28 mol) of 35% hydrogen peroxide (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.), and 25.3 g (0.18 mol) of sodium sulfate (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.), followed by reaction at 50° C. for 4 hours. Thereafter, the temperature was raised to 70° C. to allow the mixture to react further for 2 hours. After the reaction, the layers were separated to remove an aqueous layer, and an oil layer was washed with ion-exchanged water, a saturated aqueous sodium carbonate solution (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.), a saturated aqueous sodium sulfite solution (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.), and 1% saline (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.), followed by concentration in an evaporator to yield 820 g of an internal epoxide 1.
A flask equipped with a stirrer was charged with the internal olefin 2 (595 g, 2.36 mol) obtained in Production Example A2, 71.7 g (1.20 mol) of acetic acid (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.), 9.8 g (0.10 mol) of sulfuric acid (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.), and 324 g (4.00 mol) of 35% hydrogen peroxide (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.), followed by reaction at 50° C. for 4 hours. Thereafter, the temperature was raised to 80° C. to allow the mixture to react further for 5 hours. After the reaction, the layers were separated to remove an aqueous layer, and an oil layer was washed with ion-exchanged water, a saturated aqueous sodium carbonate solution (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.), a saturated aqueous sodium sulfite solution (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.), and ion-exchanged water, followed by concentration in an evaporator to yield 629 g of an internal epoxide 2.
An internal epoxide 3 was obtained in the same manner as in Production Example B1 except that the internal olefin 3 (3.56 mol) obtained in Production Example A3 was used in place of the internal olefin 1 (3.36 mol) obtained in Production Example A1.
Hereinafter, the alkyl glyceryl ether is referred to as AGE. In addition, AGE1, AGE2, AGE3, and the like represent alkyl glyceryl ether 1, alkyl glyceryl ether 2, alkyl glyceryl ether 3, and the like, respectively.
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
A flask equipped with a stirrer was charged with 2298 g (25.0 mol) of glycerin (manufactured by Wako Pare Chemical Industries, Ltd.) and 0.122 g (1.25 mmol) of 98% sulfuric acid (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.), and the temperature was raised to 130° C. Thereafter, the internal epoxide 1 (300 g, 1.25 mol) obtained in Production example B1 was added dropwise over 1 hour, followed by reaction at 130° C./8 hours. Hexane was added to the liquid obtained by this reaction, followed by washing with ion-exchanged water. Subsequently, concentration was performed under reduced pressure in an evaporator to yield 400 g of AGE1. The obtained AGE1 wherein in the Chemical Formula (1), Rand Reach contain an alkyl group having 1 to 13 carbon atoms, the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 14, X is a single bond, one of Aand Ais —OH and the other is —O—CH—CH(OH)—CHOH or —O—CH(—CH—OH), contained 73% ether alcohol 1 (AGE obtained by reacting the hydroxyl group at the 1-position of glycerin with the epoxy group) in which Aor Awas —O—CH—CH(OH)—CHOH, and 27% ether alcohol 2 (AGE obtained by reacting the hydroxyl group at the 2-position of glycerin with the epoxy group) in which Aor Awas —O—CH(—CH—OH).
1
2
1
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
An AGE2 was obtained in the same manner as in Production Example C1 except that the internal epoxide 2 (1.25 mol) obtained in Production Example B2 was used in place of the internal epoxide 1 (1.25 mol) obtained in Production Example B1. The obtained AGE2 wherein in the Chemical Formula (1), Rand Reach contain an alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 16, X is a single bond, one of Aand Ais —OH and the other is —O—CH—CH(OH)—CHOH or —O—CH(—CH—OH), contained 72% AGE obtained by reacting the hydroxyl group at the 1-position of glycerin with the epoxy group, and 28% AGE obtained by reacting the hydroxyl group at the 2-position of glycerin with the epoxy group.
1
2
1
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
An AGE3 was obtained in the same manner as in Production Example C1 except that the internal epoxide 3 (1.25 mol) obtained in Production Example B3 was used in place ox the internal epoxide 1 (1.25 mol) obtained in Production Example B1. The obtained AGE3 wherein in the Chemical Formula (1), Rand Reach contain an alkyl group having 1 to 11 carbon atoms, the total number of carbon atoms of Rand Ris 12, X is a single bond, one of Aand Ais —OH and the other is —O—CH—CH(OH)—CHOH or —O—CH(—CH—OH), contained 74% AGE obtained by reacting the hydroxyl group at the 1-position of glycerin with the epoxy group, and 26% AGE obtained by reacting the hydroxyl group at the 2-position of glycerin with the epoxy group.
1
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
An AGE4 was obtained in the same manner as in Production Example C1 except that 1.25 mol of a C16 terminal epoxide (manufactured by Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) was used in place of the internal epoxide 1 (1.25 mol) obtained in Production Example B1. The obtained AGE4 wherein in the Chemical Formula (1), Ris a hydrogen atom, Ris an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 14 carbon atoms, X is a single bond, one of Aand Ais —OH and the other is —O—CH—CH(OH)—CHOH or —O—CH(—CH—OH), contained 50% AGS obtained by reacting the hydroxyl group at the 1-position of glycerin with the epoxy group, and 50% AGE obtained by reacting the hydroxyl group at the 2-position of glycerin with the epoxy group.
1
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
An AGE5 was obtained in the same manner as in Production Example C1 except that 1.25 mol of a C18 terminal epoxide (manufactured by Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) was used in place of the internal epoxide 1 (1.25 mol) obtained in Production Example B1. The obtained AGE5 wherein in the Chemical Formula (1), Ris a hydrogen atom, Ris an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 16 carbon atoms, X is a single bond, one of Aand Ais —OH and the other is —O—CH—CH(OH)—CHOH or —O—CH(—CH—OH), contained 51% AGE obtained by reacting the hydroxyl group at the 1-position of glycerin with the epoxy group, and 49% AGE obtained by reacting the hydroxyl group at the 2-position of glycerin with the epoxy group.
The components shown in Table 1 were mixed at the blending ratios shown in Table 1 to prepare rust inhibitor compositions. Using each prepared rust inhibitor composition, a water resistance test was performed by the following method. The results are shown in Table 1. In Table 1, AGE is an alkyl glyceryl ether, BDG is diethylene glycol monobutyl ether (solubilizing agent) and TEA is triethanolamine (alkali component).
2
In a 100 mL glass beaker, 100 g of the rust inhibitor composition was added, followed by heating to 50° C. In the rust inhibitor composition, an aluminum alloy plate (ADC12, 50 mm×20 mm×1.6 mm) degreased and washed with acetone was immersed for 30 seconds. Thereafter, the aluminum alloy plate was taken out and dried by air-blowing. Next, the aluminum alloy plate was immersed in 50 g of water heated to 50° C. for 1 hour. Thereafter, the amount of aluminum ions eluted in the water was measured using an ICP emission spectrophotometer (Agilent 5110 ICP-OES manufactured by Agilent), and the amount of aluminum eluted per unit area (g/m) was calculated from the measurement result and the surface area of the aluminum alloy plate. In addition, the surface of the aluminum alloy plate after the test was visually observed and evaluated according to the following criteria.
1: No corrosion is observed
2: Only partial corrosion is observed
3: Entire surface corrosion is observed
2
In a 100 mL glass beaker, 100 g of the rust inhibitor composition was added, followed by heating to 60° C. In the rust inhibitor composition, a steel plate (SPCC, 50 mm×20 mm×0.8 mm) degreased and washed with acetone was immersed for 30 seconds. Thereafter, the steel plate was taken out and dried by air-blowing. Next, the steel plate was immersed in 50 g of water heated to 50° C. for 1 hour. Thereafter, the amount of iron ions eluted in the water was measured using an ICP emission spectrophotometer (Agilent 5.110 ICP-OES manufactured by Agilent), and the amount of iron eluted per unit area (g/m) was calculated from the measurement result and the surface area of the steel plate. In addition, the surface of the steel plate after the test was visually observed and evaluated according to the following criteria.
1: No rust is observed
2: Only point rust is observed
3: Entire surface rust is observed
TABLE 1
Evaluation
Rust Inhibitor Composition
Amount of
Amount of
Appearance
Caprylic
Total
Al Eluted
Fe Eluted
of Test
Rust Inhibitor
BDG
Acid
TEA
Water
Amount
Appearance
from Al
from
Piece
Mass
Mass
Mass
Mass
Mass
Mass
of Aqueous
Alloy
Steel Plate
Al
Steel
Kind
%
%
%
%
%
%
Solution
g/m<sup>2</sup>
g/m<sup>2</sup>
Alloy
Plate
Example 1-1
AGE2
0.1
—
—
—
Balance
100
Turbidity
0.1
1.3
1
1
Example 1-2
AGE2
1
—
—
—
Balance
100
Turbidity
0.1
1.2
1
1
Example 1-3
AGE1
0.1
—
—
—
Balance
100
Turbidity
0.1
4.3
1
2
Example 1-4
AGE1
1
—
—
—
Balance
100
Turbidity
0.1
1.2
1
1
Example 1-5
AGE3
1
—
—
—
Balance
100
Turbidity
0.1
1.7
1
I
Example 1-6
AGE2
1
15
—
—
Balance
100
Transparent
0.1
1.1
1
1
Example 1-7
AGE1
1
15
—
—
Balance
100
Transparent
0.1
1.5
1
1
Example 1-8
AGE2
1
—
4
6
Balance
100
Transparent
0.1
1.3
I
Example 1-9
AGE1
1
—
4
6
Balance
100
Transparent
0.1
1.1
1
1
Example 1-10
AGE5
1
10
—
—
Balance
100
Turbidity
0.1
1.5
1
1
Example 1-11
AGE4
1
10
—
—
Balance
100
Turbidity
0.8
3.6
2
2
Example 1-12
AGE2
100
—
—
—
—
100
Transparent
0.1
1.2
1
1
Example 1-13
AGE1
100
—
—
—
—
100
Transparent
0.1
1.2
1
1
Comparative
—
—
—
—
—
Balance
100
Transparent
2.2
31
3
3
Example 1-1
Comparative
—
—
15
—
—
Balance
100
Transparent
2.5
8.2
3
3
Example 1-2
Comparative
—
—
10
—
—
Balance
100
Transparent
2.2
10.4
3
3
Example 1-3
Comparative
—
—
—
4
6
Balance
100
Transparent
2.7
28
3
3
Example 1-4
Table 2 shows blending examples of the rust inhibitor composition. In Table 2, AGE is an alkyl glyceryl ether, BDG is diethylene glycol monobutyl ether (solubilising agent) and TEA is triethanol amine (alkali component).
TABLE 2
Rust Inhibitor Composition
Total
Evaluation
Rust Inhibitor
BDG
Caprylic Acid
TEA
Water
Amount
Appearance
Mass
Mass
Mass
Mass
Mass
Mass
of Aqueous
Kind
%
%
%
%
%
%
Solution
Blending
AGE2
5
75
—
—
Balance
100
Transparent
Example 1
Blending
AGE1
5
75
—
—
Balance
100
Transparent
Example 2
Blending
AGE2
8
—
32
46
Balance
100
Transparent
Example 3
Blending
AGE1
8
—
32
48
Balance
100
Transparent
Example 4
As an Fe substrate before the rust inhibitor treatment, a steel plate (SPCC, 50 mm×20 mm×0.8 mm, hereinafter referred to as Fe substrate) degreased and washed with acetone was used. In a 100 mL glass beaker, 100 g of the rust inhibitor composition prepared in Example 1-2 was added, followed by heating to 60° C. In the rust inhibitor composition, the Fe substrate before the rust inhibitor treatment was immersed for 30 seconds. Thereafter, the Fe substrate was taken out, dried by air-blowing to prepare an Fe substrate after rust inhibitor treatment.
As an Al substrate before the rust inhibitor treatment, an aluminum alloy plate (ADC 12, 50 mm×20 mm×1.6 mm, hereinafter referred to as Al substrate) degreased and washed with acetone was used. In a 100 mL glass beaker, 100 g of the rust, inhibitor composition prepared, .in Example 1-2 was added, followed by heating to 5.0° C. In the rust inhibitor composition, the Al substrate before the rust inhibitor treatment was immersed for 30 seconds. Thereafter, the Al substrate was taken out, dried by air-blowing to prepare an Al substrate after mast, inhibitor treatment.
FIG. 1
The Fe substrate and the Al substrate before and after the rust inhibitor treatment were subjected to element mapping using the following method. Element mapping of Fe and C was performed for the Fe substrate, and element mapping of Al and C was performed for the Al substrate. The results are shown in . Each of the substrates was displayed in white when the element was present, and in black when the element was not present.
The element, mapping of the substrate surface was performed using a tabletop microscope Miniscope (registered trademark) TM3000 (manufactured by Hitachi High-Tech Corporation) and an energy dispersive X-ray analyzer Swift ED3000 (manufactured by Hitachi High-Tech Corporation). The measurement conditions are as follows: acceleration voltage; 5.0 kV, resolution: 128×104 pixels, display resolution: 100%, and process time: 5.
FIG. 1
shows that a coating of the compound represented by the Chemical Formula (1) is uniformly formed on the Fe substrate surface and the Al substrate surface.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The rust inhibitor, the rust inhibitor composition, and the coating formation material of the present invention are useful as a forming material for a rust preventive coating with which the surface of various metal components is coated. The rust inhibitor composition of the present invention is useful as a cutting oil, a rust preventive oil, or a detergent. | |
Emerging infectious diseases are among the most destructive and costly natural forces. As new diseases emerge and old diseases re-emerge, as pathogens and their vectors are transported worldwide through trade and travel, it is now time to improve global warning systems for emerging infectious diseases in general(1). The best countermeasure is an early warning to give affected regions or communities more time to prepare for the impact. Anticipating and responding to disease risk requires interpreting disease events—outbreaks and epidemics—as emergent properties of a complex system from which to gather infectious disease intelligence. The production of intelligence involves identifying actionable and biologically meaningful data patterns, developing predictions about future risk and epidemic trajectories, and characterizing possible losses under a range of intervention scenarios. Infectious disease intelligence therefore relies fundamentally on data from multiple sources to provide a stream of information that can be inspected by modeling and real-time analytics to make decisions about prevention, surveillance, or emergency responses to outbreaks.
During disease emergencies, the major goals are quick containment and damage control in the human population. To achieve these objectives, forecasting and scenario analysis must focus on estimating the amount of control or containment efforts —such as the number of treatment centers, the spatial and temporal extent of quarantine, or the mobilization of existing vaccines—needed to achieve a desired outcome, which might be measured in deaths averted, reduction in disability adjusted life years, or some other societal value.
The goal of forecasting is to predict the short-term trajectory of a given situation. Data streams that are essential to improving forecasting are real-time figures about case counts including location data, and results of outbreak investigations, genetic sequences of viral or bacterial isolates, which can then be used to estimate both the evolutionary potential of the pathogen and the actual case burden, and records of actions taken, such as school closures, quarantines, or deployments. Combined, these data can be used to triangulate the current status and trajectory of evolving epidemics.
Scenario analysis, in contrast, does not aim to make quantitative predictions, but explores the possible medium- or long-term outcomes of the available courses of action (see Sidebar A). For instance, to provide useful guidance, modelers need information about infrastructure and equipment such as transportation networks, hospitals, laboratory locations, and capabilities; about available technologies including diagnostic tests and instruments or vaccines; and about supply chains. To predict the potential effectiveness of interventions, it is important to know how effective they are supposed to be. Additionally, effectiveness is modulated by individual behaviors, for instance education about protective measures or government policies, which may have unintended side effects. Most approaches to modeling epidemics are either highly abstract, in which case they may elegantly illuminate the underlying principles governing disease dynamics, but lack the flexibility to represent idiosyncratic conditions on the ground; or they are detailed “tactical models” that characterize the most likely outcomes, but may give a false sense of precision, particularly when data are scarce.
Modeling and analytics are key to generating infectious disease intelligence. But models are not a panacea. One should bear in mind what we might call the First Law of Information: There is no information without data. This version of you-can’t-get-something from- nothing states that models cannot make up for ignorance. Modeling is not a magical bridge to cross an information gap. The hard limits to forecasting are set by the volume and quality of basic scientific information.
Big Data and Machine Learning have generated a plethora of methodologies that are useful for infectious disease intelligence. For instance, statistical learning algorithms identify certain patterns in datasets and detect anomalies. Decision support analysis incorporates the models identified by such algorithms into an organizational or policy-making decision process that can align empirical outcomes, such as deaths averted, and possible actions. Mathematical models of social, epidemiologic, and evolutionary dynamics are useful for explaining how individual decisions (such as hospitalization) and events (such as transmission) “scale up” to generate emergent phenomena at the population level. Such models are often too simplistic for tactical use, but may serve as the core for more complex simulations. Simulation models may then be used prospectively for short-term forecasting (prediction of number of cases in the next one to four weeks) or long-term scenario analysis. Simulation models can also be used inversely to test hypotheses about the underlying biological mechanisms or to evaluate the plausibility of alternative theories. The answers generated by modeling and analytics for surveillance (watch), response (warning), and intervention (emergency) may be imprecise, but they can be improved.
Diverse data challenges: how to control, manage, and manipulate the multiple data sources relating to infectious disease epidemiology, known and uncertain disease characteristics and the recent advance of data management methods.
Methodological challenges: how to best integrate advanced data-mining, disease modelling and syndromic surveillance methods to maximize our understanding of emerging and reemerging diseases based on the multiple data sources.
Several key limitations and concerns in utilizing AI models for enhancing decision-making relating to disease preparedness should also be taken into consideration. First, every single infectious disease exhibits unique natural characteristics (for instance: transmission route, infectivity, incubation period). Second, our level of understanding of a new emerging infectious disease may be limited at the early phase of outbreak. Third, disease- related data may reside in different formats, which would require substantial information extraction efforts. AI algorithms may require specific calibration to disease-specific scenarios. In the other words, a one-size-fit-all approach may not be applicable across all diseases contexts.
(1) Barbara A Han & John M Drake, Future directions in analytics for infectious disease intelligence, EMBO Reports (2016). | http://intraway.gr/Content?main=2&type=1&id=38 |
What did they do?
In July of 2016, a group a 6 Girl Guides from Warwickshire County were selected to join 2 leaders on a Care & Teaching project in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. During their project they split their time so that their mornings were spent working in the Child Smile Day Care Centre helping vulnerable children from the surrounding Gers. They got involved with various activities such as story-telling, singing, dancing, arts & crafts and games. As the day care centre was still being built, they also got involved with a small amount of construction work to ensure that their participation will live on in that centre for years to come. The afternoons were then spent helping to improve the English of 16-18 year old children in a local school through a variety of lessons.
The group had also had word about two families in the ger district area nearby who were struggling and had very little food to eat due to family situations. They decided to pay them a visit and bring with them a variety of supplies and food to keep the family and children going.
During their trip, they also had the opportunity to spend one of their days with a Girl Guiding group from the city at Nairamdal Camp. Both groups got involved with various activities to learn more about each other’s culture and how Girl Guiding works in their countries.
On their weekend days, the group got to visit various tourist spots around the city including the Russian Zaisan Memorial and the Chinggis Khan Statue. They also had the opportunity to visit the Bogd Khan museum, enjoy some traditional Mongolian songs and dances, as well as spending a day and night in a ger camp in the Terelj National Park.
Thoughts from the group
-
Warwickshire Girl Guides Mongolia
"When I take groups of Girl Guides abroad, I want to give them the opportunity to visit countries that are outside their comfort zone, and not the ones they would normally go to on family holidays. Mongolia ticked all of these boxes. The people are among the most gentle I have ever experienced in all my years of traveling. They believe in an affinity with nature and not disturbing the harmony of life. By the time we came to the end of our placement, it was literally tears all round, even from all the adults. The connections we had made with everyone there were tangible and so rewarding. Moreover, that was without the aid of much shared language! From the very first day, our support quite literally could not have been better. Our main Projects Abroad Mongolia contact and our two other support staff, did quite literally absolutely everything they could to make our stay easy, enjoyable, stimulating and any other adjective you can think of! They were wonderful, we could not have asked for more. Would I do it again? Tomorrow, without a second thought!"
-
Warwickshire Girl Guides Mongolia
"This project has really taught me the value of education. I brought with me ideas about what it would be like but I never expected it to be as enjoyable as it was."
-
Warwickshire Girl Guides Mongolia
"Mongolia was an absolutely amazing experience that I will treasure forever. You never realise how precious a project like this one at the Care Centre is until you get the chance to be a part of it. It's very special to see that what you are doing is having such a positive impact on children's lives. Thanks go to Projects Abroad and all their staff for helping us whilst we were there."
-
"I feel that the Care Project has made me more confident in speaking in front of people and that the bonds made between us and the children are everlasting."
-
Warwickshire Girl Guides Mongolia
"I have really treasured my time with Projects Abroad. Working with the children and staff I feel has made a big impact of good on me and the community. It has boosted my confidence and self-belief as well as wanting to help vulnerable people in other communities."
-
Warwickshire Girl Guides Mongolia
"My time in Mongolia has been an amazing experience and not only has it benefitted the children at the Care Project it has benefitted me as a person. The simple privileges we take for granted, such as sterile water in our homes, are only truly appreciated after seeing the journey some children take in the heat just for water. I have made friendships and memories that will last a lifetime."
-
Warwickshire Girl Guides Mongolia
"Spending time with the children in the sessions and meeting all the amazing people as really helped me to appreciate the things I have at home. Also all of the effort and preparation for the sessions have helped to improve my communication skills and confidence. The exciting weekend activities and brilliant friends have left me with memories that I will cherish for many years to come. For all this I am very thankful.”
For more information about Mongolia, please click here.
For more information about our Care project in Mongolia, please click here.
Thank you!
One of our Programme Advisors will get back to you as soon as possible with an answer to your question. | https://www.projects-abroad-groups.co.uk/group-experiences/case-studies/warwickshire-girl-guides-mongolia/ |
A lifelong birder, tracker, and naturalist, Jon Young is guided by three basic premises: the robin, junco, and other songbirds know everything important about their environment, be it backyard or forest; by tuning in to their vocalizations and behavior, we can acquire much of this wisdom for our own pleasure and benefit; and the birds’ companion calls and warning alarms are just as important as their songs. Deep bird language is an ancient discipline, perfected by Native peoples the world over, and science is finally catching up. This groundbreaking book unites the indigenous knowledge, the latest research, and the author’s own experience of four decades in the field to lead us toward a deeper connection to the animals and, in the end, a deeper connection to ourselves.
“Jon Young is one of the heroes of the new nature movement . . . This elegant book will deepen the kinship between humans and other species. It decodes our common language.”—Richard Louv, author of The Nature Principle and Last Child in the Woods
“A brilliant work, born of a lifetime of listening, teaching, and tracking what really matters . . . Jon Young’s work replenishes our humanity.”—David Abram, author of Becoming Animal and The Spell of the Sensuous
Product Details
|ISBN-13:||9780544002302|
|Publisher:||Houghton Mifflin Harcourt|
|Publication date:||05/21/2013|
|Edition description:||Reprint|
|Pages:||272|
|Sales rank:||134,737|
|Product dimensions:||5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.70(d)|
About the Author
JON YOUNG grew up in New Jersey and was mentored from the age of ten as a naturalist and tracker in a Native American tradition. Now married with six children, his passion for teaching the benefits of experiencing the natural world has only grown.
Read an Excerpt
INTRODUCTION:
WHAT THE ROBIN KNOWS
ONE EARLY SPRING DAY when I was a teenager and already keenly interested in birds, I was scouting the vast salt marshes of southern New Jersey, and I saw a ruff. A ruff! This wading bird (considered a sandpiper) wasn’t supposed to be on the North American continent at all, but there it was, fresh in from Europe or perhaps even Asia. That was an exciting moment, and so was my teenage discovery of the scissor-tailed flycatcher and the snowy owl, both way out of their respective ranges, and the very rare golden-winged warbler. I went to the trouble of identifying those unexpected birds because I identified every bird I saw and heard. If I couldn’t do so on the first encounter, I went back the next day, and the next. If I heard a sound from a bird I hadn’t heard before, I grabbed my binoculars and went searching until I found the source—or left defeated, but determined to find it at the next opportunity. In May, when the warblers migrated across New Jersey over the course of just three or four peak days, I was out there aggressively trying to sort them out—fifteen or so species at my hangout, as well as the forty others that breed in New Jersey. At Rutgers, where I studied anthropology and natural history, I was probably the first one to sign up for the annual one-day bird count that began in the Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge—a major point along the Atlantic Flyway in southern New Jersey—and concluded at Helyar Woods near the campus. Success for our van full of varied birders began that day before dawn with a singing Chuck-will’s-widow and concluded after nightfall with an eastern screech-owl. That very long day’s scouring yielded ninety-six species. While that may not be so impressive to some really good birders, it was my best day up to that point. I was eighteen years old.
I’ve had a lot of great birding moments in North America, the Hawaiian Islands, Europe, and Africa, and I’ve drawn solid lessons from them, but this fact remains: the American robin in my yard has much more to teach me as I sit quietly beneath a tree first thing each morning (with my binoculars on my lap only rarely these days). For one thing, this bird is so handy. For another, it’s one of the most expressive of all birds, vocally and in its body language. Was the robin driven into the tree by something in the thicket, or was it drawn up by curiosity (which is to say, mild alarm)? If I know this bird, I know the answer. I know when there’s a cat in the vicinity. I know when there’s a dog, not a cat, in the vicinity. Of course, the robin also advises me about what seems to be its greatest fear: the deadly accipiters winging furtively through the neighborhood. Likewise for the song sparrows, even though they’re virtually invisible to most folks walking around the neighborhood (song sparrows, not house sparrows). These elusive little brown shadows that bustle on the brown earth at the sides of the yard—shreep shreep shreep—then hop to the top of the bush (almost always the top), flip their wings, flip their tails, peer down intently—shreep shreep shreep. They also know all about the cat and the dog and the sharp-shinned hawk. For learning bird language, song sparrows are great allies.
Is a junco hanging around this morning? When feeding, this small gray bird favors the shadowy patches of open ground that match its coloration perfectly. If I haven’t really engaged my wide-angle “owl” vision (pretty much the opposite of narrow-angle binocular vision), if I’m not calm and quiet enough to detect subtle movements and hear subtle sounds, this modest creature will always get the best of me and remain undetected. I may unwittingly step on its saucer-size, carefully woven nest of rootlets, moss, pine needles, and grass. So it stands to reason that juncos are masters of subtlety: any songbird that feeds on the ground and often nests on the ground, with danger therefore a constant companion, had better be wary. Sometimes I think the deer have the juncos in their front pockets. When one of these little birds finally bursts off the ground and flies away, flashing its dark gray and white tail pattern, the deer’s huge ears—veritable radar dishes—swivel instantly in that direction. For them, the tiny twittering alarm must be like a screaming siren.
Robins? Sparrows? Juncos? Boring! I’ve heard this lament from the occasional first-day student, but I’ve never heard it from a third-day student. It just doesn’t happen, because the complaint is so wrong, and it doesn’t take anyone long to understand why. When we really see and hear and begin to understand these and other birds, the revelations are fun, enthralling, even vital.
My name for the study of birds’ behavior and accompanying vocalizations is “deep bird language,” and I believe—and will attempt to demonstrate in these pages—that it’s the key to understanding both the backyard and the forest. Here’s a little demonstration of how it works. (I’d put this in the “fun” category.) I was meeting some people at a new mentoring center in California. A board member was showing me around the facility, about which everyone was justifiably proud. In the main part of the building, a converted suburban house, the two of us were in a backroom that had a sliding glass door opening onto a backyard and swimming pool. Through this door, I spied a small brown bird on the ground right outside, helping itself to something trapped in a spider web. As I edged closer, I realized that these were baby spiders in their own web, and the bird was plucking them up, one by one, with its long curved bill, as effective for this job as a pair of tweezers. When I got too close to the glass door, the bird, a wrentit, hopped off and went to ground at the base of an overgrown hedge only a few feet away. If it raised an alarm call at that moment, I could not hear it through the glass door, with some ambient sound coming from another room and my host speaking continuously as he pointed to photographs and told me stories of this place. I enjoyed the stories and was quite engaged, even if my attention seemed elsewhere.
Perched in a nearby tree was a robin, singing away. I couldn’t hear the song, but seeing its head flip this way and that—its mouth open, its throat moving, its body relaxed—I knew the bird was singing (listen to audio file 1, for example). I turned back to the wrentit, and just as I did, it flew up five feet, something over waist height. Now it was almost in my face, a few feet away. I could barely hear the chut! alarm, but I could see the pumping tail. (The alarm call is in audio file 3.) This was the same bird that had retreated from me a few moments earlier, so I concluded that something else had startled it even more. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that the robin had quit singing and was rigid except for its tail, which was now also pumping in alarm. Let’s see ... two alarmed birds in a suburban yard, one of them a ground dweller who has jumped up five feet—not ten, not fifty, but five. When I tell this story to a lay audience and ask for guesses about the cause of the alarm, everybody knows the answer.
On the scene, however, when I turned to my new friend and said, “Hey, there’s a cat coming,” he didn’t know what to make of my prediction. He hadn’t seen what I’d seen. Frankly, he was in a completely different frame of mind at the moment.
“What?”
“A cat’s coming. Look!” I pointed down to the ground outside the glass door, where the cat would surely slink past shortly. When it did a few seconds later, my friend’s jaw dropped, but only because he hadn’t been following the story outside. Any thoughts about my psychic powers were erased by my real-world explanation of what had happened between the wrentit, the robin, and the cat.
Backyard Learning
There’s nothing random about birds’ awareness and behavior. They have too much at stake—life and death. Nor does random luck determine who among us has really close encounters with them and the other animals. As cosseted humans who have lost much of our sensory keenness, we are at a great disadvantage, but we can do much better. The birds’ language can be loaded with meaning for us as well, if only we pay close enough attention. We have ears; we can tune in, too. If we understand the birds, we can meet just about any animal we want. Without this understanding, many well-meaning seekers find the fox only when she’s running away or leaping across the midnight road in the glare of the headlights. I’d much rather find her lying on a mossy bed in dappled sunlight in the early morning, lazily licking her paws, grooming herself, and gazing over the landscape with soft eyes, ears angling this way and that as she picks up and listens to the nuances carried by the wind. This fox is tuned in to the tapestry of bird song on all sides. The animals know the importance of this language, and they listen to it. This is how they learn about us, and the birds’ alarms give them so much advance warning of our approach that they can choose the manner and timing of their own retiring departure. Only rarely do they actually have to run away.
We are often (usually, to be honest) a jarring, unaware presence in the world beyond the front door. Even when we’re “bird watching,” looking for different species—in many cases for particular species—there can be a sense in which we’re hunting. If we hear the call of a black-throated green warbler and want to have a look at it, we more or less ignore the other birds, so intent are we on locating that beautiful warbler. The robin may rebuke our sudden incursion, the chipmunk may chip at us, the squirrel may race up the tree and wave its tail, but we’re only peripherally aware of these messages, if at all. (The robin’s agitation call is in audio file 2; examples of chipmunk alarm calls are in audio file 66 [terrestrial alarm] and number 68 [alarm near hole].)
If we’re in bird language mode, however, we’re moving with a whole different frame of mind and venturing into another realm of awareness and intention and curiosity. We’re holding multiple questions in mind simultaneously. We’re not focused on a single species. We’re monitoring several species consciously and perhaps quite a few others unconsciously. We don’t have “hunting” intentions. We have diffuse awareness, curiosity, perceptions, and questions. We’re always aware of the ripples that we are creating as we go. What is the robin’s first alarm call? What is the junco’s? Ground predator or aerial predator? Are these alarms for me, for that orange and white cat who’s been hanging around the past couple of days, or for something else? Or maybe we have the opposite circumstance. At this time of morning on a calm, sunny spring day, there should be much more vocalizing and activity over in that diverse edge habitat. Two days ago, those trees and hedges were buzzing with multiple species. Why not now? How “big” is the silence in that area? Does it extend from ground to canopy, or are the grosbeaks up in the treetops as vocal as ever? Although we can see in only one direction at a time, when we’re in bird language mode, we’re hearing information from all directions all the time. The experience is multidimensional and involves many different senses. We’re walking carefully, slowly, stopping and looking (but not sneaking, which fools no one out there), adopting a relaxed body posture that reflects a relaxed, receptive brain, not a hunting brain.
One of the first pleasant tasks for anyone interested in the methodology of bird language is to select a private place among the birds to visit as often as possible. It may be in the forest, the suburban or urban park, or the backyard. Regardless, it will be the main venue for figuring out what’s going on, for connecting the dots, for gathering the stories of the birds and their context. So I call it simply the “sit spot,” but it could be called the “medicine area,” in reference to the depth of connection and understanding one can absorb and gain. In this book, it merits a chapter of its own. In your sit spot, it’s not as important to know every bird by its scientific name as it is to know that that robin over there is an individual like you and me. Let’s call him Bill, the male who owns this territory. Consorting with him this year is Sally. What happened to Betty, who had that very distinctive brown mark on one side? She was with Bill for the past two seasons. She’s gone now; that’s all we know. How long will this new mate last? What about Bill himself? That remains to be seen. (The names may be silly. The point is not. You, too, can attain such knowledge in your sit spot, should you so desire.)
Thus my two main subjects in this book:
What’s really going on in the world of the birds?
How we can access that world through our awareness of deep bird language so that we can also see more wildlife?
Am I a “bird whisperer”? No, but I listen to their whispers—and their songs and companion calls and alarm calls—very closely. I watch their behavior very closely. If you’re a student of bird language, this degree of observation becomes almost automatic. You develop new resources with and for your brain. This approach only makes sense, because, after all, which is older, our language or their language? The sectors of our brain that can understand their language are deeper than the sectors that manage our own. Add up all the accumulated experience and knowledge and input from these ancient yet newly discovered instincts, and you end up with “gut feelings” of uncanny accuracy. That venerable saying “A little bird told me” takes on a whole new meaning. You may just feel in your gut that a certain alarm call is due to a raccoon coming through—nothing else, definitely a raccoon. You don’t know why you have this hunch, but you do, so you go out and check, and there goes that masked bandit. Such feats of the “adaptive unconscious” are the subject of Malcolm Gladwell’s bestseller Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. They are manifest in many fields. A basic knowledge of bird language will produce many fascinating examples.
Table of Contents
Dedication v
Acknowledgments vi
Introduction: What the Robin Knows xiii
A Cacophony of Harmony 1
In the Beginning Is the Song 19
More Cacophony of Harmony 28
The Sit Spot 48
An Alarm for Every Occasion 80
They’re All in This Together 99
A Shape for Every Occasion 119
From Collision to Connection 164
Appendix A: Learning Bird Language 183
Appendix B: Accompanying Audio 199
Notes 208
References 217
Index 228
What People are Saying About This
"This book will enhance our own ability to learn what the nestlings learn."- Birding Business
"Don’t tell lifelong birder Jon Young that robins are boring. He can sit still in his yard, watching and listending for the moment when robins and other birds no longer perceive him as a threat. Then he can begin to hear what the birds say to each other, warning about nearby hawks, cats, or competitors. Young’s book will teach you how you, too, can understand birds and their fascinating behaviors." - BirdWatching
"A sophisticated guide for amateur bird watchers and a door-opener for newbies." - Kirkus
"Though primarily geared toward birders and naturalists rather than lay readers, this passionate instruction manual offers enjoyable anecdotes." - Publishers Weekly
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I love this book. So much to learn. If you wish to connect with nature. It is a must read. | https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-the-robin-knows-jon-young/1104512942 |
Q:
How are these triangles similar?
I am trying to understand a proof of Pythagorean's Theorem.
I am trying to see how all three triangles are similar. So far I have:
(1) $\triangle ABC$ and $\triangle DBA$ have side $AB$ in common and also $\angle ABC$. What is the other side?
(2) $\triangle ABC$ and $\triangle DAC$ have $\angle BCA=\angle DCA$ and side $AC$ in common. What is the other side?
(3) $\triangle DBA$ and $\triangle DAC$ have side $AD$ in common...what else?
A:
(1) $\triangle ABC$ and $\triangle DBA$ have side $AB$ in common and also $\angle ABC$. What is the other side?
The fact that these two triangles have a side in common is a red herring! The line segment $AB$ just happens to be a side of both triangles, but this is irrelevant to the fact that the triangles are similar.
If you look at $\triangle ABC$ and $\triangle DBA$, you will see that their shorter legs are $AB$ and $DB$ (respectively), their longer legs are $AC$ and $DA$ (respectively), and their hypotenuses are $BC$ and $BA$ (respectively). If you look at each of these pairs of line segments, and calculate the ratio of each pair, you'll find that the three ratios are all equal.
The corresponding angles are $\angle ABC$ with $\angle DBA$ (the wider acute angles); $\angle BCA$ with $\angle BAD$ (the narrower acute angles); and $\angle CAB$ with $\angle ADB$ (the right angles). For each of these three pairs of angles, both of the angles in the pair are congruent.
Does this help explain things?
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Learning Locally, Thinking Globally
The International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum of education, recognized worldwide for rigorous instruction, critical thinking, an emphasis on active, global citizenship, and inquiry-based learning, is offered at GEMS in a highly localized context. The IB offers students the opportunity to gain deep content knowledge to prepare them for the rigors of university, while developing a global, active, problem-solving mindset.
Subjects offered and content covered vary by grade, but we consistently teach the core disciplines of math, literacy, science, and social studies, as well as physical education, the arts, technology and design, and a choice of a daily world language (French, Mandarin, or Spanish). Our Field Studies programs, emerging Chicago Curriculum, and cultural exchange opportunities provide full access to the city of Chicago and the world, enabling students and teachers to extend learning well beyond the walls of their classrooms.
How Students Learn
Social learning theorist Lev Vygotsky wrote that learning in children occurs through their interactions and communications with others. Communication and collaboration are critical elements of how students learn at GEMS. Inquiry across disciplines drives learning and enables students to apply concepts to new situations or problems. The faculty support student-driven inquiry by creating an environment that encourages risk taking and learning from our mistakes. We utilize a variety of human and other resources to maximize each student's ability to create, engage in rich academic discourse, think critically, problem solve and collaborate with others. Student learning occurs and is evaluated through:
- Small group work
- Whole class discussion
- Short- and long-term independent projects
- Field studies
- Lab reports
- Mathematical modeling
- Socratic seminars
- Debates
- Literary analysis
- Summative, formative, and meta-cognitive assessments
Whole-Person Development
We emphasize student development in accordance with the IB learner profile and offer students opportunities to discover themselves and their place in the world. We value active student engagement and agency across grade levels. Students have choices in both what they study as well as how they demonstrate their understanding or mastery of a concept. They also have a choice in how they approach service learning and have a voice in policies throughout the school.
The IB in a localized context
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strengths and interests and providing more than typical high school offerings. | https://www.gemschicago.org/en/academics/approach-philosophy |
Q:
series approximation by iteration
Given the following transcendental generating function $H(x) = x\sum_ka_k[H(x)]^k$, I want to approximate $zH(x)$. I do this by setting the zeroth term to $e^{-z}x$.
How can I generate higher order terms? My attempt is to iteratively insert the zeroth solution as
$$
zH(x) = xze^{-z} + \dots \tag{1}
$$
$$
zH(x) = xze^{-z} + (xze^{-z})^2 + \frac{3}{2}(xze^{-z})^3 + \dots \tag{2}
$$
However, I'm not sure how to continue this to the next term, or if a closed form can be found for the $n$th term.
A:
Your series $(2)$ looks like:
$$\sum\limits_{k=1}^\infty\frac{k^{k-1}}{k!}(xze^{-z})^k$$
Please have a look at Lambert W-function, here: $W_0(x)$ . It's $~W_0(x)e^{W_0(x)}=x~$ .
Or in the way as you've written it in the first line:
$$W_0(x)=xe^{-W_0(x)} ~~ => ~~ a_k:=\frac{(-1)^k}{k!}$$
It follows:
$$zH(x)=W_0(-xze^{-z})$$
$~$
We have $~W_0(x) = x h(e^{-x})~$ where $~h(x)~$ is the infinite power tower.
$h(x)~$ exists for $~e^{-1/e}<x<e^{1/e}~$ and therefore $~W_0(x)~$ for $~-1/e<x<1/e~$ .
Iteration with the start $~x_1:=x_0~$:
$$x_{n+1}=x_n^{x_{n+1}}~~ , ~~~~ \lim\limits_{n\to\infty}x_n = h(x_0)$$
This is not the best iteration, but good if $~x_0~$ is near by $~1~$ .
You can also try to construct an iteration directly from $~W_0(x)e^{W_0(x)}=x~$, it's not complicate.
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The recently announced Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD full-frame lens is now available to pre-order. First shipments are expected to start September 22, 2022 providing there are no supply issues.
Check Price & Reviews for the Tamron 50–400mm F4.5–6.3 Di III VC VXD
At: B&H Photo | Amazon
The lens costs $1,299 in the US, £1,249 in the UK and €1,449 in Europe.
Here’s a first look video from David Oastler: | https://www.alphashooters.com/tamron-50-400mm-f4-5-6-3-di-iii-vc-vxd-pre-order/ |
A stay of 3 nights is most popular when visiting Beaverton.
The price of a hotel in Beaverton depends on several factors such as star rating, location and demand. Generally speaking, the average cost of a hotel is around $109 per night.
In January prices are at their lowest and represents the most cost effective time to book a hotel room in Beaverton. You may find the cost of your room has decreased by $44%.
Room prices for hotels in Beaverton will be at their lowest on Saturday and peak on Monday.
Beaverton hostels and hotels with a 2 star rating and below charge around $105 for a bed per person. This will be around $4 under the cost of a typical Beaverton hotel.
With an average temperature of 53.6 °F and expected precipitation of 2.9″, October is a great month to explore the outdoors near Beaverton. | https://www.momondo.com/hotels/beaverton |
EXTREME WEATHER ATTRIBUTION
Posted June 7, 2021on:
THIS POST IS A COLLECTION OF LINKS TO POSTS ON THIS SITE ON THE TOPIC OF THE POST HOC EVENT ATTRIBUTION PROCEDURE USED BY CLIMATE SCIENCE TO CLAIM THAT THE SELECTED EXTREME WEATHER EVENT WAS CAUSED BY ANTHROPOGENIC GLOBAL WARMING.
(1): RELATED POST#1: THE ORIGIN OF EVENT ATTRIBUTION SCIENCE (EAS): LINK: https://tambonthongchai.com/2018/07/10/event-attribution-science-a-case-study/
EXCERPT: The Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM) redefined climate change impacts funding by rich industrialized coountries to poor third world countries as a form of compensation for loss and damage due to extreme weather events. Whereas these funds were defined as payable for all extreme weather events, the WIM requires that compensation can be sought only if the extreme weather event is attributable to fossil fuel emissions. A probabilistic methodology was devised to address the need for attribution. The procedure uses a large number of climate model experiments. The probability of an observed extreme weather event with anthropogenic emissions and the probability without anthropogenic emissions are derived from climate model experiments as P1=with and P0=without. The condition P1>P0 is taken to mean that emissions played a role in the occurrence of the event in question and that therefore the extreme weather event is attributable to AGW. The probability that fossil fuel emissions played a role in the extreme weather event is proposed as P=(P1-P0)/P0. The problem here is uncertainty because the significant standard deviations in the estimation of P1 & P0 are acknowledged but ignored.
(2) RELATED POST#2: AN EXAMPLE OF THE APPLICATION OF EVENT ATTRIBUTION ANALYSIS. LINK: https://tambonthongchai.com/2020/06/29/diffenbaugh-2017-extreme-weather-of-climate-change/
CITATION: Quantifying the influence of global warming on unprecedented extreme climate events. Diffenbaugh, Singh, & Swain ET AL, PNAS April 24, 2017, Edited by Kerry A. Emanuel. FINDING: We find that historical warming has increased the severity and probability of the hottest month and hottest day of the year at >80% of the available observational area. Our framework also suggests that the historical climate forcing has increased the probability of the driest year and wettest 5-d period at 57% and 41% of the observed area, respectively, although we note important caveats.
CRITICAL COMMENTARY: THE TIME SCALE FOR THE STUDY AND THE EXTENT OF THE OBSERVED AREA AFFECTED ARE NOT PRE-SPECIFIED NOR CONSTRAINED BY THE RESEARCH QUESTION AND THEREFORE OPEN TO THE CONFIRMATION BIAS OF THE RESEARCHER. THE CONFIRMATION BIAS OF THE RESEARCHER GUIDES THE SELECTION OF THE DATA AND THEIR INTERPRETATION. UNBIASED OBJECTIVE SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY BEGINS WITH THE RESEARCH QUESTION BUT EVENT ATTRIBUTION RESEARCH BEGINS WITH THE DATA.
(3): RELATED POST#3: AN EXAMPLE OF THE ATTRIBUTION OF EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS TO AGW WITHOUT THE USE OF EVENT ATTRIBUTION ANALYSIS: LINK: https://tambonthongchai.com/2021/01/30/the-extreme-weather-of-climate-change/
THIS STUDY IS FROM AUSTRALIA. HERE WE FIND THAT THE EXTREME WEATHER IMPACT OF AGW IS ASSESSED FOR EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS IN AUSTRALIA. THE FOLLOWING EVENTS ARE CITED:
1. On January 4 last year, a suburb in Sydney’s west was the hottest place on earth.
2. In early February of the same year, Sydney received more rain in 4 days than in the previous 6 months.
3. The cost of extreme weather in Australia has risen to $35 billion in the past decade (2010-2020).
4. Last summer’s fires burned more than 20% of the country’s forests.
CRITICAL COMMENTS:
- The analysis of global warming and global climate action in terms of Australian emissions and Australian temperatures is not possible.
- It is not possible that temperature events or short term temperature dynamics geographically limited to Australia can be understood in terms of AGW. The theory of AGW does not contain information for making temperature forecasts for Australia at decadal time scales.
- The claims with respect to rising destructive impacts of AGW in terms of forest fires, droughts, and high temperatures are made in terms of the cost of extreme weather in Australia without consideration of inflation In fact, this comparison is made over a period of high inflation such that $100 in 1970 is equivalent to $1,193 in 2020. If over this period the cost of extreme weather only doubled, it does not imply rising damage due to extreme weather. It actually implies declining damage due to extreme weather .
- No rationale is provided for the attribution of these extreme weather events to anthropogenic global warming (AGW). The internal climate variability issue would make it impossible to claim this attribution. Besides, climate science requires that, at the minimum, such attribution must be supported by “Event Attribution” analysis.
- THAT AN EXTREME WEATHER EVENT OCCURRED DURING A PERIOD OF GLOBAL WARMING IS NOT EVIDENCE THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY GLOBAL WARMING.
IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT THE LEAD AUTHOR OF THE PAPER IS WILL STEFFEN OF ANTHROPOCENE FAME KNOWN FOR HIS OBSESSION WITH A GEOLOGICAL CONTROL OF THE PLANET BY THE HUMANS.
CITATION: SUPERSTITION EVOLVED TO HELP US SURVIVE: LINK: https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14694-superstitions-evolved-to-help-us-survive/
WE HUMANS ARE NATURALLY SUPERSTITIOUS AND MUCH OF THE CLIMATE SCIENCE THAT DERIVES FROM FEAR OF CLIMATE CHANGE CAN BE UNDERSTOOD IN THAT CONTEXT.
RELATED POST: LINK: https://tambonthongchai.com/2018/08/03/confirmationbias/
RELATED POST ON EVENT ATTRIBUTION:
LINK: https://tambonthongchai.com/2021/07/13/a-comment-from-ralph-alexander/
HUMAN CAUSE: THE REAL ISSUE HERE IS HUMAN CAUSE BECAUSE WITHOUT EVIDENCE OF HUMAN CAUSE OF THE WARMING TREND, WHATEVER IMPACTS THE WARMING MAY HAVE ARE ALL NATURAL. | https://tambonthongchai.com/2021/06/07/extreme-weather-attribution/ |
FRIDAY, Oct. 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Many Americans don't know that indoor use of electronic cigarettes exposes children to nicotine and leaves nicotine deposits on surfaces, a new survey shows.
"E-cigarettes primarily emit a toxic aerosol, not harmless water vapor," said Robert McMillen, an associate professor of psychology at Mississippi State University, who was the author of the report.
"Unfortunately, many parents are unaware of the risk that exposure poses for their children and do not implement household rules to protect their children," McMillen said in a news release from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
In a survey of more than 3,000 adults in 2015, McMillen and his colleagues found: 68 percent did not allow e-cigarette use in their homes; more than three-quarters banned the battery-operated devices from the car; and over eight in 10 said e-cigarettes should not be allowed in places with smoking bans. About three-quarters also said it was unacceptable for parents to use e-cigarettes in front of children.
However, many adults were not clear about the potential dangers of e-cigarettes, the researchers also found.
Only 37 percent of the respondents knew that exhaled e-cigarette vapor contains nicotine or that using e-cigarettes indoors deposits nicotine on surfaces.
And almost half of the adults did not know that e-cigarette use around children exposes them to nicotine, according to the survey.
Who was less likely to forbid e-cigarette use at home or support restrictions on use of the devices?
Smokers, e-cigarette users, males, 18- to 24-year-olds with lower levels of education, and adults without children in the home, according to the survey.
Smokers, e-cigarette users and less-educated adults were also less likely to believe that e-cigarette use posed risks to children. Older adults and adults with kids in the household were more likely to be uncertain about potential harms.
McMillen said parents need to be educated about the risks that e-cigarette emissions pose to children and the need to ban tobacco use and e-cigarette use from their homes and cars.
The survey results are to be presented Saturday at the American Academy of Pediatrics' annual meeting, in San Francisco. Data and conclusions presented at meetings are usually considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal. | http://www.balivevitamins.com/promog/ConditionCenter.asp?ConditionID=18&ArticleID=3405&StoreID=C4D2E390B6DE4BF8A3AF111EC477C959 |
Visit Archives Portal to search “City Plans” for archives of Capital Improvement Plans.
The 2019 road construction season is another busy one for Upper Arlington, representing year six of the City’s first 10-year Capital Improvement Program planning process, designed to bring the City’s inventory of outstanding infrastructure maintenance needs to an acceptable standard, and setting the stage for staying current with needs into the future. It was made possible by Upper Arlington voter support of an increase in the income tax rate of .5% in 2014—bringing UA’s rate to 2.5%—with all funds generated by the increase dedicated to meeting our capital needs.
Click here for the real-time 2019 Capital Improvement updates (updated bi-monthly) or click map below.
These projects are comprised of the complete “ground-up” removal and replacement of a roadway—new pavement, new curb & gutter, new drive approaches, and the restoration of any affected lawn areas. This work may also include the installation of new underground utilities. Roadway Reconstruction projects tend to be multi-phased and frequently require the closure of the affected roadway for an extended period.
Reconstruction of the roadway, with the addition of curb and gutter and storm sewer and sanitary infrastructure improvements. Pedestrian and bicycle accommodations will be included, as well as intersection improvements at Henderson and Sawmill roads, to be coordinated in cooperation with the City of Columbus.
Public Meeting: Wednesday, April 24 from 5-7 pm located at Amelita Mirolo Barn, 4395 Carriage Hill Lane.
These projects are comprised of routine repairs designed to prolong the useful life of a street, such as the removal and replacement of the top layer of pavement (mill and overlay), and repairs to small sections of curb and gutter. These projects are typically completed within a few days with minimal restrictions for residents.
These projects are comprised of new and routine repairs designed to prolong the useful life of a sidewalk routes to schools, such as the removal and replacement or repairs to small sections of the sidewalk. Improvements may also be made to improve the visibility of the crosswalks, with the stallion of thermoplastic pavement markings, along with bump outs and flashing crosswalk signs. These projects are typically completed within a few weeks with minimal restrictions for residents.
The replacement of waterlines, service transfer and installation of a full-depth pavement patch.
The Environmental Protection Agency required and has approved a Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Survey to identify the most problematic areas in the City of Upper Arlington when it comes to rainwater getting in to the sanitary sewer pipes. Following this extensive evaluation, the City developed a 12-year remediation plan called the Sustainable Sewer Solutions Program which began in 2017. These projects may include renovation, installation of a liner, cleaning or replacement of main sewer lines, sanitary laterals and manholes, and typically require a detour of the sanitary waste using the structure.
These projects may include renovation or full replacement depending on the condition of the structure. These projects typically require a detour of the traffic using the structure. Construction may last as long as a month or an entire construction season.
Improvements to the City’s stormwater system, which is the underground network that drains rainwater runoff from our streets into natural waterways.
These projects may include replacement of wooden street light poles with steel poles, installation of additional poles at appropriate spacing and installation of conduit for new wire to replace buried wires. These projects typically do not require a detour of the traffic using the structure.
These projects may include repair or replacement of traffic signals, installation of conduit for new wire to replace buried wires. These projects typically do not require a detour of the traffic using the structure.
A new, 25,000 square foot poolhouse replaces outdated indoor facilities. Included in this project are men’s and women’s restrooms, a family restroom, concession stand and offices. The project also includes replacement of facility fencing.
This project includes assessing the mechanical systems and condition of the toddler pool. Design includes replacing two mechanical buildings with one facility to house the pool systems, updating mechanical systems as necessary, replacing older sections of concrete and rubber decking, and reviewing options to update the toddler pool structure.
An engineering assessment for drainage improvements to athletic fields at Reed Road Park. Actual improvements and timeline to be determined in conjunction with field utilization needs.
Once spring weather allows continued work, the new playground will open for use. Remaining elements include seating and tables.
New playground to meet current design and ADA standards.
As recommended by the Parks & Recreation Comprehensive Plan, staff will conduct an assessment of the facility and tennis program in 2019, followed by a design process, to explore options to renovate the courts and service building.
Installation of a commemorative display providing the history of Jack Nicklaus’ golf accomplishments as a youth in Upper Arlington. A committee has raised private funds and designed the display.
The Sidewalk Maintenance Program provides for periodic inspections of existing sidewalks to determine if repairs or replacement work is necessary to keep the network in good working order. The maintenance and repair for sidewalks is the responsibility of the adjacent property owner. The City will make repairs when damage has been caused by the roots of City-owned trees in the public right-of-way, defects caused by utility manholes or valves, and any curb ramps.
Visit Engineering Division – Sidewalk Maintenance Program for full details.
Construction projects can and do occur within Upper Arlington’s corporate boundaries that are not the responsibility of the City, typically by utility companies such as Columbia Gas, AEP and cable/telecommunications companies. When these projects have a noticeable impact for our citizens, the City takes a more active role in oversight and helping to communicate project updates to residents as appropriate. | https://upperarlingtonoh.gov/engineering-division/construction-updates/ |
The cultivation of raspberry (Rubus idaeus L., 1753) is not a complex thing but we need to know small secrets to avoid disappointments or failures. Meanwhile, we must distinguish two groups of raspberries depending on the type and the period of fruitification: unifera and re-bloom (bifera). The two varieties have a biennial cycle of vegetation. In the uniferous raspberry in the first year there is the vegetative growth of the suckers, which at the end of autumn are completely lignified. In the second year, however, starting from the spring, the suckers become fruiting shoots from which originate lateral ramifications that go to fruit during the summer. Subsequently, between autumn and winter, the fruiting shoots dry and are replaced by new suckers. In the resurrected raspberry the suckers can fruit twice; the first time in the apical part, at the end of the autumn vegetative season and, the second time, in the part below the vegetative apex, in the summer of the following year.
The two varieties are adapted to different conditions: the unifere can reach up to 1,500 m. of altitude while the re-flowering do not exceed 1.000 m of height (obviously the latitude affects the altitudes).
Given their origin raspberries do not like high temperatures, excessive exposure to the sun and the winds. Soils must be slightly acidic, well-drained, therefore light, and equipped with organic substance (which we can make with mature manure or compost).
For the plantation it is possible to operate with the bare root suckers in the autumn-winter period or in spring with seedlings already rooted in earthen bread or vase.
As for breeding and sixths these change if the Raspberry is uniferous or re-flowering.
For single varieties we recommend espalier breeding with alternate production. In this way a part of the plant is destined for the production of the year, while the other part for the renewal of the suckers. The recommended distances are 40 cm between one plant and another and 2 m between rows. In this type of plant it is necessary to separate the renewal suckers from the fruiting ones, obtaining annual production even if only half of the plant. Obviously in the re-flowering varieties this type of implant is even more indicated.
As for the pruning of the uniform varieties, this consists in the elimination of the shoots they produced during the year. In the form of espalier breeding with production in alternate years, the production shoots are eliminated in the autumn period with total desiccation. The suckers that are on the row of renewal must be thinned out, leaving from 12-15 for each linear meter and cimati to about 1.80 m in height. In this way, the following year, we will again have a production line and a renewal row.
For re-flowering varieties, instead, pruning should be carried out as follows: after harvesting the first year, the apical part of the production shoots is eliminated. In this way, in the summer of the following year, the second production will take place, which will be in the middle part of the same shoots.
For irrigation this should be limited to three phases: immediately after planting the seedlings, in the spring, at the time of vegetative growth, in the flowering period and especially during the fruit swelling, in the height of summer. Then, after harvesting, the irrigations are gradually reduced to favor the maturation of the wood and the development of the root system and new suckers.
Among the soil protection techniques, mulching with straw or other plant products is recommended for raspberry cultivation. It allows to decrease the irrigation supply, the workings among the rows for mechanical weeding. Even the technique of ingesting with legumes is an excellent system.
Finally, as regards the defense against pests and diseases, it should be remembered that raspberry can be subject mainly to aphids in spring, to spider mites during the summer and to bedbugs in the period from late summer to autumn. Aphids and green bed bugs can be fought with Marseille soap and garlic-based products while red spider mites are used in equisetum. | http://antropocene.it/en/2018/04/07/come-coltivare-i-lamponi-in-maniera-biologica/ |
Risky intersections: 10 crossroads where the highest numbers of cars run red lights
At some intersections, drivers apparently think a red light is just a suggestion to stop.
But that attitude has increasingly deadly consequences. The number of people killed when someone plowed through a light rose 31% to 939 in 2017, a 10-year high, according to a recent study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
Growing awareness of those dangers is casting a spotlight on intersections in America where the number of cars and trucks running lights is highest.
Three intersections in Florida, two in Texas and two in Tennessee are among the 10 tracked by red-light cameras where the highest number of vehicles blow through the light.
The data come from Verra Mobility, the parent company of American Traffic Solutions, which collects data from 2,000 red-light cameras for municipalities throughout the country. The cameras capture images and video of vehicles proceeding through intersections once the light has turned red. The company also tracks crashes using speed cameras and school bus cameras.
AAA study:Deaths from cars running red lights hit a 10-year high
The intersection with the most incidents tracked by red-light cameras? That's in New Orleans.
Here are the 10 intersections of 2,000 tracked by Verra Mobility:
1. New Orleans, Louisiana
Intersection: South Carrollton Avenue and Palmetto Street
This intersection is near ramps to Interstate 10 and the campus of Xavier University of Louisiana.
2. Boulder, Colorado
Intersection: Eastbound Baseline Road at 27th Way
This intersection is near ramps to U.S. Route 36, known as the Denver-Boulder Turnpike.
3. North Miami Beach, Florida
Intersection: Westbound North Miami Beach Boulevard (Northeast 167th Street) at Northeast 10th Avenue
Drivers barreling through this intersection may be on their way to a major junction with Interstate 95 a little more than a mile west.
4. Laurel, Maryland
Intersection: Eastbound Gorman Avenue at Southbound U.S. 1
This intersection, near strip malls, directs drivers through a tangled web of roads including Second Street and Fort Meade Road.
5. Tampa, Florida
Intersection: Eastbound East Hillsborough Avenue at North 22nd Street
This intersection is along a major commercial strip near a campus of Erwin Technical College.
6. Fort Worth, Texas
Intersection: Westbound West Freeway Service Road at Ashland Avenue
This intersection is north of Arlington Heights High School across U.S. 30.
7. Knoxville, Tennessee
Intersection: Eastbound Western Avenue (SR 62) at the I-640/I-75 Southbound offramp
This major interchange is several lanes wide on each side.
8. New Port Richey, Florida
Intersection: Northbound U.S. 19 (FL 55) at Trouble Creek Road
This massive intersection is along a major commercial strip.
9. Knoxville, Tennessee
Intersection: Westbound Chapman Highway (U.S. 441) at Stone Road
This intersection is about two and a half miles south of the Tennessee River.
10. Fort Worth, Texas
Intersection: Southbound South Hulen Street at the Southwest Loop 820 west offramp
This intersection is alongside U.S. 20, or Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway.
Follow USA TODAY reporter Nathan Bomey on Twitter @NathanBomey. | https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2019/09/11/red-light-intersection-running-lights/2272451001/ |
Every 5 years, when it passes a new Farm Bill, Congress has a chance to protect our climate, enhance biodiversity, and build healthier and more resilient communities by investing in solutions and shifting toward policies that can work better. With targeted investments and reforms, our current agricultural system has great potential to empower communities left behind and to protect our environment and health. That is why as part of our work to safeguard the Earth and people, we advocate for a Farm Bill that reflects our values. On April 29, 2022, the Senate Agriculture Committee (the policymaking body that usually writes the Farm Bill), held a field hearing in Michigan to explore “Growing Jobs and Economic Opportunity: 2023 Farm Bill Perspectives” and we submitted this written testimony for the record.
NRDC asked Congress to consider a Farm Bill that scales up funding in climate-smart agriculture and forestry and supports the rural clean energy economy. Both investments. through existing programs and new initiatives, will make our farming communities more resilient and will help farmers mitigating the climate and biodiversity challenges that threaten their way of life and our country’s crops. These investments will also help farmers navigate financial, technical, and social challenges that may arise as they innovate, as well as ensure that public investments prioritize the needs of the most underserved populations and maximize benefits to public health, ecosystems, and local economies.
There are many opportunities for policies that invest in a safer, more equitable, and climate-smart future in the Farm Bill:
Rural Jobs and Economic Development: USDA should provide funding to advance rural clean energy deployment, business development and job training particularly for traditionally underserved rural populations. USDA should also support and pilot a program that mimics the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and expand it into private lands making it a Civilian Climate Corps.
Water Infrastructure: The Farm bill, along with other legislative vehicles, present a unique opportunity to further improve drinking water for millions of Americans, including the opportunity to:
- Invest additional resources in fixing our water infrastructure, paying special attention to the affordability and needs of lower-income and disproportionately affected communities.
- Fix lead in our water, including removing all lead service lines, fixing the Lead & Copper Rule, and addressing lead in schools and childcare centers.
Conservation: The 2023 Farm Bill has an opportunity to break significant ground on the pathways for regenerative agriculture. Some of the ways that congress can do that are through:
- Cover Crops. A =regenerative practice that offers a multitude of benefits, cover crops can help farmers maintain productivity in the face of climate change. Congress should expand on this important program and authorize a permanent incentive for farmers who use cover crops and build soil health.
- Soil Health. The 2018 Farm Bill created a visionary program operated by the Natural Resources Conservation Service to test the implementation and adoption of soil health practices. The program should be made permanent and expanded to allow more farmers and more regions to benefit from innovations in advancing soil health.
- Regenerative Agroforestry. USDA needs clearer and more direct authorities in agroforestry, a form of regenerative agriculture rooted in traditional Indigenous land management. Congress should guide USDA to scale these capacities to support farmers and ranchers who wish to invest in regenerative agroforestry.
Food Waste: In the 2023 Farm Bill development process, we urge Senator Stabenow to utilize our newly released report, “Opportunities to Reduce Food Waste in the 2023 Farm Bill.” Key recommendations from the report include:
- Congress should increase funding for grants that help compost organic waste. For example, the Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction Project program, Solid Waste Management Grant (SWMG) program, and the Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grant program. Congress should continue to prioritize projects in which the implementing agencies prioritize food waste reduction, and consider extending the SWMG program to two years. Congress should also create funding streams along the lines envisioned in the COMPOST Act of 2021 and Zero Food Waste Act of 2021 to support new compost and anaerobic digestion infrastructure.
- Nationally, consumer-facing businesses generate about 28% of food waste. A certification program that focuses on food waste would help consumers connect with businesses practicing good food waste reduction strategies.
- Creating end-markets for compost products will support increased composting, and by giving compost facilities a market to sell compost. Congress should create a crop insurance premium incentive program that pays farmers a per acre bonus for applying compost products to their fields before planting, modeled after the Pandemic Cover Crop Program (PCCP).
Organic / Nutrition: Organic farmers produce healthy food without toxic pesticides and use climate-friendly practices that lower greenhouse gas emissions and boost crop resiliency. Local and regional food producers—including areas where organic farming is highly concentrated—can also provide critical economic stability in rural communities.
- California launched a new Farm to School program in 2021 that is unique because it commits to giving school districts extra resources when they purchase from local growers that are using organic and other climate-smart systems and practices. The federal Farm to School program should adopt California’s approach and offer schools around the country who prioritize climate-smart organic procurement larger grants.
- To encourage more producers to pursue organic agriculture and realize the full potential of its climate, health, biodiversity and other benefits, the next Farm Bill also needs to continue to prioritize well-funded transition programs for organic farmers.
- Congress should increase funding for existing organic programs. These include the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP), Organic Transitions Program (ORG), and others like the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program that serve the needs of both organic and regenerative producers.
Conclusion
Our current food system leaves farms, rural America, farmers and ranchers vulnerable to massive losses related to climate change and ecosystem collapse. With targeted investments, and policy changes we can address the health of our air, water and food, the health of food workers and the public. Congress should make these investments to lift up communities and make our food system part of the solution. | https://airnewshubb.com/2022/05/10/opportunities-to-bolster-the-2023-farm-bill/ |
1) 15 min : power snatch 1.1.
2) 15 min : deadlift 1.1.1 (ride it down rest 5 sec between lifts)
3) 5 amrap
6 power cleans (115/80)
6 burpee bar hops
Lab Work:
Events 12-15
Perform the following events against a running clock:
Event 12
Complete as many rounds and reps as possible in 3 minutes of:
6 Ground to Overhead (95/65 lbs)
6 Burpees Over the Barbell (NOT Facing) must jump off 2 feet
Immediately followed by…
Event 13
Before the clock reaches 9:00, establish a max effort:
Snatch + Overhead Squat
Immediately followed by…
Event 14
When the clock reaches 9:00, perform as many reps as possible in 3 minutes of:
Strict Handstand Push-Ups
When the clock hits 12:00, rest exactly three minutes, and then…
Event 15
When the clock hits 15:00…
Complete rounds of 21, 15 and 9 reps for time of:
315/215 lb Deadlift
Ring Dips
Event 14: This event begins when the clock hits 9:00. Athletes have three minutes to accumulate as many reps as possible of strict handstand push-ups. The beginning and finish position of the movement must show the athlete’s heels on the wall with a straight line from the athlete’s heels, hips, shoulders and wrists. The athlete’s hands and fingers need to stay within a 36-inch wide box. Kipping is not allowed, and athletes may not bend their legs or allow their hips/butt to touch the wall. If you do not yet have strict handstand push-ups, simply wait out these three minutes and move on when the clock reaches 12:00…and don’t worry, you won’t be alone – there will be participating athletes who don’t record handstand push-ups in these three minutes.
Event 15:
Ring dips must start from the top position – full elbow extension with shoulder, elbow and wrist in a vertical line. The bottom of the ring dip is achieved when the top of the shoulder passes below the top of the elbow. The hips must descend as the elbow flexes. This event will be scored on time to completion – (Time on the Running Clock – 15:00), so please note and submit the time on the running clock upon completion.
CrossFit is a strength and conditioning program designed to help people gain a broad and general fitness. CrossFit programming concentrates on constantly varied functional movements performed at high intensity to achieve overall physical fitness, so people are prepared for any physical challenge. | http://www.crossfitroute1.com/wednesday-12-24-14/ |
The 21st Tchaikovsky International Music Competition opened yesterday in the main concert hall of the Moscow Conservatory. The competition, which takes place once every four years, is one of the world's major musical festivals, and one of the most important events in the cultural life of Russia.
The 2002 competition is unique in that it takes place in five of the best concert halls in the capital: the Large and Small Halls of the Moscow Conservatory, the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, the Column Hall and the concert hall of the Moscow Slobodkin Theatre and Concert Centre. It is also unusual in that the preliminary selection this time took place exclusively by video recordings (of the musicians) and by audio cassette recordings (of the singers).
The Tchaikovsky International Competition will take place in three stages. The value of the first prize has doubled relative to previous competitions, now standing at USD 20,000. There are eighteen prizes equally divided between piano, violin, and cello musicians, and eight for vocalists (four prizes for male singers, four for female). 55 Russian and foreign musicians will sit on the jury.
The competition's authority and the number of prospective participants has grown with each year. In 1998, there were 524 applicants from 50 countries, whereas this year 627 applied from 54 countries, although only 272 musicians passed through the selection process. Taking part in the competition are 65 pianists from 24 countries, 52 violinists from 19 countries, 63 cellists from 22 countries, and 92 vocalists from 14 countries.
Subscribe to Pravda.Ru Telegram channel, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, RSS! | https://english.pravda.ru/news/society/43879-n/ |
The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has congratulated the Black Satellite of Ghana for winning the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
The team lead by Couch Abdul Karim Zito, on Saturday, March 6, a day marking 64years since Ghana’s Independence from the British, secured a 2-0 victory over their Ugandan counterpart to clinch to the coveted title trophy for the fourth time.
The competitive march was held at the Stade Olympique de Nouakchott in Mauritania and comes 12year after since the team won same.
The last time Ghana won the U-20 AFCON title trophy was in 2009.
Reacting to the win, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has taken to his Facebook page to congratulate the Black Satellite for the victory.
He described the win as thoroughly deserve victory and added that the team had made Ghana proud.
He noted he can’t wait to host the team at the Jubilee House to celebrate their great victory which fell on the day Ghana gain its freedom from its colonial masters, the British.
Sharing a picture of the team, the President wrote,
“Congratulations to the Black Satellites for winning Ghana’s 4th AFCON U-20 trophy. Thoroughly deserved victory, and they’ve made Mother Ghana proud. What a way to celebrate our 64th Independence Anniversary!! Kudos to the team, and I look forward to receiving the playing, technical and management teams to Jubilee House”. | https://ghanaplus.com/news/you-have-made-mother-ghana-proud-nana-addo-tells-u-20-team-following-afcon-win/ |
The majesty of Saturn overwhelms in this image from Cassini. Saturn’s moon Tethys glides past in its orbit, and the icy rings mask the frigid northern latitudes with their shadows. Tethys is 1,071 kilometers (665 miles) across.
The image was taken in visible green light with the Cassini spacecraft wide-angle camera on June 10, 2005, at a distance of approximately 1.4 million kilometers (900,000 miles) from Saturn. The image scale is 80 kilometers (50 miles) per pixel. | https://www.universetoday.com/10708/tethys-glides-past-saturn/ |
PicWords is a unique word puzzle game where you must guess the hidden word from a grid of picture clues. It’s easy to play, but challenging enough to...
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Do you love word games? Are you looking for new ways to challenge yourself? Do you want to improve your vocabulary? If yes, then you have come to the right...
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Hangman is a word puzzle in which the player guesses the word hidden by the word puzzle maker. The player takes the role of the questioner and the word...
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Today we are going to learn about the Long Words Per Minute (LWPM). We know that typing fast is important, especially when you have to type a lot. But...
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Wordle is a word puzzle game. Think of a word, write it down, and then try to create as many words with that letter as you can! Challenge yourself and...
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Playing typing games is one of the oldest pastimes in the world. From the ancient Greeks, who invented the game of Pigeon to the modern age, when it was... | https://wordlegameorg.com/tag/skill |
Another Friday night Premier League beckons for Leicester City this week as they welcome Newcastle to the King Power Stadium in what is their 35th game of the Premier League campaign.
The Foxes who are in the hunt for a Champions League place next season were held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton in their last outing, complicating their quest for a top-four finish.
Despite that result, they remain in third place but are now two points ahead of Chelsea who sit in fourth place, and five points ahead of Tottenham who occupy fifth place. That result means that they now require just eight points from the remaining four games to seal a top-four finish.
Such a feat remains achievable for Brendan Rodgers’s side who have stayed within the top four for most of the season, even topping the league at one point.
They head into this tie unbeaten in four games and on a two-game-winning run at home. They will be hoping to extend their winning run against Newcastle to four in the PL when they play host to them this Friday.
Meanwhile, Steve Bruce has overseen a mini-turnaround for his Newcastle side and is now on the brink of leading them to safety after a series of good results in recent games.
However, their four-game unbeaten run was brought to a halt in a 2-0 loss in their last outing against Arsenal.
The Magpies sit in 17th place but are now nine points ahead of Fulham in 18th place with just 12 points left to play for. They can seal their Premier League status for one more season if they can pick up all three points in this tie.
However, the last time they visited The King Power, they fell to a 5-0 loss although, overall, they have a decent record there as they have won two of their last four PL games on the ground.
Other fixtures taking place this week in the Premier League Fixtures:
The very latest football data here. Just loading statistics from information source.
May 2, 2021
Manchester United
01:00
Liverpool
May 7, 2021
Leicester City
20:00
Newcastle United
May 8, 2021
Leeds United
12:30
Tottenham Hotspur
Sheffield United
15:00
Crystal Palace
Manchester City
17:30
Chelsea
Liverpool
20:15
Southampton
May 9, 2021
Wolverhampton Wanderers
12:00
Brighton & Hov…
Aston Villa
14:05
Manchester United
West Ham United
16:30
Everton
Arsenal
19:00
West Bromwich Albion
May 10, 2021
Fulham
20:00
Burnley
May 11, 2021
Southampton
20:00
Crystal Palace
May 12, 2021
Manchester United
18:00
Leicester City
Chelsea
20:15
Arsenal
May 13, 2021
Aston Villa
20:00
Everton
May 14, 2021
Newcastle United
20:00
Manchester City
May 15, 2021
Burnley
12:30
Leeds United
Southampton
15:00
Fulham
Brighton & Hov…
20:00
West Ham United
Premier League Table
The very latest football data here. Just loading statistics from information source.
#
Team
MP
W
D
L
F
A
G
P
1
Manchester City
34
25
5
4
71
24
+47
80
2
Manchester United
33
19
10
4
64
35
+29
67
3
Leicester City
34
19
6
9
61
39
+22
63
4
Chelsea
34
17
10
7
53
31
+22
61
5
West Ham United
34
17
7
10
55
44
+11
58
6
Tottenham Hotspur
34
16
8
10
60
38
+22
56
7
Liverpool
33
15
9
9
55
39
+16
54
8
Everton
33
15
7
11
45
42
+3
52
9
Arsenal
34
14
7
13
46
37
+9
49
10
Aston Villa
33
14
6
13
48
38
+10
48
11
Leeds United
34
14
5
15
50
52
-2
47
12
Wolverhampton Wanderers
34
11
9
14
33
46
-13
42
13
Crystal Palace
33
10
8
15
34
56
-22
38
14
Brighton & Hov…
34
8
13
13
35
39
-4
37
15
Southampton
33
10
7
16
41
59
-18
37
16
Burnley
34
9
9
16
31
47
-16
36
17
Newcastle United
34
9
9
16
36
56
-20
36
18
Fulham
34
5
12
17
25
45
-20
27
19
West Bromwich Albion
34
5
11
18
31
65
-34
26
20
Sheffield United
34
5
2
27
18
60
-42
17
Latest Premier League Results
The very latest football data here. Just loading statistics from information source. | |
Q:
Differential Entropy
I'm a little temporarily confused about the concept of differential entropy. It says on wikipedia that the differential entropy of a Gaussian is $\log(\sigma\sqrt{2\pi e})$. However I was thinking as $\sigma \rightarrow 0^+$, the only intuitive value for an entropy to me seems to be 0. We are then 100% sure that the outcome will be equal to $\mu$, and nothing is required to store the knowledge of what the outcome will be. Instead the expression above gives $-\infty$.
So I must be misunderstanding something, right?
Just to clarify, the reason why I'm asking is that I'm trying to figure out if my approach at this question about Empirical Entropy makes any sense.
Edit: "Own work"
Now I have thought a bit about this. If we take the easiest distribution, the uniform distribution, which (according to wikipedia) has differential entropy $\log(b-a)$, say $b-a = 2^k$.
If k = -1, this would be -1 bit and the interval would be length 0.5.
If k = 0, this would be 0 bit and the interval would be length 1.0.
If k = 1, this would be 1 bit and the interval would be length 2.0.
So if the interval is 0.5, we would "save" one bit, as compared to if we had to store the precision of an interval of length 1. So differential entropy is in some sense the information needed "in excess" to whatever resolution we want to store with. Does this make any sense?
A:
Yes, the differential entropy disregards resolution (quantization). A continuous random variable can't be represented exactly with finite number of bits. By introducing an approximate representation through quantization you can relate to classical entropy. For example if you quantize uniformly with intervals of length $\Delta=2^{-n}$ you get a discrete random variable with $p_i=\int_{(i-1/2)\Delta}^{(i+1/2)\Delta} f(x)dx$ and entropy
$$-\sum_i p_i \log p_i = -\sum_i \int_{(i-1/2)\Delta}^{(i+1/2)\Delta} f(x) dx \log (f(\xi_i)\Delta) = \\ -\sum_i \int_{(i-1/2)\Delta}^{(i+1/2)\Delta} f(x)\log(f(\xi_i)) dx - \log \Delta$$
where first term is approximated by differential entropy when quantization is fine.
You may consider a uniform on 0 to $2^m$ to see that differential entropy is $m$ and quantization with $\Delta = 2^{-n}$ gives entropy $m+n$ so intuitively the differential entropy gives the bits to cover the "spread" and the resolution $n$ in addition to cover the "precision". This assumes $m+n \geq 0$ to let quantization interval cover range.
In your initial example when $\sigma \to 0$ the fine quantization assumption will eventually be invalid but if you back up to exact expression entropy will be 0 as expected.
| |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain high quality granular crystals by arranging a large number of grains consisting of crystal material on a base board, introducing it into a heating furnace, heating and melting the grains, and thereafter hardening the melted grains.
SOLUTION: By arranging a large number of the grains consisting of the crystal material respectively in recesses 3 at the base board 2 where a large number of recesses for holding the grains 1 respectively are formed on its upper surface, introducing it into the heating furnace 10, heating and melting the grains 1, and thereafter hardening the melted grains 1 to be the granular crystal 1; contact of the granular crystals 1 with each other is avoided to effectively suppress combining of the granular crystals 1 with each other due to contact, and to exclude the start point of hardening from a contact. Thus, the start point of hardening in the case of hardening can be only a contact with the base board 2, so that the granular crystals 1 are obtained having crystallinity of a granular shape and a high quality where sub grain does not occur.
COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI | |
Data breaches and hacking put companies in jeopardy of exposing critical business information or can cause damage to company operations. While the most visible cases relate to computer databases, data transmitted over any network can be captured by an outside intruder. Attacks on wireless sensing and control networks also can cause an unintended system operation, affecting production loss or safety issues.
As the use of wireless technology for sensing and control systems becomes a more common practice in various industries such as oil and gas, agriculture, water systems, forestry, and public infrastructures, security becomes an important issue to ensure the authenticity of data as it passes from device to device. Information that passes through a wireless remote monitoring system must be validated and move untampered with through different transmission points. Safeguards must prevent malicious attackers from intercepting a data packet and intentionally changing its contents.
Using data without an integrity check is risky as it can cause unknown actions. Unfortunately, many companies using remote monitoring and control systems do not consider security protocols to protect their data.
A typical wireless remote monitoring and control system (see Figure 1) consists of a gateway and remote nodes that interface with sensors to provide field data and to control devices such as pumps, valves, fans, and lighting. As gateways can accommodate hundreds or even thousands of transceiver nodes, critical process and control data can be transmitted over large geographic areas covering hundreds of square miles. A series of security checks are necessary to protect data as it passes from point to point. As the wireless data is typically carried by a low power wireless sensor network, the wireless network, itself, must be responsible for protecting this information. Once the wireless data reaches a gateway, standard Ethernet security practices can be applied, consistent with company IT policies.
Fig. 1: Pictured is a configuration of a wireless remote monitoring and control system. Security for the wireless sensor network falls outside of IT security applied to the data from the Gateway to the server and user interface. Therefore, security measures must be evaluated on their own.
Next page
Types of Data Threats
A variety of data intrusions can interrupt a wireless sensor network, jeopardizing the reliability of output and even the production process. For example, in a replay attack, a device captures an encrypted message and retransmits it later to the network, with potential serious effects. Should a simple, high-pressure signal from a device be captured and later retransmitted, a control device could incorrectly trigger a shutoff, potentially causing lost production or a safety issue.
Best Practices
Security used by a wireless sensor network must include more than just encryption. Device authentication and replay prevention also are important security features necessary to secure a system. Discuss the security features with your vendor to insure that proper security measures protect your data network. Here follows some best practices to consider.
- Data Encryption protects electronic data from intrusion and ensures only designated recipients can read the information. AES Encryption supports a highly reliable and secure wireless network within the entire wireless system. The encryption protects against tampering as any modified data is invalidated and ignored. AES encryption is typically chosen for wireless sensor networks as it provides a high level of security and can be implemented on low power sensor devices.
- Device Authentication ensures that nodes perform an integrity check before joining the network. This security measure prevents nodes from joining a rogue or malicious network that would keep them from communicating with their intended network. Additionally, this process allows only authenticated nodes to connect to the network.
- Replay Prevention, as previously discussed, stops messages from being resent by a malicious device. It blocks security attacks if packets are captured and retransmitted at a later time. For example, if a message "to turn on a relay" is captured and sent later, operations could be at risk. Reply prevention schemes are typically based on time synchronization of all nodes in the network or message sequence numbers, allowing only fresh messages to be accepted by the network.
Next page
Fig.: 2: Signal Fire Wireless Telemetry uses firmware including data encryption and device authentication on its wireless remote monitoring products for a more reliable and secure wireless network infrastructure.
Conclusion
As the use of wireless sensor networks become more prevalent in monitoring and control applications, they become a bigger target for attacks. As no security standard exists in the industry for these networks, some do not utilize any protection at all.
Don't assume security is already in place or extensive enough to protect your important data and processes. Consider the security employed by the wireless network in addition to your corporate IT.
While sophisticated to provide robust data protection, security should be easily configurable and deployed. Consider the type of data and control messages that the wireless sensor network will transmit and evaluate the possible consequences of not properly securing that data. In almost all cases, data breaches or attacks put operations at risk. Even in remote locations, threats can happen.
About the Author
Josh Schadel serves as Director of Engineering at SignalFire Wireless Telemetry responsible for the development of new products from concept through production. With over 15 years experience in high tech instrumentation, he has a strong background in embedded systems and PCB designs as well as sensor networks. SignalFire Wireless Telemetry designs and manufactures wireless telemetry products that enable robust, long-distance wireless communication connecting multiple devices in challenging outdoor environments. Contact the company at [email protected] or visit http://www.signal-fire.com. | https://www.fierceelectronics.com/iot-wireless/data-security-practices-can-ensure-a-more-reliable-and-secure-wireless-remote |
At approximately 4:30 p.m. on March 24, 2016, detectives with the Bi-State Narcotic Task Force were searching for Earnest “Skip” Lomax due to an active Parole Revocation Warrant. Officers with the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department Special Operation Unit attempted to make a traffic stop on Lomax in the 3800 block of E. 19th. Lomax refused to stop and a pursuit began.
The pursuit traveled on E. 19th, I49, and Arkansas Boulevard at speeds in excess of 80 miles per hour. In the 4000 block of Arkansas Boulevard the 2001 Ford F250 pickup Lomax was driving wrecked and rolled upside down after leaving the roadway.
Evidence recovered during this incident include a hand grenade, a fully automatic rifle, a pistol with the serial number removed, and numerous pills.
Earnest “Skip” Lomax, after receiving medical treatment was booked into the Texarkana Arkansas Jail on the charges of Felony Fleeing, Possession of Weapon by Certain Persons, Possession of a Defaced Firearm, and a Parole Revocation Warrant. A female passenger in the vehicle was treated and released from the hospital.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) responded and are continuing the investigation into the automatic weapon and hand grenade.
The Bi-State Narcotic Task Force is comprised of Detectives from the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department and Miller County Sheriff Office. | https://txktoday.com/crime/man-who-had-automatic-weapon-and-grenade-facing-multiple-charges/ |
The invention relates to the field of data processing. The invention relates in particular to data processing devices having multiple processors which execute instructions from a shared program memory. The invention has application, for example, in network processors and image processors.
There are various situations in which multiple data processors operate simultaneously executing the same computer software to perform similar tasks. For example, network processors are devices which receive data packets in telecommunication networks and perform actions based upon information in the packet. Examples of actions performed by network processors include: forwarding a packet to a particular output port, assigning a packet to a priority queue, dropping a packet, etc. Since most network processing tasks must be performed individually for each packet, it is not uncommon for network processors to have an architecture in which the tasks of processing incoming packets are shared between a plurality of processing units. Each of the processing units executes the same computer software, which controls how the incoming packets are processed.
N
A large number of network processors may be fabricated on a single application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Each processor executes instructions from an instruction memory. Some network processors have a common instruction memory shared by a number of processing units. For example, PCT publication No. WO 01/17179 discloses a network processor having processing units which can concurrently execute picocode from a common instruction memory.
Image processing devices may also include multiple processing units which execute instructions from a common instruction memory.
A problem with such shared memory architectures is that each location in a common instruction memory can typically be accessed only by one processor at a time. Where this is the case, some processing units may not be able to obtain instructions from the common instruction memory when they need them. Such processors may stall until a time slice during which they can retrieve the instructions that they need from the common instruction memory. This is inefficient and reduces overall processing throughput.
An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for providing a plurality of processing units with access to instructions to be executed by the processing units, said instructions being held in memory structure which is shared between the processing units.
characterized in that :
said memory structure comprises a number of simultaneously accessible memory sections, the number of memory sections being at least equal to a number of the processing units, the memory structure being capable of holding software comprising a plurality of sequential parts with the parts distributed between the memory sections such that sequential parts are in sequential memory sections; and
said apparatus further comprises a memory section access control connected between the processing units and the memory structure, the memory section access control configured to permit, on each of a plurality of successive memory access cycles, each of the processing units to retrieve one of the parts of the software from a different one of the memory sections, the memory section access control permitting at least one of the processing units to retrieve sequential ones of the parts of the software from sequential ones of the memory sections on sequential memory access cycles.
More precisely, the invention provides an apparatus comprising a plurality of processing units and a memory structure
Thus, according to the invention, a memory structure such as an instruction memory is shared by a number of processing units and has a plurality of individually accessible memory sections. A software program in the instruction memory is distributed among the memory sections. Sequential parts of the software program are in sequential sections. The software program may have a common portion which is repeated in each of the memory sections. A memory section access control such an arbiter logic controls which of the processing units accesses which of the memory sections in each memory access cycle. The apparatus according to the invention may be applied to image processing, network processing, digital signal processing, or any other field in which it is desirable to have a number of processing units executing instructions from a common instruction memory.
Another aspect of the invention provides a method for providing a plurality of processing units with access to a shared instruction memory containing software to be executed by the processing units. The method comprises distributing the software among a plurality of simultaneously accessible memory sections such that sequential parts are in sequential memory sections; in each of a plurality of memory access cycles, for each of the processing units, retrieving a part of the software from a different one of the memory sections; and, in sequential ones of the memory access cycles, for at least one of the processing units, retrieving sequential parts of the software from sequential ones of the memory sections.
Further aspects of the invention and features of specific embodiments of the invention are described below.
Figure 1 is a schematic view of an instruction memory architecture for a set of processing units according to one embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic view of a possible organization of instructions in the instruction memory architecture of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating one way to control a simple round robin scheme for providing processing units with access to memory segments in the instruction memory architecture of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a schematic view of a further possible organization of instructions in the instruction memory architecture of Figure 1 ;
Figure 5 is a schematic view of an instruction memory architecture for a set of processing units according to another embodiment of the invention which includes an arbiter;
Figure 6 is a flow diagram illustrating an algorithm that may be implemented in the arbiter of Figure 5;
Figure 7 illustrates the use of a 2-bit counter to generate memory section selection values;
Figure 8 illustrates an ASIC having a plurality of groups of processing units, each group of processing units having a shared memory structure; and,
Figure 9 is a schematic view of an instruction memory architecture for a set of processing units according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.
In drawings which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the invention,
Throughout the following description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced without these particulars. In other instances, well known elements have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense.
10
10
12.
10
12
m
12
12
13.
13
14.
13
14-0
14-3
12.
m
Figure 1 shows a multi-processor data processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention. Apparatus comprises a number of processing units It is convenient for apparatus to comprise 2 processing units where is an integer. Each processing unit may comprise a processor core on an ASIC. Processing units access and execute instructions stored in a memory structure Memory structure comprises a plurality of independently accessible sections In the illustrated embodiment, memory structure comprises four sections through which contain instructions for execution by for processing units
13
15
12.
15
17
12.
17
Memory structure contains a software program to be executed by processing units As shown in Figure 2, software program comprises a number of parts (which each comprise one instruction or, optionally, multiple instructions). Each part preferably has a width equal to a width of the instruction buses of processing units Each part may, for example, comprise one word and instruction buses may each have a width of one word. The word may be a word of, for example, 8, 16, 32 or 64 bits.
14-0
14-3.
14-0
14-1
14-2
14-3
The parts are interleaved between sections through Section contains parts 0, 4, 8, 12 etc. Section contains parts 1, 5, 8, 13 etc. Section contains parts 2, 6, 9, 14, etc. Section contains parts 3, 7, 10, 15, etc.
12
13.
12
14
14,
20,
24
25.
25
20
24.
25
m
m
A memory section access control is connected between processing units and memory structure The memory section access control determines which processing units can access which memory sections in each memory access cycle. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the memory section access control comprises, for each section an input multiplexer output multiplexer and a counter Each counter contains a value which is presented to control inputs of input multiplexer and output multiplexer This value may be termed a memory section selection value. Where there are 2 processors, it is convenient for counters to be -bit counters.
12
22.
22
12
12'
22
15
13
12.
22
12
20.
Each processing unit has a program counter Program counter is typically part of the processing unit as indicated by the dashed line in Figure 1. Program counter contains a value which indicates, directly or indirectly, a next part of software to be fetched from memory structure for execution by the associated processing unit The program counters associated with each processing unit are presented at the inputs of each input multiplexer
14
20
12.
14
25.
15
14
14.
At an input of each memory section , input multiplexer presents the program counter value for one of processing units Which of the program counter values is presented to the input of the memory section is determined by the value in counter In each cycle, a part of software is retrieved from each memory section as specified by the value at the input of the section
14
15
14
24
24
17
12
12
14
24
14
12
25
12.
Each memory section presents the retrieved part of software at an output. Each output of a memory section is connected to an input of each output multiplexer . An output from each output multiplexer connects to a instruction bus associated with one of processing units . Each of processing units thereby receives instructions from one of memory sections by way of an output multiplexer . The particular memory section from which the instructions delivered to a particular processing unit originate in a particular memory access cycle is determined by the value of the counter associated with that processing unit
25
12
14.
25
12
14
15.
25
14
25
25-0
25-3
25
TABLE I -
Possible Sequence of Counter Values
Memory Access Cycle
Counter Values
25-0
(CNT 0)
25-1
(CNT 1)
25-2
(CNT 2)
25-3
(CNT 3)
1
0
3
2
1
2
1
0
3
2
3
2
1
0
3
4
3
2
1
0
5
0
3
2
1
The values within counters are set such that, during each memory access cycle, each processing unit has access to a different one of memory sections In each subsequent memory access cycle, the values within counters are changed, such that over a number of memory access cycles, each processing unit will have access to each memory section and all parts of software For example, the values within counters may be rotated as shown in Figure 3. In the case where there are four memory sections and four counters identified as through then the values in counters may rotate as shown in Table I.
12
15.
22
12
15.
14-0,
12-0
14-0
12-0
14-0
25-0
14-0.
12
For example, when the system of Figure 1 is reset, each processor unit is configured to begin running software The program counter of each processor unit contains a value which identifies PART 0 of software Since PART 0 is in memory section only the processing unit (which has access to memory section on the first memory access cycle) will get the instruction it needs. Processing unit is the only processing unit with access to memory section on the first memory access cycle, because the value in its counter corresponds with memory section The other processing units will stall.
12-0
14-1
15
25-0
14-1).
12-1
15.
12,
15
On the second memory access cycle, processing unit has access to memory section and can retrieve PART 1 of software (on the second memory access cycle, the value in counter corresponds to memory section On the second memory access cycle, processing unit can retrieve PART 0 of software The other two processing units which are still waiting for access to PART 0 of software will stall.
12
15,
12
15
12
12
14
12
22
25.
On and after the fourth memory access cycle, as long as none of processing units execute a jump or branch in software each processing unit receives the next part of software in round robin fashion. If a processing unit does execute a jump or branch, then it stalls until a next memory access cycle in which that processor has access to the memory section containing the instruction being branched to. In the embodiment described above, a processing unit that jumps or branches will stall in a given memory access cycle if the lowest two bits of the address in its program counter do not match the value in its corresponding counter
15
12
12
15.
12
12
15
In many applications, software comprises a relatively small section of commonly-executed code and a relatively large amount of code for handling situations which must be handled but which occur relatively rarely. For example, where processing units are applied in packet processing, most of processing units will spend most of the time executing commonly executed parts of software Occasionally a processing unit will encounter an exception, for example, an erroneous packet or cell transmission or a packet with options or the like. When this occurs, the processing unit will branch to a less commonly-used part of software which contains code for handling the exception.
15
14
15
14
15
14.
14
14A
14B.
15A
15
15A
14A.
15A
In such situations, it can be advantageous to provide a complete commonly-used portion of software in each of memory sections and to distribute the remaining, less commonly-used, portions of software among memory sections as described above. Figure 4 illustrates one possible arrangement of software in memory sections Memory sections are each divided into two areas and A first portion of software is repeated in each of memory sections 14. First portion is located in area Portion includes parts retrieved by program counter values in the range of 0 to M-1.
15B
15
14B
14
15B
14B
14-0,
14B
14-1.
15B
14B
14-2
14-3
A second portion of software is divided among areas of memory sections as described above. Second portion comprises parts retrieved by program counter values in the range of M to N. As shown in Figure 4, parts M, M+4, M+8 and so on are located in area of memory section Parts M+1, M+5, M+9 and so on are located in area of memory section Other parts of second portion are located in areas of memory sections and .
12
15A
15,
15A
14.
12
15
15B,
12
14
With the memory arrangement illustrated in Figure 4, as long as processing units are executing instructions found in portion of software there are no stalls since all parts of portion are repeated in every one of memory sections If a processing unit branches to a part of software which is in portion then the processing unit may stall for up to three memory access cycles until it has access to the memory section which contains the part of software 15 to which it is branching.
14A
14B
10
14A
14B.
15.
14
14A,
15.
14
14B,
15
The relative sizes of memory areas and may be made configurable. Apparatus may comprise a register containing a value representing an address which demarcates a boundary between memory areas and memory areas By changing the value in the register one can make trade-offs between performance and the size of software By setting the value so that all of sections are treated as memory areas one can increase performance and avoid stalling at the expense of being able to accommodate a smaller amount software By setting the value so that all of sections are treated as memory areas one can increase capacity for software at the expense of performance.
10'
10'
30
25.
30
12
20
24.
30
20
24
12
14
15
12
Figure 5 illustrates apparatus according to an alternative embodiment of the invention. Apparatus includes an arbiter in place of counters Arbiter has inputs which receive program counter values from each of processing units and outputs which control multiplexers and Arbiter attempts to control multiplexers and to provide each of processing units with access to the memory section containing that part of software which the processing unit requires.
30
30
20
24
14
12
12
15
15B
15B
14,
12
14
15.
12
14,
12
14
12)
15
12.
30
14
12
14
12
14
30
20
24
Arbiter may be implemented in many different ways. In some embodiments, arbiter may control multiplexers and to interchange the memory sections from which two processing units will retrieve instructions on the next memory access cycle. For example, consider the case where a first processing unit requires a part of software which is located in portion (see Figure 4). Since each part of portion is located in only one memory section that first processing unit will stall on the next memory access unless it can have access to the particular memory section containing the required part of software Assume that, on the next memory access cycle, the first processing unit would normally have access to a first memory section a second processing unit would normally have access to a second memory section and that the second memory section (i. e. normally accessible by the second processing unit contains the part of software required by the first processing unit Under these circumstances, arbiter determines whether the number of processing units which will stall on the next memory access cycle can be reduced by interchanging access to the first and second memory sections so that the first processing unit will access the second memory section and the second processing unit will access the first memory section on the next memory access cycle. If so, then arbiter controls the multiplexers and associated with the first and second memory sections to implement this switch.
12
15A
the second processing unit is executing parts of software within common portion (in which case the second processing unit does not care which memory section it has access to);
12
15
15B
12
14;
the second processing unit is executing parts of software within portion and the part of software required by second processing unit is not located in the second memory section or,
12
30).
the second processing unit is not active (as indicated, for example, by a reserved or non-present program counter value or a separate signal (not shown) provided to arbiter
The number of stalled processors will be reduced by making such a switch if :
30.
40
12
15
15B.
12
14A
14B
14.
42
30
12
14
15.
44
30
30
46.
Figure 6 illustrates possible logic which may be implemented in arbiter Block determines whether there is a processing unit which requires a part of software from portion This may be achieved in some embodiments by comparing a program counter value for the processing unit in question with a value which divides areas and of memory sections In block arbiter checks to determine whether such processing unit would normally have access to the memory section containing the required part of software In some embodiments this may be achieved by inspecting the lowest-order bits of the program counter value. In block arbiter determines whether a swap would be beneficial (i.e. reduce a number of stalled processors on the next memory access cycle). If so, then arbiter implements a swap in block
30
20
24.
30
30
30
14
12
12
30
30
15
15
Arbiter may be implemented in the form of a logic circuit which produces at its outputs control signals for multiplexers and Arbiter may have various architectures having various levels of complexity. A simple arbiter may, for example, attempt to reduce stalls in a single stage. The arbiter may, for example, interchange the memory sections associated with one or more pairs of processing units to reduce a number of processing units which will stall on the next memory access cycle. A more complicated arbiter may attempt further optimization at the expense of slower operation. An arbiter may be used in cases where software is organized as shown in Figure 2 as well as in cases where software is organized as shown in Figure 4.
30
22
12
15
15A
12-0
12-3.
12
14,
30
14
12.
12-0
12-3.
12-0
12-0
14
12-0
TABLE II -
<b>ARBITER TRUTH TABLE</b>
<b>PROCESSOR ACCESS REQUIREMENTS</b>
<b>PROCESSOR ACCESS GRANTED</b>
<b>12-0</b>
<b>12-1</b>
<b>12-2</b>
<b>12-3</b>
<b>12-0</b>
<b>12-1</b>
<b>12-2</b>
<b>12-3</b>
A
A
A
A
0
1
2
3
Table II provides a truth table for one embodiment of arbiter for the special case where the program counters for all processing units either require a part of software which is in portion or are not active. These processor requirements are indicated by the letter "A" in the columns on the left hand side of Table II, which correspond to each of processing units through Since each of the processing units is satisfied by access to any memory section arbiter does not need to alter the assignment of memory sections to processing units These memory section assignments are indicated by the numbers 0 to 3 in the columns on the right hand side of Table II, which correspond to each of processing units through The number 0 in the column for processing unit indicates, for example, that on the next memory cycle, processing unit will access the memory section which would normally be assigned to processing unit in the next memory access cycle.
30
22
12
15
15A
22
12-0
14.
TABLE III-0 -
<b>ARBITER TRUTH TABLE</b>
<b>PROCESSOR ACCESS REQUIREMENTS</b>
<b>PROCESSOR ACCESS GRANTED</b>
<b>12-0</b>
<b>12-1</b>
<b>12-2</b>
<b>12-3</b>
<b>12-0</b>
<b>12-1</b>
<b>12-2</b>
<b>12-3</b>
0
A
A
A
0
1
2
3
1
A
A
A
1
0
2
3
2
A
A
A
2
1
0
3
3
A
A
A
3
1
2
0
TABLE III-1 -
<b>ARBITER TRUTH TABLE</b>
<b>PROCESSOR ACCESS REQUIREMENTS</b>
<b>PROCESSOR ACCESS GRANTED</b>
<b>12-0</b>
<b>12-1</b>
<b>12-2</b>
<b>12-3</b>
<b>12-0</b>
<b>12-1</b>
<b>12-2</b>
<b>12-3</b>
A
0
A
A
1
0
2
3
A
1
A
A
0
1
2
3
A
2
A
A
0
2
1
3
A
3
A
A
0
3
2
1
TABLE III-2 -
<b>ARBITER TRUTH TABLE</b>
<b>PROCESSOR ACCESS REQUIREMENTS</b>
<b>PROCESSOR ACCESS GRANTED</b>
<b>12-0</b>
<b>12-1</b>
<b>12-2</b>
<b>12-3</b>
<b>12-0</b>
<b>12-1</b>
<b>12-2</b>
<b>12-3</b>
A
A
0
A
2
1
0
3
A
A
1
A
0
2
1
3
A
A
2
A
0
1
2
3
A
A
3
A
0
1
3
2
TABLE III-3 -
<b>ARBITER TRUTH TABLE</b>
<b>PROCESSOR ACCESS REQUIREMENTS</b>
<b>PROCESSOR ACCESS GRANTED</b>
<b>12-0</b>
<b>12-1</b>
<b>12-2</b>
<b>12-3</b>
<b>12-0</b>
<b>12-1</b>
<b>12-2</b>
<b>12-3</b>
A
A
A
0
3
1
2
0
A
A
A
1
0
3
2
1
A
A
A
2
0
1
3
2
A
A
A
3
0
1
2
3
Tables III-0 through III-3 provide truth tables for one embodiment of arbiter for the case where: (i) the program counters for three of processing units either require a part of software which is in portion or are not active; and (ii) the program counter for one of processing units requires access to a specific memory section
12
14
12-0
12-1
14.
TABLE IV -
<b>ARBITER TRUTH TABLE</b>
<b>PROCESSOR ACCESS REQUIREMENTS</b>
<b>PROCESSOR ACCESS GRANTED</b>
<b>12-0</b>
<b>12-1</b>
<b>12-2</b>
<b>12-3</b>
<b>12-0</b>
<b>12-1</b>
<b>12-2</b>
<b>12-3</b>
0
0
A
A
0
1
2
3
0
1
A
A
0
1
2
3
0
2
A
A
0
2
1
3
0
3
A
A
0
3
2
1
1
0
A
A
1
0
2
3
1
1
A
A
0
1
2
3
1
2
A
A
1
2
0
3
1
3
A
A
1
3
0
2
2
0
A
A
2
0
1
3
2
1
A
A
2
1
0
3
2
2
A
A
2
1
0
3
2
3
A
A
2
3
0
1
3
0
A
A
3
0
2
1
3
1
A
A
3
1
2
0
3
2
A
A
3
2
1
0
3
3
A
A
3
1
2
0
Arbiter truth tables for cases in which 2, 3 or 4 of processing units require access to specific memory sections may be provided by extending the above. For example, Table IV is a possible truth table for the case where processing units and each require access to a specific memory section
50,
12
13.
50
52
12,
52
13.
52
12.
52
12
13
14.
52
12
50
54
13
52
13
52.
m
m
As shown schematically in Figure 8, the invention may be embodied in an ASIC which carries both processing units and memory In some embodiments, a single ASIC carries a plurality of groups of processing units each group also including an associated memory structure Each group may comprise, for example, 4 to 16 processing units It is convenient for each group to have 2 processing units and a memory structure having 2 memory sections The ASIC illustrated schematically in Figure 8 has five groups of 8 processing units as well as other circuitry (not shown). ASIC may comprise memory write circuitry configured to receive software to be stored in the memory structures of the groups (the software may, for example, be received from an off-chip source) and to concurrently write received software to the memory structures of all of the groups
Where a component (e.g. a software module, processor, assembly, device, circuit, etc.) is referred to above, unless otherwise indic ated, reference to that component (including a reference to a "means") should be interpreted as including as equivalents of that component any component which performs the function of the described component (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), including components which are not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure, but which perform the function in the illustrated exemplary embodiments of the invention.
The invention may be applied to image processing, network processing, digital signal processing, or any other field in which it is desirable to have a number of processing units executing instructions from a common instruction memory.
25
20
24.
It is not necessary to provide separate counters to control input multiplexers and output multiplexers A state machine, or a number of state machines, which produce suitable control signals for the multiplexers could be used instead. A single counter associated with logic for carrying suitable control signals to each of the multiplexers could also be used.
14
12
14.
12.
It is not necessary that the number of memory sections be equal to the number of processing units serviced by those memory sections There could be more memory sections 14 than processing units
30
30
14
12
14
30
14
12
30
12.
Where an arbiter is provided, depending upon the capability of arbiter it may not be necessary that the memory section to which a particular processing unit would normally have access be rotated among all of the available memory sections as described for example, with reference to Figure 3. The arbiter may assign each processing unit to a memory section for each memory access cycle in a manner which minimizes stalling and is not unfair to any of processing units . Arbiter could include a mechanism for providing priority to certain processing units
While the memory sections are described herein as being simultaneously accessible, this means only that parts of the software can be retrieved from each of the memory sections in a single memory access cycle.
25
25
25
25-0, 25-1, 25-2
25-3
Where the memory section access control comprises a counter as shown in Figure 1, it is not necessary that there be a separate counter corresponding to every memory section. A single counter may be used to generate suitable memory section selection values and for all of the input and output multiplexers as shown in Figure 7.
10"
14
24'.
14
24'
24'
12.
25'
24'
12
12
24'.
It is not necessary to configure the output multiplexers as depicted in Figure 1. In an alternative embodiment depicted in Figure 9, each memory section is associated with an output demultiplexer The output of a particular memory section is connected to the input of its corresponding output demultiplexer and the four outputs of output demultiplexer are connected to respective processing units With such a configuration, the control input for each demultiplexer operates to select a particular one of the processing units to receive data from among the other processing units connected to that demultiplexer
Similarly, it is not necessary to configure the input multiplexers as depicted in Figure 1. In the alternative embodiment 10" depicted in Figure 9, each processing unit 12 is associated with an input demultiplexer 20'. The program counter of a particular processing unit 12 is connected to the input of its corresponding input demultiplexer 20' and the four outputs of input demultiplexer 20' are connected to respective memory sections 14. With such a configuration, the control input 25' for each demultiplexer 20' operates to select a particular one of the memory sections 14 to receive an instruction request from among the other memory sections connected to that demultiplexer 20'.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. For example,
Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims. | |
Freeze frame / Peter May.
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Reviews
Booklist Reviews 2010 February #1
Prolific May's fourth book in the Enzo Files series (Blacklight Blue, 2008) finds the forensic scientist on one of the small Channel Islands, which are more like his home country of Scotland than his current home in Southern France. Enzo uses a deft combination of cutting-edge forsenic technology, his own insight, and traditional detecting to solve his latest cold case, which involves an elderly man dying of cancer, shot in his own study, whose will stipulates that nothing in the study be touched until his son arrives home to receive a secret message. But the son dies soon after the father, and when Enzo arrives, the room has sat virtually untouched for nearly 20 years. Enzo is a fascinating character in his own right, and his complicated personal life only adds to the appeal. Readers new to the series may not be entirely sure why Enzo is dedicated to solving a series of cold cases, but since the majority of the book and the entirety of the mystery stands alone, anyone who enjoys forensic mysteries should be able to leap right in. Copyright 2010 Booklist Reviews.
LJ Reviews 2010 January #1
Eighteen year ago, a man ordered his daughter-in-law to preserve his study as he had left clues to help his son to identify his killer. An hour later, the man is shot to death, and his son dies shortly thereafter. The police identify a local suspect but lose the case in court. Having boasted that he could solve seven cold cases written up in a best-selling book, forensic specialist Enzo Macleod travels to a small island off the Brittany coast to crack this fourth crime (after the cases solved in Extraordinary People, The Critic, and Blacklight Blue). VERDICT The author of the much acclaimed "China Thrillers" surpasses himself here in misdirection, placing clues in plain sight and leaving the reader anticipating the fifth entry in this outstanding series. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ 11/1/09; large print: ISBN 978-1-59058-695-2.][Page 75]. Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.
LJ Reviews 2009 November #1
May peppers the fourth in his "Enzo Files" series (after Blacklight Blue) with 20-year-old clues, preserved in the study of a dead man. Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
PW Reviews 2010 January #2
May's excellent fourth Enzo McLeod mystery (after 2008's Blacklight Blue) takes the Scottish forensics wizard, who impulsively bet his daughter's boyfriend he could solve seven cold cases, to the Ile de Groix off the coast of Brittany, where he may finally meet his Waterloo. The quaint island is the site of the notorious 1990 slaying of tropical disease specialist and entomologist Adam Killian in his study. For two decades the crime scene—and the cryptic hints Killian supposedly left to identify his killer—have remained as undisturbed as an insect frozen in amber. Can Macleod, distracted by personal dramas that involve his sometime lover, Charlotte, and a menacing stalker, decipher the message—and stay in one piece? With its intricate plot, compelling characters, and bombshell denouement, this unsettling Enzo Files installment is a must-read. (Mar.)[Page 34]. Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information. | https://www.faylib.org/eds/detail?db=cat05595a&an=fay.299374&isbn=1590586948 |
COVID-19 passengers flew into LAX, public not warned: report
A coronavirus-infected Manhattan surgeon reportedly flew on a flight across the country from New York to Los Angeles in mid-March, causing the virus to unknowingly spread to others, who later died, according to a report.
With much of the country already in the coronavirus blockade, the passenger flew in with 49 passengers and eight crew members during that flight that departed from John F. Kennedy Airport and arrived at Los Angeles International Airport approximately six hours later.
It was one of two flights with an infected person on board: the other from Seoul, South Korea, on March 8. Both saw more than 200 people return to their families and local communities without being contacted or alerted, according to the Los Angeles Times.
An editorial photo of the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) sign in Los Angeles, California.
"Christ," said Dr. George Rutherford, a former California state epidemiologist. "That is a problem."
Public health officials reportedly did not inform anyone on the flight that they were at risk and the airline recently learned of the case. One of the passengers who flew Asiana Airlines Flight 202 from Seoul suffered cardiac arrest the following morning and became the first COVID-19 death in Los Angeles County.
The surgeon on the New York flight later developed a high fever and cough with phlegm and was rushed to a local hospital the following morning. The virus that spread from the domestic flight eventually reached a California assisted living facility where dozens later died, according to the Los Angeles Times.
A spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told the newspaper that Los Angeles public health officials never alerted them to the flights, so the spread could not be traced.
UNITED AIRLINES UPDATES COVID-19 POLICY TO REQUIRE TRAVELERS TO HAVE A HEALTH SELF-ASSESSMENT AT THE CHECK-IN
"Any delay in contacting exposed people will increase the likelihood of the disease spreading," added a CDC spokesperson.
The plane trip leaves people on board particularly susceptible to COVID-19, said epidemiologist David Engelthaler, chief of the infectious disease arm of the Arizona Translational Genomics Research Institute.
"Sitting in a closed environment for an extended period of time only increases overall exposure," said Engelthaler.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
The CDC has conducted 392 investigations of contact tracking for air travelers since the coronavirus pandemic began, according to the Los Angeles Times.
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A British adventurer has set off on an attempt to become the first person to swim 2,000 miles around the UK.
Ross Edgley, 32, left from Margate Harbour on Saturday to swim the 2,000 miles - circumnavigating the British mainland in around 100 days.
He hopes to travel between 20 and 30 miles per day without touching land - only stopping to sleep on his support boat.
Ross Edgley, 32, left from Margate Harbour on Saturday to swim the 2,000 miles - circumnavigating the British mainland in around 100 days
He will swim for two six-hour bursts everyday in a clockwise direction from Margate, finishing at Tower Bridge in London on September 9.
To prepare for the amazing feat, Ross has been eating between 10,000 and 15,000 calories per day.
He said: 'It's the equivalent of swimming the English Channel every day.
'But I know my body can take it; I know I can be the first person in history to achieve it.'
He hopes to travel between 20 and 30 miles per day without touching land - only stopping to sleep on his support boat
His trip, which will be documented on the Red Bull website , will see him swim 30-50km every day until he reaches the finish line on September 9
Edyley will swim up to 40,000 strokes per day, for a total of 2.4 million strokes
But Lincolnshire-based Edgley's mission isn't just about pushing his own body to its limits, he hopes his efforts will also encourage others to step outside of their comfort zone.
He added: 'I want to inspire people to get out there and challenge themselves - maybe try your first open water swim, sign up for a triathlon, or your first park run - find something that you didn't think you were capable of and prove yourself wrong.
'I've got unfinished business in the water'
'Earlier this year I attempted to swim from Martinique to St Lucia while tied to a tree.
'I'd aimed to swim 40km point to point, but the current was totally against me and kept dragging me back. Even though I didn't reach the shore, I actually swam over 100km in the end.
'So I phoned up the Royal Marines when I returned to the UK and asked if I could swim for 48 hours straight, just to see what I've got in the locker.
Edgley's has previous when it comes to challenging himself with fitness-based adventurers - having climbed Mount Everest in one sitting
'The swim went really well and I hit 126km. One of the Marines mentioned the idea of swimming around the entirety of Britain - something that's never been done before - and I thought, 'why not?' I also can't write a book and call it The World's Fittest Book without being able to back it up in a big way!'
Talking about the UK swim he said: 'I want to complete the swim in 100 days'
'By looking at my swim metrics and comparing them to people who'd rowed around the entirety of Great Britain, I was able to estimate 100 days as a target.
'Oddly enough, in very bad conditions, my open water swimming times are the same as those of the rowers. A friend of mine named Sean Conway once swam the length of Great Britain in 135 days. I'm looking to do more than double that distance in less time.'
'It's going to be a game of chess with Mother Nature - you can swim hard, but you need to swim smart.'
'I can't touch the shore, not even once; it needs to be done in the spirit of a true adventure. For the best output. I'll need minimal waves, predictable currents, feeding stations along the way - we're working with RNLI and the coastguards for those - and mundane weather, enough sun exposure to warm up the sea but not enough to get frazzled. The weather and the tides have to play ball.'
Edgley's has previous when it comes to challenging himself with fitness-based adventurers.
He once climbed the height of Everest on a rope in one sitting and swum 100km in the Caribbean in just 32 hours whilst attached to a 100lb log.
In May of this year, the 32-year old saw his nutrition and fitness guide, The World’s Fittest Book, quickly become a Sunday Times bestseller.
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abstract: 'We apply a new method based upon thermofield dynamics (TFD) to study entanglement of finite-spin systems with non-competitive external fields for both equilibrium and non-equilibrium cases. For the equilibrium finite-spin systems, the temperature dependence of the extended density matrices is derived using this method, and the effect of non-competitive external field is demonstrated. For the non-equilibrium finite-spin systems, the time dependence of the extended density matrices and the extended entanglement entropies is derived in accordance with von Noumann equation, and the dissipative dynamics of the finite-spin systems is argued. Consequently, the applicability of the TFD-based method to describe entanglement is confirmed in both equilibrium and non-equilibrium cases with the external fieds.'
author:
- |
Koichi Nakagawa\
Hoshi University, Tokyo 142-8501, Japan
title: '**Dissipative Dynamics of Entangled Finite-Spin Systems with Non-Competitive External Fields**'
---
Introduction {#sec:1}
============
Generally, entanglement states show a quantum-mechanically complicated behavior. A new method to analyze quantum entanglement using thermofield dynamics (TFD) [@Fano; @Prigogine; @Takahashi] has been proposed in Ref. [@Hashizume], and the capacity has been confirmed in Ref. [@Nakagawa]. In this new treatment of quantum entanglement with TFD, an extended density matrix has been defined on the double Hilbert space (ordinary and tilde Hilbert spaces), and examined for some simple cases [@Hashizume]. The new TFD-based method allows the entanglement states to be easily understood, because the intrinsic elements caused by quantum entanglement can be extracted from the extended density matrix in this formulation. Consequently, it has been found that the intrinsic quantum entanglement can be distinguished from the thermal fluctuations included in the definition of the ordinary entanglement at finite temperatures. Based on the analysis presented in Ref. [@Hashizume], it has been argued that the general TFD formulation of the extended density matrix is applicable not only to equilibrium states but also to non-equilibrium states. Furthermore, the extended entanglement entropy has been introduced using the extended density matrix, and compared with the traditional entanglement entropy for the case of non-equilibrium spin system without external field [@Hashizume; @Nakagawa]. However, analysis of the entanglement entropies of non-equilibrium systems with external fields has not been conducted in Refs. [@Hashizume; @Nakagawa] and, therefore, the examination of the entanglement entropies of non-equilibrium systems with external fields using TFD is of current interest. In the present communication, therefore, the extended density matrices and the entanglement entropies of finite-spin systems with and without the non-competitive external fields are exhaustively investigated in both the equilibrium and non-equilibrium cases, based upon the general TFD algorithm.
The rest of the paper is organized as follows. In the next section, we introduce the extended density matrix in the double Hilbert space of the TFD, and review the equilibrium systems with external fields. In Sec. 3, we obtain the the extended density matrices and the the extended entanglement entropies of non-equilibrium spin systems with and without the non-competitive external fields, and discuss the numerical results of the time dependence. Finally, conclusions are described in Sec. 4.
The extended density matrix metod and the example of equilibrium finite-spin systems {#sec:2}
=====================================================================================
First of all, we give a short introduction of the extended density matrix, $\hat{\rho }$, in the double Hilbert space of the TFD. $\hat{\rho }$ has been defined in Ref. [@Hashizume] as follows: $$\begin{aligned}
\hat{\rho }:=|\Psi \rangle\langle\Psi |,\ |\Psi \rangle:=\rho ^{1/2}\sum _{s}|s,\tilde{s}\rangle=\rho ^{1/2}\sum _{s}|s\rangle|\tilde{s}\rangle, \label{eq:12} \end{aligned}$$ using the ordinary density matrix, $\rho $, where $\left\{ |s\rangle \right\}$ is the orthogonal complete set in the original Hilbert space and $\left\{ |\tilde{s}\rangle \right\}$ is the same set in the tilde Hilbert space of the TFD [@Suzuki1; @Suzuki4]. If entanglement subsystems A and B are being examined, each of $|s\rangle$ and $|\tilde{s}\rangle$ states are represented as the direct products $|s_{\text{A}}, s_{\text{B}}\rangle=|s_{\text{A}}\rangle | s_{\text{B}}\rangle$ and $|\tilde{s}_{\text{A}},
\tilde{s}_{\text{B}}\rangle=|\tilde{s}_{\text{A}}\rangle |\tilde{s}_{\text{B}}\rangle$, respectively. Moreover, it has been proven in Ref. [@Hashizume] that if the square-root density matrix $\rho^{1/2}$ is written using the matrix elements $a_{\alpha_{\text{A}},\beta_{\text{B}},\alpha'_{\text{A}},\beta'_{\text{B}}}$ as $$\rho^{1/2}:=
\sum_{\alpha_{\text{A}},\beta_{\text{B}},\alpha'_{\text{A}},\beta'_{\text{B}}}a_{\alpha_{\text{A}},\beta_{\text{B}},\alpha'_{\text{A}},\beta'_{\text{B}}}|\alpha_{\text{A}},\beta_{\text{B}}\rangle\langle \alpha'_{\text{A}},\beta'_{\text{B}}|,\label{eq:13}$$ the renormalized extended density matrix $\hat{\rho }_{\text{A}}$ is then expressed as $$\begin{aligned}
\hat{\rho}_{\text{A}}&:={\text{Tr}}_{\text{B}}\hat{\rho}:=\sum_{\gamma_{\text{B}},\tilde{\gamma}'_{\text{B}}}\langle\gamma_{\text{B}},\tilde{\gamma}'_{\text{B}}|\hat{\rho}|\gamma_{\text{B}},\tilde{\gamma}'_{\text{B}}\rangle \notag \\
&=\sum_{\alpha_{\text{A}},\beta_{\text{A}},\alpha'_{\text{A}},\beta'_{\text{A}}} b_{\alpha_{\text{A}},\beta_{\text{A}},\alpha'_{\text{A}},\beta'_{\text{A}}} |\alpha_{\text{A}},\tilde{\beta}_{\text{A}}\rangle\langle\alpha'_{\text{A}},\tilde{\beta}'_{\text{A}}|\notag \\
&=\sum_{\alpha_{\text{A}},\beta_{\text{A}},\alpha'_{\text{A}},\beta'_{\text{A}}}
b_{\alpha_{\text{A}},\beta_{\text{A}},\alpha'_{\text{A}},\beta'_{\text{A}}}
\left(|\alpha_{\text{A}}\rangle\langle\alpha'_{\text{A}}|\right)\left(|\tilde{\beta}_{\text{A}}\rangle\langle\tilde{\beta}'_{\text{A}}|\right),
\label{eq:14b} \end{aligned}$$ where $$b_{\alpha_{\text{A}},\beta_{\text{A}},\alpha'_{\text{A}},\beta'_{\text{A}}}=\sum_{\gamma_{\text{B}},\gamma'_{\text{B}}}
a_{\alpha_{\text{A}},\gamma_{\text{B}},\beta_{\text{A}},\gamma'_{\text{B}}}
a^{*}_{\alpha'_{\text{A}},\gamma_{\text{B}},\beta'_{\text{A}},\gamma'_{\text{B}}}.\label{eq:15b}$$
Let us reexamine the $S=1/2$ spin system described by the Hamiltonian $$\begin{aligned}
\mathcal{H}:=-J\bvec{S}_{\text{A}}\cdot \bvec{S}_{\text{B}}-\mu_BH\left(S_{\text{A}}^z+S_{\text{B}}^z\right) ,
\label{eq:1}\end{aligned}$$ incorporating the spin operators, $\bvec{S}_{\text{A}}=(S_{\text{A}}^x, S_{\text{A}}^y, S_{\text{A}}^z)$ and $\bvec{S}_{\text{B}}=(S_{\text{B}}^x, S_{\text{B}}^y, S_{\text{B}}^z)$, of the subsystems, A and B, respectively, where $H$ is the magnitude of external field. The state, $|s\rangle$, of the total system is then denoted by the direct product, $|s\rangle=|s_{\text{A}},s_{\text{B}}\rangle=|s_{\text{A}}\rangle |s_{\text{B}}\rangle$. Using the base, $\left\{ |++\rangle, |+-\rangle, |-+\rangle, |--\rangle \right\} $, the matrix form of the Hamiltonian is then expressed as $$\begin{aligned}
\mathcal{H}&=\sum _{s_{\text{A}},s_{\text{B}},s'_{\text{A}},s'_{\text{B}}}
h_{s_{\text{A}},s_{\text{B}},s'_{\text{A}},s'_{\text{B}}}|s_{\text{A}},s_{\text{B}}\rangle \langle
s'_{\text{A}},s'_{\text{B}}|\nonumber \\
&=\left( -\frac{J}{4}-\mu_BH \right)|++\rangle\langle++|+\left( -\frac{J}{4}+\mu_BH \right)|--\rangle\langle--| \nonumber \\
&\hspace{3mm}+\frac{J}{4}\left( |+-\rangle\langle+-| +|-+\rangle\langle-+|\right)-\frac{J}{2}\left(
|+-\rangle\langle-+| +|-+\rangle\langle+-|\right) .\label{eq:1a}\end{aligned}$$ As can be seen from Eq. , the spin inversion symmetry of this system is broken by external field, $H$, in the Hamiltonian, $\mathcal{H}$.
For the equilibrium states in terms of $\mathcal{H}$ expressed in Eq. , the ordinary density matrix, $\rho _{\rm eq}:=e^{-\beta \mathcal{H}}/Z(\beta)$, of this system can be obtained as $$\begin{aligned}
\rho_{\text{eq}}&=\frac{e^{-K /4}}{Z(\beta)} \left( e^{K /2+h}|++\rangle\langle++| + e^{K /2-h}|--\rangle\langle--|\rule{0mm}{6mm}\right. \nonumber \\
&\hspace{16mm}+\cosh \frac{K}{2}\left(|+-\rangle\langle+-|+|-+\rangle\langle-+| \right) \nonumber \\
&\hspace{16mm}\left. +\sinh \frac{K}{2}\left(|-+\rangle\langle+-|+|+-\rangle\langle-+| \right) \right) ,\label{eq:1b}\end{aligned}$$ where $\beta $ is the inverse temperature, the partition function, $Z(\beta):={\text{Tr}}e^{-\beta\mathcal{H}}$, is given by $$Z(\beta)=2e^{-K/4}\left( e^{K/2}\cosh h+\cosh \frac{K}{2} \right),\label{eq:1c}$$ $K:=\beta J$ and $h:=\beta \mu_B H$, respectively. For $\rho _{\rm eq}$ in Eq. , the square-root density matrix, ${\rho _{\rm eq}}^{1/2}$, is then expressed as $$\begin{aligned}
{\rho _{\rm eq}}^{1/2}&=\frac{e^h}{\sqrt{e^h \left(e^h+e^{-K}+1\right)+1}}~|++\rangle\langle++|\nonumber \\
&+\frac{1}{\sqrt{e^h \left(e^h+e^{-K}+1\right)+1}}~|--\rangle\langle--| \nonumber \\
&+\frac{e^{h/2}}{2}\left( \frac{1}{\sqrt{e^{2h}+e^h+1+e^{h-K}}} + \frac{1}{\sqrt{e^h+e^K\left( e^{2h}+e^h+1 \right)}}\right)\nonumber \\
&\hspace{10mm}\times \left( |+-\rangle\langle+-| +|-+\rangle\langle-+|\right) \nonumber \\
&+\frac{e^{h/2}}{2}\left( \frac{1}{\sqrt{e^{2h}+e^h+1+e^{h-K}}} - \frac{1}{\sqrt{e^h+e^K\left( e^{2h}+e^h+1 \right)}}\right)\nonumber \\
&\hspace{10mm}\times \left(|+-\rangle\langle-+| +|-+\rangle\langle+-|\right).\label{eq:5a}\end{aligned}$$ It is of course that ${\rho _{\rm eq}}^{1/2}$ in Eq. satisfies $\left( {\rho _{\rm eq}}^{1/2} \right) ^2=\rho _{\rm eq}$. According to formulae and , we then obtain the extended density matrix $\hat{\rho}_{\text{A}}^{\rm eq} :={\text{Tr}}_{\text{B}}\hat{\rho}^{\rm eq}:=\sum_{s_{\text{B}},\tilde{s}'_{\text{B}}}\langle s_{\text{B}},\tilde{s}'_{\text{B}}|\hat{\rho}^{\rm eq}|s_{\text{B}},\tilde{s}'_{\text{B}}\rangle$ of the spin A, $$\begin{aligned}
\hat{\rho }_{\rm A}^{\rm eq}&=b_{\rm d1}^{\rm eq}|+\rangle\langle+||\tilde{+}\rangle\langle\tilde{+}|+b_{\rm d2}^{\rm eq}|-\rangle\langle-||\tilde{-}\rangle\langle\tilde{-}| \nonumber \\
&+b_{\rm cf}^{\rm eq}\left( |+\rangle\langle-||\tilde{+}\rangle\langle\tilde{-}| +|-\rangle\langle+||\tilde{-}\rangle\langle\tilde{+}| \right) \nonumber \\
&+b_{\rm qe}^{\rm eq}\left( |+\rangle\langle+||\tilde{-}\rangle\langle\tilde{-}| +|-\rangle\langle-||\tilde{+}\rangle\langle\tilde{+}| \right), \label{eq:6}\end{aligned}$$ for the equilibrium system, where the matrix elements $b_{\rm d1}^{\rm eq}, b_{\rm d2}^{\rm eq}, b_{\rm cf}^{\rm eq}$ and $b_{\rm qe}^{\rm eq}$ are respectively obtained as analytic functions $$\begin{aligned}
b_{\rm d1}^{\rm eq}&=\frac{e^{h} \left(4 e^{h+K}+\left(e^{K/2}+1\right)^2\right)}{4 \left(e^h+e^K\left( e^{2h}+e^h+1 \right)\right)}, \label{eq:8}\\
b_{\rm d2}^{\rm eq}&=\frac{\left(e^{K/2}+1\right)^2 e^h+4 e^K}{4 \left(e^h+e^K\left( e^{2h}+e^h+1 \right)\right)}, \label{eq:9}\\
b_{\rm cf}^{\rm eq}&=\frac{\cosh \left(\frac{K}{4}\right) \left(e^h+1\right) e^{\left(2 h+3 K\right)/4}}{e^h+e^K\left( e^{2h}+e^h+1 \right)}, \label{eq:10}\end{aligned}$$ and $$\begin{aligned}
b_{\rm qe}^{\rm eq}&=\frac{\sinh ^2\left(\frac{K}{4}\right)}{2 \cosh \left(\frac{K}{2}\right) \left(\cosh \left(h\right)+1\right)+2 \sinh \left(\frac{K}{2}\right) \cosh \left(h\right)} \label{eq:11b}\end{aligned}$$ of $\beta$ and $H$, and correspond to the two diagonal elements (d1 and d2), the classical and thermal fluctuations (cf) and the quantum entanglements (qe) of $\hat{\rho}_{\text{A}}^{\rm eq}$, respectively. The numerical results of these matrix elements at $\mu _BH/J=0$ and $0.3$ have been obtained in Ref. [@Hashizume], and the breaking of the spin inversion symmetry caused by the external field, $H>0$, has been argued, i.e. $b_{\rm d1}^{\rm eq} \neq b_{\rm d2}^{\rm eq}$ at $H>0$, and $b_{\rm d1}^{\rm eq} = b_{\rm d2}^{\rm eq}$ at $H=0$. The parameter, $b_{\text{qe}}^{\rm eq}$, in Eq. expresses the quantum entanglement effect. This quantum fluctuation is essential to quantum systems, and it has been used as an order parameter of 2D quantum systems [@Stephan; @Tanaka]. As can be seen from Eq. , only the intrinsic quantum entanglement is extracted clearly in the TFD formulation. In particular, it can be understood that the entangled state of the system emerges through a single product, such as $|+\rangle\langle +||\tilde{-}\rangle\langle \tilde{-}|$, in $\hat{\rho}_{\text{A}}$. Let us now parenthetically touch upon the physical significance of $b_{\rm d1}^{\rm eq}, b_{\rm d2}^{\rm eq}, b_{\rm cf}^{\rm eq}$ and $b_{\rm qe}^{\rm eq}$. As can evidentlly be seen from Eqs. , $\sim $, , the high temperature limits of $b_{\rm d1}^{\rm eq}, b_{\rm d2}^{\rm eq}, b_{\rm cf}^{\rm eq}$ and $b_{\rm qe}^{\rm eq}$ are $$\begin{aligned}
\lim _{\beta \to 0}b_{\rm d1}^{\rm eq}=\lim _{\beta \to 0}b_{\rm d2}^{\rm eq}=\lim _{\beta \to 0}b_{\rm cf}^{\rm eq}=\frac{1}{\,2\,} ~~\mbox{and}~~\lim _{\beta \to 0}b_{\rm qe}^{\rm eq}=0, \label{eq:12a}\end{aligned}$$ respectively, for any value of $H$. On the other hand, the low temperature limits of $b_{\rm d1}^{\rm eq}, b_{\rm d2}^{\rm eq}, b_{\rm cf}^{\rm eq}$ and $b_{\rm qe}^{\rm eq}$ are $$\begin{aligned}
\lim _{\beta \to \infty }b_{\rm d1}^{\rm eq}=1,~\lim _{\beta \to \infty }b_{\rm d2}^{\rm eq}=\lim _{\beta \to \infty }b_{\rm cf}^{\rm eq}=0 ~~\mbox{and}~~\lim _{\beta \to \infty }b_{\rm qe}^{\rm eq}=0, \label{eq:13a}\end{aligned}$$ respectively, for $H>0$, and $$\begin{aligned}
\lim _{\beta \to \infty }b_{\rm d1}^{\rm eq}=\lim _{\beta \to \infty }b_{\rm d2}^{\rm eq}=\frac{5}{12},~\lim _{\beta \to \infty }b_{\rm cf}^{\rm eq}=\frac{1}{\,3\,} ~~\mbox{and}~~\lim _{\beta \to \infty }b_{\rm qe}^{\rm eq}=\frac{1}{12}, \label{eq:14}\end{aligned}$$ respectively, for $H=0$. These results are summarized in Fig. \[fig:0\], and clarify that a transition from broken phase $(H>0)$ to unbroken phase $(H=0)$ of spin inversion symmetry happen in the equilibrium entanglement finite-spin system.
(150,90) (0,53)[ ]{} (78,53)[ ]{} (0,0)[ ]{} (78,0)[ ]{}
Non-equilibrium finite-spin systems with non-competitive external fields {#sec:3}
========================================================================
Let us consider a non-equilibrium system with dissipation, which is described by the Hamiltonian of Eq. . We assume that the time dependence of the ordinary density matrix, $\rho (t)$, of this system is given by the dissipative von Neumann equation [@Suzukibook; @Suzuki1], which is described as $$i\hbar\frac{\partial}{\partial t}\rho(t)=[\mathcal{H},\rho(t)]-\epsilon \left( \rho(t)-\rho_{\text{eq}}
\right),\label{eq:2}$$ with $\epsilon $ being a dissipation parameter. The solution of Eq. is then expressed as $$\rho(t)=e^{-\epsilon t}U^{\dagger}(t)\rho_0 U(t)+(1-e^{-\epsilon t})\rho_{\text{eq}},\label{eq:3}$$ for any initial condition, $\rho(0)=\rho_0$, where the unitary operator, $U(t):=e^{i\mathcal{H}t/\hbar}$, denotes $$\begin{aligned}
U(t) &=e^{i\omega t/4} \left( \exp{\left(\frac{-i(\omega +2\mu_BH/\hbar)t}{2}\right)}|++\rangle\langle++| \right.\nonumber \\
&\hspace{13.5mm}+\exp{\left(\frac{-i(\omega -2\mu_BH/\hbar)t}{2}\right)}|--\rangle\langle--| \nonumber \\
&\hspace{13.5mm}+\cos \frac{\omega t }{2}\left( |+-\rangle\langle+-|+|-+\rangle\langle-+| \right) \nonumber \\
&\hspace{13.5mm}-\left.i\sin \frac{\omega t }{2}\left( |-+\rangle\langle+-|+|+-\rangle\langle-+| \right) \right), \label{eq:7}\end{aligned}$$ and $\omega:= J/\hbar$. The explicit expression of $\rho(t)$ in Eq. is complicated for any initial condition, so hereafter, we confine ourselves to the initial condition, $\rho_0=|+-\rangle\langle+-|$. The insertion of Eqs. and , along with the initial condition, into Eq. , brings forth $$\begin{aligned}
\rho(t)=\frac{e^{-\epsilon t }}{2}&\left(\frac{2 \left(e^{\epsilon t }-1\right) e^{K+2 h}}{e^K\left( e^{2h}+e^h+1 \right)+e^h} |++\rangle\langle++|\right.\nonumber \\
&+\frac{2 \left(e^{\epsilon t }-1\right) e^{K}}{e^K\left( e^{2h}+e^h+1 \right)+e^h}|--\rangle\langle--| \nonumber \\
&+\left( \frac{\left(e^{\epsilon t }-1\right) \cosh \left(\frac{K}{2}\right)}{\cosh \left(\frac{K}{2}\right)+\cosh (h) e^{K/2}}+\cos \omega t +1 \right)|+-\rangle\langle+-|\nonumber \\
&+\left( \frac{\left(e^{\epsilon t }-1\right) \cosh \left(\frac{K}{2}\right)}{\cosh \left(\frac{K}{2}\right)+\cosh (h) e^{K/2}}-\cos \omega t +1 \right)|-+\rangle\langle-+|\nonumber \\ &+\left( \frac{e^h \left(e^{\epsilon t }-1\right) \left(e^{K}-1\right)}{e^K\left( e^{2h}+e^h+1 \right)+e^h}-i \sin \omega t \right)|+-\rangle\langle-+|\nonumber \\ &\left.+\left( \frac{e^h \left(e^{\epsilon t }-1\right) \left(e^{K}-1\right)}{e^K\left( e^{2h}+e^h+1 \right)+e^h}+i \sin \omega t \right)|-+\rangle\langle+-| \right) ,\label{eq:08}\end{aligned}$$ where $h:=\mu_B \beta H/(\omega \hbar )$.
The ordinary entanglement (von Neumann) entropy, $S:=-k_{\text{B}}{\text{Tr}}_{\text{A}}\left[ \rho_{\text{A}}\log \rho_{\text{A}} \right] $ and $\rho_{\text{A}}:={\text{Tr}}_{\text{B}}\rho(t)$, are then paraphrased into $$\begin{aligned}
&S=-\frac{k_{\text{B}}}{2} e^{-t \epsilon } \left( \left(\frac{\left(\left(e^h+2\right) e^K+e^h\right) e^{t \epsilon }+\left(e^{2 h}-1\right) e^K}{\left(e^h+e^{2 h}+1\right) e^K+e^h}-\cos \omega t \right) \right. \nonumber \\
&\times \log \left(\frac{e^{-t \epsilon } }{2} \left(\frac{\left(\left(e^h+2\right) e^K+e^h\right) e^{t \epsilon }+\left(e^{2 h}-1\right) e^K}{\left(e^h+e^{2 h}+1\right) e^K+e^h}-\cos \omega t \right)\right) \nonumber \\
&+\left(\frac{\left(2 e^{h+K}+e^K+1\right) e^{h+t \epsilon }-\left(e^{2 h}-1\right) e^K}{\left(e^h+e^{2 h}+1\right) e^K+e^h}+\cos \omega t \right) \nonumber \\
&\times \log \left(\frac{e^{-t \epsilon } }{2}\left(\frac{\left(2 e^{h+K}+e^K+1\right) e^{h+t \epsilon }-\left(e^{2 h}-1\right) e^K}{\left(e^h+e^{2 h}+1\right) e^K+e^h}+\cos \omega t \right)\right). \label{eq:11}\end{aligned}$$ It is also worth mentioning that $S$ in Eq. is proportional to an entanglement, $E(C)$, which is a function of the “concurrence”[@Wootters], $$\begin{aligned}
C&=\frac{e^{-\epsilon t }}{\sqrt{2} \left(e^K\left( e^{2h}+e^h+1 \right)+e^h\right)}\nonumber \\
&\hspace{-5mm}\times \left( \left(-\left(2 e^{h+K}+e^K+1\right) e^{e t+h}-\left(\left(e^h+e^{2 h}+1\right) e^K+e^h\right) \cos (t \omega )+\left(e^{2 h}-1\right) e^K\right)\right.\nonumber \\
&\hspace{-5mm}\left.\times \left(-e^{e t} \left(\left(e^h+2\right) e^K+e^h\right)+\left(\left(e^h+e^{2 h}+1\right) e^K+e^h\right) \cos (t \omega )-\left(e^{2 h}-1\right) e^K\right) \right)^{1/2}.
\label{eq:11a}\end{aligned}$$ The time dependence of $S$ and $C$ is displayed in Fig. \[fig:02\] (in units of $k_{\text{B}}=1$). In the dissipative system, at $t\to \infty $, $S$ and $C$ converge to the values, $$\begin{aligned}
-\frac{2 e^{K}+e^{K+h}+e^h}{2 \left(e^K\left( e^{2h}+e^h+1 \right)+e^h\right)}\log \left(\frac{2 e^{K}+e^{K+h}+e^h}{2 \left(e^K\left( e^{2h}+e^h+1 \right)+e^h\right)}\right)\nonumber \\
-\frac{e^h \left(e^{K}+2 e^{K+h}+1\right) }{2 \left(e^K\left( e^{2h}+e^h+1 \right)+e^h\right)}\log \left(\frac{e^h \left(e^{K}+2 e^{K+h}+1\right)}{2 \left(e^K\left( e^{2h}+e^h+1 \right)+e^h\right)}\right),
\label{eq:12b}\end{aligned}$$ and $$\begin{aligned}
\frac{\sqrt{2e^{K+2 h} (2 \sinh K+(2 \cosh (h)+3) \cosh K+2 \cosh (h) (\sinh K+1)+1)}}{e^K\left( e^{2h}+e^h+1 \right)+e^h},
\label{eq:15}\end{aligned}$$ respectively, so it is possible to argue that $S$ and $C$ include not only the contribution of the quantum entanglement, but also the contribution of the classical and thermal fluctuations in the equilibrium case. However, this fact is not clarified in Eqs. and .
We are now ready to study the extended density matrix in the TFD double Hilbert space. In terms of the expression similar to Eq. , we are then led to the renormalized extended density matrix, $\hat{\rho }_{\text{A}}^{\rm neq}$, as $$\begin{aligned}
\hat{\rho}_{\text{A}}^{\rm neq} &=b_{\text{d1}}^{\rm neq}|+\rangle\langle+||\tilde{+}\rangle\langle\tilde{+}| +b_{\text{d2}}^{\rm neq}|-\rangle\langle-||\tilde{-}\rangle\langle\tilde{-}|\nonumber \\ &+b_{\text{cf}}^{\rm neq}\left(|+\rangle\langle-||\tilde{+}\rangle\langle\tilde{-}|+|-\rangle\langle+||\tilde{-}\rangle\langle\tilde{+}| \right)\nonumber \\
&+b_{\text{qe}}^{\rm neq}\left( |+\rangle\langle+||\tilde{-}\rangle\langle\tilde{-}|+|-\rangle\langle-||\tilde{+}\rangle\langle\tilde{+}|
\right), \label{eq:17}\end{aligned}$$ where the matrix elements, $b_{\text{d1}}^{\rm neq}, b_{\text{d2}}^{\rm neq}, b_{\text{cf}}^{\rm neq}$ and $b_{\text{qe}}^{\rm neq}$, are respectively expressed as analytic functions of $H,~\epsilon,~t$ and $\beta$. However, their expressions are so complicated that we show their numerical results of several cases in Fig. \[fig:01\].
(150,80) (0,45)[ ]{} (78,45)[ ]{} (0,0)[ ]{} (78,0)[ ]{}
The extended entanglement entropy, $\hat{S}:=-k_{\text{B}}\mathrm{Tr}_{\text{A}}\left[ \hat{\rho}_{\text{A}}^{\rm neq}\log \hat{\rho}_{\text{A}}^{\rm neq} \right]
$, in the present case is then reduced to $$\hat{S}=\hat{S}_{\rm cl}+\hat{S}_{\rm qe},
\label{eq:23}$$ where $$\begin{aligned}
\hat{S}_{\rm cl}&:=-k_{\text{B}}\left( \sqrt{4\left( b_{\text{cf}}^{\rm neq} \right) ^2+\left(b_{\text{d1}}^{\rm neq}-b_{\text{d2}}^{\rm neq}\right)^2} ~\mathrm{arccoth}\,
\frac{b_{\text{d1}}^{\rm neq}+b_{\text{d2}}^{\rm neq}}{\sqrt{4\left( b_{\text{cf}}^{\rm neq} \right) ^2+\left(b_{\text{d1}}^{\rm neq}-b_{\text{d2}}^{\rm neq}\right)^2}}\right.\notag \\
&\hspace{3mm}\left. +\frac{b_{\text{d1}}^{\rm neq}+b_{\text{d2}}^{\rm neq}}{2}\log \left(b_{\text{d1}}^{\rm neq}b_{\text{d2}}^{\rm neq}-\left( b_{\text{cf}}^{\rm neq} \right) ^2\right)\right),
\label{eq:23a}\end{aligned}$$ and $$\begin{aligned}
\hat{S}_{\rm qe}:=-2k_{\text{B}}b_{\text{qe}}^{\rm neq}\log b_{\text{qe}}^{\rm neq},
\label{eq:23b}\end{aligned}$$ respectively. In Eqs. , and , the expressions of $\hat{S}$, the classical and thermal fluctuation parts, $\hat{S}_{\rm cl}$, and the quantum entanglement part, $\hat{S}_{\rm qe}$, also comprise analytic functions of $ t, \beta, \epsilon$ and $\omega$, respectively, however, their expressions are quite complicated. So, we show the numerical behaviour of $C,~S,~\hat{S},~\hat{S}_{\text{qe}}$ and $b_{\text{qe}}^{\rm neq}$ for a few cases in Figs. \[fig:02\](a)$-$(c) (in units of $k_{\text{B}}=1$). These figures exhibit that, at $t \to \infty $, $\hat{S},~\hat{S}_{\text{qe}}$ and $b_{\text{qe}}^{\rm neq}$ converge to the values, $0.277\cdots,~0.150\cdots$ and $0.019\cdots$, respectively. The traditional entanglement entropy, $S$, consequently becomes larger than the extended entanglement entropies, $\hat{S}$ and $\hat{S}_{\rm qe}$, at $t \to \infty $. These results suggest that these numerical behaviour of $C,~S,~\hat{S},~\hat{S}_{\text{qe}}$ and $b_{\text{qe}}^{\rm neq}$ is resemblant to the one in the case of no external field [@Nakagawa].
For non-dissipative systems, $\hat{S}$ in Eq. and $\hat{S}_{\rm qe}$ in Eq. reduce to $$\begin{aligned}
\hat{S}=-k_{\text{B}}&\left( \cos ^4 \frac{\omega t}{2}\cdot \log \left( \cos ^4 \frac{\omega t}{2} \right) + \sin ^4 \frac{\omega t}{2}\cdot \log \left( \sin ^4 \frac{\omega t}{2} \right) \right.\nonumber \\
&\left.+ \frac{1}{2} \sin ^2 \omega t\cdot \log \left( \frac{\sin ^2 \omega t}{4} \right)\right),
\label{eq:24}\end{aligned}$$ and $$\begin{aligned}
\hat{S}_{\rm qe}=- \frac{k_{\text{B}}}{2} \sin ^2 \omega t\cdot \log \left( \frac{\sin ^2 \omega t}{4} \right),
\label{eq:25}\end{aligned}$$ respectively, at $\epsilon =0$. As can transparently be visualized from Eqs. and , the dependence of $\hat{S}$ and $\hat{S}_{\rm qe}$ on both $\beta $ and $H$ disappear at $\epsilon =0$ and this result assorts with the case of no external field. The time dependence of $\hat{S}$ and $\hat{S}_{\rm qe}$ at $\epsilon =0$ is exhibited in Fig. \[fig:01\](d) (in units of $k_{\text{B}}=1$). It is apparent in this figure that all the curves ($C,~S,~\hat{S},~\hat{S}_{\text{qe}}$ and $b_{\text{qe}}$) showing the entanglement have the same phase, however, their amplitudes differ. This result is also similar to the case of no external field [@Nakagawa].
(150,90) (0,50)[ ]{} (78,50)[ ]{} (0,0)[ ]{} (78,0)[ ]{}
Conclusions {#sec:4}
============
In this communication, we have examined the extended density matrices and the extended entanglement entropies of finite-spin systems with and without non-competitive external fields in both the equilibrium and non-equilibrium cases, based upon the TFD formulation. For the equilibrium system, the extended density matrix elements are derived using TFD, and the low and high temperature limits are calculated explicitly. The results show that the effect of the non-competitive external field is significant for the temperature dependence of the extended density matrix. For the non-equilibrium systems, based upon the extended density matrix, $C,~S,~\hat{S},~\hat{S}_{\text{qe}}$ and $b_{\text{qe}}^{\rm neq}$, are computed using TFD, and summarized in Figs. \[fig:01\] and \[fig:02\]. From these results, we can deduce the following:
[1)]{} The each shapes of the curves of $b_{\text{d1}}^{\rm neq},~b_{\text{d2}}^{\rm neq}~\mbox{and}~b_{\text{qe}}^{\rm neq}$ in Fig. \[fig:01\](b) are similar to those of Fig. 4 in Ref. [@Hashizume], except that the curve of $b_{\text{cf}}^{\rm neq}$ is compartively wavy.
[2)]{} The each behaviours of $b_{\text{d1}}^{\rm neq},~b_{\text{d2}}^{\rm neq}~,b_{\text{cf}}^{\rm neq}~\mbox{and}~b_{\text{qe}}^{\rm neq}$ in Figs. \[fig:01\](a), (c) and (d) are unparalleled.
[3)]{} The each shapes of the curves of $C,~S,~\hat{S},~\hat{S}_{\text{qe}}$ and $b_{\text{qe}}^{\rm neq}$ in Figs. \[fig:02\](a), (b), (c) and (d) are also similar to those of Figs. 1 (a), (b), (c) and (d) in Ref. [@Nakagawa].
As a consequence, the non-competitive external field has been found to have little effect on $C,~S,~\hat{S},~\hat{S}_{\text{qe}}$ and $b_{\text{qe}}^{\rm neq}$, and modest effect on $b_{\text{cf}}^{\rm neq}$. So another thing to keep in mind is to examine another spin system with competitive external field using the TFD formulation. However, the dissipative dynamics of entanglement in frustrated spin systems is more complicated, and is under consideration.
We have anyhow succeeded in elucidating the extended density matrices and the entanglement entropies of finite-spin systems with and without the non-competitive external fields which are constructed in both the equilibrium and non-equilibrium cases, based upon the general TFD algorithm. Let us conclude by emphasizing that the new TFD-based method enables us to clearly distinguish between the various states of quantum systems.
[99]{} U. Fano, Rev. Mod. Phys A **42** (1957), 74. I. Prigogine, C. George, F. Henin and L. Rosenfeld, Chem. Scripta **4** (1973), 5. Y. Takahashi and H. Umezawa, Collect. Phenom. **2** (1975), 55; H. Umezawa, H. Matsumoto and M. Tachiki, [*Thermo Field Dynamics and Condensed States*]{} (North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1982). Y. Hashizume and M. Suzuki, Physica A **392** (2013), 3518. K. Nakagawa, Prog. Theor. Exp. Phys. **2015** (2015), 021A01. M. Suzuki, in [*Quantum bio-informatics : from quantum information to bio-informatics, Tokyo University of Science, Japan, 14-17 March 2007 (QP-PQ : Quantum probability and white noise analysis; v. 21)*]{} edited by L. Accardi, W. Freundberg and M. Ohya, (World Scientific, Singapore, 2008). M. Suzuki, Physica A [**390**]{} (2011), 1904; [*ibid.*]{} [**391**]{} (2012), 1074. M. Suzuki, J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. [**54**]{} (1985), 4483. M.Suzuki, [*Statistical Mechanics*]{}, (Iwanami, Tokyo , 2000), in Japanese. J. -M. Stephan, S. Furukawa, G. Misguich and V. Pasquier, Phys. Rev. B [**80**]{} (2009), 184421. S. Tanaka, R. Tamura and H. Katsura, Phys. Rev. A [**86**]{} (2012), 032326. W. K. Wootters, Phys. Rev. Lett. [**80**]{} (1998), 2245.
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The use of body cameras by San Diego Police officers was initiated in early 2014.
At the time, the police chief wanted a way to monitor officer misconduct in the wake of several rogue officers convicted of crimes against women.
The current chief has said body cameras give the department a way to be more transparent and not only hold officers accountable but the public as well.
In May 2015, the department revised its policy on how officers would activate the recording device following a fatal police shooting in the Midway District.
Officer Neal Browder, a 27-year veteran of the department, shot and killed 42-year-old Fridoon Zalbeg Rawshannehad in an alley.
Browder was outfitted with a body camera but did not activate it before firing his weapon, according to department officials.
The SDPD launched an investigation into the details surrounding the shooting.
Here is a look at the history of body cameras in San Diego:
January 2012 - Coronado Police Department becomes the first agency to outfit its officers with personal cameras. Five are deployed in the field.
January 29, 2014 - Former SDPD Chief William Lansdowne requests body cameras. "It would help us with the misunderstandings, with lawsuits," he said. Cameras were already in the 2015 budget but Lansdowne requested the process move faster after the arrest and arraignment of former officer Christopher Hays and the investigation into SDPD officer Donald Moncrief.
The initial ask was for 100 cameras at a cost of $200,000.
March 10, 2014 - A park ranger with the City of Del Mar records a 10 minute confrontation with a reserve deputy that led to a nine-month suspension of the body camera program.
March 19, 2014 – New SDPD Chief Shelley Zimmerman proposes expanding the body camera program to outfit every officer.
April 10, 2014 - The San Diego Police Officers Association is concerned about implementation of cameras. The leadership wants to discuss policy to ensure officers' privacy.
Early April, 2014 – SDPD begins field testing with 10 body cameras worn by officers in Central Division.
May 2, 2014 – Escondido police release body camera video showing an officer rescuing a person from a fiery automobile accident.
June 9, 2014 - San Diego police officers begin training on how to use body cameras mounted on their chest, collar and glasses.
June 18, 2014 – The SDPD issues a memo regarding the use and storage of the body cameras.
June 21, 2014 - The first phase of body cameras are rolled out to police officers with future phases planned for July and August.
Sept 18, 2014 - The U.S. Border Patrol will begin wearing cameras this year at its training academy, a test to see if the technology should be used in the field to blunt criticism about agents' use of force.
October 15, 2014 - SDPD Chief Zimmerman said video from body cameras will not be easily accessible. She also says that barring a particular complaint or court case associated with the video, the clips will be removed from storage after six months.
November 6, 2014 - Chula Vista City Council unanimously approves purchase of 114 body worn cameras, an investment the police department has been researching since 2010.
December 9, 2014 – El Cajon city leaders agree to research obtaining and implementing body cameras for the police force. The cameras could cost the city $75,000 and, if approved, could be rolled out in 90 days once the council conducts a series of public meetings.
December 16, 2014 - Del Mar city officials agree to reinstate body cameras for park rangers following a review of procedure.
January 2015 - The first batch of body cameras to be deployed to Chula Vista Police Officers are used in the field. A police captain tells the San Diego Union-Tribune they are not currently releasing the video to the public.
January 9, 2015 - San Diego Assembly Member Shirley Weber (D-79th) introduces AB 66, which would create a statewide task force to establish "best practices" guidelines in regards to police body cameras.
Chief Zimmerman says SDPD has more cameras in the field than any other department in the nation, “We’re the eighth largest city in the United States, and if you take all the other larger cities above us, we have more body-worn cameras out right now - 600 cameras- than all of the others combined.”
February 6, 2015 - AP reports that San Diego's five-year contract with Taser for 1,000 cameras would cost $267,000 for the devices -- but another $3.6 million for storage contracts, software licenses, maintenance, warranties and related equipment.
March 3, 2015 - The San Diego County Board of Supervisor approves the request to research outfitting deputies with cameras. The SDSO starts taking bids from 18 interested parties.
March 25, 2015 – City Council Member (District 4) Myrtle Cole shares report from Chief Zimmerman with her constituents – “In our Southeastern Division, there has been a reduction in complaints filed and a reduction in allegations made in the six months the body cameras have been deployed.”
April 16, 2015 – A body camera records a rookie cop in Ohio not using deadly force when confronted by a suspect. The officer was praised by some for showing restraint however others say it could lead to costing lives if other officers are fearful of using justified force.
April 21, 2015 – SDPD Chief Zimmerman tells city officials that after 300+ body cameras were deployed in the Southeastern, Central and Mid-City divisions, the number of complaints dropped 40 percent within six months.
Between November 2014 and January 2015, the police chief said body cameras reduced the number of use of force incidents dramatically.
April 30, 2015 - The ACLU launches a mobile app designed to help people record police incidents and prevent the video from being deleted or destroyed. | https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Timeline-Body-Cameras-San-Diego-Police-303100051.html |
2 edition of Strength of plate girders. found in the catalog.
Strength of plate girders.
Bruno ThГјrlimann
Published
1959
by Lehigh University, Institute of Research] in [Bethlehem, Pa
.
Written in English
Edition Notes
|Other titles||Plate girder research|
|Contributions||Basler, Konrad|
|Classifications|
|LC Classifications||TG360 T48|
|The Physical Object|
|Pagination||13p.|
|Number of Pages||13|
|ID Numbers|
|Open Library||OL20717567M|
Hot rolled beams can show insufficient strength or inertia and result in the inclusion of steel plate girders in the design (portal frames, steel and composite bridges). Modern plate girders are fabricated by welding together two flanges and a web plate. Plate girders are used where standard rolled sections are inadequate in terms of load carrying capacity or stiffness. Typical uses include long-span floors in buildings, bridges and crane girders in industrial buildings. Plate girders are designed to resist the.
which is governed by the theoretical shear yield strength 3 yw yw σ τ=, where σyw is the uniaxial tensile yield strength of the web. For most practical plate girders, however, web panels are generally thin and tend to buckle first before yielding. The overall behaviour of a web panel is thus divided into three stages, (1) unbuckled, (2) post-File Size: KB. Plate girders -Dr. Seshu Adluri Plate Girders Steel plate girders Class 3 flanges & class 4 webs Reduce web area for M r Stiffen the web to increase V r Useful in pure bending as well as in beam-columns Design Clauses: CAN/CSA-S16 Bending strength as per Clauses & 7 Shear strength as per Clause Local buckling check: Clause
Source: Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Structures and Buildings, Volume , Issue 3, 1 Mar (–) Web buckling of tapered plate girders Authors: E. Mirambell, A. V. ZárateCited by: 7. Design of Steel Structures Notes pdf – DSS notes pdf file. Complete Design of Steel Structures Pdf free download. Link:Complete Notes. Link:Unit 1 Notes. Link:Unit 2 Notes. Note: These notes are according to the R09 Syllabus book of R13 and R15,8-units of R09 syllabus are combined into 5-units in R13 and R15 syllabus. If you have /5(25).
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Strength of Plate Girders in Shear. A study of the shear strength of plate girders is presented. In utilizing the postbuckling strength offered by the transverse stiffening of girders, new design rules are proposed.
The new approach is checked with ultimate load tests carried out at Fritz Engineering by: Shear Behaviour and Strength of CFRP-Retrofitted Plate Girders- With Practical Design Issues This book is the result of a comprehensive experimental programme implemented at the University of Technology in Iraq as a part of the author’s s: 1.
of plate girders. First, the phenomenon "web buckling" 1~ discussed to e~plain the discrepancy betwe~nactual behavior th~ory. Following this is an analysis or the bending strength of plate girders.
Finally an attempt is made to interpret the findings as a design. cO: Buckling and Ultimate Strength of Ship and Ship-like Floating Structures provides an integrated state-of-the-art evaluation of ship structure mechanics including buckling, plastic failure, ultimate strength, and ultimate bending moments.
For the design of any industrial product, it is necessary to understand the fundamentals in the failure. Lateral-torsional buckling. For beams with an unbraced length, L b, that falls within the “middle zone” illustrated in Figure a (i.e., where the onset of buckling occurs before a full plastic moment, but after the elastic moment, is reached), the nominal bending strength is linearly reduced from the full plastic moment, M p = F y Z x, to 70% of the elastic moment, or F y S x.
Get this from a library. Compressive strength of ship hull girders. [H Becker; A Coloa; United States. Naval Sea Systems Command.; Sanders Associates.] -- Part III examines a phenomenological theory has been developed for predicting the ultimate strength of rectangular structural plates loaded in uniaxial longitudinal compression, uniaxial transverse.
As per customer specifications stiffeners are occasionally welded between the compression flange and the web to increase the strength of the girder.
Plate girders are usually prefabricated and the length limit is frequently set by the mode of transportation used to move the girder from our fabrication plant to the bridge site. strength. With these flowcharts, this discussion will focus on the design of plate girders according to LRFD rules.
An explanation of plate girder design in the LRFD Specification will include: flexural design strength, shear design strength, flexure-shear interaction, bearing strength under concentrated loads and stiffener Size: KB. the Welded Plate Girder Project Connnittee whose members ~re listed in the Foreword to the first papero §XN0PSIS A study of the sh~ar strength of plate girders is pre~ sentedo In utilizing the post-bucklingstrength o~feredby the transverse stiffening of girders, new design rules are proposedo.
The new approach 1s checked with ultimate loadCited by: Get this from a library. Behaviour and strength of the web of thin plate I-girders with and without web holes. [Torsten Hoglund; Kungl. Tekniska högskolan.]. A girder / ˈ ɡ ɜːr d ər / is a support beam used in construction.
It is the main horizontal support of a structure which supports smaller beams. Girders often have an I-beam cross section composed of two load-bearing flanges separated by a stabilizing web, but may also have a box shape, Z shape, or other forms.A girder is commonly used to build bridges.
ULTIMATE STRENGTH TESTS of CURVED COMPOSITE PLATE GIRDERS 1. INTRODUCTION Horizontally curved bridges are often used to simplify difficult highway alignment problems.
The use of curved girders in such bridges can provide significant advantages over the use of straight girders as chords of the required Size: 3MB. A girder bridge is a bridge that uses girders as the means of supporting its deck. The two most common types of modern steel girder bridges are plate and box.
The term "girder" is often used interchangeably with "beam" in reference to bridge or: Beam bridge. Currently, the design equations for shear in plate girder web panels in the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) specifications account for elastic shear buckling strength and postbuckling strength separately and combine these resisting capacities.
analysis of plate girder panels subjected to shear. The ultimate shear strength is assumed to be equal to the sum of the strengths of the beam action, the tension field action, and the frame action In the web plate buckling computation for the beam action, the web plate is assumed to be fixed at the flanges and simply sup-ported at the stiffeners.
Based on observations of test girders and the shear strength theory developed by Basler (5), the tension field model shown in Figure 8 has been used to estimate the I v - shear strength of longitudinally stiffened plate girders (6).
The following assump Shear v Panel 0 t Figure 5. Typical shear panel. tions were used: 1. In this study, a finite element method (FEM) analysis on an isolated panel confirms the view that post-buckling strength of steel plate girders is attributed to a non-uniform shear stress distribution along the boundary of the plates, varying from the critical stress in one corner up to the shear-yield stress in the tension corner with no need Author: Hassan Ghanem, Safwan Chahal, Wafik Ajam, Adel Kurdi.
An experimental investigation of the shear strengths of composite plate girders, with centrally placed rectangular web cutouts, is described. A series of tests is conducted on short‐span girders having conventional welded stud shear connectors, connecting the composite concrete slabs to the top flanges of the plate girders.
Structural Design II Shapes that are built up from plate elements are usually called plate girders; the difference is the height-thickness ratio tw h of the web.
⎪ ⎪ ⎩ ⎪ ⎪ ⎨ ⎧ > ≤ plate girder beam w y w y F E t h F E t h Bending M = bending moment at. Analysis of 5 transversely stiffened and 12 longitudinally stiffened plate girder panels and 3 box girder web panels using ABAQUS software package is conducted to validate the FEM for prediction of ultimate shear capacity of plate and box girders.
Good agreement between ultimate strength obtained by calculations and experiments was : Gang Dong, Torgeir Moan. Diaphragms Cross-Frames Through-Girders The beam or girder is fully braced at a location if twist is prevented. The fundamental concept with torsional bracing is: Torsional Bracing of Beams Brace Stiffness and Strength Requirements 6 AISC Specification Appendix 6 Bracing Provisions: Stiffness: Ú Í L / å 6 J ' + ì % Õ 6.tub girders are an appropriate superstructure choice.
Several keys issues to evaluate are listed below. SPAN RANGES Steel tub girders can potentially be more economical than steel plate girders in long-span applications, due to the increased bending strength offered by their wide bottom flanges and thanks to less field work associated with handling.Book Description.
This book discusses various aspects of the design of a plate girder and focuses on the associated stability problems in shear. It deals with stability problems in compression, such as those met in box girder flanges and ship hulls, and is helpful for structural designers and post-graduate students. | https://dekubehazina.brightsideglobaltrade.com/strength-of-plate-girders-book-20869du.php |
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I studied computer science and applied mathematics at Brown University, and I currently work as a Software Engineer at Yelp with a focus on data mining applications. I am a Brown University graduate who majored in Applied Mathematics and Biology. I scored a 2400 on the SAT reasoning test (800 reading, 800 writing, 800 math) and 800s on each of the Math (Level 2) and Biology (M) subject tests. I have over 5 years of formal experience tutoring science and math at the high school and college level. I have also served as a teaching assistant for three upper level courses: two in the Department of [more]
Will travel 10 miles
$40 per hour.
4.61 54 ratings
I have a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. I have also spent 30 years as a computer programmer/analyst. I was incorporated as a business in contract application development and have contracted with several financial corporations including Visa,USA, Citicorp, and Pac Bell (now AT&T). I currently maintain several servers on the internet including a Web Site, and a cloud service. Mathematical concepts have always come easy to me. It is a talent I was born with and enjoyed every subject from arithmetic, to geometry and trig, algebra and calculus, linear algebra and real analysis. It was an ea [more]
Will travel 40 miles
$95 per hour.
4.98 554 ratings
I have been working in computer science related fields in research (Academia & labs) and industry. My PhD thesis is in numerical models for high performance computers. I also worked for several years for a company modeling hazards based on data driven computational models. I hold a M.S. in Mathematics and an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Mathematics, Computer Science, and Physics. Over time I have been working at colleges and universities in Germany, in France, and in the U.S. In addition I worked for a decade at research labs in Germany and in the U.S. (LBNL) and at a risk modeling company. Si [more]
Will travel 20 miles
$90 per hour.
4.9 72 ratings
I used to be a lecturer in Computer Science courses. The subjects included Data Structures, Graph Algorithms, Object-Oriented Programming in Java, C programming, Programming for Games, Analysis of Algorithms and Artificial Intelligence. This job included preparing classes, teaching, elaborating and correcting exams. In my current job (Bioinformatics Software Engineer), I still use algorithms everyday. I'm a Bioinformatics Software Engineer with bachelors and masters in Computer Science, and PhD in Bioinformatics. I have been an R and Python Programmer since 2009 and have experience as a Compu [more]
Will travel 40 miles
$24 per hour. | https://www.tutorbowl.com/find/computer-science/tutors/near/richmond-ca |
Following a public hearing on Friday, supervisors banned Kratom county-wide effective April 1.
Under the ordinance, the sale of Kratom will be a misdemeanor offense, punishable by six months jail time and/or $1,000 fine. Lowndes County is one of six Mississippi counties to criminalize the substance. A bill in the state Legislature to add Kratom to the list of Schedule I drugs, which would make its sale a felony, died in House committee.
Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia, with leaves containing two addictive compounds -- mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine -- that interact with opioid receptors in the brain, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
There is no minimum age to purchase Kratom. It is sold in convenience stores as a .25-ounce bottled liquid, similar to an energy shot, or as an e-cigarette cartridge. There are also capsuled and powdered versions of the substance available online.
Columbus city councilmen and Caledonia aldermen had previously banned the sale and possession of the substance in their jurisdictions -- both votes held without offering a public hearing.
Monroe County resident Sherry Owings told supervisors during Friday's public hearing she wished Kratom would be regulated and have a minimum purchase age, but that she didn't want to see it banned county-wide. Kratom helps her manage pain symptoms from a car accident nearly 32 years ago, she said, and she doesn't want it banned in the county if it could do the same for others.
"After 31 years, my pain was gone in 30 minutes," she said. "And it's never made me high. It's just a plant. We need to put limits on it, but if people depend on this to not be in pain, it needs to be available."
Owings was the only person present at the hearing that spoke against banning Kratom. Members of a community-based drug and crime task force and Keenyn Wald, director of Alcohol and Drug Services at Community Counseling Center in Columbus, were there to advocate for the ordinance banning the substance, but they did not speak.
District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks moved to end the public comment session after Owings spoke, saying he was "pretty sure" every supervisor had already made up his mind. In his opinion, he said, the harm Kratom could do outweighs the possible benefits to others, primarily because the substance is unregulated.
"We take all kinds of medicine every day, and they have all kinds of side effects," he said. "We take things sometimes thinking it'll do good, but it really hurts us more. If Kratom has destroyed even one person, which we heard that it has, then it needs to go in Lowndes County." | https://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=72452 |
Welcome to the SCRSO Service Desk
In order to streamline support requests and better serve you, we utilize a service desk system. Every support request is assigned a unique ticket number which you can use to track the progress and responses online. For your reference we provide complete archives and history of all your support requests. A valid email address is required to submit a ticket.
Please be aware that we will try to email you back as soon as possible. We are all volunteers on this site working regular jobs.
Tasks are done in order of receipt. Some tasks may be grouped with others as a project. For instance migrating an Area Service Committee's emails, every email will each require a ticket, but they will all be executed at the same time. For these projects we will require the users to interact with the volunteer who is performing the migration. | https://scrso.org/ServiceDesk/ |
PURPOSE: To reduce saving/restoration of a call destination save register which is performed at the time of subroutine call.
CONSTITUTION: When a subroutine has one or more subpaths which are branched from the main path of the subroutine by conditional branch and have exits of the subroutine in the terminals (101), a defined call destination save register is detected for each subpath, and a subpath group is detected which satisfies the condition that the subtotal of call destination save registers obtained by adding the number of call destination save registers newly appearing in the detection order is smaller than a preliminarily determined value (107 to 109), and call destination save registers defined in the detected subpath group are saved to a memory location in the entrance of the subroutine (112), and defined call destination save registers other than call destination save registers saved in the entrance are saved to the memory location on the main path after branching of the pertinent subpath group, and call destination save registers saved on respective paths are restored in the exits of these paths.
COPYRIGHT: (C)1994,JPO&Japio | |
Explosion, fuel oil spill leaves home near Barrington uninhabitable
An explosion and fire that erupted recently inside a home in an unincorporated area near Barrington started with a fuel oil spill from a basement tank that was used to heat the home, firefighters with the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District said Wednesday.
Emergency crews arrived at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday to the single-level home along Cuba Road near Barrington, where they found three people outside who had safely evacuated, the fire protection district said in a statement. No one was injured in the incident, but the home is uninhabitable, the district said.
Receiving assistance from numerous area departments, Barrington Countryside firefighters controlled the scene and determined that fuel oil spilled from a basement tank, leading to the fire, the district said. But the cause of the explosion remains under investigation, said James Kreher, fire chief of the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District.
Emergency responders remained on scene for five hours, the district said. A hazardous materials team also assisted the homeowners with reaching a company that cleans up hazardous materials and turned the property over to the homeowners. | |
This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these Securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
The Registration Statement has been filed with the
Forward-looking Information:
This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as “seek”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “plan”, “estimate”, “expect”, “likely” and “intend” and statements that an event or result “may”, “will”, “should”, “could” or “might” occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. These statements reflect management’s current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof. Forward-looking information in this press release includes, without limiting the foregoing, statements with respect to the amount and terms of any offering of Securities under the Shelf Prospectus and Registration Statement, the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and the filing of any prospectus supplement.
Forward-looking information is based on assumptions that may prove to be incorrect, including but not limited to Real’s business objectives, expected growth, results of operations, performance, business projects and opportunities and financial results. Real considers these assumptions to be reasonable in the circumstances. However, forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. These factors should be carefully considered and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, Real cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and Real assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.
About Real
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221020006009/en/
For additional information, please contact:
Vice President, Capital Markets & Investor Relations
[email protected]
908.280.2515
For media inquiries, please contact:
Director, Communications
[email protected]
201.564.4221
Source: | https://investors.onereal.com/news-releases/news-release-details/real-brokerage-inc-announces-filing-final-base-shelf-prospectus |
Purpose of the position:
This position oversees and manages maintenance and project activities within the company. He/She will have to ensure compliance with group policies and procedures, as well as develop the strategy, implementation and smooth running of activities for the maintenance department and ensure the smooth running of activities for expansions and projects.
Maintenance:
Supervise the work and tasks of members of the maintenance team – Plan, coordinate and supervise the activities of the maintenance department – Ensure that measures are taken in a timely manner in the event of breakdowns – Plan, coordinate and supervise maintenance machines to prevent breakdowns, ensure preventive maintenance is carried out. – Maximize and schedule preventive maintenance and control overtime for members performing maintenance. – Overall cost control for the department, in terms of the purchase of spare parts and the use of spare parts. Ensure spare parts are available and plan for the year to avoid additional costs to source them.
Project planning:
Understand the requirements of projects allocated by the Group Maintenance and Project Manager, develop a project plan and share it for review and discussion – Review and finalize plan feasibility, resources, safety standards, timelines and capital budget in collaboration with supervisor – Share updates on project plan, budget, timelines, resources and update reports as needed with supervisor – Keep abreast of local conditions and put areas in obvious to the supervisor. – Understanding of the plans, drawings and details of the projects. Understand security procedures.
Management of contractors and suppliers:
Identify local suppliers based on market and network understanding; Share vendor list with supervisor for selection – Assist supervisor in negotiating project cost and delivery schedule – Lead project review meetings to provide status updates, corrective actions and milestones Additional – Understand and resolve vendor issues to ensure project timelines are met; Escalate complex issues to supervisor and seek guidance on problem resolution
Project management:
Create draft engineering drawings/project plan and solicit supervisor feedback on engineering specifications – Share material requisition requests for critical projects with supervisor for feedback – Perform periodic review with project team project execution and supplier on manpower, performance, budget and timelines and guide teams to undertake corrective actions; Escalate complex issues to supervisor and seek advice on problem resolution – Monitor and ensure adherence to statutory regulations and legal compliance for new projects and technical developments. – Understand the manpower/technical support/resources required from the manufacturing/contractor/supplier. – Understand the quality and standard, capacity and number of machines quoted by the manufacturer / subcontractor / supplier
Process improvements:
Review existing processes and compliance requirements in accordance with statutory standards for project development activities – Identify areas of cost reduction and an action plan to achieve the cost reduction target – Formulate an action plan for the improvement and optimization of processes for all the key activities of the department.
People management and company values:
Track team performance at an overall and individual level and provide support/advice where needed to ensure achievement of annual plans – Manage effective allocation of resources, improve team member capability quotient team and fostering higher team engagement through appropriate P&C interventions – Ensure actions and behaviors are in line with company values – STEEL. – Provide opportunities and train technicians / engineers / managers. Good coordination with machine manufacturing, suppliers, contractors.
Required profile:
Experience and education:
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering (preferred)
10+ years of experience in plant project management (steel industry – SMS and hot/cold rolling mills and auxiliaries) and installation with hands-on experience leading a new project or of an expansion project on the African market.
Good understanding of key projects implemented in the steel industry / manufacturing industry; in the execution / management / coordination of the project
Knowledge and skills:
Knowledge of project planning methodologies – Ability to effectively manage budgets – Vendor/contractor management knowledge and skills – Knowledge of six sigma/Lean, agile and process improvement methodologies – Understanding of local languages (French and English from preference) – Knowledge of steel fabrication industries equipment/machinery. – Team management, multi-skills (mechanical, civil, electrical, manufacturing). – Hands-on experience in installing/running steel fabrication machinery and equipment.
Functional skills:
Excellence in execution – Long-term focus – Collaborative partnerships – Personal efficiency and credibility – Effective team management – Coordination, knowledge of machine operation and maintenance. | https://www.afro-impact.com/en/recruitment-senegal-supervision-and-management-of-maintenance-activities/ |
Q:
key for software
I want design a product key using RSA key but I don't know if my idea is secure.
my idea for design product key:
I have a pair key
for example
public key is :
MIIBvTCCASYCCQD55fNzc0WF7TANBgkqhkiG9w0BAQUFADAjMQswCQYDVQQG…
private key is :
MIICWwIBAAKBgQDRhGF7X4A0ZVlEg594WmODVVUIiiPQs04aLmvfg8SborHss5gQ…
I create product key like this:
(begin of private key for eaxmple) MIICWwIBAAKBgQDRh
And remove it from private key in software
When user doesn’t have a product key cannot decode key
A:
That's not how you should use Public/Private keys for a product key.
Better Implementation
You can create a XML Document describing the features that are enabled. Or just something simple with the Customer Name and Date.
<license>
<name>Acme Co.</name>
<expiration>20120304</expiration>
</license>
You use the private key to sign the the XML document and store the hash and signature with the document. You can then verify the XML document in your product using the Public key you generated earlier.
Result of signing the document:
<license>
<name>Acme Co.</name>
<expiration>20120304</expiration>
<signature>
<hash>1230u4woeifhljksdkvh23p9</hash>
<value>sdvrrvLJbmyscoVMg2pZZAtZJbBHsZFUCwE4Udv+u3TfiAms2HpLgN3cL
NtRlxyQpvWt1FKAB/SCk1jr0IasdfeDOOHhTUTyiv2vMJgCRecC1PLcrmR9ABhqk
itsjzrCt7V3eF5SpObdUFqcj+n9gasdfdQtlQeWcvKEcg=</value>
</signature>
</license>
If the user changes the contents of the license file then the signature will no longer match. They will also not be able to re-sign the document because they do not have access to your private key. This is important, you ship the PUBLIC key with your product not the private key.
Short Key Implementation
Select a Product Code (Some random string to identify your product
Add a known salt to the product code
Create an encryption key based on the User Name. Checks to make sure it's valid.
Encrypt the salt+product code with the new key
Build human readable key from the encrypted results.
It will look like 1234-1234-1234-1234
C# Solution:
/// <summary>
/// Provides the ability to generate and validate license keys based
/// on a product code.
/// </summary>
public class LicenseKeyManager
{
/// <summary>
/// Construct a new LicenseKeyManager
/// </summary>
public LicenseKeyManager()
{
crypto = new DESCryptoServiceProvider ();
}
/// <summary>
/// Set or get the product code. Once the product code
/// is manually set it will no longer be automatically
/// generated for this instance. Suggested to not
/// set the product code unless generating keys.
///
/// In this instance the ProductCode is a string
/// that identifies the machine that the license needs
/// to be generated on. This prevents the distribution
/// of keys among friends.
/// </summary>
public String ProductCode
{
set
{
productCode = value;
}
get
{
if (productCode == null)
productCode = Ethernet.MacAddress.Replace (":", "");
return productCode;
}
}
/// <summary>
/// A salt that can be added to the product code to ensure that
/// different keys are generated for different products or
/// companies.
/// Once set the salt cannot be retrieved from this object.
/// </summary>
public String Salt
{
set
{
salt = value;
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Validate a license key
/// </summary>
/// <param name="name">Name associated with the license key</param>
/// <param name="key">The license key</param>
/// <returns>True if the license key is valid</returns>
public bool IsValidKey (String name, String key)
{
if (name == null || key == null) return false;
String license = CreateLicense (name);
return license.CompareTo (key) == 0;
}
/// <summary>
/// Create a new license key associated with the given name. The key
/// will be the same if this method is reinvoked with the same name and
/// product code.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="name">Name to associate with the license key</param>
/// <returns>New License Key</returns>
public String CreateLicense (String name)
{
String licenseSource = ProductCode;
if (salt != null)
licenseSource = salt + licenseSource;
byte[] license = Encrypt(licenseSource, name);
if (license.Length > 16)
{
byte[] tmp = new byte[16];
Array.Copy (license, tmp, 16);
license = tmp;
}
else if (license.Length < 16)
{
byte[] tmp =
new byte[] {
36, 36, 36, 36, 36, 36, 36, 36,
36, 36, 36, 36, 36, 36, 36, 36};
Array.Copy (license, tmp, license.Length);
license = tmp;
}
StringBuilder sb =
new StringBuilder ();
String base64License =
Convert.ToBase64String (license).ToUpper();
base64License = base64License.Replace ('+', 'F');
base64License = base64License.Replace ('/', 'A');
// Format the license key in a human readable format.
// We dont need all of the license key just enough
// so that it isn't predictable. This key won't be
// used in decrypting the license, only in comparision
// similar to that when hasing passwords.
sb.AppendFormat (
"{0}{1}{2}{3}-{4}{5}{6}{7}-" +
"{8}{9}{10}{11}-{12}{13}{14}{15}",
base64License[0], base64License[1],
base64License[2], base64License[3],
base64License[4], base64License[5],
base64License[6], base64License[7],
base64License[8], base64License[9],
base64License[10],base64License[11],
base64License[12],base64License[13],
base64License[14],base64License[15]);
return sb.ToString();
}
private byte[] GetLegalKey(string Key)
{
string sTemp = Key;
crypto.GenerateKey();
byte[] bytTemp = crypto.Key;
int KeyLength = bytTemp.Length;
if (sTemp.Length > KeyLength)
sTemp = sTemp.Substring(0, KeyLength);
else if (sTemp.Length < KeyLength)
sTemp = sTemp.PadRight(KeyLength, ' ');
return ASCIIEncoding.ASCII.GetBytes(sTemp);
}
private byte[] Encrypt(string Source, string Key)
{
// use UTF8 unicode conversion for two byte characters
byte[] byteIn = UTF8Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(Source);
// set the private key
crypto.Key = GetLegalKey(Key);
crypto.IV = iv;
// create an Encryptor from the Provider Service instance
ICryptoTransform encryptor = crypto.CreateEncryptor();
// convert into Base64 so that the result can be used in xml
return encryptor.TransformFinalBlock (
byteIn, 0, byteIn.Length);
}
private static byte[] iv = new byte[] {63,63,63,63,63,63,63,63};
private String productCode;
private String salt;
private SymmetricAlgorithm crypto;
}
| |
At over 350 small coffee shops across the country today, Americans are witnessing the birth of a new movement. It's not Democrat or Republican, it's not progressive or conservative, it's not young or old. It's not about issues so much as a new way of seeing politics. It's not even the Coffee Party (full disclosure: I am a lifelong tea drinker); as someone said this morning, "We're the Coffee, Tea and We Party."
I attended the first organizing event of the nascent Coffee Party at an ungodly hour of a rainy morning in the welcoming Busboys & Poets coffeeshop in downtown Washington, DC. I had persuaded my friend Mary Panke to go with me, believing in her ability to think positive thoughts and to see creative solutions in every issue. I attended mostly out of curiousity and the cynical fear that the Coffee Party was attempting to copy the Tea Party's tactics.
The approximately 50 people in attendance ranged from students, young people in their 20s, a female military officer in her upper 50s who was an ardent pacifist, and many middle-aged people like myself who weren't sure what they were walking into but were open to a new paradigm. Led by activist and entrepreneur Andy Shallal and CodePink founder Medea Benjamin, the meeting's rules were clear: No bashing of the Tea Party and a willingness to talk and listen. The presence of a CNN crew lent a festive air as did the free (organic, free trade) coffee.
We made a list of our pressing political issues -- jobs, the economy, health care, peace and justice, immigration -- which likely is similar to one that would be created at a similar meeting of the Tea Party. We introduced ourselves mostly with the personal -- few talked about what they did in their professional lives. The common thread was a frustration with the political process and the lack of civility in discourse. "We may disagree, but we must not be disagreeable," one young man quoted his grandfather.
Breaking into small groups, we spoke about how the political endgame so often creates inertia among our nation's leaders. We bemoaned the fact that the media frequently pits liberals against conservatives as though -- at our heart -- we have no beliefs in common. But don't we all care about jobs and our families and the well-being of our nation? Where we diverge is how to get there. One participant said, "It's not about left or right but about forward. It's not about more government or less government but about good government."
I recalled the first time I voted in an election. I'll never forget the excitement -- even though I was out of the country and voted absentee. It was a seminal moment for me, the time I realized I played a part in the direction of my country. It was my Patriot Moment. Today was my second Patriot Moment. If ever there were a grassroots movement, this is it. But it can't be portrayed as elitist or against anything because today I was part of something that had no boundaries. We may not have created an agenda for the future or a manifesto or a slogan. But we did create a sense of hope and purpose and conciliation.
In the coming months, the Coffee Party may even begin talking to the Tea Party; perhaps we can jointly attend a Caffeine Party. Our greatest accomplishment would be to step across the many lines in the sand and begin to find the areas where there is common ground. Then maybe members of Congress would step across the aisle and begin to do the same. Let's wake up and smell whatever is brewing -- it's good for all of us. | https://www.huffpost.com/entry/something-is-brewing-acro_b_497917 |
If you want to have fluent English, the place to start is by mastering the simple present tense. This test is divided into 5 parts. As it is a test for simple present tense knowledge, you may want to brush up on the grammar and uses for this tense before you begin.
This test is designed to be quick and comprehensive. Some questions may be a little hard for children, so don’t get discouraged if your young one does not get 100%.
Learn Verbs with The Learner’s Nook
If you are interested in learning more about verbs in English, we have plenty of verb resources at our Verbs in English page.
Simple Present Tense Test PDF
You can download the test PFDF below, or, if you prefer, the full version of the test will be written below. Either way, you will need the audio found at the bottom of this page for the 5th part of this test.
Test Answers PDF
The PDF below has an answer sheet to help you mark and correct your answers for our simple present test.
Have Questions?
We like to help in any way that we can. Shoot us an email by filling in the form below, and we can do our best to answer your questions. If you don’t want to give us your email address, then comment on this post, and we can answer here too.
Part 1 – Answer the Question ( /5)
In this portion, we will be asking you a question and providing you an answer found in parentheses. There will be five questions.
Example Question: How are you today? (good)
Example Answer: I am good.
Question 1: Do you like dogs? (No)
Answer:
Question 2: Where do you work? (the bank)
Answer:
Question 3: What color are your pants? (red and blue)
Answer:
Question 4: What time do you have class tomorrow? (10 o’clock in the morning)
Answer:
Question 5: Where do you usually go for Christmas? (my cabin)
Answer:
Part 2 – Correct The Sentence ( /5)
In this section, we will give you a sentence in the present simple tense. We would like you to correct it. Some sentences do not have any mistakes, so be careful.
Question 1: John’s daughter are fifteen years old.
Answer:
Question 2: I go to school with my friend yesterday.
Answer:
Question 3: I have a meeting at noon tomorrow.
Answer:
Question 4: It is okay that my friends come over?
Answer:
Question 5: I work at the dentist’s office for five years.
Answer:
Part 3 – Correct the Paragraph ( /8)
Just as in the last section, we want you to read and correct sentences. In this case, we will give you a paragraph and have you make any necessary corrections. We will give one mark for every correct sentence. Not every sentence has a mistake.
Question 1:
Today is january 4th. It is the middle of winter. My name Harry, and I live in a small town in America. Today, I want to playing in the snow. I like the snow because it are pretty and fun to play in. My friends and I usually has snowball fights and makes snowmen. After, we goes home and drink hot chocolate. Winter is my favorite season.
Answer:
Part 4 – Fill in the Blank Exercise ( /5)
The purpose of this section is mostly to practice your conjugation skills. We will give you a sentence with a blank to fill in. Inside the blank, you will need to add a verb.
We will give you the infinitive in brackets beside the blank so that you know which verb to use. Check out the example, so you know how it works.
Example Question: The baby _____ (to crawl) on the ground.
Example Answer: The baby crawls on the ground.
Question 1: Mom and Dad ______ (to be) at work tomorrow.
Answer:
Question 2: The class _____ (to have) a project due for tomorrow.
Answer:
Question 3: We like _______ (to run) quickly in the park.
Answer:
Question 4: Tim _____ (to see) a dog by the door.
Answer:
Question 5: I _____ (to pick up) the phone when it rings.
Answer:
Part 5 – Multiple Choice Listening Test ( /2)
If you are using the PDF version of our test, you will need to go back to our website to listen to the audio in this section. There are only two questions. Each question has three multiple choice answers.
Listen to the sentences and then answer the question.
1. What day is it today?
A. It is Friday today.
B. It is Sunday today.
C. We don’t know what day it is today.
2. What kind of food does Jack like?
A. Jack likes sandwiches.
B. Jack likes cookies.
C. Jack likes soup.
Learn More Verbs in English with The Learner’s Nook
If you wish to learn more about the simple present, you can look at our posts on the subject. As well, we have more verbs in English resources listed below. | https://thelearnersnook.com/2020/10/26/test-for-simple-present-tense/ |
BACKGROUND
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Software testing is a part of a software release cycle. Software testing may be used to verify that the released software is without bugs and/or performs in an expected manner. Software testing can be done manually and/or programmatically.
Manual testing may include a human directly interacting with the software-under-test (“SUT”) via a command line, graphical, or other input interface. Programmatic testing may include writing computer code to automate the interactions with the SUT. Programmatic testing may be preferable to manual testing, because the programmatic tests can be repeatedly executed after the test code is written once, and the test cases can be more quickly executed programmatically than manually. However, writing the test code with a comprehensive set of test cases can be very time-intensive, and may be also subject to human errors.
The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements.
Embodiments described herein may provide a test automation system (“TAS”) for validation of software-under-test (“SUT”) using machine-generated programmatic tests. The TAS may generate different sets of test cases for different functions of the SUT based on a self-description of the SUT function calls, function arguments, and/or argument types. The TAS may modify the test coverage by generating the different sets of test cases according to one or more test methodologies (e.g., non-combinatorial, combinatorial, pairwise, and/or other testing of the SUT). The TAS may convert the test cases into executable code that can be used to call the SUT functions with different inputs, and may determine results for each test case based on the outputs of the SUT functions.
FIG. 1
FIG. 1
110
120
110
110
illustrates an example of the automated programmatic test generation and validation of SUT in accordance with some embodiments described herein. As shown in , TAS may automatically generate test cases based on function declarations, variable type definitions, and/or other source code of SUT , and may execute the automatically generated test cases against functions of SUT by directly converting the test cases into executable function calls with different input combinations defined by the test cases.
120
1
130
110
130
110
130
110
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For example, TAS may obtain (at ) self-description of SUT . In some embodiments, self-description may include function names, function arguments, arguments types, and/or other data related to the declaration of SUT functions. In some embodiments, self-description may include inputs and/or expected outputs for each of the SUT functions. In some embodiments, TAS may provide a self-description interface that allows a user (e.g., developer or tester) to manually define and/or modify self-description . Alternatively, or additionally, TAS may provide a crawler for scanning SUT , and for automatically populating self-description with function names, function arguments, arguments types, inputs, and/or other data that are detected from the scanning. The crawler may automatically populate self-description based on detected function declarations and/or argument type definitions within SUT source code.
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TAS may automatically generate (at ) test cases -, -, -, and - (herein sometimes collectively referred to as “test cases ” or individually as “test case ”) based on self-description and/or at least one selected test methodology. For instance, test cases - may include one or more tests for a first SUT function defined in self-description , test cases - may include one or more tests for a different second SUT function defined in self-description , test cases - may include one or more tests for a third SUT function defined in self-description , and test cases - may include one or more tests for a fourth SUT function defined in self-description . The selected test methodology may define the coverage and/or scope for each set of test cases . More specifically, the selected test methodology determines the input combinations that will be used to test a particular function. For instance, a first test methodology (e.g., a pairwise or all-pairs test methodology) may be used to generate test cases - with a test case for each pair of input parameters of the first SUT function, whereas a second test methodology (e.g., a combinatorial test methodology) may be used to generate test cases - with a test case for every possible input combination for the first SUT function. The selected test methodology can therefore be used to control the test coverage, test time, number of inputs, and/or other test factors.
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Since self-description may be based on function declarations (e.g., function prototypes or function definitions) within the source code of SUT , and may be exclusive of the actual function code, TAS may generate test cases in parallel or before the code for each SUT function is written. For instance, TAS may generate test cases - for the first SUT function in response to a declaration, prototype, and/or definition of the first SUT function name, arguments, and argument types, and prior to a developer writing the code for the first SUT function (e.g., the source code for the operations performed when the first SUT function is called).
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Once the developer writes the code for one or more of the SUT functions, TAS may execute (at ) a corresponding set of test cases against those SUT functions. In some embodiments, TAS may generate SUT executable test code for each test case . TAS may generate the executable test code for test cases - directly from the function declaration of the first SUT function within self-description and different inputs and/or input combinations defined by the selected test methodology for each test case of test cases - without user involvement and/or a user writing a single line of executable test code. TAS may programmatically and comprehensively test SUT using the generated test code. For instance, TAS may comprehensively test the first SUT function by executing the test code generated for test cases - in order to programmatically call the first SUT function with each of the different input and/or input combinations defined for test cases -.
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TAS may record and/or validate (at ) output for each executed test case . TAS may validate (at ) output by determining whether output, that is produced from testing a particular function using input from a particular test case , is within an acceptable range that is defined for that particular test case in self-description .
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In this manner, TAS may automate the testing of SUT without the user (e.g., developer or tester) writing a single line of executable test code. At most, the user may enter the function names, arguments, argument types, input ranges, and/or expected outputs in self-description , although TAS may, on behalf of the user, automatically create and populate self-description with the same data via operation of the crawler. Even without automatic creation of self-description , manual creation of self-description is significantly faster, easier, and less error-prone than writing executable-code for a comprehensive set of test cases. Consequently, TAS may shorten the software release cycle by allowing SUT testing to occur in parallel with SUT development, and by allowing users to focus on development instead of testing.
FIG. 2
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illustrates an example of self-description for SUT in accordance with some embodiments described herein. As shown, self-description may be based on declarations -, -, -, and - of each SUT function (herein sometimes collectively referred to as “function declarations ” or individually as “function declaration ”).
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Each function declaration may contain the definition of a different SUT function. For instance, each function declaration may include one or more of the name and/or interface for calling a function, and/or the function parameters. The function parameters may include the arguments (e.g., the names of each function input), the type of each function argument, and/or other data. The argument type may correspond to predefined types (e.g., integer, floating point value, Boolean, string, etc.) of an underlying programming language used in writing SUT , and/or custom types that are unique to SUT and that may be user-defined.
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In some embodiments, a user may provide function declarations for self-description via a self-description interface of TAS . The user may simply copy and paste the function declarations from the source code of SUT to self-description .
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In some embodiments, TAS , via operation of the crawler, may automatically scan files and/or source code of SUT for function declarations (e.g., initialization, creation, declaration, function prototype, and/or other code with the function name, arguments, and/or argument types within SUT ). In response to detecting a function declaration in SUT , the crawler may automatically enter data from the detected function declaration to self-description .
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As shown in , self-description may optionally include test inputs for each function argument and/or argument type. Test inputs for a particular argument and/or argument type may correspond to valid and/or invalid ranges, strings, values, regular expressions, enumerations, and/or other data that can be set for the particular argument and/or the corresponding argument type during testing. The programming language used to code SUT may predefine the valid ranges, strings, values, regular expressions, enumerations, and/or other data for a particular argument or argument type. In some embodiments, a user can override or custom specify the valid ranges, strings, values, regular expressions, enumerations, and/or other data for a particular argument or argument type, and TAS , via operation of the crawler, may detect the user-defined inputs for the particular argument or argument type, and may update self-description accordingly.
A range may be defined to include numeric values (e.g., [0-9]), characters (e.g., [a-f]), symbols, or some combination thereof. Strings may be defined to include a specific sequence of characters, and regular expressions may be defined to include a sequence of characters that define a search pattern (e.g., a five digit zip code may be represented by the regular expression “{circumflex over ( )}\d{5}$”). An enumeration may be defined to list each test value for that argument and/or argument test. For instance, an argument type of “month” may be specified with valid test inputs of JAN, FEB, MAR, APR, MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT, NOV, and DEC. Invalid test inputs may also explicitly be used to, for example, test error handling operations of a function. To that effect, the example inputs of ˜XYZ and ˜TRS may be provided (e.g., to simulate months incorrectly specified as “XYZ” or “TRS”), where the “˜” (or another symbol) indicates that these are invalid test inputs. Valid input for a particular argument and/or argument type may be input that is supported or within expected values of the particular argument and/or argument type, whereas invalid input for the particular argument and/or argument type may be input that is not supported or outside expected values of the particular argument and/or argument type.
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TAS may automatically define test inputs for different arguments of functions in self-description based on the type of the corresponding argument. For instance, an argument with a Boolean type may have predefined inputs of True and False. The programming language used to write SUT may predefine test inputs for different argument types (e.g., True and False for a Boolean type). TAS may also automatically generate invalid inputs for the predefined argument types. For instance, TAS may determine that the Boolean type has valid inputs True and False, and may therefore generate invalid input that is different than the predefined valid inputs. Similarly, TAS may determine that the predefined unsigned integer type has a valid range of inputs between 0 and 65,535, and may generate invalid input that is outside this valid range.
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A user may also define and/or override inputs for different argument types within SUT or directly within self-description . For instance, the user may define the custom argument type of “summer_months” to include valid inputs of JUN, JUL, and AUG (e.g., and not the other months of the year). TAS may use the crawler to identify the definition of the “summer_months” argument type in SUT source code. Based on the identified type definition, TAS may include the defined valid inputs and/or invalid inputs for functions with arguments of the “summer_months” type definition. For instance, the valid inputs enumerate the defined values from the variable type definition, and the invalid inputs may include values that are different than each of the enumerated valid inputs (e.g., “˜JAN”, “˜JUNE”, etc.). In some embodiments, the user may use the self-description interface to add and/or modify test inputs for different arguments and/or argument types.
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Self-description supports different test inputs for different occurrences of the same argument type. For example, self-description may include a first SUT function with an argument of type “hour,” and may specify a first set of test inputs with a range of “1-12” for the “hour” argument type in the first SUT function. Continuing with the example, self-description may include a second SUT function with an argument of type “hour”, and may specify a second set of test inputs with a range of “1-24” for the same hour argument type in the second SUT function. In this case, different test inputs may be specified for each argument of the “hour” argument type.
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As further shown in , self-description may optionally include expected output for a function. Expected output may include ranges, strings, values, regular expressions, enumerations, and/or other data that a function is expected to return during testing. Actual function output that matches or is within range of expected output may indicate that the function is operating as expected. Actual function output that does not match or is out of range of expected output may indicate unexpected behavior and/or a failed test case.
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TAS may automatically define expected output for a function based on argument types of one or more parameters that the function is expected to return. For instance, if a function is defined to return one argument of type “minute”, and if SUT defines the “minute” argument type as having a range between 0 and 59, then TAS may populate expected output for that function to be a number between 0 and 59. Expected output , like test inputs , may be predefined in SUT , and/or may be defined and/or overridden by a user.
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Since each entry in self-description corresponds to a function of SUT , TAS may automatically update self-description in response to changes made to the declaration of corresponding functions in SUT . For instance, if a user defines a particular function with a first set of arguments and argument types at a first time, and then changes the particular function to have a different second set of arguments and argument types, TAS , via operation of the crawler, may update a corresponding entry of self-description accordingly. In particular, TAS may create, at the first time, an entry for the particular function in self-description based on the first set of arguments. TAS may monitor SUT , may detect the changes that are made to the particular function, and may carryover those changes by modifying the entry for the particular function based on the second set of arguments and argument types. As a more specific example, a first entry in self-description may correspond to a first function of SUT . In response to a detected change to a first argument of the first function from a first type to a different second type, TAS may change the first argument type in the corresponding entry of self-description to be of the second type, and/or may change test inputs to reflect valid and/or invalid test inputs for arguments of the second type.
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Self-description may differ from SUT in that self-description does not include any of the function code and/or other executable code. In fact, self-description can be defined and complete without any of the corresponding SUT function code being written.
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Moreover, test inputs specified within self-description may differ from input values that are supported by corresponding functions of SUT . For instance, SUT may include a function argument of type “integer” that can be any 4-byte value, and self-description may define test inputs for that function argument to be in a more limited range of 0-100 (e.g., a specific subset of values falling within the 4-byte value).
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TAS may receive self-description for any SUT , and may generate test cases for that SUT according to at least one selected test methodology. The selected test methodology may determine the number, scope, comprehensiveness, and/or other parameters of the TAS generated test cases.
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illustrates examples of different sets of test cases -, -, and - (herein sometimes collectively referred to as “test cases ” or individually as “test case ”) that may be generated by TAS using different test methodologies in accordance with some embodiments described herein. Test cases may be used to test a particular function that has three parameters (e.g., identified in as P, P, and P). In , each parameter may accept test inputs of 0 or 1.
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TAS may generate a first set of test cases - using a non-combinatorial test methodology. According to the non-combinatorial test methodology, the first set of test cases - may be used to test the particular function using one occurrence of each input value (e.g., all zeros or all ones in two different test cases, respectively, for each of P, P, and P). The first set of test cases - and/or the non-combinatorial test methodology, may provide basic testing of the particular function. The basic testing may be used to determine that the particular function accepts inputs and produces output and does not crash when called. However, the first set of test cases - may be insufficient for purposes of debugging the function as errors and/or other issues may go undetected because of the minimal number of test cases that were used. For instance, the first set of test cases - do not test the function with other valid inputs combinations that may trigger various errors and/or that may cause the function to execute different operations or code.
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TAS may generate a second set of test cases - using a combinatorial test methodology, in which, the particular function is tested using all possible input combinations. The second set of test cases - and/or the combinatorial test methodology may provide an exhaustive testing of all possible input combinations of the particular function. Although not shown, the second set of test cases - may also include one or more test cases to test the particular function against invalid and/or negative inputs. The number of test cases produced by the combinatorial test methodology may grow exponentially based on the number of function arguments and/or argument inputs. As a result, combinatorial testing may be too time- and resource-intensive, and/or may be excessive because most, if not all, bugs, errors, and/or issues of particular function may arise without testing every possible combination of inputs.
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TAS may generate a third set of test cases - using a pairwise test methodology. According to the pairwise test methodology, the particular function may be tested using one occurrence of each pair of inputs. As illustrated in , the third set of test cases - includes four test cases that can be used to test the particular function with the first two parameters having values of 0 and 1, second and third parameters having values of 0 and 1, and first and third parameters having values of 0 and 1. Although the number of test cases of the third set of test cases - are fewer than those of second set of test cases -, the third set of test cases - provide sufficient testing of the particular function albeit in a more efficient manner than second set of test cases -. As another example, a function with 12 arguments and 2 test inputs for each argument may have 4096 test cases (e.g., 2{circumflex over ( )}12) when generating test cases with a combinatorial test methodology, and may have 4 test cases for the same function when generating test cases with a pairwise test methodology. For instance, assuming that the 2 test inputs have valid inputs of 0 and 1, the 4 test cases of {0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0}, {0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1}, {1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1}, and {1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0} cover each discrete combination of each pair of input parameters. Accordingly, in some embodiments, TAS may select the pairwise test methodology to generate test cases for efficient testing and comprehensive testing of SUT functions. It should be noted that TAS may support additional and/or other test methodologies (e.g., an orthogonal test methodology) that produce different test cases based on the same parameters.
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In some embodiments, TAS may begin testing a function with a first set of test cases, that are generated via a first test methodology (e.g., non-combinatorial or pairwise test methodology), and if the number of detected issues satisfies or does not satisfy a threshold, TAS may retest the function with a second set of test cases, that are generated via a second and more exhaustive test methodology (e.g., combinatorial test methodology). In this manner, TAS may adapt the test cases according to the condition of SUT .
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In some embodiments, TAS may use the pairwise test methodology to generate test cases in order to efficiently validate functions of SUT during the development phase of SUT . For instance, TAS may use the pairwise generated test cases for a nightly validation of SUT , and/or to verify that existing functions operate as expected and have not changed from a previous build. TAS may use the combinatorial test methodology to generate test cases to perform a full validation of SUT against all possible use cases prior to a public release of SUT .
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TAS may convert the test cases that are generated from self-description into executable code that can call the functions of SUT . TAS may generate the executable code in one of several different programming languages or programming paradigms supported by SUT .
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For instance, SUT may be, or may include, an Application Programming interface (“API”) that supports a Representational State Transfer (“REST”) communication paradigm. In some such embodiments, TAS may convert the test cases into a set of HyperText Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”) GET, POST, PUT, and/or UPDATE messages. Each HTTP message may be used to call (e.g., HTTP POST) a specific function of the RESTful API, may provide (e.g., HTTP PUT) one or more inputs as part of the function call, and/or may receive (e.g., HTTP GET) the function output. Each message may include a Uniform Resource Locator (“URL”) for identifying the API and/or API function under test. The URL may contain the function inputs as part of the URL query string. The function inputs may alternatively be included within the message header, payload, and/or a cookie file.
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Other SUTs may support the Simple Object Access Protocol (“SOAP”), JavaScript Object Notation (“JSON”), and/or other communication paradigms. In these instances, TAS may convert the test cases into messages of the corresponding SOAP, JSON, and/or communication paradigm.
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TAS may also convert the test cases into executable code for testing C, C++, Java, Python, Perl, Ruby, other programming, and/or other scripting language functions. In these instances, SUT may run on the same device as TAS . When on different devices, the executable code may be encapsulated in a data packet, and sent over a network to SUT for execution.
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TAS may issue API calls and/or execute the test case code in order to test different functions of SUT with different inputs. TAS may capture output of each test case, and may compare the captured output against expected output in self-description to determine which test cases were successfully completed and which test cases were unsuccessful. As unsuccessful test case may be a test case that produces unexpected output (e.g., output that is out of range of expected output), fails (e.g., SUT crashes or produces no output), and/or produces behavior that is not expected.
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TAS may present a test summary with outputs of the executed test cases via a graphical user interface (“GUI”), a file, and/or other representation. The test summary may identify the successful test cases and/or unsuccessful test cases. The test summary may also provide the captured output relative to expected output specified in self-description .
FIG. 4
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presents a process for testing SUT in accordance with some embodiments described herein. Process may be performed by TAS . In particular, TAS may perform process to facilitate test driven development of SUT by automatically generating test cases for functions of SUT as the functions are written. The test cases can be changed to accommodate changes to the function declarations, and/or repeated for regression testing.
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Process may include obtaining (at ) self-description of SUT . As noted above, TAS may obtain self-description automatically by scanning one or more files (e.g., source files) that specify SUT . TAS may use a crawler to periodically or continuously monitor SUT for new function declarations and/or changes to existing function declarations. In response to detecting a new function declaration, TAS , by operation of the crawler, may extract the arguments and argument types from the function declaration. Additionally, TAS , by operation of the crawler, may identify test inputs for each argument and/or argument type based on predefined inputs for predefined and/or user-defined argument types. TAS may also obtain self-description via a self-description interface that allows a developer and/or tester to manually enter the SUT functions for testing. In some embodiments, TAS may automatically populate self-description with the functions, function arguments, and argument types of SUT , and a user, via the self-description interface, may provide test inputs and/or expected outputs for each function.
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Process may include selecting (at ) a test methodology from an available set of test methodologies based on system-selected criteria or user-selected criteria. The system-selected criteria may include selecting the test methodology based on the development and/or testing phase of SUT . For instance, SUT may transition from a unit test phase, to an integration test phase, to a regression test phase, to an acceptance test phase, and different test methodologies may be used during one or more of these different test phases. The user-selected criteria may include a developer or tester specifying the test methodology for testing different SUTs .
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Process may include generating (at ) a set of test cases for each function based on the selected test methodology and obtained self-description . The selected test methodology may define the set of test cases for a given function in self-description based on one or more of the number of arguments, argument types, and/or test inputs for each argument or argument type of the function in self-description . More specifically, the selected test methodology may define each set of test cases with different input combinations from the test inputs provided for the arguments of a function.
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Process may include determining (at ) the programming language and/or communication paradigm for programmatically interfacing with SUT . In some embodiments, the determination (at ) may be based on the source code of SUT , the format of the function declarations, input and output format of SUT , and/or interface to SUT (e.g., REST, SOAP, etc.).
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Process may include converting (at ) the test cases into executable code that is supported by the determined (at ) programming language and/or programming paradigm, and that can be used to call the SUT functions with the different input combinations specified by the test cases. For example, TAS may generate HTTP messages and/or messages supported by another network protocol to call functions of a RESTful API remotely via a data network.
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Process may include testing (at ) the functions of SUT by executing the code (e.g., generating the network messages and/or calling the functions), and may capture (at ) output for each test case. Process may include presenting (at ) test results based on the captured output and/or comparing the captured output against expected output specified in self-description .
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presents an example of TAS automatically creating test cases for a particular function of SUT in accordance with some embodiments. As shown in , the source code of SUT may include declaration for the particular function. Declaration may specify the function name, a first argument of custom-defined type “time_zone”, a second argument of a predefined Boolean type, and a return argument of a predefined integer type.
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TAS , via operation of the crawler, may scan the SUT source code, may detect declaration , and may populate self-description with entry for the particular function based on declaration . The crawler may also detect that the first argument is of a custom-defined type by further scanning the SUT source code to locate definition for the “time_zone” argument type. Definition may be specified with valid inputs “PT”, “MT”, “CT”, and “ET” for arguments of the “time_zone” type.
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TAS may further populate each argument of entry with test inputs based on definition , predefined values, and/or other data. For example, and as shown in , TAS may populate the first argument for entry with valid inputs that are detected for the first argument type based on definition and two invalid inputs, and may populate the second argument for entry with valid inputs that are predefined for the Boolean type and two invalid inputs, and may populate the return argument with valid inputs that are predefined for the integer type.
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TAS may generate test cases for the particular function based on entry in self-description . TAS may convert test cases into executable code that is used to call the particular function with a different input combination specified for each test case . Results may include the output of each test case and/or status of each test case . A successful or unsuccessful status may be derived from comparing the output from each function call to the expected output for the return argument.
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In some embodiments, TAS may perform a stateless testing of SUT , whereby each test case produces output that is independent of inputs or outputs from prior test cases or states of SUT . In some embodiments, TAS may perform a stateful testing of SUT , whereby inputs and/or outputs of prior test cases may affect inputs and/or outputs of subsequent test cases. The stateful testing may verify that SUT records state and applies the recorded state in correct circumstances.
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In some embodiments, TAS may provide stateful testing via Create, Read, Update, and Delete (“CRUD”) test cases. The CRUD test cases may include creating an initial state within SUT using a first set of inputs and a first function call, reading the initial state from SUT using a second function call and/or based on output of the first function call, changing the initial state to a secondary state using a second set of inputs and the first function call or a third function call, and deleting the secondary state with a fourth function call.
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Creating the initial state may include storing data in SUT . The data may be input to SUT via a function call, wherein the data may be a parameter that is passed with the function call. The data may alternatively be the result of an operation that is executed by SUT in response to a function call. SUT may retain the operation result in memory or other storage.
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Reading the initial state may include verifying that the initial state has been created and is stored in SUT for subsequent access. Reading the initial state may include issuing a function call with a parameter for requesting the initial state from SUT .
Changing to the secondary state may include overriding data of the initial state with new data of the secondary state. Changing to the secondary state may also include executing an operation that use the data from the initial state to produce the data for the secondary state. For instance, creating the initial state may include a first mathematical operation, and changing to the secondary state may include using the result of the first mathematical operation as input to a second mathematical operation.
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In some embodiments, self-description may define a CRUD test case by setting expected output of a function to a CRUD parameter. For instance, rather than set a range for expected output of a particular function, self-description may set expected output to a CRUD parameter. TAS may detect the CRUD parameter when generating the test cases, and may create at least two test cases for that particular function, wherein the first test case creates the initial state and verifies that the initial change is stored in SUT , and the second test case modifies the initial state.
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TAS may support other stateful testing of SUT . In some embodiments, self-description may include a conditional statement as part of expected output for a function entry. The conditional statement may be specified as an “if-then-else” condition with expected output specified for the conditional statement. For instance, the conditional statement may be defined as “if first output (e.g., from a first set of input parameters) is within first expected output, then provide second input parameters and verify second output against second expected output, else provide third input parameters and verify third output against third expected output. Multiple conditional statement may be nested within one another.
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illustrates an example environment in which one or more embodiments, described herein, may be implemented. As shown in , environment may include one or more SUT , TAS , development platform , repository , and network . TAS may include self-description interface , crawler , self-description repository , test case generator , and code generator .
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The quantity of devices, components, and/or networks, illustrated in , is provided for explanatory purposes only. In practice, environment may include additional devices, components, and/or networks; fewer devices, components, and/or networks; different devices, components, and/or networks; or differently arranged devices, components, and/or networks than illustrated in . For example, while not shown, environment may include devices, systems, and/or other physical hardware that facilitate or enable communication between various devices and/or components shown in environment , such as routers, modems, gateways, switches, hubs, etc. Alternatively, or additionally, one or more of the devices of environment may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another one or more of the devices of environment . Devices of environment may interconnect with each other and/or other devices via wired connections, wireless connections, or a combination of wired and wireless connections. In some implementations, one or more devices of environment may be physically integrated in, and/or may be physically attached to, one or more other devices of environment . For instance, TAS may be integrated as part of development platform .
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SUT may include any application, program, API, script, and/or code that contains machine-executable instructions. SUT may include one or more files that are stored in repository . SUT may execute from one or more devices. The devices executing SUT may include one or more local machines (e.g., desktop computers, laptop computers, tablet devices, smartphones, etc.) of a user, and/or remote servers in the “cloud” that the user may access via network .
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SUT may be developed using development platform . Development platform may provide a set of tools that assists developers in software development. For instance, development platform may include one or more of an editor, compiler, run-time environment, and/or debugger. Development platform may run on one or more local machines of the user. Development platform may also run on remote servers in the “cloud” that the user may access via network . Developers may use a terminal interface (e.g., a browser, application, and/or client) on a local machine to access development platform when development platform runs in the cloud.
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Development platform may link to repository , and may use repository for managing the files and/or code of SUT . For instance, repository may allow multiple developers to check-out different files of an SUT without conflict, and/or commit changed files back into repository without conflict. Repository may include one or more storage devices that run on the same or different machines than development platform and/or TAS .
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TAS may be integrated with, or may have access to, development platform and/or repository . Integrating TAS as part of development platform may allow for TAS to monitor the coding of a particular SUT in real-time (e.g., monitor the code as it is written using an editor of development platform ). Based on the monitoring, TAS may detect when a developer adds a function to the particular SUT (e.g., declares the function prototype), and/or may modify self-description for that particular SUT to include an entry to test the added function. Similarly, integrating TAS as part of repository may allow TAS to scan files of a particular SUT that have been entered and/or committed to repository , detect functions of the particular SUT from scanning the files, and/or modify self-description for that particular SUT to include entries for testing each detected function. TAS may also access repository to perform regression testing of SUT . For instance, TAS may be configured to test each SUT stored in repository on a nightly basis.
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TAS may include one or more devices (e.g., a server device or a distributed set of devices, such as a cloud computing system) that perform one or more actions described herein and/or that execute components - of TAS . Integration of TAS with development platform and/or repository may include TAS running on the same set of devices as development platform and/or repository . Alternatively, TAS may run on a different set of devices that remotely integrate with development platform and/or repository via network .
FIG. 6
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As shown in , TAS may include self-description interface . TAS may receive, via self-description interface , a user-defined self-description for SUT that is transmitted over network . For instance, a user (e.g., developer, tester, etc.) may upload self-description for SUT into TAS via self-description interface . Self-description interface may also provide an interface for manual modification of self-description . TAS may store files for self-description of different SUTs to self-description repository . In other words, self-description may be stored in separate files than files of SUT .
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In some embodiments, TAS may automatically generate self-description for different SUTs . In some such embodiments, a user may provide a link and/or identifier for SUT . The link may include a URL for accessing files of SUT from development platform and/or repository . TAS may activate crawler in response to receiving the link.
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Within development platform , crawler may monitor an identified SUT in real-time. For instance, crawler may monitor a file that a developer has open in developer platform , and may monitor changes the developer makes to the file. In particular, crawler may scan the SUT code for function declarations of the monitored SUT . Crawler may detect a function declaration based on a function prototype or function interface definition that includes arguments of the function, the argument types, and/or acceptable inputs and/or input ranges defined for the argument types. Crawler may create and/or open self-description for the identified SUT in self-description repository , and may populate self-description with detected function names, arguments, argument types, and/or acceptable inputs and/or input ranges.
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Crawler may also access repository in order to scan files of SUT for function declarations. In this instance, developers may have committed the files to repository after entering their changes. Accordingly, crawler may scan the files, and may populate self-description with the names, arguments, argument types, and/or acceptable inputs and/or input ranges of newly detected functions.
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In some embodiments, crawler may also scan the SUT code for test inputs that can be used for detected arguments and/or argument types of one or more function declarations. For instance, crawler may detect a function declaration that includes an argument of a particular type. Crawler may scan elsewhere within the SUT code to find a data structure or type declaration for that particular type. The data structure or type declaration may specify valid ranges and/or inputs for arguments of the particular type. For instance, a function declaration in SUT may include an argument of type “time zone”, and elsewhere in SUT may be a data structure that enumerates values of type “time zone” to be “PT”, “MT”, “CT”, and “ET”. Test inputs for some argument types may be predefined by the programming language that is used to code SUT . In such cases, crawler may map those test inputs to self-description , or may look for overriding of the argument types by the user.
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TAS may store self-description for each SUT in self-description repository . Test case generator may be a process, component, and/or device of TAS that generates test cases for each SUT based on self-description of that SUT . Test case generator may be activated in response to a newly created or newly updated self-description . Test case generator may access the newly created or newly updated self-description from self-description repository , may select a test methodology (e.g., non-combinatorial, pairwise, combinatorial, and/or other test methodology), and may generate a set of test cases for each function that is identified in self-description based on the selected test methodology.
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Code generator may receive the test cases from test case generator . Code generator may determine the programming language and/or programming interface that may be used to call functions of SUT . Code generator may convert the test cases to executable code that can be used to call the SUT functions with different inputs defined for the different test cases. Code generator may execute the converted code in order to call one or more of the SUT functions with the different input combinations specified by the test cases. Code generator may compile the outputs from each function call, and may present the outputs via a graphical user interface (“GUI”), a file, and/or other representation.
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Network may include one or more radio access networks (“RANs”), via which device and/or components of environment , may access one or more other networks or devices, a core network of a wireless telecommunications network, an Internet Protocol-based packet data network (“PDN”), a wide area network (“WAN”) such as the Internet, a private enterprise network, and/or one or more other networks. In some implementations, network may be, include, or be in communication with a cellular network, such as a Long-Term Evolution (“LTE”) network, a Third Generation (“3G”) network, a Fourth Generation (“4G”) network, a Fifth Generation (“5G”) network, a Code Division Multiple Access (“CDMA”) network, etc. Network may be connected to, and/or otherwise in communication with, one or more other networks, such as a public switched telephone network (“PSTN”), a public land mobile network (“PLMN”), and/or another network.
FIG. 7
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is a diagram of example components of device . Device may be used to implement one or more of the devices or systems described above (e.g., SUT , TAS , self-description interface , crawler , self-description repository , test case generator , code generator , etc.). Device may include bus , processor , memory , input component , output component , and communication interface . In another implementation, device may include additional, fewer, different, or differently arranged components.
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Bus may include one or more communication paths that permit communication among the components of device . Processor may include a processor, microprocessor, or processing logic that may interpret and execute instructions. Memory may include any type of dynamic storage device that may store information and instructions for execution by processor , and/or any type of non-volatile storage device that may store information for use by processor .
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Input component may include a mechanism that permits an operator to input information to device , such as a keyboard, a keypad, a button, a switch, etc. Output component may include a mechanism that outputs information to the operator, such as a display, a speaker, one or more light emitting diodes (“LEDs”), etc.
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Communication interface may include any transceiver-like mechanism that enables device to communicate with other devices and/or systems. For example, communication interface may include an Ethernet interface, an optical interface, a coaxial interface, or the like. Communication interface may include a wireless communication device, such as an infrared (“IR”) receiver, a Bluetooth® radio, or the like. The wireless communication device may be coupled to an external device, such as a remote control, a wireless keyboard, a mobile telephone, etc. In some embodiments, device may include more than one communication interface . For instance, device may include an optical interface and an Ethernet interface.
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Device may perform certain operations relating to one or more processes described above. Device may perform these operations in response to processor executing software instructions stored in a computer-readable medium, such as memory . A computer-readable medium may be defined as a non-transitory memory device. A memory device may include space within a single physical memory device or spread across multiple physical memory devices. The software instructions may be read into memory from another computer-readable medium or from another device. The software instructions stored in memory may cause processor to perform processes described herein. Alternatively, hardwired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement processes described herein. Thus, implementations described herein are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software.
The foregoing description of implementations provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the possible implementations to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of the implementations. For instance, the devices may be arranged according to different peer-to-peer, private, permissioned, and/or other blockchain networks.
The actual software code or specialized control hardware used to implement an embodiment is not limiting of the embodiment. Thus, the operation and behavior of the embodiment has been described without reference to the specific software code, it being understood that software and control hardware may be designed based on the description herein.
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For example, while series of messages, blocks, and/or signals have been described with regard to , the order of the messages, blocks, and/or signals may be modified in other implementations. Further, non-dependent blocks and/or signals may be performed in parallel. Additionally, while the figures have been described in the context of particular devices performing particular acts, in practice, one or more other devices may perform some or all of these acts in lieu of, or in addition to, the above-mentioned devices.
Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of the possible implementations. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. Although each dependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one other claim, the disclosure of the possible implementations includes each dependent claim in combination with every other claim in the claim set.
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Further, while certain connections or devices are shown, in practice, additional, fewer, or different, connections or devices may be used. Furthermore, while various devices and networks are shown separately, in practice, the functionality of multiple devices may be performed by a single device, or the functionality of one device may be performed by multiple devices. For instance, TAS may execute from a shared device that also executes development platform and/or repository . Further, multiple ones of the illustrated networks may be included in a single network, or a particular network may include multiple networks. Further, while some devices are shown as communicating with a network, some such devices may be incorporated, in whole or in part, as a part of the network.
To the extent the aforementioned embodiments collect, store or employ personal information provided by individuals, it should be understood that such information shall be used in accordance with all applicable laws concerning protection of personal information. Additionally, the collection, storage and use of such information may be subject to consent of the individual to such activity, for example, through well-known “opt-in” or “opt-out” processes as may be appropriate for the situation and type of information. Storage and use of personal information may be in an appropriately secure manner reflective of the type of information, for example, through various encryption and anonymization techniques for particularly sensitive information.
Some implementations described herein may be described in conjunction with thresholds. The term “greater than” (or similar terms), as used herein to describe a relationship of a value to a threshold, may be used interchangeably with the term “greater than or equal to” (or similar terms). Similarly, the term “less than” (or similar terms), as used herein to describe a relationship of a value to a threshold, may be used interchangeably with the term “less than or equal to” (or similar terms). As used herein, “exceeding” a threshold (or similar terms) may be used interchangeably with “being greater than a threshold,” “being greater than or equal to a threshold,” “being less than a threshold,” “being less than or equal to a threshold,” or other similar terms, depending on the context in which the threshold is used.
No element, act, or instruction used in the present application should be construed as critical or essential unless explicitly described as such. An instance of the use of the term “and,” as used herein, does not necessarily preclude the interpretation that the phrase “and/or” was intended in that instance. Similarly, an instance of the use of the term “or,” as used herein, does not necessarily preclude the interpretation that the phrase “and/or” was intended in that instance. Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items, and may be used interchangeably with the phrase “one or more.” Where only one item is intended, the terms “one,” “single,” “only,” or similar language is used. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
illustrates an example of automated programmatic test generation and validation for software-under-test (“SUT”) in accordance with some embodiments described herein;
FIG. 2
illustrates an example of a self-description of the SUT in accordance with some embodiments described herein;
FIG. 3
illustrates examples of different sets of test cases that may be generated using different test methodologies in accordance with some embodiments described herein;
FIG. 4
presents a process for testing the SUT in accordance with some embodiments described herein;
FIG. 5
presents an example of the TAS automatically creating test cases for a particular function of the SUT in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 6
illustrates an example environment in which one or more embodiments, described herein, may be implemented; and
FIG. 7
illustrates example components of one or more devices, according to one or more embodiments described herein. | |
Simple guide to writing performance reviews
Your employee performance review process is key to ensuring both you and your employees are on the same page regarding job performance. That’s why it’s important to develop a clear and consistent process that includes how to write a performance review correctly. Otherwise, it can be an unnecessarily long process that you dread completing and doesn’t provide the best quality feedback.
Below you’ll find more details on performance reviews, best practices for writing them, and sample phrases you can plug in to complete the process quickly without sacrificing the level of feedback needed to be beneficial.
The goal of a performance review
When writing a performance review you want to always keep in mind the ultimate goal of the process.
Whether you call it a performance review, performance appraisal, or performance evaluation, the purpose is to provide a formal assessment of employee job performance over a set period. You can choose to hold your reviews annually, quarterly, or even monthly, but many companies are moving to a frequency beyond annual reviews.
You evaluate their competencies and areas of improvement, then assist in setting realistic performance-related goals that will be evaluated during the following performance review.
During the performance review, you want to assess a range of skills including:
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Communication
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Collaboration
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Teamwork
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Problem-solving
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Accuracy of work
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Quality of work
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Reliability
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Punctuality
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Attendance
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The ability to meet deadlines
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The ability to accomplish selected goals
How to write review an effective performance review
Writing a quality employee evaluation requires a process to achieve the best results. Here are some strategies to keep in mind.
Give specific examples
Your performance review should provide specific examples when referencing employee performance. When you state that an employee performs in a certain manner — negative or positive — include specific examples that showcase exactly what you’re referring to. This helps to ensure there’s no confusion regarding what your feedback means.
These examples can include data, anecdotal notes, or anything else that clearly and specifically demonstrates why you’re providing that performance rating.
Provide constructive feedback
You don’t want to focus strictly on the positive, even if the review is for a star employee. Your goal is to also identify areas of improvement through constructive feedback that can help take their performance even further.
If an employee is demonstrating problematic behaviors, ensure you’re framing it in a way that isn’t attacking their character or job performance as a whole. You want to be careful to ensure your feedback is constructive, not just a list of criticisms that likely won’t be accepted well.
Set realistic goals
Each performance evaluation should incorporate actionable and realistic goals for the employee to strive toward. It’s important that these are strategically set being that they often impact the ability to earn a raise or receive a promotion. Also, these goals give them something to work toward that can improve their performance and impact the company as a whole.
You want to set a goal that will positively influence the trajectory of their career while also supporting the team and the organization.
When you set goals ensure you set a SMART goal that is specific, measurable, actionable, relevant, and time-based to ensure it’s one that is clear and achievable.
End with positive feedback
It’s helpful to take a sandwich approach when writing a performance review. Start positive, sprinkle in constructive feedback, and end positive. Setting it up in this way sets the stage for a better conversation.
Performance review best practices
Here are additional best practices to keep in mind as you prepare for performance reviews.
Follow-up with regular feedback
Beyond your formal performance review, also incorporate providing informal feedback into your routine. This is especially important if you only offer an annual performance review formally.
Hold your meeting face to face
This might not always be possible as more people are working from home, but you want to hold your performance review meetings either face to face or via Zoom as a second option. Try to avoid doing it over the phone or just sending the review via email and holding all communication that way.
Review their job description in advance
In the day-to-day of managing your team, the job description of your employees can run together. Many employees take on tasks outside of their job description and are completing duties they’re not technically being paid to do at their current position.
So, you want to review their job description in advance to ensure you’re only evaluating them on their current position’s responsibilities. In reviewing the description, consider how the employee is meeting requirements for the position and make notes of areas of achievement and areas of improvement.
However, this can also be an opportunity to update an employee’s job description. If they’ve taken on more work, especially at their manager’s request, that isn’t reflected in their job description, then it should be updated to reflect their expectations.
Performance review example phrases
You can use these performance review example phrases as templates when writing employee performance reviews. Feel free to update them to reflect comments that are specific to your employees.
Performance review phrases for areas of achievement
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Improved production on sales goal identified at the beginning of the performance review period.
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Exceeded production expectations on communication goal identified at the beginning of the review period.
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Takes initiative to gather tools and resources needed to complete projects ahead of time with quality that’s beyond expectations.
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Sets measurable goals and continually strives to reach or surpass them.
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Consistently struggles to achieve similar results as co-workers in relation to sales performance.
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Sets realistic and actionable goals and continuously strives to achieve them.
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Improved sales performance by 52%.
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Made an effective system to streamline the outbound sales work processes by identifying holes in the current system.
Performance review phrases for attendance
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Consistently arrives on time for meetings and conferences.
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Regularly attends non-mandatory training and meetings.
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Has not met goals identified for the new performance review period for arriving on time to work and to meetings.
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Completes deadlines in a timely manner.
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Respects the time of others by arriving at team meetings on time.
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Exceeds expectations in arriving on time for work, including meetings and conferences.
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Has good attendance and doesn’t violate the standard attendance policy.
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Begins each day fully refreshed and prepared for any challenges.
Performance review phrases for productivity
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Has greatly improved on hitting production goals on (x) since last review.
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Has not displayed consistent productivity improvement since last appraisal.
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Exceeds output expectations set out for his/her department.
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Makes a large contribution to the overall success of his/her department through excellent productivity.
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Consistently falls below others on the team regarding work output.
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Positively contributes to the overall performance of the company through consistent and high-quality work.
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Continuously strives to improve profits, productivity, and performance targets.
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Shows strong time-management and organizational skills.
Performance review phrases for communication skills
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Displays improved listening skills in meetings with colleagues and managers.
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Excels at communicating project expectations to those he/she manages.
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Needs to work on fully understanding a situation before making defensive explanations.
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Effectively communicates with team members on projects and delegates when necessary.
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Builds company morale and cooperation through effective group facilitation.
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Effectively communicates with colleagues, supervisors, partners, and customers.
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Clearly communicates ideas and thoughts in team meetings and conferences.
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Is a constructive communicator and is capable of discussing difficult issues effectively and to the point.
Performance review phrases for drive
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Shows curiosity for new ways to thinking and communicating to improve projects and customer satisfaction.
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Continually pushes for more responsibility and shows willingness to put in extra hours.
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Is continuously striving to improve skills and production.
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Lacks the initiative to willingly take on more complicated tasks or projects.
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Tends to wait for projects to be handed to him/her rather than requesting more responsibility.
Performance review phrases for leadership
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Needs to work on talking to employees on their level without being condescending.
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His/her team often comments on how he/she makes them feel comfortable in voicing opinions and ideas.
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Clearly understands strengths of team members and delegates accordingly.
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Displays a strong worth ethic that effectively motivates team members to excel.
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Promotes a culture of learning and understand that team members respond well to.
Performance review phrases for creativity
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Appears to be hesitant when it comes to taking creative risks that are outside the box.
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Has a vision for the future of the company and applies creative ideas to help implement it.
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Always contributes fresh ideas at team meetings and on projects.
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Fails to reward those under his/her management for innovative ideas or suggestions.
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Strives to always take new information into account and adjust plans accordingly.
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Applies creative thinking to implement a vision for the company.
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Continuously suggests new ideas in meetings and on projects.
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Shows initiative with developing new ways of thinking to improve projects or company performance.
Performance review phrases for cooperation
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Effectively collaborates with other team members to get projects finished efficiently.
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Shows improvement delegating tasks to others when overwhelmed.
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Excels at sharing knowledge and tips with new team members to help them become part of the team.
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Could work on helping team members complete tasks for overall success of project.
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Has a tendency to make others feel hesitant asking him/her for help as they do not know the reaction they will get.
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Displays a cooperative spirit by performing xx task to contribute to xx project.
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Promotes cooperation well to ensure colleagues work as a team to meet deadlines.
Performance review phrases for interpersonal skills
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Works effectively within a team environment to achieve specific tasks or projects.
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Develops constructive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
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Is an effective team player as demonstrated by their willingness to help out and contribute as required.
Performance review phrases for areas of improvement
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Struggles to effectively overcome new challenges and find solutions to new issues.
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Should work on developing and maintaining professional relationships.
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Tends to focus more on what can’t be done instead of what can be done.
Performance review phrases for accountability
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Takes ownership in the company’s success and accepts responsibility for oneself and contribution as a team member.
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Admits mistakes and errors and informs others when unable to keep a commitment.
Performance review phrases for flexibility
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Shows ability to come up with new solutions for problems when old ways of thinking are ineffective.
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Tends to shut down instead of finding new ways of working when expectations are not met.
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Displays improvement in taking on new tasks or changing workflow when situation requires.
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Rigidly sticks to traditional methods of project management even when results do not warrant it.
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Consistently uses constructive criticism to improve his/her skills and work processes.
Performance review phrases for problem-solving
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Has displayed capability to solve complex problems independently, but tends to defer to others on the team.
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Shows creativity and initiative when tackling complicated problems.
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Tends to make excuses and blame others on team when problems arise instead of working to solve them.
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Recognizes problems when they are at early stages and implements solutions proactively.
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Empowers those he/she manages to solve problems on their own.
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Displays the capability to independently solve complex problems.
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Breaks a problem down before analyzing it in a more detailed manner.
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Knows how to collaborate with others effectively to find solutions to problems. | https://www.businessmanagementdaily.com/65472/simple-guide-to-writing-performance-reviews/ |
Editor’s Note: The 2018-2019 edition of INSIDE HONORS is out, and this is a good time to emphasize one of the most important components of an honors college or program: the four types of honors class sections typically available to students.
Very few people outside of the honors education community know about or understand the different types of honors classes. To make an informed decision about choosing an honors college or program over a liberal arts college or an elite private university, parents and prospective students really need to consider the types of classes and how those offered by a given honors program will match the preferences and needs of the student.
First, there are four major types of honors classes are honors-only classes, mixed sections, contract (option, conversion) sections, and “experiential” sections.
In most selective private colleges and universities, a class is a class. By this we mean that within each class section, there is not a mix of especially talented students with “regular” students. At the most elite level, this means that all classes at the college are presumably equal in their elite-ness.
Yes, elite private universities do have some large classes, especially in the sciences and in extremely popular lecture sections. But most classes are relatively small, with the amount of discussion being limited more by the subject matter than by the number of students involved. Debate in a linear algebra section of 15 students is unlikely to be extensive; but in a seminar in history, philosophy, literature, or political science the same number of students might bring the roof down.
In public university honors programs, about 25%-30% of an honors student’s total coursework will be in honors classes, although in a few programs that can be as much as 40%. Some of these honors classes will be large, typically in the introductory science courses, but also perhaps in marketing, management, economics, and political science courses. The honors-only classes, especially in the first two years, are likely to be small—averaging 18 students across the 41 rated programs in this edition. So, in these classes, the comparability to liberal arts and private elite classes is greatest, especially in honors seminars and interdisciplinary sections in which class discussion is a prominent feature. These classes, along with an honors thesis requirement if there is one, are, in the public university setting, most likely to differentiate the honors and non-honors experience.
Unlike liberal arts colleges and elite private universities, some honors classes in the academic disciplines (e.g., biology, chemistry, computer science) are mixed honors sections or, especially in the last two years, honors contract sections, in any discipline. The offerings of some mixed and contract sections are still the norm, even though 76% of the honors sections offered by the rated honors programs in this edition are honors-only classes.
The percentage of honors enrollment, by section type, for all rated programs rated in this edition is 75.8% in honors-only sections; 15.4 % in mixed honors sections; and 8.8% in contract sections. Compared to the 2016 programs we reviewed, the percentage of mixed and contract sections in 2018 has increased. Honors colleges and programs are growing rapidly; sometimes the only way they can keep up with additional enrollment is to add honors students to already existing sections.
So…what is a mixed section? In honors programs, a mixed section for honors credit usually takes one of two forms. The majority of mixed sections are larger than honors-only sections, averaging 68.6 students, including honors and non-honors students (this is what makes them “mixed”). This average has gone up since 2016. Some of these sections have no honors-only labs or discussion (breakout) sections in addition to the main mixed section. For these classes, the honors students may do extra work for honors credit, but often the sections are advanced and include students majoring in the discipline or pursuing departmental honors, as well as students in the honors program. Other mixed sections include “regular” students along with honors students, but the honors students meet in their own labs or in 1-2 credit discussion sections outside of the main section. In either of these instances, the mixed section is very likely an improvement over a regular class in the subject.
A contract section (also called an honors option, honors conversion, honors enhancement) is a regular section in which one or a few honors students enter into a written agreement with the instructor to do extra work for honors credit and, preferably, also to meet with the instructor one on one at regular intervals. Generally, honors staff must approve these agreements, but the amount of administrative oversight and quality of the extra work can vary considerably. In the best case, there is consistent oversight and evaluation of the contracts; in the worst case, which does exist, honors staff have little or no involvement in the process and might not even have a record of what the extra work was supposed to be.
This is not to say that honors contracts are necessarily inferior to honors-only courses or mixed honors sections. Even though the quality can be uneven, the contract courses can lead to extremely valuable mentoring relationships between instructors and students. Another positive factor is that students often take upper-division honors contract courses, sometimes including courses needed for majors, minors, or for graduating on schedule. The contract courses are also a way for motivated students to continue to be challenged while working on an honors thesis outside of class. Contract courses do tend to be larger, averaging 56.6 students per section. (This class average is better than in 2016.) Proponents of honors contracts contend that the larger class sizes are more than offset by the one-on-one contact that should occur between the student and instructor outside of class. Out of 41 rated programs, 26 allow credit for contract courses, and 15 do not. Arizona State, Penn State, LSU, and Oklahoma State all have 20% or more of their honors enrollment in contract sections.
Experiential sections are the honors response to a fairly recent revival of “learning by doing” in higher education. The idea is that students should combine classroom learning with (usually) related experience outside the classroom. In principle, and probably for the most part in practice, experiences directly tied to a specific course do enhance student learning and promote enthusiasm for the subject. The implementation of more of these courses is not limited to public universities. Liberal arts colleges, especially in the wake of the 2008 Great Recession, seek to respond to the sense of vocational urgency that most parents and prospective students now feel. Like their public honors counterparts, liberal arts colleges offer internships, leadership training, and group projects, at least in part to boost the resumes of their students. Service learning, which aligns students with community needs, is often the altruistic side of the experiential coin. So from one direction colleges are pushed to respond to material self-interest, while from the other they are tasked with the rejuvenation of community involvement.
A certain amount of experiential learning is all to the good, so to speak. Students in engineering classes surely benefit from group projects; history majors—if they still exist—should by all means take that internship at the state capital (and enroll in an econ class); finance majors will love the idea of an internship at a major brokerage firm; and just about any student will delight in three honors credits for studying Spanish during a Maymester in Seville . Community gardens, fundraisers, tutoring disadvantaged children, all of these are good things. One question, however, is whether experiential learning untethered to classroom work should count for as much as a third or more of honors completion requirements. This is a more recent development. Another is that even non-credit experiences can count toward honors completion.
Honors programs seek to combine the best of the liberal arts/private elite education model with the advantages of large research universities. But an admittedly non-scientific search for experiential learning programs at the nation’s leading private colleges found many examples of such learning connected to coursework or simply offered for students to do on their own time, but nothing to indicate that non-course, non-credit work could be counted toward graduation.
A final question is whether public honors colleges and programs should carve out a unique place in higher education where activities unrelated to actual classes or earned credits expand to the detriment of rigorous academic coursework? Experiential learning can be valuable, and experiential programs might cost less to implement than academic course sections; but the identity, the “brand” of honors programs, to use a commercial buzzword, will not be the same.
Much less typical than any of the four class types discussed above is the honors tutorial. In a tutorial, made famous by the British universities of Oxford and Cambridge, the whole course is a series of one-on-one meetings between the student and instructor. The only honors program to make extensive use of this method is the Honors Tutorial College at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, but most honors students have at least one tutorial experience, especially if they are doing an honors thesis. Tutorials can be the most demanding, rewarding, and anxiety-producing experiences in undergraduate education (and graduate school, for that matter), depending on the personalities and expectations of the participants.
So what is the main takeaway for prospective students? Try to understand who you are, who you want to be, what you need in the way of change and development, which fears you want to overcome, and which subjects you want to study. Then decide if an honors program offers the right combination of honors classes and course types for your purposes. If you are comfortable with being assertive and participating in small classes, then look for those small classes and a sizable number of honors seminars. If you are uneasy about asserting yourself in class, then you can choose to confront that issue or select a program that emphasizes honors classes in the academic disciplines, especially courses in your proposed major. And if you want as much individual attention as possible, then look for a program with a good mix of class types and activities, including small seminars, undergraduate research opportunities, an honors thesis requirement—and maybe a couple of those contract courses too. | https://publicuniversityhonors.com/understanding-the-four-types-of-honors-classes/?shared=email&msg=fail |
From Fort William
Take the A82 signposted to Inverness and follow it all the way to Fort Augustus. We are the second house on the left after you pass the second Fort Augustus village sign.
It is approxixmately 31 miles and takes about 40 minutes.
From Inverness
Take the A82 signposted to Fort William and follow it all the way to Fort Augustus. Drive through the village of Fort Augustus and we are half a mile from the centre on the right hand side of the road.
It is approximately 33 miles and takes about 45 minutes.
Glasgow Airport
There are 2 airports at Glasgow, Glasgow Prestwick International is about 32 miles from Glasgow town centre and Glasgow International is 8 miles from the centre.
Glasgow International is about 3 hours from Fort Augustus. The road takes you past Loch Lomond and through Glencoe and Fort William - the scenery is stunning.
Edinburgh Airport
Again a 3 hour drive from Fort Augustus. The A9 road takes you through Perth and Pitlochry (you could stop off and see the salmon leap) or you can take a diversion to visit Stirling as well.
Inverness Airport
Just one hour away from us and you can catch a bus into Inverness to connect to our local bus service. (Airlines flying into Inverness are Flybe, Easyjet and Britisih Airways).
Car Hire
Probably the most popular way of seeing Scotland is to fly to one of the local airports and hire a car.
Trains
Our closest railway stations are Fort William and Inverness, there is a sleeper car that travels from London overnight to Inverness and sometimes you can get a really good price.
Buses (number 919)
We are on the main bus route from Fort William to Inverness with a very good service. You can even catch a bus to the Isle of Skye. There is a bus stop outside our house making it very convenient. In summer the buses are very busy so it is always advisable to book in advance, you also pay much less than buying a ticket on the day. | https://www.corrieliath.co.uk/get-to-fort-augustus.html |
On the occasion of the 73rd birthday of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, I extend my warmest congratulations and best wishes to His Majesty.
Brunei is known as “Adobe of Peace”.Under the wise leadership of His Majesty,Brunei has been enjoying political stability, economic development, social progress and harmony. His Majesty has played an important role in promoting the friendly cooperation between China and Brunei.After the successful visit by His Majesty to China in September 2017, Chinese President H.E.Mr.Xi Jinping paid a successful state visit to Brunei Darussalam in Last November .His Majesty attended the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing in April this year.The leaders of the two countries have reached important consensus in further promoting the relations between the two countries and have elevated the relations to a new height.China and Brunei are working together to align the Belt and Road Initiative with Wawasan 2035, expanding cooperation and people-to-people exchanges in various fields, injecting new impetus to the bilateral relations aiming to bring more benefits to the two peoples.The Chinese Embassy in Brunei will continue to make its efforts to promote the relations and cooperation between the two countries.
May His Majesty enjoy good health and continued success. May Brunei Darussalam enjoy greater prosperity and its people happiness and well-being. | http://bn.china-embassy.org/eng/sgxws/ |
On Sunday August 4 a female jogger was left injured and bleeding after a rock was thrown at her on a walkway between St James and Muizenberg.
Members of the public chased down and caught the suspect shortly after the incident. According to a post on the Kalk Bay Village Facebook page, members of the public that witnessed the incident conducted a citizens arrest.
According to TimesLive, Kieron Reddy, who was involved in catching the suspect said, “I’m happy that I was one of the citizens that assisted in making this arrest this morning and a big thank you to security and the gentleman dressed in running attire who didn’t let this thug escape from their grip. We need to send a strong message to all thugs. Not on my watch.”
The City of Cape Town is planning to use drone technology to assist in fighting crime and preventing these kinds of incidents. The technology needs to be approved by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) before being rolled out. If approved, Cape Town will be the first municipality in South Africa to use drone technology as a means for fighting crime.
“To our knowledge, there are no other municipalities in the country that are using drones or investigating the use of drones. Cape Town would be one of the first municipalities to undertake such an initiative,” said mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith to IOL.
Staff have already been sent for training. According to JP Smith however, it may be a year before the Mother City will start to benefit from this new initiative. Read: Cape Town to use drones in the fight against crime.
In a bid to combat crime in secluded hiking areas within Table Mountain National Park, a local hiker from Kenilworth has taken the initiative to create a Google map, called Table Mountain Crime Map, for recording crime in the area and preparing those who plan to explore the mountain trails. Also read: Table Mountain crime map for hikers.
The jogger who was attacked was able to positively identify a man from Lavender Hill who was out on bail at the time of the attack. | https://www.capetownetc.com/news/jogger-left-bleeding-after-rock-attack/ |
Blockquote > You are eating a hot pot and singing. Suddenly, you feel the ground shaking violently. You make the first judgment: the earthquake! So, what should you do? Don’t tell me screaming is your first choice! We are most concerned about our readers. How can we keep secret books for survival and not share them with you?
I am familiar with four books and five classics, and I am also an incurable rationalist and obsessive-compulsive perfectionist, totally intolerant of all non-scientific and irrational things – so “naive” is the comment I often hear.
In recent years, the word “earthquake” has appeared so frequently that some people joke that the earth has been tuned into a mode of vibration. In fact, earthquakes occur every day on the earth, but most of them have not been paid attention to because of their small magnitude or occurring in unmanned areas such as oceans. According to statistics, there are about 5 million earthquakes on the earth every year, of which there are about 18 earthquakes with magnitude 7 or above.
My professional direction is not to study earthquakes, but to deal with wounds and heal the wounded. So you can obviously guess that what I want to teach you is not to be a “magic stick” to predict earthquakes, but to save yourself in case of an earthquake.
Don’t worry meaninglessly. Please use the following words as a secret book for a RPG game. Remember, even if it’s hell-class, you still have a chance to survive!
Strong > < strong > Stage 1: Earthquake! Where am I? .
When you first feel an earthquake, the first thing you have to do is not scream. Think about it. Like starting a new adventure game, the first thing you need to do after the first shock is to judge your environment.
If you happen to be in a building that is easy to escape to an open area, such as a farmhouse or warehouse, and the building is not strong and has a high probability of collapse, you should rush out of the room and run to the open area as soon as possible. In this case, be sure to run resolutely, decisively and sharply. Don’t worry about going back and getting things. What? You said you were going back to get the homework you had to hand in the next day? Okay, I lost you completely!
For urban building tenants, staying in the room is the best choice. Jump off building? Absolutely the most foolish option. Even if you are lucky enough not to fall dead on the spot, the high-altitude falling caused by the earthquake is enough to kill you. At this time, you should consider yourself a Ninja tortoise and hide in the small space of the building near the load-bearing wall.
Many earthquake examples at home and abroad show that people are most likely to be killed or injured when they enter or leave buildings in the short time of an earthquake. Generally speaking, reinforced concrete buildings are not only rigid, but also resilient. They are generally not completely destroyed in an earthquake. In the first minute of escaping danger, there is hope of survival.
If you are unfortunately in a tofu dregs project that collapses in an earthquake, it is also very likely that you will be buried in the corridor when you run out. When evading in the building, immediately hide under the solid furniture or at the base of the load-bearing wall. Generally speaking, places with more load-bearing walls, less space and more metal pipes are the safest, such as toilets. If possible, try to cut off the electricity and put out the fire extinguishing source.
Strong > < strong > Stage 2: Ordinary difficulty – Oh, Yeah! I’m outside! .
Thankfully, the terrible earthquake has finally passed, the earth has calmed down, you slowly climb out of hiding place, full of happiness for the rest of your life. Faced with the blackness caused by the power interruption, you shivered out of your pocket the lighter intended to illuminate — “Hang!” You ignited the natural gas leaked from the rupture of the natural gas pipeline. Fire, a very common secondary disaster after an earthquake, is induced by you. How will the result be? I believe you can find a lot of information.
After the earthquake, if you are not trapped, don’t make an open fire, and don’t venture around, it is likely to touch bare wires. To rescue the trapped people, we must first ensure our own safety. If an earthquake occurs during the day, with a good view and no injury to yourself, you can help the people around you as much as possible, and then quickly escape from the lifeline. By the way, take some water, food and clothing, but don’t take up too much time. Take the stairs. Don’t worry about the elevator at this time.
When you finally get out of the building, don’t think there’s no danger. Narrow streets and tall buildings in the city may drop building materials, glass fragments, billboards and neon lights at any time! All of this will pose a threat to you.
In addition, do not close to riverbanks, canals, steep walls, cliffs, bridges, away from high-voltage wires, transformers, as far as possible to parks, playgrounds, fields and other open areas to avoid.
When you get to the above places, congratulations to you, you can clear the customs ahead of time!
< strong > strong > Stage 3: Hell Difficulty – Oh, No! Buried! .
It’s an unfortunate possibility, but we have to think about it more. If this happens, all you have to do is to build up confidence, ensure safety, save energy, and inform the outside world.
First of all, you need to calm down quickly. Any negative, self-abandoning, hysterical mood is the enemy of survival. Kin, come on, in order to make the people who love you not sad, in order to make the people who hate you unhappy, courageously persevere. Who, don’t laugh! When you are in trouble, think about it more. It can be a motivation for you to stick to it.
In order to ensure their own safety, do not easily use lighters, matches and other things. It’s not fun to ignite flammable materials around you even without a natural gas leak. After all, you’re trapped in a very narrow space.
The small space you live in may be very unstable, and if you want to survive, you must not let it collapse. If your clothes or parts of your body are pressed down, don’t rush to break away. First, calm down and study the structure of your space carefully. Any space must have a stable supporting structure. Let’s make it clear first. Violent break-up and pull is likely to lead to the collapse of the whole space, which will instantly ruin your chances of survival.
Once you know enough about the support and firmness of your shelter, you can take measures to restore freedom to the extruded area without destabilizing the situation. Remember, if you can’t, don’t force it. It can be reinforced with materials available around it, such as bricks, wood, etc., while clearing the unstable things above the body to avoid injury.
If you smell gas or the dust in your environment is very serious, you can cover your mouth and nose after wetting your clothes. No water? Limited drinking water? I know you must have thought about what to replace. Must I say it? Well, use urine – you really don’t feel dirty, it’s just waste from your body.
If there is active bleeding in the wound, you can tear the clothes into strips and pressure bandage to stop bleeding. If there is a limb fracture, if conditions permit, clothes can be used to tie the stick to the fracture site, so as to avoid fracture dislocation, causing vascular damage, leading to massive bleeding and other serious secondary injuries.
Now, take a breath, you have to find a way to win the next long battle! After temporary safety, try to conserve your strength so that you can maintain it for as long as possible.
Don’t yell. It’s a waste of energy to do so without rescuers arriving. Check the food and drinking water around you and try to use it as economically as possible in a planned way. If you don’t have food and drinking water, you can look around for some natural food: beetle larvae (commonly known as grubs) can eat, locusts and cockroaches also have low protein content, earthworm geckos can be considered real meat… Have you seen “Survival in the Wild”? That great God must be an example for you to learn!
If you want to get rescue, you must also inform the outside world of your location information. Turn on your cell phone, if there is a signal, congratulations, your chances of rescue will be greatly increased. Call now and inform each other of your situation and location information so that the rescue team can arrange rescue. Don’t be too disappointed if the cell phone doesn’t have a signal, because the signal interruption caused by the earthquake is normal. You should turn off your cell phone to avoid excessive power consumption and turn it on every six or seven hours. Once the communication system is repaired and the cell phone has a signal, you can immediately contact the outside world.
When you hear someone outside, you can send a signal by tapping and so on. When rescuers find you, sometimes because of the complex situation of the collapsed objects, they may not be able to rescue you immediately. At this time, they should wait patiently and try to inform the rescuers about themselves and their space.
I hope that all people will not need to use this knowledge in their lives. But we also want you to remember that – maybe it will save you in an emergency.
Writing/Ning Fanggang
Ning Fanggang: Doctor of Peking University Medical Department, chief physician of burn department of Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, science fiction fan. | https://daily.moviehobby.com/?p=5962 |
On Tuesday, March 12, the New Visions Engineering Class of 2019 had the privilege of touring Amphenol Aerospace Operation’s 307,000 square foot industrial facility located in Sidney, New York. The visit began with Neal Wobbe of the Human Resources department giving the class a brief presentation that explained what goes on at the Amphenol factory and the types of engineers that work there every day.
After the presentation, David Brockway led the students to the main factory floor, where Amphenol produces cable connectors for a variety of customers, including the United States military and the International Space Station. Not only was the class taught about the many complex machines required for connector production, but they also learned what a successful, modern factory and business look like. In Amphenol’s factory, it is common to see machines and humans working together to achieve a common goal, which is an indication of the company’s commitment to technology and efficiency. Amphenol also put an emphasis on their strategy of repurposing human jobs to oversee and supervise tasks done by machines, rather than replacing factory jobs with robots.
Following the tour, the students were given more information about what to expect in college, especially regarding the internship and co-op opportunities available at Amphenol Aerospace. The tour and presentations will help give the New Visions students an advantage when they are looking for the right internships and job offers in the future. | http://www.oncboces.org/protected/ArticleView.aspx?iid=3U30&dasi=2I2 |
The protein composition of cells depends on the cells’ function and current condition. Mass spectrometry (MS) can determine the identity and quantity of the proteins found in a sample. However, the data analysis of this method is time- and resource-intensive. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB) have collaborated with data science specialists from Verily in the USA to develop a machine learning approach – continuously self-improving algorithms – to facilitate the analysis of mass spectrometry data. Their results, which simplify MS applications and also led to the discovery of new chemical patterns in proteins, are published in the journal Nature Methods.
The final trip of many old cars leads them to a junk yard where they are deconstructed into potentially salvageable parts. By looking at the entirety of car components, a trained and experienced employee of the junk yard may be able to reconstruct the identity of the scrapped car. Mass spectrometers (MS), which identify and quantify proteins in a sample, are like molecular junk yards.
The proteins are first broken into smaller fragments – the peptides. The information on the identity and the abundance of the peptides can be recorded as mass spectrometry spectra. To reconstruct the information on the proteins in the analyzed sample, the characteristics of these spectra are then compared to previously recorded libraries – a process that requires a lot of computational power.
Machine learning supports data analysis
In cooperation with Verily, the life sciences company of Alphabet, researchers at the MPIB have now developed the model DeepMass:Prism to facilitate the interpretation of mass spectrometry spectra., They used machine learning to train algorithms to “translate” proteins into MS spectra. The translation of these abstract data is challenging for artificial intelligence and best performed by “deep learning” algorithms.
Similar deep learning approaches are used in the automatic translation of languages. But rather than translating from English to German or vice versa, DeepMass:Prism is trained to translate between proteins and the spectra that are usually generated in MS analysis.
“The key to success in this project was the fusion of our expertise in mass spectrometry with Verily’s expertise in deep learning, particularly in the fields of biology and life sciences.”, says Jürgen Cox, independent group leader at the MPIB.
Their program DeepMass:Prism was trained with more than 60 million peptide spectra from publicly accessible data bases. The program recognizes patterns from the training spectra and applies them to the analysis of new samples.
The computational biologist Cox highlights that DeepMass:Prism improves different applications of mass spectrometry. One potential use of MS is the characterization of samples whose composition is entirely unknown. The new algorithms can increase the number of peptides that are identified in this approach.
Alternatively, large groups of samples with a similar general composition can be compared regarding individual differences in the protein quantity. For instance, blood samples from patients generally have a similar protein composition, but it is important to detect altered protein levels to diagnose diseases.
“This is where our DeepMass:Prism has made the greatest strides”, says Cox. “Rather than experimentally determining the reference libraries to which the samples are compared, the model can now predict them – a shortcut that saves a lot of time and resources. “
Finding needles in the peptide haystack
The more than 200 cell types in the human body are characterized by the presence of different proteins, but also by the differences in the abundance of identical proteins. The different quantities of proteins are particularly challenging for MS analyses. Jürgen Cox explains the importance of measuring protein quantities with an automobile analogy: “When you completely disassemble a car, the piles of parts can look quite similar. Therefore, knowing the abundance of certain parts can help in the identification.
When you find 6 cylinders in a pile, you know that it can not be a car with a four-cylinder engine.” Similarly, finding only three tires in a pile shows a potential damage of a car. The same principle can be applied to the analysis of cells or tissues. Diseases can cause certain proteins to be more or less abundant than in healthy control samples.
Many diagnostic procedures rely on the measurement of proteins in patient samples by mass spectrometry. “We need highly accurate MS to discover new biomarkers – indicators of disease. Sometimes, even a small variation of a certain biomarker can signal disease progression, therefore the prediction must be precise and reproducible.”, says Peter Cimermancic, Senior Scientist at Verily. With DeepMass:Prism, the researchers strongly improved the correlation between the predicted spectra and the actual measured spectra. He is optimistic that the model will lead to the development of new diagnostic tools.
Even though DeepMass:Prism was not trained with chemical knowledge, it discovered new chemical rules that determine how the peptides break into smaller fragments. “The previous library-based approach could only reproduce what it already knew. DeepMass:Prism is able to generate new knowledge by combining information and drawing its own conclusions. This is a very exciting finding”, says Cox, “it’s like a junk yard employee who understands where a certain part of the car is installed, even though he has never seen this type of car before.
The predictions by DeepMass:Prism have led to the identification of a new kind of interaction within proteins. We believe that this discovery is only the beginning of what deep learning can do for research in life sciences.” DeepMass:Prism will be available for download on Google cloud. [CW]
Prof. Jürgen Cox, PhD
Computational Systems Biochemistry
Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry
Am Klopferspitz 18
82152 Martinsried/Munich
Germany
E-mail: [email protected]
S. Tiwary*, R. Levy*, P. Gutenbrunner*, F.S. Soto, K. Palaniappan, L. Deming, M. Berndl, A. Brant, P. Cimermancic and J. Cox: High-quality MS/MS spectrum prediction for data-dependent and data-independent acquisition data analysis. Nature Methods, May 2019 (*equal contributions)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-019-0427-6
Dr. Christiane Menzfeld | Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie
Further reports about: > Biochemie > Biochemistry > Cox > Learning > MS > Max Planck Institute > Max-Planck-Institut > blood samples > cell types > data analysis > deep learning > peptides > proteins
Cancer cachexia: Extracellular ligand helps to prevent muscle loss
25.02.2020 | Leibniz-Institut für Alternsforschung - Fritz-Lipmann-Institut e.V. (FLI)
The genetic secret of night vision
25.02.2020 | Max-Planck-Institut für molekulare Zellbiologie und Genetik
Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have discovered an unusual material: When cooled down to two degrees Celsius, its crystal structure and electronic properties change abruptly and significantly. In this new state, the distances between iron atoms can be tailored with the help of light beams. This opens up intriguing possibilities for application in the field of information technology. The scientists have presented their discovery in the journal "Angewandte Chemie - International Edition". The new findings are the result of close cooperation with partnering facilities in Augsburg, Dresden, Hamburg, and Moscow.
The material is an unusual form of iron oxide with the formula Fe₅O₆. The researchers produced it at a pressure of 15 gigapascals in a high-pressure laboratory...
Study by Mainz physicists indicates that the next generation of neutrino experiments may well find the answer to one of the most pressing issues in neutrino physics
Among the most exciting challenges in modern physics is the identification of the neutrino mass ordering. Physicists from the Cluster of Excellence PRISMA+ at...
Fraunhofer researchers are investigating the potential of microimplants to stimulate nerve cells and treat chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, or Parkinson’s disease. Find out what makes this form of treatment so appealing and which challenges the researchers still have to master.
A study by the Robert Koch Institute has found that one in four women will suffer from weak bladders at some point in their lives. Treatments of this condition...
The operational speed of semiconductors in various electronic and optoelectronic devices is limited to several gigahertz (a billion oscillations per second). This constrains the upper limit of the operational speed of computing. Now researchers from the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter in Hamburg, Germany, and the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay have explained how these processes can be sped up through the use of light waves and defected solid materials.
Light waves perform several hundred trillion oscillations per second. Hence, it is natural to envision employing light oscillations to drive the electronic...
Most natural and artificial surfaces are rough: metals and even glasses that appear smooth to the naked eye can look like jagged mountain ranges under the microscope. There is currently no uniform theory about the origin of this roughness despite it being observed on all scales, from the atomic to the tectonic. Scientists suspect that the rough surface is formed by irreversible plastic deformation that occurs in many processes of mechanical machining of components such as milling.
Prof. Dr. Lars Pastewka from the Simulation group at the Department of Microsystems Engineering at the University of Freiburg and his team have simulated such... | https://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/life-sciences/learning-from-spectral-experience.html |
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for separating stacked objects and displacing them one at a time or as groups to a treatment location. More particularly this invention concerns a separating conveyor.
In many industrial objects are stacked one atop the other in an upright chute having an open lower outlet positioned above a horizontally extending conveyor provided with a plurality of upstanding seat-forming pushers. The objects are picked off the bottom of the stack, either one at a time or in groups, by the pushers as they pass underneath so as to transport the object(s) that have been picked off downstream to a location where they are, for instance, boxed.
The conveyor typically is formed as one or more parallel belts or chains from which the pushers extend upward. The picked-off objects can rest directly on the conveyor, or move along another surface positioned somewhat above the conveyor and provided with slots through which the pushers project as described in German 1,198,284. Stops may be provided to hold back the stack as the bottom objects are stripped away as described in German 2,930,071.
While such systems are extremely effective, it is often quite difficult to adjust them to accommodate objects or groups of objects of different heights. Thus when the system must be switched over to strip out, for instance, a taller object or a taller group of objects, it is necessary to fit the conveyor with taller pushers and/or change the height of the lateral outlet port of the chute. Either procedure requires that the system be shut down and parts be removed and/or replaced.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved sorting or separating conveyor.
Another object is the provision of such an improved conveyor which overcomes the above-given disadvantages, that is which can easily be reset for objects or objects groups of different heights.
An object-sorting system has according to the invention a conveyor having a horizontally extending stretch, a plurality of pushers fixed on and spaced along the conveyor and extending upward from the stretch thereof, and an upright chute adapted to hold a stack of objects and having a downwardly open outlet spaced above an upstream end of the conveyor stretch. An elongated support surface extends horizontally above the stretch and has an upstream end below the outlet port and a downstream end so that the stack of objects in the chute can stand on the support surface. A drive advances the stretch and thereby displaces the pushers downstream past the outlet so that the pushers engage at least a lowermost object of the stack in the chute and move the engaged object(s) downstream along the support surface. In accordance with the invention the support surface can pivot about an axis at the support-surface downstream end and thereby change a vertical spacing between the support-surface upstream end and the outlet port.
Thus with this system when the height of the object or group of objects being picked out of the chute changes, all that need change is the angular position of the support surface. For taller objects or object groups, the surface is pivoted down, and for shorter objects or object groups it is pivoted up. There is no need to change the pushers whose effective length, that is the amount they project past the surface, is determined by the position of this surface.
The support surface according to the invention is formed with longitudinally extending slots along which the pushers pass. In addition the stretch is inclined upward from its upstream end to its downstream end. Thus the pushed objects will be urged by gravity against the pushers which, according to the invention, are spaced apart to define seats having a longitudinal dimension greater than a predetermined maximum object length. Thus the pushers can be permanently mounted on the conveyor which need merely be speeded up a little to work with extremely short objects. There is no need to provide structure defining the leading ends of the object-receiving seats.
The chute in accordance with the invention has telescoping side plates attached to the support surface. In addition it has a closable holding flap controlled with and by the telescoping side plates. Such a flap can bear in an upstream direction on the lower end of the stack in the chute so that it is not entrained by the surface and will only move off when the objects are actually engaged by the pushers and positively entrained.
The support surface can be formed by a longitudinally slotted plate and by one or more belts riding on the plate. In addition the pushers are pivotal on the conveyor between an up position extending transversely thereto and a down position extending generally parallel thereto. A cam arrangement pivots the pushers into the down position except in the stretch. A stationary stop plate extends transversely across the stretch at the downstream end thereof and a boxing apparatus can be provided at the downstream end for removing the objects from the downstream end of the stretch and packaging them.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1
is a small-scale perspective view of the conveyor according to the invention;
FIG. 2
is a side view of the upstream end of the conveyor set up to pick off a relatively short object or object group;
FIG. 3
FIG. 2
is a view like but with the conveyor set up for a taller object or object stack;
FIG. 4
is a larger-scale view of a downstream end of the conveyor;
FIG. 5
is a perspective view showing the conveyor coupled with a packing machine; and
FIG. 6
FIG. 5
is a perspective view like showing the conveyor being used to sort individual bottles.
SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION
FIGS. 1 through 3
FIG. 6
1
4
2
6
4
8
5
2
3
8
2
As seen in a separating/sorting system according to the invention has a supply chute holding a stack of objects . A conveyor has an upstream underneath the chute and extends upward at a slight angle therefrom. It has a plurality of spaced pushers defining seats each adapted to hold one or more of the objects and is advanced by a drive to move the pushers downstream, that is from left to right as shown in the drawing. shows how bottles ′ can also be sorted by the system of this invention.
9
6
10
8
9
9
2
3
9
3
2
11
9
11
4
FIG. 2
In accordance with the invention a support surface extends horizontally above the upper stretch of the conveyor and has a plurality of longitudinally extending slots through which the pushers project. This surface is pivotal about an axis A at its downstream end so as to move between the high position of FIG. and the low position of FIG. . Thus if the pushers are to only pick off a single one of the objects, the upstream end of the surface is raised as shown in , but if more are to be picked off, the end is lowered as in FIG. . In order to maintain the objects in a stack in the chute , it has telescoping side plates connected to the surface . An outlet flap also connected with the side plates and set to open each time a pusher passes can be employed to maintain the stack in the chute .
14
9
13
6
2
13
19
6
14
8
Belts lying on the surface and spanned over wheels at the upstream and downstream ends of the conveyor ensure that the objects move easily downstream. The upstream wheels are connected via a transmission to the conveyor so that the belts move synchronously with the pushers .
15
16
6
7
2
8
8
16
8
18
17
6
6
16
8
FIG. 5
FIG. 4
A support carries a fixed upright stop plate at the downstream end of the conveyor so that a boxing machine (see also ) can transversely pick off the object(s) being advanced by the pushers . In order to prevent the pushers from colliding with the stop plate , the pushers are carried as shown in on rollers that ride n a cam slot configured to move them from an up position projecting perpendicular to the conveyor to a down position parallel thereto. Thus only in the upper stretch of the conveyor upstream of the stop plate are the pushers erect; otherwise they are retracted and out of the way. | |
Mixed Berry Tartlets
Adam Fellows, the chef at the modern European restaurant, Goodfellows in Wells, Somerset has perfected this recipe using spelt flour. Pâtisserie is one of his specialities.
Recipe taken from the new SPELT COOKBOOK by Roger SaulSpelt: Meals, Cakes, Cookies & Breads from the Good Grain
Order your SPELT cookbook by Roger Saul >
MAKES: 4 tartlets
PREPARATION TIME: 20 minutes, plus 1 hour chilling and 10 minutes cooling
COOKING TIME: 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 220g/7 ¾oz/1 ¾ cups white spelt flour
- 115g/4oz cold, salted butter, diced, plus extra for greasing
- 1 tbsp golden caster sugar
- 1 egg, beaten
FOR THE RASPBERRY TOPPING:
- 3 tbsp raspberry or summer berry jam
- 100g/3 ½ oz unsalted butter, softened
- 100g /3 ½ oz/1/3 cup golden caster sugar
- 100g/3½oz/1 cup ground almonds
- 1 small egg
- 150g/5½ox fresh or frozen mixed summer berries
- cream or crème fraîche, to serve
Methods/steps
- Put the flour in a large bowl, then rub in the cold butter, using your fingertips, until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar, then the egg, then gradually add enough ice-cold water,a drop at a time, to bind everything to a smooth dough. You might need about 2 tablespoons. Cover with cling film and chill in the fridge for about 1 hour to relax the dough.
Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4 and grease four 10cm/4in loose-based tartlet tins.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and roll out to about 5mm/¼in thick. Use to line the prepared tartlet tins and trim the edges. Line each pastry case with a piece of baking paper and cover with baking beans. Bake for 5 minutes, then remove the paper and baking beans and bake for a further 3-5 minutes until just golden. Remove the pastry cases in their tins from the oven and transfer toa wire rack to cool.
Spread the raspberry jam on the bottom of the cooled pastry cases.
To make the filling, beat together the butter and sugar in a large bowl, using an electric mixer, until pale and fluffy. Add the ground almonds and egg and mix to a smooth cream. Spoon into the pastry cases and smooth the tops. Scatter the mixed berries evenly over the top and bake for 20 minutes, or until spongy, golden and firm. Transfer to a wire rack to cool, then serve with cream or crème fraîche.
Extracted from Spelt by Roger Saul © Roger Saul 2015
Published by Nourish Books, London.
Hardback £16.99
Commissioned photography by Lara Holmes & Neil White
Don't forget to buy your Sharpham Park ingredients : | https://www.sharphampark.com/spelt-recipes/your-spelt-recipes/mixed-berry-tartlets |
Association Rule Mining (ARM) in large transactional databases is a central problem in the field of knowledge discovery. The input to the ARM is a database in which objects are grouped by context. An example of such a grouping would be a list of items grouped by the customer who bought them. A then finds sets of objects which tend to associate with one another. Given two distinct sets of objects, X and Y, we say Y is associated with X if the appearance of X in a certain context usually implies that Y will appear in that context as well. If X usually implies Y, we then say that the rule xY is confident in the database.
Typically, an association rule is of practical interest only if it appears in more than a certain number of contexts. If it does, we say that the rule is frequent, i.e., that it has a large support. The thresholds of support (MinSup) and confidence (MinConf) are parameters that are used to define which association rules are of interest. These parameters are usually supplied by the user according to his needs and resources. The solution to the ARM problem is a list of all association rules that are both frequent and confident in that database. Such lists of rules have many applications in the context of understanding, describing and acting upon the database.
A variety of algorithms have been developed for ARM, such algorithms are described, for example, by Agrawal and Srikant in “Fast Algorithms for Mining Association Rules,” Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Very Large Databases (VLDB94—Santiago, Chile, 194), pages 487-499, which is incorporated herein by reference. It has been shown that the major computational task in ARM is the identification of all the frequent itemsets, i.e., those sets of items which appear in a fraction greater than MinSup of the transactions. Association rules can then be produced from these frequent itemsets in a straightforward manner. For example, once it is known that both {Pasta Sauce} and {Pasta Sauce, Parmesan} are frequent itemsets, the association rule {Pasta Sauce}{Parmesan} is obviously frequent, and all that remains is to check whether the association is confident. Because databases are often very large and are typically stored in secondary memory (disk), ARM algorithms known in the art are mainly concerned with reducing the number of database scans required to arrive at the desired collection of frequent itemsets, and hence to determine the confident association rules.
In the above-mentioned paper, Agrawal and Srikant describe an ARM algorithm that they call “Apriori.” The algorithm begins by assuming that any item in a candidate to be a frequent itemset of size k=1. Apriori then performs several rounds of a two-phased computation. In the first phase of the kth round, the database is scanned, and support counts are calculated for all k-size candidate itemsets. Those candidate itemsets that have support above the user-supplied MinSup threshold are considered frequent itemsets. In the second phase, candidate k+1-size itemsets are generated from the set of frequent k-size itemsets if and only if all their k-size subsets are frequent. The rounds terminate when the set of frequent k-size itemsets is empty.
In Distributed Association Rule Mining (D-ARM), the ARM problem is restated in the context of distributed computing. In D-ARM, the database is partitioned among several nodes that can perform independent parallel computations, as well as communicate with one another. A number of algorithms have been proposed to solve the D-ARM problem, particularly for share-nothing machines (i.e., distributed computing systems in which each node uses its own separate memory). An exemplary D-ARM algorithm is described by Agrawal and Shafer in “Parallel Mining of Association Rules,” IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering 8:6 (1996), pages 962-969, which is incorporated herein by reference. D-ARM has a major advantage over conventional ARM, in that it parallelizes disk I/O operations. The main difficulty for D-ARM algorithms is communication complexity among the nodes. The most important factors in the communication complexity of D-ARM algorithms are the number of partitions (or computing nodes), n, and the number of itemsets, |C|, considered by the algorithm.
Agrawal and Shafer present two major approaches to D-ARM: data distribution (DD) and count distribution (CD). DD focuses on the optimal partitioning of the database in order to maximize parallelism. CD, on the other hand, considers a setting in which the data are arbitrarily partitioned horizontally among the parties to begin with, and focuses on parallelizing the computation. (Horizontal partitioned means that each partition includes whole transactions, in contrast with vertical partitioning, in which the same transaction is split among several parties.) The DD approach is not always applicable, since at the time the data are generated, they are often already partitioned. In many cases, the data cannot be gathered and repartitioned for reasons of security and secrecy, cost of transmission, or just efficiency. DD is thus more applicable to systems that are dedicated to performing D-ARM. CD, on the other hand, is typically a more appealing solution for systems that are naturally distributed over large expanses, such as stock exchange and credit card systems.
The CD algorithm presented by Agrawal and Shafer is a parallelization of the Apriori algorithm described above. In the first phase of CD, each of the nodes performs a database scan independently on its own partition. Then the nodes exchange their scan results, and a global sum reduction is performed on the support counts of each candidate itemset. Those itemsets whose global support is larger than MinSup are considered frequent. The second phase, calculating the candidate k+1-size itemsets, can be carried out without any communication, because the calculation depends only on the identity of the frequent k-size itemsets, which is known to all parties by this time. Thus, CD fully parallelizes the disk I/O complexity of Apriori and performs roughly the same computations. CD also requires one synchronization point on each round and carries an O(|C|·n) communication complexity penalty. Since typical values for |C| are tens or hundreds of thousands, CD is not scalable to large numbers of partitions.
In order to reduce this communication load, Cheung et al. introduced the FDM algorithm, in “A Fast Distributed Algorithm for Mining Association Rules,” Proceeding of the 1996 International Conference on Parallel and Distributed Information Systems (Miami Beach, Fla., 1996), pages 31-44, which is incorporated herein by reference. FDM takes advantage of the fact that ARM algorithms look only for rules that are globally frequent. FDM is based on the inference that in order for an itemset to appear among all the transactions in the database with a given frequency, there must be at least one partition of the database in which the itemset appears at the given frequency or greater. Therefore, in FDM, the first stage of CD is divided into two rounds of communication: In the first round, every party names those candidate itemsets that are locally frequent in its partition (because they appear in the partition with a frequency greater than or equal to MinSup/|database|). In the second round, counts are globally summed only for those candidate itemsets that were named by at least one party. If the probability that an itemset will have the potential of being frequent is Prpotential, then FDM only communicates Prpotential·|C| of the itemsets. It thus improves the communication complexity to O(Prpotential·|C|·n).
FDM is problematic when large numbers of nodes are involved in the computation, because Prpotential is not scalable in n, and quickly increases to 1 as n increases, particularly in inhomogeneous databases. This problem was pointed out by Cheung and Xiao in “Effect of Data Skewness in Parallel Mining of Association Rules,” Second Pacific-Asia Conference of Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (1998), pages 48-60, which is incorporated herein by reference. The authors show that as the inhomogeneity of the database increases, FDM pruning techniques become ineffective.
Over the past few years, distributed information systems have become a mainstream computing paradigm, and the wealth of information available in these systems is constantly expanding. Examples of distributed information resources of this sort include a company's Virtual Private Network, a multi-server billing center, a network of independent stockbrokers, and a peer-to-peer MP3 library, such as Napster™. There is a growing need for tools that can assist in understanding and describing such information. These new databases differ from distributed databases of the past, in that the partitioning of the data is usually skewed, the connections between partitions are sparse and often unreliable, and variable throughputs and latencies may apply to different nodes. These characteristics accentuate the inadequacies of D-ARM methods known in the art.
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Welcome to the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel!
With a Bachelor and Master of the Brussels Conservatoire you are set for an inspiring professional career! If you want to join an international orchestra or end up doing something entirely different with your degree, our programmes are the ideal preparation for a bright future.
The KCB focusses on the broad artistic formation of each individual. The lessons are based on direct interaction between teacher and student due to the small amount of students in each class. The great number of orchestral productions each year allows us to gain experience on the stage and learn the ins and outs of the greatest pieces is in music history.
|Required Subjects||BA1 (Credits)||BA2 (Credits)||BA3 (Credits)|
|Main instrument I, II, III||18||18||24|
|Chamber Music 1, 2, 3||6||6||6|
|Repertoire study/sight reading 1, 2||3||3|
|Historical documentation 1, 2, 3||6||6||6|
|Orchestra/consort. 1, 2, 3||3||3||3|
|Philosophy and aesthetics of early music 1||3|
|Theory and ear training 1, 2||4||4|
|Rhythm and intonation 1, 2||5||5|
|Harmony and analysis 1, 2||9||9|
|History of music 1, 2, 3||6||6||6|
|Analysis of musical forms 1||6|
|Posture and movement||3|
|History of culture||3|
|Total Credits||60||60||60|
|Required Subjects||MA1 (Credits)||MA2 (Credits)|
|Main instrument IV||27|
|Master exam HIPP||30|
|Historical documentation 4, 5||6||6|
|Chamber music 4, 5||9||12|
|Repertoire study/sight reading 3||3|
|Artistic research practices||3|
|Orchestra/consort 4, 5||6||6|
|Philosophy and aesthetics of early music 2||3|
|Study of sources/edition||6|
|Optional Subjects||3|
|Total Credits||60||60|
Teaching Staff
In order to develop your talents to the fullest you need a teacher that is capable to help and motivate you in the right way. Our teaching staff is world renowned and have years and years of experience both as performers but also as pedagogues.
Do you have any specific questions before you register for the admission tests? Would you like to meet your teacher before you take the big step? Below is a list of all teachers with contact information.
(This list is under construction)
Admission Tests
To start your study at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel you will have to pass an artistic admission test. Most specializations have two sessions: one before the summer break and one in September. As candidate-student you can register for one of these sessions.
For information regarding the admission tests like dates, the programme you need to prepare and the admission requirements and costs you can click on the picture below:
Any question?
For more information on this programme you can contact the student administration via [email protected]. | https://www.kcb.be/en/Programmes/Music/Baroque-Viola |
Cutters sign Liam Taylor
NEW Mackay Cutters signing Liam Taylor is excited about the opportunities 2011 will present him.
The Canberra native flew into Mackay yesterday for his first training session with the Cutters after a solid pre-season hit out with the North Queensland Cowboys under the watchful eye of coach Neil Henry
Taylor said the move to Mackay, based on the recommendations of Henry, was an easy decision.
“I want to take my game to the next level and this is a great opportunity for me to do that,” Taylor said.
“I really enjoyed my pre-season with the Cowboys and Neil Henry said he really wanted to see how I go in the Q-Cup and he recommended Mackay. It was a pretty easy decision to make.”
What makes Henry’s support of the young fullback all the more amazing is Taylor’s relative inexperience in rugby league.
“I’ve been playing league for three years now,” Taylor said.
“I had a few mates who were playing Raiders juniors and they convinced me to play in a few trial games. I scored six tries in my first two trial games and that year I was named player of the competition.
“I’m really enjoying my league at the moment and looking forward to playing here.”
Despite Taylor’s lack of rugby league experience, Cutters coach Anthony Siebold is excited about his new signing after seeing him in action during the Cowboys pre-season.
“Liam has played a lot of touch football and he was part of the Australian representative training squad, so he is a very quick and elusive style of player,” Siebold said.
“To put things in perspective with the Cowboys he ran the 40m in 4.83seconds, Matt Bowen was the next best at 5.10seconds.
“I think it will take some time for him to adapt to the physicality of the Q-Cup but he has a lot of potential.
“I haven’t seen much of the local league in Canberra but it is traditionally strong.
“Neil Henry was very impressed with him and I also believe he’ll be able to make the step up here. | https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/mackay-cutters-liam-taylor-signing-excitment-2011/737727/ |
By Swapnil Lokhande.
Faculty Mentor: Julia Ivy
May 14, 2020
The research involves the analysis of the impact of the Capstone program on the employability of the students or job seekers. The fundamental analysis in this research involves the identification of the keywords used by the people (authors) while discussing the benefits of capstone courses in the academic curriculum. The specified goal is to categorize the findings through the BE-EDGE concept and see how far the capstone project helps students in developing their Personal, Social, and Professional Capital.
For the analysis of the keywords, the main source of data is the publicly available articles related to capstone. The analysis involves a dataset comprising the articles related to the Benefits of capstone. The articles chosen for this analysis are selected based on the following google-searched articles and other recommended articles: What is the capstone, Benefits of capstone projects, Importance of capstone project, Why capstone projects are important.
Only those articles are selected which are generic to capstone project benefits. This is done to avoid any biases for a particular program or degree and the findings must represent a generic result for Capstone project and not focused on a specific capstone project required in a particular degree or university program.
It was observed that the first 5 pages of the google search gave relevant articles and after that, the articles were more specific to a particular type of program or course. Thus, only the articles present on the first 5 pages of google search were selected.
In order to analyze the articles and get insights from the content of the selected articles needs to be extracted from the articles which are present in the HTML format, stored in a simple text format (CSV or JSON), and use the text for further processing and analysis. Thus, our first approach in this project is to build an application that can be used to extract the desired content from different websites and store the content in the required format, and to accomplish this, different web scrapers are deployed to gather the data.
The main goal of this research is to identify keywords that are frequently used and are highly relevant to the topics – Benefits of Capstone program. Thus, to identify such keywords a Machine Learning algorithm for Natural Language processing is used which is Tf-IDF (Term frequency and Inverse document frequency). This algorithm is generally used when processing human-readable language and is used to convert words into a numerical format where each word is represented in the form of a matrix (Gajare, n.d.)
TF-IDF for a word in a document is calculated by multiplying two different metrics:
The dashboard below illustrates the findings. The frequency of occurrence of words having a high Tf-Idf score is used to compare the words present in different categories.
The result consists of the bi-grams and tri-grams associated with the articles – Benefits of and importance of Capstone for students’ employability The keywords are ordered in the descending order of their rank and frequency. Here, rank is the Tf-Idf score which shows the importance of the word or relevance of the word in the given article. For example, a keyword “sponsor organization” will have higher score for the articles related to benefits of capstone since it is assumed that a capstone project involves a sponsor organization with which students works to accomplish the desired goal of the project as well as the organization.
Then, we targeted to find out, what exactly students associate with having the highest impact on their employability. We applied the Ivy’s BE-EDGE concept for data categorization to test personal capital, social capital, and professional capital as a measure of the capstone’s impact on graduates’ employability.
First, the study let us reveal that the dimensions of personal capital, social capital, and professional capital provide us with adequate measures for capstone’s impact. They refer to the benefits that students associate with investments in their edge for the market.
Second, we found that the majority of the words associated with the capstone’s benefits belong to Personal and Professional capital, however, only two words belong to Social capital and even the frequency of the words is very low. The findings let us assume that the team nature of capstone courses while helping students to Elucidate their professional CORE (personal capital) and justify that they are ready to Generate VALUE (professional capital) for the company-client.
Interestingly, however, we found a minor effect of capstone courses on students’ Developed TRUST (social capital). This lets us assume that the group nature of capstone projects has a mediating role in setting the capstone as a major stepping stone project for the graduating students. While the group capstone projects still helped graduates to clarify the direction for their professional journey and to prove their professional readiness, they did not around personal contacts with the industry flourish, which limited its impact on students’ employability.
Note: The analysis is done on a sample of data and the results may vary if more articles are collected for analysis. Further research and analysis can be performed using other Machine Learning algorithms for Natural Language Processing to find more accurate results between the words and collaborate and classify words based on their relationship with other words. This can be done to further expand this research in future.
Gajare, S. (n.d.). Tf-Idf for Bi-grams and Tri-grams. Retrieved from https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/tf-idf-for-bigrams-trigrams/
Stecanella, B. (2019, May 10). What is Tf-Idf? Retrieved from https://monkeylearn.com/blog/what-is-tf-idf/
Swapnil Lokhande, Data Science and Advanced analytics practitioner and researcher.
A graduate student from Northeastern University, Boston, accomplished by Masters in Analytics. Looking for opportunities to apply my skills of analytics and computer science in delivering business solutions and simultaneously apply my knowledge in research projects. Swapnil has an extensive educational background and multi-dimensional industrial experience which makes me a passionate learner and a problem solver. In the last 5 years of my career, I have learned and developed expertise in delivering data-driven solutions to analyze business trends through statistical and predictive models and effectively communicate the findings and statistical results to technical and non-technical teams using interactive dashboards.
Outside of work, I am passionate about mentoring and teaching emerging engineering students. I have also worked as Assistant Professor in a public university in India and always try to connect with my students to help them learn programming languages using real-world problems, mentor them in their academic projects, and help them make informed decisions in their career path.
Linkedin profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/swapnil-lokhande/
Julia Ivy, PhD Psych, PhD Mgmt, is a Strategy and International Business Executive Professor and faculty director at Northeastern University.
Her area of expertise is in bridging strategy and psychology in the concept of personal strategy, and synchronize personal strategy of job candidates with a competitive strategy of potential employers. In addition to her academic work, she acts as an executive coach for those facing the “What’s next?” challenge.
Her new book is Crafting Your Edge for Today’s Job Market: Using the BE-EDGE Method for Consulting Cases and Capstone Projects (Emerald Publishing, Oct. 7, 2019).
Learn more at be-edge.com. | https://www.be-edge.com/measuring-impact-of-capstone-courses-on-students-employability/ |
Preheat oven to 400°F. Place frozen nuggets on baking sheet. Heat 11 to 13 minutes. Appliances vary.
Can you cook raw chicken nuggets from frozen?
If the nuggets are frozen, bake them for ten minutes on each side. The nuggets will be golden brown and tender when they are finished.
How do you make frozen chicken nuggets crispy in the oven?
Pour the vegetable oil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper onto the baking sheet. Using your hands, tumble and mix the chicken nuggets, oil and spices until well coated. Spread the chicken nuggets out as far as possible from each other on the baking sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden crispy brown.
Are frozen chicken nuggets pre cooked?
Although these products may appear to be pre-cooked or browned, they should be handled and prepared no differently than raw products. All frozen, stuffed, raw poultry products should be cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 ºF.
How do you know when chicken nuggets are cooked?
The Right Internal Temp for Cooked Chicken
Get yourself a meat thermometer. They’re fairly cheap and can save you a whole lot of hassle in the long run. As long as your readings hit that magic 165°-mark every time, you’ll know you’ve killed off any potential bacteria lurking in the chicken.
How long do I cook uncooked chicken nuggets?
Bake: Preheat oven to 375°F. Spread frozen nuggets on a baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes. Pan Fry: Heat vegetable oil (1/8″) in skillet until hot. Fry nuggets in the hot oil over medium heat 10-12 minutes, turning over after 5-6 minutes.
What happens if you eat undercooked chicken nuggets?
A study by the centre and Health Canada discovered a link between salmonella infections and eating raw or undercooked chicken nuggets and chicken strips. The study is published in the June issue of the Journal of Food Protection. Salmonella are bacteria that can cause an infection of the gastrointestinal tract.
Why are my chicken nuggets soggy?
Well, think about what causes the chicken nuggets to be soggy – it’s the excess moisture. The chicken nuggets are frozen, and when you microwave them, they get thawed and the moisture from the thawing process get trapped under the chicken nuggets, between the nuggets and the plate.
Are McDonald’s chicken nuggets fried or baked?
Once everything is mixed, we create the four famous Chicken McNuggets® shapes—bell, boot, ball and bone. They’re coated in a light tempura batter, partially fried and quickly frozen to preserve flavor. Once in our restaurants, they’re fully fried and served hot to you with a delicious taste that is full of flavor.
How do you keep chicken nuggets from getting soggy?
The first thing we need to do is to prepare chicken nuggets in a way that they stay dry. It’s very easy – just put them on a paper towel before you microwave them. The paper towel will absorb all excess moisture, so it will keep chicken nuggets from getting soggy.
Can you eat frozen chicken nuggets?
How long will frozen chicken tenders or nuggets remain safe to eat? Frozen chicken tenders or nuggets that have been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely, as long as they have been stored properly and the package is not damaged.
How long does it take to deep fry chicken nuggets?
Deep fry: If you have a deep fryer, heat the oil to 350°F and deep fry the chicken nuggets for a total of about 3-4 minutes, or until they’re golden brown.
What happens if you eat undercooked frozen chicken?
Chicken can be a nutritious choice, but raw chicken is often contaminated with Campylobacter bacteria and sometimes with Salmonella and Clostridium perfringens bacteria. If you eat undercooked chicken, you can get a foodborne illness, also called food poisoning.
Can you overcook chicken nuggets?
Do not overcook the meat. Take the chicken pieces out of the oil and drain on paper towels. Fry the chicken in batches; do not crowd the pan.
How long do frozen chicken nuggets take in the oven?
Preheat oven to 400°F. Place frozen nuggets on baking sheet. Heat 11 to 13 minutes.
Are steggles nuggets precooked?
Remove frozen Nuggets from the pack and place evenly on a lined baking tray. Cook for 18 minutes, turning once. *All appliances are different, that’s why it’s important to use this as a guide only. This product is raw and must be fully cooked before consuming. | https://thebaybali.com/bakeing/how-long-does-it-take-to-cook-frozen-chicken-nuggets-2.html |
Preventing the establishment of new invasive species is priority number one and the best expenditure of limited resources in an invasive species management program. Next in priority is early detection of and rapid response (EDRR) to the first report of a new invasion. Stopping invasive species from entering or, next best, at their initial point of introduction saves the incalculable costs later-on associated with rapidly spreading, all-consuming invasive species populations. The verification of a report of mile-a-minute vine (Persicaria perfoliata) on a property in Monroe County, Indiana on May 14, 2018 sets a historical prescedence demonstrating a growing capability of detecting and reporting new invaders. The population was very small at this spot and had apparently been sprayed by a homeowner with herbicide, not necessarily to kill the mile-a-minute, but likely to kill the companion multiflora rose.
Our hope is that this is the only instance of mile-a-minute vine in Indiana. There is a significant probability that it is not! In the coming months, a more thorough survey of this property and surrounding area will be conducted to look for more of the vine. But now Indiana stands on high alert as natural resource professionals keep a look out for more of this highly-invasive pest. However, there are too few professionals with eyes on the landscape. The more eyes trained to identify the very distinct characteristics of mile-a-minute, the higher the chance of us catching it before it explodes across the landscape, wreaking havoc and mayhem in our forests and fields, wildlife habitat and mushroom hunting and birding grounds.
All landowners, land stewards, and nature lovers are needed to be additional eyes looking for this insidious threat this summer and in coming years. Please take a moment to learn its identifying characteristics. If you think you have found it, please report it on EDDMapS (Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System) or from your smart phone on the GLEDN (Great Lakes Early Detection Network) app. If you are unsure if you are correctly identifying it, please contact a forester or other natural resource professional for confirmation or just report it in EDDMapS or the GLEDN app, along with photos, and a professional in your area will verify its identification before it actually gets posted.
Mile-a-minute identification:
Mile-a-minute vine is a member of the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae. Although its common name exaggerates its growth potential, this annual vine can grow as much as 6 inches a day and can reach heights of more than 25 feet within the growing season. It forms very dense, tangled mats, growing over shrubs, small trees and up the sides of forest edges (Fig. 1). The leaves are simple, alternate, light green and a nearly perfect triangle shape (Fig. 2). The delicately narrow, green to red-tinted stems, and the petiole (leaf stem) and midrib on the underside of the leaves are armed with small, stiff, recurved barbs (Fig. 3). Small, cup- or saucer-shaped leaf structures, called ocreae, encircle the stem at each node (Fig. 4). Clusters of small white, rather inconspicuous, flowers emerge from the ocreae. Flowers develop into clusters of deep, iridescent blue berry-like fruits, approximately 5 mm in diameter, each fruit containing a single black or reddish-black hard seed, called an achene. Seeds are dispersed by birds and mammals, including chipmunks, squirrels and deer, which eat the fruit. Floodwaters facilitate long distance dispersal of seed.
Resources: | https://www.purdue.edu/fnr/extension/blog/2018/06/04/mile-a-minute-invasive-vine-found-in-indiana/ |
Four-axle hopper cars are also among the special cars on the Rhaetian Railroad. They are used mostly to transport ballast. These bulk freight cars painted in yellow are specially designed for the RhB track maintenance trains. They differ in several details from the other hopper cars. The operator can use a mechanical system to measure the quantity of ballast sliding out of the hopper car when the train is moving slowly. This LGB set includes a type Xac yellow maintenance car with fine, detailed paintwork and lettering and also imprinted repaired areas. The set also includes a brown type Fac hopper car. The LGB models each have four unloading hatches that can be opened. Both cars are individually packaged. Length over the buffers per car 55 cm / 21-5/8". | https://www.lgb.com/products/min-details/article/49690?cHash=547ada588cf384a16e5b4c28582cb9d6 |
For typical LCD modules, the data transfer rate is less than 20 Mbps, so protection devices with capacitance values less than 40 pF can be used. The electrical threat is ESD.
As shown at the left (top), discrete multilayer varistors can be used for layout flexibility. However, if part count reduction or board space savings are most important, then TVS diode arrays are recommended.
Other solutions within the Littelfuse MLV portfolio exist in addition to these recommendations. For example, if the data transfer takes place at high speeds (>200 Mbps), then PulseGuard devices should be recommended, so as to ensure signal integrity. | https://www.littelfuse.com/technical-resources_old/application-designs/circuits/lcd.aspx |
Frequently featured in Mexican dishes, tortillas are a great main ingredient to consider.
However, you may wonder whether corn or flour tortillas are the healthier choices.
This article explores the differences between corn and flour tortillas to help you decide.
What’s the difference between corn and flour tortillas?
Tortillas are a thin flatbread usually made from either corn or wheat flour. Their popularity in the United States has surged, as has the number of health-focused options.
They’re considered a staple in Mexican cuisine. Corn tortillas were passed down from the Aztecs, whereas flour tortillas were first made after Spaniards introduced wheat to Mexico.
There are some differences in the ways the two varieties are made.
Production
Traditionally, corn tortillas begin with a process called nixtamalization. This involves soaking and then cooking corn, also known as maize, in an alkaline solution of calcium hydroxide, or limewater.
Corn kernels are then stone-ground to create masa or corn dough. This is shaped, flattened into thin disks, and baked to create tortillas.
Most corn tortillas in stores have been made via an industrial approach to nixtamalization, which uses a mill.
While traditional tortillas are made from 100% corn, mass-produced versions may be made from dehydrated corn flour, or masa harina, with some wheat flour blended into it.
Nixtamalization is an important step that helps enhance the nutritional profile of corn tortillas. It was traditionally used in Mayan and Aztec cultures.
Today, manufacturing practices have adapted this process for larger-scale operations involving dry and fresh masa.
On the other hand, flour tortillas are typically made from a dough of refined wheat flour, water, shortening or lard, salt, baking soda, and other ingredients to help develop the gluten. This yields a softer and sturdier texture.
While flour tortillas are usually made with refined wheat flour, more nutritious whole wheat varieties are available.
Nutritional profiles
Given their distinct ingredients, corn and flour tortillas have different nutritional profiles.
Here’s a nutritional comparison of one large corn tortilla (44 grams) and one medium flour tortilla (45 grams):
Corn tortilla nutrition facts
- Calories: 95.9
- Carbs: 19.6 grams
- Protein: 2.51 grams
- Fat: 1.25 grams
- Fiber: 2.77 grams
- Calcium: 35.6 mg
- Iron: 0.54 mg
- Magnesium: 31.7 mg
- Sodium: 19.8 mg
Flour tortilla nutrition facts
- Calories: 138
- Carbs: 22.2 grams
- Protein: 3.69 grams
- Fat: 3.6 grams
- Fiber: 1.58 grams
- Calcium: 65.7 mg
- Iron: 1.63 mg
- Magnesium: 9.9 mg
- Sodium: 331 mg
Corn tortillas are a good source of fiber and magnesium. Fiber is important for digestion and heart health, while magnesium plays a vital role in your brain, heart, and muscles.
Studies show that many people in the United States don’t get enough dietary fiber.
Corn tortillas are also considered a whole grain and are lower in carbs, calories, and fat than flour tortillas.
Flour tortillas tend to contain more fat because they’re usually made with lard or shortening.
Still, they provide more iron, which your body needs to properly supply your muscles and other tissues with oxygen.
Summary: Corn tortillas were traditionally made by the Aztecs and involve an important process known as nixtamalization. Nutritionally, they deliver smaller amounts of sodium, carbs, fat, and calories than flour tortillas.
Which is the healthier choice?
Corn tortillas tend to outshine flour tortillas as the healthier option.
Suggested read: Sucrose vs. glucose vs. fructose: What's the difference?
Whole grains
Corn flour is considered a cereal grain. This means that each corn tortilla made from 100% corn delivers 100% whole grains.
Whole grains provide more fiber, which is beneficial for your heart and digestive health.
It’s worth noting that whole wheat tortillas also offer some whole grains, but the exact amount depends on the blend used in the product.
Gluten
Flour tortillas are made from wheat, which contains gluten — a collective term for many types of proteins found in certain grains such as wheat, barley, and rye.
If you have a wheat allergy, celiac disease, or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, you should not consume flour tortillas or other gluten-containing products. Generally, if you have any of these conditions, 100% corn tortillas are your best option because they’re gluten-free.
Celiac disease is an autoimmune response to gluten that causes damage to your digestive tract. Thus, if you have celiac disease, you should not eat flour tortillas and should stick to 100% corn tortillas.
If gluten is a concern for you, it’s important to read product ingredient lists, because some mass-produced corn tortillas may have wheat flour blended into them.
Portion control
Corn tortillas are usually smaller, measuring about 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter. Flour tortillas tend to be larger, usually 8–10 inches (20–25 cm) in diameter. This means corn tortillas have built-in portion control.
If you frequent authentic taco shops, be mindful that one taco is often made with a double layer of corn tortillas. This helps make the taco sturdier and more filling but increases the calorie, carb, and fat content.
Flour tortillas are sturdier, which is why they’re usually used for dishes such as burritos, which have more fillings. If your dish requires a flour tortilla, opt for a whole wheat variety. This will pack an extra bit of nutrients such as fiber and important minerals.
Suggested read: Corn syrup substitutes: 5 healthier options
Summary: Corn tortillas are a healthier alternative to flour tortillas. They provide more whole grains and have built-in portion control because they’re typically smaller. They’re also gluten-free and thus suitable for people who cannot tolerate gluten.
Summary
If you’re looking for a healthier option, corn tortillas outshine their flour alternative.
Corn tortillas deliver fiber, whole grains, and other nutrients while being lower in fat and calories than flour tortillas.
Tortillas made from 100% corn are also safe for people with celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders.
Still, if you can eat gluten, you may want to choose flour tortillas when using heavier fillings, as they tend to be sturdier.
Whichever you select, be sure to fill your tortilla with plenty of veggies and beans to make it a truly nutritious meal. | https://vegan.rocks/blog/corn-vs-flour-tortilla/ |
Three adjacent venues in one of the most amazing winter resorts for young people, the city of Livigno, located at the top of Valtellina and well-connected with Switzerland as well, will host all free-style and snowboard competitions. The three venues, which regularly host training sessions of several national teams, are all located within walking distance of one another. The venue capacities will range from 3,000 seats at the Carosello 3000 venue, to 10,000 seats at the venues of Mottolino and Sitas-Tagliede. | https://www.valtellina.it/en/valtellina-olympic-winter-games |
WAXAHACHIE, TX — Like different children in the same family, each room in Bob and Becky Lynn’s 75-year-old home has its own distinct personality. And also like children, each room loves to play dress-up — especially at Christmastime.
The original 1,500-square-foot house was built in 1935. Since it bears a historic designation, it must maintain its original dignified appearance — at least, on the outside. During most of the year, it does just that. Even the parlor just inside the front door wears period costume: art deco chairs and a baby grand piano. But by December 1, an 8-foot white floral tree has appeared beside the dining room door, festooned with full-size top hats in red or black. One stray hat winks from atop the piano, snuggled next to a red feather boa and a saucy pair of feminine, high-heeled red Santa boots. A reindeer ballerina stands on tiptoe to see, while stylized red Christmas trees on the mantel lean toward each other as if sharing the joke. “Those are our ‘tipsy’ trees,” Becky explained.
The parlor’s whimsy echoes the Lynns’ own love story. The traditional way to a man’s heart is through his stomach; rarely do you find a way to a woman’s heart through a man’s stomach. Bob and Becky, longtime casual acquaintances, had become “single again.” Becky, a fourth-grade teacher at Northside Elementary, was also a cook of almost legendary skill. One day, Becky related, “Bob got real hungry. He called me and asked, ‘If I bring some food will you cook it?’ I told him, ‘Yes.’ I was perfectly content staying single, but we found out we liked all the same things. Bob even likes shopping!”
Bob smiled and patted his stomach. “That was 14 years and 40 pounds ago!”
Anyone might gain weight in the inviting “Peacock” dining room, featuring off-white trim against bold blue walls. For the holidays, the room glitters with peacock-feathered garland, centerpiece and Christmas tree, their blues and purples frosted with gold.
The kitchen, just beyond the dining room, wears a casual costume that could have been designed by Mrs. Santa herself. Dubbed “The Gingerbread Room,” it is accessorized with candy canes, its own shiny red tree and gingerbread people. These seem to have come from the gingerbread house outside, which last week had been an ordinary tool shed.
The Lynns bought their home in 2005. When they first began looking, they did not consider an older house. But their Realtor knew of one previously for sale that she thought they would love. It was not even on the market, but she asked the owner whether she would like to sell. The owner agreed. When the Realtor described the house, Becky said, “We decided to buy it without even seeing the inside first.”
Becky’s favorite room is the white bookshelf-lined library off the entry. Mischievous stuffed animals adorn its white Christmas tree, their teasing smiles giving no hint about what is in the gift-wrapped packages scattered around the room.
The front rooms still have their original windows and dark wood floors. But in the five years since joining the Lynn family, the house has grown considerably. A new den with a stone fireplace puts on Christmas finery each December just like the older rooms. A tall gold-and-silver “snowflake” tree occupies one corner, while smaller trees twinkle from tabletops and shelves. Wilson, the Labrador Retriever, has his own tree on the hearth, just below his personalized stocking. Not surprisingly, the master suite holds yet another Christmas tree, laden with handmade ornaments. Lighted “gifts” and stuffed bears fill a guest cradle along one wall. The room also sports greenery, tinsel and a snow-skiing polar bear. Becky is most enthused about the suite’s two separate bathrooms. “It was Bob’s idea,” she said. “He managed to get two whole bathrooms into this space. We just had to make one of the closets smaller… and it wasn’t going to be mine!”
In the spare bedroom, a boisterous pile of gift packages and stuffed animals spills over the bed. And the closet holds a secret: a leaded-glass window in the hallway is set into one of its walls. The glow from the window lights up the hall whenever the closet light is on. “This window came from an old building in Chicago,” Bob said. “When we bought it, we had no place to put it.” In the last few years, the Lynns have gained four grandchildren. “It’s a new chapter in our life,” Bob said. | https://nowmagazines.com/2010/11/29/childs-play/ |
To create a balance sheet template, list three groups titled Assets, Liabilities and Equity, and then place all associated account balances in each group, reports Jessica Jones for the Houston Chronicle. The basic equati...
www.reference.com/article/create-business-balance-sheet-template-6b062ae72c8c1c0a
To create a template for a personal balance sheet, consider the fundamental equation, calculate assets, liabilities and equity, then list the information appropriately, reports the QuickBooks website. Calculate all data ...
www.reference.com/article/create-template-personal-balance-sheet-8b95e08551e24677
A blank balance sheet template is used to prepare and calculate the financial health of a business every month, quarter or other time period, notes Intuit. A balance sheet helps determine the equilibrium point between a ...
www.reference.com/article/blank-balance-sheet-template-used-c39a20f39daf13fe
A post-closing trial balance is a listing of general ledger account balances after the closing entries for an accounting period have been entered, according to Accounting Coach. This listing includes only balance sheet a...
www.reference.com/article/post-closing-trial-balance-c9b44db84549bd1b
According to generally accepted accounting principals (GAAP), increases to the retained earnings account on the balance sheet are reflected with a credit entry. Decreases to returned earnings, as might be found with a ne...
www.reference.com/business-finance/retained-earnings-considered-debit-credit-44c38f32bac95afc
To prepare a post-closing trial balance sheet, transfer the totals from the ledger accounts onto a spreadsheet with a column for account names, debits and credits, according to MyAccountingCourse.com. Only balance sheet ...
www.reference.com/article/prepare-post-closing-trial-balance-92566602c6e760dd
A contra asset is a negative asset account used in a balance sheet to offset a positive account it is paired with. Businesses use a contra-asset account combined with a paired account to find the net, or book value, of a... | https://www.reference.com/web?q=business+balance+sheet+template&qo=relatedSearchBing&o=600605&l=dir&sga=1 |
A BMI of 30 and above is considered obese. Individuals who fall into the BMI range of 25 to 34.9, and have a waist size of over 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women, are considered to be at especially high risk for health problems.
What qualifies someone as obese?
An obese person is someone who has accumulated so much body fat that it might have a negative effect on their health. If a person’s body weight is at least 20 percent higher than it should be, he or she is considered obese. You are considered overweight if your Body Mass Index (BMI) is between 25 and 29.9.
Is 250 pounds considered obese?
BMI chart: Weight of 250–400 lb
Adult BMI chart showing ranges “obese 1: BMI 30–34.9,” “obese 2: BMI 35–39.9,” and “obese 3: BMI ≥ 40.” … A person who is very fit, such as an Olympic athlete, may have a high BMI.
At what weight are you considered obese?
This calculator provides body mass index (BMI) and the corresponding BMI weight status category for adults 20 years and older.
…
Adult BMI Calculator.
|BMI||Weight Status|
|Below 18.5||Underweight|
|18.5—24.9||Normal|
|25.0—29.9||Overweight|
|30.0 and Above||Obese|
How is obesity defined in adults?
An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight. An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.
What is my ideal weight for my age?
Weight and height guide chart
|Height||Weight|
|5ft 2″ (62″)||104 to 131 lbs.||136 to 158 lbs.|
|5ft 3″ (63″)||107 to 135 lbs.||141 to 163 lbs.|
|5ft 4″ (64″)||110 to 140 lbs.||145 to 169 lbs.|
|5ft 5″ (65″)||114 to 144 lbs.||150 to 174 lbs.|
What is obese for my height?
Getting your current BMI is as easy as plugging your height and weight into a calculator. A result between 18.5 and 24.9 means you’re in the “normal” weight range for your height. If your result is under 18.5, you’re considered underweight. Between 25 and 29.9 means you’re considered overweight.
What is considered obese for a 5’6 woman?
tall is considered overweight (BMI is 25 to 29) if she weighs between about 145 and 169 pounds. She is considered obese (BMI is 30 or more) if she is closer to 174 pounds or more. A man who is 5 ft.
Can you be obese healthy?
It is clear that obesity increases the risk of developing insulin resistance, which leads to diabetes, and atherosclerosis. However, someone with obesity need not necessarily develop these problems. In fact, these people are generally termed the metabolically healthy obese.
Is 200 pounds a healthy weight?
Normal or healthy weight is indicated by a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9, overweight is between 25 and 29.9, and obese is 30 and above. For the majority of people who are less than 6 feet 4 inches tall, weighing more than 200 lbs would place them in the “overweight” or “obese” category, according to BMI calculations.
Can I lose 20 pounds in a month?
With a little patience and determination, it’s entirely possible to drop 20 pounds to help reach your weight loss goals in no time. Noom helps you adopt healthy habits so you can lose weight and keep it off.
How can I lose a lb a day?
You need to burn 3500 calories a day to lose one pound a day, and you need anywhere between 2000 and 2500 calories in a day if you are doing your routine activities. That means you need to starve yourself the whole day and exercise as much as to lose the remaining calories.
How much should a 5 4 female weigh?
Height and Weight Chart
|Height||Weight|
|5′ 2″||104 to 135 lbs.||136 to 163 lbs.|
|5′ 3″||107 to 140 lbs.||141 to 168 lbs.|
|5′ 4″||110 to 144 lbs.||145 to 173 lbs.|
|5′ 5″||114 to 149 lbs.||150 to 179 lbs.|
How can I tell if Im overweight?
Adult Body Mass Index (BMI)
- If your BMI is less than 18.5, it falls within the underweight range.
- If your BMI is 18.5 to <25, it falls within the healthy weight range.
- If your BMI is 25.0 to <30, it falls within the overweight range.
- If your BMI is 30.0 or higher, it falls within the obesity range.
What is obesity in simple words?
Obesity, also called corpulence or fatness, excessive accumulation of body fat, usually caused by the consumption of more calories than the body can use. The excess calories are then stored as fat, or adipose tissue.
Is being overweight and obese the same thing? | https://infophentermine.com/metabolism/what-classifies-a-person-as-obese.html |
Magellan midstream partners, l.p. According to the data from Bloomberg.com, the thirteen brokerages who provide coverage for (NYSE: MMP) have assigned an average rating of “Hold” to the stock. Five research analysts have assigned a buy recommendation to the company’s stock, six have issued a hold rating, and two have assigned a sell rating to the stock. The reports that brokerages have published on the stock have stated that the stock’s average 12-month price goal is $53.73, according to the reports that the brokerages have published on the stock. This was stated by brokerages that produced reports on the stock in the prior year. In recent press releases, various research analysts were asked about their thoughts on MMP shares and given their responses. In a research note released on Wednesday, August 3, Royal Bank of Canada upped its price objective for shares of Magellan Midstream Partners from $56.00 to $58.00 and assigned the company a “outperform” rating. The Goldman Sachs Group moved Magellan Midstream Partners from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $55.00 to $59.00 in a research note on June 8. In addition, they increased the price that they anticipated the stock would reach, from $55.00 to $59.00.
In a research report that was made public on May 25, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Magellan Midstream Partners shares from $52.00 to $57.00. Additionally, they upgraded the company’s stock from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” one. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Magellan Midstream Partners from “equal weight” to “overweight” in a research report published on Tuesday, May 31. Additionally, the firm boosted its price goal on the stock from $54.00 to $56.00. On Monday, NYSE MMP began trading at $50.68. Over the previous year, the price of Magellan Midstream Partners fell to its lowest point of $43.58 and reached its peak point of $53.75 at some point. The company’s moving average over the past 50 days is $50.47, and its moving average over the past 200 days is $49.86. The company’s current ratio is 0.97, and its current debt-to-equity ratio is 2.84. In addition, the company’s quick ratio is 0.49. The company has a market capitalization of $10.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.85, a price-to-earnings-to-growth ratio of 3.35, and a beta of 0.92. All of these metrics indicate that the stock is relatively expensive. In addition, the corporation has just declared and dispersed a quarterly dividend, which was paid out on Friday, August 12. This occurred just recently. On Friday, August 5, stockholders already on record with the corporation were qualified to receive a $1.0375 dividend payment.
This payment was made available to qualifying stockholders. This translates into a dividend payment of $4.15 each year, which results in a yield of 8.19% per year overall. Thursday, August 4, was the day that did not include the payoff that was due to be received. At this moment, the dividend payout ratio for Magellan Midstream Partners is at a value of 88.87%. Several hedge funds and institutional investors have adapted their investment strategy due to recent events, which have caused this transformation. During the first three months of this year, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. saw a 1.8% increase in its investment value in Magellan Midstream Partners. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. is currently the owner of the pipeline company’s stock, which has a value of $292,064,000 after the acquisition of 106,822 extra shares during the preceding quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc purchased these shares. As a result, the total value of the investment firm’s holdings has increased to 292,064,000 dollars. UBS Group AG’s holdings in Magellan Midstream Partners received a 1.5% increase during the second quarter due to the company’s investment. UBS Group AG raised its holdings in the stock of the pipeline firm during the most recent quarter by purchasing an additional 45,610 shares. This brought the total number of shares it possesses to 3,082,021, with a value of $147,196,000.
Global Investments Mirae Asset Co. Ltd. increased the proportion of Magellan Midstream Partners shares it owned by 13.1% throughout the year’s second quarter. Global Investments Mirae Asset Co. Ltd. has increased its total holdings in the pipeline firm by purchasing an additional 353,171 shares of stock since the beginning of this quarter, which takes the total value of its holdings to $145,677,000. During the second quarter, the investment portfolio managed by Chickasaw Capital Management LLC increased its holdings of Magellan Midstream Partners by 0.4% compared to the previous quarter. After purchasing an additional 12,800 shares of the pipeline company’s stock during the most recent fiscal quarter, Chickasaw Capital Management LLC now has 3,026,826 shares of the company’s stock. This brings the total number of shares owned by the business to 3. There is a value of $144,561,000.00 attached to these shares. And lastly, during the second quarter, Clearbridge Investments LLC increased its total number of Magellan Midstream Partners shares in its portfolio by 5.8 percent. Clearbridge Investments LLC currently has 2,851,727 of the pipeline company’s shares, worth $136,198,000. This comes from purchasing an additional 156,016 shares during the fiscal quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds currently control 52.37% of the company’s shares and have done so historically.
Magellan is a subsidiary of Midstream Partners, L.P., which is involved in the storage, distribution, and transportation of crude oil and refined petroleum products across the United States. Magellan’s primary focus is on the distribution of petroleum products. The components of crude oil and products that have been refined are what make it possible for it to function. This particular corporation operates a pipeline that transports refined products, and it is through this pipeline that fuels such as gasoline, diesel, aviation fuel, kerosene, and heating oil are transferred. Wholesalers, retailers, traders, railroads, airlines, and local farm cooperatives are among the recipients of these fuels that are transported by pipeline. Fuel is also distributed to end consumers, including retail gas stations, truck stops, farm cooperatives, train fueling depots, commercial airports, and military facilities, among other types of businesses and institutions. | https://beststocks.com/l-p-magellan-midstream-analysts-have-assigned-a/ |
A habit of overeating lean chicken will put as much extra fat on your body as overeating the same number of calories in donuts or butter cookies, a new study says.
Diet studies are notoriously hard to control when the participants are living their everyday lives – we break diet rules or misremember (or lie) about what we eat. So researchers at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, La., found 25 volunteers who agreed to stay in their clinic 24 hours a day, seven days a week, eating only under staff supervision.
For the first few weeks, doctors monitored the volunteers' weights to calculate each person's calorie needs. Then, researchers overfed the volunteers by about 950 calories each day, which meant they got about 140 percent of their actual daily needs, for eight weeks.
Calorie per calorie, “It didn't make any difference how much protein you ate, you gained the same amount of [body] fat,” said Dr. George A. Bray, lead author of the study published Tuesday (Jan. 3) in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Bray said the extra calories eaten during the eight-week study were the equivalent excess of what the typical American eats over 10 years. “It takes about 100 calories a week to replicate the current obesity epidemic,” said Bray, who is a professor of medicine at Louisiana State University.
Moreover, although the people in the low-protein group gained fewer total pounds over the course of the study, they weren't exactly healthy. In fact, Bray said the findings raise concerns that the current recommended daily protein intake is too low.
More protein versus more fat
All study participants ate from the same menu, but researchers manipulated proportions of protein and fat to create a high-protein, a normal-protein and a low-protein group. For example, for one lunch, staff served a tuna salad sandwich, but the high-protein group got more tuna and less mayonnaise, and the low-protein group got less tuna and more mayo. Carbohydrates always made up 41 percent of the meals, and neither the volunteers nor the evaluating researchers knew who was in what group.
Those on the high-protein diet gained an average of 14.3 lbs (6.49 kilograms) by the end of the study, while those on the low-protein diet gained seven lbs (3.17 kg).
The Institute of Medicine estimates adult women should eat 46 grams of protein a day and adult men should eat 56 grams a day. The volunteers in the low-protein diet ate 48 grams of protein a day.
Body imaging tests showed those on the low-protein diet lost lean body mass as they gained fat.
“Scales don't give you the truth. They only tell you what the weight change was,” Bray said. “For protein, 78 grams a day was what was required to keep protein balance before they started to lose lean body mass.”
A person's lean body mass consists of their muscle, as well as the weight of organs such as the liver and kidneys, which Bray said, bulk up to help the body metabolize more protein.
On the other hand, too much protein, especially in the forms found in Americans' diets, may not be a good thing, said Diane Dressel, registered dietitian at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, Wis.
“A lot of people have it in their heads that chicken is lean. If it's home-prepared, skinless and grilled, it is,” Dressel said. “However, the way chicken is often presented to us — it's breaded, fried or there are sauces on it.”
While boneless skinless chicken breast can have 40 calories an ounce, once it's fried and breaded Dressel said the same chicken would add up to 100 calories an ounce – about equivalent to the calorie counts in fatty red meats.
But do the results apply in the real world?
Yet Dr. David Heber, who wrote an editorial accompanying the new study, said that in the real world where people aren't force-fed extra calories, adding protein to the diet might actually prevent people from gaining fat.
“The study that Bray did was not a real-world study. It was under very controlled conditions, but it's a nice confirmation that protein does increase lean muscle mass” said Heber, director of the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition.
However, Heber has shown in studies that “protein is the most satiating macronutrient.” Eat a donut for breakfast, and two hours later people are looking for a snack. But eat eggs or egg whites for breakfast, and people tend to last until lunch before they are hungry again.
“We tend to always focus on one nutrient, but it's always complicated,” Heber said.
Follow MyHealthNewsDaily on Twitter @MyHealth_MNHD. Like us on Facebook.
Maria is our expert for medicine, fitness and general health. Her contributions are particularly convincing through completeness, accuracy and her own personal experience. Maria also writes for other health magazines, which has enabled her to build up her expert status. | https://cakehealth.com/2066-eating-protein-fat-matter-means-extra-fat.html |
How do I describe my personal identity?
Personal identity is the concept you develop about yourself that evolves over the course of your life. This may include aspects of your life that you have no control over, such as where you grew up or the color of your skin, as well as choices you make in life, such as how you spend your time and what you believe.
What does identity mean?
Identity is the qualities, beliefs, personality, looks and/or expressions that make a person (self-identity as emphasized in psychology) or group (collective identity as pre-eminent in sociology). A psychological identity relates to self-image (one’s mental model of oneself), self-esteem, and individuality.
What is your identity example?
Identity definitions. The definition of identity is who you are, the way you think about yourself, the way you are viewed by the world and the characteristics that define you. An example of identity is a person’s name . An example of identity are the traditional characteristics of an American.
Is identity a choice?
Individuals are a complex mix of interacting characteristics. Identity is a choice between these characteristics. It is in fact countless small choices about characteristics and behaviors, all of which aggregate into our sense, and external appearance of a single, formed and coherent identity.
Why is identity so important?
We all have a certain image of ourselves – beliefs about the kind of person we are. Having a strong sense of identity seems to be desirable, something that brings comfort and security . Identity also helps us to make decisions and to know how to behave. We’re constantly faced with complex decisions and circumstances.
What is our spiritual identity?
What is spiritual identity? Your personal sense of spirituality is one of the most important aspects of being your true self. For some of you this will be part of your religion. For others it will be a sense of connection or being part of something greater than yourself. This can be nature, the universe or the divine.
How important is self identity?
A strong self-identity is essential when it comes to intimacy, asserting yourself and exercising good boundaries with your family, friends, and partner. It can also guard against feeling manipulated or resentful in personal relationships.
How do we shape our identity?
Appearance and Self Expression How we look and present ourselves to the world says a lot about who we are. It can also impact how others perceive and treat us, which in turn shapes identity formation. Our physical identity is not superficial — it’s actually an aspect of ourselves we tie to our sense of identity.
Is identity created or given?
Is identity something people are born with or given or is it something people create for themselves Identity is created during a course of one’s life. Therefore, Vincent’s actions prove that identity is not something we inherit from our predecessors, but rather something we created ourselves.
How do places affect identity?
A sense of place identity derives from the multiple ways in which place functions to provide a sense of belonging, construct meaning, foster attachments, and mediate change. The place identity of a person can inform their experiences, behaviors, and attitudes about other places.
How does body image affect identity?
(2000.), body image has a major influence on adolescents’ self-esteem and both female and male adolescents place more importance on their appearance than adults and report higher levels of dissatisfaction, implying that appearance is a highly significant aspect of adolescent identity.
What are the negative effects of body image?
A negative body image may also lead to low self-esteem, which can affect many areas of your life. You may not want to be around other people or may obsess constantly about what you eat or how much you exercise. But you can take steps to develop a healthier body image.
Why is body image so important?
Body image is important because the way we see ourselves influences every aspect of our lives: our mental health, our physical health, how we take care of ourselves, how we interact with and relate to other people. A person with a healthy body image has an objective, undistorted view of their body and appearance.
How can I improve my self esteem and body image?
Here are a few suggestions to get you started.Recognize That Nobody’s Perfect. No one is 100% flawless. Appreciate Your Own Beauty. Take note of everything you like about yourself. Don’t Rely on Others for Confidence Boosts. Take Care of Yourself. Avoid Being Preoccupied by Social Media.
How can I be confident with my body?
Top 10 Tips For Body ConfidenceChange your focus. People who exercise regularly feel better about their bodies – whether they lose weight or not. Show your body some gratitude. Don’t get caught up in competitive self-criticism. Give yourself a break. Think positively. Meditate. Pamper yourself. Rejig your wardrobe.
How can I improve my body image thinking?
9 Tips for Improving Body Image and IntimacySurround yourself with positive people. Take new pictures of yourself and take down the old ones. Replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Wear clothes that fit and that you are comfortable with. Take notice of the things your body can do. Do nice things for your body and mind.
How can I improve my self esteem paragraph?
Improving Your Self-EsteemIdentify and Challenge Your Negative Beliefs. Identify the Positive About Yourself. Build Positive Relationships—and Avoid Negative Ones. Give Yourself a Break. Become More Assertive and Learn to Say No. Improve Your Physical Health. Take On Challenges.
What are the 3 types of self esteem?
Do You Know the 3 Types of Self-Esteem?Inflated self-esteem. People with inflated self-esteem think they are better than others and have no doubts about underestimating everyone else. High self-esteem. People with this type of self-esteem accept and value themselves. Low self-esteem.
What is self esteem and confidence?
Self-esteem refers to how you feel about yourself overall; how much esteem, positive regard or self-love you have. Self-esteem develops from experiences and situations that have shaped how you view yourself today. Self-confidence is how you feel about your abilities and can vary from situation to situation. | https://ottovonschirach.com/how-do-i-describe-my-personal-identity/ |
Editor’s note: Frank Zickert, PhD is a speaker for ODSC West 2022 this November 1st-3rd. Be sure to check out his talk, “Getting Started With Quantum Bayesian Networks in Python and Qiskit,” there!
Quantum computing promises to be the most disruptive technology of the 21st century. It’s now up to you to set the course for whether this becomes a threat to your career or a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gain a competitive advantage.
Of course, quantum computing is nothing you learn in a day. But neither is learning how to program a classical computer.
Of course, the field of quantum computing is still in the process of evolving. But if you wait until it became mainstream, you’ve spoiled the opportunity of turning your knowledge into a competitive advantage. Instead, you’ll be urged to keep up to not be left behind. Then, it will become a threat.
Do you remember 2014? That year, breakthrough advances in deep neural networks changed the way we think of machine learning. Those who understood and mastered this technology back then were in the pole position for high-paying jobs. The clincher parallel was that artificial neural networks were not new in 2014, either. The idea dates back to the 1940s.
But in 2014, three factors finally unleashed AI on the world.
- Cheap parallel computing
- Vast amounts of data
- Algorithmic improvements
I learned about artificial neural networks in college in 2004. During my semester abroad at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, I took a class on artificial intelligence. However, I lost track of it. Later, I dedicated myself to business informatics and writing my Ph.D. thesis on effort estimations.
So, even though I have always been fascinated by artificial intelligence, I missed being ready for the machine learning revolution. That’s not going to happen to me again.
So, in 2018, I started to deep dive into quantum machine learning. Scientific papers and a few academic books were all I could find. So I was happy about every little piece.
But these quantum computing publications left me scratching my head. Most of the papers are pretty heavy on math and assume you’re familiar with much physical jargon. I could not even find an appropriate starting point or guidance on how to structure my learning efforts.
Frustrated with my failed attempts, I spent hours searching on Google. Finally, I hunted for practical tutorials, only to come up empty-handed.
I could see the potential value of quantum computing, especially for machine learning. Yet, I couldn’t see how all these parts of quantum computing fit together. Entry-level material was hard to find. And practical guides were simply not existent. I wanted to get started, but I had nothing to show for my effort, except for a stack of quantum computing papers on my desk that I didn’t understand.
Finally, I resorted to learning the theory first. I returned to relying on my core competence. That is software development. I am a programmer by heart. And what do we programmers do? We open our IDE and write code. Then, we turn the knobs until something works as we expect it.
And guess what. It worked. And with that practical experience at hand, I managed to make sense of the theory later, too.
So, why don’t we start with practical quantum computing right away?
The first and most important lesson to learn concerns the quantum bit — in short — the qubit. The theory says it is in a state of superposition. That is a complex linear relation of its basis states. Is everything clear? Probably not — but that’s absolutely fine.
So, let’s ignore the theory for now and start coding!
First, we need a working environment. This post guides you through the setup. We’ll be coding in Python and use Qiskit — that is the IBM quantum SDK for Python.
Now, here’s the first program. The “hello-world” of quantum computing, if you will.
from qiskit import QuantumCircuit, execute, Aer from qiskit.visualization import plot_histogram # Create a quantum circuit with one qubit qc = QuantumCircuit(1) # YOUR CODE GOES HERE qc.h(0) # measure the qubit qc.measure_all() # Tell Qiskit how to simulate our circuit backend = Aer.get_backend('qasm_simulator') # Do the simulation, returning the result result = execute(qc,backend, shots=1000).result() # get the probability distribution counts = result.get_counts() # Show the histogram plot_histogram(counts)
First, we create a QuantumCircuit and pass the number of qubits we want it to have (line 5). The QuantumCircuit is the program that runs on a quantum computer.
Second, we add some instructions to the circuit (line 8). We will learn about the instructions in a minute. Right now, only remember that your individual code goes here.
Third, we measure all the qubits (line 11). The theory tells us that a qubit is in the state of superposition only as long as you do not look at it. But, first, that’s not entirely true. And second, who cares about the theory, right? So, let’s just say we collect the values from the qubit. We always do this at the very end of the quantum circuit.
Fourth, we boot our quantum computer. Unfortunately not. But we create a backend that simulates a quantum computer (line 14).
Fifth, we run the QuantumCircuit using the backend for 1,000 times (shots) and obtain the result (line 17).
Finally, we take the counts from the result (line 20) and display them in a histogram (line 23).
The following figure depicts (more or less) what you see.
Out of the 1,000 times, we executed the circuit, we observed the qubit as a 0 505 times and a 1 495 times.
When you run the code, the exact values will differ. They differ because the qubit is a probabilistic system. Whether you measure it as a 0 or a 1 depends on chance–and even more importantly–the qubit state.
Let’s, therefore, return to step two where we add the instructions to the circuit because this is where we manipulate the qubit state. In our case, we used the Hadamard operator (qc.h) to put the qubit into a state where the outcomes 0 and 1 are equally likely. The small differences occurred due to the empirical nature of running the circuit 1,000 times.
Essentially, manipulating the qubits state is all we do in quantum computing. The challenge is to manipulate the qubit in such a way that lets us measure the qubit as the value that represents the solution to our problem.
For this purpose, the quantum computer provides us with a set of technical operators. And this is where it gets complicated because there are many different operators and their behavior is not as intuitive as the behavior of their classical counterparts.
In classical computing, we work with only very few logical operators. Most commonly, we use “and”, “or”, “not”, and “xor”. And we can easily specify their behavior in a truth table.
The main reason why there are only a few operators is that the underlying value is pretty simple. Logically, it is a boolean value that is either true or false. Computationally, it is either 1 or 0. And technically it is either current on or off. In the end, it is one out of two possible values. And indeed, one needs only a few basic operators that can be put together to construct more complex behaviors.
The qubit state, however, is not that simple. It is not one out of two values but it is a 2n-dimensional vector of complex numbers with n being the number of qubits. So, of course, there are more basic operators. But what’s worse is that their effects are not quite so intuitive. And to top it off, we can’t really look at the qubit state because if we look at the qubit, it instantly collapses to one out of two values — 1 or 0. It collapses to an ordinary bit.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t reason about the quantum state. We can very well. Unfortunately, if we want to reason about it precisely, we will need to draw on mathematics. As a result, you see all these equations in scientific papers and articles on quantum computing.
But let me tell you something. Quantum operators are not as counter-intuitive as they look at first sight. In fact, with a little experience, you can reason about them intuitively. Of course, you won’t build up the experience in a day. But if you start today, you’ll be in time for the quantum revolution.
The best way to start your quantum machine learning journey is with my upcoming session at ODSC West, “Getting Started With Quantum Bayesian Networks in Python and Qiskit.“ We will start with the basic quantum operators and learn how to connect them to create Quantum Bayesian Networks (QBN). Like their classical counterparts, QBNs are probabilistic models for representing knowledge and reasoning about an uncertain domain. They are intuitive and easy to understand. Yet, they use fundamental quantum computing concepts. Therefore, QBNs are great tools to get your hands on quantum machine learning.
About the author/ODSC West 2022 Speaker:
Frank Zickert is a Quantum machine learning engineer and the author of Hands-On Quantum Machine Learning With Python. He teaches quantum machine learning in an accessible way to help those without a degree in math or physics to get started in the field.
In his research, Frank strives to use quantum machine learning to advance the field of knowledge graph-based natural language processing. He is also the Chief Technology Officer of Ihr MPE B+C where he supports medical physicists to provide radiation protection services for clinical customers. Previously he worked at Aperto-An IBM Company and Deutsche Bank.
Frank earned his Ph.D. in Information Systems Development from Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Germany. | https://opendatascience.com/getting-started-with-quantum-computing-is-surprisingly-easy/ |
of degrees of freedom in this fundamental regime.
Keywords: Holographic Principle, Planck Fluctuations, Measurement Uncertainties
PACS: 04.60.-m, 04.70.Dy, 04.80.Nn
Planck Fluctuations, Measurement Uncertainties and the
Holographic Principle
Manfred Requardt
email:
Institut für Theoretische Physik
Universität Göttingen
Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1
37077 Göttingen Germany
1 Introduction
In recent years it has been argued that the at first glance quite remote Planck scale might perhaps become observationally accessible by devising certain ingeneous (thought) experiments. More specifically, arguments were given that the quantum fluctuations of the space-time metric or of distance measurements may come within the reach of observability using already existing equipment like, for example, the large and extremely sensitive interferometers, designed to detect gravitational waves. This argument was in particular advanced by Amelino-Camelia (see or ) and supported by various thought experiments and qualitative calculations given by Jack Ng et al (see e.g. or ). Interesting arguments concerning the interface of general relativity and quantum physics are also advanced in .
These arguments are provisional as a generally accepted theory of quantum gravity does not yet exist and are of a character similar to the quantum mechanical calculations before the advent of true quantum mechanics in 1926. Nevertheless it is believed that they will hold in a qualitative sense in any future theory of quantum gravity. In the following we will also stick to this provisional reasoning.
The quantum gravity literature of the past decades abounds with such heuristic arguments concerning the quantum behavior on the Planck scale (see in particular the numerous remarks in or or the paper by Padmanabhan, ) with the expected result that the relevant fluctuation effects are essentially of Planck scale character. We note also the discussion in e.g. where a possible minimal length is related to large extra dimensions of space-time. One should however note that the reasoning is not always complete as it is of course important to take for example also the uncertainty in position of the (relevant parts of the) measuring devices into account. We took some pains to discuss this particular point in more detail in the following. In contrast to these findings there are more recent arguments claiming that some of these fluctuations (induced by quantum gravity) can already be seen on a (in general) much larger scale, depending in a somewhat surprising way also on the size of the quantities or objects being measured. For example in the uncertainty, , of a length or distance measurement is claimed to go as
|(1)|
with the length being measured and the Planck length.
The other interesting step consists of amalgamating this reasoning with a version of the hypothetical holographic principle, stating that on the Planck scale the number of degrees of freedom or the information capacity of a spatial volume, , go with the surface area of and not! with the volume itself as in ordinary (statistical) physics. A nice recent review is for example (we note that we plan to give a more complete list of references elsewhere). It is claimed that the holographic principle, stated in this particular form, supports the above findings (). In the following we want to scrutinize both lines of reasoning and show that we come to different results. In this connection we note that there are arguments that this particular form of the holographic principle cannot hold in all possible situation. In the following we mainly deal with weak gravitational fields and relatively small but macroscopic subvolumes of practically infinite space where these arguments do not apply. Anyway, we think that the last word is not yet said on this subject matter as there exist possible modifications of this relatively simple variant of the principle also in more general situations. We will come back to this question at the end of the paper.
We then proceed to show that both the fluctuation results and the holographic hypothesis imply particular (anti)correlation constraints of their own. By putting these two observations together we are able to derive strong constraints on the correlations and dynamics of degrees of freedom on the Planck scale. These findings seem to support the view that in this fundamental regime a new or extended form of statistical mechanics of strongly coupled or entangled degrees of freedom and open systems may become necessary. We make some remarks in this direction in the last section.
Concluding this brief résumé we want to mention two recent papers which discuss the interesting point of a possible change of particle dispersion relations near the Planck scale and its consequences for area laws and entropy bounds ( and ). We plan to come back to possible relations to our work elsewhere.
2 A Discussion of Some Recent Results
The first line of reasoning we mentioned above starts from an earlier finding of Wigner et al (), dealing with quantum effects concerning clocks and mirrors treated as test particles in a gravitational field, , and the setting-up of a coordinate system on the space-time manifold. This line of thought is supplemented by e.g. Ng et al by the wellknown argument concerning the emergence of a black hole if too much mass is concentrated in a very small region of space, the critical parameter being the Schwarzschild radius
|(2)|
Abbreviating the more detailed calculations in , one can argue as follows. If one insists to measure distances in a gravitational field by exchanging light signals between freely moving small and sufficiently localized clocks and mirrors (tacitly assuming that they do not disturb too much the given field ), the following conclusion seems to be inevitable. We assume the clock (and the mirror) initially to be localized with uncertainty . Standard quantum mechanics leads to a momentum uncertainty
|(3)|
The average time, , it takes for a light pulse to reach the mirror is
|(4)|
with the average distance between clock and mirror. In the time interval the initial relative position uncertainty of clock and mirror increases roughly as
|(5)|
with the minimum being
|(6)|
(see ).
Quantum mechanics alone suggests to make the mass, , of the clock (and mirror) large in order to reduce the uncertainty in distance measurement. Here now general relativity comes into the play. Realizing for example the clock as a spherical cavity of diameter , surrounded by a mirrored wall of mass , in which a light signal bounces back and forth, the clock must tick off time at a rate so that
|(7)|
in order that the uncertainty in distance measurement is not greater than . On the other hand must be larger than the Schwarzschild radius of the clock, , so that signals can be exchanged at all. This implies
|(8)|
Ng et al now combine these two estimates to get
|(9)|
or
|(10)|
with the Planck length. Correspondingly we get
|(11)|
with the Planck time.
We briefly want to recapitulate how the true spatial distance is measured in a gravitational field in general relativity. This is particularly clearly discussed in , see also . It comes out that for “infinitesimal” distances (which can in fact be macroscopic in a sufficiently weak field for practical purposes) we have
|(12)|
with greek indices running from 1 to 3 and being the spatial metric (the sign convention being ). We note that in a physically realisable reference system we have (and corresponding constraints for the ). Note that in general gravitational fields the notion of true distance (measured for example with little measuring rods or light signals) has only an absolute meaning in the small. This is only different in particular cases like a static field ( independent of the time coordinate).
The crucial point in the analysis of Wigner et al was that clocks and mirrors are treated as strongly localized freely moving test particles tracing out their individual world lines (or geodesics) in a given gravitational field (similar discussions can e.g. be found in or ). This is reasonable in a certain context as e.g. in discussions of introducing appropriate coordinate grids or material reference systems which do not distort too much the given space-time. The situation however changes if questions of principle are adressed in certain thought experiments concerning fundamental limitations of e.g. length measurements in quantum gravity. We argue in the following section that in that case some of the above constraints can be avoided or at least relaxed so that the lower limit provided by e.g. Ng et al can be considerably improved upon.
3 An Alternative Thought Experiment
We now describe a different set up which is not designed to create for example a full coordinate grid or minimally disturb a given gravitational field. We rather concentrate on the important question of the existence of a priori limitations of measuring distances in the very small with uncertainties much larger than .
We note that a severe restriction in the approach of Wigner et al or Ng et al derives from the assumption that clocks and mirrors are freely moving particles of mass . This resulted in the additional (-dependent) position uncertainty . We speculate what an experimenter in the laboratory would do. He would fix clock and mirror on an optical bench, which we, for calculational convenience, realize as a three-dimensional harmonic (macroscopic) quantum crystal in a way described below. The unavoidable zero point motion of the atoms of the solid is of the order
|(13)|
with the mass of the atoms and their position uncertainty (see e.g. ).
There exist various possibilities to implement the coupling between clock, mirror and solid quantum mechanically. One possibility is to confine both clock and mirror, as it is done with ordinary quantum objects, in macroscopic (ionic or optical) traps which, on their part, are attached to the solid. One may assume that these devices are attached to a (macroscopic) part of the solid and not to a single atom. This will yield an extra uncertainty of the order instead of with the mass of the respective part of the solid.
We approximate possible experimental set-ups by assuming the clock (and mirror) to be bounded in the ground state of a harmonic oscillator potential. This yields
|(14)|
The momentum uncertainty
|(15)|
does now no longer matter as the particle cannot drift away
during the measurement process.
Remark: The solid of course generates a gravitational field of its own but we think, this does not represent a real problem in this context as we are only interested in questions of principle. Assume for example that the original metric was the Minkowski metric which is now sligthly disturbed by the field of the solid.
We now observe that by increasing and/or , we still have to obey the Schwarzschild constraint, but as the clock can not wander away we get a bound like
|(16)|
which does no longer contain an explicit -dependence. is possibly limited by practical or experimental constraints. But as the respective region of the lattice need not be an infinitesimal one the Scharzschild-constraint is at least not openly manifest.
At this place it is perhaps helpful to add a remark concerning another deep question of principle which tacitly underlies all the discussions of the kind presented above and similar ones but which, on the other hand, is seldomly openly addressed. In quantum mechanics proper it turned out that uncertainty in measurement (Heisenberg) is essentially the same as uncertainty in definability (Bohr) which mirrors sort of a preexisting harmony and is by no means a trivial property from an epistomological point of view. As to this important point cf. the discussion in about the seemingly different viepoints of Heisenberg and Bohr.
To put it briefly and relating it to our present problem concerning the much more remote Planck scale: in our view it is not always entirely obvious that every seeming limitation concerning the measurement of a certain quantity like e.g. a distance by using a particular measuring device really corresponds to a truely fundamental limitation of definability of the quantity under discussion, that is, as having its roots in for example irreducible primordial fluctuations of space-time as such. To really decide this may be a touchy business given the great recent advances in measurement techniques.
4 Anticorrelated Space-Time Fluctuations
In it is argued that the -dependent fluctuation formula for length measurements, derived there, is further corroborated by an application of the so-called holographic principle. We want to show in this and the following section that the holographic principle is not really a cause for the given fluctuation formula but has rather a logical status which is independent of that result.
We start with a simple thought experiment concerning the nature of Planck fluctuations which we presented already quite some time ago (, we however presume that many other researchers in the field are aware of this phenomenon). We assume that the quantum vacuum on Planck scale is a fluctuating system behaving similar to systems in quantum statistical mechanics with the characteristic correlation parameters
|(17)|
We make, to begin with, the simplest possible but naive assumption, assuming that in each Planck cell of volume we have essentially independent energy fluctuations of size which implies that the characteristic correlation length is assumed to be .
Picking now a macroscopic spatial volume (compared to the Planck scale!), , we have of such cells labelled by . Defining the stochastic variable , the central limit theorem tells us that the expected fluctuation of is
|(18)|
where we assumed (a point we comment upon later). would still be very large as both and are large
because itself is typically gigantic for macroscopic . The
question is now, why are these volume-dependent large fluctuations not
observed?
Remark: In ordinary statistical mechanics extensive quantities like e.g. go with the volume, , or . In that case it is frequently reasonable to neglect fluctuations, being of order , as the scale used in our measurement devices is typically adjusted to the occurring values of the extensive variables. Regarding the Planck scale, we may however take the average of the vacuum energy to be zero, or put differently, we do not measure it with our local devices, but the fluctuations are expected to be large locally and should be detectable in principle (see also the remarks in ).
We note that a similar reasoning yields for the momentum fluctuations
|(19)|
Conclusion 4.1
On the Planck scale the hypothetical individual fluctuations must be strongly negatively or anti-correlated so that the integrated fluctuations in the volume are almost zero.
We infer that what is called for are effective microscopic screening mechanisms!
The above picture is of course quite crude but the same result would essentially follow under much weaker and more realistic assumptions as they are, for example, frequently made in (quantum) statistical mechanics (cf. ). To be specific, let be a certain (quantum) observable density like e.g. some charge, current or particle density. We normalize, for calculational convenience, its expectation value, , to zero. We assume the system to be translation invariant and the correlation function
|(20)|
to be integrable, i.e.
|(21)|
With the integral over a certain volume, , we get
|(22)|
as is finite by assumption. We can infer the following:
Conclusion 4.2
With and
|(23)|
we get
|(24)|
as in the case of complete independence of random fluctuations.
Remark: Note that and summation is replaced by integration over . The same reasoning holds of course for discrete degrees of freedom.
This Gaussian type of fluctuation can only be avoided if the correlation function displays a peculiar fine tuned (oscillatory) behavior, more precisely, it must hold that
|(25)|
Lemma 4.3
The rate of the vanishing of the above integral is encoded in the rate of vanishing of the Fourier transform, , near .
(see and and further references given there). We hence can conclude that the behavior near of is relevant for the degree of fluctuation of .
To establish this relation rigorously and also for other reasons ( is frequently not an operator function of but more singular, i.e. only an operator valued distribution) it is customary in quantum statistical mechanics and field theory to replace the sharp volume integration over by a smooth scaling function. One may take for example
|(26)|
with for and being of compact support. Instead of we use in the following
|(27)|
Remark: We note, without going into any details, that one can give numerical estimates of the difference in behavior of the two quantities. A certain disadvantage of a sharp volume cut off is that it introduces an artificial non-integrability in Fourier space as the F.Tr. of a discontinuous function cannot be ! One can show that in our case it is only in .
We get after Fourier transformation:
|(28)|
Making a variable transform we get
|(29)|
asymptotically for if
|(30)|
and vice versa. To show this we simply express as with finite and nonvanishing at .
Observation 4.4
Small or almost vanishing fluctuations in macroscopic volumes (compared to the Planck scale) can be achieved by certain covariance properties of the quantities under discussion, that is, a certain degree of vanishing of the F.Tr. of at . For example, if is the zero (charge) component of a conserved 4-current, we have typically a behavior near for space dimension . If is the -component of a conserved 2-tensor current, like e.g. the energy-momentum tensor, we have in general a behavior .
From the preceding discussion we hence can conclude that small-fluctuations in -space can obviously be achieved by fine-tuned anticorrelations in , which, nevertheless, can be of short range, i.e. integrable.
Corollary 4.5
Small fluctuations as such in imply fine-tuned anticorrelations but not necessarily correlations having a long range.
This is remarkable as we will show in the following that the
holographic principle is intimately connected with long-range
correlations of a peculiar type. This implies that it is not a
necessary prerequisite for establishing small Planck
fluctuations.
Remark: Recently Brustein et al (see for example and ) used field theoretic fluctuation results similar to our results derived in e.g. and to argue that such area-like scaling of fluctuations (occurring however in only very particular situations) may be related to the area laws of the holographic principle. We have to refrain in this letter-size format to go into more details but plan to discuss this subtle point elsewhere.
We conclude this section with providing a, as we think, instructive example taken from ordinary physics which shows how easily these strongly anticorrelated fluctuations appear even in non-relativistic physics. We take again the 3-dimensional harmonic crystal mentioned already above. We assume it to be fixed macroscopically in a definite position, so that in the language of statistical mechanics its state represent a pure phase, in other words we assume a (spontaneous) breaking of translation invariance. We concentrate in the following for convenience on the atoms lying on the x-axis, their equilibrium positions being the coordinates the lattice constant. The momentary position of the -th particle is . We know from statistical mechanics (cf. e.g. ) that the fluctuations of the microscopic particle positions are finite (in three space dimensions!), i.e.
|(31)|
for all . On the other hand we have
|(32)|
with .
The stochastic variables with play here the role of the individual length fluctuations, , in the corresponding Planck scale model. The crystal condition we assume to be implemented by (or a slightly weaker condition) which is independent of due to the assumed translation invariance. We note that there exist various possibilities to formulate such a condition but this is of no relevance for our present discussion.
We have
|(33)|
With both and independent of and roughly of the same order, i.e. being we see that, while the lhs of the equation is of order , the first sum on the rhs is of order . The third term on the rhs can be calculated as follows.
|(34)|
as by assumption. In a pure phase we have clustering of correlation functions, hence the first term on the rhs of the last equation goes to zero for large. The third term of equation (33) is therefore of order for large and is hence compensated by the fourth term.
We hence arrive at the important constraint equation
|(35)|
Conclusion 4.6
As is globally bounded, , we find that the contributions in are to a large part strongly negatively correlated in order to compensate the linear positive increase in of the first term on the rhs of equation (33) (remember that ).
Tranferring these observations to our Planck scale model, we can associate or with the momentary and averaged macroscopical length we are going to measure, with its fluctuation and the with the individual but strongly anticorrelated length fluctuations of the respective pieces of roughly Planck size. We see that an organized anticorrelation over large length scales is obviously not entirely unnatural. In the example we just studied it is connected with the occurrence of spontaneous symmetry breaking (of translation invariance), that is, a phase transition. We hence conclude that it may happen under certain circumstances that the fluctuation of a macroscopic length is of the same order as the fluctuations of its much smaller parts in contrast to what may be infered from a naive application of the central limit theorem.
5 Implications of the Holographic Principle
In the preceding section we dealt with the possibility of small or vanishing Planck scale fluctuations in macroscopic or mesoscopic regions and consequences thereof. Our analysis led to strong anticorrelation result but, as we saw, not necessarily to a long-range anticorrelation (see, however, the last example of the harmonic crystal where exactly this happens to be the case). We now add another aspect in form of the holographic principle. We employ it in the simple form typically used in various recent thought experiments. That is, for simplicity reasons, we only deal with situations where a space-like holographic bound is supposed to hold (cf. ).
As in the literature, cited above, we assume a given volume, , to be divided into or cells. We make the asumption that each cell can store a finite amount of information, in the simplest case one bit, represented by an internal state labelled by the numbers .
If these microscopic states can be independently chosen or more realistically, as in the preceding section, are only finitely or short-ranged correlated, we get an information storage capacity
|(36)|
as it prevails in ordinary physics. The holographic principle claims that on the Planck scale we have instead in certain situations a behavior
|(37)|
if is the diameter of .
In it is argued that such a behavior would naturally lead to the length-fluctuation result reported there, i.e.
|(38)|
We want to show in the following that this is, in our view, not the case and that a different scenario is more plausible.
In a first step we show that the holographic principle alone does not! imply strong negative correlations among the microscopic degrees of freedom. This property is rather the consequence of our above small-fluctuation result. If, for example, our microscopic degrees of freedom are positively but long-range correlated in , this would, on the one hand, diminish the information storage capacity (all spins or most of them are typically almost aligned in a given microscopic fluctuation pattern in ), but an averaging over such states would produce large global fluctuations proportional to (some fractional power of) . But such large fluctuations are not observed as was argued in the preceding sections.
Conclusion 5.1
The holographic principle as such entails long-range correlations among the microscopic degrees of freedom in (positive or negative ones). The small-fluctuation result, on the other hand, entails strongly negative correlations (but not necessarily of long range!). Taken together both principles entail strongly negatively correlated long-ranged fluctuations!
In or the holographic principle comes into the play by arguing that the number of degrees of freedom in the volume is on the one hand and on the other hand , with the minimal uncertainty of a length measurement of (cf. the discussion at the beginning of this paper). Ng argues that is at the same time the minimal length which can be resolved in , put differently, which can be attributed a physical meaning. He then relates the two expressions to each other as
|(39)|
and gets
|(40)|
We however provided arguments in the preceding sections that these expressions are not! logically related.
We showed above that we may have and hence in principle (neglecting interactions among the cells) an available number of degrees of freedom, , without running into a logical contradiction. The reason is that in our view the information in is not! stored in single more or less uncorrelated bits of size or possibly varying size , but rather in a strongly correlated pattern, extending over the full volume . That is to say, a configuration on the surface of can be freely chosen (so to speak), leaving us with a total of roughly different surface states, i.e. , each of which induces, due to long-ranged anti-correlations a more or less unique configuration within , extending this respective surface configuration. As to this point see also the remarks in section 7 of .
This point of view has various consequences and ramifications also for black hole physics which we only briefly mention (see the beautiful Galiean trialogue, ). Suffice it to remark that, adopting this point of view, there is no real problem in combining individual length fluctuations of roughly Planck size, , with an information storage capacity going only with the surface area of .
We further note that the unique dependence of a volume state on a corresponding surface state is not entirely unusual outside ordinary (statistical) physics. Consider, for example, the Dirichlet property employed in elliptic boundary value problems. With an elliptic partial differential operator and a configuration on the boundary, , of , there exists under fairly weak conditions a unique solution, , in , i.e. , extending smoothly to the boundary function, . If we discretize this problem we get roughly an example with , where it is understood that we label the volume states by the uniquely associated surface states.
What we have said may provide a clue as to the more hidden reasons why the holographic principle does not hold in the regime of the physics of more ordinary length and energy scales. In ordinary quantum statistical mechanics, for example, or when studying the asymptotic distribution of eigenvalues of elliptic partial differential operators in a finite volume under selfadjoint boundary condition (cf. e.g. ), the number of states below a certain energy threshold is proportional to the phase-space volume (see below). In this scenario we typically work with a fixed (Hamilton) operator, (i.e. including fixed boundary conditions, for example on ) and study the eigenvalue problem
|(41)|
with all being in principle physically admissible states.
We note that in statistical mechanics or theories of many degrees of freedom in general we have to deal with Hamiltonians, describing the interaction of many constituents (their number being typically proportional to the ordinary geometric volume). In this case does not denote the ordinary geometric volume the system is occupying but the generalized phase-space volume which is a region having a huge dimension and is rather of the order if denotes the ordinary geometric volume. The information content is then of the order (cf. e.g. ).
Statistical mechanics tells us that one can in many cases regard a subsystem, enclosed in the subvolume , as being to some extent independent of the ambient system which may be treated as a heat bath, by neglecting the usually short ranged boundary effects or, rather, incorporating them in a statistical manner. More specifically, one makes for example a random phase approximation in order to arrive at a canonical partition function with respect to the subsystem contained in (see e.g. ). In such a scenario, i.e. macroscopically excited states in the interior, the entropy is typically proportional to the geometric volume. We note that a similar behavior prevails if we study the entanglement-entropy of macroscopically excited eigenstates of a Hamiltonian (describing the interaction of many degrees of freedom) restricted to a subvolume (cf. ). That is, we can make the following observation.
Observation 5.2
In ordinary quantum statistical mechanics we study a subsystem contained in a subvolume, , by neglecting to a certain extent the different microscopic boundary states the system can occupy, or, more specifically, by taking them only into account in a statistical way in, say, the canonical partition function, while we treat the bulk Hamiltonian as a fixed operator (i.e. fixed boundary conditions). We hence regard the possible correlations between the interior of and the heat bath outside as both sufficiently weak and irregular. We assume however that the internal degrees of freedom, that is, the eigenstates of , can in principle all be excited as their energy differences are assumed to be relatively small (this latter point being important in our view). This yields a relation like .
Things however may change dramatically if the subsystem cannot really be assumed to be separated from the ambient space due to very long range correlations between interior and exterior. We now have to deal with a truely open subsystem. In that case varying boundary conditions have a strong effect on the interior of the system and can no longer be emulated in a simple statistical overall manner, quite to the contrary, in extreme situations each possible boundary state may induces a particular state in the interior.
Observation 5.3
In this latter case we have to change our working hypothesis. Phrased in the language of statistical mechanics, we are no longer allowed to deal, on the one hand, with a fixed Hamiltonian, , i.e. fixed boundary conditions together with the full sequence of its possible eigenstates, and incorporate the boundary fluctuations in the canonical partion function. Instead of that we rather may have to work with a fixed formal Hamilton operator for the interior of a given region supplemented with varying boundary conditions or, stated differently, a particular Hamiltonian for each boundary state. But it may now happen that we only see the respective ground states of this class of Hamiltonians being excited (or some few of the lowest lying of them) as the higher excited states may turn out to have a very high energy and are virtually not excited. In our Dirichlet example we thus may be allowed to take only the solutions
|(42)|
into account but now have to cover the full set of different possible boundary conditions (or, rather, a countable set of typical ones).
Such a scenario would lead to an area-like behavior of entropy or
information content.
Remark: We note that in supersymmetry breaking and other model theories it is sometimes argued that the super-partners or higher excited modes cannot be seen at ordinary energies due to their supposed huge masses.
6 Conclusion
We want to conclude this paper with a comment concerning seemingly related findings in ordinary physics described by the notion of entanglement-entropy (see and the references given there). We already mentioned that macroscopically excited eigenstates of Hamiltonians describing the interaction of many degrees of freedom lead in the generic case to partial states on subvolumes having an entropy which is proportional to the volume while groundstates, away from criticallity, that is in the regime of short-range correlations, in the general case have an entanglement-entropy which goes with the area of the boundary of the subvolume (note that there exist examples, i.e. groundstates of product form, where it happens to be zero).
The holographic principle, on the other hand, deals with the maximally possible entropy or information storage capacity of a region. That means, we have to include also the highly excited states in our considerations. But our above remark shows that in ordinary physics these lead usually to a volume-behavior of entanglement-entropy. Therefore we reach the following conclusion.
Conclusion 6.1
The area law of the holographic principle cannot be understood within the context of ordinary (statistical) physics but needs prerequisites as described in the preceding sections, thus leading to a kind of generalized statistical mechanics. | https://www.arxiv-vanity.com/papers/gr-qc/0505019/ |
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://hdl.handle.net/10356/15272
|Title:||Dynamics between stock price and exchange rates in Australia, Canada and New Zealand.||Authors:||Lim, Chee Li.
|
Ng, Pei Wen.
|Keywords:||DRNTU::Business::Finance::Equity||Issue Date:||2009||Abstract:||Our study examines the long and short run relationships between stock market performances and exchange rates of three commodity-export dependent countries namely Australia, Canada and New Zealand, after their adoption of a floating exchange rate. This provides an additional outlook and further insights into the contending issue of the presence of any causal relationship between foreign exchange markets and stock markets. We investigate the existence and direction of the causal relationship between stock prices and exchange rates, using daily data that spans across three normal periods and two crisis periods, namely the 1987 and 1997 financial crisis. Employing Augmented Dickey-Fuller test, cointegrating VAR test and Granger Causality test, our study ascertained a positive causality between the two variables. A long-run relationship was found to be absent for both Australia and Canada but apparent for New Zealand. The direction of causality returned a spectrum of varying results, but Australia and New Zealand generally purported the portfolio balance theory.||URI:||http://hdl.handle.net/10356/15272||Rights:||Nanyang Technological University||Fulltext Permission:||restricted||Fulltext Availability:||With Fulltext|
|Appears in Collections:||NBS Student Reports (FYP/IA/PA/PI)|
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Items in DR-NTU are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated. | https://dr.ntu.edu.sg/handle/10356/15272 |
Validity of a single lactate measure to predict fixed lactate thresholds in athletes.
This study aimed to validate the use of a single blood lactate concentration measure taken following a 12 km h-1 running stage (BLC12) to predict and monitor fixed blood lactate concentration (FBLC) thresholds. Three complementary studies were undertaken. Study I: the relationships between BLC12 and the running speeds at FBLC of 3 mmol L-1 (S3mM) and 4 mmol L-1 (S4mM) measured during a multistage running field test were examined in 136 elite athletes. Study II: data from 30 athletes tested one year apart were used to test the predictive capacity of the equations obtained in Study I. Study III: 80 athletes were tested before and after an intensified training period to examine whether training-induced changes in FBLC thresholds could be predicted and monitored by BLC12. Study I: BLC12 was significantly (P < 0.001) and inversely related to S3mM (R2 = 0.89) and S4mM (R2 = 0.95). Study II: prediction models yielded robust correlations between the estimated and measured FBLC thresholds (r = 0.94-0.99; P < 0.001). Study III: estimated changes predicted actual training-induced changes in FBLC thresholds (r = 0.81-0.91; P < 0.001). This study gives empirical support to use a single lactate measure during a sub-maximal running field test as a simple, low-cost and practical alternative to FBLC thresholds in athletes.
| |
At KMWorld Connect 2020, Art Murray, CEO the consultancy Applied Knowledge Sciences, Inc., reflected on the need to combine human and machine intelligence in ways that result in more efficient and effective problem identification, prevention, and resolution.
Murray's presentation, titled "How Did We Miss That? Detecting and Responding to Weak Signals at the Working Level," was part of the AI in action session, in which Allison Bushell, director, analytics, and Fang Chen, principal analytics consultant, Confirmit, also presented.
Common problems with complex project management, said Murray, are that they are
As part of his talk on project intelligence, Murray used transcripts made publicly available by Boeing about its 737 MAX following two fatal crashes and subsequent grounding (it has since been approved by the FAA to fly again).
Using the discourse surrounding the aircraft for a text and sentiment analysis study, Murray considered what analytics software was able to identify in the project discussions versus what three experts uncovered. The goal was to identify lessons that may be applicable to other situations in order to generate recommendations and solutions for the use of text analytics.
Murray's slides from the presentation are available now on the KMWorld Connect 2020 website and a replay of his talk will be made available in the next few days.
According to Murray, traditional project management tends to be rearview mirror-oriented. Large volumes of data are often filtered, summarized, and time-lagged, with little insight into the many small events at the activity level that collectively impact overall performance.
Murray walked attendees through elements of the machine-aided text analysis, discussing where the red flags were.
The ability to time-tag comments is important in analysis, he noted. If you detect signals early enough, you can make changes faster and save time and money, said Murray.
In projects, correcting errors and re-work can reach up to 80% or more of the total lifecycle cost of a system. By combining human and machine intelligence, organizations can achieve more efficient and effective problem identification, prevention, and resolution.
Just as important as being able to pick up cues from words in text is being able to identify a lack of specific words being mentioned, which can also in itself be a red flag. While machines make it possible to go through much more text than humans would be able to cover, machines can also miss sarcasm and external references that humans would understand and pick up on. Humans are also more adept at understanding misalignment of team objectives and failure to take action.
In conclusion, said Murray:
Semantically-rich text analytics is difficult to achieve
Current tools still don’t scale well computationally for large volumes of unstructured text
Humans:
Machines:
Ultimately, Murray said, what is needed are automated text analytics and also human analysis for sense-making, as well as governance and oversight, to manage processes. | https://www.kmworld.com/Articles/News/News/Improving-project-management-with-AI-and-analytics-at-KMWorld-Connect-2020-144000.aspx |
The ETH Zurich and the Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest have started the GEodata Openness Initiative for Development and Economic Advancement in ROmania (GEOIDEA.RO) in January 2013.
Because everything is connected through location, absolute or relative, the understanding of the geospatial dimension of elements of the environment, natural or man-made, and grasping the knowledge it unfolds is, without any doubt, one of the most important keys to better informed decisions. Many data users point to the lack of a more integrated and consistent framework for the dissemination and licensing of government geodata as inimical to the goal of promoting its wider use and benefit.
The main objective of the GEOIDEA.RO project is to improve the scientific basis for open geodata model adoption in Romania. The following actions are foreseen to achieve the GEOIDEA.RO goals:
- Rewiew of the international strategies and legislations on open data
- Analysis of the impact of adopting open geodata access policies in Romania
- Development of innovative technologies and tools for geodata publishing and retrieval
- Exploration of instruments and methods that can lower the cost of open geodata publication
- Dissemination of the project findings
Partners
Institute of Cartography and Geoinformation (IKG) at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ), Switzerland
The former Institute of Cartography was founded in 1925 by Professor Eduard Imhof, one of the main founders of modern academic cartography. Traditionally, research has focused on topographic cartography (relief representation), thematic cartography, and atlas cartography (school atlases, national atlases). These domains are still considered the main fields of application, but adapted to new demands, media and technologies. In 2011, with the establishment of the new chair of Geoinformation Engineering, the scope of activities of the institute was expanded and its name was adapted.
In cartography, under the leadership of Prof. Hurni, the institute strives to maintain its leading position by exploiting and further developing cartographic knowledge and adapting it to new interactive technologies and application domains.
Groundwater Engineering Research Center (CCIAS) at the Technical University of Civil Engineering of Bucharest (UTCB), Romania
Research at CCIAS (the Groundwater Engineering Research Centre focuses on the characterization of permeable media using hydraulic and hydrochemical data and on the human impact on groundwater.
Applications include groundwater resources evaluation, urban groundwater, groundwater-infrastructure interaction, aquifer management, vulnerability assessment, ground pollution control, underground waste storage, and vadose zone analysis. Methods used are both regional and local in scale, of a quantitative nature, using flow and contaminant transport modeling. One part of the group develops geospatial data analysis and representation techniques and another one part works in data acquisition.
Supporting Institutions
Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)
Every year the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) supports more than 8,000 scientists. It is Switzerland’s foremost institution in the promotion of scientific research.By distributing public research money based on a competitive system, the SNSF contributes to the high quality of Swiss research. More on http://www.snf.ch .
UEFISCDI
UEFISCDI(Executive Unit for Financing Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation) is a public institution with legal personality, subordinated to the Ministry of Education, Research, Youth and Sports (MECTS) and functional MECTS advisory councils with responsibilities in higher education , scientific research, development and innovation. More on http://uefiscdi.gov.ro .
Swiss-Romanian Cooperation Programme
The Swiss Confedearion supports Romania until 2014in the framework of the Swiss contribution to states that joined the European Union on 1st May 2004 and 1st January 2007 respectively. The overall goal of the Swiss contribution is to reduce economic and social disparities within the enlarged European Union. More on http://www.swiss-contribution.ro. | http://geoidea.ro/en/en_about.html |
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