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Major tech companies struggle to plug holes in logging software SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Some of the world´s largest technology companies are still struggling to make their products safe from a gaping vulnerability in common logging software a week after hackers began trying to exploit it. Cisco Systems, IBM, VMware and Splunk were among the companies with multiple pieces of flawed software being used by customers on Thursday without available patches for the Log4j vulnerability, according to a running tally published by the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Logging software is ubiquitous software that tracks activity such as site visits, clicks and chats. The company efforts underscore the wide reach of the flaw found inside open-source software, described by officials and researchers as the worst flaw they have seen in years. A researcher for Chinese tech company Alibaba warned the nonprofit Apache Software Foundation early this month that Log4j would not just keep track of chats or clicks, but also follow links to outside sites, which could let a hacker take control of the server. Apache rushed out a fix for the program. But thousands of other programs use the free logger, and those responsible for them must prepare and distribute their own patches to prevent takeovers. That includes other free software, which is maintained by volunteers, as well as programs from companies big and small, some of which have engineers working around the clock. "Lots of vendors are without security patches for this vulnerability," said security threat analyst Kevin Beaumont, who is helping compile the list for CISA. "Software vendors need to have better, and public, inventories around open-source software usage so it is easier to assess risk - both for themselves and their customers." Some companies, including Cisco, are updating guidance multiple times daily with confirmation of vulnerabilities, available patches or strategies for mitigating or detecting intrusions when they occur. As of Thursday, the CISA list included about 20 Cisco products that were vulnerable to attack without a patch available, including Cisco WebEx Meetings Server and Cisco Umbrella, a cloud security product. But many more were listed as "under investigation" to see if they were vulnerable as well. "Cisco has investigated over 200 products and approximately 130 are not vulnerable," a company spokesperson said. "Many affected products have dates available for software patches." VMware is steadily updating an advisory on its site with dozens of impacted products, many with critical vulnerabilities and "patch pending." Some of those without a patch have workarounds to mitigate the holes. Splunk has a similar list, along with tips for hunting for hackers trying to abuse the flaw. IBM listed nonvulnerable products but said it "does not confirm or otherwise disclose vulnerabilities externally, even to individual customers, until a fix or remediation is available." Though Microsoft, Mandiant and CrowdStrike have all said they see nation-state attackers from better-equipped U.S. adversaries probing for the Log4j flaw, CISA officials said Wednesday they had not confirmed any successful government-backed attacks or any intrusions inside U.S. government equipment. (Reporting by Joseph Menn; Editing by Dan Grebler)
Sunyu performs all its activities professionally, independently, and impartially. Sunyu operates honestly and does not tolerate any deviation from its approved methods and procedures. All Sunyu employees must conform to the laws and regulations of the countries in which they operate and must fulfill their obligations reliably. High business ethics and integrity ensure our credibility. Sunyu places the utmost importance on protecting the privacy of our customers, employees, and other associated individuals and companies, and the confidentiality of their information. We protect confidential information concerning the activities of our clients, including information that might cause a client to lose a competitive advantage, trade secrets, financial and other information that has not been publicly disclosed, employee personal information, and information within the framework of "confidentiality agreements" enacted with clients. We use this information only for the purposes of service provision, and share this information only with relevant authorized parties. Sunyu avoids situations and relationships that involve a conflict of interest with any related entity in which Sunyu has a financial or commercial interest and to which it is required to provide services.	http://sunyu.com/m01_7.asp
Author(s):Surbi Ver,Z Rizvi Employee Confidentiality FAQs Whether you have just recently joined or have been working for your employer for a while, it is important that you understand a few important matters relating to your workplace, your rights and obligations to the information you receive, use and share. At your workplace, you tend to receive, use and share information on a day-to-day basis. This information may be generic, a gossip over lunch, or overheard in the elevator cabin. However, when information that is private, and confidential and shared without permission, it may affect the person disclosing the information, the person receiving the same and the person or entity to whom such information relates. Such private or confidential information may involve disclosure of financial, personal or general business information and records such as customer or client database. Some may argue that signing confidentiality agreements do not prevent employees from doing anything the law does not already restrict them from doing. While this may be true to some extent, to ensure that confidential information does not get compromised confidentiality agreements to play a major role in protecting proprietary and privileged information. This FAQ has been written to serve as the guide for employers and employees to help them understand key issues surrounding confidentiality aspects they are bound by, legal terminologies, implications in the event of a breach, and the term for which such confidentiality applies. 1. What is Intellectual Property? What does it mean? Simply put, intellectual property is imagination made real. Intellectual property (also generally referred to as IP) allows people to own the work they create. It is a work or invention that is the result of creativity, such as a manuscript or a design, to which one has rights and for which one may apply for patents, trademark, copyrights, trade secrets, etc. IP is an asset just like property, car, gold, etc. 2. Okay... I get that, now what are patents, trademarks, and copyrights? A patent is a form of IP. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a government to an inventor for a certain period of time, in exchange for the public disclosure of the invention. Patents are only issued for inventions where the inventor creates a unique or novel device, method composition or process. A trademark is a brand name. It is the distinctive sign or indicator used by companies to help customers identify a product or service. A company’s logo, for instance, is a trademark. Copyrights – In simplest terms, whenever you write a poem or story or even a paper for your class, or a drawing or other artwork, you automatically own the copyright to it. Trade secrets – secrets or confidentiality aspects of any business are trade secrets. 3. Wait... Why am I being made to read all this? During your tenure with the company, you may have had the opportunity to gain access to material documents, software, brochures, databases, images, media, information relating to company’s customers, suppliers, service providers, ideas, technical information such as know-how, models, drawings, manuals, techniques and so on. These works were originated in and for the employer. Your employer is the owner of all IP and confidential information. These IP and confidential information is a valuable, special and unique asset of your employer and access to this information and knowledge thereof was shared with you so that you could perform your work. Just like you cannot use someone else’s asset, you cannot use employer’s asset upon termination. 4. Is it My Employer’s Policy or the UAE’s law that requires me to observe this confidentiality? Every business makes the investment in its IP and in gathering all the confidential information. Your employer may have a policy in place requiring every employee to observe the confidentiality provisions in strict conformity. Speaking of the law of the United Arab Emirates please be advised that provision (v) to Article 905 of the UAE Civil Transactions Law sets out that every employee must “refrain from disclosing the industrial and trade secrets of the employer even after expiry of the contract as required by the agreement or custom.” Article 379 of the UAE Penal Code criminalizes the act of disclosing the trade secrets. It is stated “Punishment by detention for a period of not less than one year and by a fine of not less than twenty thousand Dirhams or by either of these two penalties, shall apply to anyone who is entrusted with a secret by virtue of his profession, trade, position, or art and who discloses it in cases other than those lawfully permitted, or if he uses such a secret for his own private benefit or for the benefit of another person, unless the person concerned permits the disclosure or use of such a secret.” Article 120 of the UAE Labour Law (Part 6) allows employers to terminate services of employees if the employee reveals and secrets of the establishment in which he was employed. 5. Okay, so what’s best for me to do if I’m leaving my current employment? To buy peace of mind, you should not disclose any information, secret, customer or supplier list, databases, know-how, models, drawings, techniques from any third party. You should not copy, disseminate, forward, store (physically or on any media) any information pertaining to the company or any models, prototypes, patterns, samples, schematics, experimental or test data, reports, drawings, plans, specifications, photographs, collections of information, manuals and any other documents. You should sign a non-disclosure agreement to protect your interests. 6. Wait…What if I’m joining a competitor..? If your employer has allowed you to work for a competitor, you carry a risk of divulging confidential information. You have to exercise a higher degree of care and caution and at all times ensure that you do not in any manner whatsoever disclose any information pertaining to your employer. This is important. Your employer may (in its discretion and/or in the interest of its management) refuse you to work for a competitor.
Regional Clinic provides exceptional care for patients with kidney disease at our six Gadsden offices and throughout local area hospitals. In addition to office and hospital care, Regional Clinic physicians manage the dialysis treatments of our patients at the dialysis centers. We provide comprehensive diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive care for full spectrum of Kidney related health issues. Regional Clinic has grown to meet the needs of patients in the greater northwest area. We have office locations at Gadsden, Centre, Pell City, Boaz, Guntersville and Fort Payne. The physicians, nurse practitioners, and staff at Regional Clinic are committed to helping our patients achieve and maintain sound kidney health. We look forward to being part of your healthcare team. Welcome to our Nephrology practice! Our team of highly trained and experienced Nephrology specialists is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to our patients. Our specialists are board-certified and have years of experience in the field of Nephrology, with a deep understanding of the complex processes involved in kidney function and disease. We offer a wide range of services, including diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases and conditions, dialysis management, and kidney transplant evaluation and care. We understand that living with kidney disease can be challenging, and we are here to support our patients every step of the way. We take a personalized approach to care, and work closely with our patients to develop treatment plans that are tailored to their unique needs and goals. We believe in the importance of patient education and strive to empower our patients to take an active role in their own care. Our team is dedicated to providing the highest level of care to our patients. We have office locations in Gadsden, Centre, Pell City, Boaz, Guntersville, and Fort Payne, and we are committed to meeting the needs of patients throughout the greater northeast area of Alabama. We are proud to be a part of a multispecialty practice, which allows us to offer our patients comprehensive care and easy access to a wide range of medical services. Our team is dedicated to delivering the highest level of care and service to our patients, and we look forward to working with you to improve your health and quality of life. Meet Our Team We offer treatment and prevention of the following conditions at Regional Clinic:	https://regionalclinic.org/nephrology/
What does a therapeutic social skills D&D group look like? Up to six clients (“players”) sit around a table or video conference call, roleplaying a fantasy hero of their own design. A facilitator, called a Game Master, crafts a story where the players are the protagonists, responding to the events and people of the world around them. Through their decisions, players shape the story. But, as in real life, not all situations are in their control. In order to succeed, players must collaborate with each other and navigate the environments and antagonists presented by the Game Master. And outcomes are often determined by the randomness of dice rolls—which calls on players to adapt to situations that don’t always go as planned. With Dragon Haven, a therapeutic game master works with clients to identify personal social skills goals that they want to develop, and then uses the storytelling component of the game to practice those skills with other characters and apply them during interactions with other players.	https://www.dragonhaven.org/services
Previous research we undertook showed that racism towards Indigenous students negatively affected school attendance. In further research we have found not only attendance but wider school outcomes are negatively affected when Indigenous Australians experience racism at school. Discrepancies between Indigenous and non-Indigenous education outcomes persist despite significant government attention and investment. Since 2008, Australia’s Indigenous Affairs policy platform has been driven by eight targets related to “Closing the Gap”. While the headline target is eliminating disparities in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians “within a generation” (around 2031), four of the eight targets are education-focused. These targets cover early childhood education; school attendance (a new target introduced by the Coalition government); literacy and numeracy; and school completion. A range of government-funded programs have been implemented with the aim of achieving these targets. These include the School Enrolment and Attendance Measure, the Remote School Attendance Strategy and the Cape York Welfare Reform Trial. In addition, teaching standards require teachers to implement strategies for teaching Indigenous students and to promote reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Many other more locally driven initiatives have also attempted to encourage and support Indigenous students to attend school. These include Learning on Country in remote areas and the Aspiration Initiative in more urban and regional parts of the country. These and other initiatives are clearly well intentioned. Many are based on solid evidence and evaluations. Despite this, we have been far from successful in achieving our goals for Indigenous education. The early childhood education target was not met. We are not on track to achieve the literacy and numeracy targets. This may be in part because Indigenous education policy, at least at the national level, is mostly silent on the difficult issue of racism and discrimination. Our research shows the potential effect of an Indigenous child or his/her family experiencing racism, discrimination, prejudice, bullying or unfair treatment due to their Indigenous status between the ages of 5 and 9. Specifically, we use data from the Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children – also known as Footprints in Time. We use carer-reported measures of racism or discrimination. Although potentially missing experiences not told to the carer by the child, almost half of the sample reported at least one of the negative experienced outlined above. Using this data, what we show is that by age 10 those who did have such an experience have substantially worse math scores and perceptions of their own academic ability than those who didn’t. The magnitude of the differences is quite large. The difference between those who did and did not experience at least one of these types of racism is equal to more than one-third of a standard deviation for math scores and one-fifth of a standard deviation for the index of self-perception. To put this in perspective, around 70% of the sample fall within one standard deviation of the mean value. So this implies very large associations. These results hold even after adjusting for gender, age, remoteness, carer education, household finances and household mobility prior to the discrimination occurring. Findings on other outcomes such as cultural identity and reading are less strong due to small sample sizes, but broadly suggest experiences of racism also have negative impacts on these. According to the Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children data, racial discrimination and bullying are frequent experiences for Indigenous adults and children. The substantial impact of such racism on child health and wellbeing is well documented nationally and internationally. This includes specific studies among Australian Indigenous children and youth. The new findings contribute to the mounting evidence on the lasting, cross-generational harmful impacts of racism on the health, education and socio-economic wellbeing of individuals and societies. These findings, and our previous work on school attendance, strengthen evidence that racism has a direct, negative impact on a range of education outcomes for Indigenous children. Reducing racism experiences and countering their harmful effects are thus essential priorities if targets of closing gaps in academic outcomes for Indigenous and non-Indigenous students are to be achieved. State, territory and federal governments recently agreed to the changes recommended in the review of the national curriculum. This document determines what is taught about Aboriginal history, culture and people. The review’s explicit reduction in the requirement to teach Aboriginal culture, people and history as a cross-curriculum priority, as well as decreased focus on intercultural exchange via Reconciliation Action Week, NAIDOC Week and Harmony Day, are problematic. We should not overstate the potential for the school curriculum and school events to change attitudes. Much of what shapes attitudes happens outside the school gate. But these programs do support intercultural understanding. Reducing support for them potentially has negative consequences for academic achievement and other health and social outcomes for Indigenous children. The curriculum changes also have the potential to limit the capacity of non-Indigenous children to develop the intercultural skills required to navigate an increasingly diverse world and to promote a society free of racial discrimination and exclusion. Our results suggest that experiences of racism are pervasive and pernicious. Policies should be evaluated against the extent to which they reduce experiences of racism and discrimination. This applies not just for Indigenous children, but for all children in our modern Australian society.	https://realnewsone.com/2015/09/29/racism-hits-indigenous-students-attendance-and-grades/
The Nebraska Correctional Youth Facility (NCYF) is a male correctional facility designed for youthful offenders adjudicated as adults who range in age from early adolescence to age 21 years, 10 months. NCYF is a maximum, medium and minimum security facility. The buildings encompass approximately 54,000 square feet with a construction cost of approximately $10.8 million. NCYF has been accredited by the American Correctional Association (ACA) since 2000. Custody and Unit Management are major operational areas with a focus on management, programming and discipline that protects staff, inmates and the public. Inmates have the opportunity to participate in a variety of recreational activities seven days a week. Youthful offenders may apply to participate in community custody programs to include work detail, work release or education release. All male offenders sentenced by county and district courts of the state of Nebraska are received at the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center (DEC) in Lincoln. At DEC, individuals are assigned an inmate number, photographed, fingerprinted and provide a DNA sample. All DEC intake procedures apply upon arrival. After completion of DEC intake activities, youthful offenders are immediately transferred to NCYF. Upon arrival at NCYF, the youthful offender completes additional in-processing documents, receives an initial medical screening, assigned a room, receives his clothing and bedding, and any personal property brought with him is inventoried. Following a 30-day orientation period, individuals are placed in general population. The NCYF is located at 2610 North 20th Street, East, Omaha, NE 68110. From I-80 take Interstate 480 East to Highway 75 North to the Cuming Street Exit (Exit 2C). Turn right (east) onto Cuming Street. Cuming Street turns into Abbott Drive. Remain on Abbott Drive heading north for approximately 2 miles. Stay in the right hand lane. At the Sleep Inn turn right onto Avenue H heading east. Turn onto 20th Street (north) for the NCYF entrance. NDCS utilizes a pre-registration process for visitation in all facilities. All visits must be scheduled at least seven days in advance. To select a time and date for visitation, please click the button above to complete the online form. BEFORE YOU BEGIN – Be sure to review the following guidelines: Wearing of masks is voluntary. Up to four adult visitors and a reasonable number of children are allowed at each visit, per inmate If additional adults are attending the same visitation session, you need only complete one registration form. However, be sure to list the full names of all other visitors and include all of the necessary contact information (phone & email) for each person. Children of any age are permitted, when accompanied by at least one adult. Children’s names should also be included on the form. *** NOTE: You will want to arrive prior to your scheduled visitation time to allow for processing into the facility. Questions pertaining to any of the information above can be directed to the facility. Contact information is available on this page. To view a PDF version of this schedule, click here: NCYF Visiting Schedule Incarcerated persons at the Nebraska Correctional Youth Facility are limited to one visit per week. Visits may be scheduled in advance, as long as they do not exceed the quota mentioned above. To view a PDF version of this schedule, click here: NCYF Virtual Visiting Schedule Incarcerated persons at the Nebraska Correctional Youth Facility are limited to 12 virtual visits per month. Individuals will be notified via email of the virtual visit once it has been approved. Requests will be granted in the order received. The link below will take you to visiting procedures that apply to this facility. Visiting Procedures Below is a brief record of every available program and service provided by this correctional facility. If it there is any additional facility-specific information pertaining to these programs and services, it will be found under the "Additional Information" tab. A cognitive behavioral mindfulness based approach to anger managment. Need Addressed: Clinical Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment that helps participants develop mindfulness-based coping skills to decrease suicidal and self-harming behaviors. Needs Addressed: Mental Health Aggression Replacement Therapy (ART) promotes the development of pro-social behavior and the reduction of violent behavior in chronically aggressive adolescents. Needs Addressed: Mental Health, aggression. Anger Management High Risk/Need: This treatment provides instruction and practice on basic anger control strategies in a group facilitated by clinicians. Needs Addressed: Attitudes; behavior; aggression, mental health A cognitive behavioral/schema focused/mindfulness based aftercare treatment group to promote mastery of skills necessary for pro-social living. Need addressed: mental health This group teaches a mindfulness based, schema focused approach to parenting based on principles of health human development. Need addressed: parenting Provides general, individual therapy. Need addressed: Mental Health. This group applies a cognitive behavioral, schema focused and mindfulness baed approach to increasing skills/awareness applicable to pro-social living. Need addressed: clinical Treatment services for individuals who would benefit from some treatment in order to achieve sobriety without needing a higher level of treatment. It is also beneficial for continued support as a step down from residential treatment. Needs addressed: Drugs and Alcohol Abuse. This group promotes self-awareness, teaches emotional regulation skills, and promotes increased emotional intelligence. Need addressd: Clinical Drug and alcohol treatment that is on the treatment continuum beneath residential. Needs addressed: Substance abuse This program emphasizes participant accountability and understanding of how the participant's behavior has impacted the victim. Needs addressed: Pro-social; attitudes/behavior Participants explore the effects of trauma and how it has impacted their lives. Needs addressed: Attitude/behavior A trauma informed mail based correspondence program which explores entrepreneurship, healthy relationships, leadership, criminal thinking, employment, purposeful living, reentry, anger management, character development, victim awareness, persevering, and becoming the solution. Needs addressed: Attitudes/behavior Developed by FranklinCovey in cooperation with the Colorado Department of Corrections, 7 Habits on the Inside uses the principles of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, tailored for the incarcerated individual. The program seeks to empower individuals to manage their own lives in such a way as to be successful in prison and in the community and using the principles of integrity, proactivity, and other key skills. (12 weeks) Needs Addressed: Attitudes/Behavior; Family; Employment; Life Skills This program, hosted by the Community Justice Center, emphasizes the importance of repairing harm caused by criminal behavior. Need addressed: Pro-social; attitudes/behavior. This program increases a participant's understanding of the harm/damages they caused their victims, communities and themselves. The program also provides an important life skill module that teaches how to become emotionally proficient, which translates into better decision making and reduced conflicts. Needs Addressed: Attitudes; behavior, Life skills. Participants in Domesti-PUPS train dogs to become service animals for persons with disabilities, pet therapy programs, classroom dogs and education programs. Needs addressed: Pro-social, attitude, behavior MRT is an evidence-based, cognitive behavioral intervention which leads to enhanced moral reasoning, better decision making and more appropriate behavior. Needs addressed: Attitudes, behavior. Thinking for a Change is a high-level cognitive behavioral program developed by the National Institute of Corrections. The program uses role playing to concentrate on changing the criminogenic thinking of offenders. Needs addressed: Attitudes; behavior; family; friends; aggression. College courses are offered through various universities/colleges and correspondence courses. Currently, college classes are provided by grant funded providers and/or at the individual's own expense. Needs Addressed: Education; employment; life skills; pro-social. Provides college level education. Need addressed: Education/employment English as a second language (ESL) provides individuals with literacy support before Adult Basic Education Needs addressed: Education; life skills Opportunity to pursue college coursework through individual and family support. Need addressed: Education, employment. NDCS operates its own school district with a high school. Students of all ages may attend high school classes. Individuals under 22 who have not graduated from high school are required to be in school. Students over 22 need to go through an application process. Need addressed: Education. Builds basic skills for GED testing, college readiness and/or skill development. Need Addressed: Education Assists students prepare for taking the high school equivalency test (GED). Addresses Need Area: Education Participants select a book to read, and come together weekly with Omaha Public Library to discuss the book and how it relates to real life situations. A support and mental health awareness group. Needs: Support AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) is an organization which encourages members to read, and listen at meetings using the program as an opportunity to face the truth and become accountable for their addiction to alcohol. Need Addressed: Support for addiction and prosocial activity On a monthly basis, NCYF's art class allows inmates to express their feelings and emotions through art. A theme is given and art supplies are provided. Need addressed: Pro-social Helps individuals recover from mental illness, addiction, or trauma with the assistance fo someone who has similar life experiences. Needs addressed: Attitudes/Behavior; Prosocial Activities Lessons teach a skill that takes discipline and persistence. Need addressed: Pro-social/outside interest. Incarcerated individuals are partnered with a community mentor where they are given advice and do an activity together on a weekly basis. The mentors assist in preparing them for their roles as productive citizens in the areas of jobs, housing, family and values. Need addressed: Pro-social; support; life skills Narcotics Anonymous encourages its members to attend meetings, read and listen to speakers to face the truth and be accountable for their addictions. Need addressed: Drug addiction support; pro-social/outside interest. There are a variety of workshops including birth control, nutrition, date abuse, bullying, gender boxes, hygiene. Need addressed prosocial and health. A variety of activities that encourage health pastimes are offered at all facilities. Please check with recreational specialists for more information. Needs addressed: Pro-social/outside interest; health. Variety of classes, workshops and religious services designed to help inmates with support and spiritual development. Needs addressed: Pro-social, support. Clients develop comprehensive reentry plans that include housing/transitional living, employment/education, transportation, ID credentials, medical/mental and behavioral health treatment. Need addressed: Reentry. This program is designed to prepare and provide resources to participants for presentation with the parole board. Need addressed: Reentry Social workers provide assistance in obtaining and completing Social Security applications to individuals who qualify and are 90 days from discharge, post-release supervision or parole. Need addressed: Re-entry for those who may qualify for Social Security benefits due to age or disability. Reentry specialists work with individuals to ensure a reentry plan is completed. The plan allows for a smooth transition to the community and focuses on housing, transportation, employment, education, and medical/mental health services as needed. Need addressed: Re-entry Provided on an as-needed basis, clinicians are available to assist individuals in a mental health crisis. Needs Addressed: Mental health. Licensed, clinical therapists provide one-on-one or group therapy sessions as needed. Risk Assessments and Psychological Evaluations provide diagnosis clarification, intelligence testing and Dementia screening. Need addressed: Mental Health; education. Transition Services are available to those transitioning to or from general population or protective management. Mental Health professionals may assists with these services. Need Addressed: Mental Health On-call Skilled Nursing Facilities manage crises dealing with medical emergencies, behavioral issues and suicide watches. Needs addressed: Health and mental health. See clinical programs list for more details. Introduction to Psychotherapy for those who may want or need an idea of what is involved in mental behavioral health programming. Social workers provide assistance to individuals with high medical/mental health needs to obtain transitional living, assisted living or skilled nursing care, as needed. Needs addressed: Re-entry Social workers coordinate with a variety of community providers and agencies for mental health services, substance abuse treatment and medical services. Providers include the Veteran's Administration, DHHS, treatment agencies, private practice and non-profit organizations. Needs Addressed: Housing, medical, mental health, basic needs, re-entry. Social workers assist individuals with high medical/mental health needs to find clothing resources, apply for benefits or general assistance and other life needs. Needs addressed: Social work services. Specialized Population Served offers services for inmates with mental illness or serious chronic medical conditions that are high risk and multi-needs. Needs addressed: Health; mental health Social workers assist individuals with high medical needs to set appointments for medication management, healthcare and provide resources to obtain medical insurance upon release: Needs addressed: Health, mental health, life skills, re-entry. Helps individuals identify a specific career path; learn professional and personal skills to assist them in getting a job. Need addressed: Employment Builds leadership skills through communication. Needs addressed: Attitudes/behavior, employment. Life skills and mentoring program Needs addressed: Employment, reentry family Helps participants learn to make better choices and examine thinking patterns, preparing them to take advantage of opportunities in prison that will help them succeed. Needs addressed: Attitudes, behavior. Certificate program utilizing tablets for improvement in academics and job training. Need addressed: Education. employment The Omaha Public Library provides resume classes to help incarcerated individuals prepare for employment searches and interviews. Need addressed: Employment; vocational Life skills. Helps participants develop a resume, prepare for interviews and work on job skills. Need area addressed: Employment The class is designed to teach participants the importance of appearance and grooming. Need addressed: Lifeskill Participants are provided with nutrition and fitness training. Need addressed: Life skills In addition to the Special Purpose High School courses, GED, and college classes, NCYF offers programs in the following areas: Congratulations to our NDCS team members who received the Excellence in Leadership recognition from Governor Pete Ricketts. This award recognizes teammates whose job performance has exceeded the highest standards and contributed to the overall effectiveness of the agency. We are grateful for their many contributions and the difference they make! #NDCSTeammatesRead more Now hiring Dentists and Dental Assistants! Great benefits, wages based upon experience, +$3 per hour facility differential. Check individual job listings for more details: https://bit.ly/3eWMZYw Apply for a job, stay for a career. #NDCSjobs #Dentists #DentalAssistants Disclaimer: Not all NDCS facility locations might have openings for this specific classification, check our website regularly for updates!Read more Today is the day to take your career to the next level. Apply for a job, stay for a career. Offering up to $5,000 in Hiring Bonuses* for RNs, LPNs, and Staff Care Technicians. Nurses $23-32/hr \| +$3/hr differential \| shift differentials \| commuter bonus* and so much more! Check out https://bit.ly/3VJsDCQ #NDCSjobs #applyforajob #stayforacareer ** Eligibility of hiring bonus is dependent upon position and facility location, and will be discussed during initial offer Tecumseh State Correctional Institution only has monthly commuter bonuses! Disclaimer: Not all NDCS facility...Read more Do you desire to make a difference in the field of mental health? NDCS has various career opportunities for those looking to use their skill sets to positively change lives. We have openings for Behavior Health Practitioner, Psychiatrist and Clinical Psychologist. Learn more about these opportunities: https://bit.ly/3EBMe1I #CareerConnection #mentalhealthmatters *Disclaimer: Not all NDCS facility locations might have openings for this specific classification. Check our website regularly for updates!Read more It was a full house Wednesday, as NDCS teammates gathered for the agency’s annual awards ceremony. More than 50 team members were honored for outstanding service to NDCS and the state. These award winners set the bar high and are an inspiration to many around them! In the weeks to come, we will be highlighting each award winner. We are honored to have amazing talent among our ranks. Please help us celebrate the achievements of all our 2022 award winners. #NDCSAnnualAwards #NDCSEventsRead more It’s true that books have the power to change lives. Thanks to a donation from the Omaha-based Malcolm X Memorial Foundation, 96 copies of “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” will be added to the libraries of NDCS facilities. Director Scott Frakes and Acting Programs Administrator Philana Blakely welcomed the books on behalf of the department. Spurred by the recent decision to induct Malcolm X into the Nebraska Hall of Fame, the gift of these books gives the population greater access to read about and learn from Malcolm’s life. Thank you to the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation for your generous donation! #...Read more Do you have food service experience or maybe a background in culinary arts? How would you like to take your career to the next level? Food Service Specialist Starting at $15.48/HR + $3/HR Diff = $18.48/HR + $2,000 Hiring Bonus! Manage, coordinate, and train the inmate population in safe food handling practices to prepare, cook/bake, and serve food. Join our Food Service team today! https://bit.ly/2EDpI8E “We can’t be what we can’t see. Sometimes these young men need to see that. They need to see what change looks like.” One of the graduates of the Intentional Peer Support (IPS) program shared this message with a full room at the Nebraska Correctional Youth Facility IPS graduation ceremony this month.	https://corrections.nebraska.gov/facilities/nebraska-correctional-youth-facility?page=1&order=field_category&sort=asc
Case study/History of Present Illness: Case study/History of Present Illness:Order Description Your paper should be written as if it were a journal article, include an opening and closing paragraph, and be approximately 7-10 pages long. There must be a minimum of five recent (less than five years old) references that must be evidenced –based when possible. Points will be deducted for improper referencing and/or APA format. CASE STUDY 1: History of Present Illness: Sally Smith is a 36-year old female with a history of asthma and GERD. She is a medical secretary and a single mother of two children. Today she states her asthma has been “acting up” and she has been up three or four nights during the past week using her albuterol inhaler. She also tells you that she started to take St. John’s Wort a couple of weeks ago because she was feeling depressed. She smokes a pack of cigarettes daily and would like to stop smoking. She denies recent respiratory infection, heartburn, suicidal or homicidal intention. She is allergic to aspirin and NSAIDS. Current medications: Albuterol inhaler prn Loratadine 10 milligrams PO daily Omeprazole, 20 milligrams, PO BID St. John’s Wort, 1 tablet, PO daily Yasmin Physical exam: Pleasant. Well-groomed female NAD. Hgt. 5’5”, Wgt: 152 lbs. 132/70, 92, 22, Oxygen sat 96 %. Frequent bronchospastic cough, + expiratory wheezing. Otherwise exam WNL. 1. Briefly discuss the pathophysiology of asthma, GERD, and depression. Be sure to discuss the aspects that are relevant to the pharmacodynamics of the drug used to treat each condition. For the herbal preparation, describe the current research on: Pharmacodynamics; include pharmacokinetics if relevant to pharmacodynamics – for example, active metabolites or limited GI absorption. Efficacy at treating this condition. Adverse effects, interactions and prescriber considerations Discuss the potential risks and advantages in taking herbal preparations, including, but not limited to, the reasons that people might be interested in taking herbal preparations and what type of precautions they should be advised to take. 2. Explain the pharmacokinetics of each medication. Be thorough and specific. 3. Discuss possible adverse effects of these drugs and relevant drug-drug interactions for this patient that require monitoring. Pay particular attention to those adverse effects for which the patient is at increased risk, and to those adverse effects that are potentially serious. 4. Discuss prescriber considerations, appropriate diagnostic tests that should be assessed and relevant patient education for this patient, Explain rationales for your answers.	https://topratedpapers.com/case-studyhistory-of-present-illness-2/
At Gladstone, we want to spark scientific curiosity and inspire the next generation of scientists. We want to have an impact that goes beyond our building in Mission Bay. Our outreach programs and activities offer several great ways for future scientists and science enthusiasts to engage with Gladstone. PUMAS Internship Program PUMAS (Promoting Underrepresented Minorities Advancing in the Sciences) is a paid biomedical research internship program. The PUMAS summer internship program aims to provide historically underrepresented community college students with laboratory experience before they transfer to a 4‑year institution to pursue a bachelor’s degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM). Learn more and apply to the PUMAS program. National Student Leadership Conference Every year, Gladstone welcomes high school students participating in a summer program on medicine and healthcare called the National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC), hosted by UC Berkeley. Students learn first-hand from Gladstone scientists about biomedical research. Classroom Visits We send our researchers to local schools to discuss topics such as HIV/AIDS, brain disorders, and the future of stem cell research. Bay Area Science Festival During the annual Bay Area Science Festival, Gladstone opens its doors for the public to view our facilities and learn more about the cutting-edge research that’s happening inside. Gladstone Cares Giving back is important to Gladstone. We connect, volunteer, and encourage members of our community to become good global citizens through our community outreach efforts. We actively participate and raise money for the American Heart Association Heart Walk and the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s. In 2019, we raised $2,500 for the American Heart Association. Each year, we partner with the SF-Marin Food Bank and the SF Firefighters to host a holiday food and toy drive. We’ve also partnered with the Children’s Book Project for a back-to-school book drive. Gladstone’s LGBTQ+ community group takes the lead in organizing Gladstone’s participation in the SF Pride Parade. View photos from last year’s Pride Parade.	https://gladstone.org/index.php/community-outreach
* Any adjustments made to the serving values will only update the ingredients of that recipe and not change the directions. 6.2g Protein 23.5g Fat 2.9g Fiber 259.2calHow to Calculate Atkins Net Carbs Calories How to Calculate Atkins Net Carbs Atkins Net Carbs = Total Carbohydrates – Fiber – Sugar Alcohols/Glycerin (if applicable)× INGREDIENTS - 340 g BRUSSELS SPROUTS Stater Bros. Markets Inc. - 4 Tbsp Shallots, raw, chopped - 0 1/4 tsp Black Pepper, ground - 1 tbsp Maple Syrup (sugar-free) - 0 1/2 tsp Salt - 0 1/4 cup APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, APPLE CIDER Nash Finch Company - 2 oz Parmesan Cheese, chunk - 0 1/4 cup Pomegranate Arils, fresh - 2 tsp Thyme, fresh - 0 1/2 cup Olive Oil - 4 Tbsp Hazelnuts, roasted DIRECTIONS - Wash, dry and thinly shave Brussels sprouts in a food processor. Place in a large bowl. - In a medium skillet over medium heat, warm 1 tablespoon olive oil. When warm, add shallot and sauté until fragrant and sizzling, 1-2 minutes. Stir in thyme, add in the remaining oil, reduce the heat to low and allow oil to warm. - In a small bowl, whisk together the apple cider vinegar, sugar free maple syrup, salt and pepper. While whisking constantly, add the warm oil in a thin stream until fully combined, scraping all the shallot and thyme into the dressing. - Drizzle warm dressing over shaved sprouts and toss to coat. Top with shaved parmesan, pomegranate and hazelnuts, and serve while warm. Each serving is about 1 1/3 cups.	https://www.atkins.com/recipes/low-carb-warm-brussels-sprout-salad/3306
* Any adjustments made to the serving values will only update the ingredients of that recipe and not change the directions. 42.4g Protein 42.4g Fat 8.1g Fiber 635.7calHow to Calculate Atkins Net Carbs Calories How to Calculate Atkins Net Carbs Atkins Net Carbs = Total Carbohydrates – Fiber – Sugar Alcohols/Glycerin (if applicable)× INGREDIENTS - 1 Keto Sherry Vinaigrette - 0 1/2 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil - 0 1/4 tablespoon Unsalted Butter Stick - 6 oz Atlantic Salmon (Farmed) - 0 1/16 tsp Salt - 0 1/16 tsp Black Pepper - 8 oz Chinese Cabbage (Bok-Choy, Pak-Choi) - 0 1/8 tsp Lemon Zest - 0 1/2 cup Trader Joe's Fire Roasted Red Peppers - 0 1/2 oz Salsa - 1 cup, shredded or chopped Mixed Salad Greens - 2 oz Pickled Okra - 0 3/4 cup, chopped Snowpeas (Pea Pod) DIRECTIONS Use the Atkins recipe to make Sherry Vinaigrette for this recipe, you will need 2 tbsp. - Preheat oven to 475° F. Place olive oil and butter in a skillet large enough to hold fish in a single layer. - Place skillet with just the olive oil and butter into the oven for 3 minutes, until butter is melted. Season fish with salt and pepper. Place fish flesh side down in prepared skillet. Bake 10 minutes, turning carefully once halfway through cooking time, until just cooked through. - Remove from skillet; tent with foil. Add diced bok choy and lemon zest to skillet. Stir to coat with pan's oil. Place in oven 1 minute, until leaves are wilted and stems are warmed through. - To make puree, blend peppers and salsa in a blender 30 seconds. - Top bok choy with fish and dollop with the purée. - Toss the greens, pickled okra, and snow peas with the Sherry Vinaigrette. Serve with the salmon and bok choy. Cooking Tip Whether you’re feeding a family or cooking for one, you can update the serving settings above to reveal the required amount of ingredients.	https://www.atkins.com/recipes/baked-salmon-with-bok-choy-and-mixed-greens/496
We have measured de-excitation γ rays in Cm249 populated by one-neutron stripping reactions with a Cm248 target and 162-MeV O16, 162-MeV O18, and 120-MeV C13 beams. γ rays in Cm249 were identified by measuring kinetic energies of outgoing particles using Si ΔE-E detectors. It was demonstrated that high-j orbitals were selectively populated in the (O16, O15) reaction having a large negative Q value. We have observed eight quasiparticle states above the deformed shell gap of N=152. The 1/2+, 1/2-, and 7/2+ bands were extended up to 19/2+, 19/2-, and 13/2+ states, respectively. We have established the 9/2,9/2+ state at 526 keV, the 9/2/2+ state with a short life of T1/22 ps at 1030 keV, and the 11/2,11/2- state with T1/2=19(1) ns at 375 keV. Furthermore, the 17/21/2+ state, having a large component of the k17/2 spherical single-particle state, has been identified at 1505 keV. We discuss the properties of those quasiparticle states in the framework of a deformed shell model.	https://kyushu-u.pure.elsevier.com/ja/publications/observation-of-high-j-quasiparticle-states-in-cm249-by-in-beam-%CE%B3-
Countries in the ASEAN region have experienced a lowering of the number of people, especially among the younger generation who follows Buddhism, consequently, with even less who practice meditation. This paper proposes a management perspective to Buddhist leaders on how to effect change by using “Applied Mindfulness” as a Change Management tool in response to the above challenge, through the case study of Prof. Jon Kabat-Zinn and his meditation program, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program (MBSR). It should be clearly noted that this paper will not discuss the central theories and practice of meditation, but will focus on how to apply mindfulness in secular activities, in this case, in management. As managers and leaders have little time for sitting meditation, applying mindfulness in their daily activities, and in this case, while carrying out a change program, will help them to enjoy the benefits of meditation.	http://www.smaratungga.ac.id/journal/detail/7
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) says that the cyber threat defence capabilities of its parent body, the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), reduced harm to New Zealand businesses by $27m during 2018. The NCSC in December issued its annual Cyber Threat Report for the 12 months to June 2018 NCSC director Lisa Fong said the NCSC recorded 347 cyber security incidents during the year with a “cost avoidance” benefit to nationally significant organisations in the order of $27m. "Due to the NCSC’s focus [on nationally significant organisations], this is only a subset of the total incidents affecting New Zealand," she said. She said that during the 12-month period, 134 incidents — 39 percent of the total — contained elements “linked to known state-sponsored cyber actors”. “Additionally, the vast majority of incidents were detected at, or prior to, an actor’s first attempt to compromise an organisation, minimising the harm experienced by New Zealand organisations,” she added. In November the GCSB warned that digital transformation was outpacing investment in cyber security among New Zealand's nationally significant organisations and called on them lift their internal cyber security dialogue to drive the necessary changes. The warning followed a survey of 250 nationally significant organisations by the NCSC to establish their level cyber security resilience and the potential impacts if they were compromised. Intellectual property left linked to China Release of the report coincided with GCSB reiterating its warnings about “a global campaign of cyber-enabled commercial intellectual property theft” linked to the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS). GCSB director-general Andrew Hampton said: “This long-running campaign targeted the intellectual property and commercial data of a number of global managed service providers, some operating in New Zealand.” Hampton said the GCSB had worked through a robust attribution process in relation to this campaign, and around a third of the serious incidents recorded by the NCSC could be linked to state-sponsored actors. "This ongoing activity reinforces the importance of organisations having strong cyber security measures across their supply chain," he said. A decade ago CWNZ reported that the GCSB had beefed-up its policy requiring computer and networking equipment — and components within equipment — used in government not be manufactured in China or other non-approved countries for fear of cyber espionage.	https://www.computerworld.co.nz/article/655994/gcsb-cyber-vigilance-saved-organisations-27m/?utm_medium=rss&utm_source=tagfeed
If you are interested in this sample, we will happily email it to you. We will occasionally send you account related emails. Paradox through Pacing in Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” In the closing lines of the first act of Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest,” Algernon remarks, “I love scrapes. They are the only things that are never serious,” to which Jack responds, “Oh, that’s nonsense Algy. You never talk about anything but nonsense.” Algernon caps off this exchange with a proclamation of the purpose of the whole work: “Nobody ever does” (1642). Wilde never allows anything in the work to conclude on a serious note. While Wilde repeatedly proclaims this direction for the play through his characters, he does not tell us the motivation for this direction. He never explains why there is this avoidance of earnestness. The most apparent answer lies in the veiled criticism of Victorian society contained at each level of the play. The quick paradoxical epigrams that form the core of the conversational comedy are pointed at Victorian society. Wilde also abuses the concept of characterization with paradox to create comical characters that expose Victorian deficiencies. Each of these criticisms relies upon the paradoxes that Wilde sets up on successively larger scales within the play. It is, in fact, this tool of humor, not the object of ridicule that truly defines this work. While each paradox is pointed at Victorian society, the individual paradoxes each take on a different element of Victorian society, thereby diminishing the pointedness of the overall criticism. The use of paradox allows Wilde to take this play beyond its narrow and somewhat scattered critique of Victorian society. The underpinning element then, is not Victorian society, but instead the paradox, the concept of dual, irreconcilable elements. This more lasting topic is, not coincidentally, the one that defined Wilde’s own life. In his own struggle to cope with the deficiencies of prudish Victorian society, he was forced to create multiple identities to mask his homosexuality. While Wilde’s ironic look at nineteenth-century Victorian England is funny, it is on the higher, abstract level that Wilde’s work is unified and gains lasting and a-historical significance. The paradox is not something that is easily sustained or drawn out because of its inherent contradiction. Wilde relies upon fine tuned pacing to sustain his use of paradox and to allow for a vehicle between paradox. Wilde’s use of these techniques is especially exaggerated in the first scenes of the first and third acts, where the characters of Jack and Lady Bracknell (Aunt Augusta) are particularly utilized by Wilde.The most fundamental element of Wilde’s use of paradox lies in the paradoxical epigrams that pepper the work. In the first act we immediately see these in use. Jack tells Algernon that when he is in the country he amuses his neighbors, but then volunteers, “[I] Never speak to one of them,” to which Alegernon responds, “How immensely you must amuse them” (1630). The idea of amusing someone to whom you do not even talk is quickly dismissed as Wilde moves on. A few minutes later in the action, Algernon warns Jack to take care in his marital plans: “Well, in the first place girls never marry the men they flirt with. Girls don’t think it right.” Before answering who exactly it is that girls do marry, Wilde moves the characters to a new scenario that brings Algernon to quip, “More than half of modern culture depends on what one shouldn’t read” (1631). This last paradox is especially apparent in its criticism of Victorian society, but at the root of each of the other paradoxes lies some facet of this society that Wilde puts up for hyperbolic ridicule. Lady Bracknell’s use of paradox is even more subversive because she is make to be a model of high Victorian society (this will be discussed further later). In her most immediately stinging paradox, she admonishes Algernon, “Never speak disrespectfully of Society, Algernon. Only people who can’t get into it do that” (1662). Augusta delivers lines akin to this one, that take Victorian values and practices to absurd lengths, throughout the work.Wilde sustains his use of these paradoxes by quick movement between them. In the varied subject matter of the above paradoxes, along with the page numbers that accompany each one, the rollicking nature of the dialogue can be seen. Wilde constructs his paradoxes so that they can be easily escaped without resolution. Algernon’s remark about flirting girls is prefaced by, “In the first place,” an opening that signifies his intention to discuss more than one aspect of eligible females. The second point he makes, however, is of negligible comic and ironic value. Wilde (as Algernon) chooses to first deliver the scandalous remark – “girls never marry the men they flirt with. Girls don’t think it right first”with the mechanism for escaping this paradox (the option to move to a second point) already in place. When Lane questions Algernon’s paradox, he replies, “It accounts for the extraordinary number of bachelors that one sees all over the place. In the second place I don’t give my consent.” The first sentence of this reply merely affirms Algernon’s faith in the paradox, and does not explain it. In the second sentence Algernon takes advantage of the escape mechanism (the second point) to shift to a new topic with, “In the second place.” The paradoxes of Lady Bracknell meet little resistance from the other characters. Lady Bracknell’s phrases are so scandalous and twisted that it would be hard to object to them without the whole structure crumbling. Therefore Wilde uses Lady Bracknell’s garrulousness to sustain the paradox, and to provide a vehicle between paradoxes and foolish statements. When she first enters the scene she delivers a rather long-winded diatribe aimed at the recently engaged couples. Towards the end of this, immediately after declaring her husband’s belief, she says, “I do not propose to undecieve him. Indeed I have never undecieved him on any question. I would consider it wrong.” The morally misguided nature of this statement is not questioned because Wilde immediately moves Augusta to a new topic in her diatribe, “But, of course you will clearly understand that all communication between yourself and my daughter must cease immediately from this moment” (1660). Her propensity for long-winded monologues allows Augusta to deliver her most absurd lines in the midst of monologues so that she can escape into the surrounding topics.Wilde’s quick movement from paradox to paradox serves two purposes. This construction allows him to move on before the old paradox is exposed. The comic effect of the paradoxes would be diminished significantly if each one were exposed. Wilde’s quick movement also serves a larger purpose, which will be discussed later. The quick movement also works because Wilde sets the reader up to expect a paradox to be exposed. Occasionally he goes so far as to have someone within the play question a paradox, engendering great hope that the paradox will be exposed. Jack says, “Oh, that is nonsense” to Algernon’s quip about flirting girls, allowing the reader to believe that the paradox may be brought to the light. Fictional characters can always evade the reader’s questions, but it is harder to evade the questions of characters in the play. Even when characters do not question the paradoxes, there is a sense that the paradoxes should be exposed. Wilde’s escape mechanisms allow him to escape, but not before he has brought the reader to believe that the paradoxes will be exposed. When he quickly moves to a new subject and paradox this expectation is stunned. New and thought provoking elements are introduced before the old are brought to any conclusion. This makes for a welcoming dearth of dull moments, and increases the sense of speed, and movement. The abrupt transitions create a sense of tumbling through subjects one after another with little respite. This quick movement brings a levity that dwelling on topics would kill. Wilde’s pacing, then, is essential for the maintenance of the humor.On first glance it seems that Wilde’s sardonic paradoxical epigrams define the work. But these small paradoxes are but a metaphor for the larger clashing of two irreconcilable elements: namely the multiple identities of the characters. The characters multiple identities are cast next to each other in much the same way that the disparate elements of a paradox are set next to each other. The misfit of the two elements creates a comic effect, both in the epigrams, and in the characters dual identities.Jack and Algernon both have an obvious outward identity crisis that fuels much of the action. In the beginning of the first act Jack explains, “Well, my name is Ernest in town and Jack in the country” (1632). This is immediately followed by Algernon’s explanation that, “I have invented an invaluable permanent invalid called Bunbury, in order that I may be able to go down into the country whenever I choose” (1633). Through the play we learn that in fact both men would like to be known as Ernest so as to impress their prospective wives. In presenting characters who have not a shred of seriousness in them with the title Ernest, Wilde takes an obvious stab at the Victorian society which valued earnestness so dearly. This superficial identity crisis, as seen through the names, explains much of the action. But this identity crisis has worked its way inward, particularly with Jack. This is never more apparent than in the opening scene with Jack and Algernon. When Jack enters the room his first comments evince his alignment with the absurdity already displayed by Lane and Algernon in the opening scene of the play. His first line, as a response to the question of what has brought him to Algernon’s house, is, “Oh pleasure, pleasure! What else should bring one anywhere?” (1630). This jesting attitude continues as he disparages the Divorce Court. But a dramatic break provided by the entry and exit of Lane allows Jack to suddenly slip into an earnest persona. For a succession of three lines Jack maintains a staid attitude. He first says, “Do you mean to say that you have had my cigarette case all this time? I wish to goodness you had let me know.” Jack then moves to correct another of Algernon’s foolish statements by saying, “There is no good offering a large reward now that the thing is found.” Lane then enters and exits the roomnot coincidentally some of the only prescribed physical action in the scene – thereby prolonging the sense of Jack’s earnestness. Jack then answers Algernon’s query as to the ownership of the cigarette case, “Of course it’s mine. You have seen me with it a hundred times, and you have no right whatsoever to read what is written inside. It is a very ungentlemanly thing to read a private cigarette case” (1631). All of what he says seems very reasonable and in the last line even dignified, particularly when laid next to Algernon’s practically hyperbolic jesting. This sense is exaggerated by the unusually long lines, and breaks for action.But after selling us so successfully on this persona of Jack, Wilde quickly drags him back into the jesting quagmire that Algernon wallows in. The subject over which Jack is earnest, his defense of what is written inside the cigarette case, is just that which exposes his ultimate jest, his dual identity. The earnest exchange leads directly to his admission that he is at times Jack, and at times Ernest. Looking back to the moments of earnestness it becomes apparent that Wilde prolonged the appearance of Jack’s earnestness by Algernon’s quote in the midst of the scene: “Now that I look at the inscription inside, I find that the thing isn’t yours at all” (1631). This creates a situation of questioning, but not one in which the earnestness of Jack is brought into question. Wilde could have easily brought up the question of Jack’s questionable use of two names here, but instead Wilde chooses to allow us to believe in Jack’s earnest identity for that much longer, making it that much more surprising and revealing when Jack’s absurd side is revealed again. Wilde’s pacing, again, maintains the dual, contradictory nature of the play.Even Lady Bracknell – one of the characters who does not outwardly profess to a dual identityevinces a tension between two irreconcilable elements. Augusta represents the highest and most earnest element of English society. This is principally seen, as with many other characters, in her name: Augusta. The name Augusta implies a respected and successful leader. She desires the suggestion that her name makes to extend to her relationships with others, as we see in her demand to govern over the engaged couples with moral certainty. At every moment she is telling the couples what they can and cannot do. As soon as she enters the scene she asks Gwendolyn about the intimate moment that she interrupted, “Gwendolyn! What does this mean?,” and moments later says of the recent engagement of the couples, “You are nothing of the kind” (1660). The imperative tone that she sets upon entry indicates her confidence in her ruling powers, and her demands evidence her sense of earnest moral righteousness.But the reasoning behind her demands and questions completely betrays the earnestness Lady Bracknell desires. When appraising Cecily’s worth as a potential wife for Algernon she says, “Few girls of the present day have any really solid qualities, any of the qualities that last, and improve with time. We live, I regret to say, in an age of surfaces” (1662). This quote in itself is easily believable as part of the highest tea-time conversations. But the quality that Augusta is praising as solid is money, the very element of superficiality. This discrepancy between form and function displays Augusta’s battling identities. She hopes to appear earnest and august, but her inner identity, that is aligned so closely with the absurdity of all the other characters, always manages to escape.With Lady Bracknell the quick pacing that allows for the contrasted identity is even more exaggerated than it is with Jack. Often the first half of her line will be believably earnest and Victorian, but in the second half of the same line, she betrays the earnestness that was established in the beginning of the line. Her demand that Algernon, “Never speak disrespectfully of Society” could come from the most earnest of mouths. Wilde has Augusta present the earnest half of the lines authoritatively and there is no sense of vacillation between conflicting thought patterns, or identities in these lines. This presentation forces the reader, for a short time, to believe that Lady Bracknell will finally speak seriously. But in the second part of her statement to Algernon, where she explains her demand, we see her second identity surface.It is again Wilde’s pacing that allows these characters to exist so believably in this state of duality for the whole play. Wilde allows his characters to skip between identities, never allowing the reader to settle on the character’s true identity. This skipping also allows Wilde to set the two identities next to each other for comparison. In much the same way as a paradox, when these two elements are set next to each other their irreconcilability gains its comic effect. Instead of establishing the existence of the two identities, and presenting them at unique times, Wilde chooses to present the irreconcilable elements together, skipping back and forth between the two, within scenes and acts. In both cases, when characters are thought to be serious we already know them to be jesters. But due to Wilde’s quick pacing we forget our previous encounters, and what the characters had said because the reader’s mind has had to work so quickly to keep up with the constantly changing subject matter or point of view. The earnestness is at first believable, but always returns to the absurd, at which point the irreconcilability of the two identities becomes obvious. This quick movement, and immediate contact between the earnest and the absurd nature of these characters’ identities, always tending and ending on the absurd, exaggerates the irreconcilability of the characters two elements. There is a curious merging of the characters’ fates as the play progresses. In the opening scene Jack immediately declares his intention to be speedily married to Gwendolyn. During this scene Algernon continually disparages the institution of marriage, going so far as to say, “If I ever get married, I’ll certainly try to forget the fact” (1631). Yet, in the beginning of the third scene we find both men aiming for the same thing: trying to address wrongs so that they can be quickly married. Algernon says here, “I am engaged to be married to Cecily, Aunt Augusta” (1661). In the end both are headed to marriage. This merging of characters extends further than just this superficial level. Immediately before Lady Bracknell enters the room to deliver her moral wanderings to the couples, the speech of the couples reveals the merging of their minds. Cecily and Gwendolyn chime in unison (following Wilde’s stage directions), “Your Christian names are still an insuperable barrier. That is all!” To this, Algernon and Jack respond, again in perfect unison as dictated by Wilde, “Our Christian names! Is that all? But we are going to be christened this afternoon” (1660). Wilde allows us to believe that this exchange has been planned beforehand by telling Cecily, in the stage directions to conduct the group as if they were an orchestra. But on second glance we realize that while their timing may have been planned, what they are saying was not planned. The couples have the same ideas, and Jack and Algernon do not even need timing instructions for these ideas to come out together. As the play proceeds the characters regress from distinct personalities to undistinguishable forms that share the same thoughts.At the end of the play there is some indication that the characters have become defined. While Algernon sits quietly aside, Jack learns that his name has been Earnest all along. Yet this ending means nothing when Wilde’s treatment or respect for names is considered. Throughout the work Wilde depreciates the traditional value of words by his frequent inclusion of puns and word inversions. In the first act Jack remarks that pretending to be a dentist when you are not a dentist “produces a false impression.” Algernon immediately responds, twisting the meaning of “impression” by saying, “Well that is what dentists always do” (1632) referring now to the plaster impressions of teeth that dentists make. Wilde has exposed the multiple meanings of this word, and in doing so, has stripped the word of its constancy or ability to closely define anything. By repeating, throughout the play, this practice of twisting words to absurd lengths, Wilde depreciates the value of words. This undermining of words extends even to the most holy of words, one’s name. Jack and Algernon have learned that in order to marry their prospective wives they must have the name Ernest. This poses absolutely no problem to the pair. They quickly arrange for a christening to rid themselves of their unattractive name. When Jack arranges for his christening Reverend Chasuble him, “At what hour would you wish the ceremony performed?,” to which Jack gaily responds, “Oh, I might trot around about five if that would suit you.” (1648). Wilde purposely uses this light, conversational tone to display the absolute lack of meaning this renaming will have. By presenting a name as something that can be changed in between ones afternoon appointments Wilde completely depreciates any value or certainty a name may have or provide. In the end Jack learns with great glee that his name has been actually been Ernest all along, a distinction from Algernon who receives no such news. This could be seen as a last differentiation between the characters, a mark of development. But by this time the possible importance that a name could bestow upon someone has consciously been completely destroyed by Wilde. In fact, this excitement over something we now know to be so trivial is Wilde’s final remark on triviality versus earnestness. Throughout the play Wilde has presented seriously all that is in fact trivial, and has presented trivially all that is serious. In this last line Wilde follows this trend by allowing Jack to be excited over something we now know to be completely meaningless, continuing his juxtaposition of perception and reality. In doing this Wilde in facts demarcates the triviality of this supposedly unique name, reminding us, once again, of the similarity and alignment of the two characters.Wilde challenges the traditional conception of dramatic or fictional work with this anti-development. The traditional sense of development is the delineation and definition of the characters involved. Traditionally a writer makes the characters and work memorable by defining the characters’ unique qualities. Beyond positing the truth of this assumption, it is not necessary to belabor this discussion. In Wilde’s work the characters are only memorable insofar as they don’t develop, and in fact, are memorable in that they become less unique, as is underscored in the scene of unified speech. Instead of allowing the play as a vehicle for the characters to define themselves, Wilde allows the characters to regress, and actually become less defined. This lack of development serves as a statement against the characters own inability to progress or develop. But, on a larger scale this anti-development, as the word suggests, is a paradox in itself. In presenting regression where development is expected Wilde turns the traditional conception of fictional works on its head. This conceptual paradox works in much the same way that the smallest paradoxes in the play – the epigrams – work. Wilde opens his statement by saying that he will present a play, a fictional work, which leads to the reader to assume the characters will undergo the typical process of individuation. But, through the play the opposite occurs. Wilde has subverted this assumption by dis-shapening the characters, thereby creating a paradox on the grandest scale. This largest paradox fuels the work, by the sense of surprise that it engenders, in much the same way that the other paradoxes in the work do. As a gay man in prudish nineteenth century England Oscar Wilde never felt comfortably assimilated into the strait society that surrounded him. He was forced to assume a double identity to cope with his divergence from the norms of the day. This tax that the society levied upon Wilde undoubtedly engendered an animosity, an animosity that is reflected in his ironic, and sardonic treatment of Victorian society in “The Importance of Being Earnest”. However, the multiple and irreconcilable identities that Wilde was forced into are the more significant driving force behind this work. This struggle with identities is seen in the paradoxes that pervade all levels of the work. In the end though, these large themes build upon, rather than overshadow Wilde’s greatest genius which lies in his subtle turns of phrases and words that keep even the most earnest reader chuckling throughout.	https://literatureessaysamples.com/paradox-through-pacing-in-oscar-wilde-s-the/
KEY THOT: There is a vast difference between human wisdom and divine wisdom. While Paul rejects human wisdom, he does not reject wisdom--especially that which comes from God through His Spirit: "Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away" (v.6). The spiritually immature relies on human wisdom acquired by years of learning and study. But the spiritually mature relies on divine wisdom revealed by the Spirit: "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"—these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God." (vv. 9-10). While human wisdom can impart facts, only divine wisdom can impart truths: "And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual" (v.13). In short, we cannot receive spiritual truths except by the Spirit through the human spirit, not the human intellect: "For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God." (v.11). Bible knowledge can be acquired by study and learning, but spiritual truth can only be received through the Spirit who reveals spiritual truths in the spiritual facts. The word of God is not in the scriptural facts acquired by the human mind but in the spiritual truths received by the human spirit from the Spirit: "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned" (v.14). The word of God received from the Spirit is dynamic, not static. Two persons reading the same text may receive different revelation from the same Spirit--and this revelation constitutes the prophetic "word of God" to that person or through that person. The "natural person" (v. 14) refers to those who operates purely at the natural level, basically relying only on their own intellectual capacity. This "natural person" can even be believers (like the Corinthian believers). And they remain "carnal" in their understanding of the faith because they confuse human knowledge with divine wisdom. They have acquired much spiritual knowledge (facts), but not spiritual wisdom (truths), for they operate in the "natural" realm of the human flesh, rather than in realm of the spirit, for "he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." The "natural" believers who rely on their acquired human wisdom cannot fully understand the "spiritual" believers who rely on the revelation of the Spirit because they lack spiritual discernment. The key to acquiring spiritual rather than natural wisdom is the Holy Spirit. If we rely on our own intellect alone to acquire spiritual knowledge, we end up with spiritual facts rather than spiritual truths. But if we rely on our spirit to receive spiritual truths as revelation of the Holy Spirit, we acquire divine wisdom that helps us become spiritually mature and discerning. That also means we must let go of previously learned presuppositions so that we can listen afresh to what the Spirit is now saying to the churches. St James gives us a clue as to what kind of wisdom we have: - James 3:13-18 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. May the Lord grant us wisdom from above, not from below. Amen.	http://www.alphaconsultant.com/2017/02/1-corinthians-21-12-truths-are-revealed_1.html
College Essay Outline: Tips for Beginners! It helps a lot to have a reliable guideline when managing academic documents. Individuals must know the proper formats of handling their papers to avoid losing unnecessary marks. Remember, the quality of your paper determines the scores that You will get. As such, it is crucial to learn the recommended ways of writing a college essay. From there, it will be easy to submit standard essays to our tutors. Is It Necessary To Have An English Spreadsheet When Writing A Student's Coursework? Individuals don’t face difficulties presenting well-polished reports to supervisors. But also, most of them fail to understand the weight of every citation available. There are many reasons for having a spread sheet whenever you have an assignment to handle custom essay. They are: - To guide the students on what they are supposed to write - An essential tool for referencing sources - Assists the scholar in remembering rare materials Now, why do we insist on developing a school document that provides complete information to its readers? First, did you search for a relevant source to use in researching? If so, then where do I point out all the resources that might be useful to me? Our tutor would want to see that student prove his research skills. What type of info will he present to the audience? Besides, does the teacher require individuals to cite different objects in the coursework? Regardless of the case, it is vital to have a reference section that won’t be challenging to read. A Cautious Research About a Relevant Topic Helps Students to Find Thoughts Of Using Later On When someone starts drafting a report, it becomes easier to revisit the ideas that were grabbed from the catalogues. During that time, people forget to edit their statements. Such a thing is not only detrimental to the issuing of worthless copies, but it calls for extra investigation into the matter. Through investigations, a person is able to find facts about a topic that is readily accessible. For instance, Factdiggers will identify places that are worth citing, depending on the subject being studied. Through researches, a writer is in a position to evaluate the material at hand and develop suitable citations. Along these lines, the literature review department will go an extensive survey to secure necessary data to capture in the various aspects of a particular study. Read more:	https://noosfero.ufba.br/jackabramsq/blog/college-essay-outline
Osteoporosis prevalence and fracture characteristics in elderly female patients with fractures. The aim of this study was to characterize the features of fractures that occur in female patients with osteoporosis in the setting of a typical trauma hospital. Observational study was conducted on 233 women aged 50 years and above reporting to a trauma center with a fracture. Fracture location, fracture classification and cause of fracture were obtained and compared with bone mineral status assessed by DXA at the spine. Our findings indicate that with increasing patient age, the majority of fractures occur after a minor traumatic event. In more than one-third of all fractures after minor trauma, the patients were diagnosed with osteoporosis. The overall prevalence of osteoporosis in patients older than 50 years with fractures was more than 30% and was increasing with age. Most strikingly, one-third of the patients have had a previous fracture at a location that should have triggered the assessment of bone health status, but only 25% of them had received any form of osteoporosis treatment. For patients older than 50 years reporting to a trauma unit with a fracture, osteoporosis has a considerable prevalence. The large number of patients who have had a previous fracture emphasizes the necessity for an effective implementation of treatment algorithms for elderly patients with osteoporosis in the setting of a trauma hospital.
When it comes to being fit it takes a lot of dedication and motivation. We all have our high moments when we are losing weight and it feels great, then we reach our plateau where we are not losing any weight. We still feel committed until a day rest turns into two days, then 3 weeks until you have to find the motivation to get back into working out. Some times we don’t find the motivation, and we go months, and months without working out until we gain all our weight back. Its at that moment we feel defeated, and starting over is not fun, but we have to back into the workout groove. I find it easier with a community of friends who enjoy working out. We all join fitness for different reasons some to lose weight, become fit, look good naked, or just to fit into that perfect jeans, or swimsuit. I started my journey for multiple of reasons, but what make me stay committed its to eventually become a mother. I battle PCOS! Weight gain and infertility are some key components to why I am focus on being fit. I want to build a community of fitness support. I want females to understand that working out takes a lot of dedication. It will be hard, but its worth the journey to become fit and healthy. I am going to clean out my instagram @ms_kfit and dedicate it just to fitness, creating fitness challenges, and meet ups for females who want that support group and want to make a change. Check for the updated instagram page solely for fitness tips, recipes, and motivation this Sunday July 20, 2014.	https://rateds4superwoman.com/2014/07/17/building-a-community-with-fitness/
Butte High School and Bozeman Multisport Aquatics standout swimmer Catherine Russo was named to the 2019-2020 NISCA High School All American lists. The top 100 male and female high school swimmers in each event are awarded the All American honors. Russo is the only Montana swimmer named as a 2019-2020 High School All American in swimming. Russo claimed 11th place in the girl's 50 yard freestyle with a time of 22.76 seconds. Russo qualified in 56th place in the girl's 100 yard butterfly with a time of 54.89 seconds. Russo will be attending Ohio State University this fall. She has an Olympics Trials qualifying time in the 100 meter butterfly. Congratulations Catherine! More about NISCA All American selection process: In order for a swimmer to be considered as a NISCA High School All-American he/she must compete for an interscholastic team and be scholastically eligible as determined by his/her state athletic association or school authority. All swimmers must be in at least the 9th grade level of school to be eligible. Swimmers are limited to 8 consecutive semesters of eligibility. Fifth year seniors, 7th and 8th grade students are not eligible for consideration. All times submitted must be achieved in a regularly scheduled interscholastic meet (no time trials) and will include times achieved up to and including State Meet Performances. All times must be submitted to the one-hundredth of a second. Meet times MUST include documentation (copy of or link to official meet results) as well as the signatures of the Meet Manager and Meet Referee for dual meets. No manual watch times are accepted - automatic timing of events only. A swimmer may be listed in as many events as his/her times qualify. Each year, an “All America” time will be determined and published. Upon receipt of the accepted application blank, the swimmer may be announced as an All-America if they have achieved the published time. The fastest one hundred (100) athletes as determined by time in each event will be named All-American. To see All American qualifier list click here.	https://www.teamunify.com/NewsShow.jsp?id=705368&team=mtms
Will solar energy contribute significantly to the power mix of the future? Already, in the past three years, the world has added more solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity than in the preceding four decades, while components for concentrating solar power (CSP) plants are reaching commercial maturity, promising higher efficiency and lower costs. But which new policies can foster further technological developments to increase deployment of either type of solar generation? And can policy makers deliver consistent signals and avoid stop-and-go cycles for the industry? Two new IEA technology roadmaps, Solar Thermal Electricity and Solar Photovoltaic Energy, describe in detail a vision for deployment, including necessary policy actions, to significantly increase solar’s share of the energy mix in the coming decades. Among other aspects, the roadmap for solar PV also analyses how best to integrate the variable resource into electricity grids, while the roadmap for solar thermal electricity examines advantages the technology holds over solar PV in terms of systems perspectives, particularly built-in thermal storage capacities. Both roadmaps look at individual markets, highlighting priority actions and milestones for governments, research and industry stakeholders to achieve a vision for deployment based on updated modelling results consistent with the IEA flagship technology publicationEnergy Technology Perspectives 2014 and its “high-renewables” climate-friendly scenario. Participants must register in advance to attend the webinar by emailing [email protected] Please note! Once you register, you will receive the dial-in numbers to call on the day of the launch as well as the link that will allow you to follow the webinar on your screen. To ask questions during the Q&A period you will also need to be connected by phone.	https://deutsche-csp.de/en/iea-to-launch-solar-technology-roadmaps-on-29-september/
"The City of 10,000 Shrines" Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, the City of 10,000 Shrines offers visitors an abundance of history and culture. Below are some of my favourite things to do in Kyoto that will give you a sense of the city and its centuries of history. 14 Immersive Things to do in Kyoto 1. Nanzenji Temple Nanzenji was built as a retirement villa for Emperor Kameyama in the late-13th century. In 1291, he donated it to the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism, and it became the head monastery in Kyoto. The temple’s chief priest holds the highest Buddhist position in the nation. The temple suffered badly from both fire and war over the centuries, and the existing buildings are no more than 400 years old. The inner Hojo Garden is characteristic of the Edo period and is considered one of the most scenic Zen gardens in Japan. The worn wooden hall along the garden has seated many monks and travellers in quiet contemplation. The magnificent Sanmon Gate leading to the temple serves as the stage for the kabuki re-enactment of the story of the Japanese Robin Hood, Ishikawa Goemon. In 1632, Goemon’s luck ran out and he and his son were sentenced to death by being boiled alive. As the play depicts, the heroic Goemon held his son above the boiling water until he succumbed himself. 2. Philosopher’s Path From Nanzenji, there is a 1.6 kilometre (1 mi.) canal pathway all the way to Ginkakuji Temple. The path is dedicated to Nishida Kitaro, the late-19thC philosopher of Western and Zen ideologies. 3. Ginkakuji Temple – Silver Pavilion Ginkakuji was originally built as a retirement villa and later converted into a Zen temple. The 15thC shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimasa, designed it after his grandfather’s villa, Kinkakuji (Gold Pavilion). The silver finishing was never completed, but the temple retained the name nonetheless. Yoshimasa was a patron of many fine arts. Under his initiation, Higashiyama Bunka (Culture of Eastern Mountains) flourished. He became a monk at the age of 32 and died five years later, leaving his villa to Zen Buddhism. 4. Mt. Daimonji On this mountain, the Japanese character for “big” (dai) is set in white stone and can be seen from nearly all points in Kyoto. Ginkakuji Temple is located at the base of Mt. Damonji, where a trail begins. From the highest point on the trail, the view of Kyoto is very impressive. Japan: “The Tranquil” On our Tokyo to Kyoto Biking trip, meander ancient Japan’s coastline and visit kimono makers, bonsai tenders and ryokan guest houses. Stop now and then to gaze at rice paddies, visit Buddhist shrines, and at the end of the day take a dip in the hot-spring onsen baths.DETAILED ITINERARY 5. Chion-in Temple The gate to the Chion-in Temple is the largest temple gate in Japan. It dates back to 1619. Inside the gate there are two sets of stairs leading to the temple grounds. The shallow, narrow stairs to the right are for women, and the deeper, wider stairs in the middle are for men. (The reason the stairs are narrower for the women is that they had to walk in tightly wrapped kimonos, that seriously restricted the length of their strides!) Chion-in is the head temple for the Jodo sect of Buddhism. With a little luck, you can observe a priest performing a ceremony and chanting prayers. 6. Maruyama Park This city park is full of vendors, tourists and Japan’s most photographed cherry tree. It is located in the centre of the park and has been painted white—although there’s no consensus on why. Some say it’s to keep insects away, others say that it’s for aesthetic reasons. 7. Ishibe-Koji Street This area was once a reclusive retreat with extravagant villas. Inns and teahouses took over, and the street became the regular haunt of geishas and their guests. 8. Ryozen Kannon Kannon, the goddess of mercy and compassion, is the most popular Buddhist deity amongst the Japanese. She is a bodhisattva, one destined to become a Buddha; however she is waiting for all others to achieve enlightenment before she takes the final step herself. She is said to have 33 emanations and has countless temples dedicated to her. This statue of Kannon is quite recent, demonstrating that the faithful are still willing to fund costly sculptures, even in the modern era. 9. Ninenzaka Ninenzaka is the cobblestone path leading to Sanneizaka (see below). Ninenzaka means “two-year slope,” and Sannenzaka means “three-year slope.” As the superstition goes: if you slip on the steps between Ninenzaka and Sanneizaka, you will have two to three years of bad luck! 10. Sanneizaka Sanneizaka is a cobblestone street on the way to Kiyomizu Temple. Along it are stores that sell food, tea and mementos to pilgrims and travellers. The merchant homes and shops here are among the oldest in Kyoto, and the earthen slatted windows on the second floors are among the oldest architecture in the city. These windows were built to allow merchants to secretly keep their head higher than that of their lord—a forbidden act in feudal Japan. This district is also home to kiyomizu-yaki, elegant, hand-painted pottery collected by feudal aristocrats. 11. Clear Water Temple – Kiyomizu Dera Enchin, an 8thC Buddhist priest from Nara, founded Kiyomizu Temple at the source of the Kizu River, after being instructed to do so in a vision. The temple was first constructed in 780; however, most of what exists today dates back to 1633. The most famous spot is the butai—the deck overlooking the forest (“to leap from Kiyomizu’s butai” is a Japanese saying that refers to making an important decision or performing a courageous act). The temple is dedicated to Kannon and women pray to her for ease in childbirth, students pray for good grades, and young women and men pray for luck in love. Pilgrims and tourists alike drink from otow-no-taki, the “Sound of Feathers Waterfall,” to purify themselves and to protect their bodies from illness. 12. Yasaka Pagoda This pagoda is all that remains of what was once a magnificent Buddhist temple. It is five storeys high, and each storey is symbolic of earth, water, fire, air or heaven. 13. Gion Geisha District Visiting this district, the epicentre of Japan’s remaining geisha culture, is one of my favourite things to do in Japan. Only the most exclusive men are granted audience here. Gion is also a fascinating window into Japan’s feudal past, where a life in pursuit of the perfection of one’s art was treasured above all. With increasing competition for entertainment dollars, teahouses are finding it difficult to remain afloat. There are only about fifty geisha in Gion today; however, at its height, there were hundreds of geisha, as well as managers and apprentices. In feudal times, geisha were often girls from impoverished fishing and farming villages. The lucky few, so to speak, became geisha, while the less fortunate created a living as prostitutes in the Shimabara pleasure quarter. Geisha are professional performers. They are trained in shamisen (a Japanese harp), tea ceremony, dance, song and the art of witty conversation. Gentlemen who are granted the right to their company are a privileged few, and they meet these cherished ladies at an o-chaya, a teahouse. A maiko, or apprentice, accompanies and pours sake. In the past, each geisha hoped to achieve a danna, a “lord and master,” who would care for her material needs. He would essentially purchase her virginity. However, times have changed and sexual pleasures are no longer for sale. 14. Ichiriki Teahouse The most iconic teahouse of Gion is the legendary Ichiriki Teahouse. This 300-year-old o-chaya retains the burnt-orange colouring once characteristic of all the Gion teahouses. In summer she is cooling herself by the Kamo, How fair is her neck revealed in the twilight. Her lips burn like bon-fires on Mt. Daimonji, Though she hides her secret tears behind a small lantern. —A song for Gion The current building was renovated a century ago after being damaged by the great fire of 1865. The name o-chaya, or “tea-house,“ is a bit misleading for English speakers since Ichiriki is not exactly a place to go and have a casual cup of tea. It is an invitation-only establishment, and in order to visit, it is necessary to have a relationship with the teahouse. Ichiriki is the setting for the novel Memoirs of a Geisha and the kabah drama, Chushingura. Set during feudal times, the play tells how the leader of the 47 ronin (masterless samurai) spent years in seeming debauchery within the walls of the teahouse, all the while plotting to avenge the death of his master.	https://www.butterfield.com/blog/2014/09/26/things-to-do-in-kyoto/
This Article Critique was written by one of our professional writers. You are free to use it as an inspiration or a source for your own work. Need a custom Article Critique written for you? Shiota, M. (2006).Silver Linings and Candles in the Dark: Differences among PositiveCoping Strategies in Predicting Subjective Well-Being. Emotion, 6(2), 335-339. Introduction The purpose of this study is not clearly stated from the onset, but implications within the opening remarks found in the abstract, indicate that it could be best ‘positive coping’ strategies related to well-being. Further mixing into with the literature review the researcher identifies two aims. First it was to unfoldwhether dispositional use of positive reappraisal, creating positive events, problem-focused coping, seeking social support, and distraction as coping strategies during the week were differentially associated with positive aspects of well-being. ‘(Shiota, 2006). The second aim related to whether the types of positive coping strategies used by participants over the course of a week were differentially associated with the objective severity or the nature of stressors they encountered.Precisely, the researcher opened her discussions utilizing a question, which sets the tone for what she wants the study to project,‘What are the best strategies for regulating one’s emotions in the face of a negative event?’ (Shiota, 2006). This is another hint as to what the purpose of this study really is about. There is limited literature review on the topic. Soon after the introductory remarks the researcher goes right on to highlighting studies, which have been conducted, but could not identify best ‘positive coping’ strategies that could be adapted when people are stressed. It does support the need for the more in-depth research on the issue by presenting gaps in the body of knowledge. However, the researcher eloquently presented her case based on the available data. A comprehensive theoretical framework informing this study could not have been clearly identified. However, implicit in the literature review were references to theoretical assumptions, which were later applied during the data interpretation phase of the project. They included problem focus coping, dispositional coping styles, negative and positive activation. The Transactional Model of Stress and Coping could be a valuable theoretical premise for explaining the best positive coping strategies used in stressful situations. This theory embraces the assumption that stressful experiences are interpreted a as person-environment transaction. Importantly, they are triggered due to the impact of an external stressor. Mediations between the person and stressors are first appraised by the individual and then the corresponding environment of the stressor. Coping strategies developed are relevant to the person’s personal coping resource potential ( Lazarus, 1966). This study is expected to contribute to the body of knowledge by filling gaps that do not specify the best positive coping strategies individuals adopt in dealing with stress in promoting well being. This study encompassed in-depth analyses evaluating present coping strategies the researcher validated as being beneficial, but yet still insufficient in determining the best positive coping strategy. The researcher posed a research question at the beginning of the text. It is stated as what are the best strategies for regulating one’s emotions in the face of a negative event? Further there is no identifiable hypothesis preceding neither following this question. The independent variable can be described as ‘positive coping’ whereas the dependent variables are stress, negative event; problem focused coping; creative positive events and well-being. There is a direct connection between the literature review and research question. This was established by the researcher often linking statements by saying that the question was a long standing one for researchers. She then continued by quoting a series of studies related to the question. Method This research design could be described as case study utilizing a mixed method embodying qualitative and quantitative analyses. However, there seems to be some difficulty in confirming whether the researcher adopted characteristics of a true case study or experiment. The article does not provide the reader with enough information regarding the methodology to be able to make a convincing assessment of case study or experiment. In ruling out experiment there is no control group mentioned in the study as well as no specific treatment. Participants were, however, given a diary. How diaries were to be used was not clear in determining whether the product served as a treatment or just an intervention within the research group. Other predisposing factors tend to make the design appear to be a survey as well when it was mentioned that participants completed demographic and well- being instruments. There are no precise explanations regarding the design to determine its appropriateness for the study. Internal and external validity could be threatened when the design is undefined as in this case. There are no distinct parameters whereby the researcher could accurately measure independent variable ‘best positive coping’ neither the associating ones if there is a faulty research design. Sampling Participants were recruited from West Coast University. The sample consisted of undergraduates enrolled in a psychology course. One hundred forty-eight participants completed well-being and demographic instruments and were given diary packets at the beginning of the study. No specific information regarding whether the sampling was convenient, probability or random was mentioned. Speculations are that it could have been convenient sampling techniques because participants were selected from a class. There were a total of 148 participants. This was the initial sample which consisted of 63% female, 43% percent Asian American, 32% European American, 11% Latino/a, and 13% anotherethnicity; mean age was 21.5 years. There is some difficulty in deciding whether the sample was representative of the population or not because the method of selecting was non-specific. How the sample was presented in the report it would appear that the population is the sample and the sample the population and within those boundaries the research was conducted. Fifty six participants did not make the final sample. This accounted for 38% participants being lost. Ninety one eventually made it into the final sample which comprised of 71% female, 48% Asian American, 33% European American, 10% Latino/a, and 9% of another ethnicity; mean age was 21.0 years. The researcher did not mention a specific way in dealing with lost participants. It seemed as though the sample was merely readjusted showing the responses of those who remained in the study. Measures Measurements used in this study consisted of the positive and negative activation schedule (PANAS) and the coping diaries. The PANAS measurement contains 20 descriptor words related to coping and well- being. Participants were asked to complete the schedule. In the coping diary participants recorded the most positive and negative event of the day. After they answered the question,what, if anything, did you do during or after the negative event to make yourself feel better? PANAS measurement could be considered valid because it was pre-tested measurement. Reliability and validity issues could surface because they were not pretested in the environment which they were used. Coping diaries appeared to be a grossly inappropriate measurement. Assembled data from a diary should be considered a measurement. Rather, the diary is an instrument through, which data is collected and not measured. The researchers ought have designed another measurement perhaps, statistical formulas for measuring diary data. Data Analysis Descriptive statistics were used in interpreting data retrieved from PANAS measurements. The researcher adapted a correlational analysis which can be considered most appropriate for such purposes. Units of analysis were previously measured concepts such as positive coping and well-being. Information from coping diary was coded based on classification of responses. Data was discussed, but lacked cohesion as it relates to the question asked in the beginning and what was interpreted as being the research question at the end. There seems to be lack of co-relation pertaining to what the issue was in the inception relative to findings. Table 1 denotes a mean of .45 and a standard deviation .67 for negative event types number of days failure. This reflects that there is an average negative reaction to stress when balancing positive with negative coping strategies. The statistical description was phenomenal and, perhaps, the strongest aspect of the study despite validity and reliability issues. This is an example of how a researcher can guide a study in a direction to prove their assumptions true. This in itself creates immense subjectivity to infiltrate conclusions. Findings Findings led to admittingthat participants do have a coping style. However, it would appear that this really has nothing to do with establishing a ‘best positive coping style’ as was indicated in the opening sentences of this report. Findings seem to be the same as was discovered by researchers previously who could not identify a best ‘positive coping ‘strategy. The premise for this study contained this preposition, ‘Ideal coping strategies enhance positive aspects of well-being as well as reduce distress. Although researchers have identified several “positive coping” strategies, it is unclear which are most strongly associated with well-being ‘(Shiota, 2006). The independent variable being ‘positive coping’ and ‘well-being’ the dependant Discussion of findings reveal important differences among the positive coping strategies described in previous research, perhaps reflecting the differentmechanisms each strategy uses in promoting well-being. On the whole, participants did tend to have a “coping style,’ (Shiota, 2006). References Lazarus, R.S. (1966). Psychological Stress and the Coping Process. New York: McGraw-Hill. Shiota, M. (2006). Silver Linings and Candles in the Dark: Differences among Positive Coping Strategies in Predicting Subjective Well-Being. Emotion, 6(2), 335-339. Stuck with your Article Critique? Get in touch with one of our experts for instant help! Tags: Time is precious don’t waste it! writing help! No strings attached!	https://essays.io/silver-linings-and-candles-in-the-dark-article-critique-example/
Visualization For Greater Clarity: Aligning with Your True Desires There is a lot of talk these days about visualizing your dream life and manifesting your goals. But what does this mean? And what if you’ve already achieved the life you sought? You have the career, the car, the home, the relationship… What more do you need? Keep reading for the answer to this question. […] The Thrive Global Community welcomes voices from many spheres on our open platform. We publish pieces as written by outside contributors with a wide range of opinions, which don’t necessarily reflect our own. Community stories are not commissioned by our editorial team and must meet our guidelines prior to being published. There is a lot of talk these days about visualizing your dream life and manifesting your goals. But what does this mean? And what if you’ve already achieved the life you sought? You have the career, the car, the home, the relationship… What more do you need? Keep reading for the answer to this question. There is more to life than the evident things. And I learned this the hard way… through experience. So now, maybe I can save you some time on your own journey. When I was growing up, my Father was absent most of the time. His lack of availability was the impetus for me to seek perfection, so I could receive the attention I desired. I became an overachiever, hoping that achieving success would prove my worthiness to everyone… especially my father. This led me into an extremely unhealthy cycle of burnout because my true desires were clouded by my feelings of “not good enough”. However, because I was goal-oriented, I made it a practice to visualize myself at the height of success. All my visions did come to fruition. I got the car, the career, the home, and even the relationship (for a time). Yet even though I had acquired the things I’d visualized, there was a void in my life. I’d been so busy pursuing what I thought I wanted, that it took me almost ten years to become conscious of what was missing. It never occurred to me to visualize a life that included purpose, meaning and joy. Does this story bring up anything for you? Do you feel that there could be more to life, and that maybe there’s a piece missing for you? If you’re asking yourself the question ‘what’s missing in my life?’ it might be time to look closer at the power of visualization for greater clarity and to manifest your true desires. So, let’s start with what visualization means, how it leads to manifestation, and how to use visualization and manifestation for greater clarity and fulfillment. What is visualization? Visualization is the practice of creating a mental picture of the things or experiences that you want. This could be anything from a new bike to a new job. The image you create in your mind is the visual representation of the thing you desire. How visualization leads to manifestation Our thoughts, like everything, are made up of energy. When you visualize, you are building the energy of that thought. Whatever energetic vibration you put out into the universe will return back to you in kind. Therefore, the energy you’re generating in your mind is being sent out into the universe and manifesting what you want. This is the universal law of attraction. By understanding how this law works you can harness the incredible power of your own mental energy to manifest what you desire in your life. How to use visualization and manifestation for greater clarity and fulfillment Visualization can be such a powerful tool. It can help you harness your subconscious mind to tap into your greatest desires. Many of us, including myself, have experienced just how powerful it can be. When focusing on visualizing, you will receive a more clear picture for the things you really desire — deeper than material things. Things such as: Finding your purpose or meaning in life Increased happiness and joy More abundance Fulfillment Visualization can improve clarity on life’s essentials; purpose, meaning, and joy. Rather than purely the evident things in life; careers, lifestyle, and material things. And this could mean a big change in how you experience your life! As I mentioned in my own personal experience earlier, sometimes visualization and manifestation can come from an unconscious place. We set goals that are not aligned with our true desires to please others, or to gain unhealthy ambition towards goals that don’t align with what we really crave. For this reason, generating a clear vision is a powerful skill you’ll want to master. Here’s how to create a clear vision: > Prepare Get yourself situated in a location that allows you to feel safe and comfortable. Close your eyes Ignore any outside distractions Focus on your breath Pay attention to the thoughts that are passing through your mind Pay attention to any feelings or emotions that come up Once your mind and body are at ease and focused on your inner thoughts and emotions it will be easier to focus all your energy on the thoughts you’d like to visualize. > Be open Visualization requires flexibility so you’re able to encompass all possibilities. Allow yourself to openly acknowledge what you crave most in life. How can you adapt your lifestyle to obtain these desires? Maybe it won’t be a tangible goal, but you must be open to the possibilities in order to receive the outcome you want. > Create a mental picture Create a mental picture of the life you want, and be specific about how you’re feeling in that vision. Imagine what you’re doing, what you’re wearing, and who you’re with. Yet most importantly, how do you feel at that moment? Do you feel loved? Or accomplished? What feeling do you have when you are in this life you’re envisioning? Spend 5-10 minutes a day creating and fully experiencing this mental picture. Truly embody the mental picture as if you are already there and you are already experiencing that moment. Watch the embodiment of this mental picture become more clear as time goes on. > Write it down Writing down what you’re visualizing, and your thoughts around it, can help create more clarity about what you want. This process can provoke more feelings that you may not have noticed initially. It also makes the step by step process more clear. Writing and journaling can be important when it comes to visualization. > Take note of what got you to this point Yes, it is important to think of the end goal yet don’t forget about your past successes. Reflect on the steps you’ve taken so far to get to where you are today. How have they helped bring you here? What is the next small step you could take to bring you closer to achieving your new vision? It may not be something you want to do at this moment yet think about how it will benefit you in the bigger picture. What can you do today that will build your tomorrow? Apply these visualization tips for clarity These tips can help you create a clear picture of the life you want. Take your time when applying these new skills. Breathe. And feel into all the emotions that come up when connecting with your vision. Making visualization a regular practice will bring greater clarity and connect you with what you really want in life. When you apply these tips to your visualization/manifestation practice, along with taking the actions set forth to achieve your visions, you can manifest a life filled with your greatest desires. As the CEO/Founder of Intuit Wisdom, LLC, I have 3 decades of experience researching personal growth and how we heal from within as it relates to chronic illness, fibromyalgia, and burnout. I’m a Speaker, Certified Life Coach, Ordained Minister, and on track to have my Doctorate in Metaphysics by late-2019. I know the challenges of finding physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual balance. That’s why I’ve dedicated my life to helping other women avoid or recover from burnout, and supporting them to create the life they desire. I healed myself from fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. Then my perfectionistic, Type-A tendencies drove me to burnout. I discovered something life-changing, which helped me recover from burnout. Now I’m inspired to share my discovery with YOU. I had a very special and simple self-care practice that saved me. Go to WhitneyGordon-Mead.com to grab your gift: “From Burnout To Balance: A Simple 10-Minute Daily Self-Care Practice”. Share your comments below. 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Bainbridge Island Little League will host the Majors Baseball District 2 Tournament this year — for the first time in more than a decade — at Rotary Park starting Saturday, July 1 though Saturday, July 8. This is the first time a district tournament has been held on island soil in more than 15 years, said Bainbridge Island Little League tournament coordinator Tim Duffy. “Nine teams from across the peninsula will be competing for the district championship, earning a spot in the state tourney,” he explained. “The winner of state earns a potential path the the World Series in Williamsport [Pennsylvania].” Teams must compete at the district, state and then regional levels before reaching the big show. The last team to come out of District 2 and make it to Williamsport was, in fact, the 2001 Bainbridge All-Stars. The first pitch of the tournament will be thrown at 1 p.m. Saturday. Bainbridge All-Stars then take the field 3:30 p.m. to play against South Kitsap Western. “This is an opportunity to see some great baseball right here in our own backyard,” said Jason Gall, president of the Bainbridge Island Little League. “Some of the best players from the Peninsula will be squaring off and it should be exciting to watch.” This year’s Bainbridge Island All-Star Team will be defending their 2016 District 2 title. After winning it, they went to place fourth at the state tournament last year. The league is also eager to show off the recent improvements at Rotary Park, officials said. The first covered batting cage on the island was completed in April. “This has already proven well worth the investment after the wet spring we had,” Duffy said. “It really gives kids a chance to practice and improve when the fields are not playable.” Bainbridge Island Little League is a 53-year-old, 100 percent volunteer-run organization that gives boys and girls of all ages and abilities the opportunity to learn baseball and softball. For a full 2017 District 2 Tournament bracket and the latest updates, visit www.wad2llb.org/tournaments/2017-tournaments/2017district-2.	https://www.bainbridgereview.com/sports/bainbridge-to-host-little-league-majors-tourney/
From Designing and Implementing impact evaluations Impact evaluations are now a part and parcel of international development grants. They not only serve an accountability function for donors and other stakeholders but provide an opportunity to learn lessons improving the delivery of subsequent interventions. Impact evaluations enable an understanding of the extent to which project goals have been met and assess both intended and unintended consequences of a programme. As a result, they help build the evidence base in the sector and facilitate improved allocation of resources. CMS has conducted over 170 evaluations working with local and national government, donors and NGOs. We work closely with clients to ensure they commission the right type of evaluation for their needs. We have designed checklists and decision-making tools to aid the process. Evaluators have a tendency to alter programme designs in order to improve assessment processes. This results in tensions with programme implementers. We understand the need to compromise between staying faithful to the programme design and safeguarding the evaluation processes. Many outcomes in development can be intangible and the result of multiple interacting factors. Consequently, experimental methods are not best suited to evaluate these programmes. We use a range of methodological tools to capture these nuances and have robust systems and processes to ensure high quality data collection and data quality assurance. With evaluations, the journey is as important as the destination. Process evaluations have often been neglected, but they allow us to understand how the outcome has been achieved and the conditions necessary to bring about that change. They consider issues faced in programme delivery and explore how barriers were overcome. These crucial insights inform whether and how initiatives can be scaled and replicated in different settings. All Articles - Health, Life skills and Well-being - Confidence & Well-being - Gender & Well-being - Innovative Financing: Adjusting to the Waves of Change - Scaling big data in Agriculture - Social Impact Organisations: The Constant Juggle between Social Impact and Financial Viability - Reducing Ocean Plastics - Formative Research leading to Intervention Planning in India The overwhelming plastic waste reaching ocean has been causing significant economic and environmental damage - Gaming the wait - Task Shifting of HIV Screening in Sex Worker Communities - From Designing and Implementing impact evaluations Impact evaluations are now a part and parcel of international development grants. - Why care for robust secondary data Choice of research methodology is largely determined by the research questions -- what we want to find out, and what will help us do that best. But practical considerations such as the availability of resources (including the type of data available and the knowledge and skills of the persons undertaking the research) also influence the method we choose to employ. - Measuring the Immeasurable Why is the sky blue? What are black holes? How did the world begin? Familiar questions to many parents. Curiosity plays a fundamental role in learning. It keeps you wanting to explore the world and constantly ask questions. - The importance of fit-for-purpose research design The principle that policies should be designed using the best available evidence is one that is difficult to contest. - Using Evidence to Influence Program Design Breakthrough’s Early Marriage Campaign, implemented in three districts of the Indian States of Jharkhand and Bihar, aims to utilise a media (mass and community) programme that challenges existing norms around gender and sexuality, for discouraging the practice of early marriage. - Creating Social Value As experts in social value assessment of business models, we support various corporates to monitor the social performance and assess the impact of their initiatives.The idea of social value is distinct from CSR, and is way broader. - What Builds an Effective Information Exchange and Communication System for Disaster Response Calling information a “life-saving resource”, the World Disasters Report, 2005 noted: “Disaster-affected people need information as much as water, food, medicine or shelter: accurate, timely information can save lives.” - Inclusive Business Models In India, around 70 percent to 90 percent of the rural households depend on agriculture and allied sector as their principal means of livelihood. Smallholder farmers constitute 80 percent of total farm households...	https://solvists.org/from-designing-and-implementing-impact-evaluations/
\|Number of plants found: 11\|\|Next\|\|Go to page:\|\|1\|\|2\| This species has dwarf growth habit, and blooms year round. The plant is always covered with flowers. The name Calliandra means "beautiful stamens", and several of the approximately 150 shrubs and small trees belonging to this genus are grown for their dense heads of pink or white silky stamens that appear on short stalks along the upper sides of the branches. Propagation is easier from seeds, cuttings are also possible. The name Calliandra comes from the Greek for 'beautiful stamens'. The globular flowerheads can be up to 2.5 inches in diameter (6 cm). This plant can be trained either in a small standard tree or a nice round bush. It is a long-lived, many-stemmed dense shrub, belonging to the mimosa family and grows to about 6ft high. The branches grow from ground level, and the leaves consist of tiny crowded leaflets that fold together at night or by touch. The fine, feathery and large flowers are a deep scarlet color and borne among the green foliage from spring to autumn. Propagation is from seed or cuttings taken in winter. Plant has "Stinking Toe" name because its seedpods look like big, fat toes and are said to smell like smelly feet or toes. The fruit is however very delicious. The pulp of Stinking Toe is sweet tasting and eaten fresh or made into a beverage. Plant has also many uses in folk medicine from alleviating headaches to treating gout. White, fragrant flowers are pollinated by bats. This plant produces usable copal resins, mostly underground and at the base of the tree. Orange sticky gum converts to amber, but this process takes millions of years. This forms a hard polymer that is resistant to natural decay processes. A large attractive tree with spreading branches and lovely white and yellow pompom type flowers. Between each leaflet there is a nectary gland on the leaf rachis. The pods look similar to a tamarind pod. A nitrogen fixing tree, produces bean pods up to 3 FT long which contain sweet, juicy, white pulp that has a soft cotton wool texture and tastes of vanilla ice-cream. "A delectable snack that comes in its own natural wrapper" which is loved by children. The seeds commonly germinate while the fruit is still attached to the tree. If you look carefully, you can see the bright green of the first leaves put out by the seed while it is still inside the fruit! The Inga spectabilis is very rare in cultivation. It is also called the Machete Ice Cream Bean because of its shape. Like the more common Inga edulis, this Ice Cream Bean has seeds that are surrounded by delicious white and soft flesh. Because the seed pot has a thicker shell, it is more resistant to external influences. In tropical conditions a seedling can give fruit after 3 years. The tree is very vigorous and fast growing, in favorable conditions it can reach a height of more than 30 ft. The Machete Ice Cream Bean is also can be used as an ornamental shade tree. A large attractive tree with spreading branches and lovely white and yellow pompom type flowers. Upright, semi - evergreen tree. It has dark green leathery leaflets, fragrant, yellow flowers and alongated seedpod. Shade tree on streets and roadsides or cover for cash crops in the humid tropics. Also grown as an ornamental. Sap wood soft and light, not durable and of little use, heartwood red, hard and strong. Good for carpentry, construction and cartwright's work. Bark contains tannins, giving a light yellow color to leather, tannins also present in leaves and wood. Medicinal uses: bark for dysentry, tooth powder, eye lotion, embrocation for pains and sores; the bark gives a dye of a yellow color. Can be used as a shade - or specimen tree. USDA hardiness zone 10b. It is a fast-growing tree. Temperatures in the high 20's cause the leaves to drop but these are quickly replaced. Young trees flower in 2-3 years from seed.	https://toptropicals.com/cgi-bin/garden_catalog/cat.cgi?find=Inga
FBU conference makes Nelson Mandela an honorary member of the union South African anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela was made an honorary member of the FBU at its conference in June, following his release from prison in February. The move, very much in keeping with the union’s progressive stance on worldwide issues, coincided with a debate and emergency resolution in which delegates backed the continuing fight, including the maintenance of Britain’s economic sanctions on the apartheid regime. Delegates paid tribute to Mandela and the African National Congress, of which he was vice-president. Mandela was to receive his honorary membership of the union when he attended the Labour Party conference in October. The FBU had campaigned for Mandela’s release from prison for years and, like many in the labour movement, was jubilant at his release. In January the union had launched its South Africa – Freedom Now! Campaign, which rested on four pillars: stop apartheid repression, boycott apartheid – sanctions now, solidarity with the ANC, and a united, non-racial and democratic South Africa. The June conference recognised Mandela’s “supreme sacrifice” of freedom and that he and his colleagues would never be free until a true and democratic structure was established in South Africa. The FBU pledged to continue, through the anti-apartheid movement, to support the struggle for freedom in the country, the release of all political prisoners, the lifting of all bans and restrictions on people and organisations, the removal of troops from towns and an end to the state of emergency. The union also called for the repeal of all legislation, such as the Internal Security Act, designed to restrict political activity, and an end to all political trials and executions. As John Neville, Dumfries and Galloway brigade chair, pointed out in The Firefighter, how can the union fight against discrimination on grounds of race in the workplace and not be opposed to the system of apartheid? He said: "It seems to me to be wholly meet and appropriate that we should therefore honour one of the world’s great exponents of racial equality."	https://www.fbu.org.uk/history/fbu-conference-makes-nelson-mandela-honorary-member-union
While routine screening of children for high cholesterol isn't necessary, you may want to consider it under certain circumstances. Children should be screened whose parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles have high cholesterol or cardiovascular disease before age 55 for men and 65 for women. Higher-than-normal blood cholesterol among children does not always predict high levels in adulthood. But for children from high-risk families, check with your doctor and work with a registered dietitian to bring cholesterol levels down. In 2011, the National Institutes of Health released guidelines recommending that children be routinely screened for high cholesterol between ages 9 and 11 and again between 17 and 21. The test should then be repeated at least once every five years, more often depending on your risk range. Medicare beneficiaries can now get a free cardiovascular screening test for cholesterol, triglycerides and lipid levels. Ask your healthcare professional about this benefit. Additionally, children age two or older with a family history of premature heart disease, at least one parent with high blood cholesterol or a condition commonly associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease, such as obesity or hypertension, should have their cholesterol levels tested. Continue Learning about High Cholesterol Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.	https://www.sharecare.com/health/high-cholesterol/should-children-have-cholesterol-screenings
The study aimed to examine the learning and cognitive growth factors as two correlated concepts that transfer knowledge from its primitive state to a final stable state that reflects in successful activities adults are able to perform. The difference between weak and fluctuating performance at the beginning of the learning and cognitive growth exists. To find the difference the current study attempted to answer the following questions: (a) What is the level of knowledge acquisition among the students of Qassim University? (b) Are there significant differences at (α=0.05) between means of participants responses on the knowledge acquisition test attributed to the type of the major (scientific or humanitarian), academic level (third or seventh academic) and their interaction? The author selected (240) female participant by the simple random sampling method from the third and seventh academic levels in both majors scientific and humanitarian. To achieve the goals of the study the author constructed a test to measure knowledge acquisition. The first question means results range between (3.11-3.50), the mental processes ranked first and its mean scored (3.50) degrees, symbolic systems ranked last, and its mean scored (3.11) degrees. The overall mean of the test scored (3.30) degrees. The second question results illustrated significant differences at (α=0.05) attributed to the academic level, f-value scored (735.554) and a significance of (0.000) in favor of the seventh academic level. Significant differences at (α=0.05) attributed to major appeared, f-value scored (3411.658) and a significance of (0.000), in favor of the scientific majors. The impact of the interaction between the major and academic level differences proved to be significant at (α=0.05). Keywords Full Text:PDF References Aharchaou, al-Ghali. (1999). The process of acquisition between cognitive growth and learning. Arab Childhood Journal, (1). Kuwait. Aharchaou, al-Ghali. (2007). Towards cognitive approaches of child psychology and acquisition process in the Arab world. Arab Childhood Journal, (35), 98-107. Aharchaou, al-Ghali. al-Zaher, A. (2000). Unit of formation and research: Cognitive growth and Process Of acquirement of the Knowledge. University of Bahrain Journal, 1(1). 16-45. Carey, S. (1985). Conceptual change in childhood. Mass MIT Press. Chomsky, N. (1968). Language and mind. NY: Harcourt Brace Javanovitch. Greenfield, P. M., & Bruner, J. S. (1966). Culture and cognitive growth1. International Journal of Psychology, 1(2), 89-107. Hull, C. (1952). A behavior system. New Haven: Yale University Press. Mounoud, P. (1994). The emergence of new behaviors: Relations between knowledge in psychology and education. N18. Osgood, C. (1953). Method and theory in experimental psychology. NY: Oxford Uni. Press. Pankratius, W. J. (1990). Building an organized knowledge base: Concept mapping and achievement in secondary school physics. Journal of Research in Science Teaching. 27(4). 315-333. Piaget, J. (1974). Six psychology studies, ed Denoele Paris. Pintrich, P. M., etc. (1993). Beyond cold conceptual change: The role of motivational beliefs and classroom contextual factors in the process of conceptual change. Review of Educational Research, 63(2). 167-199. Shalabi, M. (2001). An introduction into cognitive psychology. Dar El Ghareeb For Printing & Publishing. Cairo. Egypt. Skinner, B. (1971). Analyse comportementale expérimentale. Bruxelles, Desart. Thorndike, P. (1977). Cognitive structure in comprehension and memory for narrative discourse. Cognitive Psychology, 9, 77-110. Vygotsky, L. (1962). Thought and language. New York: John Wiley and Sons. Vygotsky, L. (1980).Thought and language; ed social trad. Franc; Paris. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/10797 Refbacks - There are currently no refbacks. 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You may start a New Submission by clicking on “CLICK HERE”. - We only use three mailboxes as follows to deal with issues about paper acceptance, payment and submission of electronic versions of our journals to databases: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] Articles published in Canadian Social Science are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC-BY). CANADIAN SOCIAL SCIENCE Editorial Office Address: 1020 Bouvier Street, Suite 400, Quebec City, Quebec, G2K 0K9, Canada.	http://cscanada.net/index.php/css/article/view/10797
I have long been fascinated by the biological richness of western Pennsylvania and, like Rachel Carson, I find reserves of strength in the beauty and renewal of nature. As a boy, I had the good fortune to know Roger Latham, then the outdoor editor of the Pittsburgh Press. A well-recognized wildlife scientist, he gave wonderful wildflower presentations that included the many graceful images he had captured on film. Roger’s passion for native wildflowers hooked me. I saved my money from milking cows and baling hay on a nearby farm and bought a 35-mm camera and proper lenses to photograph blossoming plants. Armed with the two-volume Wild Flowers of Western Pennsylvania and the Upper Ohio Basin, I went on a spring mission to find the rare beauties that dotted the varied landscapes. Since Pennsylvania has 2,151 native plant species, I had my work cut out for me. Years later, while working for the Pennsylvania General Assembly, I discovered a flaw in the U.S. Endangered Species Act: the law prohibits destruction of federally listed plants only in “areas under federal jurisdiction.” Unfortunately, more than 70 percent of federally listed plants occur outside of those areas. In 1974, I wrote a bill that extended protection to Pennsylvania’s threatened and endangered plants against bulldozers and other threats. For the next eight years, I followed in Roger’s footsteps, crisscrossing the state and giving presentations to hundreds of garden clubs, civic groups and sportsmen’s organizations in order to rally support for the measure, which finally was signed into law by the governor in 1982. Today, the Commonwealth lists 682 plants as endangered, threatened, rare or undetermined. I share this story because wild native plants in Pennsylvania and throughout the nation increasingly are falling victim to habitat shifts caused by rapidly changing climate and, in many areas, by feral hogs introduced to North America from Europe. Today, feral swine populations are exploding around the country. Now estimated at more than 5 million, the animals are eating, rooting and wallowing their way through forests, fields and wetlands, aggressively devouring and destroying native plants and damaging important wildlife habitats. Invasive swine also are causing millions of dollars in damage to agricultural crops and are threatening humans, native wildlife and livestock, which can be impacted by novel pathogens that the feral creatures may transmit. At NWF’s annual meeting in May, delegates from 48 state and territorial wildlife affiliate organizations passed a resolution to draw attention to this growing problem. Because existing laws, regulations and management tactics have proved insufficient to stop the spread of swine populations, we are calling for increased coordination between local, state and federal agencies to minimize the animals’ impact and contain their numbers. Authorities need to give more attention to the possible role of large predators and other control strategies. Farmers, ranchers and hunters also can do their part to help. It is a fool’s errand, of course, to think that we can somehow eradicate 5 million hogs hiding in the nation’s swamps and forests. But with some thoughtful resource management and collaboration, much of the damage caused by the creatures can be reduced or avoided in the future. More than anything, we need a proactive approach for dealing with such alien invaders. NWF has long been a proponent of legislation that would help protect the nation from the economic and environmental threats posed by invasive species. Recently introduced into the U.S. Congress, H.R. 5864, the Invasive Fish and Wildlife Prevention Act of 2012, would strengthen regulators’ ability to make rapid, science-based decisions about whether nonnative fish or wildlife species pose a risk to ecosystems, cause economic damage or threaten public health. The legislation also would prevent more damaging invasives from entering the United States, using proactive rather than reactive approaches. As the world globalizes trade, we must take steps to end accidental and intentional importations of nonnative fish and shellfish in bilgewaters. We should restrict importation of exotic animals as pets, and we must end the introduction of foreign species for commercialized hunting and fishing. Working together, we must call on Congress to pass protective legislation, and we must mobilize action at the local level to contain the exotic invaders that already are thriving in our nation. Help protect wildlife, including Florida Panthers, from invasive species like the python.	https://blog.nwf.org/2012/06/in-defense-of-wildflowers/
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 0001 This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to provisional patent application 60/421,917, filed Oct. 28, 2002, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety to the extent not inconsistent with the disclosure herein. 0002 The work was funded through a grant by the United States government under NIDCR grant 1UO1 DE14971-01. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 0003 Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) microscopy is a technique that uses excitation of surface plasmons (SPs) to detect chemical and physical changes in a probed region adjacent to a sensing surface. A variety of sensors based on SPR techniques have been developed which provide a sensitive means of characterizing the thickness and index of refraction of ultrathin films occurring at the surface of a thin metal film. In recent years, SP sensors have been used extensively to characterize chemical and physical properties of a variety of biological materials and to probe binding events in real time. For example, SP sensors have been used successfully to characterize the morphology of a range of surfaces, probe the kinetics and dynamics of interactions between proteins, proteins and DNA and proteins and small molecules, monitor antibody-antigen binding and characterize DNA hybridization processes. −1 <mtable><mtr><mtd><mrow><mrow><mi>L</mi><mo>=</mo><mfrac><mn>1</mn><mrow><mn>2</mn><mo>&it;</mo><mstyle><mtext>&emsp;</mtext></mstyle><mo>&it;</mo><mrow><mi>Re</mi><mo>&af;</mo><mrow><mo>(</mo><msqrt><mrow><msubsup><mi>k</mi><mi>sp</mi><mn>2</mn></msubsup><mo>+</mo><msubsup><mi>k</mi><mi>s</mi><mn>2</mn></msubsup></mrow></msqrt><mo>)</mo></mrow></mrow></mrow></mfrac></mrow><mo>;</mo></mrow></mtd><mtd><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>I</mi><mo>)</mo></mrow></mtd></mtr></mtable> 0004 Surface plasmons, also know as surface plasmon waves or plasmon polaritons, are charge density waves, which propagate parallel to an interface between a conducting or semiconducting thin film and a dielectric sample layer. SPs are generated by coupling radiant energy from incident photons into the oscillating modes of free electrons present in a conducting material, such as a metal, or semiconductor material. SPs are highly localized at the surface of the conducting (or semiconducting) layer and the intensity of the electric field of a SP decays exponentially in directions perpendicular to the plane in which it propagates. The spatial distribution of a SP may be quantitatively described by a characteristic decay length corresponding to the distance over which the intensity of the SP decays to etimes its value at the conductor (or semiconductor)dielectric sample layer interface. Decay length (L) is provided by the expression: sp s 0005 wherein Re refers to the real part of the quantity in parentheses, kis the surface plasmon wavevector and kis the wavevector in the dielectric sample layer adjacent to the conductor (or semiconductor). For a dielectric sample layer comprising water and a conducting thin film comprising gold the decay length is equal to about 83.1 nm for light having a wavelength of about 632.8 nm. The highly localized nature of SPs make them ideally suited for detecting very small changes in refractive index occurring in sensing regions proximate to a sensing surface ( about 300 nm). 0006 In conventional SPR methods, a SP is excited by evanescent electromagnetic waves generated upon total internal reflection of an incident light beam. In the Kretschmann-Raether geometry, evanescent electromagnetic waves penetrate a thin metal film (50 nm) positioned between higher and lower refractive index dielectric layers and excite a SP, which propagates parallel to the outer surface of the metal film adjacent to the lower refractive index layer. The prism is needed to achieve the wavevector matching condition between the incident excitation light and the surface plasmons. For a given dielectric sample, photons of a certain wavelength and incident at a certain angle will generate evanescent waves that penetrate the metal layer and excite surface plasmons at the metal-dielectric sample interface. The intensity of reflected light will therefore be reduced and can be monitored as a signal of SP generation. Alternatively, in the Otto SPR configuration, the metal layer and prism are separated by an air gap and SPs are excited on the side of the metal film adjacent to the prism. A drawback of the Otto SPR configuration is that it is experimentally difficult to maintain a very thin and constant thickness air gap. Finally, in other SPR methods, surface plasmons are created by evanescent fields generated as light propagates down a fiber optic or waveguide having a thin metal interior layer <mtable><mtr><mtd><mrow><mrow><msub><mi>k</mi><mrow><mi>s</mi><mo>&it;</mo><mstyle><mtext>&emsp;</mtext></mstyle><mo>&it;</mo><mi>p</mi></mrow></msub><mo>=</mo><mrow><msub><mi>k</mi><mn>0</mn></msub><mo>&it;</mo><msqrt><mfrac><mrow><msub><mi>&varepsilon;</mi><mi>c</mi></msub><mo>&it;</mo><msub><mi>&varepsilon;</mi><mi>d</mi></msub></mrow><mrow><msub><mi>&varepsilon;</mi><mi>c</mi></msub><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>&varepsilon;</mi><mi>d</mi></msub></mrow></mfrac></msqrt></mrow></mrow><mo>;</mo></mrow></mtd><mtd><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>II</mi><mo>)</mo></mrow></mtd></mtr></mtable> 0007 Excitation of SPs via total internal reflection is a resonant phenomenon that depends on the wavevector of the incident light (i.e. both the wavelength and angle of incidence of the incident light beam. In addition, excitation of SPs is dependent on the indices of refraction and thickness of the higher refractive index layer, lower refractive index sample layer and conducting (or semiconducting) thin film used to couple radiant energy into the oscillating modes of free electrons present in the conductor. The dispersion equation for a SP is provided by the equation: 0 0 c d par sp 0008 wherein kis the free space wavevector (k/c); and are the complex permittivities of the conducting (or semiconducting) thin film and the lower refractive index dielectric sample layer, respectively and is the angular frequency. A resonance condition of exciting an SP is that the parallel component of the incident wavevector (k), must equal the surface plasmon wave vector (k): <mtable><mtr><mtd><mrow><msub><mi>k</mi><mrow><mi>p</mi><mo>&it;</mo><mstyle><mtext>&emsp;</mtext></mstyle><mo>&it;</mo><mi>a</mi><mo>&it;</mo><mstyle><mtext>&emsp;</mtext></mstyle><mo>&it;</mo><mi>r</mi></mrow></msub><mo>=</mo><mrow><mfrac><mrow><mn>2</mn><mo>&it;</mo><mstyle><mtext>&emsp;</mtext></mstyle><mo>&it;</mo><mi>&pi;</mi><mo>&it;</mo><mstyle><mtext>&emsp;</mtext></mstyle><mo>&it;</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>&it;</mo><mstyle><mtext>&emsp;</mtext></mstyle><mo>&it;</mo><mrow><mi>sin</mi><mo>&af;</mo><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>&theta;</mi><mo>)</mo></mrow></mrow></mrow><mi>&lambda;</mi></mfrac><mo>.</mo></mrow></mrow></mtd><mtd><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>IV</mi><mo>)</mo></mrow></mtd></mtr></mtable> 0009 The parallel component of the incident wavevector may be expressed in terms of the index of refraction of the medium in which the light is incident, n, the angle of incidence, , and the wavelength of the incident light beam, , by the equation for formation of a SP: <mtable><mtr><mtd><mrow><mfrac><mrow><mn>2</mn><mo>&it;</mo><mstyle><mtext>&emsp;</mtext></mstyle><mo>&it;</mo><mi>&pi;</mi><mo>&it;</mo><mstyle><mtext>&emsp;</mtext></mstyle><mo>&it;</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>&it;</mo><mstyle><mtext>&emsp;</mtext></mstyle><mo>&it;</mo><mrow><mi>sin</mi><mo>&af;</mo><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>&theta;</mi><mo>)</mo></mrow></mrow></mrow><mi>&lambda;</mi></mfrac><mo>=</mo><mrow><msub><mi>k</mi><mn>0</mn></msub><mo>&it;</mo><mrow><msqrt><mfrac><mrow><msub><mi>&varepsilon;</mi><mi>c</mi></msub><mo>&it;</mo><msub><mi>&varepsilon;</mi><mi>d</mi></msub></mrow><mrow><msub><mi>&varepsilon;</mi><mi>c</mi></msub><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>&varepsilon;</mi><mi>d</mi></msub></mrow></mfrac></msqrt><mo>.</mo></mrow></mrow></mrow></mtd><mtd><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>V</mi><mo>)</mo></mrow></mtd></mtr></mtable> 0010 Substituting equations II and IV into equation III provides the following relationship expressing the resonance condition for the formation of a surface plasmon in terms of the angle of incidence and wavelength of the incident beam: 0011 As is evident from equation V, for a given metal film thickness and set of refractive indices of dielectric layers, the resonance condition may be satisfied by variation of either the angle of incidence or the wavelength of the incident light beam, or both. 0012 In the derivation of the dispersion relation for the SP, equation II, two additional conditions that must be satisfied for surface plasmon generation to occur become apparent. First, SPs are p-polarized and so can only be excited by p-polarized incident light. And second, SPs are only supported at an interface made up of media with real permittivites of opposite sign. 0013 As illustrated by equations II-V, changes in the refractive index of the dielectric sample layer adjacent to the thin metal film changes the resonance condition for generating a SP. This change in resonance condition may be monitored directly by measuring the intensity of the reflected incident beam as a function of angle of incidence, wavelength of the incident beam or both. Satisfaction of the resonance condition results in a sharp attenuation in the intensity of the reflected beam caused by a conversion of radiant energy of the incident beam into SPs at the interface between the thin metal film and the lower refractive index layer. Due to their spatially localized nature, SPs have also been used to excite photoluminescent materials. Specifically, energy from a SP is coupled to a photoluminescent material in a manner resulting in excitation of an electronic transition providing fluorescence or photoluminescence. An additional detector can be positioned in optical communication with the sensing surface to measure the intensity of fluorescence of materials pumped by the SPR process. The combination of attenuated reflectance SPR methods and SPR induced fluorescence has been demonstrated to provide a sensitive means of characterizing chemical and physical changes occurring at a senor surface. 0014 Sensors based on SPR utilize the dependence of the SPR resonance condition on changes in the refractive index of a lower refractive index dielectric sample layer positioned adjacent to the thin metal (or semiconductor) film. In typical sensing applications, changes in the resonance condition for formation of SPs are monitored in real time and directly related to chemical or physical changes occurring at a sensing surface adjacent to the thin metal (or semiconductor) film. Sensors based on SPR may provide selective detection of materials and compounds by manipulating the chemical or physical properties of the sensing surface. In these applications, the sensing surface may be coated with a material exhibiting selective binding characteristics such that the refractive index varies in the presence of a specific material to be sensed. For example, the sensing surface may be made sensitive to a particular antibody by coating it with an antigen to that antibody. Using these principles, SPR detection has been successfully incorporated into a number of commercially available biological sensing devices including the sensors and screening devices manufactured by BIAcore, Inc. 0015 Generally, a SPR optical configuration comprises (1) a source of electromagnetic radiation, (2) an optically transmissive component having a first refractive index, (3) a dielectric sample layer (or probe region) having a second refractive index less than that of the first refractive index of the optically transmissive component, (4) a conducting or semiconducting thin film positioned between the optically transmissive component and the dielectric sample layer (probe region) and (5) a detector. In this configuration, an incident beam is transmitted through the transparent region at an angle of incidence such that it undergoes total internal reflection at the interface between the optical transmissive component and the conducting thin film. The reflected incident beam is collected and directed to a detector capable of measuring its intensity as function of time. If the resonance condition outlined in Equations II to V is met, radiant energy is converted into a SP at the interface between the conducting or semiconducting thin film and the dielectric sample layer resulting in a measurable decrease in the intensity of the reflected incident beam. Letters to Nature Thin Solid Films Thin Solid Films Applied Optics Applied Optics Review of Scientific Instruments Annual Reviews of Physical Chemistry 0016 Sensors based on SPR may utilize a number of different optical configurations. Exemplary optical configurations are described in Rothenhausler, B. and W. Knoll (1988). Surface-plasmon microscopy.332(14): 615-617., Hickel, W. and W. Knoll (1990). Surface plasmon microscopy of lipid layers.187: 349-356, Hickel, W. and W. Knoll (1991). Time and spatially resolved surface plasmon optical investigation of the photodesorption of Langmuir-Blodgett multilayer assemblies.199: 367-373, de Bruijn, H. E., R. P. H. Kooyman, et al. (1992), Choice of metal and wavelength for surface-plasmon resonance sensors; some considerations.31(4): 440-442, de Bruijn, H. E., R. P. H. Kooyman, et al. (1993). Surface plasmon resonance microscopy; improvement of the resolution by rotation of the object.32(13): 2426-2430, Berger, C. E. H., R. P. H. Kooyman, et al. (1994). Resolution in surface plasmon microscopy.65(9): 2829-2837 and Brockman, J. M., B. P. Nelson, et al. (2001) Surface plasmon resonance imaging measurements of ultrathin organic films.51(1): 41-47, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties to the extent not inconsistent with the present application. sp sp sp 0017 The most common configuration in SPR sensing applications involves angle modulation of a substantially monochromatic, coherent incident light beam. In this technique, a surface plasmon resonance curve is generated by measuring the intensity of a reflected, substantially monochromatic, coherent incident beam, as the angle of incidence is systematically varied. Satisfaction of the SP resonance condition results in a measurable attenuation of the intensity of the incident beam corresponding to the minimum of a curve of reflected beam intensity versus incident angle. The angle corresponding to this minimum, referred to as the resonant angle (), is dependent on the index of refraction near the surface of the conducting layer. Adsorption or binding of materials in the sensing region adjacent to the conducting layer changes the index of refraction in the sensing region and causes a measurable shift in the value of . Quantification of the shift in , therefore, provides a sensitive means of observing and characterizing changes in the composition and concentration of materials in sensing region. For example, studies have demonstrated linear correlations exist between resonance angle shifts and protein concentrations in the sensing region. 0018 Despite the demonstrated effectiveness of angle modulation SPR techniques, theses optical configurations have several practical limitations. First, angle modulation optical configurations require use of complicated optical component rotation assemblies for selectably adjusting the angle of incidence of the incident beam. Typically, such assemblies provide for rotation of a combination of a light source, beam shaping optics and polarizing optics and/or rotation of a combination of light collection optics and a detector. Optical configurations requiring use of such complex rotation assemblies are undesirable because they are costly, spatially restrictive and require frequent maintenance and realignment. Second, use of complex optical component rotation assembles increases an instrument's sensitivity to optical misalignment caused by vibration and variations in ambient temperature and pressure. Finally, use of coherent light sources, such as lasers, in angle modulation SPR techniques results in unwanted optical interference of reflected beam components. Such optical interference is undesirable because it results in fringe patterns, which substantially degrades the optical quality of images obtained by SPR techniques. sp sp 0019 Another optical configuration common to SPR sensing applications involves wavelength modulation. In wavelength modulation optical configurations, the intensity of the reflected incident beam is monitored for a fixed angle of incidence as the wavelength of the incident beam is systematically varied. In these techniques, a surface plasmon resonance curve is generated by measuring the intensity of a reflected incident beam, as the wavelength of the incident beam is varied. The wavelength corresponding to the minimum of a curve of reflected beam intensity verse wavelength, referred to as the resonant wavelength (), indicates satisfaction of the resonance condition and is dependent on the index of refraction of a sensing region adjacent to the surface of the conducting layer. Quantification of the shift in , therefore, provides a sensitive means of observing and characterizing changes in the composition and concentration of materials in sensing region. SPR wavelength modulation techniques commonly employ a constant angle of incidence and, therefore, do not require use of bulky optical rotation assembles. 0020 Another application of SPR to sensing is SPR imaging techniques, wherein spatial differences in the reflectivity of an incident beam are measured as a function of time. In this technique, a collimated, monochromatic light beam is used for excitation of SPs and reflected light corresponding to a probe region is monitored by a two-dimensional array detector, such as a charge coupled device or camera. Differences in composition in the probe region are monitored in real time by observing a two-dimensional distribution of measured reflected light intensities. The thickness and refractive index of materials absorbed or bound to certain regions of the probe area may satisfy the SP resonance condition and provide for efficient SP formation. Therefore, these regions will exhibit attenuated reflected light intensities. Other regions of the probe area, in contrast, may comprise absorbed or bound materials having refractive indices which do not satisfy the SP resonance condition and do not result in efficient SP formation. Therefore, these regions will exhibit high reflectivities of the incident beam. Differences in the reflectivities of regions having different chemical and physical properties result in an image characterizing the entire probe area. The maximum contrast between regions in the probe area can be obtained by varying the imaging angle or wavelength of the SPR system. Annual Reviews of Physical Chemistry 0021 Brockman, J. M., B. P. Nelson, et al. (2001). Surface plasmon resonance imaging measurements of ultrathin organic films.51(1): 41-47 describes an optical configuration that is reported to improve quality and sensitivity of images generated by SPR imaging techniques. The authors disclose an optical arrangement comprising a collimated white light source, polarizer, prismthin gold film sample assembly, narrow band interference filter and charge couple device (CCD) camera. The reference shows five SPR images corresponding to five different interference filters, which passes different wavelengths of excitation light. Although the authors report that SPR image quality may be optimized by selection of an interference filter having the appropriate transmission characteristics, the disclosed methods require time consuming, iterative image quality adjustment by manual removal and insertion of different interference filters. The authors principally depend on angle scanning to optimally contrast the samples in their probe region. Moreover, removal and insertion of optical interference filters requires repeated alignment of the excitation and detection optical arrangements. In addition, the teaching of the reference is limited to optical configurations providing discrete detection wavelength selection and does not provide the ability to tune the excitation or detection wavelength over a continuous range of values. Finally, the methods disclosed expose the sample to significant intensities of light having wavelengths not detected by the CCD camera, which do not contribute to SPR image formation and may damage materials in the probe region. 0022 It will be appreciated from the foregoing that a clear need exists for methods and devices for generating SPs in thin conducting (or semiconducting films) which do not utilize angle modulation SPR, particularly angle modulation SPR optical configurations having complex rotational assemblies. Further, methods and devices for wavelength modulation SPR sensing and/or imaging having continuously tunable, incoherent light sources are needed. Finally, tunable SPR instruments are needed which eliminate undesirable optical interference problems and provide enhanced sensitivity and resolution. 0023 This invention provides methods, devices and device components for sensing, imaging and characterizing changes in the composition of a probe region. More particularly, the present invention provides methods and devices for detecting changes in the refractive index of a probe region positioned adjacent to a sensing surface, preferably a sensing surface comprising a thin conducting film supporting SP formation. In addition, the present invention provides methods and device for generating surface plasmons in a probe region and characterizing the composition of the probe region by generating one or more surface plasmon resonances curves and/or surface plasmon resonance images of the probe region. The methods and devices of the present invention may be used to detect and characterize adsorption, absorption or binding of chemical species, such as molecules and ions, to a probe region, particularly a probe region having selected binding affinity and/or other selected chemical or physical properties. Further, the present invention provides wavelength tunable SPR sensing devices and imaging devices that are capable of sensing changes in the occurrence of SPR and/or the SP resonant wavelength required for SPR formation as a function of time, particularly with respect to a probe region undergoing physical and/or chemical changes. Wavelength tunable SPR sensing devices of the present invention may be used to detect species in a solution that are in contact with or near the sensing surface. 0024 It is an object of the present invention to provide tunable SPR sensing and imaging devices that do not require angular modulation, particularly devices which do not require complex optical rotation assemblies for varying the angle of incidence in conventional angular modulation SPR optical configurations. It is further an object of the present invention to provide methods and devices which minimize the occurrence of optical interference, particularly methods and devices which eliminate the occurrence of fringe patterns and speckle which degrade SPR image quality and obfuscate SPR sensing measurements. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide methods and devices for detecting materials, such as atoms, molecules, ions or aggregates of atoms, molecules and ions, which do not require pre-detection labeling processes, such as fluorescent labeling or radioactive labeling processes. 0025 In one aspect, the present invention provides a wavelength tunable surface plasmon resonance sensor for sensing, monitoring and characterizing changes in the refractive index of a probe region. Wavelength tunable surface plasmon resonance sensors of the present invention provide excitation light and/or detected light having a distribution of wavelengths that is selectably adjustable. An exemplary wavelength tunable surface plasmon resonance sensor comprises an incoherent, polychromatic light source, a polarizer, an SPR optical assembly, a detector and a selectably adjustable wavelength selector. In these embodiments, the polychromatic light source is positioned in optical communication with the polarizer and SPR optical assembly. Light generated by the light source propagates along an incident light propagation axis and is directed through a polarizer resulting in light having a selected polarization orientation, preferably substantially p-polarized light or s-polarized light. Preferred polarizers of the present invention provide a means of easily switching between incident light having a p-polarization orientation and s-polarization orientation. Light having a selected polarization orientation is directed onto the SPR optical assembly. In an exemplary embodiment, the SPR optical assembly comprises a dielectric layer, a dielectric sample layer and a conducting layer position between the dielectric layer and the dielectric sample layer. The dielectric sample layer adjacent to the conducting film comprises the probe region. Exemplary SPR sensors of the present invention further comprise one or more optical collimation elements positioned between the polychromatic light source and the SPR optical assemble for collimating the light beam directed to the SPR optical assembly. 0026 Illumination of the SPR optical assembly at angles of incidence resulting in total internal reflection generates light propagating along a reflected light propagation axis. In exemplary configurations, light propagating along the incident light propagation axis or light propagating along the reflected light axis is passed through a selectably adjustable wavelength selector positioned in the optical path between the light source and the detector. In a preferred embodiment, the selectably adjustable wavelength selector transmits light having a distribution of transmitted wavelengths selected to generate surface plasmons on the surface of the conducting layer adjacent to the probe region. Light propagating along the reflected light axis is detected by the detector, thereby sensing the refractive index of the probe region. Optionally, light propagating along the reflected light axis may be collected by a light collection element and focused onto the detector to improve detection sensitivity and resolution. 0027 In one embodiment, the present invention provides a means of quantifying percentage reflectivities of p-polarized incident light that is reflected from the SPR optical assembly. In an exemplary embodiment, the SPR optical assembly is alternately illuminated with p-polarized light and s-polarized light by selective adjustment of the polarizer. Illumination of the SPR optical assembly with p-polarized light having a wavelength satisfying the SP resonance condition converts radiant energy to SPs, which decreases the intensity of the reflected p-polarized light. Because s-polarized light does not result in SP formation, decreases in the intensity of reflected p-polarized light may be accurately characterized in terms of a percentage reflectivity by comparing the intensities of detected p-polarized light and s-polarized light resulting from alternative illumination of the SPR optical assembly with substantially p-polarized and s-polarized light beams. 0028 In the present invention, the selectably adjustable wavelength selector provides wavelength tuning functionality useful for characterizing SP resonance conditions and measuring a resonant wavelength necessary for SP formation. Further, the selectably adjustable wavelength selector of the present invention eliminates the need for angular modulation for sensing changes in the refractive index of a probe region by SPR methods. In the context of this aspect of the present invention, wavelength tuning refers to selective variation of incident and/or detected light in a manner satisfying SP resonance conditions and resulting in SP excitation. As SP resonance conditions are a dependent on the refractive index of the probe region, wavelength tunable SPR sensors of the present invention provide a means of detecting and monitoring physical and chemical properties, such as composition, binding affinity and reactivity, of the probe region. 0029 Preferred wavelength selectors provide a distribution of transmitted wavelengths that is selectably adjustable. The distribution of transmitted wavelengths of light of the present invention may be characterized in terms of a center wavelength, bandwidth and wavelength intensity profile. Exemplary wavelength selectors of the present invention are capable of selectively adjusting the center wavelength of a distribution of transmitted wavelengths over a continuum of values. In the present invention, the center wavelength, bandwidth and/or wavelength intensity profile of light transmitted by the wavelength selector may be selected to enhance the sensitive or resolution of a SPR sensing measurement. Alternatively, the center wavelength of the distribution, bandwidth and/or wavelength intensity profile of light transmitted by the wavelength selector may be selected to enhance SPR image quality (i.e. optimal refractive index contrast within different areas of the probe region). 0030 To observe SP formation, characterize the SP resonance condition or measure the SP resonant wavelength, exemplary SPR sensors of the present invention monitor a decrease in the intensity of light reflected from the SPR optical assembly. Selectably adjustable wavelength selectors of the present invention provide a means of adjusting the wavelengths of light that are detected. This allows resonant wavelengths to be accurately measured and also allows for characterization of a SP resonance curve by measuring reflected light intensities as a function of the wavelength of light transmitted by the wavelength selector. The ability to selectively adjust the wavelengths of light that are detected provides this function of the wavelength tunable SPR sensors of the present invention. Therefore, selectably adjustable wavelength selectors of the present invention may be positioned anywhere in the optical path of collimated light from the polychromatic light source to the detector. In one embodiment, the selectably adjustable wavelength selector is positioned between the polychromatic light source and the SPR optical assembly to provide selective adjustment of the distribution of wavelengths of the excitation light directed on to the SPR optical assembly and subsequently detected. In another embodiment, the selectably adjustable wavelength selector is positioned between the SPR optical assembly and the detector to provide selective adjustment of the distribution of wavelengths directed onto the detector and detected. The present invention also includes embodiments having additional selectably adjustable wavelength selectors, which may be positioned anywhere along the optical pathway between the polychromatic optical source and the detector. An advantage of positioning of the selectably adjustable wavelength selector between the light source and the SPR optical assembly is that only light having wavelengths that are detected by the detector are exposed to the SPR optical assembly. Reducing the intensity of light directed onto the optical assembly is beneficial for avoiding increases in temperature of the optical assembly due to illumination. Such temperature changes of the optical assembly can change the refractive index of the probe region and obscure SPR sensing measurements and images. 0031 Selectably adjustable wavelength selectors useable in the present invention may comprise any device or device component capable of transmitting a selected distribution of transmitted wavelengths and substantially preventing the transmission of other wavelengths of light. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the selectably adjustable wavelength selector is an optical interference filter, which is rotationally adjustable about a rotational axis orthogonal to the plane of incidence (also orthogonal to the incident light propagation axis or the reflected light propagation axis). In this embodiment, rotation of the optical interference filter selectably adjusts the distribution of wavelengths of light that are transmitted by the optical interference filter, particularly the center wavelength of the distribution of transmitted wavelengths. Exemplary selectably adjustable wavelength selectors of the present invention include, but are not limited to, optical interference filters, etalons, Fabry-Perot etalons, monochromators, spectrometers, prisms, gratings and linear variable interference filters. Preferred selectably adjustable wavelength selectors provide substantially the same net transmittance over a range of center wavelengths needed to measure the resonance wavelength. Preferred selectably adjustable wavelength selectors have well characterized transmission properties with respect to s- and p- polarized light. In discrete wavelength operation, wavelength tuning may be used to generate SPs that result in optimal contrast of different areas in the probe region. In wavelength scanning operation, the center wavelength of the distribution of transmitted wavelengths may be continuously varied while SPR measurements or images are collected. 0032 Use of a selectably adjustable wavelength selector in SPR sensors of the present invention provides the ability to tune the wavelength distribution of excitation light, detected light or both. The present devices and methods provide the ability to continuously tune the wavelength distribution of excitation light, detected light or both or a substantial range of wavelength, preferably over a range of at least 60 nm and more preferably over a range of several hundred nanometers. Wavelength tunability provided by this attribute of the present invention allows changes in SPR resonance conditions to be detected and characterized as a function of time. Changes in SPR resonance condition may be directly related to the refractive index of the probe region. Therefore, wavelength tunability provided selectably adjustable wavelength selectors of the present invention allows for accurate quantification of physical and chemical characteristics of the probe region. Further, wavelength tunability also provides for a wide dynamic range of SPR sensors of the present invention. Particularly, wavelength tunable SPR sensors and imaging devices of the present invention may be used to detect and characterize a very broad range of materials having different refractive indices, thicknesses and chemical compositions. In addition, use of a selectably adjustable wavelength selector in SPR sensors of the present invention eliminates the need for angle modulation to detect changes in the SPR resonance condition or determine a resonant wavelength or distribution of resonant wavelengths. Avoiding angle modulation SPR optical configurations is beneficial because these configurations typically require complex rotational optical assemblies that are spatially restrictive, costly and sensitive to misalignment due to vibration and changes in ambient pressure and temperature. Further, avoiding optical geometries having complex rotational assemblies is beneficial because such assemblies require frequent calibration and realignment. 0033 Use of an incoherent, polychromatic light source in the present invention has several advantages. First, use of an incoherent light source avoids problems arising from optical interference of beam components generated from the excitation and reflected beams. Optical interference affects can substantially degrade SPR sensing measurements and images due to formation of interference fringes and speckle. In addition, incoherent light sources, such as halogen lamps, are inexpensive, exhibit highly reproducible intensities and are easy to optically align. 0034 The present methods and devices are broadly applicable to any SPR optical assembly configuration. Exemplary SPR optical assembly assemblies useable in the present invention comprises a thin metal film in contact with a prism and dielectric sample layer arranged in the Kretchmann optical geometry or the Otto optical geometry. Alternatively, sensors of the present invention may include SPR optical assemblies comprising waveguides, fiber optic devices, optical gratings or any combination of these components. 0035 Any wavelength of light capable of generating SPs may be used in the methods and devices of the present invention. Use of light having wavelengths in the near infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum (about 800 nm to about 1200 nm) is preferred for some SPR imaging applications because it provides increased refractive index sensitivity compared to technique using higher frequency visible light. In addition, use of the near infrared may be beneficial for certain applications wherein the probe region interrogated contains species that absorb in the visible region. In preferred embodiments, the wavelengths of light employed by SPR sensors and/or imaging devices of the present invention are selected over the range of about 845 nm to about 857 nm. 0036 Wavelength tunable SPR sensors of the present invention may be operated in a variety of different operational modes. SPR operational modes correspond to different types of SPR measurements, different functional aspects of these devices and different methods of using these devices. Exemplary SPR sensors of the present invention are capable of operation in a plurality of operating modes. 0037 In one operational mode, SPR sensors of the present invention are capable of measuring a distribution of resonant wavelengths resulting SP formation. In an exemplary embodiment, the selectably adjustable wavelength selector is adjusted to systematically vary the wavelength distribution of detected light in a manner generating a SP resonance curve. Preferred SP resonance curves generated by the methods and devices of the present invention comprise a two-dimensional plot of percent reflectivity versus the center wavelength of the distribution of wavelengths transmitted by the wavelength selector. Quantification of the resonant wavelength or distribution of resonant wavelengths provides information relating to the composition of a probe region because the resonance condition is strongly dependent on the refractive index of the probe region. 0038 In another operation mode, SPR sensors of the present invention are capable of monitoring changes in the resonant wavelength or distribution of resonant wavelengths required for SP formation. Monitoring changes in the distribution of resonant wavelengths is beneficial because it provides information related to changes in the refractive index and composition occurring in the probe region, such as changes due to binding of chemical species to portions of the probe region. In one embodiment, the SPR sensor is wavelength tuned by selection of a distribution of transmitted wavelengths resulting in formation of SPs and attenuation of reflected light. The intensity and/or percentage reflectivity of reflected light is monitored as a function of time over an observation interval. Changes in the resonance condition corresponding to changes in refractive index and chemical composition of the probe region are observed and characterized by measuring a change in the intensity and/or percentage reflectivity of reflected light. Alternatively, SPR sensors of the present invention are capable of measuring changes in the resonant wavelength or distribution of resonance wavelengths by generating a plurality of resonance curves corresponding to different observation intervals and/or different experimental conditions. The measured shift in the resonant wavelength or distribution of resonant wavelengths may be directly related to corresponding changes in composition occurring in the probe region. Use of a selectably adjustable wavelength selector in these embodiments is beneficial for precisely quantifying the shift in the resonant wavelength or distribution of resonant wavelengths. 0039 In another operation mode, a wavelength tunable SPR sensor of the present invention is capable of operation as a SPR imaging device. In this embodiment, the SPR sensor includes a two-dimensional detector, such as a charge coupled device or two-dimensional diode array. In a preferred embodiment, a p-polarized light beam having a wavelength distribution capable of exciting one or more SPs is directed at the SPR optical assembly and a first two-dimensional distribution of reflected light intensities is measured. This first two-dimensional distribution of reflected light intensities comprises an image of the probe region. In some embodiments, the distribution of reflected p-polarized light intensities must be normalized to achieve an optimal SPR image because the combination light source and wavelength selector of the present invention produces wavelength dependent transmission intensities. In methods of the present invention correcting for this effect, a s-polarized light beam is directed at the SPR optical assembly and a second two-dimensional distribution of reflected light intensities is measured. Switching between p- and s- polarization orientations is preferably achieved by adjustment of the polarizer positioned between the polychromatic light source and the SPR optical assembly. Comparison of first and second two-dimensional reflected light intensity distributions generates a SPR image, which characterizes the probe region. Preferred SPR images generated by the present methods and devices comprise a two dimension distribution of measured percent reflectivities. In an exemplary embodiment, SPR images are corrected for differences in s and p-polarization transmission properties of wavelength selectors used in the present invention, particularly transmission properties which vary as a function of rotational angle. Use of a selectably adjustable wavelength selector SPR imaging devices of the present invention is beneficial for transmitting light having distribution of transmitted wavelengths selected to provide images having enhanced optical quality and sharpness. Further, SPR imaging devices and methods of the present invention are capable of generating images exhibiting high contrast between highly reflective regions and attenuated reflection regions. 0040 In another aspect, the present invention provides methods of detecting and characterizing chemical or physical interactions between chemical species in a probe region. Particularly, a SPR sensor of the present invention may be employed having a dielectric sample layer operationally coupled to a reactor, such as a flow cell or flow reactor, capable of effectively introducing chemical species, such as atoms, molecules or ions, into the sample dielectric layer and probe region. Exemplary reactors, are capable of generating a flow of chemical species in a solution of other delivery medium which contacts the probe region. The probe region may be constructed in a manner such that it exhibits selected chemical and/or physical properties, such as selective binding affinities, chemical reactivities and/or physical properties. For example, the second probe region may comprise a reactor having one or more target chemical species, such as biological polymers, immobilized on the reactor surface. In an exemplary embodiment, the sensing surface of the thin conducting layer is chemically modified to provide selective affinity, reactivity, bonding or other chemical and/or physical properties. Deposition of selected materials directly onto the surface of the conducting layer, such as carboxymethylated dextran, may facilitate covalent attachment of biopolymers such as proteins or oligonucleotides to sensing surfaces of the present invention. In these embodiments, introduction of one or more interacting species to the reactor may result in binding, chemical reaction or physical interaction between target and interacting species, thereby changing the refractive index in the probe region. Use of SPR sensors of the present invention may be used to detect changes in the refractive index of probe and, thereby characterize the nature of chemical or physical interaction of target chemical species and an interacting species. 0041 In an exemplary embodiment, the SPR sensor generates at least one reference measurement corresponding to the refractive index of the probe region prior to introduction of interacting species. Interacting species are introduced into the reactor and permitted to interact with the target species in the probe region. The SPR sensor generates at least one analytical measurement, which is compared to the reference measurement to detect a change in the refractive index of said probe region. In an exemplary embodiment, analytical measurements are repeatedly acquired and compared to each other to characterize changes in refractive index as a function of time. Such changes may be related to the chemical and physical nature of the interaction between interacting species and target species. Exemplary methods of the present invention are capable of determining binding affinities, rate constants, equilibrium constants and thermodynamic parameters that characterize the interaction between target species and interacting species. 0042 The SPR sensing and imaging methods and devices of the present invention are broadly applicable for detecting and characterizing virtually any material capable of changing the refractive index. In particular, the present methods are particularly useful for detecting chemical species including, but not limited to, biological polymers, such as proteins, peptides, oligonucelotides, glycoproteins, DNA, RNA, polysaccharides, and lipids and aggregates thereof. An advantage of the present methods and devices is that they provide sensitive detection methods which do not require pre-detection chemical labeling processes which are time consuming, costly and may substantially affect the chemical and/or physical properties of the labeled chemical species. Other advantages of the present sensing and imaging methods is that they provide very high time resolution, high sensitivity up to about 100 fM and require very low sample volumes. 0043 The present invention provides methods and devices broadly applicable to any measurement technique or other processes which involves the formation of SPs. Particularly, wavelength tunability of the devices of the present invention provides efficient SP excitation. For example, wavelength tunable SP devices of the present invention may be used for effective excitation of photoluminescent materials in the SPR probe region. In an exemplary embodiment, devices of the present invention are used to generate SPs capable of exciting fluorescent or phosphorescent transitions of chemical species in the probe region, particularly in chemical species bound to the probe region. These devices may include a second detector positioned in optical communication with such fluorescent materials, which is capable of quantifying the intensity of SP induced fluorescence. Alternatively, wavelength tunable SP devices of the present invention may provide a means of delivering energy to materials in a reaction region to induce chemical or physical changes in the material. 0044 In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of sensing the refractive index of a probe region comprising the steps of: (i) passing light from a polychromatic light source through a polarizer, thereby generating light propagating along an incident light propagation axis; (ii) directing said light onto an optical assembly comprising a dielectric layer, a sample dielectric layer and a conducting layer positioned between the dielectric layer and the dielectric sample layer, thereby generating light propagating along a reflected light propagation axis, wherein a portion of said dielectric sample layer adjacent to said conducting layer comprises the probe region; (iii) passing said light through a selectably adjustable wavelength selector positioned in the optical path between said light source and a detector; (iv) detecting said light with said detector, thereby sensing the refractive index of the probe region, and (v) adjusting said selectably adjustable wavelength selector to transmit light having a distribution of wavelengths selected to generate surface plasmons on a surface of said conducting layer in contact with said dielectric sample layer. 0045 In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of generating an image of a probe region comprising the steps of: (i) passing light from a polychromatic light source through a polarizer, thereby generating light propagating along an incident light propagation axis; (ii) directing said light onto an optical assembly comprising a dielectric layer, a sample dielectric layer and a conducting layer positioned between a dielectric layer and dielectric sample layer, thereby generating light propagating along a reflected light propagation axis, wherein a portion of said dielectric sample layer adjacent to said conducting layer comprises the probe region; (iii) passing said light through a selectably adjustable wavelength selector positioned in the optical path between said light source and a detector; (iv)detecting said light with said detector, thereby generating said image of said probe region, and (vi) adjusting said selectably adjustable wavelength selector to transmit light having a distribution of wavelengths selected to generate surface plasmons on a surface of said conducting layer in contact with said dielectric sample layer. 0046 In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of detecting a change in the refractive index of a probe region comprising the steps of: (i) passing light from a polychromatic light source through a polarizer, thereby generating light propagating along an incident light propagation axis; (ii) directing said light onto an optical assembly comprising a dielectric layer, a sample dielectric layer and a conducting layer positioned between a dielectric layer and dielectric sample layer, thereby generating light propagating along a reflected light propagation axis, wherein a portion of said dielectric sample layer adjacent to said conducting layer comprises the probe region; (iii) passing said light through a selectably adjustable wavelength selector positioned in the optical path between said light source and a detector, wherein said selectably adjustable wavelength selector is adjusted to transmit incident light having a distribution of wavelengths selected to generate surface plasmons on a surface of said conducting layer in contact with said dielectric sample layer; (iv) detecting said light with said detector, thereby generating at least one reference measurement, (v) detecting said light with said detector, thereby generating at least one analytical measurement, and (vi) comparing said reference measurement and said analytical measurement to detect said change in the refractive index of said probe region. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 0047FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing showing a side plan view of a SPR imaging device of the present invention having a selectably adjustable wavelength selector positioned between the polychromatic light source and the SPR optical assembly. 0048FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing showing a side plan view of a SPR imaging device of the present invention having a selectably adjustable wavelength selector positioned between the SPR optical assembly and the detector. 0049FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing showing a side plan view of an exemplary selectably adjustable wavelength selector comprising an optical interference filter. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the optical interference filter is selectably rotatable about a rotation axis which is orthogonal to the plane of incidence. 0050FIG. 4 is a plot of center wavelength as a function of tilt angle for two interference filters having center wavelengths at normal incidence of about 850 nm (filled diamonds) and about 880 nm (open diamonds). 0051FIG. 5 is a photograph of an exemplary SPR imaging device based on the Kretschmann SPR configuration. 0052FIG. 6 is a correction curve for correcting acquired SPR images for polarization dependent transmission of light through an optical interference filter. 0053FIG. 7 is the expected response of an exemplary SPR imaging device for changes in sample refractive index. 0054FIG. 8 shows the optimal center imaging wavelength as a function of change in refractive index from a base refractive index of water. 0055FIG. 9 shows a series of normalized images of sucrose solutions having a range of various refractive indexes measured by an exemplary sensor of the present invention. −3 0056FIG. 10 shows a plot of the experimental response of an exemplary SPR sensor. As shown, the response of the system is linear for changes in refractive indices less than 310. 0057FIG. 11 shows the signal-to-noise ratio as a function of number of pixels averaged for both uncorrected (A, bottom plot) and corrected (B, top plot) SPR data. 0058FIG. 12 shows a series of images taken of a thiol and water patterns with an optical interference filter positioned a several different tilt angles. FIG. 12A corresponds to a center wavelength of 857 nm, FIG. 12B corresponds to a center wavelength of 852 nm, FIG. 12C corresponds to a center wavelength of 845 nm, FIG. 12D corresponds to a center wavelength of 830 nm and FIG. 12E corresponds to a center wavelength of 814 nm. 0059FIGS. 13A and B shows images of thiol patterns with minimum feature sizes of approximately 100 m (FIG. 13A, left side) and approximately 50 m (FIG. 13B, right side) generated by an exemplary SPR senor of the present invention. 14 −1 0060 FIGS. A-D show images generated upon the adsorption of protein bovine serum albumin (BSA) onto a gold surface. The image in FIG. 14A shows a small region of the reactor with a background of water. FIG. 14B shows an image of the same region of the reactor with a 2 mg mlsolution of BSA in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). FIG. 14C shows an image of the same region with a background of water after pumping water through the reactor to remove all unbound protein. FIG. 14D shows a difference image resulting from subtraction of images in FIG. 14A and FIG. 14C. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Characterization of an Exemplary SPR Sensor EXAMPLE 2 SPR Images of Thiol Patterns and Protein Bovine Serum Albumin on Gold Surfaces 0061 Referring to the drawings, like numerals indicate like elements and the same number appearing in more than one drawing refers to the same element. In addition, hereinafter, the following definitions apply: 0062Chemical species refers generally and broadly to a collection of one or more atoms, molecules and/or macromolecules whether neutral or ionized. In particular, reference to chemical species in the present invention includes but is not limited to biopolymers. Chemical species in a liquid sample may be present in a variety of forms including acidic, basic, molecular, ionic, complexed and solvated forms. Chemical species also includes non-covalently bound aggregates of molecules. Chemical species includes biological molecules, i.e. molecules from biological sources, including biological polymers, any or all of which may be in the forms listed above or present as aggregates of two or more molecules. 0063Distribution of transmitted wavelengths refers to a two-dimensional distribution of the intensities of light of different wavelengths transmitted by a wavelength selector, such as an optical interference filter, monochromator or spectrometer. A distribution of transmitted wavelengths may be characterized in terms of center wavelength, bandwidth and intensity profile of transmitted wavelengths. In the present invention, the distribution of transmitted wavelengths of light detected by a detector is determined by the combination of the optical properties of the light source and the selectably adjustable wavelength selector. In an exemplary embodiment, the distribution of transmitted wavelengths of light directed on an SPR optical assembly and/or detected by a detector has a substantially Gaussian intensity profile and center wavelength corresponding to the wavelength of light having the largest intensity. Wavelength tunable SPR sensors and imaging devices of the present invention provide excitation light and/or detected light having a selectably adjustable distribution of transmitted wavelengths. 0064Center wavelength is a characteristic of a distribution of transmitted wavelengths of light. In some embodiments, center wavelength refers to the midpoint wavelength in a distribution of transmitted wavelengths. In other embodiments, the center frequency refers to the transmitted wavelength in a distribution of wavelength having the largest intensity. In other embodiments, center wavelength refers to the average wavelength in a distribution of transmitted wavelengths. The center wavelength typically corresponds to the wavelength in a distribution of transmitted wavelength having the largest intensity for wavelength distributions having Gaussian or Lorentizian intensity profile. 0065Light source refers to any device or material capable of generating electromagnetic radiation or a plurality of devices or materials capable of generating electromagnetic radiation. Preferred light sources in the present invention are capable of generating light in the near infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum (about 800 nm to about 1200 nm). In an exemplary embodiment useful for avoiding optical interference affects in SPR imaging and sensing applications, a light source of the present invention generates incoherent light. Light sources useable in the methods and devices of the present invention include halogen lamps, light emitting diodes, fluorescent lamps, tungsten-filament lamps, grey body light sources and black body light sources. 0066Bandwidth refers to a characteristic of a distribution of transmitted wavelengths of light. Bandwidth may be defined in terms of the full width at half maximum of an intensity profile of a distribution of transmitted wavelengths, which refers to the full width at an transmittance equal to one half of the maximum transmittance. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention bandwidth of detected light is primarily determined by the transmission properties of a selectably adjustable wavelength selector, such as optical interference filter. The transmission bands of exemplary selectably adjustable wavelength selectors of the present invention are selected over the range of about 1 nm to about 100 nm and more preferably 1 to about 20 nm in some embodiments. Use of wavelength selectors capable of providing a distribution of transmitted wavelengths characterized by a large bandwidth (>10 nm) is useful in some embodiments for increasing signal-to-noise ratio. 0067Conducting layer refers to a layer comprising a conductor material, such as a metal, or a semiconductor material. Conducting layers support the formation of surface plasmons and are used as sensing surfaces in the present invention. Preferred conducting layers in the present invention are thin (<50 nm) gold or silver layers. 0068Dielectric sample layer refers to a dielectric layer positioned adjacent to the surface of a conducting layer having surface plasmons thereon. Dielectric sample layers of the present invention include probe regions close to the sensing surface of a conducting layer. Probe regions of the present invention comprise a volume adjacent to the surface of a conducting layer having surface plasmons thereon (a sensing surface) having a depth that is defined by the decay length of the surface plasmons into the dielectric sample layer. SPR sensors and imaging devices of the present invention are capable of sensing, monitoring and characterizing changes in the refractive index of a probe region. Dielectric sample layers and probe regions may be operational connected to flow cells and/or flow reactors for introduction of material to the dielectric sample layer and/or probe region. In these embodiments, selection of the flow conditions of the flow cell or flow reactor may adjust the composition of the dielectric sample layer and the probe region. Alternatively, dielectric sample layers and probe regions may be operational connected to static cells and/or static reactors. 0069Selectably adjustable wavelength selector refers to a device, device component or combination of optical components capable of selecting the distribution of wavelengths of light which are transmitted through the wavelength selector. Selectably adjustable wavelength selector also refers to a device, device component or combination of optical components capable of selecting the distribution of wavelengths of light which are substantially prevented from transmitting through the wavelength selector. Selectably adjustable wavelength selectors of the present invention may transmit a distribution of transmitted wavelengths characterized by a center wavelength, bandwidth and intensity profile. Exemplary selectably adjustable wavelength selectors of the present invention include, but are not limited to, optical interference filters, etalons, Fabry-Perot etalons, fiber optic interferometric filters, fiber optic devices, fiber Fabry-Perot filters, monochromators, spectrometers, gratings and/or prisms, slits or any combinations thereof. Exemplary optical interference filters of the present invention are capable of selectably adjusting the distribution of transmitted wavelengths by rotation about a rotational axis which is oriented orthogonal to an incident or reflected beam axis. 0070Surface plasmon resonance sensor or SPR sensor are used synonymously and refer to any device or device component capable of monitoring, detecting or characterizing changes in the refractive index of a probe region using excitation of surface plasmons. In an exemplary embodiment, SPR sensors detect changes in the refractive index of a probe region located proximate to a sensing surface having surface plasmons localized thereon. Exemplary SPR sensors comprise SPR imaging devices which are capable of generating an image of a probe region corresponding to refractive indices and/or composition of the probe region. Alternatively, SPR sensors of the present invention generate surface plasmons capable of exciting photoluminescent materials positioned proximate to one or more surfaces of a conducting layer. 0071SPR optical assembly refers to any combination of optical components which are capable of coupling radiant energy into surface plasmons. In an exemplary embodiment, a SPR optical assembly of the present invention comprises a dielectric layer, a dielectric sample layer and conducting layer arrange in the Kretschmann optical configuration or Otto optical configuration. Alternatively, SPR optical assemblies may comprise waveguides, fiber optic devices or diffraction gratings. SPR optical assemblies of the present invention may include a number of optical components including, but not limited to, prisms, thin gold films, thin silver films, thin semiconductor films, flow reactors, static reactors, microfluidic devices, fluid channels, optical alignment systems, rotational stages or any combination of these components. 0072Tilt angle is a characteristic of rotational position. In exemplary embodiments, tilt angle refers to rotational orientations of an optical interference filter relative to normal incidence with respect to the incident light propagation axis or reflected light propagation axis. Specifically, tilt angle refers to the angular deviation of the surface of a rotated optical component, such as an optical interference filter, as measured relative to the incident light propagation axis or reflected light propagation axis. Exemplary surfaces of optical interference filters of the present invention may be oriented at tilt angles ranging from 0 to about 60, more preferably from 0 to about 35 0073 In the following description, numerous specific details of the devices, device components and methods of the present invention are set forth in order to provide a thorough explanation of the precise nature of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to those of skill in the art that the invention can be practiced without these specific details. 0074 This invention provides methods, devices and device components for sensing changes in the refractive index and composition of a probe region proximate to a sensing surface. In particular, wavelength tunable SPR sensing devices and images devices are provided which are capable of detecting SPR conditions and generating SP resonance curves at a constant angle of incidence. Further, the present invention provides methods and devices of generating SPR images of a probe region in a sample dielectric layer. 100 110 130 140 150 155 100 170 175 177 110 130 158 150 155 0075FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a side plan view of a SPR imaging device of the present invention having a selectably adjustable wavelength selector positioned between a polychromatic light source and a SPR optical assembly. The exemplary SPR imaging device comprises a polychromatic light source in optical communication with polarizer , optical interference filter , SPR optical assembly and two-dimensional detector . As shown in FIG. 1, exemplary SPR imaging device may optionally include light collimation element comprising lenses and pin hole positioned between light source and polarizer . Further, SPR imaging device may optional comprise collecting and imaging optical element positioned between optical assembly and detector . 160 110 170 180 160 130 180 160 130 160 160 140 180 140 180 140 140 140 140 140 150 155 0076 Incident light from optical source is collimated by collimation element and propagates along incident light propagation axis . Incident light is passed through polarizer positioned to intersect light propagation axis , which is capable of selecting the polarization state of incident light . Polarizer is preferably capable of selected substantially p-polarized or s-polarized orientations of incident light and also of rapidly switching between selected p-polarization and s-polarization orientations. A selected distribution of transmitted wavelengths of polarized incident light passes through optical interference filter , which is positioned to intersect light propagation axis . In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, optical interference filter is selectably rotatable about a rotational axis which is oriented orthogonal to the incident light propagation axis (due to the perspective of FIG. 1, the rotational axis of optical interference filter is not shown but is oriented such that it comes out of the plane of the drawing). Two different rotational orientations of optical interference filter are shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the wavelength distribution of transmitted light may be selectably adjusted by rotation of optical interference filter . In a preferred embodiment, optical interference filter is mounted on a rotation stage (not shown in FIG. 1) so that the angle of the filter face with respect to the incident light propagation axis may be selectively varied, thus, varying the wavelengths of light that are passed by the filter. Therefore, the rotational position of optical interference filter determines the wavelength distribution of light which is directed to optical assembly and subsequently detected by detector 200 150 210 220 230 220 230 270 270 220 150 240 250 155 150 158 0077 Light having a selected wavelength is directed onto SPR optical assembly , which comprises a prism , a thin conducting layer , and a dielectric sample layer arranged in the Kretschmann optical configuration. A preferred thin conducting layer of the present invention are gold or silver layers having a thickness ranging from about 30 nm to about 60 nm. A preferred dielectric sample layer comprises a probe region operationally coupled to a reactor or cell, such as a flow cell, static cell, flow cell reactor or static cell reactor, capable of introducing material into a probe region proximate to the surface of thin conducting layer . Illumination of the SPR optical assembly at angles of incidence resulting in total internal reflection generates light propagating along a reflected light propagation axis that is detected by two-dimensional detector . Optionally, light from optical assembly may be collected by optical collection and focusing element prior to detection to enhance detection sensitivity and resolution. 150 260 220 230 270 260 150 155 0078 At least a portion of light having wavelengths that satisfy the SPR resonance condition is not reflected by optical assembly . Rather, this radiant energy is converted into SPs on sensing surface , which comprises the surface of conducting layer in contact with dielectric sample layer . The resonance condition controlling conversion of radiant energy to surface plasmons is strongly dependent on the refractive index of a probe region proximate to the sensing surface . Detection of light reflected by optical assembly to detector is capable of characterizing which wavelengths of light are converted to SPs and the extent of this process. As shown in FIG. 1, preferred optical geometries of SPR sensors and imaging devices of the present invention have a constant angle of incidence selected to generate total internal reflection of the incident beam upon illumination of the SPR optical assembly. The present invention also includes, however, embodiments wherein the angle of incidence is selectably adjustable. These embodiments correspond to SPR sensors and imaging devices that are both angle and wavelength tunable. 300 140 250 300 140 250 140 140 140 140 140 155 300 302 110 150 302 150 0079FIG. 2 shows an exemplary SPR imaging device having an alternative optical configuration. In this optical configuration, optical interference filter is positioned to intersect reflected light optical propagation axis . Similar to the optical configuration shown in FIG. 1, optical interference filter is selectably rotatable about a rotational axis. In exemplary SPR imaging device , optical interference filter is selectably rotatable about a rotational axis that is oriented orthogonal to the reflected light propagation axis (due to the perspective of FIG. 2, the rotational axis of optical interference filter is not shown but is oriented such that it comes out of the plane of the drawing). In this embodiment, the wavelength distribution of transmitted light may be selectably adjusted by rotation of optical interference filter . Only one rotational orientation of optical interference filter is shown in FIG. 2. In an exemplary embodiment, optical interference filter is mounted on a rotation stage (not shown in FIG. 2) so that the angle of the filter face with respect to the reflected light propagation axis may be selectively varied, thus, varying the wavelengths of light that are passed by the filter. Therefore, the rotational position of optical interference filter determines the wavelength distribution of light detected by detector . As shown in FIG. 2, SPR imaging device may optionally include cutoff filter positioned between light source and optical assembly . In an exemplary embodiment cutoff filter is a 700 nm long pass filter and/or a 1000 nm short pass filter, which reduces the intensity of light having wavelengths less than 700 nm to minimize heating of optical assembly by incident light. 130 140 155 150 130 0080 To generate a SPR image, polarizer is adjusted to transmit p-polarized light and optical interference filter is adjusted to transmit light having a distribution of wavelengths satisfying the SP resonance condition for a particular probe region composition and refractive index. Detector detects light reflected from optical assembly , thereby generating a first two-dimensional distribution of reflected light intensities corresponding to p-polarized light. In some embodiments, the two-dimensional distribution of reflected p-polarized light provides a SPR image of the probe region. Use of a combination of light source and wavelength selector having intensities which vary with wavelength often requires normalization of the measured p-polarized reflected light intensities in order to calculate an image in terms of percent reflectivity. To convert the reflected intensities corresponding to p-polarized light into percent reflectivities, polarizer is adjusted to transmit s-polarized light and a second two-dimensional distribution of reflected light intensities is generated corresponding to s-polarized light. An image of the probe region in terms of percent reflectivity is generated by taking the ratio of p-polarized intensity to s-polarized intensity at each pixel location. 0081 At larger filter rotation angles, the polarization-dependent transmission effects of the interference filter become significant. Specifically, the intensity of transmitted s-polarized light decreases and the center wavelength is shifted to shorter wavelengths as compared to the transmitted p-polarized light through the same interference filter. As a result, at larger filter rotation angles, normalized images must include a correction factor for this effect. The correction factor for any imaging angle can be simply determined by measuring the intensities of p-polarized and s-polarized light passed by the filter in the absence of surface plasmon generation. The ratio (intensity p-polarized)/(intensity s-polarized) itself can be used to correct for polarization-dependent transmission effects of the interference filter. For example, each measured percent reflectivity value may be divided by the ratio of the intensity of p-polarized light to the intensity of s-polarized light corresponding to the center wavelength of the transmitted light distribution to correct for polarization dependent transmission affects. In one embodiment, (the intensity p-polarized)/(intensity s-polarized) correction factor is measured at several different imaging angles and the data is fit by a third order polynomial function to generate a correction curve for the system. The correction curve is then used to obtain the correction factor for any distribution of transmitted wavelengths. 140 180 250 350 360 350 360 0082FIG. 3 is an expanded view of optical interference filter showing a plurality of rotational orientations relative to normal incidence with respect to incident light propagation axis or reflected light propagation axis . Specifically, rotation orientations corresponding to a first tilt angle and a second tilt angle are shown. First tilt angle is smaller than second tilt angle . As shown in FIG. 3, in the context of some embodiments of the present invention, tilt angle refers to angular deviation as measured relative to an angular orientation of optical interference filter such that it is orthogonal to the incident light propagation axis or reflected light propagation axis. Alternatively expressed, tilt angle is 90 degrees minus the angle between the normal to the plane defined by the filter face and the incident beam axis. In an exemplary embodiment, the optical interference filter transmits light having a distribution of wavelengths that is characterized by a center wavelength, bandwidth and wavelength intensity profile. Preferred bandwidths range form about 1 nm to about 30 nm and preferred wavelength intensities profiles are substantially Gaussian shaped or Lorentzian shaped. Exemplary optical interference filters provide center frequencies which are tunable over a range of about 60 nm and more preferably about 100 nm. 140 <mtable><mtr><mtd><mrow><mrow><mrow><msub><mi>&lambda;</mi><mi>center</mi></msub><mo>&af;</mo><mrow><mo>(</mo><msub><mi>&theta;</mi><mi>tilt</mi></msub><mo>)</mo></mrow></mrow><mo>=</mo><mrow><mrow><mo>(</mo><mrow><msub><mi>&lambda;</mi><mi>center</mi></msub><mo>&af;</mo><mrow><mo>(</mo><mn>0</mn><mo>)</mo></mrow></mrow><mo>)</mo></mrow><mo>&it;</mo><msup><mrow><mo>(</mo><mrow><mn>1</mn><mo>-</mo><mrow><mo>(</mo><mfrac><mrow><msup><mi>sin</mi><mn>2</mn></msup><mo>&it;</mo><msub><mi>&theta;</mi><mi>tilt</mi></msub></mrow><msup><mi>n</mi><mn>2</mn></msup></mfrac><mo>)</mo></mrow></mrow><mo>)</mo></mrow><mn>0.5</mn></msup></mrow></mrow><mo>;</mo></mrow></mtd><mtd><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>VI</mi><mo>)</mo></mrow></mtd></mtr></mtable> 0083 In one embodiment, rotation of optical filter shifts the center wavelength of the distribution of transmitted wavelengths to shorter wavelengths. In an exemplary embodiment wherein the optical interference filter comprises a Fabry-Perot etalon, the center wavelength of the optical interference filter is provided by the expression: center tilt center 0084 wherein is the center wavelength of the distribution of transmitted wavelengths, is the tilt angle, (0) is the center wavelength at normal incidence with respect to the reflected or incident light propagation axes and n is the refractive index of the optical interference filter. For optical interference filters comprising Fabry-Perot etalons n is the half wavelength thick layer of the filter. 0085 An exemplary optical interference filter useable in SPR sensors and imaging devices of the present invention has a full width at half maximum bandwidth of about 10 nm at a normal incidence (angle between the normal to the filter face and the incident light axis). FIG. 4 show a plot of center wavelength as a function of tilt angle for two interference filters having center wavelengths at normal incidence of about 850 nm (filled diamonds) and about 880 nm (open diamonds). As shown in FIG. 4, the center wavelengths passed by the filters shift by about 65 nm for a variation in tilt angle from 0 to 35. The variation of the center wavelength agreed with the values predicted using Equation VI. The intensity distribution of wavelengths remained substantially Gaussian up to tilt angles of about 35. The width of the Gaussian intensity profiles, however, increases by approximately 4% as the filter is titled from 0 to about 20. Above a tilt angle of about 20, the width of the intensity distribution increases more rapidly with angle, up to an additional 20%. −5 −3 0086 The range in wavelength tuning needed to optimally image samples that vary in refractive index from about 510to about 310from a baseline of water on bare Au (refractive index equal to 1.328 at 850 nm) was estimated using a 3-layer SPR model. The results of these calculations indicate that the optimal range of wavelengths is from about 845 nm to about 857 nm for characterizing the expected change in SP resonant wavelength. This range spans less than 15 nm and, thus, is easily covered by the wavelength shift range provide by a single optical interference filter. 0087 SPR sensors and imaging devices of the present invention may comprise stand-alone instruments. Alternatively, the SPR sensors and imaging devices of the present invention may be integrated into other devices or used as device components in instruments. The sensors of the present invention may be coupled to reactors, flow cells, static cells, flow cell reactors, static reactors, microfluidic devices, biological system analyzers, instruments for characterizing the interactions between molecules, and drug screening instruments. Flow cells operationally coupled to the sensors and imaging devices of the present invention are useful for delivering chemical species to the probe region. For example, the SPR sensors of the present invention may be combined with a microfluidic fluid delivery device to introduce materials into the probe region. In an exemplary embodiment, the sensing surface of a sensor of the present invention comprises one wall of a microfluidic flow cell. SPR sensing measurements may be conducted during conditions of continuous liquid flow over the surface or static flow conditions. Use of a microfluidic flow system is beneficial because it provides precise control over the time-point and duration of sample delivery to the probe region. 0088 All references cited in this application are hereby incorporated in their entireties by reference herein to the extent that they are not inconsistent with the disclosure in this application. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that methods, devices, device elements, materials, procedures and techniques other than those specifically described herein can be applied to the practice of the invention as broadly disclosed herein without resort to undue experimentation. All art-known functional equivalents of methods, devices, device elements, materials, procedures and techniques specifically described herein are intended to be encompassed by this invention. cl EXAMPLE 1 0089 The ability of SPR sensors of the present invention to sense changes in the refractive index of a probe region was verified by experimental and computational studies. Specifically, it is a goal of the present invention to provide SPR sensors capable of sensitively detection and characterization changes in the refractive index of a probe region. Further, it is a goal of the present invention to SPR sensors providing a large dynamic range, which are capable of probing materials having a wide range of refractive indices. 0090 To achieve the aforementioned goals, detection sensitivities and dynamic ranges of an exemplary SPR sensor were computationally modeled and evaluated by monitoring the refractive indices of low concentration sucrose solutions. The exemplary SPR sensor employed in these studies is based on the Kretschmann configuration and is shown in FIG. 5. The polychromatic light source is a 150 W quartz halogen lamp (Dolan-Jenner, Lawrence, Mass.) coupled to a multi-fiber light pipe (Edmund Industrial Optics, Barrington, N.J.). Light from the source is collected by an achromatic lens (Edmund Industrial Optics, Barrington, N.J.) and focused at a pinhole (100 m in diameter, Edmund Industrial Optics, Barrington, N.J.). A second achromatic lens (Edmund Industrial Optics, Barrington, N.J.) collects light from the pinhole and forms a collimated beam. This expanded and collimated beam passes through a polarizer (Edmund Industrial Optics, Barrington, N.J.). The polarizer is mounted onto a motorized rotation stage (Newport Corporation, Irvine, Calif.) so p-polarized and s-polarized images can be acquired conveniently. The light then passes through an interference filter (Edmund Industrial Optics, Barrington, N.J.) that selects a narrow band (10 nm FWHM) of operating wavelengths in the near infrared to optimally contrast the range of refractive indexes in the sample. The filter is mounted onto a motorized rotation stage (Newport Corporation, Irvine, Calif.) so that the angle of the filter face with respect to the collimated source beam may be varied, thus varying the wavelengths of light that are passed by the filter. Rotation of the filter over tilt angles of about 35 form normal incidence, results in variation of the wavelengths passed by the filter by 70 nm toward shorter wavelengths. 0091 The SPR optical assembly comprises a prism, thin gold film and a flow reactor. The entrance and exit surfaces of the prism were custom-ground (Matthew's Optical, Poulsbo, Wash.) to be perpendicular to the source beam for an incident angle of 64.8 at the metal surface. Light reflected form the SPR optical assembly passes through an imaging lens (Edmund Industrial Optics, Barrington, N.J.) to form a focused image (magnification<1) at the CCD detector (Retiga EX, Qlmaging, Burnaby, Canada). The area of sample interrogation is circular and 16 mm in diameter. Data acquisition is performed with software written in-house using Labview 6.1 (National Instruments, Austin, Tex.). 0092 Use of a light source and interference filter combination providing incident light intensities that vary with center wavelength requires normalization of the p-polarized signal by the s-polarized signal. Further, polarization-dependent transmission effects of the interference filter become significant at larger filter rotation angles. As compared to transmitted p-polarized light, the intensity of transmitted s-polarized light decreases and the center wavelength is shifted to shorter wavelengths as tilt angle is increased. As a result, at larger filter rotation angles, normalized images must include a correction factor for this effect. Correction factors were determined by measuring the intensities of p-polarized and s-polarized light passed by the optical interference filter in the absence of surface plasmon formation. The ratio (intensity p-polarized)/(intensity s-polarized) itself was used to correct for polarization-dependent transmission effects of the interference filter. Each measured percent reflectivity value was divided by the correction factor to correct for polarization dependent transmission affects. rd 0093FIG. 6 is a correction curve for correcting acquired SPR images for polarization dependent transmission of light through the interference filter. The diamond data points in FIG. 6 show the sum of the intensity of p-polarized light divided by the sum of the intensity of s-polarized light for ten different filter rotation angles in the absence of surface plasmons. To estimate the variability in the correction procedure, data was taken from five different regions of the source beam. Each point in the plot shown in FIG. 6 is the average of 400 pixels. The error in the data points increases with increasing filter tilt angle, from 1% for rotation angles less than 24 to 6% at an angle of 36. The variation between different runs is considerably smaller, 0.6% for all filter tilt angles. Also, shown in FIG. 6 is the correction curve, a 3order polynomial, obtained from the data. As is apparent from the plot, the correction factor at rotation angles of less than 25 is small (less than 1.3) but increases rapidly for the larger rotation angles, up to 2.3 at 36. −6 −2 −3 −3 −3 −3 0094 Using a 3-layer Fresnel model, the predicted response of an exemplary SPR sensor was calculated for a probe region refractive index that spans 4 orders of magnitude, 110to 110. The calculations assumed a base refractive index of water equal to 1.328 at 850 nm. The expected response of the SPR sensor for changes in sample refractive index is shown in FIG. 7. The data shown in FIG. 7 takes into account the experimentally measured transmission band of our filter equal to about 10 nm. Each diamond data point corresponds to the expected response of the instrument for a given change in sample refractive index at the optimal center imaging wavelength for that sample change in refractive index. The square data points correspond to the expected response of the instrument at a single center wavelength setting of 853 nm. The SPR sensor is expected to have a linear response up to a change in refractive index of 310(for comparison, the adsorption of a monolayer of the protein bovine serum albumin onto the Au surface corresponds to a refractive index change of 110). Also of note is the effect on the sensor response when acquiring data at the single center wavelength of 853 nm. FIG. 8 shows the optimal center imaging wavelength as a function of change in refractive index from a base refractive index of water. An imaging wavelength of 853 nm is only optimal for a change in refractive index of 310. However, for changes in refractive index of <310the response measured at a center wavelength of 853 nm is near that expected at the optimal center imaging wavelength. For larger changes in refractive index, the response measured at a center imaging wavelength of 853 nm is significantly less than that expected at the optimal center imaging wavelength, up to 10% decrease for a change in sample refractive index of 0.01. −3 0095 The experimental response of the exemplary SPR sensor was investigated using a series of low concentration sucrose (Sigma-Aldrich Inc., St. Louis, Mo.) solutions. The refractive index of each sucrose solution was measured with a refractometer (Milton Roy Company, Ivyland, Pa.). The system uses standard size soda lime glass microscope slides (Fisher Scientific, Hampton, N.H.), cleaned in Nanostrip solution, and then deposited with 1 nm Cr and 450 nm Au. Before use on the imaging system, the Au coated slides were cleaned in a 1:1:5 solution of 30% hydrogen peroxide, ammonium hydroxide, and ddI water. The slides were then placed in a 0.2 mM ethyleneglycol-terminated thiol solution for 24-72 hours in a darkened, nitrogen atmosphere to allow for the formation of a non-fouling self-assembled monolayer. FIG. 9 shows a series of normalized images of solutions of various refractive indexes. All images were taken with a center imaging wavelength of 850 nm. The images A through D show the same region of the flow reactor with solutions of refractive index 1.3338, 1.3343, 1.3346, and 1.3354, respectively. After the introduction of each sucrose solution, the reactor and system was flushed with ddI water. Analysis of the signal in the region after each ddI water rinse indicates little nonspecific adsorption, 7% variation in the signal. FIG. 10 shows a plot of the experimental response of an exemplary SPR sensor. As shown, the response of the system is linear for changes in refractive indexes <310. −5 0096 The detection limit of the exemplary SPR sensor was investigated using a sample of ddI water. Images were taken at 2 sec intervals and an exposure time of 1.2 s over a time period of 3 minutes. The p-polarized images were normalized with an s-polarized image to obtain percent reflectivity using an s-polarized image and data averaged from an area of 100 pixels. The water sample showed a 50% reflectivity with a standard deviation of 0.13%. Thus, the detection limit of the instrument is 4 times this standard deviation, or 0.5%. This reflectivity corresponds to a lower limit in the detectable change in refractive index of 510. 2 −6 0097 No further increases in the signal to noise ratio (SNR) were obtained by averaging over >100 pixels unless the signal was also normalized for temporal changes in the SPR sensor. With the appropriate reference normalization, however, the SNR increases, as expected, with the square of the signal intensity. FIG. 11 shows the SNR ratio as a function of number of pixels averaged for both uncorrected (A, bottom plot) and corrected (B, top plot) data SPR data. The data consisted of a series of 100 images (800 ms exposure time) of the source beam taken at 2 s intervals. Specifically, a factor of 10increase in the intensity of our signal would yield a factor of 10 increase in the SNR or a detection limit of 510. Additionally, the SNR was increased further by hardware modifications to the system that result in an increase in the source intensity. 12 0098 To assess the sensitivity and spatial resolution of SPR imaging devices of the present invention, SPR images of thiol patterns were generated by an exemplary SPR sensor. Thiol patterns on a gold surface (comprising approximately 1 nm Cr and approximately 45 nm Au electron beam deposited onto standard microscope slide from Fisher Scientific) was made using a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamping protocol. The protocol employed was optimized to minimize transfer of material from the PDMS stamp to the surface and to produce one monolayer of thiol on the surface. All images were taken with p-polarized light. FIG. 12 shows a series of images taken of a thiol and water pattern with an optical interference filter positioned a several different tilt angles. FIG. 12A corresponds to a center wavelength of 857 nm, FIG. 12B corresponds to a center wavelength of 852 nm, FIG. 12C corresponds to a center wavelength of 845 nm, FIG. 12D corresponds to a center wavelength of 830 nm and FIG. 12E corresponds to a center wavelength of 814 nm. The hexadecanethiol layers correspond to the light regions of the images and the water layers correspond to the dark regions. Square regions created by contact with the stamps, approximately 500 m by 212 m. As illustrated by FIG. 12A to E as the filter is tilted away from optimal position for this sample, the contrast between regions of different refractive indices decreases. As illustrated in FIG. 12A, SPR sensors of the present invention are capable generating high optical quality images of a probe region having refractive indices. 0099 An upper limit to the lateral resolution of less than approximately 50 m was experimentally determined for the exemplary SPR sensor. FIG. 13 shows images of thiol patterns with minimum feature sizes of approximately 100 m (A, left side) and approximately 50 m (B, right side). The image shows one dimension foreshortened by a factor of 0.43. In the direction of surface plasmon propagation, the lower limit to the lateral resolution was determined to be >50 m. This is in agreement with the known surface plasmon propagation length on Au in the near infrared. 14 water −1 0100 FIGS. A-D show images generated upon the adsorption of protein bovine serum albumin (BSA) onto a gold surface. All images were taken with p-polarized light and a center wavelength of about 853 nm. The image in FIG. 14A shows a small region of the reactor with a background of water (RIis about 1.328 at about 850 nm). FIG. 14B shows an image of the same region of the reactor with a 2 mg mlsolution of BSA in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). FIG. 14C shows an image of the same region with a background of water after pumping water through the reactor to remove all unbound protein. FIG. 14D shows a difference image resulting from subtraction of images in FIG. 14A and FIG. 14C. The refractive index change is due to the adsorption of protein onto the Au surface (for a monolayer of BSA in water, RI is about 1.331). This change in refractive index corresponds to a change in percent reflectivity of about 26%. These measurements show that SPR sensors of the present invention are capable of the sensitive detection of changes in refractive index due to adsorption of protein in the probe region.
Atikameksheng Anishinawbek, Wahnapitae and Mattagami First Nations and Canada highlight successful community-led solutions supported through the Indigenous Community Support Fund Share this article OTTAWA, TRADITIONAL UNCEDED ALGONQUIN TERRITORY, ON, April 16, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - The Government of Canada continues to make investments so that First Nations, Inuit and Métis have the support they need to keep their communities safe in response to COVID-19. Today, Gimma Craig Nootchtai of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, Chief Larry Roque of Wahnapitae First Nation, Chief Chad Boissoneau of Mattagami First Nation and Marc G. Serré, Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources, on behalf of the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services, highlighted community-led solutions undertaken to prepare, prevent and respond to COVID-19 in these communities. Since March 2020, Indigenous Services Canada has provided Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, Wahnapitae First Nation and Mattagami First Nation a collective total of more than $875,000 through the Indigenous Community Support Fund (ICSF). This funding has been used for a variety of measures, such as supporting Elders and vulnerable community members, improving food security, offering mental health support services, providing emergency response services and more. The ICSF was designed to give Indigenous leadership the flexibility they need to safeguard their communities. Community-led solutions supported by the Indigenous Community Support Fund Atikameksheng Anishnawbek: increased professional health service personnel, including nurses, personal support workers, community outreach workers and community mental health professionals; organized a community emergency response team; developed a pandemic plan; established a food bank for vulnerable community members and families; installed a border check point for the purposes of contact tracing and controlling traffic in and out of the community; assisted Elders with technology that keeps them informed of the latest COVID-19 news, programming to help with their physical and mental health, and virtual community events they can participate in. Wahnapitae First Nation: set up a community food bank to reduce potential exposure for on-reserve members; established an official emergency response plan that established clear procedures for administration-wide coordination of efforts to address this unique challenge; managed and monitored road access to ensure that entry to the community reflects the need to protect public health; coordinated COVID-19 testing and vaccination, including transportation for on-reserve members wishing to attend vaccination clinics; and supported the enhancement of communications technologies, including laptops for students to allow them to safely study from home, and the acquisition of software to allow the administration to better connect and engage with members online. Mattagami First Nation: purchased and distributed food staples to the community, reducing members' need to leave the community to shop; established a security gate at the First Nation's entrance to monitor travel and visitors; and secured mental health resources to help mitigate the negative effects of the pandemic on community members. Canada has invested approximately $1.1 billion in the ICSF to support First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities and organizations prepare, prevent and respond to the pandemic. Quotes "The COVID-19 pandemic has been extremely difficult on our Nation and has caused spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, and financial stress on our community members. The funding assisted our Nation in the development of a framework that helped us address the immediate needs of our members and contributed towards keeping our members safe and healthy. We are appreciative and grateful for the assistance provided. Miigwetch." Gimaa Craig Nootchtai Atikameksheng Anishnawbek "The challenges posed by COVID-19 have been considerable, which is why Wahnapitae First Nation has been very pleased to be able to offer much-needed support to members on and off reserve through the Indigenous Community Support Fund. This has helped us to protect and provide for our members in their time of need through projects developed by and for our people. These have been difficult times for everyone, so miigwech to the Government of Canada for working with Wahnapitae First Nation to enable these crucial community-led solutions." Chief Larry Roque Wahnapitae First Nation "The Indigenous Community Support Fund has provided relief by providing financial resources that allowed us to focus our energy on preventing COVID-19 from harming our community. Having the financial support to implement protective and preventative infrastructure safeguards our most vulnerable members, our Elders and our Children." Chief Chad Boissoneau Mattagami First Nation "We know that the best solutions are those that are community-led and driven, which is why the Government of Canada created the Indigenous Community Support Fund. This fund gives leadership the flexibility to use the funding in ways most suitable for their community. I commend the leadership of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, Wahnapitae and Mattagami First Nations for their innovative ideas to meet the needs of their communities during COVID-19. We will continue to support Indigenous communities and we will get through the pandemic together." The Honourable Marc Miller Minister of Indigenous Services "We must all do our part to help keep ourselves, our loved ones and our communities safe. The Indigenous Community Support Fund has helped our communities do just that. I will continue to work closely with Nickel Belt – Greater Sudbury Indigenous communities and help them advance their own personal priorities as we move through this pandemic." Marc G. Serré Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources Quick facts Atikameksheng Anishnawbek is located west of Sudbury, Ontario, at the east end of Whitefish Lake and west of Stuart Lake. Wahnapitae First Nation is located 29 kilometres northwest of Sudbury, Ontario. Mattagami First Nation is located approximately 70 kilometres south of Timmins, Ontario.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/466,098, filed Mar. 22, 2011, and entitled “Augmented Reality System for Group Supervision”, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. This invention relates to tools that assist in product purchasing. Customers can become bewildered with the numerous choices that are available when purchasing goods. Sometimes merely finding a location where such goods are being displayed can be frustrating, especially in larges stores or selling areas. In particular, goods such as automobiles and vehicles that are on a dealer's lot can be an especially frustrating/confusing experience for some customers. For example, auto dealer lots routinely are stocked with a large selection of vehicles, many of which may satisfy needs of customers or potential customers. Typically, a customer or potential customer visits a dealer's lot and may be greeted by a sales representative. The customer may desire to initially peruse over the available inventory, but that can be a frustrating experience especially when the lot is a large lot, stocked with many vehicles of many makes/models, while the customer has some special features in mind, but does not at that initial stage desire to engage with the sales representative. Generally, a customer could reluctantly ask for assistance from a sales representative. In a dealer's showroom the sales representative can conduct a computer search of inventory, and possible find vehicles that satisfy some of the criteria of the customer. The customer and sales representative together walk around the lot trying to find the vehicles in the lot that met the criteria. According to an aspect, a system includes one or more computer systems configured to receive data that specifies attributes of a product, search inventory of products to determine potential matches or closely related matches to at least some of the attributes of the products, generate messages based on the search of inventory to determine the potential matches, and generate a set of informational depictions of the generated messages, with the informational depictions of the messages when rendered on a display device are rendered in juxtaposition with representations of the products according to generated positional information. According to an additional aspect, a computer program product tangibly stored on a computer readable storage device includes instructions to cause a processor to receive data that specifies attributes of a product, search inventory of products to determine potential matches or closely related matches to at least some of the attributes of the products, generate messages based on the search of inventory to determine the potential matches, generate positional information associated with the messages, and generate a set of informational depictions of the generated messages, with the informational depictions of the messages when rendered on a display device are rendered in juxtaposition with representations of the products according to the generated positional information. According to an additional aspect, a method includes receiving by one or more computer systems data that specifies attributes of a product, searching by the one or more computer systems inventory of products to determine potential matches or closely related matches to at least some of the attributes of the products, generating by the one or more computer systems messages based on the search of inventory to determine the potential matches, generating by the one or more computer systems positional information associated with the messages, and generating by the one or more computer systems a set of informational depictions of the generated messages, with the informational depictions of the messages when rendered on a display device are rendered in juxtaposition with representations of the products according to the generated positional information. One or more embodiments may include one or more of the following features. For the system, the system is further configured to receive information specifying physical locations of the products and generate positional information to associate the messages with the locations of the products. The system is further configured to generate an image depicting a representation of the products residing in a physical location, the image augmented with the set of informational depictions of the generated messages in juxtaposition with the representations of the products in the image. The system is further configured to cause the informational depictions to be projected onto a display device. The system is further configured to cause the informational depictions to be projected onto a set of eyeglasses comprising a display device configured to receive the informational depictions. The system is further configured to generate a representation of the products and cause the informational depictions to be projected onto a set of eyeglasses comprising a display device configured to receive the informational depictions and the generated representation of the products. The system further includes a portable computing system configured to receive the generated set of informational depictions and a set of eyeglasses comprising a display device, the display device configured to receive the generated set of informational depictions. The products are automobiles/vehicles and the one or more computer systems are further configured to generate the image and an environment containing the automobiles/vehicles and generate the informational depictions as pictorial representations that depicted over the corresponding automobiles/vehicles. Other features are within the scope of these embodiments. Moreover, analogous features may be included in the method and computer program product embodiments with or without other features. The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. FIG. 1 10 12 12 12 12 12 12 14 15 17 12 16 16 10 14 12 14 a i a i Referring now to , a system includes a server type of system comprised of one or more computer systems -, each computer system -including processor, memory and computer storage that stores a computer program product to augment an image with informational depictions. When executed, the computer program product configures the server to receive input from a client system, generally . The input (generally ) is received over a network , which can be a wired or wireless. The computer program product executing on the server receives rules from a local or remote database (or has rules embedded in the computer program product). The computer program product also has access to inventory information and location information, e.g., from the database . The inventory information includes details on the characteristics of the currently stocked inventory. Inventory can be of any type of items. One type of item is an automobile, truck, motorcycle, etc., referred to herein as “automobiles/vehicles.” In some embodiments of the system the client system and the server system can be one system. Moreover, in other embodiments there need be only one client system . For items such as automobiles/vehicles, details on the characteristics can include for example, model, year, make, engine/transmission details, body type, color, manufacture suggested retail price (MSRP), dealer costs, and options, lease terms, and other information that is commonly used by customers when selecting an automobile/vehicle to purchase as well as other information not necessary used by customers when selecting an automobile/vehicle for purchase such as VIN number, location of the vehicle in the lot and so forth. The positional information that can be stored with or separately from the inventory information identifies, e.g., by VIN, a location within a physical space, such as on an automobile/vehicle dealer's lot. 14 12 14 19 19 19 10 14 14 14 19 14 a FIG. 1 Using a client-server model, a client system provides information regarding what features/attributes a customer desires for a car purchase to the server . Typically, customers will visit a dealer and rather that talk immediately with a representative that is associated with the dealership, will be asked to input the desired characteristics at the client system through a user interface, and will be issued a portable client device used to display informational depictions of generated messages associated with the inventory, as discussed below. The device can be any type of device capable of displaying information. Device can be a display associated with a portable computer system, such as a tablet computer or a personal digital assistant or a set of virtual reality eyeglasses (or another type of augmenting media device). In some implementations of the system , the client system is one of a plurality of portable client systems, generally , with each client system associated with the particular device (only one shown in ). A customer can carry around one of the client systems modifying user inputs as the customer tours the lot. FIG. 2 FIG. 1 10 42 15 14 44 46 10 15 14 10 15 14 15 a a a a Referring to , the system receives various inputs (generally in ), either directly from the client systems or by other techniques and analyzes those inputs and conducts a search of product inventory to determine available inventory of products that either match or closely match attributes of such products as desired by the user. In a particular example where automobiles/vehicles are the type of products searched for based on attributes desired by a user, the system processes, e.g., an input from, e.g., a client system . The system analyzes the input associated with the client system by processing the input through the set of search rules executed by a search engine to find matches of automobiles/vehicles for the customer. 15 14 48 16 12 12 10 52 10 54 a a i The input from the client system can be stored for later marketing purposes, such as data mining in a file or other storage structure in the database or in the one or more computer systems -. User data, such as name, address, etc. can also be collected and stored. The system uses the input to match the inputs to available inventory of, e.g., automobiles/vehicles. The system generates an output message or a file or other structure for each (or all) automobile/vehicle that is found to match the attributes specified by the user. 40 56 58 60 The matching process generates messages regarding the products from the dealer's inventory that match the attributes desired by the customer. The messages are integrated into video/graphic feeds or the like as informational depictions for rendering on a display, as discussed below. The system causes the informational depictions to be rendered . Various levels of sophistication in analysis can be applied by the rules. Relatively, simple rules, such as looking for simple matches can be implemented. Other more complex strategies can be employed, especially were no precise matches are found. Various techniques can be used to generate the messages. For example, a series of messages of increasing granularity can be generated for each matched automobile/vehicle. Based on user-selectable/determinable combinations of priorities to different attributes different types of messages are generated. For example, at an initial search all vehicles of a certain price range are identified and messages including the prices of each of those automobiles/vehicles are generated. In addition, message of increasing granularity are also generated for each of the identified vehicles. 14 14 19 Typically messages are generated periodically, upon completion of the input of information at the client system or when analysis detects a change an input made by the client system . Messages can be generated and displayed for all of the automobiles/vehicles that satisfy the criteria or only for those automobiles/vehicles currently within a field of view of device . The generated messages can be relatively simple as indicated above such as data that when processed for display provides a simple visual indication that a match exists. Such simple messages can be generated by the rules engine to produce data that when rendered, as discussed below provides informational depictions in different colors, e.g., red, yellow or green, which would correspond to different levels of match. Alternatively, complex messages can be generated. Such complex messages can include textual content that conveys information regarding attributes of the automobiles/vehicles that were found to match the customer's criteria. Typically, such messages with textual content will include results of the search criteria used to find matches. With complex messages, the informational depictions can include part of the textual content, e.g., the criteria that matched or can include statements generated by the rules engine that summarizes the criteria. FIG. 3 12 70 72 12 74 76 78 Referring to , the server receives the generated messages from the output of the rules engine and in some embodiments receives data corresponding to a view of the environment, e.g., the dealer's lot containing the automobiles/vehicles, as viewed by the customer. The server also receives information that specifies the physical location of each of the automobiles/vehicles associated with the generated messages. The server generates informational depictions based on the received messages and associates the generated informational depictions with corresponding automobiles/vehicles in the dealer's lot. 12 FIG. 8 In one embodiment, the server generates an image of representations of the automobiles/vehicles. The generated image is a real-world image depicting the automobiles/vehicles or it can be a morphed or virtual depiction (which may be less desired if the user is looking at that morphed or virtual image through eyeglasses). The generated image is augmented with a set of informational depictions of the generated messages. The informational depictions of the generated messages are positioned in the generated image in juxtaposition, e.g., over the representations of automobiles/vehicles in the image, for example, as illustrated in . 12 12 In another embodiment, the server , rather than generating an image of representations of automobiles/vehicles, the server generates the informational depictions for the generated messages with positional information that when sent and rendered on a display device will depict the informational depictions projected onto a real-world view of the lot containing the automobiles/vehicles. That is, in these embodiments the real world view is provided from looking through a set of eyeglasses Exemplary eyeglasses are Wrap 920 VR Bundle from Vuzix Corporation 75 Town Centre Drive Rochester, N.Y. 14623. Such eyeglasses often referred to as video eyewear connects media players or video-out capable mobile phones or a laptop, netbook or desktop PC. Such eyewear typically includes a video eyewear a video e.g., VGA Adapter and tracker. Other examples from Vuzix include The Wrap™ 920AR augmented reality eyewear. Other examples include Z800 Pro AR head mounted display (single or dual VGA input version.) standard or ruggedized distributed by CyberWorld, Inc. 60 De Bresoles Unit 202 Montreal, QC, Canada. In general such eyewear is a wearable display that presents a virtual large screen, stereo video capture, 6-degrees of freedom and head tracking. This view is augmented with the set of informational depictions of the generated messages that are projected on screens of the glasses. The informational depictions of the generated messages are position in the generated image in juxtaposition, e.g., over the representations of the client systems in the image. FIG. 4 FIG. 1 19 19 14 Referring now to , a user, is outfitted with the device (, either eyeglasses or tablet computer or other display type of device) that is configured to receive the generated augmentation and/or the generated, augmented image of the lot. In one embodiment, the eyeglasses mentioned above are used as the device . The eyeglasses allow the user to see through the glasses and observe the real world as a normal set of glasses. The eyeglasses are configured to receive the generated augmentation of the informational depictions and project the generated augmentation of the informational depictions onto the glasses such that the informational depictions are rendered in juxtaposition with corresponding ones of the client systems . 80 19 80 80 82 82 84 82 12 In another embodiment, a user is outfitted with a portable computer system . The device is the display portion of the portable computer system that is carried by the user. Examples include a tablet computer or a personal digital assistant. The system includes a local computer that processes an image of the scene received from, e.g., a camera and applies the received augmentation to the generated image for rendering on display . Alternatively, the local computer can receive the generated augmentation and the generated image from the server . 82 12 82 With the set of eyeglasses used as the display, the eyeglasses are configured to receive the generated image over a wireless or wired connection from either the local computer or directly (not shown) if wireless from the server . The portable computing system such as a personal digital assistant or a tablet computing device is typically configured to receive the generated augmented image over a wireless connection. 12 86 12 82 The server is further configured to generate the informational depictions of the generated messages as pictorial representations that have text corresponding to the message contained in the pictorial representations. Examples include balloon depictions, callouts, cartoons, simple text boxes, etc. These generated messages are sent in a data stream from the server to the local device . 12 10 84 82 84 84 12 14 84 The server is further configured to cause the informational depictions to be rendered by the display as positioned, e.g., over the automobiles/vehicles depicted in the image or the real-world actual view. In other embodiments, the system has an image capture device disposed to view the dealer's lot, either in a fixed position or attached to e.g., the computer or otherwise stand-alone. From the image capture device the computer or sever receives real-world, real time images the client systems . Alternatively, the image capture device is mounted in or on the eyeglasses. FIG. 5 FIG. 1 FIG. 1 12 12 Referring now to , positional information regarding each of the automobiles/vehicles is provided to the server (), as discussed below. Generally, the locations of the automobiles/vehicles are fixed. In one embodiment, the automobiles/vehicles contained in the image presented to the user will constantly change depending on the location and orientation of the user with respect to the automobiles/vehicles. For example, as the user walks through the lot different automobiles/vehicles will come into and go out of the field of view in the image. It would be desirable therefore for the server () to also have information regarding which systems are currently in the field of view of the display carried by the user, e.g., the eyeglasses. This can be accomplished by various techniques, discussed below. 14 10 FIG. 1 FIG. 1 Individual automobiles/vehicles are assigned X and Y coordinate positions so as to map the automobiles/vehicles to a plan of the dealer's lot. The lot can be outfitted with beacons, e.g., beacons A-D. These beacons operate using optical or radio frequency or acoustic signals. The client systems () are assigned X and Y coordinate positions through a triangulation process. The positions for each vehicle/automobile are stored in the one or more computers of the system (). Other approaches can be used. For example, each vehicle/automobile can be provided with an individual beacon that transmits a signal identifying the automobile/vehicle, (e.g., by VIN or stock no. or the like) to which it is attached. In addition, the beacon on the individual automobile/vehicle can be programmed with the assigned position (space) of the automobile/vehicle in the lot. 12 The beacons A-D are configured to transmit signals and using conventional triangulation techniques through a receiver on the representative or prospective customer, determine the positional information. The server receive this positional information from the computer system and analyze the received positional information from the computer system to determine the relative position of the display with respect to the group of client systems located in the environment to position the informational depictions from over the depicted representations of those client systems in the group of client systems in the image. 10 12 12 12 12 a i a i In another embodiment, the system has the one or more computer systems -further configured to receive a map of the lot depicting where the client systems are located and receive a current image from the camera mounted on, e.g., the eyeglasses. The one or more computer systems -, analyze the received image to produce positional information regarding the automobiles/vehicles in the image with respect to the received map and the current position and orientation of the representative or prospective customer. While eyeglasses or a display device can be used other types of augmenting media devices can be configured to receive the generated image. FIG. 6 16 Referring now to , a depiction of the types of data/information stored in the database is shown. These data include the X and Y coordinates for each automobiles/vehicles, a lot plan, user attributes/user particulars, and information pertaining to each automobile/vehicle as discussed above. This database can be a local database associated with the dealer or can be a remote database associated with a manufacturer or a group of affiliated dealerships. FIG. 7 FIG. 6 FIG. 1 12 Referring to , a representative or prospective customer is outfitted with one of the portable stations mentioned above, e.g., the eyeglasses with a local computer, tablet computer, etc. The portable station using signals from the beacons A-D () determine through triangulation the position of the representative or prospective customer using active or passive techniques. The position is mapped into the map of the dealer's lot. The representative or prospective customer position and orientation are determined relative to the X and Y coordinates of the locations of the client systems. This is accomplished by the server () comparing the user's current position in the X and Y coordinates to the assigned/mapped X and Y coordinates of automobiles/vehicles. Alternatively, the user's location can be determined based on the portable device having a beacon that is detected through triangulation. Other techniques such as Global Positioning Systems can be used to determine position. 12 12 12 The server uses the representative or prospective customer position (that can change as the representative or prospective customer moves through the lot) and the X and Y coordinates automobiles/vehicles to generate the particular informational depictions, which the server deems to be in the current field of view of the representative or prospective customer. The server determines which information depictions to generate based on the positional information for the representative or prospective customer, as discussed above, and the positional information regarding the automobiles/vehicles. 12 10 12 FIG. 1 The server is configured to use the map of the dealer's lot and the analysis of the received image to produce positional information regarding the automobiles/vehicles in the image and hence in a current view of the representative or prospective customer. That information is used to decide which informational depictions are used to augment the image and where in the image the informational depictions should be rendered with respect to the automobiles/vehicles when the augmentation is displayed on the display device. The system () will cause the server to position in the image, the informational depictions over the representations of those automobiles/vehicles that are contained in the image at the time of generation of the image. 12 Generally, the server will generate the messages and likewise the informational depictions as the positions substantially change. The particular informational depictions that would be sent to the representative or prospective customer portable station would be those corresponding to the determined current view of the representative or prospective customer. In some implementations, where the lot is not very large all of the generated informational depictions can be sent to the representative or prospective customer portable station. 12 12 12 To determine orientation, a representative or prospective customer can signal the server of the representative or prospective customer current orientation either manually or automatically, e.g., by wearing an electronic compass that can send a signal back to the server giving the user's current orientation. In other simpler implementations, the server can assume that the user is always facing in a particular direction. Other arrangements are possible. FIG. 8 Referring now to , the X and Y coordinate data of the client systems and generated informational depictions are processed to produce a feed that when rendered on e.g., virtual reality glasses (or a portable tablet computing device) renders the generated informational depictions in juxtaposition to (either the actual view of or an image of) those automobiles/vehicles that are determined by the one or more computers to be in a current view, as shown for a simple search for sedans that are red with a price in a range of $20,000 to $25,000. Any set of attributes can be searched and displayed. The generated informational depictions are overlaid through an augmented image of the real lot, and the produced feed is projected onto virtual reality glasses or rendered by a display portion of the portable tablet computing device, and so forth. 90 90 10 92 FIG. 80 FIG. 8 In one embodiment, the user can select one of the informational depictions (e.g., depiction ) either by a signal when wearing the eyeglasses or via touching a display (tablet) or other user device or other techniques. Selection of one or more of the informational depictions, e.g., can cause the system to generate another display that displays more details, such as an image of the vehicle's “sticker sheet” that is conventionally found on vehicles. This other display can be displayed over the display of , as shown or overlaid the display of or displayed as a separate image. 10 A block diagram of components of the system is also shown. User devices can be any sort of computing device capable of taking input from a user and communicating over a network (not shown) with server and/or with other client devices. For example, user device can be a mobile device, a desktop computer, a laptop, a cell phone, a personal digital assistant (“PDA”), a server, an embedded computing system, a mobile device, as well as the eyeglasses, and so forth. User devices include monitor which render visual representations. Server can be any of a variety of computing devices capable of receiving information, such as a server, a distributed computing system, a desktop computer, a laptop, a cell phone, a rack-mounted server, and so forth. Server may be a single server or a group of servers that are at a same location or at different locations. Server can receive information from user devices via a communication interface. Interfaces can be any type of interface capable of receiving information over a network, such as an Ethernet interface, a wireless networking interface, a fiber-optic networking interface, a modem, and so forth. Server also includes a processor and memory. A bus system (not shown), including, for example, a data bus and a motherboard, can be used to establish and to control data communication between the components of server. Processor may include one or more microprocessors. Generally, processor may include any appropriate processor and/or logic that is capable of receiving and storing data, and of communicating over a network (not shown). Memory can include a hard drive and a random access memory storage device, such as a dynamic random access memory, machine-readable media, or other types of non-transitory machine-readable storage devices. Components also include storage device, which is configured to store information, map, map templates, rules data for the rules, software for the rules engine, etc. Embodiments can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations thereof Apparatus of the invention can be implemented in a computer program product tangibly embodied or stored in a machine-readable storage device and/or machine readable media for execution by a programmable processor; and method actions can be performed by a programmable processor executing a program of instructions to perform functions and operations of the invention by operating on input data and generating output. The invention can be implemented advantageously in one or more computer programs that are executable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a data storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. Each computer program can be implemented in a high-level procedural or object oriented programming language, or in assembly or machine language if desired; and in any case, the language can be a compiled or interpreted language. Suitable processors include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory and/or a random access memory. Generally, a computer will include one or more mass storage devices for storing data files; such devices include magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and optical disks. Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD_ROM disks. Any of the foregoing can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits). Other embodiments are within the scope and spirit of the description claims. For example, due to the nature of software, functions described above can be implemented using software, hardware, firmware, hardwiring, or combinations of any of these. Features implementing functions may also be physically located at various positions, including being distributed such that portions of functions are implemented at different physical locations. BACKGROUND SUMMARY DETAILED DESCRIPTION DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The accompanied figures are to be used in conjunction with the description below. FIG. 1 is a block diagram FIGS. 2 and 3 are flow chart diagrams. FIG. 4 is a block diagram. FIG. 5 is a pictorial depiction of a dealer lot containing a group of vehicles and beacons. FIG. 6 FIG. 1 is block diagram of a representation of information used in the system of . FIG. 7 is a pictorial depiction of a user viewing various vehicles on a dealer lot having informational depictions. FIG. 8 is pictorial depiction of an exemplary rendition of informational depictions render on a real-world view of a dealer lot.
The importance of the research lies in using the simplest teaching methods for learning different skills like cartwheel in gymnastics. The problem of the research lies in the difficulty in finding teaching methods that suits the students' age and abilities. The research aimed at designing teaching package for learning cartwheel and hypothesized statistical differences between pre and posttests in both controlling and experimental groups in cartwheel. The researcher used the experimental method and the subjects were (28) students. The data was collected and treated using proper statistical operations. The researchers concluded that the teaching package has positive effect if used correctly and scientifically. Finally they recommended developing teaching package suitable to students' age and applying this package on students of similar age groups.	https://jcope.uobaghdad.edu.iq/index.php/jcope/article/view/96
"How did you do that?" "Short answer? Magic is real." Nestled deep in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, something is emerging. Kept in absolute secrecy, it seeps into a fading town, quietly shared from person to person. For Alden Bensen, a directionless high school graduate, this discovery could mean an escape from his empty existence. To Rachel DuValle, perpetually underestimated and dismissed by the world, magic represents a chance to become something much greater than herself. In the face of an unsuspecting world, their decisions shape the growth of a budding society discovering untold power. This potent force offers anyone the power to change humanity forever—or send it cascading into swift and total annihilation. The Last Science is an ongoing science-fiction / fantasy web novel series created by Etzoli. New chapters will be posted on Fridays—plus bonus chapters on Mondays—for as long as it takes to tell the whole story. Each chapter is pretty long (average ~8000 words), so find somewhere comfy to read. This is a series for readers who really like to dive into the content. This story will also be published weekly at my website (https://etzo.li). There will be no differences in content, but slight differences in formatting. Feel free to read at whichever site or app you prefer. If you're enjoying the story, consider dropping me a vote over on Top Web Fiction, or come say hi on Discord. Thanks! Need more to read? Check out my other story, Epilogue — a post-fantasy psychodrama. Now complete! This story is a participant in the Write til the End pledge. It will be completed, no matter the cost. - Overall Score - - Style Score - - Story Score - - Character Score - - Grammar Score - - Total Views : - 95,451 - Average Views : - 1,446 - Followers : - 430 - Favorites : - 117 - Ratings : - 99 - Pages : - 1,696 Leave a review - Overall Score - - Style Score - - Story Score - - Grammar Score - - Character Score - First, I would like to appreciate that the author has constructed a narrative that is quite lovely and is strikingly original, in a time where many things seem to not be. I hope to eventually achieve such originality in my own work, but that is probably not to be discussed in a review. Magic is a topic of literature that I've nearly always had a passion for. I've seen its origins and use through numerous types of fiction, and have been quick to learn what I can about it through that fiction. I find it to be a good sign when a fiction begins discussing it quickly within the pages, so that more can be learned and built upon as soon as possible. The Last Science does this very well, and I was enveloped almost immediately. I'd never seen magic done with such physical based power! It was refreshing to see, to say the least. I look forward to seeing where it's origins come, beyond being located within Rallsburg. It's already developed quite a ways. The narrative itself has been quite fast paced, perhaps a little more than I was ready for. I quite enjoy the character switching aspect, as it allows the author to tell the story from more than one perspective, thus giving a more universal view of situations. Perhaps two or three chapters from Alden's view before jumping into another person's perspective would have been better for me, but I can understand where the author would jump quickly to another person to set, well, the setting. I'm not much of a person to look into Grammar. Everything I've read has been spelled correctly, and written correctly as far as I can tell. The characters are, as should be, the star of the story. The beginning narrative, seeing our first experience with magic within this fiction through Alden's, and witnessing these small town perspectives as magic begins to exist within this universe have all been quite stunning. The amount of emotion and description the author has put into the characters has been wonderful to witness. The connections between all of the communities of Rallsburg has also been nice to see. I am currently catching up, and will write another interview when everything is out (which I am definitely looking forward to!) Thank you for your time, and I hope you appreciate this book as I have. - Overall Score - - Style Score - - Story Score - - Grammar Score - - Character Score - The Last Science is a bit of a genre-mixer that defies ready classification. Despite the fantasy tag and the magical elements, the story immediately shrugs off the expectations of a stereotypical "teenager gains magical powers" story. Instead, The Last Science is a rich drama/mystery story which uses magic as the foundation for a compelling plot and characters and provides far more than simply a story "about" magic. In fact, to some extent the magical elements of the story contrast starkly with the grittiness of the plot and the normalcy and relatability of the characters. The focus of the story is not on exploring the magic itself but rather the implications of such power when injected into a quiet college town and the lives of its inhabitants. In this sense the story reflects many of the themes typically found in technology-based or science fiction stories (justifying the sci-fi tag), which is reinforced by the way the story's magic is shown to have its own consistent mechanisms and limitations which the characters are continually attempting to explore and understand. When I say the characters are "normal" I mean that they are not superheroes or stereotypes, but real people with their own hopes, concerns, and intermixing relationships and all of the complications that ensue. It is not to mean that they are mundane or boring. Quite the opposite, each character in The Last Science seems to carry their fair share of mystery and intrigue which leaves no doubt that each one has a story of their own to be revealed in time. The Last Science manages an excellent balance of weaving rich layers of mystery and intrigue through each character and location the reader encounters, while also revealing enough information as the story progresses to let you know that it isn't just a tease. The plot incorporates and expands on each mystery it establishes and makes clear that there's real substance to everything it hints at. I hadn't originally meant for this review to be quite so glowing and I would include criticism if I had any at the moment, but the truth is that I'm hooked and frankly I have a hard time thinking of reasons why others wouldn't be as well. I strongly encourage anyone interested to give it a try. - Overall Score - - Style Score - - Story Score - - Grammar Score - - Character Score - So I came straight from the author’s other work, epilogue, and all I can say is wow are they consistent. The characters all have their own motives and flaws, making for interesting interactions. Each seems to be well thought out, making them believable and real. The story itself is awesome. With the novel being based on magic, it is executed with an originality that seems to be the authors expertise. The idea of how humanity would react to the appearance of magic is perfectly executed with different factions working with their own ideals and motives. I don’t really know what to say but read this serial, it’s fantastic!! Then only flaw that I can point at is that I have to wait for the first chapter of book 2 at the moment! - Overall Score - - Style Score - - Story Score - - Grammar Score - - Character Score - Took me about a week, but finally got caught up. Being a fan of writing styles with more brevity, I had difficulty getting into the story in the first few chapters. I'd guiltily admit of skimming quite a bit at first. Beverly and Natalie are my favorite characters at the moment. Cinza is interesting, I feel for Rachel (at least starting around the second half of Book 1), and Alden is alright. I don't hate Rika, but for some reason she didn't make me feel as intrigued as I did with the other characters I've mentioned. Hailey is alright. Jackson was effective to incite my hate for him as a villain. And I think I'd want to see more of Kendra and Lily sooner or later. - Overall Score - This story has taken magic and put it in a new context. It is hard to do this and do it well. On that note the magic in this story seems like it has a more personal touch that doesn't happen to often in fantasy. The author does a great job of using the small college town environment to their advantage, making it so everyone knows mostly what's going around. I look forward to new chapters and see wherever this story goes. - Overall Score - - Style Score - - Story Score - - Grammar Score - - Character Score - Who cares if it's slow when it's this good? The characters are realistic and detailed, the plot is interesting, the setting is so real I want to move there (except I don't because it's probably going to get blown up), and there's a crazy amount of potential for more here. Author's really got pacing down in the recent chapters too, you can really tell it's building up to something crazy. Everyone should be reading this. - Overall Score - - Style Score - - Story Score - - Grammar Score - - Character Score - What a debut. I came here from the author's site because I need everyone to be reading this. And this is only book 1? More, right now! The writing is pitch-perfect and the plot is only getting more ambitious. I haven't ever seen this idea tackled like this. I need more. Keep going, Etzoli, and we will follow! - Overall Score - - Style Score - - Story Score - - Grammar Score - - Character Score - It's a surprisingly well written story but somehow the author manages to make a mystery in a small town in the middle of nowhere boring. It has the feeling of a bunch of clichés and a mashing of genres that in this case don't mesh. It could be a lot bette and filled with more hooks. As of yet this story is bland and it's difficult to improve since what's bad aren't the characters but everything around them. - Overall Score - Love how it's started. Drew me in and I hope to see where it goes :) - Overall Score - - Style Score - - Story Score - - Grammar Score - - Character Score - I've been reading this story during my breaks at work. The chapters are nearly perfect length for me to get through while eating my lunch. I can't say much about the story without risking spoilers, but its quite interesting. I can't wait to read what happens next!	https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/18574/the-last-science?review=269659
What We Do The Bench brings individuals together to build community, foster creativity, develop leadership skills, and encourage more progress. During the program period, participants are challenged to think critically about leadership theories, traditions, and models to create, communicate, and carry out solutions to social justice and other challenges in Chicago’s Black Community. We prepare participants through rigorous, multifaceted training to - Evaluate major theories and models of leadership and their implications; - Foster an understanding of the history and strategies of leaders, with attention to Black leaders, internationally and domestically, in challenging injustice; - Demonstrate a commitment to social justice and accept responsibility for correcting societal inequities; - Create and implement a vision and practice of leadership that builds on core ethical principles and values; - Serve as a positive change agent who addresses local and urgent social problems. We are looking for participants - Age 25 - 45 - Black Community Leader - 2-6 years of leadership experience in the public affairs sector - Able to make all dates (Seven sessions between February - August; 1 Excused Absence) - Emerging leadership positions in Chicago. Examples of these positions include new executive directors, program directors, organizing directors, policy directors, lead organizers, etc.	https://blackbenchchicago.org/
Note: Format for bio picture should be PNG/JPG/GIF, 256x256px. Description [After Image is an art installation comprised of a video piece and creative data visualization showcasing a series of experiments done with an archive of my own family photographs in relation to a larger archive of South Indian studio photographs from the Studies in Tamil Studio Archives and Society (S.T.A.R.S). Each of these experiments employs machine learning and computational techniques to sort, average, and analyze the images in order to surface semantic and visual patterns across the hundreds of images. With my experiments, I question the notion of collective and individual identity, and highlight the complexity of the image as a data point. For the experiments, the images were first grouped by subject matter using a subject detection machine learning model and a clustering algorithm. Images were clustered around common composition, objects, or pose such as "two people standing", or "one person sitting one person standing", or "babies and rocking horses." These clusters are shown on the table around the central video component in the form of an intricate mapping of images. Each group is represented by a cluster of its individual images around a central node image, which is a computational averaging of all the images within the cluster. These averaged or ghost-like images, meant to represent each cluster, are also shown in the form of gold prints on the wall. The video component shows my own family photographs in relation to the larger archive. After Image highlights images as data and their influence historically with photography as well as in the present with computer vision technology, and particularly in how they shape identity on both the individual and a collective scale. ] Note: Panels should follow a moderator / discussion format, with possible participation from the audience. Artwork installation requirements (if applicable) [outlet, 3 x 4ft floor space, and wall space as well (4ft wide)] Artworks must be installed on Friday October 18th, 2019.	https://git.radicalnetworks.org/chootka/radical-networks/-/issues/292
Colonial social services were the services that were provided purposely to accelerate colonial exploitation and improve the welfare of colonial civil servants during colonial period. A number of social services were developed by different colonial powers in their African colonies. These included provision of Western education, medical services, water services and housing. However, most of these were meant to make the lives of the Europeans as comfortable as possible. The services were provided to European governor's traders, and missionaries, but very scarcely to the Africans. The Christian missionaries, in particular, played an important role in the provision of social services to the African communities during colonialism. In general, the colonial social services included the following: - Colonial education - Transport and communication - Recreational services - Water and electricity - Health services 1. COLONIAL EDUCATION Colonial Education was a process by which people get knowledge, skills and values that were necessary for the mastering of social, political and economic situation under colonial rule. Colonial education was provided in schools and colleges belonged to either the colonial governments or the missionaries in areas that mainly produced raw materials. It replaced informal or traditional education which existed before colonialism. The Aims of Colonial Education in African Societies 1. To expand the market for the manufactured goods from Europe. 2. It aimed at creating African staff to work in the white color jobs such as clerks and foremen. 3. It aimed at creating elite who had to be loyal to the colonialists. 4. It aimed at providing the knowledge which could help Africans production of the raw materials. Features of Colonial Education 1. It was pyramidal in shape. The colonial education was pyramidally provided. This means that the number of pupils decreased as the pupils reached the upper educational standard. 2. It was segregative. This education was segregative in the sense that only the sons of chiefs were given education while girls were not given education. School were runkers according to races. e.g There were special for the sons of chiefs. 3. It was bookish in nature It was mainly theoritical education. 4. It was for the white colar- Jobs education. 5. It was irrelevant to the African environment. The education taught the learners what was present in Europe and not in Africa. Impact of Colonial Education Although this education led to the improvement in African lives in many aspects, its impacts are enormous. 1. Many Africans were left illiteracy due to the small number of Africans that were benefited with the education provided. Educated people were alianated from the society. Many people turn their back of African traditional since they adopted cultural values of European society example, ways of dressing and dancing, language as well as eating mannerisms. 2. Deduction of patriotism among the Africans. Those Africans who received the colonial education denounced the Africans and hence become suro-Afro descendants. This mainly happen in French colonies in West Africa where the elites denounced their fellow Africans simply because they had received colonial education. 3. Prepared Africans for colonialism. Africans to accept colonialism. In their areas for example the elites psychologically were prepared to accept the colonial administration as they were given chances in the colonial government as party and parcel of the colonial administrators. 4. Colonial education created hatred between the educated and non-educated people. This happened when the educated people segregated and used defamatory language to non-educated. 5. Colonial education created the base of disunity and tribalism in Africa. 6. Led to the spread of Western civilization. 2. WATER AND HOUSING SERVICES Motives for Provision of Water and Housing Services 1. Provision of water and housing services during colonialism was to facilitate the economic interests of the metropolis. 2.These services were provided on racial bases where the Europeans were given the best quality as opposed to Africans who received poor housing and water services. 3. Provision of water and housing services during colonialism was meant to encourage the European settlement. Distribution Pattern of Water and Housing Services Political administrative and economic functions determined the nature of housing and water serviceprovided to the residents. Many Africans were attracted to move to urban centers after the World War. In Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia, some 4000 African male workers and unknown number of women and children were reported to have been housed in squatter settlement by late 1930. Africans lived in slums and were scattered in different parts of the capital city. Such slums were made using cheap materials poles, grass and tins. Dar-es Salaam encountered unemployment problem. The population increased but the number of houses did not increase. Many slums emerged at the begging of colonialism. Example in Nairobi Kenya slums were scattered while the Europeans settled in better- drained neighborhoods. Conditions of living in the rural areas were becoming difficult especially in the white settler colonies. Where a lot of African land was alienated. There also was great pressure for Africans to pay taxes. Africans who lived in urban centres were overcrowded, the wages paid were much better than in the rural areas. Improvement in transportation also encouraged mobility to the urban centres. The introduction of passenger buses and train coaches facilitated the movement towards the urban centres especially in colonial Tanganyika. Impact of the Provision of Colonial Water and Housing Services 1. Africans viewed urban centers as a place for temporary settlement after which one would go back to the rural areas as most of the service were provided for the Europeans. 2. Due to fewer houses in urban centers, Enterprising Africans construct logging houses. 3. Slums emerged due to lack of adequate shelter. In these houses, illicit activities such as the sale of illegal liquor, theft and drug trafficking take place All these contributed to the emergence of nationalism against colonial injustice. example, Mau mau liberation war. 4. African civil servants in the colonies got better housing and water services after the second World War. 5. Racial discrimination in the provision of water and housing services contributed to the emergence of African Welfare Associations in Urban centres like Dar- es -Salaam. 6. Diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhoe and malaria affected Africans due to poor water services and housing available for African communities. Many Africans died as a result of poor condition of living in colonial urban centres. Also prostitution became widespread in colonial urban centres result to move social problems such as spread of sexually transmitted diseases. 3. COLONIAL HEALTH SERVICE This involved the provision of medical needs to the white men and colonial subjects it was affected by the construction of government and missionary hospitals, dispensaries in the colonies mostly were found in key forces stations like in armed forces stations, in production areas andUrban centers Objectives of the Colonial Health Services 1. Health services aimed at giving medicine to Africa peasants and labors in order to maintain the labour power. 2. Were designed in order to improve the living standards of the whites since they received the best services than the other races. 3. Aimed at destroying the African medication services. 4. Aimed at preventing and cure the white imposed diseases such as tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases etc. 5. Aimed at maximizing the interests of capitalism in Africa. Features of Colonial Health Services 1. Many hospitals or dispensaries were built in urban areas, plantations areas and in areas which had settlers farms i.e. Tanga, Kilimanjaro, Arusha and Bukoba 2. Had racial discrimination i.e. the whites received the best health services followed by Asians and Africans. 3. The hospitals / dispensaries only provided western medication. 4. Highly medical personnel were the whites e.g. the British, French, Portuguese, Belgians etc Africans served as dressing sweepers and other lower rank jobs. 5. They were religious biased i.e. there were catholic hospitals, Lutheran hospitals etc. 1. Expanded the market of the western capitalism industry in Africans consumed various medicine from Europe. 2. They maintained the labor power for peasantry settler and mining sector of colonial economy. 3. Provided employment to their people in Africa. 4. African herbs were almost replaced by the consumption of western medications. 5. Strengthened classes during the colonial period i.e. the white civil servants, settlers and managers got high quality health services while the African received poor health services. Other social services were such as; Electricity, Water, Infrastructure and Housing. 4. COMMERCE AND TRADE Trading activities in Africa was nothing as it involved for a long time. The pre-colonial African trade was also based on exchange of goods for goods. So after colonial trade, the trading activities was characterized by the following points Characteristics of Colonial Trade 1. It was organized and colonial conducted the government and the imperial trading companies for example; - ImperiaL British East African Company [IBEACO]. - German East African Company [GEACO]. - British South African Company [BSACO]. - Royal Niger Company [RNCO] land international association. 2. The dominant of colonial trade was Arabs and Indians in east Africa and Syrians and Lebanese in West Africa other than Africa. 3. It based on exploitations of raw materials such as minerals and agricultural products. 4. Money became the means of trading this was replaced the pre-colonial barter trade. 5. It established marketing boards so as to control trade transaction and prices of the commodities. 6. It based also on creation of storage facilities aims to store commodities and raw material. 5. TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION After the colonialists to exploit African resources; the next was to setup modern transport systems including railway lines, ports and roads. This was to simplify the transportation of products from mining and farming activities. i.e. 1890-1926 many railway lines, roads and ports were built in Africa such as: 1. Mombasa-kisumu line to Uganda 2. Uganda built Jinja to Masangali line in 3. Dar es salaam line from Tabora to Mwanza. During Germany and British respectively. NOTES 2 Click Here to get a full view of the notes seen below:	https://www.msomibora.com/2018/04/history-form-three-topic-4-colonial.html
(Philadelphia, August 5, 2019)—As The Philadelphia Orchestra prepares to launch its 120th season, the eighth under Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin,changes and additions have been made to select programs of the 2019–20 concert calendar. Additions include the return of Chinese composer and conductor Tan Dun to Philadelphia (October 12), a presentation of the Vienna Boys Choir (December 15), and an appearance by Italian conductor Fabio Luisi (April 23-25). On the heels of a successful 2019 tour to China, a concert has been added on October 12 that will highlight the Orchestra’s steadfast relationship with China. Led by composer and conductor Tan Dun, the program will include music by Tan Dan and John Adams as well as works celebrating Chinese musical culture. Just in time for the holidays, the world-renowned Vienna Boys Choir returns to Philadelphia with an extraordinary program featuring Austrian folk songs, classical masterpieces, popular songs, and holiday favorites. This program does not feature The Philadelphia Orchestra. Since his Philadelphia Orchestra debut in February 2011, Italian conductor Fabio Luisi has become a beloved collaborator with the Orchestra. He returns in April to lead a program that includes Bent Sørensen’s Evening Land, Nielsen’s Flute Concerto performed by Principal Flute Jeffrey Khaner, and Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony (April 23–25). In addition to individual program updates, the Orchestra has released new details about the upcoming season of Sound All Around, a series of concerts that introduces young children to orchestral music through interaction and storytelling, each of which has a sensory-friendly presentation. The 2019–20 season embraces and explores the range, creativity, and power of women in music on the podium, in composition, and on stage. The season brings contemporary relevance to the music of Beethoven, juxtaposed with new compositions, in the iconic composer’s 250th birthday year. Nézet-Séguin and the Orchestra demonstrate the transformative power of music, and the organization’s enduring and evolving place among the communities of its home in Philadelphia. A diverse range of music’s most compelling emerging voices will be heard alongside beloved and celebrated figures in music throughout the season. Individual tickets go on sale tomorrow, August 6, to current subscribers, donors, Young Friends, and volunteers, and on August 13 to the general public at www.philorch.org. Please note that these updates supersede previous press materials related to these concerts. An updated version of the chronological calendar can be found HERE for your use. For more information, and to purchase tickets to any of these programs, please visit www.philorch.org. Season-long program—Sound All Around Event addition: Full season of Sound All Around programs added to season calendar September 14* & 16, 2019 October 19* & 21, 2019 November 16* & 18, 2019 February 8* & 10, 2020 March 21* & 23, 2020 Location: Academy of Music Ballroom Time: Concerts begin each date at 10:00 AM and 11:15 AM Sound All Around, a concert series endowed in perpetuity by the Garrison Family Fund for Children’s Concerts, introduces young audience members to the joy of music through fun, engaging programs designed for 3–5 year olds. Each performance focuses on a different family of instruments, giving young music lovers an informal opportunity to listen to stories with live music performed by members of The Philadelphia Orchestra and get an up-close look at instruments. Concerts are 45 minutes and are hosted by award-winning storyteller Charlotte Blake Alston. * indicates sensory-friendly performance September 18, 2019—Opening Night Repertoire additions: Strauss’s Suite from Der Rosenkavalier; Giordano’s “Nemico della patria,” from Andrea Chénier; Oliveros’s “Tuning Meditation,” from Four Meditations for Orchestra (first Philadelphia Orchestra performance); the Violetta and Germont Duet from Act II of Verdi’s La traviata Artist addition: Adela Zaharia, soprano (Philadelphia Orchestra debut) Plácido Domingo is a paragon of the opera world, continuing to add roles to his repertoire while amassing raves all over the world. The truly legendary Spanish tenor is joined by Yannick, the Orchestra, and, making her Philadelphia Orchestra debut, soprano Adela Zaharia in an evening of beloved highlights from the opera stage. October 12, 2019—Celebration through Music: A China Story Event addition: Concert added to calendar Location: Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts Time: 8:00 PM Artist addition: Tan Dun, conductor The program will include music by Tan Dan and John Adams, as well as works celebrating Chinese musical culture. December 1, 2019—Organ and Brass Christmas Artist addition: Erina Yashima, conductor Hark the herald trumpets (and horns, trombones, and tuba) sing! The unmatched sound and musicality of The Philadelphia Orchestra’s legendary brass section usher in the holiday season on a high note. And the glory of the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ adds another heavenly voice to this collection of treasured Christmas music, with master organist Peter Richard Conte at the keyboard for this festive presentation. Please note: The Philadelphia Orchestra does not perform on this concert. This concert is part of the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ Experience. December 5-7—Bach’s Mass in B minor Artist additions: Carolyn Sampson, soprano; Karen Cargill, mezzo-soprano; Jonas Hacker, tenor; Benjamin Appl, baritone (Philadelphia Orchestra debut) This work of towering musicality and deep spirituality is a fitting summation of J.S. Bach’s epochal career; he finished it the year before he died. It’s “above and beyond every piece of music that’s been created for liturgical purposes,” says Yannick Nézet-Séguin. A setting of the complete Latin Mass, it demands superlatives, at the same time rendering them inadequate. Yannick’s mastery of vocal music, the Westminster Symphonic Choir, distinguished vocal soloists, and the inimitable Philadelphia Orchestra will bring the Mass to life as a peak musical and spiritual experience for every listener. December 15—Vienna Boys Choir—Christmas in Vienna Time: 7:30 PM The world-renowned Vienna Boys Choir has been delighting music lovers across the globe for six centuries with their purity of tone, distinctive charm, and popular repertoire. Christmas in Vienna showcases these gifted young musicians with voices of unforgettable beauty in an extraordinary program featuring Austrian folk songs, classical masterpieces, popular songs, and, of course, holiday favorites. December 22—Messiah Artist additions: Susanna Phillips, soprano; Paula Murrihy, mezzo-soprano (Philadelphia Orchestra debut); Jonas Hacker, tenor; Henry Waddington, bass-baritone (Philadelphia Orchestra debut) Shortly after sending Handel his libretto for a new oratorio, Charles Jennens wrote to a friend, hoping that the composer “will lay out his whole genius and skill upon it.” In 24 days of feverish writing, Handel did just that, creating his immortal Messiah. Pioneering conductor and Handel expert Jane Glover brings her decades of experience with opera and Baroque music back to the Kimmel Center for our holiday presentation of this masterwork, with the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir joining the Orchestra for a revelatory performance. January 3-5—Disney’s Fantasia—Live in Concert Repertoire additions: Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor (orchestrated by Stokowski/Orchestra only); excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s Suite No. 1 from The Nutcracker; excerpts from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5; excerpts from Stravinksy’s Suite from The Firebird; Ponchielli’s “Dance of the Hours,” from La Gioconda; Debussy’s “Clair de lune,” from Suite bergamasque (orchestrated by Stokowski/Orchestra only); excerpts from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 (“Pastoral”); Dukas’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Artist addition: Aram Demirjan, conductor Fantasia is a pinnacle of cinematic art, and a landmark in The Philadelphia Orchestra’s incredible tradition of innovation. This groundbreaking 1940 collaboration between the visionary genius Walt Disney and the Orchestra’s commanding maestro Leopold Stokowski has never lost its capacity to move, delight, and astonish audiences all over the world. There is simply nothing like a live performance of this classic by your Philadelphia Orchestra. Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts ©. All rights reserved. February 27-29—Respighi’s Pines of Rome Artist update: Due to a scheduling conflict, Donald Runnicles has regrettably withdrawn from this program. A replacement will be announced at a later date. Two journeys to Italy bookend this program. Respighi’s Pines of Rome is a sweeping pictorial of the Italian landscape. Edward Elgar’s scintillating tone poem In the South commemorates a family holiday; the richly textured music conveys the Italian Riviera in all its warmth. Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro is a showcase for strings. Inspired by the theater organ in William Randolph Hearst’s San Simeon (fictionalized as Xanadu in Citizen Kane), Michael Daugherty’s lush Once Upon a Castle brings out what the composer calls the “Technicolor” nature of the instrument. Keyboard virtuoso Paul Jacobs returns to the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ. These concerts are part of the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ Experience. March 5-7—Porgy and Bess Artist additions: Kevin Short, Crown/Jake (Philadelphia Orchestra subscription debut); Morgan State University Choir (Eric Conway, director) This American classic is the story of a man trying to rescue a woman from her distressing life. To help create his masterpiece, George Gershwin immersed himself in African-American life and culture on Charleston’s Catfish Row, honoring the area’s folk traditions with timeless melodies. Pioneering conductor Marin Alsop leads our performances of this tale of oppression, struggle, hope, and love. The cast includes soprano Angel Blue (hailed by Plácido Domingo as “the next Leontyne Price”) and celebrated baritone Lester Lynch. March 7—Carnival of the Animals—Family Concert Artist addition: Lina Gonzalez-Granados, conductor (Philadelphia Orchestra debut) Lions and tigers and ... pianists? Oh, my! Camille Saint-Saëns’s Carnival of the Animals is a musical journey through the animal kingdom that’s fun for all ages. Verizon Hall will be magically turned into a zoo through your child’s imagination as animals are conjured up by the musicians of the Orchestra. April 23-25—Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony Repertoire update: Sørensen’s Evening Land (first Philadelphia Orchestra performances) replaces Šerkšnytė’s De Profundis; Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 replaces Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 Artist change and addition: Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla is postponing her return with The Philadelphia Orchestra in the 2019–2020 season due to maternity/family leave following the birth of her first child. She looks forward to returning the following season. Conductor Fabio Luisi has graciously agreed to lead The Philadelphia Orchestra for the April 23–25 performances. Italian conductor Fabio Luisi returns to conduct a program that opens with Bent Sørensen’s Evening Land. The piece was inspired by an image of the evening light that Sørensen recalled from his childhood in Denmark. Principal Flute Jeffrey Khaner is especially pleased to be performing the Nielsen Concerto. “I love the back and forth in the orchestration; it's a lot of fun to play and listen to!” Famous for its ingenious use of a “fate” theme, Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony progresses from a somber beginning to an uplifting, triumphant march in the final movement. It's Tchaikovsky at his soulful best! These concerts will be LiveNote® enabled. May 2—The Life and Times of Beethoven—Family Concert Professor Nigel Taproot, the affable and learned classical music aficionado, invites you to an original Really Inventive Stuff program for families celebrating Beethoven’s 250th birthday, his remarkable age, and four famous notes. Featuring the music of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, with a playful peppering of fascinating facts and timely trivia. (Did you know Washington was president during Beethoven’s lifetime? Roller skates were invented, too!) This enlightening performance is a splendid introduction to Beethoven’s musical genius. June 25-27—Bugs Bunny at the Symphony Event addition: Concerts added to calendar Location: Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts Time: 7:30 PM Artist addition: George Daugherty, conductor LiveNote is funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the William Penn Foundation. The Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ Experience (Frederick R. Haas, Artistic Advisor) is supported through a generous grant from the Wyncote Foundation. About The Philadelphia Orchestra # # # CONTACTS:	https://www.philorch.org/your-philorch/learn-more/press-room/the-philadelphia-orchestra-and-music-director-yannick-nezet-seguin-announce-new-programs-and-updates-to-201920-season/
LoginSign up Forgot Password? Transforming Our Knowledge to Innovations (Deep Into ELT) Venue: Fatih University Conference Hall \|Event Date/Time: Apr 25, 2009\|\|End Date/Time: Apr 26, 2009\| \|Abstract Submission Date: Mar 13, 2009\| \|Paper Submission Date: Apr 25, 2009\| Description to bring people together from different institutions and thus to cut across the boundaries between schools and universities, to establish academic and long-term partnerships. to bring academics, researchers, teachers and experts together to share, collaborate and experience current and emerging ideas, practices and developments in the ELT field; to initiate prospective directions in ELT. to map out the needs and perspective of the learner, the teacher, educational institutions and the wider â€˜marketâ€™. Watch this space for further information. We very much look forward to hearing from you.	http://www.allconferences.com/conferences/2009/20090113104835
If you're a patient at Southlake Regional Health Centre, there's now a better chance you'll be part of a research project, wrote the Newmarket Era March 16; the story also appeared on YorkRegion.com: A partnership between the local hospital and York University will embed leading scientists from the postsecondary institution as researchers to work alongside hospital clinical staff and physicians, Southlake director of research Patrick Clifford said. Three researchers and one special projects expert will work with staff to help turn ideas into action that could result in improved patient care and results. The hospital has 225 research projects on the go, but Mr. Clifford hopes having these experts on hand will increase that number significantly as he feels more research needs to be done in the area of clinical care. With 500 physicians and 3,000 staff, more than half of whom are specialists in a certain field, there are plenty of ideas at Southlake. Access to experienced researchers will allow those ideas to be developed into active research projects that evaluate how change could affect a patient, he added. “It gives the staff who have ideas a person to turn to learn how to translate the idea from their head into a research study,” Mr. Clifford said. Each of the three research scientists will be at the hospital one to two days per week and have been assigned to specific programs, including cancer and cardiac, mental health and the surgery and chronic disease programs. Formal meetings and an open-door policy will allow staff and the researchers to interact on a regular basis to collaborate, exchange knowledge and engage each other. The initiative will strengthen Southlake’s transition into a teaching hospital as the knowledge achieved can be passed down to students. York University doesn’t have a faculty of medicine or a teaching hospital and this opportunity will give the researchers greater access to patients. “The partnership will be beneficial to both parties involved as well as the patients we serve,” Mr. Clifford said. York professors Chris Ardern, Imogen Coe, Paul Ritvo and Lauren Sergio will be working on-site when the initiative launches next month. Mr. Ardern is a professor in the school of kinesiology and health science and is focused on research involving epidemiology of physical activity, obesity and cardio metabolic risk. He is investigating the role of geospatial analysis to improve the surveillance of cardiovascular disease in York Region and is co-investigator on pre-diabetes detection and physical activity intervention and delivery program. He will work with the hospital’s chronic disease department. Ms Coe, a biology professor, is working to develop more personalized approaches to disease treatment. She works with proteins that transport drugs used in cancer and cardiac care. Her research in Southlake’s cardiac care and oncology programs will examine how these proteins work in each individuals. Neuroscientist Ms Sergio examines the effects of age, gender, neurological disease and past head injuries on the brain’s control of complex movement. She will work with clinicians from Southlake’s chronic disease, emergency medicine and surgical programs. Mr. Ritvo specializes in behaviour and will serve as the research adviser, physical and mental health liaison and special projects scientist. His current research includes electronic health interventions, using cellphones, smartphones and online programs to alter the habits of diabetics and individuals with HIV and mental health issues. He will work with Southlake clinicians to examine how innovative software applications and technology can help patients reduce health risks through healthy exercise, diet and improved medication administration. Lauren Sergio is also a member of the Centre for Vision Research. Posted by Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer, with files courtesy of YFile – York University’s daily e-bulletin.	https://www.yorku.ca/research/category/health-research/2011/03/better-care-aim-of-hospital-research-partnership-between-york-and-southlake/
At St. Dominic’s our students undertake Physical Education classes. Our qualified Physical Education teacher provides students with skills and behaviours to help develop and maintain their physical, mental, social and emotional health. Students have opportunities to develop their skills through a variety of games such as basketball, soccer, athletics and volleyball. Students progress from learning simple rules and procedures to enable them to participate in movement and physical activity safely, to using equipment safely and confidently. Year 5/6 students compete in the Interschool Sports program against other schools in our district. In Term 4, 2016 students from years 3 to 6 will participate in a formal swimming program about water awareness. This will be implemented from Prep to 6 in 2017. Art At St. Dominic’s we have an exciting Art program with a highly skilled Art teacher. Students respond to art works through their senses, thoughts and emotions. They come to understand and appreciate art works through discussion and reflection. As students respond to what they see and feel, they learn to appreciate and explore others’ art works. Students also develop aesthetic knowledge through their Arts learning. The students’ art works are displayed in September at our Art Festival, which usually lasts for one week. This will be a display of visual and performing arts. AUSLAN We have introduced AUSLAN as our Language Other than English (LOTE) this year. Auslan is the sign language of the Australian Deaf community, used for over 100 years by many people in the Deaf community. Auslan is a language just like any other spoken language in its own right, with its own grammar, sentence structure and vocabulary. The only difference between Auslan and spoken languages is that it does not involve speaking verbally, but rather signed using facial expressions, hand and body language. Benefits of Auslan to any child include increased memory retention, increased reading ability, and growth in English language vocabulary, enhanced spelling proficiency and further brain development stimulation. Auslan is taught from Prep-6 level. The aim of the Auslan program is to give every child an introduction to the language, its users and the opportunity to learn a new skill and to have fun through a variety of games, movement activities, art, and songs. The formal study of Auslan contributes to the overall intellectual and social enrichment of both first language and second language learners. To learn more about Auslan, check out the following link to the Signbank website-ensure you click on the link to Victoria. Social Skills All students from Prep to 6 learn about the importance of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) with teachers planning and implementing structured lessons and activities. In the Prep to 2 year levels this approach is strengthened through the implementation of a targeted needs based program. The Zones of Regulation Program is used across the school.	https://www.sdbroadmeadows.catholic.edu.au/learning-teaching/specialist-program/
Understanding and Tuning the Performance of Synchronized Methods in Java with Program Analysis and Software Visualization Tools Shah, Michael. 2017 - Abstract: Understanding the behavior and performance of concurrent multithreaded programs remains a difficult problem for software engineers. As software relies on the addition of multiple processors to increase throughput and execution speed, software must become increasingly multithreaded to reap the performance gains. Multithreaded programs however have to coordinate and share resources, ... read moreand where these resources are shared (known as a critical section) becomes a potential performance bottleneck. Programmers want to maximize performance by taking extra effort to write concurrent software, but they also want to ensure that time spent in a critical section is minimized to reduce the amount of code that executes sequentially. Often times programmers favor correctness, but do not pay attention to performance within critical sections. In this dissertation critical sections are investigated specifically because high variability in their execution time can be a key component of a program not matching performance expectations. This high variability within executions of a critical section can unpredictably impede threads from making progress and be a source of software hangs. These occasional transient program hangs in critical sections interrupt a smooth user experience, and are difficult to find and reproduce as they are infrequent and hard to reproduce. Thus, there is a need to research and develop tools that can uncover new insights into critical sections. Thesis Statement: Static, dynamic, and software visualization analysis tools specifically focused on critical sections are needed to help uncover unexplored variability in critical sections to avoid unintended software hangs. This dissertation presents the discoveries I have found through a series of novel tools built to analyze concurrent Java programs. I will be presenting the following tools: 1. Iceberg, a static and dynamic program analysis tool for identifying features of critical sections in Java. 2. Critical Section Investigator, which is a tool that visualizes the call trees of executions of a various critical sections to understand where time is spent. 3. A Microarray call-graph visualization tool, which is a new visualization that helps programmers comprehend the software engineering architecture of large programs. In particular, programmers can see call graphs of large multithreaded programs. Together these new tools can be used by programmers to understand the performance of their critical sections and uncover difficult to find software hangs caused by variable performance in critical section executions. Thesis (Ph.D.)--Tufts University, 2017. Submitted to the Dept. of Computer Science. Advisor: Samuel Guyer. Committee: Kathleen Fisher, Remco Chang, Mark Hempstead, and Tao Schardl. Keyword: Computer science.read less - ID: - 9z903b25m - To Cite:	https://dl.tufts.edu/concern/pdfs/9z903b25m
It looks like a scene from a horror movie. And if you weren’t scared of scuba diving before, you might be after watching this video. Shot while on a diving trip in Japan, footage shows the moment a diver from Mayak Gamov in Russia was grabbed by a giant octopus while exploring the Sea of Japan. The giant animal swims up to the diver before latching onto his body for a few moments. Its giant tentacles grip around the diver’s body while trying to swim in a downwards motion towards the rocks below. The footage, which was filmed on the Garrow Peninsula in Japan, appears to show the giant octopus getting ready to bite down on diver using its sharp beak, hidden where its mouth is. After the diver managed to break away from the creature’s tentacles, the octopus then latches on to the man’s flipper before dropping down to the rocks below. The octopus then changes colour to blend with the seabed, as it hides in the rocks following the attack. Giant octopuses are usually shy around humans and live in chilly, coastal waters along California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Alaska, Russia, Japan and the Korean Peninsula. These giant octopus grow bigger and live longer than any other octopus species. The size record is held by a specimen that was 9.1 metres across and weighed more than 272kg. In May, a blogger from China thought it would be an ingenious idea to attempt to eat a live octopus. At the start of the disturbing clip, she decides to let the octopus grip onto her face. The woman was left in a sticky situation when the eight-limbed creature gripped tightly onto her skin and refused to let go. The octopus stretches out its tentacles over the woman’s nose and eventually holds tight to the skin around her left eye and lips while fastened to her cheek. In a particularly grotesque part of the video, the woman cries out in pain while trying to pull the creature away, but the skin around her eye and mouth is nearly pulled off in the process. After the woman finally manages to get free, she yells, “I’ll eat it in the next video” before noticing the octopus has left her left cheek swollen and bleeding.	http://worldtravelblog.org/2019/06/18/horror-as-giant-octopus-attacks-diver/
Social challenges can be daunting for children and it can impede on development and independent functioning. Children need to acquire basic self-management skills to be able to exercise self-discipline and manage their expressions of negative emotions. We provide a range of social skills groups addressing these challenges. The groups include conversational practice, skills building exercises such as role playing, social games and activities. These groups specifically benefit children with social processing difficulties related to: - Autism Spectrum Disorder - Asperger Syndrome - Pervasive Development Disorders - Nonverbal Learning Disabilities - Semantic and Pragmatic Disorders - Communication Disorders - Specific Learning Disorders - Neurological Impairments - Chronic Pediatric Illness The groups address social functions such as: - Conversational turn-taking and topic management - Listening skills - Social reasoning and problem solving - Initiating interactions and joining peer group activities - Social rules and conventions - Nonverbal communication - Perspective taking Young children who exhibit healthy social, emotional, and behavioral adjustment are more likely to have good academic performance in elementary school (Cohen and others 2005; Zero to Three 2004). As such, our social activities are aimed at building all forms of communication skills necessary for social environment and school readiness.	http://sgbrain.com.sg/social-communication-skills/
Based on our previous experience using novel biomaterials for peripheral nerve repair, my group is focusing on the development of a biomaterial-based combinatorial approach to promote axon regeneration and function recovery after spinal cord injury using relevant in vitro, ex vivo and animal models. In collaboration with colleagues here at Aberdeen and elsewhere, we are developing novel combinatorial strategies including the use of suitable novel biomaterials, novel growth-promoting biomolecules, and electric stimulation for spinal cord repair. My group has a strong interest in the role of neuroinflammation in the development and maintenance of central neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury. We aim to develop novel strategies to target this neuroinflammation in order to prevent and/or treat this common complication that significantly impacts on the quality of life of millions spinal injured patients. We are world leaders in using ethologically relevant and pain-related complex rodent behaviours and outcome measures to facilitate the development of novel analgesics for central neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury. • Dr Huang is part of the Aberdeen Spinal Injury Research Team and actively collaborates with other Team members to develop novel strategies for spinal cord repair. • Collaboration with Prof Peter Mccaffery on mechanisms of neuroinflammation. • Collaboration with Prof Iain Gibson on novel biomaterials for spinal cord repair. • International Spinal Research Trust PhD Studentship, Huang & Shewan, 2015-19. • SR3508: lecture on "Spinal cord injury and rehabilitation" • BM3804/DB3804: lectures on "CNS development" • BDS 2: lecture on "Pain physioligy" • BDS 2: lecture on "Wound healing" Dr Huang is the Treasurer of Non Human Pain Special Interest Group (SIG) at the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP). Dr Huang is an Editorial Board Member of BMJ Open Science. Dr Huang is an Editor of Current Trends In Medical & Biological Engineering. • Present our work at the annual conference of the International Spinal Research Trust (ISRT) that is attended by UK and international leading scientists and prominent clinicians in the field. • Engage with clinicians at the National Spinal Injury Unit in Glasgow. Dr Huang has participated in collaborative network meetings organised by the Unit. • We promote our research on the university webpage of Aberdeen Spinal Injury Research Team and using social media such as Facebook and Twitter. • Work with University’s Press Office to disseminate our research as widely as possible to the public as we have done in the past. • Dr Huang was interviewed by BBC Radio Scotland on 20 Oct. 2014 regarding a clinical case of spinal injury and the potential of our strategies for spinal cord repair. • Dr Huang’s group is proactive at communicating our work to a wider audience, including at University’s Doors Open Days and May Festivals, and other public outreach events. • Regular bake sales to fundraise for the ISRT, and through sponsored participation in running events to fundraise for the ISRT. • Continue to engage with relevant charities such as the ISRT and Scottish Rugby Union (SRU). • Continue to engage with spinal injured patients and their families through the University’s Development Trust. Year 2018 - Dr Marieta Georgieva, viva on 31/08/18, graduation on 23/11/18. Marieta is currently a scientist working at 4D Pharma.	https://www.abdn.ac.uk/ims/profiles/w.huang
The highest professional and ethical standards. – our complete SCoC can be downloaded as a PDF using the link on this page. Since our beginning, going back to 1877, Hansen Protection has built its business relationships on trust and mutual respect. Hansen Protection’s values are; be strong, confident and warm to customers, suppliers and employees. We trust that our partners maintain the highest professional and ethical standards, as well as meet all standard legal requirements. We believe in respecting human and labor rights, protecting the environment, and in applying sound business practices in all our companies worldwide. In order to make our position clear to our suppliers, our Supplier Code of Conduct lays out our main requirements. Our SCoC applies to all our suppliers and to sub-contractors used by our suppliers.	https://hansenprotection.com/about-us/supplier-code-of-conduct/
WASHINGTON—U.S. cities are trying to prepare for deployment of autonomous vehicles on their streets, but they face a lot of uncertainties, according to a transportation expert at the University of Virginia. "The type of investment they need to make may be beyond their means, and even inappropriate for them to make," T. Donna Chen said. "Those decisions may have to be made on the federal or state level." Nevertheless, "cities can have a lot of influence on how AVs are deployed on their streets," she said in an interview prior to a scheduled April 3 appearance in Washington. She was a panelist on the topic, "Cities in the Driver's Seat for AV Deployment," at the Mobility Talks International, held in conjunction with the 2019 Washington Auto Show. An assistant professor in the Department of Engineering Systems & Environment at the University of Virginia, Chen is a faculty affiliate of the cyber physical systems research Link Lab and Center for Transportation Studies, according to the university website. Despite the importance of federal and state policies on AVs, there are many things that can be done on the local level to expedite their acceptance, according to Chen. Among the most important issues have to do with land use requirements for development and the related requirements for parking space, she said. "There's a lot of reason to think that with AVs we may see a significant decrease in the demand for parking," Chen said. "Otherwise, in 10 or 15 years, space allotted for parking might turn out to be wasted space." Many metropolitan areas in the U.S. have planning organizations that are actively studying the implications of integrating AVs into urban areas, according to Chen. While she said there are too many to list in total, she mentioned Seattle, Atlanta and cities in California's Bay Area as being proactive in considering how AVs will affect travel and tax infrastructure in their areas. Nevertheless, cities are finding it frustrating to wait on federal and state agencies on such things as safety and data requirements, according to Chen.	https://www.rubbernews.com/article/20190411/NEWS/190419982/autonomous-vehicles-put-pressure-on-u-s-cities
A.-Establish measures to identify suspicious activity and report to the relevant authorities locally. -Quality testing financial crime surveillance and intelligence outputs from Detica. Providing second line assurance to business and functional management that these capabilities are managed to industry standards. Where Detica is not deployed, the Manager FCR Operations must carry out quality testing of the exception reports. -Provide assurance to local management that AML / CFT / Sanctions risks are managed within the country. B.-Provide financial crime surveillance and intelligence capabilities to monitor CONSUMER BANKING and WHOLESALER BANKING customers and staff for unusual activity and to escalate issues that require review or investigation. -Monitor developments in external/internal financial crime risks including trends. Develop responses and advise the business on financial crime risks and trends. Identify trends of significant fraud and money laundering through regional metrics. -Manage relationships with FCR Operations vendors in the country so that external specialist support is available when required. C.-Provide investigation capabilities. Assist the Country FCR team in conducting significant investigations. Conduct investigations in line with the Group standards for investigations in the country / region including case management, data capture and reporting. D.-Implementation and management of Speaking Up in country with assistance from Country Head of FCR. Speaking Up cases received directly in country must be updated in Enterprise Investigation Management (“EIM”). E.-Lead Anti-Bribery activities in country; form an Anti-Bribery network of business and functional representatives in country; perform gap analysis between the Group Anti-Bribery policy and procedures and Country Requirements (laws and regulations); maintain awareness of the Groups Anti-Bribery programme; training on Group Anti-Bribery policy and procedures.Other responsibilities include the following:-Relationship Management with law enforcement. Attending court cases where required. Coordination of business to provide a response to local production orders, court orders, request for information from regulators or law enforcement agencies. -Co-ordination with GIA to ensure adequate oversight and tracking of remediation of surveillance and investigations related audit findings in the first line. -Co-ordination with Country Compliance to ensure adequate oversight and tracking of remediation of surveillance and investigations related Regulatory findings. -Attendance at appropriate local Risk Committees where required. Qualifications & Skills •Educational background to Unversity degree level.•At least 5 years experience in Financial Crime Risk management In relation to Anti Money Laundering, the job holder should:•Personal authority and integrity. •Good analytical and decision making skills, with the ability to provide practical and effective advice•Very organised ,self-motivated and responsible; able to work independently, with minimal supervision and to complete tasks in a timely manner.•Excellent communication skills – written and verbal including presentation skills. •Being able to accept challenge, listen to the other point of view and adapt your approach accordingly is essential.•Good judgement and must possess ability to assess risk. •An inquisitive approach to practices, procedures and specific transactions. •Sound working knowledge of MS Office suite particularly Word, Excel and PowerPoint.•Understanding of the key features of relevant FCR laws and regulations that affect the Group. Have a good knowledge of the Standard Chartered Group, the Policies, Procedures and Standards relating to Financial Crime Risk, as well as knowledge of the local regulations and legislation on AML/CTF and sanctions. APPLY NOW
Fiscal policy is the use of government spending and taxation to influence the economy. Expansionary policy shifts the aggregate demand curve to the right, while contractionary policy shifts it to the left. When the economy is producing less than potential output, expansionary fiscal policy can be used to employ idle resources and boost output. Tax cuts have a smaller affect on aggregate demand than increased government spending. Fiscal policy impacts GDP through the fiscal multiplier. Fiscal policy can have a multiplier effect on the economy. Automatic stabilizers are modern government budget policies that act to dampen fluctuations in real GDP. Automatic stabilizers and discretionary policy differ in terms of timing of implementation and what each approach sets out to achieve. The federal budget dictates how much money the government plans to raise and how it plans to spend it in the upcoming year. Balanced budgets, and the associated topic of budget deficits, are a contentious point within both academic economics and politics. Expansionary fiscal policy can lead to decreased private investment, decreased net imports, and increased inflation. Government debt limits future government actions and can be hard to pay off because Congressmen are unwilling to do what is necessary to pay down the debt. Two key limits of fiscal policy are coordination with the nation's monetary policy and differing political viewpoints. Discretionary fiscal policy relies on getting the timing right, but this can be difficult to determine at the time decisions must be made. Usually the term "crowding out" refers to the government using up financial and other resources that would otherwise be used by private enterprise. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) was drafted in response to the Great Recession, primarily in order to create jobs.	http://wilearncap.asuscomm.com/modules/en-boundless/www.boundless.com/economics/textbooks/boundless-economics-textbook/fiscal-policy-26/index.html
Subsequent to September 30, 2022, certain lots of the Company’s RTD products were determined not to meet the Company’s standards for flavor and texture, and the Company decided to voluntarily withdraw the related inventory from the market. As a result, we expect to issue credits of approximately $561 to affected customers and have recorded this as a reduction to revenue. In addition, the Company recorded $2,875 to cost of goods sold relating to replacing such customers’ products and the write off of affected inventory that was determined to no longer be salable. Because the conditions relating to the withdrawal existed for product that was produced as of September 30, 2022, the date of our consolidated balance sheet, these amounts were recorded in our consolidated financial statements as of such date. An additional $626 of product that was determined to not be salable was produced subsequent to September 30, 2022, and will be reflected as expense in the fourth quarter 2022. In November 2022, Authentic Brands entered into a new senior credit facility, which includes a $65,000 revolving credit facility with a five year term (the "Senior Credit Facility"), in replacement of its existing credit facility. In connection with the entry into the Senior Credit Facility, Authentic Brands and its subsidiaries each granted a security interest in and liens upon substantially all of their assets in favor of the lender to secure obligations under the Senior Credit Facility. Additionally, prior to closing, Authentic Brands repaid the $14,000 outstanding under the existing credit facility. The Company has completed an evaluation of all subsequent events through November 10, 2022 to ensure that these consolidated financial statements include appropriate disclosure of events both recognized in the consolidated financial statements and events which occurred but were not recognized in the consolidated financial statements. \|X\| - References + Details No definition available. \|X\| - Definition + References The entire disclosure for significant events or transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date through the date the financial statements were issued or the date the financial statements were available to be issued. Examples include: the sale of a capital stock issue, purchase of a business, settlement of litigation, catastrophic loss, significant foreign exchange rate changes, loans to insiders or affiliates, and transactions not in the ordinary course of business.	https://ir.blackriflecoffee.com/sec-filings/all-sec-filings/xbrl_doc_only/736
A multi-disciplinary expert group calls for greater attention to be paid to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) to bring it out of the shadows. The IBS Global Impact Report is launched at United European Gastroenterology Week and examines published studies on the direct and indirect costs of IBS. It reveals the far-reaching personal and economic impact of the disease, which represents a financial burden comparable to congestive heart failure. “The report paints an alarming picture of the impact of IBS on individuals and the economy, which is vastly underestimated,” said Professor Corsetti, University of Nottingham. “Our hope is that the report will stimulate discussion among healthcare professionals, commissioners and patient groups with the aim of taking practical steps to improve the diagnosis and treatment of IBS.” Studies in the report show that it may take up to an average of 4 years for a patient to receive a positive diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome and in Europe, 63-84% of IBS patients undergo diagnostic procedures which may be unnecessary. Upon diagnosis there is no universally accepted standard of care and treatment often focuses on controlling specific symptoms, rather than the whole disease. Urgent changes needed The expert steering committee behind the report is now calling for the following changes: - Greater uniformity and efficiency in the care of patients with IBS - Simple evidence-based management guidelines to help doctors diagnose and treat IBS patients - Management of IBS as one disease with a collection of symptoms rather than focusing only on a single dominant symptom - State of the art studies that examine the management of IBS to facilitate an evidence-base approach to IBS care in the future - More multi-country research to provide decision-makers with an accurate picture of the direct and indirect costs of IBS to society - A greater healthcare professional understanding of the impact of IBS on patients’ productivity at work which can be a crucial indicator of their disease severity - Greater consideration of IBS models of care, which directly resources to those patients with the highest need. IBS is a chronic functional bowel disease characterised by symptoms of abdominal pain and/or discomfort associated with altered bowel habits, in the absence of a structural or organic cause. With an estimated global prevalence of 11.2%, IBS predominantly affects adults of a working age. While reported levels of healthcare resource utilisation are likely to be underestimated due to under diagnosis, the report highlights that this burdensome disease puts considerable strain on healthcare resources and accounts for up to 50% of gastroenterology consultations. “Existing guidelines – including the recent Rome IV Diagnostic Criteria – provide greater clarity and direction around the classification of IBS, but there is also a need for simple guidelines that can be used by doctors in everyday clinical practice. Such guidelines will help doctors diagnose IBS and manage patients with more certainty,” said Professor Jan Tack, University of Leuven. “The patient experience of IBS varies by symptoms and disease severity,” commented Professor Jean-Marc Sabaté, Co-Founder of Association pour les Patients Souffrant du Syndrome de l’Intestin Irritable. “This report highlights the need for a patient-centric approach to diagnosing and treating IBS. Patients should be encouraged to talk to their doctors about the impact of IBS on their day-to-day lives – including in the workplace – as this is an important measure of their disease severity. More patient support tools and new models of care may help to direct resources to those patients with the highest need.” “The Global Impact of IBS Report” is a comprehensive review of 165 studies conducted between 1995 and 2016 on the impact of IBS, authored by an expert steering committee and supported by Allergan.	https://drug.russellpublishing.co.uk/news/14594/irritable-bowel-syndrome-burden/
The School Family Compact is an agreement and commitment between the family and the school to help ensure the success of the student. The parties of this compact acknowledge that we share the responsibility for improved student achievement. Each of us has an important role in promoting learning. Being mindful of our responsibilities, we pledge the following: For School Employees – We will provide a high quality curriculum, effective and appropriate instruction, and a safe and supportive learning environment. We will encourage our students’ effort. We will provide parents with frequent reports on their children’s progress. We will enforce our school’s rules while preserving each student’s dignity. We will communicate with parents regularly. We will abide by the high standards of our profession. For Families – We will support our child’s learning by ensuring good attendance, monitoring homework and communicating regularly with school staff. We will encourage our child’s efforts. We will help to maintain a good learning environment by supporting the faculty and staff as we mutually enforce the school’s rules. We will participate in decisions about our child’s education. For Students – I will do the best I can to be successful in all things related to school; behaviorally and academically. I will respect the rights of other people, I will work to make my school a safe and pleasant place by following school rules and showing good behavior. I will ask for help when I need it. I will contribute to a positive environment.	https://ecsd-fl.schoolloop.com/pf4/cms2/view_page?d=x&group_id=1516954970158&vdid=i31b2vy6t35mv
I always explain my motives with the help of four aspects I like about designing: I like functional art. I believe that good design is influenced by functional and artistic motivations. On one hand, artistic motivations deal with self- expression, vision, visual stimulation and storytelling, and have a more intellectual basis. On the other hand, functional motivations deal with communication, problem solving, interaction and purpose and have a more practical basis. I like to exchange thoughts. Art connects with people in different ways, because its meaning is interpreted differently. There is no right nor wrong and is, therefore, open for discussion. The function of a design is the very opposite, since it sends the same message to everyone. Whether a design is considered aesthetically appealing or not, however, is a matter of taste. I like a challenge. You need a have a lot of creativity and imagination to translate abstract thoughts, fuzzy user insights and obscure inspirations into attractive and concrete propositions. This makes designing rather complicated. Yet, also very challenging and interesting. I like to change things. Design is ever changing. The relationship between function, interaction, behaviour and aesthetics, and the technological, social and commercial contexts in which this relationship has developed are dynamic. As a designer, I am able to change existing those situations and relationships into preferred ones.	https://bartvandriessche.nl/why/
Key points of crop production and management. - Books Name - Class-8 Science Book - Publication - PathSet Publications - Course - CBSE Class 8 - Subject - Science - Animal husbandry is the management and care of farm animals for milk, meat, egg. - Animal husbandry has been practiced for thousands of years since the first domestication of animals. Humans are dependent on animals in innumerable ways. Then animals are domesticated by humans for many purposes. When animals are reared at a large scale to obtain food from them, it is called Animal Husbandry. Animal husbandry includes taking care of animals, breeding them, and domesticating them for different purposes such as meat, wool, milk, eggs, honey etc. Types of animal husbandry popular in India include: - Beekeeping or Apiculture - Cattle farming - Dairy farming - Fish Farming or Aquaculture - Poultry farming - Sheep farming Breeding means mating animals with superior characters to create a new breed (or offspring that is more useful to us than its parents). Breeding can be of two types: - Inbreeding - Outbreeding What are the advantages and disadvantages of inbreeding? Inbreeding allows us to eliminate the harmful recessive genes in a breed and selectively choose and nurture superior genes. In the case of cattle, a superior female produces more milk per lactation while a superior male produces superior progeny than other males. However, continuous inbreeding can reduce the fertility and productivity of animals that are bred. This is called inbreeding depression. It can be overcome by outbreeding. What are the three types of outbreeding programs? - Out-crossing: When animals of the same breed are mated together but have no common ancestors (on either side of the pedigree) for four to six generations, it is called Outcrossing. The resultant offspring is called Outcross. - Cross Breeding: When superior males of one breed are mated with superior males of another breed, it is called Cross Breeding. This helps scientists to combine the desirable qualities of the two breeds. In Punjab, Bikaneri ewes were mated with Marino rams to create a new breed of sheep called Hisardale. - Interspecific Hybridization: When a male and a female of two different species of animals are mated together, it is called Hybridization. For Example, when a donkey and a horse are mated, a new breed called Mule is born. (Olympiads) What are the advantages and disadvantages of hybridization? Hybridization passes along the favorable traits of the two chosen species. It can also prolong the survival of a species that is considered threatened or endangered at present. However, successful breeding through hybridization and finding suitable mates for the purpose is difficult. Moreover, whether done naturally or through human initiation, the hybridization often fails to pass on the life-sustaining genes to offspring which means that most of the offspring do not survive for long after birth. Green Revolution in India Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, the second Prime Minister of India, started the Green Revolution in India with the slogan 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan'. His vision was that the soldiers bear the responsibility of making the country powerful from a security point of view while farmers bear the responsibility to make the country self-sufficient in terms of food and other agricultural produce. Eight Main achievements of the Green Revolution are: - Increase in Crop Yield per Hectare: The use of modern agricultural implements increased the yield or production of crops per hectare. - Increase in Overall Crop Production: The new implements and agricultural methods not only increased the production of food grains but also of commercial crops such as jute, cotton, oilseeds etc. Due to the Green revolution, the country has become less dependent on imports for food and its exports have increased which means that our country is more self-sufficient now. - Commercialization of Agriculture: The status of agriculture increased from being just a means of livelihood to a profit-making enterprise. This led to rapid development in this field. - Increased Use of Fertilizers and Insecticides: The scientific knowledge about new agricultural practices helped farmers adopt the use of chemical fertilizers and insecticides which increased the quantity and quality of their crops. - Increase in Irrigation Facilities: Emphasis was laid on making irrigation accessible to everyone and hence, India has a total irrigated crop area of 82.6 million hectares which is the largest in the world. - Less dependence on Monsoons: Earlier, farmers used to depend on monsoons to be able to produce a good crop. Natural calamities, pests, diseases, hails, and storms are used to damage crops easily. Now, more and more farmers are using new scientific methods to produce a healthy crop and keep it safe. - Multiple Crop Program: Since 1867-68, the multiple crop program has been introduced which ensures that farmers can produce more than one crop every year increasing their income considerably. - Rural Electrification: Under Green Revolution, more than 70% of rural India has already been electrified. The Rural Electrification Corporation was established to make sure that electricity is provided to farmers for agricultural purposes and the quality of rural life improves in general. SUMMARY Food from Animals: Like plants, the animals also provide us with different kinds of food like fish, meat and eggs. Fumigation: Fumigation is the most effective method for checking the growth of insects by providing smoke or chemicals in the gaseous state without affecting the grain. Agricultural practices: There are various activities that have to be performed, before sowing and up to harvesting. These are called agricultural practices. Animal husbandry: Animals reared at home or on a farm, have to be provided with proper food, shelter and care, when this is done on a large scale it is called animal husbandry. Crop: When plants of the same kind are grown at a place in a regular manner on a large scale, it is called a crop. Fertilizer: Fertilisers are chemicals that are rich in particular nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Granaries: The harvested grains, usually are stored in huge stores, after they are properly dried in sunlight. Such stores are called granaries. Harvesting: The cutting of the crop after it is mature is called harvesting. Irrigation: The supply of water to crops at appropriate intervals is called irrigation. Kharif Crops: The crops which are grown in the rainy season, that is from June to September are called Kharif crops. Manure: Manures are decomposed organic matter obtained from plant or animal waste. Plough: The device used for tilling or ploughing is called plough. Rabi Crops: The crops are grown in the winter season, that is from October to March are called rabi crops. Seeds: A plant’s fertilized ovules, from which a new plant may grow, are called seeds. Silo: Harvested grains are usually dried before being stored because moisture encourages the growth of microorganisms. They are then stored in metal or earthen containers, gunny bags. Such stores are also called silos. Sowing: It is a process to put seeds in the soil. Storage: It is to keep crop grains safe from moisture, insects and rats for a long time. Threshing: The process of separation of grains from the chaff in the harvested plant is called threshing. Weeds: Some undesirable or unwanted plants may grow naturally along with the crop such plants are called weeds. Weedicides: Those certain chemicals which are used to control weeds are called weedicides. For example, 2, 4-D (2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), metolachlor.	https://www.edumple.com/cbse-class-8/science/food-from-animals/notes
The MODERN WARRIOR EXPERIENCE is a program that collaborates with veterans in local communities throughout the nation, empowering them to share their story through our unique Modern Warrior initiative. Our team of writers and artists work with each veteran to help tell the story they want to share, through their own words. This collaboration culminates in a live and private performance of each veteran (inviting only who they want to hear their story) and the Modern Warrior team. Each veteran receives a film of their performance to keep. The Modern Warrior Experience works closely with veteran and mental health organizations throughout the process. VETERAN TESTIMONIALS “Just to be able to share is helping me a lot, to get past what had happened. I’m also feeling that post-traumatic growth…and I want to share my story to help people who are feeling like victims, to move from a victim to a survivor.” – Constance (MW Experience participant) “I can tell my story over and over, but if I don’t put feelings or connections to it, it’s just a story being told. Doing this with Modern Warrior, we’re really connecting the feelings to it, having the music and bringing those emotions to it. It’s important for us to really attack the sickness of PTSD…if we don’t bring that to the surface, how are we going to be able to adapt to what it does to us. This is a great way to get the (veteran) community together, and explain to the civilian world what we’re going through.” – Dustin (MW Experience participant) “To have a veteran participate in the Modern Warrior Experience really draws out those traumatic experience they had in a unique way.” – Jack (Veteran & Executive Director of NEOPAT) “Through this, I started realizing I could communicate with my family about things I couldn’t communicate with them before.” - Jaymes (Veteran & MW Creator) In addition to the original theatre performance, we've designed Modern Warrior LIVE to be adaptable to various healthcare and education settings, which include: Hospitals (VA and other) Outpatient Clinics (e.g., Community Mental Health Centers) Schools & other educational settings Further, Modern Warrior LIVE has been featured at various mental health conferences, foundation events & galas, and through residency-based touring, collaborates with government and civic departments, and with faith-based & other community organizations in each city we visit. Recent healthcare performances / Residencies include:	http://www.modernwarriorlive.org/mwe/
Lorenzana: Navy set to assist further studies on Benham Rise MANILA, Philippines – Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Philippine Navy is set to assist researchers in conducting further studies on Benham Rise, the underwater plateau in the Pacific Ocean that was awarded to the Philippines in 2012. "Our next activity is to have the area surveyed to clearly determine its limits, depths, and coral formations," Lorenzana told Rappler in a text message on Friday, March 24. The military set the survey of Benham Rise in the wake of China's apparent interest in the maritime territory believed to be rich in minerals and gas. A Chinese survey ship was spotted criss-crossing the area for as long as 3 months in 2016, prompting concerns from Lorenzana. The Philippines has conducted initial studies on Benham Rise but researchers have yet to reach the deepest parts of the maritime territory located in the Pacific Ocean, where conditions can be harsh. The navy last year acquired a research vessel from the US. BRP Gregorio Velasquez, formerly M/V Melville, was one of the vessels that former US president Barack Obama gave the Philippines during his state visit here in 2015. It has conducted initial studies of the underwater plateau but researchers have not reached the deepest parts of the territory. This week, the navy also sent warship BRP Ramon Alcaraz to patrol Benham Rise. Lorenzana said the navy will now regularly patrol the underwater plateau. In 2012, the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf awarded Benham Rise to the Philippines. It means only the Philippines has the rights to explore and develop resources there.	https://www.rappler.com/nation/165090-asia-maritime-territory-benham-pacific-ocean
Sign in using enhanced security This paper discusses three aspects of the interrelationship between tourism and climate change: the perception of the problems related to global warming by tourism professionals, their suggestions concerning possible actions that can be tak... Author: Xavier Matteucci & Dagmar Lund-Durlacher Year: 2008 Extensive infrastructure and client expectations of luxury will mean that their carbon footprint and water usage is likely to exceed significantly that of average urban households. Often located in coastal or riverine settings, they are vuln... Author: Charles Arcodia & Chantal Dickson There is a need for a research agenda, which achieves a holistic understanding of the nature and influences of environmental learning on tourists’ environmental values and travel experiences in relation to climate change. Why, because touri... Author: Ulrike Kachel & Gayle Jennings Year: 2009 The Climate Change Collaboratory1 aims to strengthen the relations between Austrian scientists, policy makers, educators, environmental NGOs, news media and corporations - stakeholders who recognize the need for adaptation and mitigation, b... Author: Arno Scharl Year: 2010 Climate change and its impacts on nations, regions and populations as well as its anthropogenic causes have become one of the prevailing issues of global society and, hence, subject to ongoing debates among e.g. the natural, political and s... Author: Anna Huebner This paper presents an interacting multi-agent model as a new method of examining the impact of climate change on Alpine leisure tourism and ski areas in a complex interacting model network. Since tourism varies at a small scale concerning ... Author: Alexander Dingeldey & Anja Soboll This paper explores the relationship between network membership and innovation towards more sustainable tourism development. In particular it examines the extent to which tourism businesses have introduced measures to mitigate the effects of... Author: Tim Coles, Anne-Kathrin Zschiegner & Claire Dinan Tourism’s growing contribution to climate change has come to the forefront of the sustainable tourism literature as evidenced by the Journal of Sustainable Tourism’s (JOST) 2010 publication of a special issue titled “Tourism: Adapting to Cli... Author: B. Bynum Boley Year: 2012 Due to the financial constraints on the part of the educational institution as well as the student, offsetting the GHG emissions generated by the fieldtrip is often not regarded as financially feasible, or subject to doubts about the integri... Author: Christian Schott Nature-based tourism is a form of travel that is often believed to lend itself more to sustainable development than other tourism segments. In fact, the concept of ecotourism – defined as nature tourism that is sustainable – was developed in... Author: Wolfgang Strasdas Development in developing countries often results in mass land-use change and subsequent increase in greenhouse gas emission by deforestation or forest degradation. For instance, approximately a-fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions was a...	https://www.besteducationnetwork.org/index.php?mid=Papers_Presentations&sort_index=regdate&order_type=asc&search_target=tag&search_keyword=climate+change
Last month, CMS Administrator Seema Verma announced several initiatives to innovate the delivery of patient care at the ground level. In collaboration with the Trump Administration and other federal agencies, CMS is taking steps to implement a system in which patients have control of their electronic health information and can easily transfer it between health care providers. This system, referred to as “MyHealthEData,” is also intended to allow both physician and patient to access the clinical and payment data required to make the best healthcare decisions at the point of care. As announced, CMS’s short-term efforts in connection with the MyHealthEData initiative include: - Launching Medicare’s Blue Button 2.0, which will allow a patient to access and share his/her healthcare information and medical history with a new physician, leading to less duplication in testing and enabling continuity of care. - Requiring providers to update their systems to improve data sharing. - Requiring hospitals to share specific types of data with a patient’s receiving facility or post-acute care provider following discharge. - Streamlining documentation and billing requirements for E&M codes to allow doctors to spend more time with their patients. - Reducing the incidence of unnecessary and duplicative testing that occurs as a result of providers not sharing data. CMS is also taking steps to overhaul the EHR incentive programs (including the Advancing Care Information category of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and the EHR Incentive Programs for Hospitals) to prioritize interoperability of EHR systems, reduce the time and costs required to comply, and prevent providers from withholding healthcare data from patients. For more information on the MIPS and the Quality Payment Program, please see our prior post here and CMS’s interactive website on the Quality Payment Program here. For more information on the MyHealthEData Initiative, please see CMS’s published Fact Sheet. Stay tuned to Fox Rothschild’s Physician Law Blog for updates.	https://physicianlaw.foxrothschild.com/2018/04/articles/health-reform/cms-announces-new-initiatives-for-innovating-patient-care/
Abstract:The overall goal of this study is to better understand the connectedness between Best management practices (BMPs) and vulnerability assessments (VA) in a changing landuse. Developing this connectedness will help understand key vulnerabilities and improve adaptive capacity important for ecosystem sustainability. BMPs are practical management practices or systems designed and installed in watersheds to provide a wide range of effects to protect or restore the physical, chemical, and biological condition of waterbodies (e.g. changing hydrology; improving vegetative habitat; mitigate adverse environmental change). VAs can be defined as “the degree to which the system is susceptible to and is unable to cope with adverse effects of change” and are often characterized as a function of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. There are many variables and factors used in calculating the impact of BMPs and VAs. The event mean concentration or load (e.g. nutrient, sediment,) associated with the specific landuse is an important variable. There is much data that predicts the loads associated with the major landuses (urban, agricultural). Loads greatly vary with region; rainfall characteristics (e.g. rainfall intensity, rainfall frequency); soil characteristics (e.g. soil type, hydrologic soil groups); hydrologic characteristics (e.g. runoff potential). A concern also exists that possibly all of the variables associated with changes in an individual land use have not been identified and distinguished for their impact on land use. For example, the loads associated with a high density residential with much green space may be more similar to medium density than loads associated with high rise apartment buildings. Other factors may include age of construction, % of families with children, % of families with pets, level of transiency, and construction activity The objective of our study is to develop an initial framework using multiple variables and factors to represent the connectedness between BMPs and VA in a changing landuse. In future we plan to develop this framework to be better suited across multiple regions and environmental change scenarios. We believe this would lead to improved selection of appropriate landuse load and reasonable load reduction range associated with a variety of BMPs.	https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm15/webprogram/Paper81479.html
AbstractBACKGROUND: Safe anesthesia and surgical care are not available when needed for 5 billion of the world’s 7 billion people. There are major deficiencies in the specialist surgical workforce in many parts of the world, and specific data on the anesthesia workforce are lacking.METHODS: The World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists conducted a workforce survey during 2015 and 2016. The aim of the survey was to collect detailed information on physician anesthesia provider (PAP) and non-physician anesthesia provider (NPAP) numbers, distribution, and training. Data were categorized according to World Health Organization regional groups and World Bank income groups.RESULTS: We obtained information for 153 of 197 countries, representing 97.5% of the world’s population. There were marked differences in the density of PAPs between World Health Organization regions and between World Bank income groups, ranging from 0 to over 20 PAP per 100,000 population. Seventy-seven countries reported a PAP density of <5, with particularly low densities in the African and South-East Asia regions. NPAPs make up a large part of the global anesthesia workforce, especially in countries with limited resources. Even when NPAPs are included, 70 countries had a total anesthesia provider density of <5 per 100,000. Using current population data, over 136,000 additional PAPs would be needed immediately to achieve a minimum density of 5 per 100,000 population in all countries.CONCLUSIONS: The World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists Global Anesthesia Workforce Survey is the most comprehensive study of the global anesthesia workforce to date. It is the first step in a process of ongoing data collection and longitudinal follow-up. The authors recommend an interim goal of at least 5 specialist physician anesthesia providers (anesthesiologists) per 100,000 population. A marked increase in training of PAPs and NPAPs will need to occur if we are to have any hope of achieving safe anesthesia for all by 2030.	https://insights.ovid.com/pubmed?PMID=28753173
research, discovery, education and community outreach in the areas of prevention, amelioration, treatment, and repair of injuries or damage to the brain and spinal cord resulting from trauma, genetic and degenerative diseases, cardiovascular anomalies including stroke, drug abuse, environmental toxins, and other causes. Dystonia and other movement disorders are major targets of our clinical and basic science research program. Our goal is to develop novel methods of diagnosis and treatment of these disorders. As a group, the major neurodegenerative diseases, i.e., Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease and Huntington’s Disease, significantly affect the quality of life. The goal of our research programs is to develop treatments that ameliorate the adverse effects of these diseases and improve the patients’ quality of life. The clinical research program utilizes our access to Parkinson’s Disease patients and focuses not only on Parkinson’s Disease per se but also on balance disorders. Other research programs examine the role of melatonin in sleep disorders and its relationship to cognitive decline in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease. In addition, our basic science research program includes a focus on temporal lobe epilepsy. Thus our strengths in basic science research encompass a wide range – from circadian rhythms to ion channels and from animal models to human subjects. Our ongoing research programs in pediatric neuroscience are focused on basic research on ADHD and the impact of maternal nicotine and cocaine abuse during pregnancy on children’s cognitive development. Our plans for the near future include expanding the basic research program to include genetic and proteomic analysis of biological specimens from children suffering from ADHD, depression, bipolar disease and autism. Traumatic brain injury from falls, automobile accidents, sport injuries and military combat affects hundreds of thousands of Americans every year. Our research programs on the effects of trauma to the brain and spinal cord examine the structure and function of neural circuits and cognitive performance following traumatic injury. The goal is identification of genetic, biochemical and structural biomarkers and development of novel methods of diagnosis and treatment. A major focus of our traumatic brain injury program is the development of stem cell-based therapies to aid recovery from brain trauma. Our programs will integrate clinical research using patients as well as bench research on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of brain repair. Our plans for the future include using structural and functional magnetic imaging technology to supplement and expand our clinical and basic research programs. Link to Florida State University College of Medicine.	http://tbiblog.sossisson.com/2013/04/florida-state-university-center-for.html
As Its People: A 90-Day Challenge, is for employers, managers, team leaders, and HR professionals, and gives strategies and ideas for having motivated, engaged, and high-performing employees, with the employees you already have. I talked about the book more in a previous post, so you can read that HERE if you’d like to learn more about it. Today I want to give you a look at the book itself, so I flipped through my copy and made a video for you: This is available in paperback on Amazon, and you can get your copy HERE.	https://www.elmoregroupinc.com/blog/2019/1/24/as-its-people-heres-the-book
RELATED APPLICATIONS FIELD OF THE INVENTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION DETAILED DESCRPTION OF THE INVENTION REFERENCE NUMERALS AND DESIGNATIONS This application is a continuation of PCT/EP2011/059280, filed on Jun. 6, 2011, claiming priority from German Patent Application DE 20 2010 007 662.5, filed on Jun. 7, 2010, both of which are incorporated in their entirety by this reference. The invention relates to a device for visual magnification of objects in medical applications, in particular in dentistry, ear nose and throat medicine for diagnosing very small details in small and particularly deep cavities. In the field of the invention for example magnifying eye glasses are being used which, however, only provide little magnification. In the art furthermore surgery microscopes are known for the medical field in particular in surgery and micro surgery which are microscopes with approximately 6 power to 40 power magnification. The surgery microscopes have a stronger magnification compared to a magnifying eye glass, however, they require particularly stable positioning and typically very uncomfortable and complex support for the patient. A surgery microscope is also being used as a technical aide during dental treatments, in particular for procedures where very small areas are treated in a tooth. Thus, it has the great advantage of making structures visible that are not visible to the bare eye. The most important application for the surgery microscope in dentistry is treating an interior of a tooth with tooth marrow and tooth root also known as root treatment. Furthermore surgery microscopes are used for detecting cavities. For inspecting a root canal with a diameter of approximately 1 mm and a depth of approx. 12.5 mm the optical resolution when viewing with a bare eye is insufficient. When using conventional magnifying eye glasses with two power to four power magnification the optical resolution is already improved. In order to simultaneously optimize illumination an additional head lamp is required. Through the combination of a magnifying eye glass and a head lamp the root canal can be sufficiently analyzed up to a depth of approximately 5 mm. For greater root canal depths surgery microscopes with almost parallel light routing are required. The surgery microscope is thus supported above the dentistry chair through pivot arms and performs various functions. The surgery microscopes known in the art are binoculars and therefore have a respective magnification arrangement for each eye. Conventional surgery microscopes are continuously pivotable in all dimensions, but only within limits, in order to make curved channels and cavities like curved root canals in an interior of a tooth visible. The optical magnification is therefore typically variable adjustable so that on the one hand side small details of structures are visible and on the other hand side an overview of the entire surgery area is provided. From DE 296 04 848 U1 a binocular surgery microscope for dentistry procedures, in particular procedures in teeth and at a jaw is provided. The surgery microscope is arranged downward oriented so that the surgeon can look through the eye pieces and a front lens into the surgery area. The illumination of the object having surgery is provided through the front lens, wherein the light is run through a light conductor or emitted by a light source within the microscope. The binocular configuration requires comparatively stable support for the microscope which is conventionally implemented through a ceiling mount that does not have any play and which has a vibration absorber. Thus, the objective lens is vertically oriented from the top down and can only be pivoted in lateral direction with substantial complexity. The treating physician furthermore has to take a very precise position relative to the two eye pieces and has to maintain the position constant. Already a slight movements and rotation of the head lead to double images and other impairments. The illumination of the surgery area is limited due to configurative reasons by the operating distance and by the distance between light source and objective lens. Furthermore stereoscopic vision is not possible for geometric reasons in very narrow and tight channels. The adjustment of the operating distance is typically predetermined at approximately 250 mm through a non variable objective lens and has to be adjusted through complex mechanical configurations. Furthermore performing surgeries with a surgery microscope requires an optimum and precise support for the patient. As alternative thereto a surgery microscope is known from DE 102 03 215 B4 that includes an objective lens with a light source for object illumination, an eye piece and a camera, wherein the eye piece represents an object to be examined for visual inspection and the camera captures an image of the object through the objective lens. Thus, the eye piece together with a reproduction device is configured motion decoupled relative to the object and the camera. For this purpose the eye piece is attached at an eye piece support that is adjustable relative to the objective lens, wherein the eye piece support is supported in turn at a microscope support supporting the objective lens and the camera. Thus, the objective lens and the eye piece position are decoupled from one another. Also in DE 20 2006 020 039 U1 a stereoscopic monitoring device with an illumination device and variable aperture for imaging an object and/or an intermediary image generated by an object is disclosed, wherein the variable aperture is provided for a beam path of the illumination device. The variable aperture in which a light source is integrated is controllable within limits to generate a particular illumination geometry and/or variable with respect to its position. Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for visual magnification of objects in medical applications, in particular in dentistry and in ear, nose and throat medicine for diagnosing extremely small details in small and particularly deep cavities. The device shall thus be configured so that an optimum illumination of the object to be examined is provided when the device is operated during a surgical procedure. In particular for deep and tight structures a good illumination of the surgical area shall be provided with little glare and minimum shade. The device shall be suitable for dentistry, in particular for inspecting root canals and spaces between teeth. Operating the device shall be simple and ergonomical. It is another object to configure the device from a small number of components with simple configuration and thus producible in a cost effective manner with low complexity. The object is achieved according to the invention through a medical magnification device. The device includes an optical unit with a optical axis, an illumination device and attachment elements, wherein the optical unit is configured with one eye piece and includes the eye piece at its proximal end. The proximal end of the optical unit is the end oriented towards the viewer. The viewer therefore looks into the optical unit at the proximal end. At the distal end, this means the end of the optical unit that is oriented away from the viewer, the hollow cylindrical illumination device is provided in a direction of the optical axis, wherein the illumination device illuminates the area in the direction of the optical axis. According to the invention the illumination device is arranged coaxial to the optical axis and permanently connected with the optical unit. The illumination device generates an illumination pattern that is concentric to the optical axis of the optical unit, wherein the illumination pattern provides advantageous illumination of the objects to be examined. The permanent connection between the illumination device and the optical unit provides the adjustment of the device, in particular of the optical unit without requiring additional adjustment of the illumination device. The optical unit and the illumination device are advantageously adjusted in one step. The attachment elements of the magnification device according to the invention furthermore include means that are connectable with the optical unit, wherein the means facilitate direction independent adjustability of the optical unit with reference to the patient. Thus, direction independent adjustability is the unrestricted movement of the optical unit in all directions. Thus, the optical unit is fixable in any desired orientation regardless of its position. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the illumination device includes illuminants configured as LEDs that are arranged in an annular manner about the optical axis. The LEDs are thus uniformly distributed at the circumference of the hollow cylindrical illumination device and thus in their entirety distributed in a coaxial manner about the optical axis. A coaxial uniform distribution of the LEDs about the circumference is an arrangement of the LEDs at uniform distances from the optical axis and therefore from the center axis of the illumination device. Due to the coaxial alignment of the illumination device with reference to the optical unit the optical axis and the center axis of the illumination device are arranged on top of one another. The optical axis of the optical unit and the center axis of the illumination device are identical. The illumination device is advantageously configured with four LEDs. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the magnification device includes four electrically driven actuation motors which are electrically connected with a current source. The actuation motors are provided on the one hand side for focusing or driving a focusing device of the optical unit and on the other hand side for aligning the optical unit with reference to a position relative to the patient and/or the person performing the treatment through attachment elements, this means for position changes of the optical unit. The optical unit, in particular the illumination device and the adjustment motors of the focusing device and the adjustment motors of the attachment elements are preferably connected with an electrical energy storage device, for example a battery configured as a power source. The illumination device and the adjustment motors can also be configured as consumers that are alternatively operable from the power grid. As an alternative to the configuration with electric actuation motors the optical unit, in particular the focusing device and the attachment elements are also manually operable so that the power supply of the magnification device according to the invention is limited to the illumination device. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the optical unit is expandable at the proximal end with an image capture device or the image capture device can be switched with the eye piece. Thus, the image capture device is configured as an eye piece, a monitor and/or camera for displaying and capturing images in the form of photos or films. The focusing device of the optical unit is preferably configured adjustable for a focusing in a range between 20 cm and 40 cm. Focusing is thus performed directly at the optical unit. Advantageously the optical unit provides up to 12 power magnification up close, wherein the optimum is in a range of 8-12 power magnification. The value of the magnification is furthermore adjustable through a variation of the distance between the magnification device and the object to be examined and on the other hand side through an optical zoom device. According to another configuration of the invention the means of the attachment elements for attaching the optical unit include holders, links and fixation devices. The attachment elements are thus preferably formed from spring arm supports with hinge links and with at least one ball joint so that the optical unit is infinitely adjustable with respect to the objective orientation. The attachment elements are connected with the optical unit during operations or during the treatment or the procedure. The optical unit with the illumination device attached thereto is advantageously mountable at the treatment chair through the attachment elements and pivotably supported. When not in use the magnification device is demountable in a simple manner or pivotable out of the surgical area. The attachment elements can be disengaged from the treatment chair and also from the optical unit and are storable in few components. Alternatively the optical unit with the illumination device is mountable through the attachment elements in an advantageous manner also at a conventional surgical lamp or configured so that it can be integrated in the surgical lamp. Depending on the requirements of the medical personnel with respect to surgical area illumination the optical unit according to the invention is also operable in place of the surgical lamp. The optical unit then replaces the surgical lamp. The solution according to the invention thus has several advantages with respect to examining tight and deep cavities, for example tooth cavities which so far have only been feasible with stereo microscopes that had complex configurations and operations and where cost intensive to produce. The instant devices for visual magnification of objects in particular in the dental field provides the examination of cavities in intermediary spaces between teeth and irregularities of root canals of teeth for example in the channel path, the curvature, hidden branch offs, glue residuals or similar with optimum illumination of the object to be examined and simple and ergonomical operation. Through the device according to the invention that is producible with a small number of components and low engineering complexity the treatment quality can be increased and the treatment time can be reduced. Thus, the device is very effective and cost effective with respect to its purchase, maintenance and operations. FIG. 1 1 2 5 2 2 15 2 illustrates a single eye piece magnification device according to the invention for visual magnification of objects in a lateral view. The optical unit configured as a one tube telescope includes an eye piece at the proximal end, this means at the end oriented toward the viewer. At the distal end, or the end of the optical unit oriented away from the viewer the optical unit is provided with a manually operable focusing device which is configured for focusing for a variable change of a distance between the object to be examined and the optical unit in a range between 20 cm and 40 cm. 2 15 The optical unit in particular the focusing device according to an alternative embodiment is provided with electrically driven actuation motors and electrically connected with a power source. Thus, for example an electrical energy storage device like a battery or the public power grid is being used. 2 The optical unit is thus provided for up to 12 power magnification, in particular for 8-12 power magnification for close range. 2 3 3 2 2 3 At the distal end the optical unit is furthermore advantageously provided with an illumination device in the direction of the optical axis. The illumination device like the optical unit is configured cylindrical in this portion and fixated in a rigid but advantageously disengageable manner at the optical unit . The illumination device is thus configured in particular hollow cylindrical. 2 7 7 8 2 7 6 2 7 6 8 2 7 16 2 2 7 2 The optical unit is in return coupled with the attachment elements . The attachment elements advantageously include spring arm supports with hinge links for a vertical and horizontal movement of the optical unit . Furthermore the attachment elements are advantageously configured with a ball joint so that the optical unit is additionally pivotable in all directions. The attachment element with the ball joint and the hinges of the spring arm supports thus facilitate a direction independent adjustability of the optical unit . The direction of the objective lens is consequently adjustable in all directions, this means without directional limitation. It is another advantage that the attachment elements are furthermore provided with fixation devices in order to fixate the desired and adjusted position of the optical unit with respect to the patient and the treating person. The position of the optical unit thus is also maintained during unexpected jolts. The attachment elements represent an effective and thus simple engineering solution for a support through which the optical unit can be mounted at the treatment chair without great effort. 2 3 7 According to an alternative embodiment the optical unit with the illumination device is also directly installable at the medical procedure light through attachment elements or can be integrated into the medical procedure light. 2 7 3 The optical unit can be further operated in a simple manner together with the attachment elements and the illumination device , wherein the option for one man operation represents a particular advantage. Operations only require a very small learning time for the operator. FIG. 2 2 3 9 9 2 illustrates the optical unit and the illumination device with the optical pass through . The optical pass through is aligned with the optical axis of the optical unit . 3 9 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 The illumination device is configured hollow cylindrical in a coaxial manner about the optical pass through and includes LEDs that are evenly distributed over the circumference. The LEDs in their entirety are therefore also oriented in a coaxial manner, this means all LEDs are offset by the same distance from the optical axis. Thus, preferably at least four LEDs are provided, wherein also a greater number of LEDs is feasible which are switchable in particular combinations. The LEDS advantageously generate an illumination pattern that is concentric to the optical axis of the optical unit and includes very good illumination of the objects to be examined, so that the conventional surgical procedure lights can be replaced. 1 The single eye piece magnification device with coaxial concentric illumination according to the invention is therefore suitable in dentistry in particular for inspecting root canals and spaces between teeth. The deep and narrow tooth structures can be thus be illuminated almost without shadows. FIG. 3 10 11 12 10 12 illustrates a tooth that is to be examined with an indicated outer tooth structure and a root canal in a side view. The tooth includes for example a tooth height ZH of 18 mm, wherein the root canal is configured with a diameter in the range of 1 mm and a depth of approximately 12-13 mm. 12 14 14 12 10 10 12 1 In the lower portion of the root canal an irregularity is indicated that needs to be examined. The irregularity within the root canal of a tooth are for example the channel routing, in particular a channel curvature or hidden branch offs, glue residuals, cavities or similar. Also the nerves of the tooth are easily visible within the root canal through the magnification device according to the invention. FIG. 4 FIG. 3 10 12 14 12 in analogy to illustrates the tooth with the open root canal and an irregularity at the base of the root canal in top view. 10 13 1 2 3 The tooth has for example a tooth width ZB of 10 mm. The channel inlet is configured with a channel width KB of approximately 0.7 mm. Using the magnification device according to the invention with the optical unit and the illumination device for visual magnification and visualizing objects for the near range facilitates in particular examining deep root channels, but also intermediary spaces between teeth in a simple and effective manner. 1 Typically it is feasible through the implementation of the magnification device according to the invention for visual magnification of objects for use in medical applications in particular dentistry and ear nose and throat medicine to dispense with using very complex surgical microscopes and additional surgical lights. 1 magnification device 2 optical unit 3 illumination device 4 LED 5 eye piece 6 ball joint 7 attachment element 8 hinge 9 optical aperture 10 tooth 11 outer tooth contour 12 root canal 13 channel inlet 14 irregularity 15 focusing device 16 fixation device ZH tooth height ZB tooth width KB channel width BRIEF DESCRPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further details , features and advantages of the invention can be derived from the subsequent description of embodiments with reference to the associated drawing figures, wherein: FIG. 1 illustrates a single eye piece device for visual magnification of objects in a lateral view; FIG. 2 illustrates an optical unit and illumination device with optical pass through; FIG. 3 illustrates a tooth with indicated outer tooth contour and root canal in a lateral view; and FIG. 4 illustrates a tooth with an open root canal and an irregularity at the bottom of the root canal in top view.
[Subjective visual disorders caused by corrections of eyeglasses or contact lenses in cataract patients after lens extraction]. The conventional optical correction given to patients after lens extraction consists of cataract glasses or contact lenses. However, patients fitted with either of these devices are known to have difficulty with some everyday activities and to experience visual disturbances. Using a questionnaire in 43 patients, the frequency of these disturbances was investigated and an attempt was made to define problems specific for glasses or contact lenses. Finally, the tendency of the visual impairment to improve with time was considered. Walking downstairs was the activity most frequently affected, followed by sewing, walking upstairs, shopping and reading. There was little possibility of adaptation. The "Jack-in-the-box" phenomenon and restriction of the visual field were the most common disturbances, and they did not tend to improve. Magnification of the retinal image and all the other specific visual disturbances did, however, improve markedly with time. In conclusion, virtually all the patients were satisfied with their aphacia correction.
Ferdinand Grofé was born in New York City in 1892, and was lucky enough to be born into a musical family. His father was a classical baritone singer, his mother a professional cellist. As well as this, his mother Elsa also taught Ferde the piano and violin, as her other occupation was being a music teacher. After his father’s death in 1899, he and his mother moved abroad to Leipzig in Germany to pursue Grofé’s musical education. Grofé became competent in a wide-range of different instruments, with piano and viola being his favourites. By being so competent in a range of instruments, this allowed Grofé to utilise his arranging, and then compositional skills. By 1920, Grofé started moving away from classical music, and started playing jazz piano for the Paul Whiteman orchestra. He arranged for Paul Whiteman until 1932, and in that time he had arranged hundreds of popular songs for the ensemble. Perhaps his most famous arrangement still to date is that of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Grofé took the famous work for two pianos, and arranged and orchestrated it for the Paul Whiteman orchestra. The arrangement that we know of today (with that oh so smooth clarinet solo) was from the arrangement by Grofé. As well as professional arranger, Grofé was also a composer. He wrote a range of orchestral suites such as the Niagara Falls Suite, Grand Canyon Suite and the Death Valley Suite, all of which were fairly popular in their time. By the 1930’s, Grofé started composing for film and he produced scores for the films King of Jazz, Minstrel Man and Redemption. After moving back to the USA after leaving Lepizing, Grofé spent most of his life living in New Jersey, and by 1945 he had moved to LA. Grofé married three times and had four children, he died in Santa Monica in 1972. Grofé composed the Mississippi Suite in 1925, and it was first recorded by Paul Whiteman and his Concert Orchestra in 1927. It is a four-movement orchestral suite, which depicts the scenes along a boat journey down the famous Mississippi River. The journey starts at the head of Minnesota and ends up down in New Orleans. Grofé admired Aaron Copland and his ‘American classical music’ style, and this suite is said to pay homage to Copland. The first movement begins with a warm brass chorale, which sets the tone for the rest of the movement. The woodwinds then shadow this chorale. There is a feeling of this opening depicting the morning sunrise, due to the warmth and slow movement of the chorale. The strings play a whirling melody, which adds an air of wistfulness and magic into the developing atmosphere of this movement. Percussion keep the music moving and the timbre ever-changing throughout. The upper winds and tuned percussion interrupt with a faster-paced motif, which is a stark change from the opening theme. The strings play their long melody once more, and the journey carries on. The woodwinds bring the tone and texture down, before the brass enter with another chorale. The movement ends with a neat tonic chord, led by the winds. This playful movement begins with a bouncy motif played by a solo bassoon. This is then accentuated by the strings who build up and then play a fast swirling descending scale. The strings then play this playful melody in full, with the brass playing interludes of a fanfare. The horns lead us into a slower passage, where the tone is lowered slightly. The bassoon again is at the forefront here, as well as the lower strings. The upper winds and strings play a call and response passage which brings the tempo back up once more. The dotted rhythms are what give this movement an up-beat and playful atmosphere throughout. The orchestra cut out and the bassoon plays a small slower, which leads into the upper brass playing a short two pulsating chords. The piece then ends with the whole orchestra playing a very short dominant-tonic chord explosion. The third movement is the slowest movement of the quartet, and it is also the most sorrowful. It begins with the strings playing a chorale-like melody in their lower registers. A solo violin plays a melody in a minor key, which is very nostalgic. This is then copied by the cor anglais, which gives the melody a slightly different tone. Variations of this theme are taken around the ensemble, in particular the upper strings and flutes. The horn then plays this melody, and the orchestra stay at this quiet dynamic. This movement is also the shortest and the music stops quietly. The music in this movement is reminiscent and pays homage to the spirituals sung by slaves on the plantations. The final movement begins with a brass fanfare, which sets a fast tempo for a dance-like theme to be played by the strings. The dance is reminiscent of the Cakewalk dance, with its jaunty accented motifs. The whole ensemble take a turn in playing parts of this dance theme. The strings play both arco and pizzicato, which gives a different tone to parts of this movement. The tempo comes down slightly, and a theme, similar to that from the first movement is heard. This lyrical section is accentuated by Grofé with the use of extremities of range in instruments and the dynamic ranges of the brass. This section leads us next into another nostalgic section, which is interrupted by another brass fanfare. The initial cakewalk dance motif is then played out again, accentuating the idea of the Mardi Gras celebrations. A descending sequence by the tuned percussion and strings creates the foundation for the ‘breakthrough’ section. The lyrical theme returns in an almighty form, with the whole ensemble playing out fully. The horns play a wonderful counter-theme and the strings are playing this lyrical melodic cell underneath. The tempo comes up slightly once more for the final stretch of the movement. A fanfare call and response theme is heard, the timpani rolls and brings us into the final chords of the piece, which ends on its tonic chord.	https://classicalexburns.com/2019/03/20/ferde-grofe-mississippi-suite-a-journey-down-memory-lane/
Chinese New Year was a big day in my family, more so than Christmas or Thanksgiving. Every year, my family and I would gather with friends and family, eat tons of food, and I would receive some lucky money in red envelopes. To be honest, getting money was my favorite part. I would say “gung hay fat choy” which means “Happy New Year” in Chinese and adults would give me red envelopes. It was a fun little game I loved to play. Other than the red envelopes, the food is what I remembered the most from these gatherings. Since my family is from a Chinese Vietnamese background, we always had a mixture of Chinese and Vietnamese dishes. Some common dishes we would have are banh beo, egg rolls, fried rice, and this dish bo kho. What is Bo Kho? Bo Kho is the Vietnamese version of beef stew. Kho is the Vietnamese word for braise because you essentially braise the beef in this stew. It has all the ingredients of American beef stew plus daikon, lemongrass, some Asian spices, and fish sauce. It is also more watery than American beef stew. That’s why it is normally eaten with noodles, bread or rice, something that can absorb all that good soup. Every family has their own recipe for this dish. When I first thought about making this for myself, I went to my mom to ask her for her recipe. Her recipe involved using a beef stew mix for the base and adding beef, veggies, red wine, and tomato sauce. When she told me that, it seemed a little too simple and just not right. I felt like it was deja vu to my pho recipe where she skipped a few steps. So I did some research online, combined that with what she said, and came up with my own bo kho recipe. Ingredients, Substitutions & Adjustments - Beef (beef shank and beef chuck) – I like to use this combination because they have a good amount of fat which adds to the richness in the broth. You can use any cut of beef for this recipe but I would recommend using something with a good amount of fat and at least some type of beef bone to get that rich broth. - Garlic & Ginger – Both help temper down the unappetizing flavors of beef. - Fish sauce – Adds umami flavor to the both. I like using Viet Huong fish sauce but Red Boat fish sauce has gained popularity in the recent years and is more accessible. Any brand of fish sauce should work. - Seasonings (five spice powder and cinnamon) – Adds more umami flavor to the beef. Vietnamese cinnamon is the best option to use here but regular cinnamon powder should work just fine. - Vegetable oil – Prevents the beef from sticking when you sear the beef. - Onion – Adds sweetness to the broth. I would recommend using a sweet yellow onion because it adds the best flavor to the broth. A good substitute is a white onion. - Red wine – This is a non-traditional ingredient, but I like how it adds a slight sweet and fruity flavor to the both. Any kind of red wine should work. - Lemongrass, carrots, daikon – Adds sweetness and a slight sourness to the broth which gives it balance. If you can’t find daikon, you can leave it out of the recipe. The other two ingredients are essential. - Star anise, Bay leaf and tomato paste - Better Than Bouillon beef base – This ingredient is a new discovery of mine. It is basically a concentrated beef base that adds more flavor to the broth. If you can’t find this ingredient, I would recommend adding a cup of beef broth. - Mint (optional) – Adds freshness to the broth. This is an optional topping but I love using it. - Lime (optional) – Provide brightness to the broth before consuming. Making my bo kho I first start off with marinating the beef in garlic, ginger, five spice, fish sauce, vegetable oil, and cinnamon for 30 minutes. I cut all the beef into 1 inch x 1 inch x 1 inch pieces. For the beef shank, I cut the meat off the bone, cubed it, and added it all, bone included, to the marinade. The cinnamon is a touch from my mom. When I was home for Thanksgiving, she made some pork belly marinated in fish sauce, lemongrass, and cinnamon sugar. It was THE BEST thing I’ve ever had, and since then, I’ve vowed to use it in more meat recipes. After marinating the beef, I combined the rest of the ginger and garlic to a soup pot with the onion. After cooking for a minute or so, I add in the marinated beef to brown. I then deglaze the pot with red wine. Red wine is typically not used in Bo Kho, but it just makes it tastes so good! After the wine, add in the rest of the ingredients aside from the mint and lime and bring the soup to a boil. Simmer the soup for 2 hours and your soup is done! Tips on how to make the perfect bo kho - Use beef with a good amount of fat – I use a combination of beef shank and beef chuck because of the fat content. That’s how you get a rich broth. I also like to use beef shank with the bone in because bones make for the best broths. - Use a yellow onion – I use yellow onions in all of my broths because they provide the sweetness I am looking for. Other onions don’t work as well for Vietnamese broths. - Make it a day ahead of time – Soups need time to soak up all that good flavor, so they are usually better the next day. For the best results, make the soup a day ahead of time and let the flavors combine over night. - Serve with rice, noodles, or bread – I usually like to enjoy this soup with a baguette, but you can eat it with noodles or rice. The last time I made this I served it with rice. Did you make this dish? If you made this dish, I would love to see! Follow Cooking Therapy on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag and hashtag it with @cooking__therapy and #beccascookingtherapy. Stay connected and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for all my latest recipes. Vietnamese Beef Stew (Bo Kho) Ingredients - 1 lb beef shank cubed - 1 lb beef chuck cubed - 5 cloves garlic minced - 2 pieces ginger 2-3 inches - 2 tbsp fish sauce - 1 tbsp five spice powder - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon - 1/2 cup vegetable oil - 1 yellow onion thinly sliced - 1/2 cup red wine - 1 stalk lemongrass cut into 2 inch pieces - 2 large carrots - 1 daikon cut into chunks - 2 star anise - 1 bay leaf - 1 tsp salt - 1 tbsp tomato paste - 1 tbsp Better Than Bouillon beef base - 6 cups water - mint - 1 lime Instructions - Marinate the beef chuck and beef shank for 30 minutes with 2 cloves of garlic, 1 2-inch piece of ginger (sliced thinly), fish sauce, five spice, cinnamon, and vegetable oil. Make sure to include the bone from the beef shank in the marinade. Set aside. - In a large soup pot, saute onions, the rest of the ginger, and the rest of the garlic for 1 minute. Next, add the marinated beef and cook for 2-3 minutes until all sides are seared. Deglaze the pot with red wine and cook until the alcohol is burned out. You shouldn't be able to smell the alcohol anymore once it has burned out. - Add in the lemongrass, carrots, daikon, bay leaf, salt, tomato paste, Better Than Bouillon beef base, and water. Bring the soup to a boil and lower the heat to a simmer. Simmer for 2 hours. Check on the soup every half hour and scoop away any impurities that you see. - Once done, ladle soup into a bowl. Top with mint and lime juice to finish it off. Eat with bread, rice, or rice noodles.	https://www.cooking-therapy.com/bo-kho-vietnamese-beef-stew-recipe/
Under the data protection law, individuals have a right to be informed about how Rising Stars Youth Club uses any personal data that we hold about them. We comply with this right by providing ‘privacy notices’ to individuals where we are processing their personal data. This privacy notice explains how we collect, store and use personal data. We at Rising Stars Youth Club are the ‘data controller’ for the purposes of data protection law. This means that we decide how your personal data is processed and for what purposes. Who we are? We are Rising Stars Youth Club and we are the ‘data controller’ for the purposes of data protection law. This means that we decide how your personal data is processed and for what purposes. What information do we collect? Personal data that we may collect, use, store and share (when appropriate) may include, but is not restricted to: Information about yourself when you register with the Youth Club, and by filling in forms at an event or online, or by corresponding with us by phone, e-mail or otherwise. Contact details including name, date of birth and gender Contact preferences including email address, home address, phone number, contact details of the third party in case of emergencies Health information, which is classed as sensitive personal data, for the purposes of your health, well-being, welfare and safeguarding. Any sensitive personal data we hold is with the explicit consent of the participant or, if applicable, the participant’s parent or guardian. Sensitive personal data includes:- racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs or other beliefs of a similar nature, trade union membership, physical or mental health or condition, sexual orientation and criminal records How do we use personal information? We will only use personal data for any purpose for which it has been specifically provided and with our obligations under the “GDPR” by keeping personal data up to date; storing and destroying it securely; not collecting or retaining excessive amounts; protecting personal data from loss, misuse, unauthorised access and disclosure. We will use your personal data to: To be able to provide a voluntary service for the benefit of the Youth Club members Administer membership records Manage volunteers Fundraise and promote Rising Stars Youth Club Maintain the Youth Clubs accounts Provide data as part of conditions for grant funding Inform you of news, events, activities and services undertaken by Rising Stars Youth Club Carry out feedback and surveys on the services operated by Rising Stars Youth Club Meeting audit requirements What legal basis do we have for processing your personal data? The legal bases we rely on will consist of one or more of the following six possible GDPR legal grounds: • explicit consent - An example of this would be your consent to us processing your data by joining a mailing list so that we can keep you informed about news, events, activities and services or ensure we understand possible health risks to members • legitimate interests - Necessary for the purposes where we need to use your data in our day to day activities e.g. keeping a record of your name and address on our membership list or sharing anonymised data with a funding partner as the condition of grant funding e.g. Local Authority • vital interests - Protect the vital interests of an individual who cannot physically or legally give consent. An example of this may be if we were to run activities for people with special needs. • legal obligation - Necessary for us to comply with the law, an example of this could be our legal obligations to maintain certain records so that we may carry out our obligations under employment law and to ensure safeguarding legislation is adhered to. Document name: GDPR Privacy Notice Status: Final v 0.1 Page 3 of 4 Issue Date: Sept 2018 Review Date: Sept 2019 Revision Date:	https://www.risingstarsyouthclub.org/privacy-policy
The cellular architecture of the vertebrate gut follows a common plan throughout its length: Four major layers of different cell types form the wall of the gut (Figure 50.11). These layers differ somewhat from compartment to compartment, but they are always present. Starting in the cavity, or lumen, of the gut, the first tissue layer is the mucosa. Mucosal cells have secretory and absorptive functions. Some secrete mucus, which lubricates and protects the walls of the gut; others secrete digestive enzymes, and still others secrete hormones. Mucosal cells in the stomach secrete hydrochloric acid (HCl). In some regions of the gut, nutrients are absorbed by mucosal cells. The plasma membranes of these absorptive cells have many folds that increase their surface area (see Figure 50.9c) At the base of the mucosa are some smooth muscle cells, and just outside the mucosa is the second tissue layer, the sub-mucosa. Here we find the blood and lymph vessels that carry absorbed nutrients to the rest of the body. The submucosa also contains a network of nerves; the neurons in this network are both sensory (responsible for stomach aches) and regulatory (controlling the various secretory functions of the gut). External to the submucosa are two layers of smooth muscle tissue responsible for the movements of the gut. Innermost is 50.11 Tissue Layers of the Vertebrate Gut In all compartments of the gut, the organization of the tissue layers is the same, but specialized adaptations of specific tissues characterize different regions. Nerve net between muscle layers Nerve net between muscle layers the circular muscle layer, with its cells oriented around the gut. Outermost is the longitudinal muscle layer, with its cells oriented along the length of the gut. The circular muscles constrict the gut, and the longitudinal muscles shorten it. Between the two layers of smooth muscle is another network of nerves, which controls and coordinates the movements of the gut. The coordinated activity of the two smooth muscle layers moves the gut contents continuously toward the rectum. Surrounding the gut is a coat of fibrous tissue called the serosa. Like other abdominal organs, the gut is also covered and supported by a tissue called the peritoneum. Was this article helpful? This ebook provides an introductory explanation of the workings of the human body, with an effort to draw connections between the body systems and explain their interdependencies. A framework for the book is homeostasis and how the body maintains balance within each system. This is intended as a first introduction to physiology for a college-level course. What are the four tissue layers of the vertebrate gut? What are the four major tissue layers of a vertebrate gut? What are the layers of the muscles? What forms wall of vertebrate gut?	https://www.78stepshealth.us/plasma-membrane/the-vertebrate-gut-has-four-tissue-layers.html
METHODS: In order to examine settled house dust levels of hopanes, engine lubricating oil byproducts found in vehicle exhaust, as a novel TRAP exposure measure, dust samples were collected from 171 homes in five Canadian cities and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. To evaluate source contributions, the relative abundance of the highest concentration hopane monomer in house dust was compared to that in outdoor air. Geographic variables related to TRAP emissions and outdoor NO2 concentrations from city-specific TRAP land use regression (LUR) models were calculated at each georeferenced residence location and assessed as predictors of variability in dust hopanes. RESULTS: Hopanes relative abundance in house dust and ambient air were significantly correlated (Pearson's r=0.48, p<0.05), suggesting that dust hopanes likely result from traffic emissions. The proportion of variance in dust hopanes concentrations explained by LUR NO2 was less than 10% in Vancouver, Winnipeg and Toronto while the correlations in Edmonton and Windsor explained 20 to 40% of the variance. Modeling with household factors such as air conditioning and shoe removal along with geographic predictors related to TRAP generally increased the proportion of explained variability (10-80%) in measured indoor hopanes dust levels. CONCLUSIONS: Hopanes can consistently be detected in house dust and may be a useful tracer of TRAP exposure if determinants of their spatiotemporal variability are well-characterized, and when home-specific factors are considered.	http://ecite.utas.edu.au/101134
Common Name: Nodding thistle Scientific Name: Carduus nutans Alternative common names: Musk thistle, nodding plumeless thistle. Description: The nodding thistle grows from sea level to an elevation of about 2 500m. It is found in neutral to acidic soils. It typically grows in meadows and grasslands, heavily grazed areas such as pastures and in disturbed soil such as roadsides and building sites. It spreads rapidly in areas subjected to frequent natural disturbances such as landslides and flooding, but does not grow well in excessively wet, dry or shady conditions. Additional Information Where does this species come from?Europe, Asia and western North Africa. What is its invasive status in South Africa?NEMBA 2020 Category 1b. Where in South Africa is it a problem?Eastern Cape. How does it spread?The seeds are spread by birds and water. Why is it a problem? Musk thistle is a highly competitive weed which invades disturbed areas, pastures, forests, crop land and waste areas. It spreads rapidly and forms extensive stands, which force out desirable vegetation. It may produce allelopathic chemicals that inhibit desirable plants beyond the spread of the rosettes. What does it look like? Leaves: The leaves are dark green and bipinnately lobed. Flowers: Red-purple. Fruit/seeds: Shiny, yellowish-brown with a plume (pappus) of white hair-like bristles. Does the plant have any uses? It is grown as an ornamental plant in gardens and for traditional and medicinal uses. It competes strongly with other more palatable pasture species.	https://invasives.org.za/fact-sheet/nodding-thistle/
Course Times + Location: We 1:30 PM – 5:20 PM REMOTE LEARNING, Burnaby - Instructor:Jan Maclean [email protected] - Prerequisites:60 units. Description CALENDAR DESCRIPTION: Explorations of curriculum theory and processes of development with applications at different levels and in several subject areas. COURSE DETAILS: This course will be taught completely online through remote instruction via Zoom and Canvas. Please reserve original class time (1:30pm- 5:20pm on Wednesdays) for Zoom videoconferencing and online interaction. Attendance/active participation during videoconference / synchronous class time and regular active participation on Canvas is a requirement of this course. Please note: to maintain privacy, the sessions on Zoom will not be recorded. Decisions around what curricula is included in specific educational content is directly related to what we value as a society. Consequently, what is taught in the classroom and how teachers choose to teach it, ultimately influences and shapes students’ ways of knowing, perceiving and engaging in their cultures and communities. COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS: This course will explore contemporary issues in curriculum development while examining historical, philosophical, social and cultural perspectives and questions around curriculum. The nature and aims of education will be examined and critiqued by looking at diverse and often opposing models and philosophies of education. Time will also be spent on deepening understanding of the “New Curriculum” which has gradually been implemented in public schools and classrooms in B.C. over the last few years. The “New Curriculum” is guided by core competencies, big ideas, content, and curriculum competencies that also make space for inquirybased learning, environmental education, Aboriginal perspectives and flexible learning. Questions to be explored include: What are the aims and purposes in education and teaching? What knowledge is of most worth? Whose knowledge is it? What values and notions of truth are conveyed? How do the attitudes and beliefs of the teacher affect what is, and is not being taught? What are the ethical and moral concerns involved in designing and delivering curricula? What is lacking in our current content and teaching? How do we decide what should be included in curriculum and what should be left out? Can curricula be conceptualized and implemented that provides learners with meaningful course content that relates to their own unique life experiences? How can teaching and learning be constructed and implemented in order to meet diverse student needs and abilities? How has the “New Curriculum impacted teaching and learning practices in today’s classrooms? The course will also look at the development of curricula to suit specific levels of teaching, subject areas and classroom contexts. Questions and concerns surrounding development and implementation of curricula will be addressed through in-class discussions, creative activities, critical and reflective readings and writing. Throughout the course students will be encouraged to explore the complex relationship between curriculum and teaching in order to begin to develop their own personal philosophy toward curriculum development and theory and teaching and learning. This course will appeal to students in their professional development programs as well as practicing teachers and other educators Grading - Course Portfolio (Weekly reflections and activities) 40% - Curriculum Project 30% - Participation - attendance and active engagement in online participation and discussions (Zoom and Canvas) 30% NOTES: There is no final exam for this course. Materials REQUIRED READING: All course readings will be on Canvas. Registrar Notes: ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English. Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html TEACHING AT SFU IN SUMMER 2020Please note that all teaching at SFU in summer term 2020 will be conducted through remote methods. Enrollment in this course acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning ([email protected] or 778-782-3112) as soon as possible to ensure that they are eligible and that approved accommodations and services are implemented in a timely fashion.	http://www.sfu.ca/outlines.html?2020/summer/educ/471/d200
The invention relates to a hamburger packaging device and a hamburger machine, wherein the hamburger packaging device comprises a rack, a supporting plate mechanism, a first paper folding mechanism and a second paper folding mechanism. The supporting plate mechanism is arranged on the rack, the supporting plate mechanism comprises a supporting plate used for bearing packaging paper, the packagingpaper is flatly laid on the supporting plate, and a hamburger reaches a first packaging state after being placed on the packaging paper. The first paper folding mechanism is used for folding the packaging paper upwards from the left side and the right side to achieve a second packaging state and folding the left side and the right side of the packaging paper inwards to cover the hamburger to achieve a third packaging state. The second paper folding mechanism is used for pressing the packaging paper downwards from the front side and the rear side to reach a fourth packaging state and folding the front side and the rear side of the packaging paper inwards to cover the hamburger to reach a fifth packaging state. Thus, after hamburgers are manufactured, automatic packaging can be achieved through the hamburger packaging device provided by the invention, therefore the packaging time can be saved, the labor cost can be reduced, sanitary conditions in the hamburger packaging process can be optimized, and the hamburger packaging efficiency can be improved.
Disclaimer: This work has been submitted by a student. This is not an example of the work produced by our Essay Writing Service. You can view samples of our professional work here. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of UK Essays. Sociological imagination is germane to experiences of the individual with other relationships in society. There are three primary characteristics of the sociological imagination history, biography and social structure. In correlation with Mills’ hypothesis of the sociological imagination, we will be able to position ourselves in reality and have enhanced understanding of ourselves and others through a grasp of the links between personal experiences versus structural and historical forces (Mitra & Sarabia, 2005). In this paper, I will undertake a critical contemplation on the factors that seem to have influenced my life choices and chances. I will use my own personal encounters as a case study and will use the sociological imagination as the tool for examination while realizing that this concept must be applied critically since I am attempting to link personal experience to public issues (Schudson, 2008). Because of my life circumstances, the feminist point of view is the most useful approach although symbolic interactionism explains many of the issues I have encountered. The key sociological factors I have seen reoccurring in my research are class, gender and socialization. These pivotal factors of socialization have allowed me to unpack and carefully examine what the sociological imagination is, how it works based on my life experiences, and the ways in which it connects to the structural conditions in my life. The distinctive attribute of history correlates to the ways in which a society was produced and how it has been transformed over the course of time. The term “Biography” is an idiom for the human circumstances, or the nature of man in correlation to the type of individuals in a particular society. Social structure defines the order of a society focusing on the people who are dominating, and how they cling together and how over time they change. The sociological imagination defines visionaries who can see beyond what is in front of them in relation to history, biography and social structure. (Mills, 1959, pg. 7) The theory of the sociological imagination facilitates an individual to associate their own life experience with the whole of history along with social, economic, and political forces. The entire concept of the sociological imagination was summarized by Mills’ belief that the life of any one individual and the history of the whole society cannot be understood unless both are understood (Mitra & Sarabia, 2005). This is because individual occurrences as well as all human action is socially and historically contextualized. The central question concerns how we can proceed or make the leap from individual experience to the entire society and to history. Schwalbe exemplifies how the social world must involve individuals practicing a conscious effort of relating and unpacking their live experiences with society as a whole when stating how “In the end, sociological mindfulness must be about more than studying how the social world works. It must also do more than inspire curiosity, care and hope, it must help us change ourselves and our way of doing things.” (Schwalbe pg. 43) The sociological imagination is best considered as a vehicle which permits use of one of the major sociological perspectives (Mitra & Sarabia). In this case, it will be feminism but symbolic interactionism is relevant for this analysis. My parents primarily instilled certain values and beliefs especially concerning fairness and justice. The sociological imagination promotes critical thinking skills. The sociological imagination has refined my ability to think in relation to ground breaking new and innovative connections between myself and the society. A good metaphor by Allan G. Johnson’s literary work “The Forest The Trees and The One Thing” exemplifies the sociological imagination as the forest is society and the trees are individual people. How the trees are related to the forest personifies how individuals relate to society and societies history as a whole. “It’s crucial to understand the relationships among trees that make a forest what it is. Paying attention to that “something more” whether it is a family, corporation or a whole society, and how people are interrelated to it is at the heart of the sociological process” (Johnson, Allen, pg. 5) “Social research is concerned with the definition and assessment of social phenomena. Social researchers enable us to get inside these diverse social worlds and discover what social forces are at work in creating social life.” (Duneier pg.53) Duneier’s standpoint on the sociological imagination corresponds to the discovery of my own personal sociological saga. As a college student I think to be successful you need to have sociological imagination. How often do we sit in classes and wonder what the purpose of all this is? When many of us graduate from high school we see as far as the first day of college, we have no vision of our future, we are looking to escape from our parent’s home and to find freedom and self expression. Then there are others who graduate from high school and start their college careers. The first day of college is just another day for them, they are thinking about the life they will lead 10-15 years in the future. They see their career going a certain way, when they plan on getting married and having children and some even see their retirement by the age of fifty. I find myself somewhere in the middle. I have always known I my dream job was to become a writer from the time I picked up a pencil as a child I was in love with the feel of the pencil lead on paper. I took all the courses I could in writing and participated in workshops and wrote for my local high school’s paper read avidly. Upon graduation from high school I was focused more on making money, therefore I went to work and gave up writing. However, it did not take long before I went to college I quickly realized that if I wanted to not work so hard for a minimal amount of money I would need to get a college degree in something that was practical yet gave me time to write. In college as I tried to choose a major I was still focused on making money rather than being happy with what I was doing. I was determined to follow one of my passions and I picked Broadcast Journalism as my major because I could use my writing skills and do something I loved doing which was storytelling through interacting with people and reporting. I began seeing my life in years rather than days. I began taking classes in subjects I liked. I am studying business as at the Whitman School and minoring in Entrepreneurship because I know this will be an imperative skill to have later in life. I continued pursuing my passion for writing however in my many required arts and science elective classes, and have a plan for the years to come as how I want to make my living. I want to become either a sports broadcaster or a sports writer. I identified education as the key to change. The sociological imagination creates links between the personal the wider society in a reciprocal way. The person who has the sociological imagination is able to understand the large historical process in terms of its meaning for the inner experience and outer life of the individual. Schudson argues that the sociological imagination allows us to critically investigate reality instead of passively observing it. Andreev expands on that by explaining that individuals who are positioned at different social and economic points in society hold different views of the world. Rushing argues that education is not always the solution but rather a source of new social and economic inequalities since we can never escape from the factors of class, gender and race. As a result, the concept of the sociological imagination needs to be applied to a system of education as well to understand what impact that education will produce on different groups of people. I have found through my analysis that in order to use the sociological imagination and see a need for structural change, the person has to be oppressed or deprived in some way. With the internet there is no discrimination; sociological imagination has little historical or biographical influence even social structure is irrelevant. The world of C. Wright Mills is disappearing on the internet people have no sociological imagination. People on the internet are fast becoming a society with no past or future there is just the present what is being done right at this moment. I want this type of life so does that mean I have sociological imagination in regard to the internet and how I will use it in my life. I know how the internet began and what it was originally used for, but does it influence my vision of how I am going to use it? No, when I am sitting at my laptop I don’t think of the history of the internet or the people who use it. (Solis-Gadea, 2005, pgs. 113-122) When I’m writing on my laptop I don’t think of the people I am writing for or working for they have no face, no personality, no relevance to me except for giving me work. Social structure is nonexistent on the internet as well. No one has a face unless you want to and even then you can’t be positive it is really their face. The way sociological imagination works in my life is by me seeing into the future and having a vision of myself working as a sports broadcaster or a sports writer. If sociological imagination is about making a connection to historical events and my instincts for the life I want then I would have to say I want a life unlike my parents., I do not desire to restrict myself and my life’s goals a job for 30-40 years because I have a mortgage and car payment, kids and a wife and the “Jones’s” living to the side of me. I want mobility and freedom and most importantly I want to utilize the technology that is out there to assist me in having the life I envision. (Schneider & Silverman, 2006, pg. 43) The sociological imagination is valuable for allowing understanding of ourselves by means of the links between personal experiences versus structural and historical forces. Through reflecting on my life choices and chances with the use of the sociological imagination, I have been able to arrive at particular realizations. Power and class are at work in the wider society just as they are operating in my own life. Socialization was a key factor in my life because it guided me to connect with the underlying and structural conditions in my life. The sociological imagination promotes critical thinking skills, this idea to me means being able to think in terms of new and innovative connections between myself and the society. Worked Cited Mills, C. Wright. (1959). The Sociological Imagination. New York: Oxford University Press. Johnson, Allan. “The Forest, The Trees, and The One Thing” Schwalbe, Micheal. “Finding Out How The Social World Works” Duneier, Mitchell. “Sidewalk” An ethnographic study of street vendors in New York City Schneider, L. Silverman, A. (2006). Global Sociology: Introducing Five Contemporary Societies 4 ed. New York: McGraw Hill. Solis-Gadea, H.R. (2005). The New Sociological Imagination: Facing the Challenges of a New Millennium. International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society. 18(3-4), 113-122. Andreev, A. (2008). Russians’ mentality and problems of social inequality. Sociological Research, 47(5), 52-62. Retrieved, from Academic Search Premier database. Dowell, W. (2006). Throwing the sociological imagination into the garbage. Teaching Sociology, 34, 150-155. Retrieved, from Sociological Abstracts database. Mehan, H. (2008). Engaging the sociological imagination. Anthropology and Education Quarterly, 39(1), 77-91. Retrieved, from Sociological Abstracts database. Mitra, A. & Sarabia, D. (2005). Embracing the sociological imagination: A study of university students’ perceptions of sociology. College Student Journal, 39(4), 637-646. Retrieved, from Academic Search Premier database. Rushing, W. (2001). Inequality and education reform. Race Ethnicity and Education, 4(1), 29-41. Retrieved, from Academic Search Premier database. Schudson, M. (2008). The sociological imagination as cliché: Perils of sociology and practices of journalism. International Journal of Political and Cultural Sociology, 20, 41-49. Retrieved from Sociological Abstracts database. 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Malleable tasks are a way of modelling jobs that can be parallelized to get a (usually sublinear) speedup. The best currently known approximation algorithms for scheduling malleable tasks with precedence constraints are a) 2.62-approximation for certain classes of precedence constraints such as series-parallel graphs , and b) 4.72-approximation for general graphs via linear programming . We show that these rates are tight, i.e. there exist instances that achieve the upper bounds. KeywordsExecution Time Approximation Algorithm Critical Path Precedence Constraint Fractional Solution These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves. Preview Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.	https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-540-68111-3_112
BATON ROUGE - From New Orleans to Mamou, Mardi Gras celebrations are underway despite cold, wet weather. Revelers were up early this morning in New Orleans, getting the grills going and picking out prime spots along the parade route. The Krewes of Zulu, Rex, Elks Orleans and Crescent City all roll today in Uptown. News 2's Rebecca Buchanan and Rob Kreiger were down in New Orleans this morning getting ready for the party. The final day of Carnival isn't just being celebrated in New Orleans. Fat Tuesday is celebrated a lot differently in the Evangeline Parish town of Mamou. Cajun cowboys began gathering before sun-up this morning for the Courir de Mardi Gras. The annual run begins at 8:30 a.m. They'll return for food, fun and dancing at 4:00 p.m. You can also head west to Lafayette for more Mardi Gras traditions. The family-friendly Fat Tuesday begins with the St. Gabriel's Parade at 10 a.m., followed by the Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Parade and Independent Parade. While New Orleans boasts the state's oldest Mardi Gras celebration, the second oldest is in nearby New Roads. The False River town is expected to be packed revelers trying to catch beads at two parades. The Community Center Parade rolls at 11 a.m. The Lion Club Parade follows. If you can't make it to the New Roads parades, you can watch them live on our sister station, WBTR (Cox Channel 19). Visit our 2une In Page for more sights and sounds from local Fat Tuesday celebrations. Check out our Mardi Gras Guide for today's full parade schedule. We'll have more Mardi Gras celebration throughout the day, beginning with WBRZ News 2 at Noon.	https://www.wbrz.com/videos/catchin-coconuts-with-zulu
IF YOU THINK THAT A VIOLENT SITUATION IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN OR IF IT IS ALREADY UNDERWAY (even if it doesn't involve you directly): - Call 999. - Ask an adult for help: - a teacher or a member of the school staff (if the situation is taking place at school); - an adult who is nearby or in a shop such as a cafe or supermarket (if the situation takes place on the street or in another public space). - - If you are with the person or group being violent, try to calm things down and prevent further violent behaviours: - don’t blame the potential victim nor the potential offender for what's happening; - talk calmly with both of them and help them to understand the other's point of view; - suggest resolving the conflict by talking; - keep calm and never resort to aggression or violence to solve the conflict; aggressive or violent reactions may make the situation worse. - PLEASE NOTE! • Always remember to put your safety first. • If you suspect it might be dangerous for you to try to solve the situation on your own, ask an adult for help. • Call 999 if you think it is for the best. Explain what is happening and where the situation is taking place. IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS A VICTIM OF VIOLENCE: • Talk to your friend in a place where he/she feels safe and at ease. • Listen carefully to what your friend is telling you. • Show concern and interest for what he/she is telling you. • Show that you believe in what he/she is telling you. • Do not be judgmental and do not ask "why?" questions. Your friend is not to blame for what happened. • Support him/her without judging, even if you feel frustrated or think he/she could have dealt with the situation differently. • Keep in touch with your friend: give him/her time, attention and comfort. Organise some enjoyable activities for you two to do together. • Convince your friend to tell a trusted adult what is going on: his/her parents or a school staff member. • Tell your friend he/she can contact Victim Support Scotland. Support is free of charge and confidential. Help your friend and be at his/her side when he/she contacts Victim Support Scotland. IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS BEING VIOLENT IN HIS/HER RELATIONSHIPS (be it a friendship, going out with someone or any other relationship): - Help your friend to understand that his/her behaviour has consequences for other people: ask him/her "How would you feel if someone treated you like this?". - Becoming aware of the impact that our attitudes and behaviours have on others can be an important step for changing. - - Tell your friend that it is important to acknowledge responsibility for their behaviours: apologising to the person harmed by his/her violent behaviour is the first step. - Challenge your friend to try alternative behaviours to violence: - they can turn their back to avoid the situation that made them angry; - they can take a deep breath, count to 10 and try to solve problems through talking. - - Tell your friend that they can get help to change the way he/she relates with others. Teachers, the school's counsellor or psychologist can give advice on this type of situation.	http://www.apavparajovens.pt/en/go/am-i-a-witness-what-should-i-do
The adoption of new technologies and pursuit of programmable networks has the potential to significantly improve levels of functionality, flexibility and adaptability of mainstream datacenter architectures. To leverage this abstraction to its fullest requires the network to adapt and evolve to a Software-Defined architecture. One of the architectural elements required to achieve this goal is a Software-Defined-Networking (SDN) and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) platform that enables network control and programmability. Today, SDN and NFV are a hotbed of innovation with a broad spectrum of vendors bringing products and technologies to market. Ironically, the myriad options may prove counterproductive to SDN and NFV adoption. Many organizations, overwhelmed by choice, also have to avoid the pitfalls of nascent technologies such as inconsistent interoperability, limited management tools or fragmentation. At this early stage of SDN and NFV adoption, the industry acknowledges the benefits of establishing an open, reference framework for programmability and control through an open source SDN and NFV solution. Such a framework maintains the flexibility and choice to allow organizations to deploy SDN and NFV as they please, yet still mitigates many of the risks of adopting early stage technologies and integrating with existing infrastructure investments. With OpenDaylight, a community has come together to fill this need through the combination of open community developers and open source code and project governance that guarantees an open, community decision making process on business and technical issues. Establishing an open source project in this way is designed to help accelerate the development of technology available to users and enable widespread adoption of SDN and create a solid foundation for NFV. OpenDaylight can be a core component within any SDN architecture. Building upon an open source SDN and NFV controller enables users to reduce operational complexity, extend the life of their existing infrastructure hardware and enable new services and capabilities only available with SDN. Whether your organization is an enterprise IT provider, a network service provider or a Cloud services provider, you can begin taking advantage of SDN and NFV using a community-driven, open source controller framework available today.	http://archive15.opendaylight.org/project/about
Vulnerability is understood as susceptibility to hazards born out of the complex interaction within the system scales. The current global economic system focuses on persistent growth and a top-down approach to wealth distribution, which not only puts a strain on the Earth's resources but also on communities by increasing vulnerability. Localised economy, on the other hand, uses a bottom-up approach to wealth distribution, whereby local resources are harnessed for sustainability of the local economy. Localising economies facilitate degrowth by shifting our focus to the quality of economies and the redefinition of growth and prosperity. The purpose of this study is to highlight the potentials of localisation and degrowth for vulnerability reduction. Design/methodology/approach In this study, the authors conducted a case study of the Lyttelton community in New Zealand, their local initiatives and how these efforts have been used to build capacities and reduce vulnerabilities in the community. Data were sourced from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data were sourced through observation of the day-to-day running of the community and interviews with community members, while secondary data were sourced from existing literature on the community and related concepts. Findings Lyttelton community provides a good example of a community where bottom-up initiatives are particularly felt, and there is very limited dependence on the conventional economic system to solve their problems. The study shows that degrowth initiatives within the community have gained momentum because initiators see the value in their coming together as a community and doing what is right for themselves and the environment. Furthermore, localisation fosters innovation, personal growth and development and care for the environment. Originality/value This paper contributes to the existing knowledge by discussing some local initiatives that serve an underlying purpose for degrowth based on a study carried out in Lyttelton, New Zealand. The study findings established that there is need for more focus on sensitisation about the risks of growth mania and the potential for degrowth in bringing about actual prosperity, for saving the environment and disaster risk reduction. Also, the encouragement of local production and existing institutions like the timebank, which give members access to the needed resources and skills contribute to vulnerability reduction.	https://www.emerald.com/insight/search?q=Oluwadunsin%20Moromoke%20Ajulo
Numerous individuals and agencies agree that an activity becomes a sport when it involves competition. Although cheerleaders do not compete against each other as they cheer for their assigned team, they do have the option to compete against other cheer squads at local, state, and national levels. Cheer competitions are often televised on ESPN and similar channels.	https://kindofviral.com/cheer-sport/2/
In July 2019 we appointed David Lock Associates who are working with us to develop a wider masterplan for the city, that incorporates the Birmingham Road site. The David Lock Associates team, supported by Integrated Transport Planning and Springboard, were appointed following a competitive tender exercise. Tenders were appraised on a number of key criteria, ranging from the team’s experience in delivering master planning exercises, their approach to developing a vision for the city centre, their processes for maintaining quality and the experience and knowledge of team members. We identified the overarching principles that underpins the masterplan and any future long-term development of the Birmingham Road Site. These include that the masterplan and development of the site should: - Reflect the lifestyle and needs of the community. - Be realistic and deliverable. - Be an attraction to encourage people to visit and stay in our district and city. - Enhance the public realm. - Provide economic benefit through job creation and investment opportunities. We know from feedback that lots of people would like the site to be developed as quickly as possible. While we share this view, we know how important it is not to rush into a development without being sure it will be appropriate, inclusive and sustainable. As a result, we will develop the area in a staged approach that allows for significant and proper planning as part of a wider masterplan, so that: - We can carry out a planning exercise that allows us to consider the needs of the city and district and to look at what the site can provide holistically. - We can identify wider infrastructure needs and ensure costs are apportioned across a range of uses/developers in a mixed use scheme. - We can adopt a joined-up approach for different land uses and ensure they are interlinked and cohesive. - We can deliver a scheme that will be more likely to attract capital contributions from partners such as the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and other bodies such as Homes England. - We will be able to properly involve stakeholders, partners and local people/businesses. - We will be able to rigorously test our evidence base to ensure any development is both feasible and sustainable. - We can ensure we achieve the maximum return for the local community and council by spreading risk and costs.	https://www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/city-centre-regeneration/long-term-plan/1
Developing new approaches to analysing medical images in low-resource settings Oxford University medical science researchers and medical staff of the department of Radiology at University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, used new approaches to analyse brain scans of stroke patients taken with lower quality technologies, offering potential for research and clinic practice in low-resource settings. Whilst high-quality Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans are most effective at identifying stroke affected tissues and lesions for research and clinical purposes, most contexts in Africa only have access to Computed Tomography (CT) and low-field Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Such technologies are usually less effective and rely on skilled radiologists to interpret the images. But biomedical researchers in the Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging at Oxford University, have applied machine learning techniques to such lower quality images, to test whether these can reliably analyse stroke patient brain scans. Funding from the Knowledge Exchange Seed Fund allowed them to test and share the approach with colleagues from the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria in summer 2022. “We tested the algorithms on 40 patient scans from the Stroke Investigative Research and Educational Network (SIREN) project, the largest stroke database in sub-Saharan Africa, which had been generated by CT or low-resolution MRI scanners.” says Dr Ludovica Griffanti. “We were delighted to find that, with some modifications, the approaches worked promisingly on this small selection of scans.” The team shared the approach with the Nigerian clinicians and trained them to use the software and hardware provided by the grant. The Nigerian partners have subsequently trained other colleagues at Ibadan in the approach and are using it to analyse a wider selection of scans to verify the findings. Whilst in Oxford, Dr Godwin Ogbole also developed a lecture for the Oxford Clinical Neuroimaging course on using brain imaging for diagnostic purposes in low-resource contexts. Dr Ayilara shared preliminary results of the project at an oral presentation to the Association of Radiologists in Nigeria (ARIN) conference in October 2022, winning an award for best presentation. “This was a really fruitful knowledge exchange with our partners in Nigeria,” says Dr Griffanti. “The pilot showed that our approach has real potential to effectively analyse brain images from low-resource contexts – which could add to our understanding of stroke in patients of African origin. And these techniques could ultimately be helpful in contexts where a radiologist is not available, or teams are working with limited equipment and technology. The methods developed also have the potential to create products that would be useful in the UK health system and in other countries.” “As a researcher, I’m very aware of the privilege of working with the best imaging technology, and of the gap between what we have here at the University, and what is available in many hospitals. Approaches that help bridge the gap between research and the clinic have huge potential, and we are looking for further funding to develop this work over the next year.” “The next steps will be to further test the approach and extend it to the broader SIREN dataset covering over 3000 patients. Ultimately, we hope to enable the development and evaluation of machine learning approaches to establish automated diagnostic standards for stroke and other neurological conditions. This has the potential to enhance global research and clinical decision making in stroke care and influence interventions and outcomes, particularly for some of the most vulnerable populations.” Dr Ludovica Griffanti is an Alzheimer’s Association research fellow at the Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford. Dr Godwin Ogbole is Associate Professor of Radiology at University of Ibadan and Consultant Neuroradiologist at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. Dr Segun Ayilara is a senior registrar at the University College Hospital, Ibadan Oxford University collaborators on the project: Dr Pedro Diniz, Dr Taylor Hanayik, Dr Nele Demeyere, Prof Mark Jenkinson, Prof Sarah Pendlebury. Funders: KE Seed Fund Dr Ogbole’s six-month visit to the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences was funded by the Africa Oxford Initiative. Dr Griffanti is supported by an Alzheimer’s Association Research Fellowship and by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). The software development was supported by the John Fell Fund, the NIHR Oxford BRC, and the Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging.	https://www.ox.ac.uk/research/research-impact/developing-new-approaches-analysing-medical-images-low-resource-settings
NEW YORK — New York City rules limiting the number of art and book vendors in four popular Manhattan parks are constitutional, a state appeals court ruled on Tuesday, overturning an injunction against the rules. In a 5-0 decision, the appeals court rejected artists’ contentions that the limits covering Central Park south of 86th Street, Battery Park, High Line Park and Union Square Park violated their free speech and equal protection rights under the state constitution, and amounted to illegal discrimination. Lawyers for the artists did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Appellate Division decision came nine years after litigation began over rules adopted by the city in July 2010 that capped the number of vendors of “expressive matter” such as paintings, photos, entertainment, newspapers and books. These rules were meant to combat congestion, enhance parks’ beauty and allow New Yorkers to enjoy the parks for recreation. The city’s Department of Parks and Recreation allowed vendors in the restricted areas to sell on a first-come, first-served basis. It capped the number of vendors at 100, or 140 on days the Greenmarket in Union Square was not operating, down from roughly 300 before the rules took effect. In Tuesday’s decision, Justice Barbara Kapnick called the rules “an appropriate response to demonstrated concerns” about the vendors, and found no proof that the plaintiffs were denied equal protection. “The record supports defendants’ contention that there are many more opportunities for expressive matter vending than food and souvenir vending in the designated city parks,” Kapnick wrote. Tuesday’s decision set aside a 2017 injunction against enforcing the rules, and ordered that the lawsuit be dismissed. “We are pleased the court agreed that these rules are fully consistent with the law and promote the health, safety and welfare of the public,” Nicholas Paolucci, a spokesman for the city’s law department, said in an email. In 2013, the federal appeals court in Manhattan rejected a challenge to the rules under the U.S. Constitution, whose free speech clause is narrower than the clause in New York’s constitution.	https://nationalpost.com/pmn/entertainment-pmn/new-york-city-can-limit-art-vendors-in-popular-parks-appeals-court-2
'Whose Line Is It Anyway?' Season 13 Air Date, Cast News: Improv Comedy Kicks Off New Season with Tony Hawk Share The 13th season of The CW's improvisational comedy show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" is coming this summer to fill its fans' Mondays with barrels of laughter and good cheer. What new comedic madness will the host and mainstays unleash to help their new set of special guests settle in? Facebook/cwwhoselinePromotional banner for the improvisational comedy show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” featuring Ryan Stiles, Wayne Brady, Aisha Tyler, and Colin Mochrie. "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" has had a successful four-season run ever since it was picked up by The CW in 2013. Prior to this, the improv show was on a five-year hiatus following its eight-season stint on ABC. And although it pretty much follows the same format as its predecessor, The CW's "Whose Line?" ushers in a couple of changes to make it appealing for both its old and new audiences. This season, the show will be bringing back host Aisha Tyler, who took over hosting duties from Drew Carey ever since the move to The CW, along with regular cast members Ryan Stiles, Wayne Brady, and Colin Mochrie for another cycle of spontaneous improv games that rely on the wit and comedic skills of its quick-thinking improv comedians. Every episode also enlists the help of a recurring comedian to complete the lineup of four performers. In addition to this, The CW version now also features a celebrity guest, who may or may not have any experience in improv comedy, in addition to the four performers. And this season will be bringing in professional skateboarder, actor and entrepreneur, Tony Hawk, also known as The Birdman, as its first guest. Recurring comedienne Heather Anne Campbell will also be on hand to lend her support to Ryan, Colin, and Wayne. What segments will the premiere episode of season 13 be featuring, and which ones will Hawk be participating in? What themes and curveballs will the audience be throwing at the improv performers, and will they be able to satisfy everyone's funny bones? "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" season 13 premieres on Monday, May 29, at 9 p.m. ET followed by an encore episode at 9:30 p.m. ET on The CW's summer slate. Below is a clip from an old episode wherein Wayne, Colin, and Ryan along with recurring performer Greg Proops do their own version of a "Survivor" Tribal Council. Facebook/cwwhoseline Old episodes of the comedy show are also available to watch on the CW Seed.
As a freight forwarder, you surely need to connect with clients and partners from various countries and cultural backgrounds. In 2020 the entire world is connected like never before, and all you need to do to reach someone is shoot an email/social post/instant message and you’re all set to receive the reply within a few minutes. However, things are not as easy as they sound since effective communication with people who speak another language requires a special approach. In today’s post, we’re going to discuss a few important tips to facilitate better cross-cultural communications. - Listen attentively When it comes to building a rapport with your international clients/partners it’s important for you to be a good listener. Take the time and carefully listen to what the other person is trying to communicate- by the words they speak, their tone as well as their body language. For this reason, it is also important to meet your client or partner face to face at least once a year. Make sure to ask questions whenever you don’t get the meaning of what they say. The fact that you are paying your full attention to what they’re saying will motivate them to open up to you. - Learn some cultural norms Finding the time to investigate and learn some of the cultural norms of those clients you are going to meet can bring you closer them. For example, if you are going to meet a delegate from China during an Annual Meeting, it’s always more courteous to stand up and present your business card with both hands. This simple yet respectful gesture will reflect well on your etiquette. Picking up some key phrases of the local language (eg: hello, thank you, please, all right, and goodbye) can also be an excellent way of fostering cross-cultural rapport. - Be respectful A little respect can go a long way in promoting a productive dialogue. As our CEO Mr. Antonio Torres puts it, “My decades of experience in this industry has taught me one thing- every culture is unique. You don’t need to be perfect to impress the person you’re meeting, all you have to do is be hospitable and show some respect”. Additionally, you have to be careful with humour. Not all the cultures share the same sense of humour and something you might find funny can make the other person feel uncomfortable or consider you are irrespectful. - Keep it simple Although English has come up as the international business language, you can never expect every businessperson to speak it flawlessly. Most people you will meet have English as their second language and their expressions are often more limited than the native speakers. This is why you need to speak out in a simple and unambiguous manner which can easily be understood by the other person. - Don’t hesitate to ask for help Lastly, if the language barrier becomes too much of a problem then it’s always a good idea to hire an interpreter. Having a translator will ensure that all the parties of the meeting get to express their thoughts and opinions regardless of their cultural background or geographical location.	https://www.globalialogisticsnetwork.com/blog/2020/05/06/5-tips-for-effective-communications-with-your-international-clients/
Hanks, who will likely be in the running for that film as well, is assured a prize on Jan. 5 because the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s Board of Directors has voted to give him the 2020 Cecil B. deMille Award, the HFPA announced on Tuesday. The annual award is given to an individual, most often an actor or actress, who has “made a lasting impact on the film industry,” in the words of an HFPA press release. The last five recipients were Jeff Bridges, Oprah Winfrey, Meryl Streep, Denzel Washington and George Clooney, with previous awards also going to Robert De Niro, Steven Spielberg, Warren Beatty, Barbra Streisand and Jack Nicholson. Also Read: 'A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood' Film Review: Tom Hanks' Mr. Rogers Film Is a Sweet Miracle Hanks is one of only two actors (Spencer Tracy being the other) to win the Oscar for Best Actor in back-to-back years, which he did in 1994 and 1995 for “Philadelphia” and “Forrest Gump.” He also won the Golden Globe for both of those performances, as well as for “Big” in 1989 and “Cast Away” in 2001. Surprisingly, he has not been nominated for an Oscar since “Cast Away,” missing out despite performances in “Charlie Wilson’s War,” “Captain Phillips” and “The Post,” for which he was nominated for Golden Globes, as well as “Road to Perdition,” “The Terminal,” “Saving Mrs. Banks,” “Bridge of Spies” and “Sully.” “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” which was directed by Marielle Heller and also stars Matthew Rhys, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and won positive reviews, particularly for Hanks’ performance as the beloved children’s television host. Golden Globe nominations will be announced on Dec. 9 and the ceremony will take place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.	https://www.thewrap.com/tom-hanks-to-receive-the-golden-globes-cecil-b-demille-award/
I am looking for a conscientious, thoughtful look at some topic in your field, sharing of the major significance of this issue, and any unanswered questions, if any, you are still dealing with. Are we only interested in war between countries. The rats were injected with the drug. Are there any disadvantages. Be careful with commonly confused words: Time and objectivity Time permitting, allow a few days to elapse between the time you finish writing your last draft and the time you begin to make final corrections. Mention relevant ethical considerations. You can thank those who either helped with the experiments, or made other important contributions, such as discussing the protocol, commenting on the manuscript, or buying you pizza. What is the major impact of these findings. If you want to use another one, check with me. This is where you present the results you've gotten. You will just need to send it to professor once done. Some students use a particular index card method throughout the process of researching and writing that allows them great flexibility in organizing and re-organizing as well as in keeping track of sources; others color-code or otherwise identify groups of facts. Attach a copy of the final proposal to the end of the final version of your research paper to be turned in with your portfolio. End with a one-sentence summary of your conclusion, emphasizing why it is relevant. But you would have to point out the possible biased interest of the source. On your final read, check for grammar, punctuation, correct word choice, adequate and smooth transitions, sentence structure, and sentence variety. Avoid relying too heavily on internet sources, which vary widely in quality and authority and sometimes even disappear before you can complete your paper. Take these items and look them up using your information sources. Thank you so much. For now, omit the conclusion also. Once you have some knowledge about these facts: Your conclusion should make some "wrap up" statements about what you learned about your chosen topic and the possible impact of your findings on people and perhaps society in general. What are the benefits to people. Magazines written for a lay audience tend to have less objective information than that found in scholarly publications Smith, Highlight the most significant results, but don't just repeat what you've written in the Results section. Also, address any issues that may still not be resolved for you. If you include large graphics or charts, include each on a separate appendix page and label each one A, B, and so on. They must be in addition to the 5 to 7 pages. Quality Assurance All registered experts have solid experience in academic writing and have successfully passed our special competency examinations. We do it because we are motivated and envision how a perfect custom writing service should look like. Even if a general topic is assigned "Write about impacts of GMO crops on world food supply"as much as possible find an approach that suits your interests. The core of the website is a series of pages that mirror major stages in writing a major undergraduate thesis. State your thesis in the form of a sentence or two. Your abstract should be one paragraph, of words, which summarizes the purpose, methods, results and conclusions of the paper. For example, if you are a nursing major, you might summarize findings on various treatment options or recent research findings for a particular medical condition. The last thing we want to mention is that depending on whether you are doing a simple display board project or an experimentation project will determine how narrow your focus will end up being for your project. He or she is just writing what the original author said, without trying to paraphrase the information or, at the very least setting up the quote in context: What biases of your own may you have to be aware of to produce a scholarly look at this subject. But you would have to point out the possible biased interest of the source. Time and objectivity Time permitting, allow a few days to elapse between the time you finish writing your last draft and the time you begin to make final corrections. Intro, conclusion, and citations Write the final draft. Examines the science and arguments of global warming skepticism. Common objections like 'global warming is caused by the sun', 'temperature has changed naturally in the past' or 'other planets are warming too' are examined to see what the science really says. she is really good and she deliver the paper before the deadline I really like her writing she is a professional I like her work very well. Quality academic help from professional paper & essay writing service. Best team of research writers makes best orders for students. Bulletproof company that guarantees customer support & lowest prices & money back. Place with timely delivery and free revisions that suit your needs! Virginia Montecino [email protected] © Virginia Montecino Jan You may use this assignment if you attribute the source and include the URL.	https://caxebojajudemyw.schmidt-grafikdesign.com/how-to-start-a-science-research-paper-40764zh.html
UKZN staffer, Dr Faaiza Shaikh, is thrilled after graduating with a PhD in Psychology which explores the management of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms experienced by students with the disorder at the University. She examined the use of Mindfulness Breathing Meditation as a coping mechanism for addressing ADHD symptoms. ‘I was keen on creating awareness on the impact of ADHD on learning, tools and coping mechanisms students employed (to deal with ADHD) as well as services rendered to students. On a broader level, I wanted to create a space for the voices and experiences of the marginalised to reduce inequalities and enhance human rights and social justice,’ said Shaikh. Her findings suggest that ADHD does impact on the functioning of students with the disorder, and that they develop coping mechanisms and are able to access services on campus. However, so said Shaikh, these students still experience many challenges; suggesting that a more integrated approach to management and accommodation is needed in this regard. Because Shaikh embarked on her PhD journey as a student with visual and audio processing challenges, taking longer than the average student to complete a thesis. Due to this, and the large volume of reading she needed to do, she submitted a 12-chapter PhD, challenging the norm of a 6 or 7-chapter thesis. ‘I feel like I’ve accomplished a great deal. I feel productive in that I was able to contribute in a very constructive way to highlight issues that are sometimes seen as unimportant and thus, marginalised,’ she said. She hopes that her research will create awareness on ADHD in a tertiary setting and will provide a framework for institutions to utilise when rendering services to students living with ADHD. Shaikh thanked her family, friends and supervisor Professor Steve Collings for their support and encouragement. Offering advice to other postgraduate students, Shaikh said, ‘Your research will contribute to existing research and it can influence change in our society. Conduct research on marginalised issues like disability. I would like to reach out to students with disabilities to conduct research in the field of disability. Be your own agency for change. Be your own activist. You understand these issues at a deeper level as you experience them every day,’ she said.	https://sahs.ukzn.ac.za/news/2018/09/phd-research-zooms-in-on-adhd-in-higher-education/
ESA announces a new science strategy for the future direction of its Living Planet Programme, addressing the continuing need to further our understanding of the Earth System and the impact that human activity is having. The Changing Earth: New Scientific Challenges for ESA's Living Planet Programme focuses on the most fundamental challenge facing humanity at the beginning of the 21st century that being global change. As we begin to understand more about the Earth as a system, it is very apparent that human activity is having a profound and negative impact on our environment. For example, our understanding of carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas, and the strong link between atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations and temperature both point to human activity leading to a warmer world, unlike anything seen over the last million years. A better knowledge of the Earth System and the impact that increasing human activity is having is of crucial importance in providing the basis for the management of our environment and our ability to derive sustainable benefit. Since observing the Earth from space first became possible more than forty years ago, satellite missions have become central to monitoring and learning about how the Earth works. Looking to the future, the new strategy for ESA's Living Planet Programme aims to assess the most important Earth-science questions to be addressed in the years to come. It outlines the observational challenges that these raise, and the contribution that the Agency can make through the programme. Volker Liebig, ESA Director of Earth Observation stated, "These challenges will guide ESA's efforts in providing essential Earth-observation information to all relevant user communities, in close cooperation with our international partners." Underpinning the new strategy is a set of ambitious objectives, which include: Launch a steady flow of missions addressing key issues in Earth science.	http://news.bio-medicine.org/biology-news-3/New-scientific-challenges-and-goals-for-ESAs-Living-Planet-Program-4927-1/
Textbook on Resilience-Based Ecosystem Stewardship. A major challenge for IGERT programs in small universities like the University of Alaska Fairbanks is to have an impact that extends significantly beyond the home institution. We have completed a textbook on the central topical area of our IGERT: Resilience-Based Ecosystem Stewardship. This textbook provides a new framework for natural resource management--a framework based on stewardship of ecosystems for ecological integrity and human well-being in a world dominated by uncertainty and change. The goal of ecosystem stewardship is to respond to and shape changes in social-ecological systems in order to sustain the supply and availability of ecosystem services by society. The book links recent advances in the theory of resilience, sustainability, and vulnerability with practical issues of ecosystem management and governance.	http://media.igert.org/spotlights/648.html
For U.S. President Donald Trump, Nord Stream 2 is a "horrific" pipeline that will increase Germany's dependence on Russian energy. Ukraine, fighting Russian-backed separatists, fears the new pipeline will allow Moscow to cut it out of the lucrative and strategically crucial gas transit business. "The global order is under pressure," Merkel said last month. "That's a challenge for us ... Germany's responsibility is growing; Germany has more work to do." In April she accepted for the first time that there were "political considerations" to Nord Stream 2, a project she had until then described as a commercial venture. Most European countries want Germany to do more to project European influence and protect eastern neighbours that are nervous of Russian encroachment. "The price would be an even greater loss of trust from the Baltics, Poland and Ukraine," said Roderich Kiesewetter, a Merkel ally on the parliamentary foreign affairs committee. "We Germans always say that holding the West together is our 'centre of gravity', but the Russian approach has succeeded in dragging Germany, at least in terms of energy policy, out of this western solidarity." Merkel's Social Democrat coalition partners, the leading voices in Germany calling for a conciliatory approach towards Russia, are also in favour. The issue has divided Berlin's political class. The parties agreed in their coalition talks earlier this year to make a commitment to the pipeline, but did not put it in writing. But despite opposition from European partners, from Washington and from within Merkel's party, Nord Stream 2 continues. Germany's diplomatic ambitions are being thwarted by the project's brutal business logic. On the other hand, it has the strong backing of Gazprom, Russia's state-owned energy giant which owns Nord Stream 2 AG, the project company. Its boss Matthias Warnig, once an East German spy tasked with reporting on West German business, is seen as one of Berlin's most formidable lobbyists. Lawmakers say Warnig has responded to their sceptical queries about the project by promising to take their concerns direct to Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding to the sense that the pipeline serves the Kremlin's strategic interests. But, for Gazprom, it makes sense: transit across a country with which Russia is in an undeclared war is risky and increasingly unreliable as Ukraine's Soviet-era pipelines grow older. In the SPD, sympathy for Nord Stream 2 runs deep. Gerhard Schroeder, the party's last chancellor, was appointed to senior positions at Russian energy companies after leaving office and regards Putin as a close friend. For many of Schroeder's generation, cooperation with Russia is in the tradition of the "Ostpolitik" of their hero, 1970s Chancellor Willy Brandt, who defied a sceptical Washington to reach out to the Soviet Bloc, now seen as a prelude towards ending the Cold War. But a younger generation in the party, often critical of Schroeder's links to the Kremlin, is more cautious. That cooperation goes a long way: last week, Merkel hosted Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Berlin. He was accompanied by Russian general staff chief Valery Gerasimov, who has been banned from the EU since Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.	http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/385670/Friendship-no-more-how-Russian-gas-is-a-problem-for-Germany
At the time of national crises, economical, political, or cultural, the talents from different discipline join together to overcome the situations and tide over the crises. These joint efforts always results in new discoveries and techniques. Operations research (OR) is also the outcome of such situation of the last few decades. Thus Operations research is a scientific approach to problem solving via mathematical, economical and statistical models for the situations arising out of risk and uncertainty. Operations research has got wide scope in the current era of social and business environment. The uncertainty of future, day to day increasing competitions and social interaction has greatly increased the difficulty of managerial decision makings. In general the operations research techniques can be applied to find out the optimum solutions of simple or complicated problems. Inventory control is one of the main streams of the subject operations research which is widely studied in the area of mathematical sciences, management sciences; system science, industrial engineering, production engineering etc. Inventory control is the body of mathematical and quantitative methods. On first consideration of the word “inventory control” seems to be virtually self explanatory and a definition would appear to be obvious “control” hardly requires elucidation and “inventory” immediately bring to mind a stock of some physical commodity. In general as stock is depleted we will order, or produce some quantity of the item so that we can continue to meet the demand of future. Thus, a definition might be, inventory control deals with the determination of optimal procedures for procuring stocks of commodities to meet the future demand. Inventory control is a very critical component of planning and scheduling. Imagine a hospital stocking out of blood or the air force stocking out of mission-critical part when the enemy is attacking. In such situations inventory control can be a matter of life and death. Recent trends in sciences and computers have led to improved modelling and understanding of various situations in all areas of human activity. In effect, human mind has to play a role model for soft computing. Real-world systems cannot be described mathematically due to the complexity of the components of the plant and the interaction between them, and consequently, the model may be subject to certain assumptions or conditions. In these models, the degree of mathematical precision is required to describe every aspect of the process, which is either prohibitive or non-trivial. In addition, for actual implementation of such systems, heuristics, gained through human experience, are often employed in the tuning of the final controller. Genetic algorithm is a probabilistic search algorithm based on the mechanics of natural selection and natural genetics. Genetic algorithm is started with a set of solutions called population. A solution is represented by a chromosome. The population size is preserved throughout each generation. At each generation, fitness of each chromosome is evaluated, and then chromosomes for the next generation are probabilistically selected according to their fitness values. Some of the selected chromosomes were randomly mate and produce offspring. The phenomenon of crossover and mutation randomly occurs when offspring is produced. Because chromosomes with high fitness values have high probability of being selected, chromosomes of the new generation may have higher average fitness value than those of the old generation. The process of evolution is repeated until the end condition is satisfied. The solutions in genetic algorithms are called chromosomes or strings. The complication to obtain the optimal values of decision variable of inventory models increases as the number of decision variable increases in the cost function of the inventory model over traditional calculus method and it’s become more complicated if the nature of cost functions towards to highly non-linear in nature. Practically this situation arises in multi-item inventory modelling of substitutable products, inventory control of cell manufacturing, multi-echelon inventory modelling of deteriorating items or for perishable multi inters related items. To overcome the complication to obtain the optimal values of decision variable via traditional calculus method we can use the genetic algorithm which is a good alternative for these situations. So in this chapter we provide a brief introduction of genetic algorithms, their key terminology and detailed of steps involved in genetic algorithm to apply in inventory control to obtain the optimal solution with numerical illustration using MATLAB.	https://www.igi-global.com/chapter/application-of-genetic-algorithms-in-inventory-control/146963
"Actions and the self: I give therefore I am?" Tobias Regner and Astrid Matthey Self-signaling models predict less selfish behavior in a probabilistic giving setting as individuals tend to invest in a pro-social identity. However, there is also substantial evidence that people tend to exploit situational excuses for selfish choices (for instance, risk) and behave more selfishly. We contrast these two motivations experimentally in order to test which one is more prevalent in a reciprocal giving setting. Trustees' back transfer choices are elicited for five different transfer levels of the trustor. Moreover, we ask trustees to provide their back transfer schedule for different scenarios that vary the implementation probability of the back transfer. This design allows us to identify subjects who reciprocate and analyze how these reciprocators respond to the provision of moral wiggle room. Our results indicate that self-deception is prevalent when subjects make the back transfer choice. Twice as many subjects seem to exploit situational excuses than subjects who appear to invest in a pro-social identity.	https://www.tobyregner.info/research/%22Actions_and_the_self%3A_I_give_therefore_I_am%3F%22/
SAN ANTONIO — WHEN TO WATER DURING A YEAR-ROUND CONSERVATION PERIOD: When the Edwards Aquifer test well has risen above the 660-foot drought water restrictions trigger level on a 15-day average, drought restrictions are eligible to be lifted. However, during these times, year-round conservation water use rules will remain in effect. Residents can water with an irrigation system or hose-end sprinkler on any day of the week before 11 a.m. or after 7 p.m. SAWS will continue to monitor the Edwards Aquifer level to make sure it remains at a consistent level above 660 feet. Regulations in effect under the City's conservation ordinance are listed below: - Landscape watering with an irrigation system or sprinkler is permitted any day of the week before 11 a.m. or after 7 p.m. - Hand watering with a hand-held hose, drip irrigation, soaker hose or bucket is permitted any time of day. - Under Year-Round guidelines, all fountains – whether commercial or residential, indoor or outdoor – are allowed. - Washing impervious cover such as parking lots, driveways, streets or sidewalks is permitted without runoff to avoid water waste. - Water waste is prohibited at all times. Allowing water to run off into a gutter, ditch or drain or failing to repair a controllable leak is considered water waste. - Residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural Edwards Aquifer water users should use common sense and best practices to avoid water waste. - The use of commercial vehicle wash facilities is permitted any day.	https://www.kens5.com/article/weather/aquifer/saws-water-restrictions-aquifer-level-kens-weather/273-03093afb-a251-40a6-a5a9-7c346f83d68d
The European semiconductor market is going through a major transition that could result in a drastically reduced role for the continent's leading manufacturers. This would negatively affect the region's economy growth unless steps are taken to enhance productivity and increase investments in next-generation technologies. A 14-month research study conducted jointly by French economic and market consulting firm Decision Etudes Conseil and UK-based semiconductor research firm Future Horizons said “Europe will lose advanced and competitive semiconductor manufacturing infrastructure without a European long-term industrial vision guiding and enabling the coordination of all stakeholders.” The researchers noted the semiconductor market remains a “strategically important industry, providing the knowledge and technologies that generate some 10 percent of global GDP.” But it warned that failure on the part of Europe's leading chip companies to adopt the latest technologies would “threaten the competitiveness of the current European supply chain manufacturing base, including technology development and device design.” The cautionary tone of the report reflects current thinking in Europe, where many government leaders fear the continent is losing ground in the semiconductor production market because of recent changes in the market that have forced chip makers in the region to cut back on chip production R&D spending and capital expenditure because of the prohibitive costs of establishing new fabs. In fact, the Decision/Future Horizons research was commissioned by the European Commission and forms part of efforts to review the region's current position in high-tech manufacturing and recommend strategies for improving the competitive position of local firms. The researchers concluded that semiconductor suppliers and manufacturing regions that are able to develop the next-generation semiconductor fabs — mainly the 450mm wafers — will dominate the future of the industry. One reason for this is that the yields would be larger, and productivity enhancements as well as cost advantages to the producer would be vastly bigger. Companies that successfully produce 450mm wafers (the biggest is currently 300mm fabs) would be able to outperform competitors, according to Malcolm Penn, CEO of Future Horizons. “The 450mm transition is necessary for the industry to keep up with the underlying 10 percent annual growth in wafer fab capacity demand,” Penn said in the statement. “The wafers are 2.25 bigger in surface area, and therefore the number of ICs produced per wafer, making it more efficient to build a single 450mm fab rather than two 300mm fabs. The 450mm transition is also expected to deliver a 30 percent cost reduction thus providing 450mm wafer fabs with a definite competitive advantage over 300mm.” Europe is at a disadvantage here, though. The region's biggest chip vendors don't seem eager to spend scarce resources on 450mm fabs due to the high cost, and some of the partnerships they forged for 300mm fabs have frayed over time. Several US and Asian chip vendors have committed to rolling out 450mm-ready wafer technology in their latest fab plants. Leading the way are IBM, Intel, GlobalFoundries, TSMC, and Samsung, which have formed the G450 Consortium in Albany. Missing from this group are STMicroelectronics, NXP, and Infineon Technologies, the continent's biggest semiconductor suppliers. “One of the conclusions drawn in the report is that the 450mm transition will happen and that it will very likely be the final wafer scale up for the industry,” the research firms said in a press statement mailed to reporters. “It will also define the geographical locations of the next (and perhaps final) ten to fifteen most advanced semiconductor production areas worldwide.” The full report is available for downloading here. A few points from the key conclusions offered by Decision and Future Horizons follow: - Europe will lose advanced and competitive SC manufacturing infrastructure without a European long-term industrial vision guiding and enabling the coordination of all stakeholders. Such a long-term vision shall not oppose 300mm or 450mm but rather consider both in parallel as part of an advanced manufacturing continuum, taking into account all the stages of the SC supply chain. - Europe failed to capitalize on its strength during the 300mm transition, but 450mm could turn into a genuine opportunity to regain the position it once held in SC manufacturing by securing a complete SC supply chain and making sure that the most advanced SC technologies continue to be manufactured on European soil. It could start in the short term with a five-year programme to urgently set up the 450E pilot line in Europe to support the transition of the European equipment & material suppliers to 450mm and coordinate with the US-led G450C initiative in Albany. - The opportunity of a joint 450mm MtM fab (Eurofab450) between Integrated Device Manufacturers and a private 450mm MM fab should be investigated and progressed in parallel to their natural conclusion. Whatever the outcome, every effort must be expended by the European Commission and national PAs to ensure that all potential locations and especially the current most advanced manufacturing centres in Europe remain favourable places for chip companies to operate in. - High tech industries can only close competitive gaps during technological shifts. The 450mm shift is one of them and most likely the last one for the semiconductor industry: the European semiconductor industry is at a crossroads.	https://epsnews.com/2012/06/07/europe-at-a-crossroads-in-chip-production/
During Women’s History Month, DiversityInc is honoring a series of woman innovators and history makers like Maria Tallchief, who are often overlooked in mainstream media coverage and history books. Check back throughout March to learn about more important figures. Born: Jan. 24, 1925 Fairfax, Oklahoma Died: April 11, 2013 Chicago, Illinois Known best for: Widely being considered America’s first major prima ballerina and the first Native American to have the role Maria Tallchief is considered one of the greatest American ballerinas — not only was she the U.S.’s first major prima ballerina, she was also one of the first Indigenous dancers to break into ballet. She was born on an Osage reservation in Oklahoma to a father who was a member of the Osage Nation and a mother of Scottish-Irish descent. Tallchief and her sister, Marjorie began dancing as children. Tallchief excelled in dance and music, and her family moved to Los Angeles in 1933 in hopes of providing better opportunities for her and her sister to secure notable roles. The Tallchief sisters later studied under notable figures such as choreographers Bronislava Nijinska and David Lichine. After she graduated high school in 1942, Tallchief moved to New York City and joined the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo touring company. During her time with the company, many tried to persuade her to change her last name so that companies would not discriminate against her and her Osage ancestry, but she refused. Tallchief became choreographer George Balanchine’s muse, and when the company developed its rendition of Stravinsky’s Firebird, Balanchine created the title role specifically for her. The two married in 1946, but the marriage ended in 1950. In 1947, Tallchief and Balanchine moved to Paris, where they worked on productions for the Paris Opera Ballet and where Tallchief became the first American to perform. When the two moved back to the U.S., Tallchief became the prima ballerina of the New York City Ballet, where she had many notable roles, many of which Balanchine created for her, including the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, the Swan Queen in Swan Lake and Eurydice in Orpheus. Tallchief was also the first American to perform at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow in 1960. Tallchief also appeared in the Chicago Opera Ballet, the San Francisco Ballet, the Royal Danish Ballet and the Hamburg Ballet. Tallchief ultimately founded the ballet school of the Lyric Opera and became the artistic director of the Chicago City Ballet. Tallchief held closely to her Osage heritage despite being part of the often-Eurocentric ballet world. In her memoir, Maria Tallchief: America’s Prima Ballerina, she recalled her and her sister’s discomfort as children being asked to dance in an inauthentic Native-inspired routine for Oklahoma country fairs. “It wasn’t remotely authentic. Traditionally, women didn’t dance in Indian tribal ceremonies. But I had toe shoes on under my moccasins, and we both wore fringed buckskin outfits, headbands with feathers, and bells on our legs. We’d enter from opposite wings, greet each other, and start moving to a tom-tom rhythm,” Tallchief wrote. “In the end, we stopped doing the routine because we outgrew the costumes. I was relieved when we put those bells away for good.” In 1996, Tallchief received a Kennedy Center Honor. She was also inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. Tallchief died in Chicago in 2013. She is remembered for her fiery dancing style, her notoriety as one of the first world-renowned American ballerinas, and her boundary breaking as one of the first Native American ballet dancers.	https://www.diversityinc.com/womens-history-month-profiles-maria-tallchief-prima-ballerina/
Even after many years of research, the phenomenon of hibernation continues to be a mystery to scientists. Despite coming nearer to an understanding of how and why it happens, some fundamental questions remain unanswered. Is there a genetic basis underlying the evolutionary predisposition of animals to hibernate, given its occurrence in many groups of vertebrates and invertebrates? Is the problem of metabolic adaptation in cells separate from thermal regulation which occurs throughout the organism? In Section 4 we will attempt to answer these questions, starting here by looking at scientific approaches. Faced with an exploration of the unknown, rather than simply testing an existing hypothesis, research can adopt two different approaches in attempting to associate molecular events with physiological functions. The analytical approach seeks to identify all the significant changes that accompany a specific physiological adaptation and then seeks to explain these changes. For example, differences in the patterns of expression of a number of genes that manifest themselves during hibernation can be identified against a background of no change. The processing of very large numbers of genes in this way became possible in the late 1990s with the advent of DNA chip technology. This powerful approach can provide information about the state of expression of thousands of genes in each tissue (Box 2). Such an analytical approach has led to the identification of a few genes in a range of species whose expression is either increased or decreased during hibernation (Table 4).The table shows that some of the genes are associated with the metabolic, respiratory or control functions that you might predict would be linked to the maintenance of, or recovery from, hibernation. The links revealed in this kind of analysis sometimes appear indirect or tenuous. The benefit of this ‘needle-in-the-haystack’ approach, however, is that it reveals changes in expression patterns in a handful of proteins amongst a very large number which do not undergo such changes – even those that might be predicted to do so. Genetic analysis has revealed significant changes in the expression of genes whose function is not known or not directly related to hibernation (for example, the HT20 gene family in Table 4). Table 4 Genes whose expression level changes in hibernation, identified in microarray and subtractive expression experiments. \|Gene\|\|Tissue\|\|Change in expression\|\|Possible function\| \|apoferritin\|\|liver\|\|increase\|\|iron storage protein – increases availability of iron for cytochromes and haemoglobin\| \|c-fos\|\|brain\|\|redistribution+\|\|rapid-response gene – coordinates reaction to physiological change\| \|genes for fatty acid binding proteins\|\|BAT\|\|increase\|\|preparation for rapid thermogenesis during arousal\| \|genes for glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase\|\|liver, muscle\|\|decrease\|\|reduces glycolysis\| \|HT20 family\|\|muscle, WAT\|\|decrease\|\|function unknown – all related structurally to protease inhibitor α1 anti-trypsin\| \|genes for pyruvate dehydrogenase\|\|heart, skeletal muscle\|\|increase\|\|depresses metabolism by preventing pyruvate kinase conversion into acetyl CoA\| Box 2: DNA ‘microarrays’ for the study of gene expression To elucidate the entire mRNA content of a cell, or to study all the genes that are being actively transcribed at any one time, every protein-coding gene in the genome would have to be analysed. The enormity of this task can be appreciated only by considering the number of genes that are activated in a single biological process. For example, during the transition from aerobic to anaerobic respiration in cells of the yeast S. cerevisiae, changes in the expression of 1740 genes have been recorded. This large change in gene expression in S. cerevisiae has been analysed using the technique known as DNA microarray (Figure 22). The design of DNA ‘chips’ allows many hybridization experiments to be performed in parallel. A DNA chip is a very thin layer of silicon, 2 cm2 or less in area, carrying a large number of DNA probes, a microarray, each with a different sequence and each at a defined position on the chip. The probes can be short oligonucleotide sequences, and can be spotted onto the silicon using high-speed robotics to form a microarray, which is then incubated with the labelled target to allow hybridization to take place. To determine which oligonucleotides have hybridized to the target, the surface of the chip is scanned and the positions at which the signal emitted by the label is detectable are recorded. Studies on cancerous tissue using this technique discovered genes whose expression patterns differed significantly when normal colon epithelial cells were compared with colon cancer cells. In brief the method was as follows (Figure 23). Messenger RNA preparations were made from cancerous and normal cells. Each preparation was then labelled with a radioisotope attached to a fluorescent marker and allowed to hybridize to a microarray containing probes for several thousand human genes. The hybridization signal associated with each gene was then used to assess the particular mRNA in each preparation. In pancreatic cancer cells, about half of these genes also showed abnormal expression levels. The implication of this study is that some genes are abnormally expressed in more than one type of cancer while others are expressed more specifically. DNA microchip technology has been one way to enable such studies of gene expression. Question 10 How can we attach relevance to an observed change in gene expression, and hence predicted changes in the biosynthesis of the protein which the gene encodes? Answer First, the nucleotide sequence of each gene is compared with those in the genomic database for the species. High levels of sequence homology (similarity) enable us to predict functional analogies with these genes on the basis of predicted protein structure, spatial (tissue location) and temporal (daily or seasonal) expression patterns. If such a search fails to establish any homology with any known gene, it is necessary to establish a function without precedent for the new protein. The most valuable evidence frequently comes from observations on loss of physiological function when one or both copies of the gene are deleted from the genome. Hypotheses on the function of the protein may then be tested by determining the proteins and subcellular structures with which it interacts in order to fulfil its function. The analytical approach has indicated that different tissue-specific genes are activated or repressed in the brain and peripheral organs of hibernating animals. The genes encode pre-identified proteins which are linked to the role of each tissue in hibernation (i.e. reactive control in the brain, metabolic adaptation in liver muscle and adipose tissue) plus some proteins whose function is unclear. The targeted approach seeks to investigate a possible role for molecules already suspected of participating in physiological regulation. An example is the enzyme arylalkylamine-N-acetyltransferase (AA-NAT). This enzyme catalyses the rate-limiting step in the production of a hormone, melatonin, from the pineal gland. Melatonin has the capacity to re-set circadian rhythms in a variety of physiological processes. Entry into hibernation requires neural and endocrine control systems that govern the normal day/night (circadian) cycles of metabolism and T b, to be overridden. Question 11 What would you expect analysis of gene expression to show? Answer Expression of AA-NAT, leading to elevated biosynthesis of melatonin, should increase just prior to onset and during hibernation. Circadian rhythms would then be interrupted whilst the animal is torpid. This prediction was supported by studies using 13-lined ground squirrels. Messenger RNA for AA-NAT protein biosynthesis increased in the brains of hibernating animals as expected – an accepted indication that the enzyme's activity had increased (Figure 24) (Yu et al., 2002). In a second example, researchers proposed a working hypothesis that the uptake of fatty acids by hibernating tissues, which is normally under tight control, should be deregulated in preparation for the task of storing large reserves of lipid. They expected to see changes in the activity of a key enzyme, acetyl CoA carboxylase. This enzyme catalyses the formation of malonyl CoA, a potent and major inhibitor of mitochondrial fatty acid uptake. In studies on Richardson's ground squirrel, the hypothesis was proved right. Acetyl CoA carboxylase in heart muscle was much reduced prior to and during hibernation, so allowing more fatty acid uptake by mitochondria in cardiac muscle. Box 3: Regulated/regulating enzymes that influence RQ value and energy fuel selection in adipose tissue and muscle Gene expression research has provided evidence for the enzymes that play an important role in determining the choice of respiratory fuel in adipose tissue and hence the respiratory quotient (RQ; see Box 3). As we will see in the next section, changes in energy sources are a characteristic of hibernators.	https://www.open.edu/openlearn/nature-environment/natural-history/animals-the-extremes-hibernation-and-torpor/content-section-4.1
Successful agile testers collaborate with programmers as code is written, isolating problems, troubleshooting defects, and debugging code all along the way to getting the product to done. But modern systems are scaling beyond what traditional teams are able to understand using familiar tools. New appreciation for systems and complexity theory, as well as disciplines and tools around emerging areas such as observability and resilience engineering, are offering solutions that allow teams to actively debug their systems and explore properties and patterns they have not defined in advance. Chris will share the basics of the theory of these new ideas, as well as some tools that support this type of work. He'll show how dynamic analysis can be used to isolate and understand puzzling system behavior. \| \| Chris Blain \| What You Can't Measure, You Can't Improve: Measurements for a Continuous Delivery Organization \| Slideshow Ashwin Desai has faced the daunting challenge of using measurements and metrics to assess and improve product quality through process change. Join him as he shares what he learned on the journey to move the sports technology firm Hudl from a reactive approach to quality to quantitative, data driven, proactive means to improve product quality. Just as Hudl itself provides the ability for coaches and teams to analyze and improve their performance based on data, they wanted to move the teams building Hudl to use the same approach to improve quality. Ashwin shares how they selected measurements, the work agile teams completed to get buy-in for the measurements, and how the data was normalized to provide understanding of the quality of each initiative and the variance between them. \| \| Ashwin Desai \| Removing Impediments and Cultivating a Culture of Feedback \| Slideshow As agilists, we know the importance of open, candid feedback for agile teams to be continuously improving. This talk will share how impediments, such as unconscious biases and a person’s level of self-confidence, can impact the feedback and learning cycle. Participants will learn why there are positive and negative reactions when feedback is given, the difference between a defensive (fixed) and accepting (growth) mindset, how age, self-confidence and gender biases influence an individual’s mindset and other impediments that can impact a team member’s ability to provide candid feedback. \| \| Joanna Vahlsing \| I Manage an Agile Team. Am I Obsolete? \| Slideshow Agile and Scrum Teams are self-organizing and self-managing. As a line manager, what's left to do? Traditionally, managers are responsible for the output of their teams. Sometimes they're even responsible for the for a team's delivery that they do not have direct oversight. This model is flawed. People are complex, a team of people is a complex system. May as well try to manage the weather. To get a handle on the complexity of teams, managers need to act differently in how they lead others. In other words, managers of agile teams will fail if they do not shift their thinking from management to leadership. We can't manage the complexity but we can help people navigate it. Just as we can't stop it from raining, we help teams find umbrellas and take supportive actions when things begin to flood. \| \| Robert Pieper \| Collaborative Curiosity \| Slideshow Let's try an experiment. Rather than trying to figure out what you need or want to hear from a keynote, we propose your taking over as the product owner and driving the discussion? Join Ryan Ripley and Faye Thompson as they take your most pressing, real-time questions and craft them into an inspiring keynote that is relevant to you and your needs. They will take on all agile topics: How does a team optimize their learning? How do you make it safe to explore, experiment and fail? What should you do when your teams aren’t “buying” self-direction and accountability. What do you do when those pesky senior leaders aren’t cooperating? Does DevOps magically improve our capacity? Why is scaling so hard and how does SAFe solve it? And anything else that’s on your mind. Bring your questions, as we celebrate your curiosity about what it takes to become truly agile yourself, in your teams, and in your organization. \| \| Ryan Ripley \| Three-Minute Improv Games to Improve Your Teams \| Slideshow The problem with many agile teams is that they simply never become a team. This often manifests itself as team members feeling unsafe or not quite trusting each other. This workshop will show you how the same techniques improv theater troupes use to improve collaboration, creativity, and communication can be used to help agile teams, too. The three-minute improv warm-up games Wayde Stallmann will lead you through in this session—including improv's famous "yes, and" technique—will help you learn to establish trust, improve collaboration, and learn how to provide a safe environment for your team to bond. You also will get a flier explaining the top twenty improv games, allowing you to leave with actionable material to use immediately upon returning to work so that you can help your team reach its full potential. \| \| Wayde Stallmann \| The Impact of Agile Quantified \| Slideshow For years, people have made recommendations for how to develop software in an agile way based almost entirely on intuition, folklore, and anecdotes. They've never been able to quantitatively show the accuracy or applicability of these recommendations. This session quantifies those recommendations in the most precise and objective terms, including a presentation of general findings in Larry Maccherone's research correlating agile practices to performance along the dimensions of productivity, predictability, quality, and time to market. These data can be used to make general decisions about what to focus on. The presentation also includes the numbers, so that instead of just saying that A is better than B, we can say that A is a 24 percent improvement in quality but a 10 percent reduction in productivity compared to B. \| \| Larry Maccherone \| Taking Your Team from Dysfunctional to Dynamic \| Slideshow Does it seem like your team is the antithesis of agile? Being negative or fearful, resisting change, or hoarding information are common pitfalls that impede progress and can sink an agile team. How can your team adapt to each other, avoid these patterns, and find its greatness? All teams have people with talents and untapped abilities, but it can be difficult for a team to figure out what works for them, what they have, and what they lack. If your team is struggling to unify, find its stride, or revel in the fun of working together, then this session is for you. Michelle Vician will reveal methods to build collaborative behavior, reduce fear of failure, and increase generous knowledge-sharing within a team. She will present some key steps to identify everyone’s strengths and to fuel investment in—and passion for—the team's success. \| \| Michelle Vician \| Things Are Broken: A Case Study In Moving Too Fast \| Slideshow "Move fast and break things” tells quite a story of the relationship between speed and agile. Speed has been a driver in our industry before it was even an industry. Books promise that certain frameworks can deliver twice as much in half the time, yet teams still struggle delivering what's expected of them. This session describes a six-month case study of a multi-team transformation. The orders were to make the teams deliver faster, but they were consistently missing deadlines. Frustration was on the rise. Only after taking the time to understand what they meant by "faster" could the teams improve—and the solution ended up being to slow down. Chris Murman will help you learn how to make the case to slow down, work in increments, deliver frequently, and delight customers. He will explain which metrics to use to measure progress, patterns of successful teams, and the necessary coaching stances. \| \| Chris Murman \| The Great Debate: The Pros and Cons of Continuous Delivery \| Slideshow The Great Continuous Delivery Debate There is a lot of debate about whether continuous delivery is a boon or a curse. Proponents will sing the praises of being able to deliver software into production very frequently with no manual intervention. Skeptics will highlight the challenges delivering quality, working with legacy code, and the need for intensive system-wide assurance activities prior to deploying into production. So which is it? Can most organizations benefit from continuous delivery and, if so, how? Or is continuous delivery a pipedream and only reachable by the select few. These issues (and more) will be debated in this session. Join a star studded group of Agile and DevOps expertise as they duke it out discussing the merits and challenges adopting continuous delivery. Take home a better understanding of the pros and cons of continuous delivery.	https://www.stickyminds.com/topics/agile/presentation?page=5
Zinedine Zidane says he is stepping down as Real Madrid boss, five days after leading them to a third straight Champions League triumph, claiming the club needs “a different voice”. A Court of Arbitration for Sport judging panel today dismissed Jamaican sprinter Nesta Carter’s appeal against disqualification from the 2008 Beijing Olympics for a positive doping test discovered eight years later. Sport continues to build bridges in North and South Korea, almost three months since the so-called ‘Peace Olympics’ were held in the South. Just eight months after Usain Bolt’s retirement from athletics, the Jamaican sprinter has hinted at a comeback to the sport. The BVB boss said it was fun to train with the Olympic legend, but admits he is a long way off being able to cut it with the professionals England were bowled out for 58 – their sixth lowest total – as New Zealand dominated day one of the first Test. Serena Williams was knocked out of the Miami Open in the first round by Naomi Osaka as the 23-time Grand Slam winner continues her return after pregnancy. Scotland’s hopes of reaching the 2019 World Cup are effectively over after West Indies won a rain-affected game in Harare to qualify for the tournament. West Indies moved to the brink of qualification for the 2019 World Cup with a narrow four-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in Harare. Usain Bolt’s soccer career has officially started. Usain Bolt stunned critics on Wednesday after he finally got himself a fresh pedicure. Jamaica’s men’s bobsleigh team famously turned heads at the 1988 Calgary Olympics, their ballsy attempt at the white-knuckle sliding sport later immortalised by the cult film “Cool Runnings”. Thirty years on, a women’s team from the Caribbean island paradise are preparing to compete at the Pyeongchang Games and they’re not entirely happy about Hollywood’s version of events. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s sister will visit South Korea for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, according to Seoul’s unification ministry. ‘Grid girls’ will no longer be used by Formula 1 from the start of the 2018 World Championship season, organisers have announced. Usain Bolt joined South African Football team Mamelodi Sundowns at training on Monday morning and showed a glimpse of what he can do on the field. After months of speculation regarding her status and if she’d be joining the WWE, Ronda Rousey appeared at the end of Sunday night’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view. Brazil legend Pele is in hospital after collapsing on Thursday with exhaustion. Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldinho has retired from football, although he has not played a game since 2015. Olympic record holder Usain Bolt has rushed to the aid of wards of the state who survived a fire that razed a children’s home this week.	https://www.magic1037.com/category/sports/page/2/

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